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I am getting banded November 15, 2007 and I am scared too. I haven't started my diet yet. I am kinda having a farewell to my favorite junk food party. I'll get started this week for sure with my diet. I'm scared but excited about a new beginning on life.

I keep seeing descriptions of surgery protocols that are very different. I am sure that mine for example is completely different than what is done in US. Maybe it would be interesting for those that are pre op to know the details so here it goes: Romanian protocols: 1. Initial meeting with surgeon that consults you and says if you might qualify for WLS; 2. 1 day full of blood tests, abdominal echograph, abdominal endoscopy, barium abdominal rays, body composition, cardiology (EKG and blood pressure, BP under physical effort , pulmonary tests (spirometry, rays), nutrition and psychological consult; 3. Surgeon consult when he determines if and what type of WLS is recommended ( for me gastric sleeve), describes surgery and course of treatment, schedules surgery date ( plus finding out if other interventions are required - they discovered that I have a big hiatal hernia that needed fixing) 4. Surgery protocols- standard is 4 nights , sometimes 5 of hospitalization. - hospital admission 1 day before, in the evening, for preparation: heparin shots, IV fluids - Surgery day and 24 hours post op in ICU (again, per protocol, even if you are ok) - that was horrible, with drain tube from surgery, nasogastric tube, bad pan or catheter for peeing, BP monitors every 30 min, so slim chances of sleeping- I felt no pain at all, just nausea from the nasogastric tube - next day in the morning transfer to normal reserve, got read of nasogastric tube and urethral catheter; I could walk just fine, minimal general pain ( like a muscle soreness after exercising), incisions painful if pressed - they offered more pain meds but I refused) - next 2 days just IV fluids, with antibiotics, dexamethasone for inflammation, pain meds, nutrients - day 5 discharged from hospital with following medication: heparin shots 1month, anti-acids for 1 month, ibuprofen syrup or kids for managing pain for 3 days, Debridat for transit and gas, bariatric vitamins and protein shakes for forever, hepatic protector for 3 months They make sure you make 8.000-10.000 steps per day and that you tolerate well the necessary fluids intake. Diet: clear fluids 1 day pre op and 1 week post op, then cream soups for 2 weeks, then mushy purees for 1 week, then soft food and solid food as tolerated. Prices: 1.000 usd for pre op analyses, 6.000 usd for surgeries ( I had 2-in 1, GS and hiatal hernia repair, and including 1 week, 1, 2, 3 , 6 months and 1 year controls, nutrition and psychological included), 400 usd medication for 3 months, including vitamins and protein shakes Time from diagnosis to surgery 2 weeks.

I know exactly how you're feeling. This past week I've been a bit depressed with what's going on in my life at this current time. I, of course, turned to my old friend and comforter: food. Stepping on the scale to see that it hasn't moved all week has given me some motivation. So, I started exercising more, upped my Fluid intake, etc. I know you will get through this! Going off track every once in a while won't ruin your whole journey. Just take it one step at a time and you'll be back to shedding off those pounds.

Walking for now at your own pace. I started to walk on the treadmill one week after surgery for 30-40 mins. I tried the elliptical at 2 weeks out but did not have the strength and stuck to the treadmill. I am 6 weeks out and started spinning 2 weeks ago and the elliptical machine is a breeze. I am waiting for clearance for weights next week once I see my medical team on Wednesday. Congratulations and good luck.

last friday was my three weeks with a a personal trainer and he measured me and weighed me to see how much i have lost in the past 3 weeks and im happy to say i lost 8lbs (would have been more but i gained 5lbs of muscle supposely) and almost 11 inches around my body which is awesome. i was kinda disappointed about not losing more weight in three weeks when im here working my ass off at the gym and counting calories and watching what i ate for the 3 weeks. but then i went in for a fill yesterday and met a few that was banded and have been banded longer then me and i have lost the most weight out of all them. im finally down 48lbs i just hope i dont pleateau anytime soon. i know alot of people noticed getting smaller around 30 lbs or more but truthfully i havent notice me really getting any smaller i can still wear the same clothes i was wearing before i got banded. my pants are alittle lose but not a biggie. my starting weight was 265 and im down to 217 ive been so wanting to go get a pair of smaller jeans but i guess i still have that fear i will not be able to fit in them. anyone out there that is 5'8 weighing 217 or around there can tell me what size jeans i should be wearing ( i know i know i should just get my butt up and go to the store but i just dont want to disappoint myself) i keep thinking i want to buy those sexy size 8 jeans and just hang them to the wall and hopefully sometime next year i will be able to fit in them. but for some reason i just cant do it. im guess in a way im just scared i will never fit into those jeans and i will just really disappoint myself. im hoping when i get under 200 then i will get my butt up and go out and buy a pair of jeans. haha wish me luck karen

Welcome. As far as pointers: I would recommend three things. 1. Take a good before photograph of yourself, so that you have something to compare to after surgery. Many times we are blind to our obesity. We do not see ourselves. Therefore when the weight begins to drop off rather dramatically, we question if this is really happening. Photographs are a good visualization of our success. Many people carry a before and after photo with them, just to remind themselves of their success. 2. Walk 30 minutes each day, every day until surgery (or equivalent exercise). Walking helps the recovery process go smoothly and minimized the pain levels from surgery. 3. Wean yourself from caffeine and carbonated beverages now. After I gave up my 6 diet coke a day habit, I suffered from a week of severe withdrawal syndrome consisting of severe headaches and body aches. I was miserable. You don't want to combine the effects of caffeine withdrawal with the effects of surgery.

Points earned for Rule 1 For each day that you drink a minimum of 64oz of water, you earn 1 point. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_____ Bonus____Week's Total__0___ 6-08___1__6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13_____6-14_____ Bonus____Week's Total__1___ 6-15_____6-16_____6-17_____6-18_____6-19_____6-20_____6-21_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-22_____6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 2 For each day that you exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes, you earn 2 points. You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_2____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-08_____6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13_____6-14_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-15_____6-16_____6-17_____6-18_____6-19_____6-20_____6-21_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-22_____6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Rule 3 For each day that you do not eat foods that contain flour or sugar, you earn 3 points. (sugar substitutes are allowed) You may earn a bonus of 5 points for a perfect week. 5-31_____6-01_____6-02_____6-03_____6-04_____6-05_____6-06_____6-07_____ Bonus____Week's Total__1___ 6-08__1___6-09_____6-10_____6-11_____6-12_____6-13_____6-14_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-15_____6-16_____6-17_____6-18_____6-19_____6-20_____6-21_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ 6-22_____6-23_____6-24_____6-25_____6-26_____6-27_____6-28_____ Bonus____Week's Total_____ Grand Total_______ Points earned for Weight loss For each pound that you lose during the challenge, you earn 1 point Beginning weight 5-31: Weigh-in weight 6-7: 3lbs Weigh-in weight 6-14: Weigh-in weight 6-21: Weigh-in weight 6-28: Total lost during challenge: Total points earned for Rule 1: Total points earned for Rule 2: Total points earned for Rule 3: Total points earned for weight loss: Total Challenge points earned:

Thanks for all your input to the very broad question I asked. I guess sometimes I just want my 49 year old brain to stop thinking of the next meal, the next bit of food I can put in my mouth to satisfy the physical and mental need that I know will never be full no matter how much I stuff it. As far back as five years old I remember always feeling "different" because I could not stop thinking of food. I am one of four and my other three siblings have no food obsession. I always wanted more and more and never knew how they could walk away from the table after one serving and never wanting to go back in the kitchen all night long. All the while my mission was to sneak and eat as much as possible but never get full. Keep in mind I was not overweight until my mid 30's. Now I am well over 200lbs but I have felt obese (physically and mentally) all my life. My worry is that the obsession will remain after the pounds disappear. I want the icing on my cake so to speak. What I hope for is the obsession to decrease along with the pounds. The surgery decreases stomach size but what does it do for the brain obsession? That seems to be the part taking the toll on me. Thanks for letting me ramble my thoughts out.

I did have the sleeve on March 24th, so I'll be 3 weeks out on Friday. I was able to start my pureed stage after a week and it went smoothly. When I went to my post op appointment the doctor said to trust my body and if I felt comfortable moving to softer foods like moist meats, eggs, etc then I should go for it. The only discomfort I've felt is in my chest and then I feel it go down my stomach but its not bad just weird. I lost 17 pounds and I have a hard time with my protein intake, so with me being able to eat some soft meats, that helps me a little.

Okay, I am hoping that there is someone out there that can give me advice, words of wisdom, or just plain old Ive been there and it is possible to get back on track. I got my band three years ago. Lost 100 pounds. Had complications, band slipped and severe acid reflux. Surgery to put band back, then way off the good trail on eating, followed by divorce. Now 80 pounds are back and I want to get back on track. I just cannot seem to stop eating and kick the habit. Any advise? I know it is up to me. I just don't know how to get started again.

This is normal. There's been tons of posts from people just a few weeks out panicking about the stall... but it is perfectly normal and will happen quite a bit more over the next year or two. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/ I've just posted this same advice in another thread recently: I know it can seem like you shouldn't have to deal with stalls since you went through surgery, but try to think of them as rest breaks for your body to catch up. You couldn't run flat out for 100 miles without a break - you'd need to stop every so often and catch your breath, have a few swigs of Water and get revved back up to hit that trail and run fast again. That's exactly what your body is doing - taking a breather in preparation to performing another sprint (drop a few pounds). Sometimes it might need a short rest, sometimes it might need longer (weeks). But if you keep giving it what it needs (water/protein/exercise) you'll start sprinting again. And get out a tape measure and take measurements NOW. Arms, chest, waist, hips and thighs. You'll see during those stalls that you might just be dropping fat (it gets burned off and replaced with muscle). Since a pound of fat and a pound of muscle weigh the same, it might not show up on the scale, but fat is MUCH bulkier than muscle, so you'll see it in the tape measure and how your clothes fit. Stalls are vital. Stalls are GOOD. It means you're hitting a new peak and getting ready for some weight loss coming up.

Im at four months. Scale didn't move in over a week. I'm so use to it moving so I'm very disappointed. I started out at relatively low bmi, weighed about 218 at 5'6" but I've been losing at the least a pound a week. Haven't stalled since the dreaded 3 week stall so I'm concerned

What's your caloric daily intake now? You've heard of muscle confusion, right? Basicly changing your workout every few days so your body doesn't know what to expect, and never gets stagnate. Well you can also confuse your metabolism. Say you consume 1000 calories a day, what you can do is boost your caloric intake to 1500 calories for 3 days, then slam them back down to 1000/day again for 5 days or so, then boost for 2days then back down. This method will boost your metabolism. It's not something you want to do long term. But for up to 3 months to reach a goal it really works well. Also if you're just in a stall, save this till you think your weight loss has ended & use it to kick off those last few lbs.

I am in my 5th week. I had surgery April 15th. I was losing and losing, then the 4th week hit and it stopped for me. my scale is finally moving again. I just kept doing what I was told. Eating when I'm suppose to and drinking as much as I can. Thd good news is that when my scale stopped moving, my body kept changing. I noticed more in the last week my pants are so much more loose, my bra (well I think it's time to go shopping), and my shoes. Thank God my sweet mother bought me a new pair of tennis shoes. I feel like I am walking in someone else's shoes.

I am 11 days out and I am tired too taday but I did put in a full week at work so I am sure that is part of it. As much as I try though I can't get in enough fluid or protein so I am sure that has alot to do with it

Hello everyone, I had surgery on Dec 19, 2006 by Dr. K. in Kansas City. To me she is the best, her staff and the hospital as a whole were wonderful. My starting weight was 324, my 2 week post weight is 304. My only concern is I read so much the about the band on what to eat and when to eat, that I'm not not sure about any of it. I don't like to call my doctor everytime I have a question. So I'm asking the ones who have traveled down this road before me. :angry

Thanks so much for the information. Unfortunately I was not given much information and my first visit with the surgeon is 5 weeks post op due to the holidays. Elode the bra thing is weird and as much as its nice to not wear one, I feel embarrassed without one.

hit a small stall but didnt give up upped my protein and exercise and kept on

I went through so many emotions once I made the decision to be banded. Even though I wanted it more than anything I still found myself mourning the fact that there were foods I would never be able to eat again. I also went through periods of fear and doubt. I believe these all to be natural feelings for somebody who lives to eat. I realize I may be off point of the original thread, however, I wanted to just point out that I felt all kinds of feelings in the weeks before surgery. I realized that the main focus of my life was food. The night before surgery my doctor told me to have my "last supper" I gorged myself with bread, margaritas and Mexican food. I felt so sick that night that I knew I would not miss that feeling. Face it, we eat out for entertainment, we celebrate with food and drinks, going to Starbucks was a night out, etc. The band has helped me to realize that I need food for survival. Food will no longer control me. Eating healthier makes me feel better and have more energy. I recommend you get the band and find out just how much food you should be able to consume and your stomach can hold and if necessary measure it out before you eat it. I still enjoy eating but in a different way. I am enjoying making myself a healthier me!. The only thing I'm struggling with is not drinking water or any beverage with my meals. I recommend anybody planning to be banded try to adjust to this beforehand.

Vicki1205 I'm flying to Puerta Vallarta. I am doing this alone, but my family is flying in at the end of the week to spend another week with me there recouping. Thank you for the well wishes. Where did you have yours done?

Thanks for the advice Juli! I'm not a quitter and odds are I'm going to go through with the sugery. Hopefully three is a charm!! I guess I'll just call today "dress rehersal!"

I haven't weighed myself in a couple days so I don't know how close I am currently but I am just over six pounds away and I am averaging just over three pounds lost/week. So by mid July I will be there. There doesn't seem to be much of a restriction; had my second fill over two weeks ago and I am back to my goat status: I can eat anything but I choose what goes in.:smile: I spent some time reading a topic on the day of surgery; that brought back the angels and demons of that experience. Considering how drugged I was, I don't think I could offer a decent account without some creative license. Anyhow there is something very old about people going off on the details of surgery like everyone is waiting on baited breath to hear how small your turds got or what medication was rubbed on your dorsal fin:laugh::laugh: I will have to share my personal nightmare of that special day: I awoke in the recovery room getting entertained by the antics of Nurse Mildred Ratchet. She seemed to really get off yanking the catheter out of my flacid Oscar Myer. Even though I was heavily medicated I saw the face of Satan in that nano-second. A few days later I found out that thorny cactus was supposed to have be removed while I was still under. :eek:It was my version of drawing the short straw:biggrin: But that is the past and I will let that demon go. Be good to one another. Count your blessings and be gracious with everyone less fortunate. As always, WB

Thank you!! That made me feel a thousand times better. I basically assumed that it wouldn't ruin everything but I needed at least one person to verify. And I did talk to my team and she basically said I need protein no matter what. Which I completely understand, I'm strictly just talking about this first week. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hopefully it was just a fluke. During my two week liquid shake I got a case of the diarrhea after 3 days. You are very close. Keep a positive outlook and good luck and smile, you are almost there!