Search the Community

I just had my psych evaluation a few weeks ago. It was two seperate days & very easy. First day was just talking to the doctor about my weight loss past. I came very prepared & had all records written down & copied for her. She really appreciated this. The second day was a test that took about 3 1/2 hours answering t or f questions. Its to test if you have any serious psych problems or behavioral problems that may make you unsuitable for a surgery like this one. It was very easy & all you do is answer honestly. PAY ATTENTION to all the questions. they are very repetitve( some very silly) & this is done to make sure you are reading every question & not just filling in t or f for all of them. That is what mine was like I do ot know if they're all the same. I have Blue Cross network & this was standard for them. I was told I passed the very next day. Good luck to you- you'll do just fine.

Josette.. Congrats on the fabulous weight loss!!!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2:

First of all - CONGRATS on your 45 pound weight loss. That is awesome. This article will explain a few things. http://www.dsfacts.c...or-plateau.html As awful as it sounds, try and increase your Water intake to 96 ounces a day and pee often. My fitness trainer friend says to make sure you POPC (pee often, pee clear).

beautifult, I also work 12 hour shifts and it is very hard for me to get in a decent sit down meal, however, I take my optifast protein drinks to work and I will have one every four hours or so. I have to eat on the run (this is partly how I gained my wieght by eating quick fast foods). I have explained to my supervisor that I will need to take at least 20 minutes to have a sit down meal because of the band and he told me to take the time and take care of myself. I just started my regular meals and it is going well. I take the time to chew, chew, chew and I am so far losing weight and I am using the gym at work because of the 12 hours and the convience of it being right there on site. As for you not having the time to take a break, I do understand, however talk to your supervisor about your needs. You are a caregiver of others, so why not take at least 20 minutes to take care of yourself also? If all esle fails, the protein drinks are already premixed and I put mine in a cup that I can carry around with me and sip on. Hope this helps a little.

Katie i'm so sorry you feel bummed out and discouraged, and physically not feeling great either am i reading correctly that you lost 70 lbs pre-op???? OMG thats great as Arts correctly stated, 32 lbs in 6 weeks is wonderful I'm afraid many many people here think that they are gonna have WLS on "friday" and wake up monday morning losing 100 lbs not gonna happen but i think you really do know that - you, like everyone else, just want the weight gone yesterday!!! Water is very very important!!!! not getting enough water in, possibly being totally dehydrated??? sure you will feel weak!!!! gotta force the fluids having blood pressure problems - meds off??? that will cause you to feel weak IMO thats the issue that needs to be fixed glad you have already seen a dr, hopefully he can figure out the prob continue to be pro-active with the doc til he figures out what to do with your meds tell him about the gas issues by not feeling well, not eating or drinking - thats gonna make you feel weak!!!!! gotta force yourself to eat and drink to help yourself do everything very slowly - sipping - taking extra small bites - taking long breaks between forkfuls you will mentally feel better as soon as the physical stuff gradually improves then you won't feel down about your weight situation please remember - you are doing great!!!!! just losing another 2 lb - holy moly girlfriend - you are on the right road to success!!!! take care feel better good luck kathy

@@anitavee, I am starting to second guess my decision also. I am scheduled for surgery on the 25th and I'm struggling with the pre op diet. I was also just diagnosed with PCOS, so I'm started to wonder if I may lose a lot of weight just by treating the PCOS and hormone imbalance. I've been asking myself, "do you really need to do it THIS way?", "can't you just try a little harder?". I have no energy with this liquid diet and I'm a bit nauseous. Also, I'm so scared that since this surgery is irreversible that I may be making the biggest mistake of my life! Aaagghhh! I'm torn...

About 7 years ago I had a lapband put in by the well known Dr. Ortiz. As I lived in Canada I had no support system, and no way to get a lot of fills after the surgery. I was told about a company just across the border in Washington state, but they closed down just after my second fill. I was frustrated that none of the local doctors would take me because I was banded out of the country, and I gave up. This month I moved to Henderson, NV. I'd like to find someone that I could go to and see if I can get back on the wagon; no idea if my band is still positioned well, and if I can be filled. Does anyone know of anyone in Las Vegas that takes patients they didn't band? More than just fills, I am looking for a support center for my weight loss. Any suggestions?

I just went to Surgical Weight Control Center yesterday for the first time. I was banded in Mexico 11 years ago. I thought they were very nice and professional. :-) Try 702-313-THIN. I'll keep you posted. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

^^^This! Great post @allwet. It's super stressful, the "not knowing," and trying to navigate a new road. The surgical team tries as best they can to prepare us, but the reality is that it's like bringing home a new baby from the hospital. We will be anxious and fretful 1st time parents to our new babies. I was TERRIFIED of overeating and ruining the tool I was given. My new pouch wasn't giving me feedback to let me know when I was full. So I never knew how much latitude to give myself. So I actually did the opposite of you. I ate my scheduled 5-6 mini meals per day and got my protein in come hell or high water. But I ate very small quantities and calories for my stage in order not to stretch my pouch. Consequently, I never challenged it or felt full--so I thought my surgery was screwed up cuz I never got full. LOL. Then one day I let myself eat all I wanted. Low and behold, I was only about 2-3bites below the "OK, 'enough moron' stage." I got my vitamins in each day and got my 120oz of liquids! Every day. I ate on a schedule whether I was hungry or not, cuz it was the only way to get my protein in and make as much of it protein from food, rather than protein supplements. Retrospectively, I'm not sure if that was right or wrong. You know? I could have just had 2 Premier Proteins for 320cals and been done with it! Protein req satisfied, BOOM Chahkalaka! And I would have had 22oz of liquids toward my goal. I healed easily. Many don't. Many of you guys have a LOT of swelling to deal with. So it's an individual walk and what worked for me, won't work for you. You just have to carefully feel things out. Now, fast forward to 9 almost 10 weeks and my new tummy tells me when it's full and I know approximately how big a meal should be by volume and weight. I know when I can't possibly eat another meal--so I cut out the next meal. I try to still eat on a schedule, but sometimes I don't want my snacks. So I skip them. Eventually, I will be able to eat enough volume, that I can eat 3 meals + 1 snack a day. But I'm not there yet. And that's ok. My tummy will tell me when I am! Your's will too! At the end of the day, if I haven't eaten enough to satisfy my protein minimum for the day, I will add as much Premier Protein as I have to have in order to satisfy my minimum goal. I ALWAYS satisfy my liquid reqs and my vitamin reqs and the absolute minimum protein. But now I'm doing good to work toward the middle of the protein range, which should give me more oomph to do my workouts. Just take things slowly and try to listen to the very subtle cues from your body. They will become more and more pronounced as you learn its new language! Congrats on surgery!

current weight 199 lbs. finally broke that 200 lb mark. even tho its only 1 lb under...its under.

So I am beginning to feel much better and able to walk around without much trouble getting up. Yesterday I even ventured out of the house for a few hours. I am noticing that I tire easily which isn't a good thing because I return to work on Monday. I have no trouble with eating (other than hunger and cravings for everything I see on TV). This liquid diet is driving me crazy but only another week of it and then at least some soft foods. Although this is better than the pre-op liquid diet. I notice I don't eat alot at each meal but do get hungery every few hours. I am really trying to get the protein in to help with this problem. I have some pain in my back from the gas but the heating pad really helps and of course where the port is. Otherwise no other pain. I have been having headaches the past few days (I think it is because I haven't been doing anything but sleeping). So I hope when I back to a normal schedule the headaches will go away. I gained a lb from yesterday but I am not too worried about it. At some point it will be lost again. I am just ready to go back to work because I am becoming so bored being at home.

There are some foods on the list I was suprised I would be able to eat, for example, nuts, and I thought junk food wouldn't go down as easy lol (I have a friend who had gastric bypass that can not digest sugary foods and I thought the lap band would be similar, but it isn't-chocolate, cookies, and chips unfortunately go down fine) I have no problems with pasta in fact, with the second adjustment, I found it hard not to PB unless I ate pasta, it was a safe food for me, unfortunately, it is not the best food to lose weight with when you are trying to watch you carbs. I have problems with potatoes now (not on first adjustment but after 2nd-I am now on my 3rd as of today so I don't know) I can't eat them baked, although baked sweet potato goes down fine. Basically if it has sugar it goes down fine if it is healthy lately, I have had a problem. I do miss french fries, but, in some ways I am happy I can't eat them because they were one of the reasons I gained weight in the first place. I hope that helps, I know everyone is different Denise

Hello All, I was banded last Mondy and I have been recooping all week and doing pretty well. I go back to my Doctor for a follow up on Monday, June 30. I have dropped about 12 lbs so far since I started. I am hoping to have a nice steady and healthy weight loss. Just wanted to say hello--Thanks, Disney

During this time period it is imperative that you "diet" and I hate to use that word. I was hungry for a long time while waiting for fill after fill. I finally have restriction and it's great. But I didn't really lose much weight for about 3 months. I maintained and maybe lost a few pounds but don't look for big weight loss right now. Just count your calories and measure what you eat and drink, drink, drink your water! Keep protein high and carbs low. That did the trick for me. Hope this helps! Best wishes!

Today is my one year Bandiversary :biggrin: I am down 72 pounds. I so wanted to be down 75 by today, but I am happy with the 72. I still have a long way to go, and wish I was one of those people who could say I've lost 100 something in a year... but I will just have to work harder to get there. Looking back on this year.... When I get down about my (in my mind) not fast enough weight loss I sometimes wish I had gone another route (bypass)..... but even while I have these thoughts, I know the band was the right choice for me. Do I regret being banded... never!!!! Any advice to newbies?? E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E I do regret I did not exercise at the beginning. I had some post op complications that made me quite miserable, but I wish I had pushed myself a bit more. I lost 40+ pounds just sitting in my recliner all day/every day. I imaging how much I would have lost had I actually moved around those first few months. I let myself lose focus for a while (3 month plateaus when you are doing everything right can do that to you) :thumbup: In the last month or so I have recommited to my band (I was never too far of the reservation...just not as careful as I could have/should have been) I am watchng what I eat... making better choices. I am also getting more moving in (I hate to call it exercise... that sounds like work :glare:) I will get there... it is just taking a bit longer than I had hoped and planned. __________________

If someone asked you what mindful eating was, how would you describe it? Some might give it a simple definition and say "It is being aware of what you are eating", but I think that it is more than that. Recently, I began my pre-surgical classes where the topic of the day just happened to be eating mindfully. Now let's be honest, you can be completely aware of the fact that you just sat down to watch TV and whoever was there before you left a big bowl of chips on the side table. You begin to eat them as you watch TV, now you are still aware that chips are being put into your mouth and you are indeed eating them, but you aren't really thinking about it. You aren't even really hungry, they are just there! The only thing that makes you stop is your hand hitting the bottom of the bowl because there are no chips left. You feel terrible now because you didn't really want/need them anyway you just ate them out of habit. To prove a point, the doctor running our class gave everyone one raisin. We held it in our hands and described it by looking at it, touching it with our finger tips, smelling it, we described it by touching it to our lips and then we placed it in our mouths without chewing to describe it. Then of course we chewed it to describe it and he then said when we had purposely made a decision to swallow this itty bitty raisin we could do so. Now this was all a bit over the top I must admit, but it certainly hit home. This journey we call the lap band is not just about losing weight, it's about a lifestyle change, a forever change. I want to challenge you all to eat at least one meal everyday mindfully, you don't have to go as drastic as we ate that raisin but take the time to eat your meal slowly and make a choice to chew and swallow. Make a choice to eat mindfully and the margin for failure will decrease significantly. :toetap05: BreAnne

If someone asked you what mindful eating was, how would you describe it? Some might give it a simple definition and say "It is being aware of what you are eating", but I think that it is more than that. Recently, I began my pre-surgical classes where the topic of the day just happened to be eating mindfully. Now let's be honest, you can be completely aware of the fact that you just sat down to watch TV and whoever was there before you left a big bowl of chips on the side table. You begin to eat them as you watch TV, now you are still aware that chips are being put into your mouth and you are indeed eating them, but you aren't really thinking about it. You aren't even really hungry, they are just there! The only thing that makes you stop is your hand hitting the bottom of the bowl because there are no chips left. You feel terrible now because you didn't really want/need them anyway you just ate them out of habit. To prove a point, the doctor running our class gave everyone one raisin. We held it in our hands and described it by looking at it, touching it with our finger tips, smelling it, we described it by touching it to our lips and then we placed it in our mouths without chewing to describe it. Then of course we chewed it to describe it and he then said when we had purposely made a decision to swallow this itty bitty raisin we could do so. Now this was all a bit over the top I must admit, but it certainly hit home. This journey we call the lap band is not just about losing weight, it's about a lifestyle change, a forever change. I want to challenge you all to eat at least one meal everyday mindfully, you don't have to go as drastic as we ate that raisin but take the time to eat your meal slowly and make a choice to chew and swallow. Make a choice to eat mindfully and the margin for failure will decrease significantly. :scared2: BreAnne

133 pounds lost Foods I avoid - scrambled eggs, rice, bread (altho, i can eat if I really take it easy) Weakness - Skinny Cow Mint Ice Cream Sandwich or Weight Watcher dark chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars - I can pretty much eat anything I ate before, I avoid the things that have caused me problems but every now and then I REALLY want a hamburger so I have one. It may take me an hour to eat it but I can do it without getting stuck if I really want to. Puzzled, by slime and the excessive amount of gas Can I eat around my band, yep... just drink with my meals (I rarely do this but once in a while if I go out to eat I'll have Water with my meal) Continued Good Luck to you!

I go for my first consultation next week. Your post worries me. How long have you had the band? I havee to yo dieted since I was 18. I have lost and gained 50 lbs at least 3 times. I am sad to hear after having the band placed I might still be on that emotional roller coaster? I always am referrring to myself as "on" or "off" the bandwagon. I was really hoping this surgery would help with that. Any other long term banders with any input? Thanks, Laura

Please don't avoid your dr because of embarrassment! My surgeon and his office are so incredibly helpful. I went in after gaining a few pounds after 4 months and two fills and he was so supportive. He wants me to succeed, and I'm sure yours does too. Also, I completely understand about time and money. Those are my obstacles when it comes to exercising. I just try to do the littlest things instead - parking far away, walking instead of driving, etc. If you start thinking positively about small changes, it will help in the long run! Best wishes

I didn't lose anything for two weeks post up, I was doing everything right and could not figure it out. Then I had a thought when I first got home I was on a clear broth diet and I lost weight the day I went on shakes and pureed diet I stalled. so I thought I will do the broth thing and you know what, in 5 days I lost 11 pounds. As I am a diabetic, all carbs and little sugar I was putting in my mouth with the shakes was putting my weight loss in jeopardy. so I am sticking to broth and seafood high in Protein and I feel great.

Please be careful as to what you are eating post your surgery.You have worked hard to get where you are now therefore enjoy the weight loss and a new you .Do not give in to your cravings as that is only a self destruct path.You will not gain from it instead it will put you in more trouble.

Hello, Had my banding Oct 4th 06'. Have not lost much since the initial weight first couple of weeks post-op. I can eat a just a few bites and feel full. Sometimes I don't think about it and take too big of bites, and don't chew enough. This mostly happens when I don't concentrate about how I am eating, but just falling into the old habits of how I ate before banding. If I wait just a little while I can continue to eat almost a full meal...which in my opinion is too large before I feel restriction again. This happened some month's ago but I was drinking Water to flush the food when it got too uncomfortable. Not doing that now, but the ability of being able to eat shortly after the initial fullness has returned. Do I nee a fill? Or do I need to quit after the initial fullness? Thanks

If your life is becoming out of control, focus on the one thing you can control. What you eat. Believe in yourself and focus on stabilizing yourself. You can do it. You did a lot to get where you are today with weight loss

I can honestly say I have stepped over into the sleeved land. Had surgery 24th of sept. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The nurses were great and did not let have any pain. The doctors I absolutely love. I came home Thurs afternoon. I felt wonderful until this morning. I have a slight heaviness in my stomach region, not around my heart. I am going walking this morning in the grocery store. My husband needs to eat too. I hope that when I go to see dr in October 8 I would have lost some weight.