male only For Just Us Guys

[nkcaump 0]

Wendell,

This is a great post, thank you very much. You've really helped answer a lot of questions (or at least synchronized those answers with what I thought...)

A couple other questions, if you please...

Is it common to go on a diet during those first six weeks or even a couple of weeks before, just so you get a "running start" at the weight loss, or is it a lost cause to try?

I, personally, am a stress eater. I'm guessing that having a post-op lifestyle will still have its share of stress. How is the best way to handle that in the first six weeks after being banded?

Thanks again for your post.

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Wendell,

This is a great post, thank you very much. You've really helped answer a lot of questions (or at least synchronized those answers with what I thought...)

A couple other questions, if you please...

Is it common to go on a diet during those first six weeks or even a couple of weeks before, just so you get a "running start" at the weight loss, or is it a lost cause to try?

I, personally, am a stress eater. I'm guessing that having a post-op lifestyle will still have its share of stress. How is the best way to handle that in the first six weeks after being banded?

Thanks again for your post.

Hi Chris! You're very welcome!

Is it common to go on a diet during those first six weeks or even a couple of weeks before, just so you get a "running start" at the weight loss, or is it a lost cause to try?

Many people start practicing eating as if they have a band before the operation, I thiink it's a good idea. In addition, your surgeon may require a pre-op diet designed to shrink the liver. The liver is large in most morbidly obese people, and that liver must be "shoved" out of the way during the operation, so some doctors want the liver to shrink to avoid damaging it.

I, personally, am a stress eater. I'm guessing that having a post-op lifestyle will still have its share of stress. How is the best way to handle that in the first six weeks after being banded?

If I knew the answer to how to handle stress in stress-overeaters, I never would have had a weight problem myself. One thing I did that helped me a LOT was to just avoid negative people. I got to a point where if someone was getting too negative around me I found a reason to end the conversation with them.

I also videotaped every TV show I watched so I could zap through the food commercials!

[MDix30 0]

Hi guys, I had a fill earlier in the week and it seems pretty tight. I'm reluctant to have an un-fill because (1) I like the weight loss associated with restriction, and (2) I know it is going to loosen up on its own pretty soon. Right now, it's pretty difficult for me to get down lunch (but I do it anyway). Breakfast is impossible, and my doc says that most of his patient skip this meal because the band is tighter in the morning. dinner is more managable; I'm able to get down 3 oz of meat and a small side. I can get liquids down if I drink very slowly.

So, is all of this normal for a bandster after a fill?

[Wendell Edwards 73]

Hi guys, I had a fill earlier in the week and it seems pretty tight. I'm reluctant to have an un-fill because (1) I like the weight loss associated with restriction, and (2) I know it is going to loosen up on its own pretty soon. Right now, it's pretty difficult for me to get down lunch (but I do it anyway). Breakfast is impossible, and my doc says that most of his patient skip this meal because the band is tighter in the morning. dinner is more managable; I'm able to get down 3 oz of meat and a small side. I can get liquids down if I drink very slowly.

So, is all of this normal for a bandster after a fill?

No, it sounds like you are too tight. 3 Ounces of Protein is only 21 grams, and that's not nearly enough protein. Plus, you might dehydrate at this rate.

I would advise you to get a slight unfill, as little as .2CC will make the band a lot more comfortable.

[AshevilleEddie 14]

Hi guys, getting abnded Oct 23, very nervous about it, it is a live changing action. I have been heavy all my life, thanks to an Italina Mom and family , Also thanks to myself for not stopping eating. I was very active in Ice hockey until two years ago and I got nervous because of my weight. Since then I have been diag. with Type II diabetis I am on 11 pills a day plus insulin. I am 53 and I need something to help me lose weight. GUYS!!!! Does it really work?

Pre-op I was on 100 iu of Lantus (basal insulin) daily, plus 10 mcg Byetta injections before lunch and dinner, plus 1000 mg of Metformin twice a day and had horrible control. I'm now on no meds (yeah, you heard right - zero) for diabetes and have pretty much non-diabetic blood glucose levels. I'm down so far from 262 to 224 and from size 46 pants to mostly 40s (plus a few 38s and even one pair of size 36 shorts!). Another 20 pounds or so and I should be able to look down and see my, um, toes. :heh:

Yeah, it works.

[AshevilleEddie 14]

Hi guys, I had a fill earlier in the week and it seems pretty tight. I'm reluctant to have an un-fill because (1) I like the weight loss associated with restriction, and (2) I know it is going to loosen up on its own pretty soon. Right now, it's pretty difficult for me to get down lunch (but I do it anyway). Breakfast is impossible, and my doc says that most of his patient skip this meal because the band is tighter in the morning. dinner is more managable; I'm able to get down 3 oz of meat and a small side. I can get liquids down if I drink very slowly.

So, is all of this normal for a bandster after a fill?

No, it sounds like you are too tight. 3 Ounces of Protein is only 21 grams, and that's not nearly enough Protein. Plus, you might dehydrate at this rate.

I would advise you to get a slight unfill, as little as .2CC will make the band a lot more comfortable.

I'm with Wendell on this. I had an episode a few weeks ago - one morning I just couldn't keep anything down. Called the docs office and went in. I honestly thought I had a stomach bug, but he did a pretty big unfill (2 cc) and I was fine. I had not had a fill for several weeks prior to this episode and don't know what brought it on that particulary day, but at that point I was definitely too tight. I had to push a lot of liquids the rest of the day because I was on the edge of being dehydrated. Plus, if you're not drinking any supplmental protein, that 3 oz of meat is definitely nowhere near enough. I try to keep mine at a minimum of 60 g per day.

As for the morning restriction, my doc says a lot of his patients experience that. The esophagus and stomach are muscle, and tend to warm up and relax as the day progresses, thus allowing you to eat more the later it gets. He doesn't care if I don't eat breakfast as long as my Fluid and protein intake are where they should be. If you have to force lunch, you're at an increased risk for a slippage (or increased vomiting, which can in turn also lead to slippage). I know you like the faster weight loss that comes with the increased restriction (so did I) but I'd go for a slight unfill.

[MDix30 0]

Ok thanks. I'll try to get a hold of someone this weekend for an unfill.

[TheWatcher 1]

OK to after the consultation what hoops am i likely to have to jump through... My doc said they may be hesitant cause the only things that im being affected by is bmi over 60 and sleep apnea. So other than the psych eval whats test and things are they likely to run???

[Chris61 0]

I just wanted to let everyone know that things went well for my wife who had the band on 9/12/07. I have been busy and have not had a chance to post. I am also going to get the band on 9/19/07. We are not sure the date when her sister will get hers at this time. Here are the details of how things went.

Here surgery was moved back from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. So we got to the hospitial at 1 and got check in. They took here back and she go dressed for surgery and they did blood work. Then they took us to the surgery waiting area. They did not allow us to go back into that area. ( I think the reason was are young daughter was with us and there was not enough room in the area for 3 people) they gave us here glasses and she went on into the pre-op area. I saw the doctor before surgery. They did not start surgey until 4 P.M. she was done by 5 P.M. the doctor came out and said it went well and that she was given the new AP regular which is about 10cc and has soem Fluid in it. She was in recovery until about 6:45 P.M.

Then she was moved to her room. Well to say the least that was crazy because it was also shift change and you can iamage how that was. We left about 7:30P.M. that night. Also she could not have nothing to drink or eat until after the barriam swallow test. (We found that out the next day). We new that the test was happing but not that she could not eat. So she had the test on Thursday morning and she passed it with flying colors. So we thought she could go ahead and start drinking and eating but it was another couple of hours before they did anything.(The reason is the nurses will not do anything untill they have a written signed report in the file). So she was complaning of nausea etc. so they kept giving her meds for it. She was able to get up and walk around etc. and she was able to start drinking and eating. We thought that she would be out of the Hosp. by say 3 P.M. but that was not to be the case. Here is another thing that we learned. The clock for the 24 hours does not start when you come in. It starts after surgery and when you get into the room. So they were not planning to let here go before 7 P.M. but no one told us that before hand. The doctor came in a couple of times and check on here and then came back around 5 P.M. and said that she could go. So by the time we got her dressed and all the paper work done it was right at 7 P.M. I brought here home and she is doing fine now.

As far as care at the hospitial was ok. It took a long time to get food etc. when they told us they had it on the floor.(The nurses were busy since the rooms were filled) I think that was part of the reason why she was having problems with nausea etc. Then another thing that was upsetting was how the nurse approached with having to give more meds for infections etc. and saying because you are still here. Well now as I look at it, if you would have brought the food right-a-way we might not have this problem.

So with that said now things will be easier for myself on Wednesday the 19th and for her here sister when she has it done. I did say that I will have a jug of Soup ready for when I can eat and not wait on them to bring it. I think that if would have had it there and ready for when the paper work was in place she might not of had as much nausa as she did. Just iamage what it is like to not eat for almost 30 hours and having legal drugs in your system. No wonder you have nausa.

Again thanks to everyone for all your advice, help and prayers. I will let you know how my surgery went.

[gmccon 0]

Hi Guys,

I'm 10 days post-op. I feel normal in all respects, except that I am aware of the port when I roll over during sleep.

My early posts on other threads will tell you that the day of the surgery was the worst of my life. You can read depression between the lines. That's all gone now.

Even at 60, I find I am more interested in losing weight than ever before. At 276 lbs (BMI 40), I could not believe how big I was. Hidiously so. But in the past I have always been able to go back down below 200 lbs, so times much less than 200.

So the band and the related encouragement to lose weight is greater today, than ever. Here's what I'm coming to:

I am motivated, something I intend to convert to obsessive compulsion (what I do best :confused:). I am old, fat, and developing a bad heart, but my PCP says its all reverseable, "just lose the weight and get back into shape."

I have always enjoyed the gym, and jogging, and fighting arts. I guess work-stress and family-stress, and whatever else some how moved, or rudely pushed food into the front of "my line".

So I get the feeling that the band is just what was needed to push food back to its proper place in line. "Dead Last."

My band-doctor said I could do the full gym-thing, post-op 2 weeks. I'm cheating a little now, by working with a stripped bar on the bench and in seated military press, plus doing some light-weight lat pulls, etc. I'm using the elliptical trainer for fat burn.

Again,10 days post-op, and I'm getting more and more energy, every day. More important, a much, much improved attitude.

BTW, EAS whey Protein with skim milk is only 200 cals, and tastes just wonderful. I get it on the net for about $30 for each 5 lb can.

In conclusion, I forgot to mention that I simply didn't have the energy or time to fight my insurance company, so I am self-pay, and even more determined that this work.

For those pre-band guys just lurking this site, if you are BMI 35 or higher, and you've lost control of power over food, give the band some very serious, positive consideration. Find a PCP that understands the band, and let him or her (mine's a 'her'), guide you to the best local band-surgeon.

God Bless You,

greg

[paulk 0]

<p>Other than usual blood work you will probly have EKG . some people have to go through the psych part for a while I went three times before being banded. I still go about once a month and it does help I had sleep apnea & type 2 , with some heart problems I did have to get clearance from my cardiologist and reaguler DR. It took a while for my family DR to get all the files . I finally had to gently remind them to get busy<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/heh.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Heh" smilieid="255" class="inlineimg" /> Good Luck Watcher Paul</p>

[lsvadala 0]

Guys, I am really nervous about the band, does it really work, and what about Pasta can you ever eat it again. and also what about a sandwich??

[paulk 0]

Hello I have not ate a lot of Pasta but I have had some depends on what day it is. With the band baramatric pressure rise and fall some times tells me what I can and can't eat. Sandwiches , If they are toasted sometimes I can eat one NO subway . If the bread is thick forget it I don,t even try. But after 4 months I have lost 45 lbs. It's kind of funny I don't crave food with the band . Now I still have a dish of ice cream , a piece of pie or cake I don't deprive myself I just don't eat the whole thing like I use to . I have not tried rice at all . I can eat spagetti but not more than 3/4 cup. I eat the meatballs or sausage and am totally satisfied. Instead of sandwitches with bread I can eat a tortia,like a wrap. not all the time but once in a while . hope this helps Paul

[Brewa2000 1]

Isvadala-The band will work, but you need to do your part. You have to come to grips that Pasta and bread are not your friends in weightloss. Those foods are a part of the reason I weighed almost 300 lbs 8 months ago. That being said, I do nibble on a piece of dry whole grain toast once in a while, never finished over 1/2 a slice. I haven't tried Pasta since being banded.

Your eating habits will definitely change. If they don't, well, you can read all kinds of threads about people who say the band doesn't work for them. Most of them aren't eating properly.

Excercise is also very important, even if it is just walking. I notice you are my age. I have arthritis and some days walking is about all I can handle other days I ride my recumbant bike.

Hope this helps. Sorry if I seem blunt, but I believe just getting banded isn't going to be the answer. You need to work at it. It been a wonderful thing for me!

Good Luck!

Bruce

[MDix30 0]

Isvadala, I was banded 6/28/07 and have lost 44 pounds, so it definitely works. When it comes to sandwiches, I usually take off one piece of bread and eat it open faced. Only now, I eat 1/2 the sandwich and am satisfied without chips and a cookie. I know it sounds strange, but if you choose to get banded it really will change your eating, and desire to do so. I used to eat ENORMOUS portions (large pizza or 2-3 restaurant meals at dinner), and now I can have a few tastes of everything and feel full. Pasta seems to slip right through the band no problem, so I don't have it very often.

One thing I'm still learning is the habit of chewing thoroughly. This is essential to avoid blockage, pain, and/or PBs.

As others have said, the band goes around your stomach and not your brain. There are times I feel like eating even though I'm not hungry, but I'm learning to distinguish the two. Interestingly, I sometimes feel sad that I can no longer use food as an emotional tool to "feel better." Happily, this is short lived. The next morning I'm very glad that I didn't binge the night before and that I'm on my way to a healthy weight. Hope this helps!

-Matt