melzie_99

The entire process, from initial referral from my dr to my surgery date took a month and a week, and that's only because I had them push back surgery because I wasn't mentally prepared at the time. It can be a little daunting, believe me, and part of me wishes I had a few more requirements beforehand, but I don't regret my decision one bit. My surgeon is a Center of Excellence and he and his staff have been wonderful. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner!

I know, waiting is so hard, especially after losing so much (I've lost 61lbs total so far, some pre-band) but know I still have another 60 to lose sucks. Trying to be patient since it took almost 7 years to gain all this weight, and I know the band isn't a miracle worker...I want to be able to wear shorts and sleeveless tops again without being mortified! (Plus, I have never weighed less than my husband, so that's a big goal of mine...only about 35 more lbs to go for that!)

I like that my pointy chin (which I used to hate) is becoming prominent again...lol. Also like being able to see a defined waistline again and ankles that aren't constantly swollen!

I was initially given a nasal cannula (the little prongs that go in your nose with flowing oxygen) after surgery; once they saw my oxygen levels were stable I just wore my CPAP when sleeping. Because I was continuously on oxygen, I am not aware of any issues with that, and my sleep apnea is pretty bad (during my sleep study I had over 100 episodes/hr). I think it's something they will monitor pretty closely, especially if you have sleep apnea. The only people I've heard about having a lot of problems are heavy smokers...

I had a morphine pump in the hospital, but honestly I used it maybe 4 times right before I had to get up and walk or go to the bathroom. I was given liquid hydrocodone and honestly that stuff made me so loopy if I was in pain while I was on it I don't really remember. I preferred the water filled heating pad they gave me...wanted to take it home with me.

I agree about the liquid temperature; when I have issues with the band like that I go on warm liquids...drink lots of tea and eat broth based soups. I think you're probably not losing much between most likely being dehydrated and your poor body is probably hanging onto every calorie it can because you're not eating enough. Because your intake is so low currently I wouldn't recommend overdoing it with exercise, but eventually you will need to increase it to at least 30 minutes, even if you break it up throughout the day. If you can, I would recommend trying a liquid diet for a little while...your band is most likely really irritated at this point and I know when that happens to me I can't eat solids for the rest of the day without sliming, no matter how much I chew it. Maybe even yogurt or sugar free jello would help...just throwing some ideas at you; sorry they're so random!

All of my process (meeting with PCM, meeting surgeon, and Tricare approval) was done in less than 10 days. I think my starting BMI was around 44, however, and I had already been diagnosed with HBP and sleep apnea, as well as having a documented history in my medical records of trying to lose weight. I was not required to have a true psych eval; I met with a social worker for about 5 minutes. Nutrition class was for about 3-4 hours and then I had my counsult. I actually could've had surgery the following week but decided to wait until the following month to mentally prepare. I have Triwest, and honestly, you never know about Tricare; it took me 3 years and 4 doctors to get my last surgery approved even though I superceded all their requirements yet this was approved in less than 48 hours. Make sure you give your PCM as much info as possible so they can submit a good referral; a lot rides on what they send into Tricare... ETA: Just for clarification, my surgeon is a Center of Excellence, so even though the process was fast he's not sketchy in the least.

I've never been given a catheter for any of my surgeries to my knowledge (was informed after my breast reduction by the nurse that I actually wet myself during surgery because they pushed so many fluids- how embarrassing); at the end of the day, I guess it's just a matter of what makes you comfortable. A trim can't hurt, but I wouldn't shave for anyone...

Congrats! I've got 26 more lbs to go...can't wait1

I don't feel the band either, but like the others have mentioned I definitely feel my port, especially if I get gassy or bloated. According to the nurse at the dr's office, because the port is so close to the intestines gas can make it protude. It's not visible yet(still too much belly fat), but it's palpable.

I don't think the doc will care, but I know after being in the hospital and having the nurses and doctor lift my gown to check incisions over and over again (and not being allowed to wear undies), it got pretty embarrassing for me after awhile...

Yeah, doesn't seem to work so well for tall or short people...lol. For my height it's ok, but at the end of the day I would like to be in the 145-160 range. (Preferrable closer to the 145 side)...

Yeah....using the BMI calc from NIH, for some reason the shorter you are the more leeway you seem to have. I'm 5'6'' and according to them shouldn't weigh more than about 150, which is crazy to me. My dr actually said 155-165 would be a good range for someone with my build...

My dr had a little tool for helping me set a goal weight: starting at 5' and 100lbs, add 10lbs for every inch of your height for a reasonable weight. It puts me just outside of the healthy BMI range, but it gives me something to work towards...

I have been avoiding this challenge over the past few weeks as I was ashamed to admit I had gained weight, but now realizing it's only hurting me! Have gotten my butt back in the gym and feeling better about myself. While I may not reach my intended goal, I want to thank all you guys for being the motivation I needed to get back on track!

You are not alone; I have a terrible time eating on my couch without getting stuck or sliming; I have to either stand up or sit in a chair with a hard back without slouching. Doesn't matter the time of day for me, but I AM definitely tighter in the morning. Lying on my side is sketchy, actually tried that today with some cottage cheese and it went down ok but had to make sure I was waiting a minute or two between bites...

I know it's hard to stay positive, especially reading posts by people who have lost 60+lbs in like 3 months. Just remember, like others mentioned, realistically we should only be losing 1-2lbs a week. Anymore is an added bonus. You all sound like you are on track; I'm in month 5 and still am hovering around the 40lbs mark (grr). However, I have lost over 35 inches, have more stamina, and a new found confidence; while the number on the scale is a motivator don't forget about your NSV's! This is a journey for all of us, and slow and steady is not a bad thing. Pat yourself on the back for doing something good for yourself, and just be patient; we're all still learning...

Give it a little time...it took me about 2 weeks before I really started to feel the fill after the initial tightness went down. My dr warned me that this is normal, especially after the first fill. Being overfilled is horrible, so I wouldn't rush into trying to get anymore in just yet. If after 3 weeks you're still not feeling any restriction I would check back in with your doc. Hope this helps!

What to do you do to work around that? I've never been much of a breakfast person and can't even tolerate yogurt before 11-12 but my dr keeps saying I'm messing up my metabolism by not eating breakfast...it's driving me crazy. Every now and then I'll try a Protein shake but I can normally get only a few ounces down before I start getting slimy...

Oh my goodness why are YOU worried about your weight? You're doing spectacular! We had surgery about a week apart and you've lost twice as much as I have! Gimme pointers (lol)!

I admit I am somewhat scale obsessive myself, but will only record my weight every Monday. So no matter the fluctations throughout the week, what shows on Monday stays. I actually got to a point where I weighed myself several times a day ( I know, awful); if putting it away is what you need then by all means do it. Just remember that even though the scale might not be moving, you could be losing inches. I measure myself once a month and am astounded at the numbers that come back. That and seeing the way your clothes fit and how you feel physically mean more to me than any number on a scale...

Hi Nikki, I had/have the same problem: yes, I DO miss eating. I used to a textbook emotional eater: I ate when I was sad, angry, happy, bored, anything was an excuse to eat. It wasn't so bad in the beginning because I literally had to FORCE myself to eat when I first got banded because I was never hungry. As my body adjusted, however, those old feelings came back. I'm actually dealing with that now; tears have been shed! I began seeing a therapist to deal with the emotional issues I knew would arise from not having food as my comforter...if you can I would recommend it. I told my therapist it's almost like losing a part of myself; I don't enjoy eating anymore, and because so much of my life used to revolve around it, there's a void that needs to be filled. I would definitely recommend starting new hobbies or activities to keep you busy; the adjustment is the hardest when I get bored. At the end of the day, however, it DOES get better. I don't live to eat anymore.Yeah, sometimes it sucks when I'm trying to eat something I like and can only eat 1/3-1/2c of it as opposed to a plateful like before, but seeing my new body is more than worth it. Hang tough, and know there are people here going through the same thing that support you!

Your doctor is right; you WILL lose weight faster with the bypass but like others mentioned, it may not be easier to keep off in the long run. Honestly, though the slow and steady weight loss drives me crazy sometimes, I know in my heart it was the right decision for me. I am someone who NEEDS to have to work for the results, otherwise I'll learn nothing from it. Now I appreciate every pound and inch I lose because I know I've been watching what I eat and being more active. Youth is no guarantee your body will bounce back; I'm only 29 and fear I'm going to have loose skin when all is said and done. I wasn't good about diet and exercise pre band either, but once you realize eventually the weight loss will stop unless you change your habits you learn quickly! Don't let the doctor's bias sway your decision; remember there are risks with both but at least you know the band is reversible if something goes wrong. Definitely something to keep in mind...remember anything worth having is worth working for.

I'm aiming to weigh 215 so i think it ends up being about 15 lbs to lose...off to a good start so far!

I'm going to be honest with you; for me, it hasn't been easy. I finally broke down and started seeing a therapist because I've always been an emotional eater. And as crazy as this may sound, I've shed a few tears over not being able to enjoy food like I used to. I've likened it to almost like losing a friend or a part of yourself. No one really tells you that this is not just a physical journey, but a very emotional one as well. Just keep reminding yourself why you are opting for surgery in the first place and know that you will need to find new activities in your life to make up for the void of not eating. Also be aware that you may become more emotional because now we're forced to deal with our problems instead of just eating them away. Part of me wishes it hadn't been so easy for me to have surgery and that I would've had a lot more prerequisites to prepare mentally for it all. That being said, I'm almost 5 months out and I'm still learning and dealing with the emotions, but seeing my body transform and knowing it's because I did something about it makes it all worthwhile...