leroyspuds

I'm three weeks post-op and I do miss food. I think part of it is I've been on clear, then full liquids, then pureed for a month (counting pre-op). I'm hoping that when I move on to more regular foods and have my first fill it won't be so bad. I started grieving for food as soon as I made the decision to have the surgery. Food makes me happy. I'm definitely a food addict. I expect to be able to enjoy food again soon, but believe this tool will help me feel satisfied with smaller portions and deter me from gorging on junk food. Let's face it - huge portions and junk food was killing us. Eating smaller portions and dropping some foods won't!

since being banded 2/22 seven pounds in two weeks, been eating pureed since 3/3 during pre-op eight pounds in one week total 15 pounds first fill will be 3/31

I'm 14 days out now and remember well how uncomfortable the gas was. The first few days I think the gas was the CO2 from surgery. The only thing that helped was to walk, stretch, anything to move it out. It didn't last long. Then I started getting gas from my stomach everytime I ate. I felt like I had to burp but couldn't. I had pain under my sternum and ribs. I took gas x for that and it helped somewhat. Then one day a big burb happened and I was thrilled. The doc's office said once the band area swelling went down it would get better and it has. As to the strange sensations in my stomach I also had a tough time identifying them at first. Mine was definitely hunger and gas pain. My doc's office told me to have as much liquids as I needed to keep from being hungry because they go "below the band" anyway. He said don't worry about losing weight, just heal.

"My banding was on Wed. 2/24 and I am defintley more uncomfortable than I expected...gas pain, burping, port pain. I hope I get used to all of it....I hope I don't burp this much forever. I have felt alot of regret the past few days, wishing I had none done this to myself, wishing I would have been able to loose the weight on my own.I can't wait to move off the liquids and onto the soft foods in a week! " Hi Nikki, I was banded on 2/22. I've felt much like you but it does get better each day. I bet you're about to turn a corner on much of that. Now 7 days out I still ocassionally feel a tight painful feeling in the middle of my chest. It feels like I need to burp but can't. It also feels a bit like acid indigestion so I might be having some reflux. I think what we're feeling is normal and will eventually go away. I have also asked "what have I done to myself?" It's not just because of the discomfort but also from feeling a profound loss. I daydream about the way I used to be able to eat. In two more days my doc says I can move onto mushies and I hope that will help. I try to keep in mind that in a few weeks I'll be able to eat more normally again, just in much smaller portions. I too wish I wouldn't have had to be banded, but after many failed attempts at weight loss over the years this tool may be my last chance to get healthy again. The band will help me conquer my sleep apnea, high cholesterol, borderline high blood sugar, bad knees, and GERD. So, I'm telling myself to be patient and that this sacrafice will be worth it. So, hang in there girl! :wink2:

Congrats jmunks! I'm glad everything went smoothly for you. I was so scared too but the surgery wasn't bad at all. I'm now in the process of getting used to all the new sensations in my stomach, some of which aren't the most pleasant, but nothing unbearable. Let me know how you do on the diet in the next couple weeks. :cursing: Hey post-op February bandsters -- how are you all doing?

Count me in as a member of the diarrhea club! :eek: My pangs were definitely hunger. Some people don't get that feeling though - lucky for them! Best of luck to you.

Question for everyone on full liquids: How many ounces of full liquids do you put in your pouch at one time? Even putting in two oz. can give me that tightness in my chest that must be my "new" feeling of fullness. I also seem to bloat up with stomach gas whenever I eat which can be uncomfortable for a little while. (Don't think it's the CO2 gas though.) It kind of feels like indigestion too. Anyone else feel that way when they eat? Whatever uncomfortable feelings I get in my tummy seem to be mostly relieved by walking. Walking is my new friend!

Some of you are concerned about gaining weight if you eat extra small servings of liquids to keep hunger under control. So, what are the effects on calories of consuming more than three? I had 5 servings of full liquids today and tracked my intake. The effect of adding two 2 oz servings of full liquids was an increase of only about 60 calories. Our goal in the first few months is 600-800 and my calories were a little over 400 with 5 servings. Protein was 66 grams and 29 oz's of fluid(need more.) It helped to track my intake today to see whether I was within the guidelines for everything. So long as my pouch is comfortable and I'm within the guidelines I'm going to continue to add a couple servings of clear or full liquids to curb my hunger during the day. Hopefully the hunger pangs will subside once other foods are introduced and stay in the pouch longer than liquids. (This is merely my opinion and the bottom line is to comply with "your" doctor's orders.)

Aetna approved me within a few days of my doc submitting the paperwork. I had surgery on 2/22/10. Though my BMI was less than 40 I have sleep apnea, so they qualified me. I did the three month nutritionist and exercise visits. It was easier than I thought. Aetna assigned a bariatric nurse to my case and he makes regular calls to me to find out how things are going. I must say Aetna has been pretty good to me.

I'm 4 days out and my hunger pangs are excrutiating. Besides my Protein drinks I'm only having three 2 oz servings of full liquids (Soup, yogurt or pudding) per day. I'm starving! I thought I wasn't supposed to be hungry and then figured out that the liquids don't stay in the new pouch long enough to help you feel full. That won't happen until we progress to post-liquid stages and even more so when we have our first fill. So, I called my doc and asked the same question as you and he told me I could eat at much liquids as I needed to keep the hunger down. He said it's not until I progress firther the diet that I need to keep the meals down to three a day. Thank goodness!! So, if I'm feeling hungry I eat a tablespoon or two of full liquid stuff and that kills the hunger.:smile2:

Hi There, I'm on day 4 and I'm having some sensations that I'm trying to figure out. I believe a lot of it is hunger pangs. I didn't think I would feel hungry right after surgery but I do. I would like to be able to have four instead of three meals so I don't have the hunger pangs as bad. I plan to ask my doctor about it. Last night I experienced the sensation of being a little too full after drinking a bit too much broth. It was a tightness in the middle of my chest along with a little heartburn. I'm taking care to limit my full liquid meals (yogurt, Soup, pudding) to 2 oz. I sometimes feel a tightness in my stomach which is relieved by expelling gas. I'm not having a lot of gas at this point though. These are some of the sensations I've experienced. I guess it's all normal, but it does take some getting used to. Good luck to you!

It's official. Had surgery yesterday and I'm home today. Had a little gas pain Monday which I burped up while walking the hospital floors. No gas by Monday evening. No nausea at all. Incisions are sore, particularly the port, but nothing above a three or four. Had cotton mouth really bad. Started taking liquid Lortab for pain which is making me very drowsy. So, I may just try tylenol instead. Everything went great and I'm so thankful. Wednesday I start 7 days of full liquids then on to puree. Everyone's body is different, but this surgery was pretty much a cinch for me. Good luck everyone and I hope your experience is as good as mine was.

I'm getting banded the 22nd, Monday. I started the pre-op diet last Monday and have lost 5 pounds in four days, with three days to go. The first two days were hell, but pretty soon I got used to it. Eating non-sugar jello, non-sugar pudding, broth, skim milk, non-sweetened juice, non-sugar yogurt and Unjury protein powder with Crystal Lite. Also had some leafy greens with non-fat salad dressing and raw carrots. This week I was super anxious about the surgery and life with the band, but I seem to be more calm today. I was most worried about pain and discomfort after surgery, but you can get through anything for a couple of days I guess. When I found out I was approved for surgery I was excited and depressed. I imagined "I am breaking up with food." Get lost cheeze doodles, candy bars, and Klondike bars. You've not been good to me so I'm breaking up with ya. I'm about to enter a healthier relationship with food, which is what I need to stay alive and well. I've tried many times before but now I'll have the band to help protect me from going back to my bad relationship. Well, good luck everyone. Hope you all heal quickly.

Hi Folks, I'll be having surgery by Dr. Rohrer on 2/2210. I'm filled with both excitement and apprehension. Wondering if there are any bandsters in Helena? Do you all have any experiences or advice you could share with me?

#1. Surgery date? scheduled for 2/22 #2. State you live in? Montana #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Rohrer, Benefis Hospital #4. Insurance or self pay? Aetna insurance #5. Age and height 57/5'1 #6. Current weight and goal weight? 196/130 #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Family history of diabetes, sleep apnea, bad acid reflux, knees hurt when I exercize, high cholesterol, back pain, shortness of breath. Want to fear better and ensure higher quality of life as I get older. #7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes. Spouse had bypass and lost 100 pounds and feels great. #8. Concerns and questions? Worry about feeling ill the first couple weeks after surgery, reflux, gas, PBing, and complications. Still willing to take the risk and endure some discomfort in order to benefit from this tool. :thumbdown:

eat a few cheeseburger then get re-weighed! :>)

I wonder what it costs the ins companies to treat diabetes, heart disease, and a multitude of other medical problems? What's cheaper - WLS or a heart attack? The National Inst of Health says a tiny percentage of people effectively lose weight thru dieting. Insurance actuaries are no dummies. They know it's cheaper to allow WLS then shell out a lot more to treat weight-related diseases. That's why they're easing up on requirements. A single payer (govt) health care system would likely offer WLS. Medicare is a govt single payer system for folks 65 and older and it allows WLS. In fact it set the guidelines for WLS requirements that insurance companies follow (BMI, etc.) So, I think the govt and the insurance companies agree it's a cost-effective solution to obesity. (IMHO)

I have Aetna PPO. My fear is that I'm not doing exactly what they want for the 3 month pre-surgical. I am seeing a registered dietician once per month and a personal trainer thru a health club once per month. Can I do the behavior mod program thru the dietician/personal trainer or do I need to see a third person else for that? Not sure what the want here. One other concern is I have GERD. The policy bulletin says "contra-indicated for acid reflux." Does this mean they don't approve of the surgery if you have that. I've tried to get these questions answered by Aetna but they refuse to talk about it. They say they are not doctors and can't answer these questions. Weird. Also, did you have to provide documentation of other attempts at weight loss? Thanks folks. Any help would be appreciated cuz I don't want to get three months down the line and then be told I didn't do it right.