MarcyLoo

Vrt: no wine here. I don't drink. I know it's liquid calories, too, which is generally a no-no with the band (lthough we all know we can induklge at times) Chocolatebelle, did the chest/shoulder pain happen while you were eating the tuna salad? It sounds more like when I eat a bite and don't chew well enough or it's the wrong consistency (like bread) than leftover gas. It has something to do with the band hitting the phrenic verve. That pain is always a sure sign that I need to put my meal down and STOP, or not eat that food (and actually tuna set it off for me the one time I've eaten it since being banded). The one time I got truly STUCK it lasted for about 90 minutes. Usually it's only a few seconds and hot liquids and tea help relieve it for me.

Firstly, you look gorgeous at both sizes but WOWIE what an inspiration! Congrats on the weight loss and tossing the smokes!!!!

I've come across soooo many people like that. best wishes for tomorrow!!!

Hey Awinner! I've been wondering how you're doing! At the formal function, is it possible to eat your soup serving? and if anyone asks, just tell them you have some dietary restrictions right now so will just enjoy the smell? I've told almost everyone I had surgery, but for some reason didn;t mention it to our bible study group. I know some of them were looking at my dinner plate funny last Thursday (I ate my burger using lettuce as a bun, with a knife & fork). No one asked, and I didn't tell...I would have...but I see what you're saying about strangers...

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been scarce....hectic 2 nights at work, almost no sleep, and a trip to the ER with my oldest son last night. It's spring break so i have all 3 kids hoem today, have still barely slept in 4 days, nd work again tomorrow night. so my metabolism is all off as is my eatign schedule. I've dropped 20 pounds total (I'm going from preop high of 297), so I think 8 of those have been since surgery. I'm still getting really hungry after about 2 hours and aam able to eat larger portions than I'd like to be, so I'm very much looking forward to my 1st fill on April 13th! I've been very happy with some of the choices I've been making. Like the other night at work the girls were all ordering Thai delivery and I've been craving Phad Thai for WEEKS if not months, so I decided to order too but shared an order with a friend, ate at most 1/4 of the order and asked her to take any leftovers hoem with her. It came with a can of coke, and I decided to indulge and sip slowly and had maybe 4 ounces at most (I had been 9 hours without eating or even sitting down so decided it was ok). I know it may seem silly, but before I could easily eat the entire order, or half at work and the rest at home, and chug that Coke. I guess the big deal for me was making the decision to STOP and not take any home. Then yesterday after church we took the kids to a park. I had been hours without eating, and my brother met us there with some leftover Chinese food. I ate some, but kept the portion very reasonable and it was almost all veggies. I've had my first major non-scale victory too! My shoes got too big! I had to go in and buy a new pair for work (I almost got run over by a bed at work comign otu of the operating room cause walkign backward my slip-ons almost came off!) anyway I stopped at the store and bought a new pair, a whole size smaller!!!!! I also bought a new pair of jeans and a new top, one size smaller! The pants are a bit tight and I had to lay on the bed to zip but by golly I got them on and was able to wear them! I never imagined going from a 26 pants to a 24 would make me feel so good LOL. And a 3X to a 2X top. OH and my brother told me I look like I've lost weight, woot!!! Also, I have to wear surgical scrubs at work. I'm in the biggest size they have (3X) and they have been tight. It wa sone of my big fears about starting my new training last November was fitting intot he scrubs. The 3X fits now...and is starting to get loose. To answer the question about telling people at work: my fmaily, DH's family, and most people at work know. The girls at work are for the most part a huge support for me (except the ones who have opted for bypass), and amazingly so many of them are also banded or considering bariatric surgery.

I also had 3 small shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate but I made choice to STOP aftet 3...before this surgery I would have knocked out 10 easy . Funny thing was it's been so long since i indulged, especially chocolate, that I felt DRUNk form it lol

Jolene...my cure all for constipation is a shot (dose) of milk of magnesia mixed with 2-4 ounces of prune juice & warmed up till it's pretty hot. It's called a black & white :-) So, I went to our weekly bible study group for the first time since surgery. It's always potluck. I took greasy corn chips & homemade guacamole. I managed to only eat about 4 chips with a tiny bit of guac, had fruit on the side (strawberries, apple, grapes) and had a turkey burger made with lettuce for the buns! I was proud of myself. I did indulge in dessert (chocolate covered strawberries) but kept it reasonable. I worry about putting myself in one of these party settings, with temptation. I;ve avoided going to a few things cause I knew there owuld be lots of bad-for-me food, but I know eventually it's something I'll have to face.

Hi Rachel! Was banded the 15th. I feel like from a beter diet my energy level is way up, but sometimes I just drag. I finally started seeing the scale go down in the past 1-2 days. 20 pounds total since a week before surgery. I was getting a little down seeing it not change day to day!

OK. I just made a thread on the post-op side incase anyone wants to move on over...

Just thought I'd start a thread on the post-op side...

Good morning!! Should we keep the thread here or move to post op?? Happy April 1st!

Tina, it's normal to gain post op...they gave you IV fluids and your body has a natural response to the trauma it went thru. The first 2-4 weeks post op are not meant for weight loss, but are meant for healing and adjustment to the surgery. * hugs* My best advice is to stay off the scale until 4 weeks, or until your first fill. This can be a slow process, so try to not get discouraged.

Well, with being 5'2' and over 200 pounds you're at risk for developing many life threatening comorbidities down the road...something I ignored in my youth and sure enough now that I'm getting older it's catching up. How old are you now? I'm 5'2", started at 297 pounds and was banded 2 weeks ago...in the past 3 weeks I've dropped a little over 17. The way I look at it, each pound lost is leding to a healthier life both now and down the road. I don't see the surgery as being just to treat current issues, but it greatly reduces the risk for cardivascular disease, type 2 diabetes, mobility issues, the list goes on. Losing weight in general will do this but those of us who have the band have typically exhausted about every diet out there and it's kind-of a "last option" in many cases. Not sure what your weight loss history is?

I think they sell muscle milk at costco

My saving grace has been TEA. I know they say herbal to avoid dehydration from caffeine, but I do both. I drik lots and lots of hot tea w/ Splend & if not herbal fat free half and half. It helps me when i am hungry and it's not time to eat yet...keeps my mouth and stomach occupied, and my mind. I was horrible and started soft foods really early, but things like sugar free Jello, smooth yogurts (which were actuall yon my liquid diet), tomato Soup & chicken broth...light veggie/fruit juice (I found one by V8 that was really good)...sugar free popcicles...nonfat milk. For my soft diet I've been enjoying the liquid egg product that is made of egg whites. I make scrambles out of them and they are only 30 cal for 1/4 cup instead of 70-90 per entire egg, no cholesterol, etc. I mix in chopped onion, a serving of thin sliced deli ham chopped up, and a handful of fresh baby spinach till it's cooked down & tender. I've discovered greek yogurt which is way higher in Protein that regular yogurt and eat it with a bit of granola mixed in (let it sit for a few hours to get soggy?) I like the Chobani yogurt brand. The nonfat is even good, but I also do some 2%. also if pudding is on your liquid diet (it was mine) the sugar free ones aren't too shabby. But above all, hot tea has been of huge comfort to me. Mentally & physically.

So you BMI would be in the 40's, making it likely. From what I understand many insurance companies require a comorbidity (specifically uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high BP, or diagnosed sleep apnea) for a BMI of 30-40, but many also require if even with a BMI >40. Some may also require a 3-6-or 12 month medically supervised diet. The only way to know if to have the surgeon submit paperwork and see what insurance comesback with. I was denied with a BMI of 54 and sleep apnea...appealed it and was approved.

I would just call and ask if it's ok for you to wear a tampon during surgery.

I went to the seminar as my first step, but it was required by my surgeon anyway (and my surgeon is the one whpo present, that's how I picked him). I had a sleep study to prove a comorbidity to insurance. No other testing. Just my initial consultation where they did my height, weight, blood pressure, and the surgeon looked at my belly and listened to my heart and lungs. No EKG, barium, ect. I saw the surgeon at that consult, then not again until the day of surgery. (a psych eval was also required) The clinic I'm at does have a big support system. I think that is key, but can be found outside of the surgeon's office.

I agree. False on both accounts. One of the nice things about the band is you CAN indulge when you want, in moderation. Birthday party? It's okay to have a small piece of cake. Halloween? Want a small piece of chocolate? That's ok. Now gastirc bypass is different where if you eat sugars you can get dumping syndrome and get sick and that's because unlike with banding they actually remove a portion of your bowel. If you overeat you can STRETCH OUT the portion of your stomach above the band, cause pain and nausea, and vomiting can actually cause the lower portion of your stomach to come up thru the band ("band slippage.") The band itself and the pain of overeating will in all honesty pretty much stop you in your tracks before you consume that much food. And chewing very very well will prevent vomiting and then slippage. My band is still empty but if I take that one or two bites too much I'm very aware of it from physical discomfort. At that point it's very easy to tell myself to just "STOP" and put my fork down. And if I eat a consistence that gets stuck (for me flour tortillas at this point) or don't chew well enough I know almost instantly--intense chest pain. It's a learning process for sure, but I know my band is going to be an swesome tool to keep my eating under control.

Being a nurse, I know how good it feels to be acknowledged for taking part in making someone's life better. Usual gifts we get are cookies, cake, chocolates, etc. I want to give something to the surgical clinic staff who helped give me a new life 2 weeks ago. 95% of the staff are banded themselves, so I don't want to take unhealthy food. I'm thinking fruit & veggie trays would be nice, but then again maybe something non-edible that everyone can enjoy (something for the office?) any suggestions? (Am thinking of a cap of $50-75)

My surgeon told me that the only difference in his opinion is the cost; that Realize is more expensive. He uses the Lap most often but on rare occasions (patient preference??) he uses Realize. I have the Lap. I'm not sure if insurance is a factor or not. Beyond that I'm not sure of differences...

Just wanted to offer a HUG...

The nice thing about the band is they can "unfill it" for pregnancy. I'm almost 36, married, and have 3 kids (and am having no more)...but I also got cold feet right up until they put me uner. Like Liz, I was banded just March 15th and am SO GLAD I had it done. I haven't seen huge weight loss yet, but I have so much more energy! And I know in time the weight loss will happen. Just know the anxiety/cold feet is totally normal. We're all here to help you in this journey...whatever your final decision is.

I was denied based on my sleep apnea being a "correctable" condition even though my BMI was 54...I was told since that was the only reason they gave they could not come back in an appeal to require the 6 months supervised diet...anyway so my denial was different but it took 1 week from denial to sending the appeal then another 2 weeks to hear back on an approval. I only 1st knew it went thru because I peeked at my online insurance page and saw "approve" for preauthorization for surgery. I know another patient got denied the same day I id because she or he had never tried prescription diet pills. My insurance basically denies everyone for SOMETHING then the appeals usually go thru. Good luck! Keep in mind that if you do need to do the 6 months of supervised nutrition, although it seems like forever, it will go quick and will ultimately help you in this journey. Just don't give up...like insurance hopes people will!

That's right it's the last day of the month!! GOOD LUCK to those still headed in to start their new life today!