B-52

For what reason did she get put on blood thinners?? There is a big risk for blood clots post surgery, (thrombosis) more so for some than others. That is why they put the pressure splints around your lower legs during surgery. You might not have been aware of that. I am on Blood Thinners - Plavix - but due to Cardiac Issues following a Angioplasty and Stent placement.. I also take a Beta Blocker to prevent any irregular or rapid heart rate, which makes me work twice as hard at getting my heart rate up to cardio levels on the elliptical. Kind of ironic. How long this will go on I do not know. Not for the rest of my life though. I have had friends tell me they were taken off after 2 years. I have not heard about anyone being put on thinners as a routine post-op practice. There must be some underlying reason, risk of blood clots? Elevated triglycerides?

I have never been a big Breakfast eater, but now after being banded, for breakfast I make a milkshake in the blender using "Muscle Milk Lite", along with some fresh fruit for 25gm of protein. I also take liquid Protein (3o ml) which equals 15gm. So for breakfast I have 40 gm of protein. That keeps me going for the entire day with plenty of energy, and no appetite. For lunch....I'm on the road all day so it varies as to where I'm at. But it is usually something small, perhaps a Wendy's Chili, Tuna salad, etc. But with the protein I get for breakfast, I could, and have, gone with little or no lunch. Just plenty of Water throughout the day. Then for dinner, I will have either fish, chicken or beef as a entree to get my remaining protein, along with veggies. If I need to snack, I carry Protein Bars with me in my briefcase. I keep "lean Cuisine" or similar frozen dinners in the freezer for those quick meals on the go.

My evaluate took about a hour. She covered everything, And if I answered a certain response in a given area, she would explore it more thoroughly. For instance, I was a teenager in the 60's! Know what mean? But she kept coming back to it. Talked about my military service and my time in Vietnam. Talked about my parents. She was using a program on her laptop and the questions were part of it. She would type in the answers which I quess would trigger additional questions if answered a certain way. She did not ask me much that I felt was from her and not the program.

I do not like posts such as these, or at least I do not like it when people start to compare with one another. People who are new to being banded can get the wrong impression. You need to do what your Dr. recommends. Everyone is different. A while back people were bragging that they had less of a fill than others as though it is a contest. That can distract and discourage people from getting what they need, thinking it is a bad thing to be filled too much. The band is designed to be adjusted according to ones individual needs. Would you do this if you had Cancer and compared your Chemo doses??

I had a one week post-op appointment with my Dr., just as a routine follow up to check incisions, etc. I asked him then if I could go back to the gym and he said "No problem, just don't get carried away" Before that, I walked a great deal. That's the only way to relieve the gas pains in chest and shoulder.

You need to print this post, pin it to your wall, and come back and read it say, around mid November ! Then you're going to have a story to tell!

The majority of negative posts, IMO, come from people who have recently been banded. They are not sure what to expect, or are seeking immediate results from their surgery. They freak out when they gain weight, have post-op pains, fear getting stuck/slimed as though it is a bad thing. And when nothing goes THEIR WAY, their band must have slipped!! To all of those, I say PATIENCE! For me, the first month was nothing. 2-3 months after that, with 2-3 fills, it was a roller coaster getting on the scale. I was convinced I must be doing something wrong. Then, one day it all fell into place. I have been stuck more times than I can count. Is that negative??? NO. Did I run to the Dr.? NO. It was, and is, a learning experience that changed the way I approach food. I've learned and currently learning a new way of eating! It's tough after 40 years of being a glutton! But I have nothing negative to say about it.

Perfectly normal. Your body is healing / healed from the surgery. After 1 month post-op, the maintenance of the band will begin. Took me a few months to get it working for me. I know it's frustrating, but you did not get over weight in one month, and it will take a while to get on program that you feel is a positive direction.

It's true, you may be over filled, but before you jump to conclusions; ask yourself if you are eating very small bites, chewing well, and slowly. I'm fine where I'm at right now. But, sometimes I forget I'm banded, and all I have to do, for example, is eat one cracker or one swallow of tuna fish like I did in the old days, and I'm stuck!!

I'll throw something out here with a different slant. Getting stuck is a good thing. what I mean is, eating foods such as steak, that will get stuck easily, can be good. It teaches you a new, better way to eat. Rather than being a "Pig" 1) It forces you to eat the small pencil eraser size bites, chew very thoroughly, and put the fork down between bites, in order to get through it. 2) When eating something like steak, I can only eat a very small portion. Maybe 1/4. Fish or tender chicken, I can eat 3 times as much because it is easier. So which is better? Knowing the fears and feelings of being stuck many times, I have become conditioned to a new way of eating, rather than the old way. First sign of pain or discomfort and I either slow way down, or stop altogether. Now if I can just figure out Ice Cream! BTW, IMO there is only one kind of stuck. The mild will lead to the first if you push it. How do I get rid of it? Go in the bathroom, stand over the sink or toilet, and drink Water. If you are stuck, the water has no where to go and will right back up, usually bringing the food - slime with it.

I know what you mean. When I first started this, people (Dr.'s) would ask me what my goal was, what I would like to weigh. I really could not give them a straight answer because it all seemed so impossible. During these interviews they would ask what I weighed in High School. High School? When I played football and ran track?? That was back in the 60's!!! I could not even imagine being under 200 lbs. again, let alone anywhere near a "Normal" BMI. But now, when I did reach 199lbs., Yes I was very pleased with myself, but at the same time I was, as I am now, not satisfied with 199. I want more! I won't be happy until I do have that normal BMI. So, reaching that point under 200, as big as it was, passed very quickly! Now I can't wait to get out of the 190's into the 180's!

Along with the 6 months pre-surgery diet, I had to do the following within those 6 months: 1) Psyc. eval 2) Pulmonary workup - clearance by Pulmonologist. 3) Nuclear stress test - clearance by Cardiologist. Then, within 30 days of surgery, a Endoscopy that was performed by the Surgeon. The standard pre-op blood work, x-rays, etc., done by the hospital where the surgery was to take place. (pre-admission) Then finally, clearance by my Primary.

My insurance wanted a very detailed report, with progress notes. They rejected the first report. The facility had to re-do it. They gave me one complete with graphs to accompany the progress notes, and a detailed cover letter.

Comparing number of cc's or levels of restriction in ones band to another is a very dangerous road to go down, IMO. There are people here who have life threatening disorders due to being morbidly obese. The band was made to be adjusted, and is done so to fit the individual by the Surgeon. Everyone is different. I would not want to see people feel like a failure because they have had many fills, comparing themselves to someone who has never had a fill. It would be like comparing "Chemo" doses between cancer patients. You got to do what works for you, under your Dr.'s advice.

I think I bought the same large bag of Fish Sticks at costco you are referring to. I am not a calorie/carb counter. With me and my band, how much I eat is very limited. Yesterday I cooked 5 of these fish sticks, along with some mixed veggies as a side. Out of 5, I could only eat 2-1/2. Ate 1/2 the veggies, and that was it for dinner. Had yogurt with fruit later for dessert. I don't count calories, but I do count my Protein intake daily. So the foods I choose to eat are based upon that. And if I'm looking for high protein foods, there is no room for junk food.

You say you had three fills, but fail to mention how much per fill and total current cc's. It's all about your Dr. and you finding that optimum setting for your band. Everyone is different. On one visit, I actually gained weight between fills!!! I was not scolded, Dr. calmly said we will get there sooner or later. After 7 months, I can say I am at that point. (sweet spot, green zone, etc)

This is normal for someone who has only recently been banded. I felt no restriction at all, and took me around 5 months to get to that "sweet Spot" I remember at the gym, downing full bottles of Water like it was nothing. Used to graze all day because I was always hungry. Now, I eat whatever I want, but my band won't let me eat too much. So since my intake is restricted, I choose the good foods first. My choice. Last night for dinner I had a steak off the grill, and some veggies. Cut small prices, and was only able to eat a fourth of the steak, and half the veggies, if that.

I was banded on a Monday. Had my final pre-op appointment with the Dr. on a Friday. Thought real hard on my final meal. Saturday I went to my favorite Chinese Buffet, all you can eat. Figured this was one place I will never visit again. Sunday, day before surgery, I pretty much fasted to get it out of my system before surgery Monday.

THAT IS GOOD NEWS. so, tell me, has your Dr. taken you off all medications??? How much weight did you loose and in what period of time?? I'm in the same boat as you. My numbers are normal now also, but he still has me on the meds. Just reduced all the dosages way down. Hopefully next visit he will start to DC them.

Everyday for Breakfast I make a smoothie in the blender using Muscle Milk Lite as a base with some added berries, etc. I also take a dose of liquid Protein such as Pro-stat or Proteinex (tastes like ****) That gives me 40 g to start my day, and it really gives me energy and no hunger for the full day! Then what I have for lunch, then dinner, will get me to, or close to, my daily goal of protein.

I always wait a few days before I react to having a fill. Things do even out after that for me. You do however, have to be able to get liquids (water) down, even if there is a slight gurgling sound/feeling. BTW, my band is always tight first thing in the morning, gets better as the day goes on.

Checked in Hospital at 7am, surgery at 10am, home by 7pm. Longest wait was hanging around in recovery for them to take me to x-ray. Once that was done, I was able to go home. That was a Monday. Went into the office for 2 hrs. on Thursday, and a few hours on Friday. Back to work full time following Monday. I did take the entire week off, but by day 3 I just had to get out and do something.

Same here. Only supplies used is 1 syringe, 1cc saline(maybe) 1 cup water, and the paper on the exam table. All of that for a $30 co-pay. So easy a Caveman can do it!

My Wife and I cruise at least once a year. Just got back from a 9 night RCL cruise this June. My new habits now, are the same when on a ship. Simple fact is I'm not all that hungry. I approached dinner the same as I would going to a restaurant at home. Emphasize the Protein, skip the large appetizers (they will fill you up before you get at the entree) ans maybe a low fat dessert. I NEVER went to the buffet at all on the cruise. No reason to, except for Breakfast were I ordered a omelet, and could only eat 1/2 at best. No other sides. When things like Cookies etc were made available, I would grab one, nibble, then throw it away. You have a good opportunity to exercise. All ships have a fitness center which I did every morning. Also use the stairs instead of the elevators. There were many days I went without lunch. Especially when off the ship at a beach, etc. Alcohol was not a problem, has not been with me since being banded. Although I am not a heavy drinker, it's hard to avoid any on a ship. Had at least 2 -3 drinks a day. A lite beer or 2 by the pool or at the beach.