jen120

I was told no carbonation and no gum after surgery. It was really hard to give up my diet coke. But I did. So I would definitely stop those. Start reducing the amount of carbs you eat now. It will definitely help you when you start the liquids and after surgery which are pretty much all Protein. Start chewing everything really well. It's good practice for when you get to actually eat food. Practice not drinking while you eat and 30 minutes after meals. This is something that is very hard for me. I should have done more practice prior to surgery. Good Luck!

What a doctor bills an insurance company is not what he gets paid. My surgeon charged my insurance $32,000 for my surgery. I know he didn't get paid anywhere near that. I work at a hospital...it all has to with insurance and what gets paid. If a doctor sends in a charge to the insurance for $500, then he would only get paid $50. It's a crazy system but that is how it works.

I've noticed the same thing. Couple of things...how much fat are you eating? I know people with ultra low fat diets can start to get dry skin. Take a look at that. You might want to increase your fat grams. The minimum you should have is 15% of your calories from fat. Also be sure you are drinking lots of Water...minimum of 8 glasses. I aim for 10-12 a day. If you are losing a lot of weight quickly, your skin will start to wrinkle a bit. A lot depends on your size, age, and genetics. Also, what about the weather? Has it been particularly dry in your area? That can also affect your skin. Good Luck!

Congrats on your surgery. Glad to see you are feeling good. Way to go on that pre-op weight loss, 32 pounds is amazing. Glad you will be more active in the forums. Take care!

I would definitely say that stopping the HTCZ could cause the gain. It is impossible to gain 4 pounds of fat in a week unless you are eating massive amounts of food, which you are not. So there must be something else going on. Since HTCZ is a pill that makes you lose Water, I would say that your gain is water. Today my doctor wanted to stop my HTCZ because my BP was low. We ended up deciding to stop a different medication ( I was taking 4 meds for BP). I honestly was afraid of stopping the HTCZ because I didnt want to gain water weight. I think your body just needs time to adjust. Keep drinking water...even increase your water intake a bit if you can. Dont be afraid, you are eating right, exercising. The weight will come off. Good Luck!

You are such a wonderful inspiration! How totally awesome!!!

Good Luck! I am sure everything will be great!!

I've lost 51 pounds since May 9th. With regard to losing weight the old fashioned way...I actually lost 125 pounds back in 2005 and I gained every single pound back. I did Weight Watchers and exercised. There were many reasons why I gained the weight back. A big reason is that I used to binge all the time to help deal with difficult emotions. I've been in therapy for over 3 years to address my eating issues. I got a divorce (the source of much unhappiness) which helped me tremendously. My main reason for getting the band was not really to help me lose weight, but to help me from gaining it back again. Also, even though I have the band...I still have to eat right and exercise. So in some ways I am still doing it the old fashioned way. The band is not a miracle worker. You have to put work into it to make it work.

Congrats on your loss, that is awesome!

I'm so sorry about this disappointment. That must have been really frustrating. I am 5"10 and was about 390 at the time of my surgery. I was on a strict liquid Protein shake diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery that was supposed to reduce fat around the liver and stomach. Did you do something like that? Did the doctor indicate whether this is something that is common? I know the idea of losing 30 more pounds is frustrating. But you can do it and I know you will be successful!

Hardest part for me was definitely the pre-op and post-op liquid diet. 2 weeks before and after my surgery I could only have Protein shakes, Jello and broth. It was hard...the hardest thing I have ever done. I am only 2 months out and dont have a fill, but I have not thrown up at all since my surgery. I also have not had any food get stuck.

Agree the Bariatric Advantage suck. Though I hear they have a new "Orange-vanilla" flavor. Sorry, I dont have any recommendation. I had already bought the BA mix so I had to suffer through them pre and post. I have 2 bags left over...gonna try to sell them for a big discount at my next support group to someone who is pre-surgery.

Brandon, I was one of the lucky ones. After surgery I had absolutely no gas pain and just a bit of soreness where the biggest incision was on my stomach. I never took any pain medication after surgery except 1 dose of liquid vicoden right before I left the hospital. I started at 415 pounds. On May 9th I started my pre-surgery liquid diet, I had surgery on May 23 and as of Monday 7-25-2011 I have lost 51 pounds. I do not have any fill in my band so I can pretty much eat anything I want as long as I chew really well. I do have to be careful with bread. I stick to a strict diet. I eat about 1200 calories a day, focusing mostly on Protein and trying to eat low carb. I drink 10-12 glasses of Water a day. The great thing is that they want you to eat a lot of protein, so eating steak is not out of the question. You just need to chew carefully. Like you I have a very difficult time exercising. I cannot walk any significant distance. I have started slowly riding a recumbent stationary bike. (People all weights and sizes can do that) I also swim. I have a small circular 12 foot above ground pool that is 3.5 feel deep. It was $99 bucks at Walmart and came with a pump and filter. I hang on the side and kick my legs, 500 sets on my back, 500 sets on my stomach. I swim "laps" using only my arms. Granted they are really very small laps, but I'll do 10 one way, switch direction and do 10 the other and go back and forth. Good luck with your research. I will tell you...everyone is different. Dont let any 1 experience color your opinion. I hope you find the information you are looking for so you can make an informed decision.

It is normal to cough and bring up stuff from your lungs after having anesthesia. I dont know about dark brown phlegm balls. I would call my doctor on that one. Congrats on having surgery!

This is very common about 3 months after surgery. This article explains the reason why. Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation. The Facts During a normal hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival. Identification Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. Hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb. Time Frame Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness. Gastric Bypass Surgery Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated. Proper Diet Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in Protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat.

I'm sorry you had this experience. It sounds like you were caught off guard. I hate when that happens and I always think of what I should have said after the event. My doctor is very nice, but I know he is very strict about people sticking to the plan. He said this before surgery and was very adamant about it. He will not even do a fill unless you bring a printout of the last 2-3 weeks of food journals and exercise logs. If you are not doing it already, I suggest you start logging everything you eat and every time you exercise. I use a web site called myfitnesspal.com. Many people on this site use it to track all their food and exercise. It allows you to print out your food journals and exercise logs. You can also track your measurements. Bring these with you to the next appointment. Show him that you are doing the right things, that you are losing inches. If he gives you grief, then ask him to make a suggestion in how you can improve what you are doing. You are doing great! Sounds like you have great support! Stay strong and come here for support!! (((Hugs)))

Awesome!!

I feel your pain...I was miserable during the pre-op liquid diet. I could only have the shakes, Jello and broth. Not even veggies! I hated the shakes so much I would just drink the whole thing in one gulp. Like I was chugging a beer. I also gave up drinking diet coke when I started the pre-op so I know about the headache. It is all part of going through ketosis. It does get a bit better. I looked at the pre-op diets as if I was taking medicine and that it was part of the process. I must admit that on some days I did have some fat free fully blended pea Soup for dinner and that seemed to help. If you dont like the shakes you are drinking now, I highly suggest finding ones that you do like. Because if you hate them now, you are really going to hate them after surgery. Do a search on this site regarding Protein shakes. There are several posts where people recommend shakes that they like. Good Luck and Hang in there! You can do this. I've lost 51 pounds since May 9th when I started my pre-op diet. I still have a long way to go, but the results are worth the suffering!

Congratulations! You should be so very proud of your achievement!

For me...i had been so disassociated from my body for so long, I never ever really looked at myself. I always only just looked at my face. It was as if I was a floating head. Now I am acutely aware of my size and my body and how huge I really am. I do get depressed and I wonder what will be left hanging when I am done. But I am so much happier eating healthy and trying to work out the best I can. I am focusing on losing the weight and making positive changes. I have accepted that I will never be "skinny" or a super model. But I will be a smaller, happier and healthier me. I remind myself to be patient because I have a long road ahead! Good Luck to you all!

I agree that Bariatric Advantage are horribly chalking and make me gag. I switched to One A Day Kids Complete (Scooby Doo). To me they taste great and I look forward to taking it everyday. For calcium I do a generic brand of Viactiv. 2 a day. The chocolate chews taste like tootsie rolls to me so it is a little treat as well as a Vitamin.

Sami, This is very, very common. I had the same issue and it lasted for almost 3 weeks. I had lost 32 pounds between the pre-op diet and immediately post op and then nothing. At the time I was eating about 600-800 calories a day. I ended up increasing my calories to 1000-1200 a day and started seeing the weight come off again.

I drink with my meals and after. It is very difficult to eat if I dont. I plan all my meals, I eat what I plan to eat and stop. I dont go back for more. I stay at 1000-1200 calories a day. I am satisfied after I eat and typically dont get hungry unless one of my meals is significantly delayed.

Good Luck! I am sure everything will go well! Take care!

This is very, very common. I was told that I should not expect to lose weight and I might even gain the first 2 weeks after surgery. Your body is healing and you are swollen. I know its frustrating, but the loss will happen once you are healed. Congrats on your surgery and good luck!