TheBandedPeach

My surgeon told me strictly clear (see thru) liquids like: chicken/veggie/beef broth, watered down juice, tea, crystal light, sugar free popsicles, stuff like that for 5 days straight before surgery and I was perfectly fine doing that, as well as I lost 13 lbs from it. Watch out for day 2 and 3 though when you will start to need to be near a bathroom at all times. Each doc seems to be different though, so you might want to just ask him.

This is for once your on full solids and dying for something that taste like white carbs...! There is a super high Protein, super high nutrient, low carb, gluten free grain from Africa called Quinoa! It can cook like rice, but also be ground into a flour to use for any and all baking. It reminds me a lot of Cous-Cous. I love the Pasta the most! In health food stores and online you can find it! My fave brand that I buy from Whole Foods Market is by Ancient Harvest -Quinoa Pasta, Flour & Flakes...(Just remember that the noodles need a much shorter cooking time because they cook faster and can get mushy.) They taste the closest to white noodles as I could find and taste REALLY good. Most friends I serve it to actually prefer it to white pasta! I had forgotten to mention that. They mix the Quinoa with Corn flour to make the noodles, but I bet if you made the noodles yourself, you wouldn't even need the corn! Here are a bunch of recipes that Whole Foods Market has on their website using Quinoa. QUINOA RECIPES from Whole Foods Market RECIPES

That's so great to hear guys! Glad you are enjoying it as much as I do Have fun with experimenting with it.

That is such a relief to hear. I am about. 5months post op My docs put so much fear in me about it that it effects mine and my fiance's sex life now in a negative way. I won't panic about it so much now, thank you.

Congratulations! I wish you the best of luck! I'm very curious about pregnancy after the band... I want to keep watching this subject and see what else people have to say about it....

I just had a thought... I saw a lot of people on here saying that they feel warm weather effects their band by making it seem much tighter.. I think I know why... The molecules in many materials such as plastic expand in warmth and get smaller with cold.... Could the plastic material in our bands be expanding during the heat, therefore causing it to tighten it around the stomach ? I'm sure this is a "duh" kinda question, but just thinking that if that's the case, it means maybe we could manipulate it ourselves a little more... BUT... also... one person said she felt that warm liquid helped loosen it, but cold helped tighten it. My newest trick is a glass of ice cold Water before a meal to make it feel tighter so that I eat less... ..I am wondering if the inside of the band reacts opposite to temperature, then the outside of the band.... Any thoughts?

Thanks for emailing me that Karon.

Wow i would love to know what that one is. Sounds great!

I really appreciate your attitude, thank you. The good thing is I finally talked to a woman who gave me some hope today and good advice. I am crossing my fingers that this is the beginning of a healthier path now and not a blurry one. Take care.

Apparently so because I was so upset with them after the surgery (my experience was horrible and painful), and when I came on here searching for real answers, I realized that NOTHING anyone else posted matched what I was told (or never told). Then I went on to try to help others with things that I was told, and got attacked each time! Am I the ONLY one on here with docs that don't know what they are doing? Even my FAMILY is angry with them! It's not like I am an idiot and not aware of this... The real problem I am having right now is my insurance does not cover anywhere else (at least not yet). So I am stuck and just ready to cry because of all the negative responses I have had on this whole forum from people and I'm just doing what I am told!.. What I will say though is that once I stopped listening to the main doc at the surgeons office, and took some control I started finally losing weight. I'm down 6 lbs this week. whoopie. That's all I have to say. *SIGH* :crying:

I am speaking the words of my doctor and was trying to be helpful and positive.

I notice you attack me every time Reverie. I am obviously losing weight and my tests result come out very healthy. Why don't you lay off already? Good grief!

Your very welcome Amy, good luck!

Oh and by the way, in case anyone had to question further, the article on my sig "Dangers Of Aspartame" is an article by a doctor who's own practice is right near me in Schaumburg, Illinois . His name is Dr. Mercola and I believe he has a lot of good info to share. Not ALL of his info can be correct, but I feel he is a good man and I really enjoyed meeting with him.

me too! I'm so glad you started this topic too, cause I actually took it upon myself as well to work a little harder at clearing the congestion and now I feel even better! great job!

Yeah, my surgeon says no Protein shakes but my nutritionist (given to me by him, mind you) says I must!! LOL LOL LOL :mad3: I just drink 'em anyways and having no problem now losing weight... I guess it is different for everyone.

GREAT JOB!!! :welldone:

(BTW if your having a hard time financially, just warning ya'll it's a bit pricey. I had to save a little for it this time.) OK, so I have been promising you guys for WEEKS now that I would get this info out for you and I'm really sorry it took so long, but I finally got it going! :woot: It helps for a lot of things but mostly for the growth in hair and nails. I stopped buying it for a while when we were struggling financially at a time, but now that I am losing my hair due to the surgery, I know its worth it again to just suck it up and buy the stuff! *** Ok so you just gotta go to the link below and Sign in/Join (don't worry peeps it's free ) and then it will send you to the page where you can buy it at....Just click "add to cart" then click "buy" and it will send you to the next step where you add in your shipping address, etc.... IF anyone happens to have any problems navigating the site, just let me know... Oh and also, if you would like a discount, try putting my member code in after you join... Join yourself first and if it asks, put in my code which is A4C and see if that works. You should be able to get like a $12.00 discount or something like that. I haven't tried it before, so unsure. CLICK HERE ----> TO GET YO GENESIS or call this number if its easier for ya....! 866-639-3143 :Banane35:

My problem is I am on Aetna Better Health Insurence and the case worker still has not found any other doc in the area who is covered by them.... 6 to 12 small/medium bites (of anything I WANT to eat has been working and I feel full. I'm just following my own rules now and I lost 6 lbs in 1 week. So "eff" the docs! :prrr::mad3: :woot:

Im supposed to eat less then 1700 acording to myfitnesspal.com (love that site) to lose weight and it seems to be working, plus the band helping with restriction (FINALLY!). So I eat about 9-12 bites at any given meal (ignoring what the doc says) sitting and lost 6 lbs this week since my last band tightening! This was after 2 months of no real weight loss. :success1:

I was getting 80 grams of protein a day and my hair is still falling out. It actually has nothing to do with protein (although that helps of course). It has to do with the shock your body goes through after the surgery. Most patients experience hair loss 2-3 months out after any major surgery. here is an article on it... 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. Read more: Losing Hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

OK, so I have been promising you guys for WEEKS now that I would get this info out for you and I'm really sorry it took so long, but I finally got it! I used to use this stuff ALL THE TIME (years back) for making my hair and nails long & beautiful. I was happy because i could stop going to the nail salon to try to fix my otherwise horrendous nails. It helps for a lot of things but mostly for the growth in hair and nails. I stopped buying it for a while when we were stuggling financially at a time, but now that I am losing my hair due to the surgery, I know its worth it again to just suck it up and buy the stuff! *** Ok so you just gotta go to the link below and Sign in/Join (don't worry peeps it's free ) and then it will send you to the page where you can buy it at....Just click "add to cart" then click "buy" and it will send you to the next step where you add in your shipping address, etc.... IF anyone happens to have any problems navigating the site, just let me know... Oh and also, if you would like a discount, try putting my member code in after you join... Join yourself first and if it asks, put in my code which is A4C and see if that works. You should be able to get like a $12.00 discount or something like that. I haven't tried it before, so unsure. or call this number.... 866-639-3143 :Banane35:

You have very valid reasons for fearing this, but I think it's EXTREMELY important that you just hop back on the horse and try again. You NEED to be tight in order to experience what the band can provide for you... Other bandsters say the band is not magic, but I disagree.. it is. It can be. I feel now it's my little miracle. I didn't fully understand this myself until about a week ago and had real bad anger issues with my docs and the whole process up until my last fill when I finally got tight. I still am unhappy with the doc's horrible communication and ability to educate their patients about the band, BUT.... I now get just how important it is that the band be tight..... Just keep trying. I promise you can find that point where you are ok... Here is a tip... warm weather makes it feel tighter and cold weather makes it feel looser... SO you will have to adjust your diet to how you feel. It's just part of the process... just know you will be able to eat a little more in cold temps and a little less in warm, and you will be all good... Another great tip I learned... if your band gets real tight and you panic, just drink something real cold right away or eat some ice cream! It will loosen it up! I REALLY hope that helps, 'cause I hate to see someone suffering. Take care, and I wish you the best of luck.

Oh my gosh, your story sounds identical to mine! I actually had to look at your profile to see if we had the same surgeons. I plan on changing as soon as possible, as long as my insurance allows it.