Corrigan

We were told to drink plenty of water to overcome nausea. You can buy over the counter anti nausea medicine, but you'll probably be over it soon.

I think most people get better relief from hot packs applied to the shoulder.

Most doctors like to be responsible for their own work. Surgeons even more so. WLS done by one doctor is not very likely to be well recieved by another. If there is a life threatening problem, then that's different. Almost any surgeon skilled in that type of proceedure will help.

Don't worry too much about the Phych. eval., it's just to see if you're a real kook or want this for weird reasons. The physchiatrist will carry on a regular conversation with you, then OK your surgery.

You're doing well with your weight loss. I'm not a believer in increasing calories to increase weight loss, if you eat less calories, you'll lose more weight. You should be losing 1 to 3 lbs a week on average, some weeks more, some less. If you lose much more, it'll likely be muscle and we don't want that. If you go more than a month without any loss, you need to look at your caloric intake honestly. There are a lot of ideas about weight loss that have been going around for a long time about increasing caloric intake to increase weight loss, but there is no scientific evidence to support this, in fact just the opposite, glycogen uptake and use cause much of the gain and loss seen. Any animal will lose weight on insufficient food and gain on too much. As far as fills, I haven't had any fills yet, but that's largely just will power. If you can do it, great, but you have to be careful that you are able to control your hunger. It's very easy to give in and overeat, so it just depends on you, you will get hungrier with time. I hope you do what's right for you, good luck.

Emmajane read this short paragraph. It explains a little about the variance of weight loss: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy so it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

That's about where the stoma is, and some surgeons put the port there so I guess it could be either.

I doubt it, there is a simple exercise called the 5 day pouch test that takes you through a easy trip, much like your post op diet, only in just 5 days and it's helped a number of people get back into their programs without much effort. You can find it on this site (look in search box) or on Google. Congratulations on your loss to date.

I doubt it, there is a simple exercise called the 5 day pouch test that takes you through an easy trip, much like your post op diet, only in just 5 days and it's helped a number of people get back into their programs without much effort. You can find it on this site (look in search box) or on Google. Congratulations on your loss to date.

Hi kerri, I think you made a wise choice. The band is the safest form of WLS, and as long as it's Performed by a skilled, experienced surgeon, you should have it, trouble free, for life. There are three Centers of Excellence in Houston that should guarantee a safe, trouble free surgery with classes that assure that you know all you need to make your surgery a success. If you look up BSCN on Google it'll give the names of the CoEs. Whatever you choose good luck, and come back if there's anything we can help you with.

I've heard all sorts of ideas, from walking a lot, to all the commercial products for gas, some say windmilling your arms (in the privacy of your own home), But the only real cure is time. In two or three days you should be feeling some relief. Lets hope so, anyway.

Here's an article I was given that helps explain temporary weight gain, loss and stalls: Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy so it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

As it was explained to me, water, beside keeping your body hydrated, will regulate hunger and help prevent constipation. We were told to try to drink about 64 oz a day. Of course, how much you drink is up to you. After you're on solid foods, thirst should probably be your guide. Coffee and tea are diuretics, but you still get water from them and they count about half, depending on the strength, of their volume in water towards your total.

I was directed to a CoE by my PCP. It was the most fortunate thing that has happened to me in a long time. The whole experience couldn't have been better. If you do go to a Center of Excellence, you'll know everything you need to make your surgery a brilliant success. Mine was a PPO and so far, no out of pocket expense. I hope you have as good luck as I did.

I guess I'm just lucky, I haven't had any fills and I don't seem to get very hungry between meals. I only tell you this to show that we're all different, that some people need 8 fills and some need none. Many people here haven't had a fill yet and all are still losing weight. As far as the amount you eat, that's up to you. If you want to lose weight bad enough, you'll regulate your intake so that you do. I know how difficult it can be, I had terrible hunger pangs for a month or more, then, gradually they went away and now I eat small meals at regular intervals and don't have much hunger between and what I do have, I can control. I know several people that do the same. The way you handle your eating is absolutely up to you and you'll get out of it what you put in. This probably seems a bit harsh, but it's not, just realistic. I hope you are successful and lose all the weight you want.

I guess you're going to have to start over. You'll do better tomorrow. It does get easier with practice, this is self deprivation. It's going to take a bit of will power and a bunch of determination. You have to take it one day at a time, like a recovering alcoholic. You're a recovering food junkie. If it gets to the point where you can't stand it, think about what you'll look like in a year if you make a success of this. If you follow your dietitian's instructions, you should lose about two pounds a week, on average.That's about 100 lbs in a year. Would that be worth drinking a cup of tea instead of eating a cookie? Everyone here has done it and we've all slipped once or twice, but you have to get back on the horse, and try again. you're the only one who really knows how badly you want this and whether you're willing to work for it (and it is work!). The rewards are worth it.

I had the same problem, and finally said " why not" with the understanding that this would be it until I was 6 months out. So, every 6 months, I'll splurge and eat what I want, if I can.

What you don't see are the thousands of others that have had no problems. We all wish we could see 10 or 20 years in the future, but science isn't there yet. One thing to remember is that band technology and surgical skill have improved dramatically in the past few years. The band is still the safest form of weight loss surgery.

I had surgery at a well known hospital and in the folder I was given, they said week 1 was clear liquids, week 2 was full liquids with protein drinks weeks 3 and 4 were mushies (mashed and pureed foods), week 5 chopped soft foods, week 6 and beyond, a well balanced diet, chewed throughly. If you follow something like this, you'll give your surgery time to heal and give you a better chance for successful weight loss. Look in the food section on this forum for a better idea of what type of food and drinks to eat.

Good for you. Isn't this what all of this is about?

Most of us are in the same place as you, some choose to handle it a little differently, but I have been banded about 10 weeks and haven't had a fill yet, but am still losing. I may have uncontrollable hunger soon and then need a fill, but for now, no fills. I think it's about all about attitude going into this. We had pizza the other night and I had two pieces so maybe I'm headed where you are now, we'll see. I hope you get where you want to be.

Unfortunately all we hear around here are complaints about problems people are having. We don't hear from the hundreds of folks that have no problems at all. I think you fall into that catagory, consider yourself blessed! Here's hoping you keep on keeping on.

It sounds like you know what you're doing, liquids and soft foods for a few days and Rolaids or Prilosec for heartburn should take care of your problems. Don't worry about your thirst, stay hydrated, and lots of luck.

Don't rush things, most surgeons want you to wait 6 weeks before you lift over 10 lbs. Right now walking is the best thing you can do. Get a couple of 5 lb weights to keep your arms in shape, but you need time to heal. For right now, put your feet up and get a lot of rest. If you have a wii, maybe a little exercise with that, but take it easy.

What'll really be great is to be able to reach the armrest volume controls again, and to fit in a 17" seat. I've never had to use a seatbelt extension, but wasn't far from it. Not anymore.