Matt Z

Not everyone feels restriction. But this is EXACTLY what the band is doing. By forcing you to eat less and better, THAT is what is causing the weight loss, nothing else. As far as how slow, that's common with the band too. And it's one of the reasons that most surgeon's don't even offer the band anymore. To be honest, it surprises me every time I see a new person getting the band.

This is super controversial, but... I'm using patches. Have been since before my surgery and my 3 month, 6 month and 9 month labs *all* came back in the normal range. So, that's an option if you don't mind a lack of proper clinical studies. Also there are the Tespo vitamins, they are liquid and I hear pretty tasty.

If you don't have a fever or severe pain that isn't tolerable with meds, then yes. Swelling, bloating, etc will happen during healing. If they gave you an incentive spirometer, be sure you are using it every hour! It does help!

In all seriousness, check into Intermittent Fasting. When I stalled out hard around 230... it was Intermittent Fasting that allowed me to get down to 206, I'm fighting getting lower, but 25ish extra lbs from fighting at 230... I'll take it. I'm doing a "light" IF, I pretty much only eat between 8am and 6pm. Check into it, there are a few threads around here, it really REALLY did help out with getting me down to where am I now, it might help you out as well.

Great job! You look fantastic!

Doesn't sound like the "issue" was on your side of the interaction at all. Just keep on being you!

Thanks... it's ok. Overall it's just that, "not everyone is the same" sorta thing is all. Sorry you had a bad interaction, but as they say "don't let 1 spoiled apple ruin the bunch".

Never let an interaction with 1, affect your interaction with all. I can't even dance around all the things I'd like to say because it will *ALL* come out wrong in this wonderfully PC world we live in. But, not all men think that, not all men act this way, etc etc etc etc stereotypes are bad no matter who we are taking about, etc etc etc. Take each interaction as it's own. Not sure what this guy is "bringing to the table" in your interaction (meaning his thoughts, feelings, history, moral compass, etc etc etc). I've got a friend that has no idea when girls *ARE* hitting on him... even when it's beyond obvious that it's happening. So... that's my 2 cents.

Not all strains or products make you hungry. I'm on Dronabinol myself, a FDA approved THC. Haven't had a single issue. I would be more concerned about the sugar content of the edible since they most seem to be gummies or candy in nature. Have you discussed this with your surgeon?

Pre-op jitters are more than normal! You're fine!

Pound the water, get into the habit of consuming upwards of 128 oz of water a day if possible. Not only will it help ease and prevent constipation, but your body uses water to process fat. If you don't get it the minimum it needs (current research shows 90-110 oz of water a day is the requirement for a normal human) the fat loss *will* suffer. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn't when you start working at it. Good luck!

The "you are guaranteed to lose your hunger" bs surrounding the sleeve is exactly that, bs. No surgery is guaranteed to make someone lose their hunger sensation. All the Ghrelin "research" isn't solid fact, we still don't understand hunger, how it happens, what *actually* triggers it, etc. Currently the information around Ghrelin is "we believe" not "we know". The sad truth is, the majority of WLS patients, no matter the surgery, will retain some level of hunger sensation or will regain that sensation within a year of surgery. It's rare that someone loses the sensation permanently. And some, never lose it at all. So if someone promised you that the sleeve would kill your hunger because it "removes" ghrelin production... well, they didn't tell you all the facts.

Congrats, before you know it you'll be coming up on 1 year post op!

Insurance reviews take 2 weeks on average, no matter the urgency marked. If it was a real emergency or had a high urgency for safety reasons, then the authorization would happen over the phone first, then in writing. Insurance companies are notorious for dragging their feet.

Thanks. There are a few reasons that sorta came together at the same time that are forcing me to limit/reduce my time here. I'm going to try to retain some level of interactivity... but with what's come up, I don't have too much of an option other than reducing my BP time. Same, I'm still doing my light IF fasting from 6pm - 8am typically. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But the scale is pretty much just floating between 207 and 213, body fat % dropped to 23.1 and is holding. Curious if I'm going to get another minor "whoosh" or if this is it. Part of me is ok with where I'm at. When I was 17, I was 200-210 wearing a 36-38 pant. Today, I'm 210.7, 23.1% body fat and wearing a size 36 pant.... and I'm 40. So, I'd say being the same height, weight, pant and shirt size I was when I was 17, when I'm 40... isn't anything to scoff at. Hope everything works out for everyone. I will be around still.

Greatly increase your water intake. This will help flush out the things causing the bad breath. I tell everyone they should be shooting for 128 oz of water a day. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's a habit we all should get into, sooner than later. Current research is showing the human body needs between 90 - 110 oz of water a day, a normal human body. Those of us dealing with WLS and trying to shred every cell of fat we can... this is where the water helps, because fat is processed by water, and if you don't give your body enough water to meet it's own needs, fat loss will suffer. I know you are pre-op, so the reason here is slightly different (even though the increased water **WILL** help you drop weight now) the extra water is going to help your body flush out everything it's working to clear. Not enough water means things get left un-processed. Have you had your upper endoscopy yet? Did they note any GERD, Reflux, ulcers etc? I know Ulcers can cause some nasty breath. Take a tums or OTC acid reducer to see if that helps with your breath, if it does... then you might have some ulcers making themselves known.

That's an NSAID. So it's on the "NO" list for bypass patients. *EDIT* And I see it's been answered already. There are some natural alternatives to NSAIDS, like Turmeric for instance. So coupling a natural alternative with the pain meds we are allowed to take can come close to mimicking an NSAID.

I noticed an increase in sense of smell for a little while. I noticed an increase in taste ability as well for a bit. Both have gone back to normal at this point.

No worries! Give them a call, I wouldn't worry about "bugging" them, honestly I had to keep tabs on everyone constantly in order to make sure things were getting done in a timely manner.

Congrats!

I don't want to sway you away from your decision... but have you been informed about the current state of the Lab-Band "world"? More and More surgeons are not installing bands due to all the complications and issues. Even 2 of the major parts manufacturers for lap-bands, have stopped or sold off their portions of the company responsible for lab-bands. Your insurance might not even allow/cover them anymore and that might be why you are only seeing the removal listed in your information. I would call your insurance directly and inquire as to if they even still approve/cover lab bands.

Protein2o is VERY tasty and doesn't have any odd texture issues. Isopure Zero Carb RTD are good, but the taste can take a bit to get used to, and it does have a texture with how much protein is in it. Try different shakes, they are NOT all made equally! Also if you find that you are having issues with them intentionally, check to ensure the protein is using an Isolate and not Concentrate. Nothing wrong with Concentrates over Isolates, just if you have lactose issues, concentrates have high levels of lactose where Isolates have little to none and typically are safe for even lactose intolerant folks to use.

So much has changed in the overall process with the Bypass, those scary statistics are throwbacks to the open surgery version of the bypass. Now that they are almost all done laparoscopically and all the advancements in materials, the bypass is just as safe (for the most part) as the sleeve. Yes, they leave the whole stomach in place, the portion that's no longer attached to the esophagus is called the "excluded stomach", it still produces stomach acids and those acids mix with the food a bit lower down the small intestines. Between the Sleeve and the Bypass, contrary to popular misinformation, the Bypass is reversible under certain circumstances, and we actually had a member this year have reversion. The sleeve however is a done deal, once that 80+% of your stomach is cut out and thrown into medical waste, that's pretty much the end of that, there is no reversal option for the sleeve. You *CAN* be revised from the sleeve to bypass, but it's not the same as their is no stomach to convert to the "excluded stomach". Mini bypasses are performed with only 1 reattachment instead of 2 and typically the adjusted limb is a tad shorter than with the typical bypass. "RNY" is just short for Roux-en-y, coined for the doctor that first outlined the surgery, César Roux. It's the same thing as saying "Bypass". The Duodenal switch is different, and is also know as "biliopancreatic diversion". The portion dealing with your stomach is almost the same as a sleeve, but then they detach the sleeve from the duodenum leaving your gall bladder and pancreas still attached to the duodenum and then they attach that sleeve lower into the small intestine. It's almost a hybrid of the 2 surgeries with a few subtle differences. Hopefully that helps you some.

Not in the same extent but yes. When I was in the process of getting my band removed, I was going to get the sleeve. However my surgeon ( the same doc that installed the band ) told me she doesn't do band to sleeve revisions due to greatly increased risk of leaking where the scar tissue from the band is. So, my plans got changed and I'm a bypass patient now. And I wish I had gotten the bypass back in 2011 when I got the band.

Then wouldn't I be a Vet? Given I've been doing this WLS dance since 2011?