gottobeme

Just healthy eating in general. The more you are used to smaller serving sizes and no snacking the easier it is after surgery

I'm still fairly new to this (still on soft foods) but I thought the foods you mentioned were not considered "band friendly". The most common foods I have seen people have trouble with are breads, rice and pasta. Did you ever have a nutritional consult?

Good Luck!

I saw in another post that you said you weren't exercising, just painting. My clinic would count that as exercising. Any movement that has you off the couch and moving. Give yourself a pat on the back for doing this! Especially in 112 degree weather! Remember, slow and steady wins the race!

Good Luck tomorrow! Drink as much water or zero calorie liquid as you can - to help curb the hunger. I know it's just not the same as something solid but it does help!

Are you on clear liquids or full liquids? I was allowed to have low fat cottage cheese (considered full liquid) by 5 days and that was a God send! I also did not thin out my yogurt - just made sure it did not have fruit chunks in it. I also tried a tomato bisque soup that was tasty. I don't normally like tomato soup but when you are limited to what you can eat it helps.

Welcome JJ! Good Luck on your journey.

I'm 7 weeks post op and still having some of the sleeping issues. They come and go. I'm not sure if it is surgery related or just life related, but at least you know you're not alone!

Not seeing that much of a difference in the mirror may be more of a mental thing. I have lost 94 lbs (70 on my 6 mo pre-op program) and even though I get lots of compliments it is still hard for me a lot of the times to see the difference that others see. Do you have any pics of yourself pre op? We recently had family pictures taken, when I compare them to the ones taken 2 years ago I can see a difference but again looking in the mirror it's still just me looking back - no matter the size!

For some reason I suddenly feel my sternum, poking down between my ribs. WTH???? I've never felt this before. I thought I might be feeling the band, but I think the band is deeper inside me so I'm assuming this is breastbone. But Why have I never felt it before?? I haven't lost that much weight. Some, but it's not like I'm skinny or anything... It may be your port you are feeling. Mine is placed right around that area and I have been able to feel it since surgery. I know my sleep cycles have also been mixed up a bit since surgery. Some nights it is hard for me to get to sleep and other nights (like last night) I was asleep by 6:30 pm!

You know the rules but are unable to follow them. It's not always easy that is for sure! Maybe you could check with a psychologist and have them help you find out if there is an underlying reason you are not able to follow the rules. Just a thought.

I agree with tmf. I live near Madison WI and am very lucky that my insurance/clinic has an excellent team. It's a comprehensive program that is not just for WLS patients but all wanting/needing to lose weight. In addition to the seminars, if you have a chance to visit their clinic look for things like larger chairs, bathroom stalls that are either larger or have doors that open outwards instead of inward and just the mood of the staff. It's things like this that show they are ready and willing to help you where you are at now on your journey. Best of Luck!!!

Never had one for my band. I had one over 20 years ago when I my gall bladder removed with a full open procedure. I needed it then but not for the band.

Journal what you are eating. It may be quantity or it may be the type of food you are eating. Ask to talk to a nutritionist and take you journal along with you. They can help you!

For me it's not so much a kitchen appliance as helpful things to have around. I have a bunch of 1/2 cup zip loc bowls to pre-measure lunch items (greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.). I also have baby spoons that help me keep my bite sizes small. I did buy a Ninja food processor but have not used it a lot. They are very handy to have around though.

I completely understand where you are coming from! I have been avoiding the scale lately. I try to remind myself that I did loose a lot prior to surgery and that may have something to do with it. It's still frustrating though. Keep going with those NSV's!

I wouldn't worry about it. If you get a little gassy later you'll know why.

My guess would be on average 6-8 months. Self pay seem to get through much faster some in a month. Some insurances will require a doctor visit per month for 6 months, miss just one month and it starts all over! I have heard of others that require 3 months.

I know it can be very frustrating when the scale goes up and not down. Keep in mind you had surgery less than two weeks ago! Your body will be doing some strange things just because of that alone. You have some major accomplishments already, the others will come in time.

I agree with everything posted so far. It is hard to tell. Move as much as you can and keep up on the liquids. I about 2 more days things should be much better!!!

My advice is to not worry how long the process takes. I know it is easier said then done. It is different for everyone. Just go with it and make the most of your journey!

I started by going to a seminar. My program/insurance required a minimum of 6 month of appointments before I was submitted to insurance. I was told the average patient goes for about 10 months before they have surgery. For me this was a great opportunity. In addition to nutritionist, phsyc eval, surgeon appt. etc that is required (I think many places do 3-4 of these in one long appt.) I had monthly group appointments that were a combination support/teaching group and a 1 on 1 appointment with a bariatric doctor. They would pull everyone out of the meeting one at a time for their doctor portion of the appointment. I started with the seminar in July 2011, was in the group appointments beginning in August and had all of my "requirements" done by February but wasn't really sure I was ready to be submitted for insurance (I still had to figure out how to pay my 20%). I was submitted and approved in March and had my surgery April 13th. I started the process at 270 with a BMI over 46. By the time I had surgery I was down to 199.5 and a BMI a little over 32. I think going into surgery with that much of a weight loss made the surgery and recovery easier for me. I am lucky that my clinic offers everything they do. My insurance also goes by your weight/BMI at the beginning of the process. Some do not and you can loose too much and then not qualify for the surgery... Something to consider. I am 6 weeks post op and have lost another 20 lbs although the last week I have just been hanging out at 179 +/- 1lb. I hope this helps some!

No, but I grew up near Dayton!

This is very similar to what my doctor's office gave me. I do however let my hunger be my guide and don't always have the snacks. As long as you are getting your protein in don't feel like you have to eat everything on the list. If I am full after my protein then I stop. I am in my second week of this phase and seem to need my snacks now. My weakness on this stage is Triscuts (chew, chew, chew) but I do count them out first, it's so nice to have a little something with a crunch!

My first few days I was told only to have about 1 oz of water/liquid at a time. I actually set the timer on my phone for every 10-15 min to help myself get most of my liquids in. It sounds like your surgeon is not as conservative as mine since I was on full liquids until week 3 then I started mushies. At this stage I would also expect you to feel full after 4 oz of food or liquid if you are eating it all at once (within 30 min). I wouldn't push yourself to "eat" more than you feel comfortable with but do be sure to drink plenty of fluids. I would ask your doctors office if the sample diet they gave you is the same one they give all patients or if it is different for you since you are a type 1 diabetic. If it is the one they give everyone I would continue to ask for advice on here. Although I normally recommend for people to follow their surgeon/doctors advice it sounds like yours may be pushing you a little to fast. It gets better! I think most people about day 3 or 4 start wondering what in the world they have done but soon are glad that they were banded. I was banded 6 weeks ago yesterday so I am by no means an expert but I am not too far ahead of you if you want help through the next few weeks! Teri