Caribear

But how many have popped in to say it worked fine for them so it should work fine for err'ybody??

Ha, but those aren't asking for support, they're asking for permission

Clearly you've not seen all the threads about popcorn, pizza, swedish fish, pork chops and tacos.

@@theantichick
exactly. people are much more likely to post and ask for support when they're having issues. there are very few, "hey everybody, i tried X food today and it went fantastic!" posts.
it's just human nature to reach out to others more when you're unhappy.

@@theantichick **There are also a LOT of people who get their information needs met by their surgeon's team, have a good support group in person, and just don't have any complications to speak of. Those people never even sign on to a board like this. That's why I say if you want information about how common a complication or side effect is, talk to your surgeon. They report to agencies about that sort of thing, and they know the real numbers. Complications like nausea and vomiting are common, to be sure. But it's not common to have intractable nausea/vomiting (meaning not responding to meds). It happens, sure. But nowhere near the incidence rates one would think just reading this board.**
I'm going to save this to just c/p from now on. Support groups/boards/online communities are TERRIBLE places to find out how safe/unsafe/effective ANYthing is. Your surgeon should be able to readily provide you with his/her complication rate for any given procedure, as well as tell you national rates of the same. You should also be provided with things like your hospital's rate of infections acquired during admission. I had a super easy post-op course, but that's meaningless to YOU other than it being reflective of the rate of easy post-op courses in general for a VSG. Do your homework with your doc/practice/hospital.
You can't even find out if a TOASTER is good or not because so few people take the time to say "I love this toaster" but nearly everyone has time to complain about their toast being too brown, not brown enough or popping up too high Same for gastric bypass, VSG, DS and bands!

I've been involved in many online support groups since the AOL dial-up days. People tend to join when they need things - usually information or support with issues they're facing. Once have the information they need, or their issues have subsided (or they've just learned to accommodate them), they tend to fall away as other things in their life become more important.
The people who stick around long term tend to do so because they form relationships that are important to them, they feel a drive to "pay-it-forward", or they are having longer-lasting issues than the majority (or a combination of the above). So you end up with a core group of "evangelists", a group of "dissidents", and a rotating group of newbies on any board. And of course, the drama llamas and trolls, but I tend to discount them, LOL. That's why if you hang around a board for any length of time, you can predict fairly reliably who will respond to a given post, and what they will say.
There are also a LOT of people who get their information needs met by their surgeon's team, have a good support group in person, and just don't have any complications to speak of. Those people never even sign on to a board like this. That's why I say if you want information about how common a complication or side effect is, talk to your surgeon. They report to agencies about that sort of thing, and they know the real numbers. Complications like nausea and vomiting are common, to be sure. But it's not common to have intractable nausea/vomiting (meaning not responding to meds). It happens, sure. But nowhere near the incidence rates one would think just reading this board.
For example, when my daughter developed alopecia, we were both very active for about a year on alopecia boards and groups. As we figured out how to deal with it, got all the research information we needed, and determined there wasn't any treatment just living with it, our time got filled with other things and neither of us have been on those boards for years. When I was trying to get a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and then for a while after, I was very active on several RA/auto-immune boards and communities. Now that I have a diagnosis and am on a treatment plan, I don't have a lot of needs that the online community can meet. The deficits that I'm dealing with are fairly stable and I've had to accept them or accommodate them.
Despite how it feels, boards like this are not a true cross-section or random sampling.

I'm going to give you 2 pieces of very concrete advice.
First, you can't lay in bed and cry, you HAVE to figure out how to get some nourishment into your body. You feel awful, of course, but you're only going to feel MORE awful if you don't get something in to keep your electrolytes up. I have problems with my potassium levels, it started while I was in the hospital post-op and I still have to be careful. Milk is a good source of potassium, and Fairlife milk has good Protein, too, plus it helps replenish the Calcium you lose when your potassium is low.
broth with protein powder is a MUST for you right now, and you should use the Fairlife milk and add protein to it as well. And you need to get your Water in, whether you're nauseated or not.
Second, if your medical team won't respond to you, you need to find someone new. Period. Call around and find someone who will take you. Tell your current team that you're leaving if they don't take your care seriously. You need carefully coordinated care right now and speaking only to a PA who can't be bothered to pull your chart before calling you back isn't competent care. Go to the ER again if you have to and tell them your practice won't take you seriously. It's absolutely critical that you're under the care of a team who understands the complications that follow bariatric surgery and if your original surgeon won't provide care, you HAVE to find someone else.
I'm sorry you're feeling so awful and I hope this isn't worded too strongly for you, but you're sick and feeling hopeless and you MUST do something to help yourself. Get some broth and protein in your stomach, drink water and make phone calls on Monday. It WILL get better!

Lots of these are familiar to me too. I will say now that i'm two and a half years out from surgery (down 125, 20 yet to go!) I found the hot/cold thing pretty much stopped. I'd already been through menopause though when I had my sleeve done.
My 'skinny' rant is this; people I'm close to who would be loving and supportive about anything else in my life, when it comes to something that's hard for me at this lower weight they can't resist a snide comment or a sarcastic 'poor you' crack. Sheesh! I hate it. Case in point;
My husband asked how this day went last week knowing it was a long one and important to me. I told him the worst part was getting up and putting on what i planned to wear only to find the skirt part of the suit almost fell off. I had worn it a couple months back, but now it's way big. I switched and put something else on (slacks and kimono jacket) and it looked like a silk potato sack. It was 5am and I had to be out the door soon and in front of people all day - I was panicked and frustrated. His comment was along the lines of 'Yeah, poor you for losing so much weight.' in this sarcastic tone. He asked!! I won't be answering that again any time soon. But to his credit he circled around when hours later and apologized, though it was clear he didn't get it, just knew i was pissed.
My sister did a similar thing when i said i was sad to take a favorite piece to the consignment shop--why ask people?! And yes, both she and hubby are somewhat overweight and doing nothing about it (other than complaining).
Okay, end of rant.
Kate

First off, I'm not calling myself skinny...yet...but I've noticed a couple of things with my body that I'm surprised about that I wasn't expecting since I've lost so much weight.
First off...how the hell do you shave your armpits when they've turned into a cave?? I swear, my armpits are so sucked in now, it takes me 15 minutes to try to shave them....as off tonight, they're pretty hairy because I gave up.
Also, it's uncomfortable to sleep on my side because my now boney knees hurt when they're rubbing against each other....I've tried putting pillows and blankets between them but I can't sleep with that stuff between my legs...sigh.
And don't get me started about my boney butt on hard chairs and toilet seats!!
I am constantly cold and am not looking forward to the upcoming Canadian winter. My husband is already agitated with all the layers I wear to bed as it is.
But even with all these new "problems", I still wouldn't change any of it for the world!!
So what are your "skinny people problems" you weren't expecting??
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

There is nothing wrong with eating animal meat if you choose to... we were advised to eat Protein... protein does not only come from meat, you can get it from many sources....
I think the focus on animal meat products is that it is the easiest and most well known type of protein... any layman when asked what protein is.. will answer meat, poultry, fish.
I personally get sick of eating the same type of food... i need variety... so i switch between animal and non animal sources depending on what i feel like.
Also, i think the original info which was published in 1995 has some info that would be considered redundant now as new research emerges... it would be good if there was an updated version

If you don't eat animal Protein, then substitute the protein of your choice. If you are vegan or vegetarian you are should already be used to this.

Allow me to introduce to those of you who are not familiar with, what I consider to be, the gold standards of weight loss surgery success habits. These are success habits developed by people way smarter than me who have defined the keys to achieving permanent weight loss with bariatric surgery.


Allow me to introduce to those of you who are not familiar with, what I consider to be, the gold standards of weight loss surgery success habits. These are success habits developed by people way smarter than me who have defined the keys to achieving permanent weight loss with bariatric surgery.

I feel these must be read and memorized by every bariatric surgery patient. My trinity of owner’s manuals for the bariatric surgery are:
The Bariatric Diet developed by Dr. E. E. Mason (the father of obesity surgery)
The Pouch Rules for Dummies adopted from Dr. E. E. Mason
The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Colleen Cook, based on research with patients successful with bariatric surgery

Here is a high-level of the success habits found in each text. You’ll need to read the full texts in order to reap the benefit. Just click through the links above.

The Bariatric Diet
The following is the gist of the bariatric diet developed by Dr. Edward E. Mason. Dr. Mason is an Iowa bariatric surgeon who is considered the “father of obesity surgery” and the bariatric diet is the gold standard for weight loss surgery patients to follow. The ideal meal for weight loss is:

• Fill one-half of your plate with two to four ounces of animal source, low-fat protein.
• Fill one-quarter of your plate with lightly-cooked or raw low starch vegetables.
• Fill the remaining quarter of your plate with fresh raw fruit. These food choices are coarse, solid foods that should be cut finely and chewed well in order to be tolerated. They are likely to stay in the pouch longer and offer good nutritional value. Read How Does the Bariatric Diet Work for further details.

The Pouch Rules
The following is an overview of the pouch rules developed by Dr. Edward E. Mason. Read The Pouch Rules for Dummies for the complete instructions.

• Eat solid foods. Take very small bites of low-fat meats, crisp or raw vegetables, and solid fruits like apples or pears.
• Eat at least two ounces of meat with each meal.
• Try to finish your meal within 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure you still chew your food thoroughly. Don’t rush through the meal, but don’t linger at the table either.
• Avoid drinking with meals and for two hours afterwards.
• Start drinking when the feelings of hunger return to avoid thirst and minimize hunger between meals. Start with smaller sips, and increase the volume until you feel full again.
• Drink 8 to 12 ounces of water rapidly over 20 seconds, then top off with sips until you feel comfortably full. Do this whenever you feel hungry. This will keep the pouch distended and minimize hunger.
• Drink a full glass of water 15 minutes prior to eating. By drinking a lot of water before the meal, you shouldn’t need to drink during the meal or afterward.
• Avoid snacking since snacks usually do not eliminate hunger. They also are filled with empty calories.
• Minimize caloric liquids and softer foods. These foods are not off limits, but when you make exceptions you will likely get hungry sooner and have to deal with the consequences. The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients
Colleen Cook had gastric bypass surgery in 1995 and went on to author the The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients. It is based on research conducted with patients who have been successful with bariatric surgery. I have found that I maintain my weight loss when I follow the success habits. When I slip up and stop using the habits, I gain weight fairly quickly. And I take off that weight when I return to the Success Principals:
Success principal #1: Personal accountability (this is fundamental – you must “get” this principal before you can work the other principals into your new life)
Success principal #2: Portion control
Success principal #3: Nutrition
Success principal #4: Fluid intake
Success principal #5: Regular exercise
Success principal #6: Vitamins and supplements

I find the chapter “Back on Track” particularly helpful. It’s for weight loss surgery patients who have regained weight. Colleen Cook shares an approach that has helped many patients turn it around, get back on track, lose the weight and keep it off by following these principals.

Weight-loss surgery is a big part of the solution, but it is not a cure-all. If you follow these success habits you will increase the amount of weight you lose as well as ensure a healthy weight for the rest of your life.

Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life

In every way! I won't even get started on different pre op diets, post op stages, etc. the only thing these docs often have in common is that they are different!

Just a quick note to share my excitement at hitting another mini-milestone. I can't believe I'm even writing this post!!! I just want to give hope to the newbys and people undecided about banding - you can be successful and lose a bunch of weight rather quickly like with gastric if you focus on what you're doing. I'm by no means perfect and I have been very bad about exercise - but I do stick to my 800 calories per day pretty religiously. I love you all for being there for me - you have no idea what your kind words, information and support have meant to me over the last year. BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!!!

Hi Lisa, I haven't been banded yet, but I think it's normal to go through this. It's a major life change. For a lot of us, I think we get sad because we have an unhealthy relationship with food, and the surgery means we have to change it. I have heard several bandsters comparing it to a "break-up" with food. It's always been there, it's always been a comfort to them, but it was not a healthy relationship, so they had to end it. Another thing, especially if you've had a long road to get here, is that depression that comes with the accomplishment of a goal. It happens to a lot of college students after they graduate. You spend so much time working towards this goal, and once it gets here, there's a sense of loss because you've become so used to the "working towards" part.
You may have some depression and "what have I done" feelings right afterwards, too, just so you know. But I know you can do this.

Hi Lisa, I haven't been banded yet, but I think it's normal to go through this. It's a major life change. For a lot of us, I think we get sad because we have an unhealthy relationship with food, and the surgery means we have to change it. I have heard several bandsters comparing it to a "break-up" with food. It's always been there, it's always been a comfort to them, but it was not a healthy relationship, so they had to end it. Another thing, especially if you've had a long road to get here, is that depression that comes with the accomplishment of a goal. It happens to a lot of college students after they graduate. You spend so much time working towards this goal, and once it gets here, there's a sense of loss because you've become so used to the "working towards" part.
You may have some depression and "what have I done" feelings right afterwards, too, just so you know. But I know you can do this.

Hi all i haven't posted much here because i was feeling like band failure. I only had my op on Feb 4th and had 4cc put in my 10cc band during the op.
I lost 15lbs including my seven day milk diet but regained 2 back in the last few weeks, i was able to eat anything really but tried to be careful.
I had my first fill of 1cc on Friday so am now on soft foods but all day I've been sipping cold water all day and can actually feel it passing through my band. Im so happy, i actually know i have a band now ha and haven't really been hungry since. Small amounts fill me up for a long while.
I just wanted to say Yippie and hello to you all!

You can do this, Kathy! That, I think, is the beauty of the lapband - you can always start over.

I don't know about many but Sunday dinner at my parents is a must its like being 10 and forced to go to church because that's what good Catholics do lol. Sunday dinner at our house consists of endless plates of rost pork pot roast meat sauce meat balls meat loaf cornish hen and roast chicken soups potatoes pastas sauce bread salads sea food fish cheese omg yes different cheeses sodas coffee wine desert where do I even start yes this is typical of every Sunday and yea we are a big family and guess what I'm the only one there over weight. Truthfully today was the day where I went there with one mission and that was to tell everyone about me and my new friend the Lapband. O boy the reaction on my parents face my grand parents my aunts my cousins my few friends n my siblings. it was truthfully amazing they support me 100% and are happy that I finally addressed my over weight issue and decided to do this for me. So much food but guess what it wasn't a factor I had some bean soup and a small piece of chicken breast with a glass of water no desert I guess because I was full. Most importantly I walked away content from my families acceptance and the will that now they are willing to make me my own special healthy course for Sundays . My support group has increased tremendously from 2 close friends and my brother to my entire immediate family and my close friends. So every Sunday at our table we say 1 thing that we are greatful for today I'm greatful of 2 things my new journey and my family and close friends. I am truly blessed.

Any of us could die in the vehicle we drive, walking across the street, choking on the food we eat, so many things "could" happen everyday! Trust that the Lord is going to be with you and you will be safe.

It's hard to believe but I got my band 4 years ago. I am down between 75-80 pounds overall. (Of course I want to lose those extra 10-20-25 lbs, but if I just stay where I am, I am ok too.) I love my band and can't imagaine life without it.
In this time a lot of things have happened, as they always do. First, I had breast cancer, which came with chemo, a mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction etc. But through it all, I happily kept the band. I had only one hurdle with it though... after the mastectomy I had a wicked reaction to the anesthesia so after heaving for hours in the recovery room, the band was dislodged and I had to have a "revision." Unfortunately the next year I had another slip and another revision. I'm really quite careful now and am relieved that I am basically at the year mark and intact. I did have to have it loosened recently, then quickly gained 8 lbs, but am now back on the way down. It is distressing to regain but a relief to know that I can get back on track again, without too much damage done. So you can see life with a band is much like life itself, somewhat unpredictable and not a straight line of perfection. But the band is the tool that I feel has saved my life and self esteem. I am grateful for it every day. It gives me something that other people have, but I either don't have or lost along the way, an internal brake telling me that I'm full. It's that simple.
People who know ask what I miss... not much. Bagels? I had enough for a lifetime, but sometimes I'll pick at the outer crust. Steak? I can live without it. Lobster? Oh well... nothing is really a big deal. I feel I can eat a little of almost anything...
To those who are on the journey, good luck. Questions welcome, of course.

@marydj: If you aren't sure you're making the right decision about having surgery, here's some advice that I have heard. Take a sheet of paper and draw two lines across it, dividing it into four boxes. In the top two boxes, write "Pros for having the surgery" and "Cons for having the surgery," and the bottom two "Pros for not having the surgery" and "Cons for not having the surgery." Then write down any pros and cons you can think of, for and against surgery. When you are done, you can look at this sheet and it might help you decide one way or the other. (I hope this makes sense!)
If you have already decided on surgery, but aren't sure the lapband is the one for you, talk to your doctor about it. He or she can probably give you an idea of the surgery they would most recommend for you and why, plus answer any questions or fears you may have.
Whatever your decision, I wish you good luck.

I would probably continue with the supervised dieting while you still have insurance, as well as getting any necessary tests done before your coverage ends. This way you can learn some good tips and also keep your out of pocket to a minimum.

It is my understanding that insurance companies can no longer deny you based on pre existing conditions. That, however has nothing to do with premiums. Regardless, a high premium will usually be less expensive than forking out lots of cash for the surgery. With that being said, if he is just your boyfriend why wouldn't you still get Medicaid? Unless I read the post wrong.
If you are able to get another insurance plan some require a supervised diet anyway so I would definitely stck to it until you see how things shake out. That way you are already done when you get approved, or if you self pay, the extra support did not hurt you.

I'm not banded yet so I can't say I know how you feel, but don't give up. Remember, it can be repaired! I know it feels like a setback, but don't let it discourage you too much. Recently I heard a man say something along the lines of, "You're not defeated when you fall down, you're only defeated if you don't get back up."
Sending you love and hugs and prayers!