Thats All Folks

Welcome! I was lucky, my insurance didn't require a doctor's supervised diet so it was only about a month between the initial seminar and my surgery date.

Is your abdomen rounder, firm, and/or distended looking? Or is it squishy? The reason I ask is if it's rounder, firm, and/or distended looking you may want to have your doctor make sure you don't have a hernia. Abdominal hernias don't always hurt so it's possible to have one and not even realize it. (I'm speaking from a lot of experience on this one) Otherwise, if it's not a hernia, it's very possible that's just how you lose. I wish we lost evenly but we don't. As women, we tend to lose from the top down and tummies tend to be one of the last to go. Plus, if you have lost on your tummy but have excess skin, that will (unfortunately) mask the weight loss too.

With a lot of willpower lol. It's not easy. Clear liquids are anything you can see through: broth, apple or white grape juice. The only non-clear liquid I was allowed was Protein Shakes.

First, you're being way too hard on yourself. If you lost 4 pounds last month that's a pound a week! The average is 1-2 pounds a week so you're doing very well. Plus you have to remember, the less you have to lose the slower it's going to come off. It's frustrating but true. When I was over 400 pounds, I was dropping 20-30 pounds a month. Now that I've lost 185 pounds, I'm lucky to lose 6 or 7 pounds in a month. Remember, any loss is a success! As for diet, mine is very simple. I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day, a minimum of 60g of Protein daily, and no more than 20-25% fat daily. I don't do the whole low carb thing like so many do. I just don't think it's at all realistic long term. However, I do try to eat healthy carbs. For instance, I won't buy carbs that are white or have the words "enriched" or "bleached" on the label. That's all just a fancy way of saying "processed junk". I buy brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole grain Pasta. Best wishes to you and stop being so hard on yourself

Well, my post op diet was a bit rough. My surgeon is a bit more cautious than most. I had 2 weeks of Clear Liquids, 2 weeks of full liquids, 2 weeks of mushy food, 2 weeks of soft food, then FINALLY I was allowed to eat real food again. It was a long, hungry couple of months but I did it without cheating. As for my diet in the year since then, it's pretty simple really. I eat between 1000-1200 calories a day, a minimum of 60g of Protein daily, and no more than 20-25% fat daily. I don't do the whole low carb thing like so many do. I just don't think it's at all realistic long term. However, I do try to eat healthy carbs. For instance, I won't buy carbs that are white or have the words "enriched" or "bleached" on the label. That's all just a fancy way of saying "processed junk". I buy brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole grain Pasta. For me, it's worked very well. I'm very content with my lifestyle and eating habits.

Unfortunately you'll hear a lot of various answers on this. As for myself, I don't necessarily time it. I take a small bite, I put my fork down, and I don't touch my fork again until I've swallowed the food completely and successfully. It's the "rule" my nutritionist taught me before being banded and it's always worked very well for me.

How much weight gain are you talking? A small 1-3 pound fluctuation or an actual gain? Also, how many calories a day are you eating?

Talk to your own Lap Band surgeon to be safe. Not all are against NSAIDS on a case by case basis. Some advise against NSAIDS because they can cause ulcers, and if a Lap Band patient gets an ulcer, it can cause serious band erosion. I take Ibuprofen regularly (also a NSAID) but my surgeon is fine with it. I've taken it for years and he says if I haven't had problems before there's no reason to think I'd suddenly start having them now. So again, talk to your own surgeon. He'll know what's best for you based on your specific history and needs.

I actually changed both surgeons and procedures. I originally was supposed to get Gastric Bypass, went through the entire process, but ended up canceling at the last minute. I then found a different surgeon for Lap Band. My first piece of advice is to follow your instincts. If you're not comfortable with the staff, I would very seriously consider looking for a new surgeon. The truth is, the staff is just as involved in your aftercare as the surgeon. Sometimes even more. If you're not confident in them, I'd look into other options. The dietician is, in my opinion, absolutely crucial. A good dietician should take the time to help you establish food guidelines specific to your lifestyle and needs. They should show you exactly how to eat, what portions you should be eating, and explain why it's all important. If you aren't comfortable and confident with the dietician I'd consider a different one because they're so important for your journey. If you do decide to change surgeons, I would do it sooner than later. There is a time limit on all those tests you've already done to be considered valid so you would want your records transferred as soon as possible. Changing doctors may delay your surgery a little, but it's better to have a delayed surgery with a surgeon and staff you're comfortable with than a sooner surgery without the confidence in your physician support. Best wishes to you.

This isn't exactly what you asked, but you need to make your surgeon aware you're having vasovagal syncope. Vasovagal syncope is typically caused when the vagus nerve is over stimulated. The Lap Band effects the vagus nerve directly and may be causing your vasovagal syncope.

The band can't literally tighten on it's own, but a lot can effect it. Some people have very temperamental bands. Stress, hormones, sickness, even temperature can even effect it. It could also potentially feel tighter if you gained weight because that would potentially increase the fat around the stomach. If it's bothersome or has concerned, you should call your doctor. He could definitely advise you best. Best wishes.

I don't think you have an unfair advantage at all. Especially since this is happening right after surgery. The reality is, you'll more than likely be in bandster hell while it's happening, which means any weight you lose will be 100% on your own with no help from the band anyway. Look at it like this: Who's to say someone else in the challenge isn't taking Phentermine? Or some diet supplement to speed their metabolism? Or heck, didn't have some other WLS at some time? I say go for it!

No, I wouldn't worry about it. A lot of us get the hiccups pretty regularly, actually. I know I get them all the time.

Yeah Medicare isn't free. I pay almost $200 a month in premiums on top of my 20% copays. Some people who are lower income get it supplemented with Medicaid so their costs are considerably less. But... I understand fully why retirees are so broke, especially when it comes to prescription drug costs.

Once you're done with the post op diet, sure, you can have it once in awhile. Just be sure to log it and count it in your total daily calories. There are some healthier options, like making homemade pizza with whole wheat flat bread for crust and using the lower calories tomato sauce with low fat cheese. Add a bunch of veggies, maybe some turkey sausage, and you're good to go.

I'm very sorry you're struggling. It sounds like you already know what you need to do to be successful. Healthy eating really doesn't have to be a chore. There are so many yummy yet healthy recipes out there. Here are two of my favorite sites for food, have a look: http://www.emilybites.com/ http://www.skinnytaste.com/ The thing you have to remember is, losing weight boils down to basic math. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. The best advice I can give you is to start logging your food and counting calories. Not only will this help you stay in your daily calorie range, but by logging your food you keep yourself accountable too. It's a lot easier to rationalize "Oh today sucks, I'm having cake!" when you don't have to see it right there in front of you in your food logs and see how it effects your overall daily calories. Perhaps a visit with your nutritionist may help, too. Tell them what you're struggling with and let them help you establish food guidelines that work with your lifestyle. Remember, the band is just a tool. The work will always be yours to do. Best wishes to you.

You can be on Medicare if you're on disability- as I am because of having Multiple Sclerosis. At that point it's the identical Medicare as retired people. 80% covered, 20% copays, and we have to pay a monthly premium, too. ...did I mention it kinda sucks, too? *laughs*

You need to call your doctor. It could be an adverse reaction to a medication given to you at the hospital or one you're on now, your blood pressure could be too high, or a number of other possibilities. It's always better safe than sorry, give your doc a call.

Once you reach your goal weight and stabilize, you should be good for quite awhile without needing any adjustments. Because you're still losing, you will undoubtedly still need one from time to time.

There are many reasons they tell you to stop smoking. The main one being that if you smoke, you're at much greater risk to having an adverse effect to the anesthesia. The chemicals in cigarette smoke adhere to the red blood cells making them far less effective oxygenating the body properly. Also, it makes it harder to recover after surgery and more likely to wake up with a tube down your throat because your body simply can't get the oxygen it needs. After surgery, smoking seriously interferes with the healing process and people who smoke are far more likely to suffer infections, bleeding, and wounds that don't heal properly. The 4 week thing is because WLS is an elective surgery thus they can make whatever rules they want to do it. 4 weeks not smoking allows the body time to rid itself of all trash and toxins, reducing all the smoking related risks. I've known surgeons who actually nicotine test their patients and if they test positive, cancel the surgery. Quitting sucks, I know, I quit smoking 18 months ago. But, you're getting WLS to be healthy, why not actually be healthy and quit smoking too? Best wishes.

I have an awful time the first couple days of my period. My band tightens right up on me and I struggle to eat even softy, mush food. But, like clockwork, by day 3 I'm back to normal and my band is where it should be again.

I still eat Chinese food about once a month. Like others have stated, I stay away from Entrees with fried/breaded meats or veggies. I also stay from fatty appetizers, like crab ragoon, egg rolls, and dumplings. I look for meals with thin sauces rather than thick gravy, too. I've had cashew chicken, beef with broccoli and Kung Pao chicken all since being banded. I just keep it to a cup or less and log the calories as best I can. I've never had a problem.

Wow that's a tough one... I guess my first question would be, is she a close friend? If she is, I almost think you might want to gently and lovingly approach her. She may be completely unaware of it. Sometimes people will get "stomach breath" from not eating enough, but bad breath could be a symptom of something much more serious. Diabetes, gingivitis, ulcers, and many other illnesses can have bad breath as a symptom. For this reason, if it is a close friend, I'd be inclined to tell her. If she's not a close a friend or someone you feel comfortable talking to so candidly, aside from keeping mints in your pocket to offer her, I'm afraid you're a bit stuck. Good luck!

I'm no doctor or a nutritionist, I'm only sharing what I've read from many reliable sources. The reason breakfast is so important is because it does kick your metabolism into gear. They have also found people who eat breakfasts high in both Protein and Fiber are far less hungry throughout the rest of the day. Most recommend eating within 30 minutes after waking for maximum benefit. If you sleep late, then your "breakfast" would be whenever you wake up, regardless of what time the clock says. On the days I don't have to get up with my kids, I am a late sleeper too. I'm also rarely hungry when I wake up and on top of that, my band is super tight in the mornings. For me, I find a Protein shake to be the best breakfast choice. It's high in protein and because it's liquid, it's easy to take in first thing in the morning. I also take my daily fiber chewable every morning as I drink my protein shake. Again, this is just based on what I've read and what works for me. Best wishes!

When people ask you "how much have you lost?" I'd simply respond with a smile and say "enough". Remember, you don't owe anyone any explanations or reasons. I would even go so far as to nicely ask people to stop asking you. The people who love you should understand, those that don't understand don't matter anyway. As far as losing, are you counting calories? The truth is, weight loss boils down to simple math. When you burn more calories than you consume you will lose weight. Some lose fast, some lose slow, but you will lose. If you're not counting calories I would recommend doing so. It's the simplest way to to assure you're not eating too many calories. Best wishes.