Sojourner

Good information Cheryl. Thank you for sharing it...and for effectively outlining the processes of what risks over eating creates. As stated so often, "Listen to your band!"

As a medical professional, his manner does seem to be lacking...however it is also far healthier for you to be self validating with your progress. What I mean by that is that you know how successful you have been. Rely on your own feeling of success to date. What others notice, or fail to notice should not take on a greater level of importance than your own feelings and beliefs about your progress. Few people have mentioned my weight loss to me, and I'm not upset by it. I know that I have been reasonably successful with losing weight, and that's what matters most to me. I feel better, am regaining increased mobility, and no one could ever make me believe that I am anything but a success story in progress. Best wishes for your continued success...

My surgeon advised that Peanut Butter is an acceptable snack, however portion size is limited to 2 teaspoons. I use the basic peanut butter...sparingly.

My surgeon did give me permission to take a few Advil Liquigels post op from orthopedic surgery. Though I did take the Liquigels with a stomach protector medication I still ended up having to be treated for 2 months for gastritis. Not my idea of a good time... I've learned to muscle through the pain...and will not take NASIDS again.

I will soon be moving to NC for most of the year, and need to transfer my primary bariatric physician to one in North Carolina, preferably in the western part of the state. I've had a difficult time in locating these specialty qualified surgeons in NC. Does anyone have suggestions to point me towards a good bariatric surgeon in NC? Thanks in advance for any information you may be able to share!

CG is correct...post op, and even now, I always have a bottle of Water with me, and I sip from it often. It does get easier to get required fluids once the swelling resolves. Best wishes for a successful journey...

Bottom line here...discuss this with your surgeon. You have paid considerable money for their expertise as a medical professional. You should follow the guidelines they have set for you, as they base their opinions on their expertise and training. My surgeon does allow drinking up to the time of a meal, as liquids pass through the band quickly, but I still am required to wait an entire hour after eating before resuming drinking. I have found that waiting the hour post meal is much easier if before the meal I am properly hydrated. Your surgeon should have the final word for you on this topic. Remember, the members of this forum are not physicians!

Definitely check in with your surgeon about the nausea. Are you drinking enough fluids? Nausea is a symptom of dehydration. I did not realize this, and ended up in the ER as a result. I recall as a newer Bandster that I was extremely challenged to get the recommended amounts of Water every day...and it never occurred to me that the nausea was because of my dehydration. Hope you feel better...and sipping water may help you feel better.

Pop corn is added fiber for me. I don't eat it often, and I can't eat much of it, but I still enjoy it. Popcorn is definitely not a slider food for me. Everyone is different. TMI: it helps me avoid constipation, so I continue to enjoy it sparingly.

With all due respect...at this time in a woman's life, there are an amazing amount of internal changes happening. Hormones are gyrating, and in essence the child does temporarily take precedence over the mother. The normal rules of understanding how to manage one's appetite and cravings temporarily do not apply. Been there, done that. I gained alot of weight trying to keep extreme nausea at bay. It was something I had to do at the time to survive the pregnancy. Not meaning to devalue or negate your posts, just trying to share a female perspective to a uniquely female experience.

Great post AJ! I chose not to give up my 1 glass of morning iced coffee...my surgeon knows, and does not approve. If I changed everything in my life I would have been feeling resentful. Coffee helps me stay dedicated and focused with the rest of my meals. I allow for it in my plan. End of story! Enjoy your wine!

It can be difficult to accept that some of those entrenched behaviors are still with us, even with all of the hard work and success you have experienced. Old habits die hard...and being honest with yourself and others is a huge step forward in the stages of change. We always need to be vigilant with our triggers and lapses. It happened, and you learned from the experience. You are moving forward again, and today is another opportunity to make better choices. You are a brave and inspirational woman...now onward! Big hugs to you!

Pregnancy is a difficult time to remain compliant with our diet...but some weight gain is expected, so be accepting of that. With 2 of my pregnancies, I gained 85 pounds, and then 65 pounds, and I did not have the band. I lost all of the weight both times, but it took over a year to do so. Don't allow yourself to get too concerned, as then it will become a recurrent cycle for your thoughts. As Dee wisely mentioned, keep,drinking your fluids. Any Snacks should have Protein. Try to only eat bandster friendly foods. Make it more difficult to get to those foods which you know you to be less preferred for a bandster, and measure your portions for everything. Be ok with any weight gain, it will only be temporary. Best wishes for a happy Labor Day!

I am unable to tolerate calcium citrate...and use calcium carbonate. The Caltrate + D is what my surgeon advised me to use, and I take an extra dose daily.

I have to agree with the others who have shared that serious co-morbidities need to be present. I also would have a serious discussion with my physician as to the advisability of someone with your BMI to have this serious and life altering surgery with your current weight and BMI. The band does not come without health risks and a major life style change for the rest of your life. This journey is not the "easy way" to loose weight. I chose this surgery as a last resort to avoid diabetes. If I could have lost 100+ pounds without the surgery, I would have. I encourage you to learn as much as you can about this surgery, and have a serious discussion with your physician. Best wishes as you consider your options.

I have never looked into any of those diet programs. What I can tell you is that unhealthy carbs are major culprits in weight gain. I did not review your profile, so I am unaware of your status regarding band surgery. I have done my best to avoid processed foods in all areas of my diet since being banded. With processed foods, your observations are correct. Too much sodium and too many unhealthy carbs. There are usually many additives which one would need a degree in chemistry to understand. I prefer those chemicals to be in a science lab, and not on my plate! Best wishes...

Days like yesterday were not supposed to happen. I was supposed to travel with my husband to our new home several states north to help with the first part of our move. He had to follow through with plans with the moving company, and I had to return to the hospital for imaging studies to determine what was wrong with my band. Tonight he is at our other house, and I've completed another day of a full liquid diet. I have been compliant with following a bandster lifestyle. I don't overeat, try everyday to get some exercise, make healthy food choices, and was very conservative with getting fills. After nearly 14 months, I had 4.5 cc in my 11 cc band. Major life changes were in our plans as a couple. My husband's retirement and our move were long in the planning stages. We had a timeline and were on schedule. No problem...I had been anticipating these major life events, and was doing well with my level of restriction and stress. Then one of our sons called to share his own major life event...and it was like falling off a cliff for me. I was emotionally upset, and within 3 days I was experiencing the type of reflux you read about with slipped bands. I began a controlled panic, as my worst fear with my band is experiencing complications which would necessitate it's removal. How could this be happening to me? I had vowed from the beginning of my journey to never be one of the people who aggressively seek fills as a way to assist with weight loss, preferring instead to take more of the responsibility for my weight loss by managing my hunger. It was a plan which had worked well for me. I could not believe the pain, similar to symptoms of a heart attack. I woke up choking several nights in a row. I resigned myself to sleeping in one of our recliners, and decided that my regular appointment with my surgeon in a week was close enough to wait it out. The imaging study showed that my band was way too tight. I had previously realized that stress created by driving sometimes made sipping Water difficult for me, but I never believed that stress would cause the band to tighten so much that 1/3 of the Fluid needed to be removed before the contrast could pass through. What I learned through this is that I was taking unnecessary risks with my health and band by delaying to call my surgeon at the first sign of severe reflux. I also learned that life stress can and sometimes does increase the tightness of the band. Sometimes so much so that a partial unfill is not an option but a necessity. In 6 weeks, I plan on beginning to replace the fluid which took me 18 weeks to acquire. By then, 2 of the 3 major life events will have been accomplished. To deal with the third, I just might have to take up meditation. I need to learn how to relax... Other's mileage may vary...

My surgeon is very strict and conservative with fills. He will not agree to a fill sooner than 6 weeks from your prior fill, and maximum fill is 1.0 cc. While the needle is still in the port, he will have you gulp Water in his presence and ask if you feel too tight. If you say that it feels too tight, he will remove some of the Fluid and have you gulp more water. Not the most precise method, but I have never left his office feeling too.tight. I've just had to have 1/3 of my fluid removed because my band got very tight due to family stress. After a number of nights with severe reflux and pain, I know I would never want to go through being too tight again. Both my surgeon and I prefer the conservative and gradual fill method of getting to the green zone. This does vary by surgeon though.

I encourage you to read the nutrition label on any product you purchase, so that you are aware of everything included on the list of ingredients. Focus on the Protein and carb content of those meals to decide if the product has enough protein and not an excessive amount of carbs. Carbs are hidden everywhere, and as bandsters we should be aware of how much and what type of carbs we are eating. Chemical additives belong in a science lab, not in my meal. That's just my opinion. Just like with kid's meals, I basically find them to be lacking on protein and excessive in carbs. I prefer to incorporate unprocessed foods into my diet. You know what you are eating and can control both the portion size and choose healthier carbs.

Skip the chips...all of them. They are not filling, do not stave off hunger for a healthy amount of time as a proper snack would do, and are seriously lacking in nutritional value. IMHO...other's mileage varies...

Well done, Missy! You are an inspiration to many others, and as others have posted, I do like the loss of your cane. And you no doubt have gained much in the area of improved health. Keep up the great work!

Marci...I was dismayed to read of your recent experiences. I sincerely hope that all of the swelling will resolve, and that you will be able to enjoy your cruise. We went to Alaska via cruise several years ago...and it is definitely an experience of a lifetime. Keep us posted on your progress with healing... Best wishes, and happy travels...

When choosing your brand of shake, it's important to look at the type of Protein that is in the shake. My surgeon did not have a brand preference, however he did specify that the shake had to be 100% whey isolate protein, which is a considered a complete protein having all the necessary amino amino acids bariatric patients need. I encourage you to try samples of several brands, and GNC has a liberal return policy if you do not like their brand. I use the GNC Wheybolic Extreme in the chocolate flavor. It does not have any of the chemical aftertaste of some of the brands I tried. shakes will need to be a part of your nutrition for a significant amount of time. Find a product you like. Best wishes for a successful journey...

NASIDS can cause acute gastritis and ulcers if left untreated in a Bandster. This can happen even if medication to coat the stomach is being taken. Initially my surgeon gave me permission to take an occasional Advil liquigel. Then I had 2 surgeries less than 2 months apart. I took a total of 4 liquigels. The 2 in December did not present any problems, the 2 in February did. I am now in my second month of 2 months of treatment with Carafate and Protonix. I would not wish this on anyone. However I had surgery, and visceral pain is different from skeletal pain. I've had good results with a topical medication Pennsaid, which is a NASID. My surgeon advised me that this medication does not put a Bandster at risk for GI issues, as you apply the drops or gel directly onto the area which is painful. Your physician may have a different professional opinion from mine, so you need to ask them about your options.

My band surgery had to be postponed for 18 months, all due to unforeseen medical issues for both myself and my husband. The delay only increased my determination and motivation to be successful post op with the band. Take a day at a time, and it will go by. Best wishes...