jen_1381

Donna - I'm along the same lines as you - - there are foods that I could probably tolerate just fine, but I avoid them and mentally consider them "off the list" because it's a slippery slope for me. My husband is always asking me "can you eat that?" and I keep telling him that I COULD eat that, I just don't want to so I don't anymore.

My program had two different pre-op diet. They had the Pre-Bariatric Surgery diet, which started about two months before surgery (or as soon as you saw the nutritionist) that consisted of a well balanced, high Protein, low calorie meal plan. Then there was the big Pre-Op Diet, which would take place 2 weeks before your surgery date. It was all milk, 20 ounces, 3x a day. I saw the surgeon for the consult and was banded 12 days later, and since my BMI was borderline he opted to not have me do the Pre-Op diet. I also had to stop my Pre-Bariatric diet after a few weeks because my BMI was below insurance qualifications and I hadn't seen the surgeon yet to have my number submitted. Each program has different recommendations, but it's not unheard of to not have a set pre-op diet.

So far I haven't had anything that I've had to swear off (besides the carbonated beverages), but I had pita bread Tuesday night and had a pretty bad stuck episode despite chewing really well and taking small bites. My stomach actually hurt pretty bad all day yesterday...I think I may need to ease off those type of foods for a while.

It's always a good idea to slow your drinking - not guliping - but maybe you're having difficulties now because you're still swollen from surgery. I'm about 14 weeks out with 6 cc's in my 11 cc band, and can gulp like crazy. I try not to, and I'm working on changing my habit, but I've never had a problem with liquids going down except the first few days after surgery when I was still swollen.

Yay for smooth sailing Robin! I don't opt for the lidocaine either. Even with IV starts, I ask them just to do it. It's just one more poke, and I never feel a difference. I'm glad your fill experience went well, I've had three so far and so far, so good!

You may luck out - my insurance gave me an answer in 7 days (the answer was NO, until my surgeon called the review board the day before my scheduled surgery and they overturned their answer). Wishing you tons of patience!!

Elcee I was with you - so confused until I saw the responses!! Addunaway - wishing you the best, and I hope everything turns out okay for you!

I talked with the nurse who was filling in for my normal nurse. She will talk to the doctor first thing tomorrow that's filling in for my doctor (always my timing, when everyone is out of town!). She said best case it's a pulled muscle and will heal. Bad case it's a torn suture into my port area. Worst case, the band has slipped. She will run it past the surgeon in the morning and see if I need to come in, have some diagnostic testing done, or ride it out. Stick to liquids until tomorrow and no working out until I hear back from her. So we'll see!

Okay friends, I would like your input. I'm about 14 weeks post-op. I had been walking or jogging 2-4 miles a day and decided on Monday to start alternating an Insanity work-out every other day. Well, apparently I hadn't used those muscles in forever because of course, my whole body is sore. Starting Tuesday though, mid-day, I began having pain in my stomach. Not abdomen, but stomach. Also pain/soreness around my port area. I haven't taken it too seriously because to be honest, my whole body hurts. My abs and ribs are sore from all of the jumping and bending. Last night, I got four bites into dinner and got stuck. I've been pretty good lately at taking small bites and chewing thoroughly; I don't think the stuck episode was due to my error. I have 6 cc's in my 11 cc band and think I'm finally in the green zone. The pain is worse when I sit down, and is about 2 inches above my belly button. It's a dull ache to constant pain. Not - double over pain - but definitely an unwelcomed nuisance. I put a call into my doctors nurse for her opinion, but had to leave a message. Has anyone else experienced this before? I am pretty sure it's from over-activity and my big workout (it was 57 minutes of non-stop go go go), but the pain coupled with the unusual stuck episode makes me wonder if I did something to somewhere! I'm going back to liquids for today to see if that helps.

The time will fly by. Can you believe it's almost September already?! Embrace the process, that will make it go by smoother. Good luck to you, wishing you lots of patience!

To answer your question, yes, EVERYone runs into this. I went into a little bit of a spin when the scale stopped moving. Did everything I could think of and nothing for about two weeks. Then I started losing again. I've been fluctuating between the same two-three pounds the past five days again. All I can say is, as frustrating as it is and no matter how hard we try, sometimes our body just stops losing briefly. Don't panic, don't get frustrated, just ride it out.

Hey friends! I would like your input. I have had 3 fills, my last one two weeks ago, and am up to 6 cc in my 11 cc band. I'm not scheduled for another fill until the end of September. I was going in every four weeks but had to push back my fill date because I'm going to Vegas the 14-18th and the doc and I agreed not to do a fill right before leaving the state. So here's my dilemma. I think I am on the verge of the "green zone". I've cut my portions back and have been very strict with the 1 cup serving. It keeps me full for about 4 hours. I don't get my "full" signal though, and when the hunger comes, it hits me like a semi truck. All of the sudden I'm STARVING and have to struggle to eat slow. I'm wondering if I should ask for a small fill this week. My weight loss has been stalled, I've been fluctuating between the same 2 lbs for the past week. If you were in my situation, what would you do? Hang tight and wait it out until after vacation, or ask for another small fill (I'm thinking 0.5 - 1 cc's). I'm not even sure if my surgeon would do it, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Congrats!! Hitting those milestones feel SO good!!

I know this may not fall exactly in line with your diet plan yet, but I find now that I'm about 13 weeks out (and on a regular diet) that if I'm craving something, it's best to have a little taste of whatever I want. If I don't indulge just a tad, I eat around it. I think - - well I can't have my _____ so I'll have this...then this...then this. And before you know it, I've eaten four times the calories of the one thing I was craving. So I let myself have a very little bit. A bite of something then give it away or throw it away. I'm not recommending everyone do this, especially if your diet guidelines have you still on liquid/mushy. I just learned a long time ago that I'll eat around whatever I'm really craving if I don't give myself just a little.

It hits me really strange sometimes; at my skinniest in the past 15 years, which happened to be last year around March (I was 2 pounds lighter than I am right now) I bought this super cute size 12 jean skirt for my friends wedding. Out of sheer curiousity I put it on yesterday, thinking I am still a few months away, and it fit perfect! I was a very bizzare feeling.

My first thought when I put on a pair of my regular jeans and they are WAY too big is...huh, what happened to my pants? Not - hey, you've dropped 4 sizes, now your smaller pants are too big, good job....but, huh, maybe they need washed in hot Water to shrink back up? It seems like something is wrong with my clothes vs. me actually losing and fitting into smaller things!! I haven't been able to give myself any credit yet along the way. This really frustrates my husband, because I still don't see the difference and he can't understand how I couldn't see it. Yeah, most of my clothes are way too big (including my bras), but looking in the mirror I still see the same person.

Checking in at 189.4.

So I think I may be very close to the ellusive Green Zone, if not in it. I'm kind of struggeling honestly. I don't get my "full signal" at all until it's too late. Now, partly that's my fault because I've been back to my old ways of letting myself get way too hungry then eating too fast. I thought maybe I was ignoring the signs of fullness. I've had two "stuck" episodes in the past few days, all from eating too fast and not chewing well enough. I haven't had to PB or anything, they pass after about two minutes of sheer hell. I reprimanded myself last night after dinner, and have vowed to slow down, eat only my measured out portions, really tune into my body, and for the love of everything holy, start exercising again!! Where did I get derailed? I was working out every single day. Then I decided I needed a rest day because my hip hurt. That turned into two, then three, then two whole weeks!! My treadmill practically rusted!! So, Thursday, my husband and I went and climbed Beacon Rock (850 ft incline, a trail that is all switchbacks but not too horrible). I was shocked that out of my husband, his brother, and me, they were stopping more than me! Last night I had planned on jogging a 3 mile loop, but after the blister on my big toe (since wearing appropriate hiking shoes the day before would have been too easy) opened, so I settled for the elliptical and some calnisthetics. I'm still bouncing between the same three pounds, 189-192. It's frustrating, especially since I only have a week until the end of the month when I wanted to be 185. I doubt I can do it, but, I'm still going to try. Now that I'm in the zone, hopefully my scale will get as excited as I am and start dropping numbers.

How many cc's do you have in your band? If one fill got you to the green zone, consider yourself very lucky! Most people need a few fills to get to their green zone. Your apetite can come and go. Some days I struggle to get in 500 calories, other days I'm making myself work out extra hard because I've eaten more than usual, and am still starving! I'm not sure about a hot tub making the band tighter...I know a change in altitude, or stress, among other things, can make the band tighten. Maybe the heat does? I just embrace my hunger, or lack of. Each day is different.

I told them I was really tired and loopy so I'd rather not talk right now. I used to work in the recovery room and people would say the most amazing things (like the nurse (who was the patient) that was telling her doctor what an ass he really was). I always try to keep my mouth shut!! I do remember joking around with the xray techs, and telling the nurses I felt fantastic when they asked how I felt. I was awake pretty fast though, and had no pain.

Honestly, I was so used to the liquid diet, and so scared to attempt real food, I almost stayed on liquids! I just transitioned into mushies slowly, trying one food at a time in case something didn't sit well. Also - don't be alarmed if you gain a few pounds when you transition into each new eating level. It took my body a few days to get used to real food and it reacted by holding onto my weight.

Laura - I had a reduction when I turned 18, went from a 40DD to a full C. After having the surgery, I don't need to wear a bra if I don't want to. My boobs were super saggy before and now they're perfectly in place whether I have a bra on or not. Maybe getting a reduction or lift, and removing excess skin, will keep them in place without them going completely away (unless you want them all the way gone).

Is your port in that location? There's not much in the left lower quadrant..colon is about it. Is it intermittent - like it could be gas pain? Also, it could be referred ovarian pain. Just a few ideas...but it's always best to run it past your PCP or surgeon.

Make sure you're hitting your protein goal for the day. I started taking Biotin to help prevent hair loss, plus I dye mine (a lot!) and the Biotin helps make your hair healthier and your nails grow stronger.

That's a great question for your surgeon. When I asked mine where he puts it, he said that he ALWAYS puts it in the same location. On the right side, about an inch or two below my ribs. He said that he found that location to be the least likely to flip for his patients. I sleep on my right side and would have preferred it to be placed on my left, but as it turns out it doesn't even bother me.