Starting Over!

welcome to this wonderful forum mike
please be safe as it seems you may have a chance of rain (haha)
no just take care.
congrats on being clean and stay as positive as you are now
tres leches cake....def one of my favs

Best of luck with the pending storm and your sober life!
Congratulations and continued success to you.
I have discovered nothing worth while comes easy...
New Orleans was a place I called home many years ago,
I am sure I would not recognize the east where we lived,
heard it was under water now.
Be patient and good things will happen!
Thoughts for safe delivery through the storm!

Learn to Realize When Your Course With Some People Is Over!!
It Felt So Good to Delete All The Old Numbers In My Phone!! Those Who Could Not and Would Not Take This Journey Walk With Me!! So If I No Longer Answer Your Calls Its Because I Don't Recognize Your Number and Won't Answer! Your Number Had No Value!! They Were Just Numbers!! I will Pray for You, But I Must Move On!! I Let You Go!! And I Have Gained God!! I Have Lost The Weight!! I Have Victory and I am Keep it!!! But Loosing You!!!
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

i know! people bash what they don't understand i think....It just gives us all the more need to prove them all wrong!

Addressing the support issue... This is your journey...you will make the decisions as to what to put in your mouth. Not a support team. You need a dr you can trust... One who has a staff who will be helpful.... You only need someone to drive you home from surgery and to the first week follow up. You should have someone with you in the first few days but my husband had to work so was only home at night... But that's all I needed .
If you want to be married then your place is with your husband so why not start your journey where he is? You cAn find a dr there and join his support group in Which you will meet new friends and form a support group on you own.
If you don't want to be married then deal with that as a separate issue... Try not to confuse the two.
All the best.

I have to agree with others who have written that the issues causing conflict don't really have to do with the WLS.
You should be realistic about this...a support system is what you want it to be. Likely there would be a support group in the area you would be moving to.
You can't blame anyone or any life event for your weight gain; that's something you need to be able to accept the responsibility for. There is a psychology behind maladaptive eating patterns, and seeking counseling as either a couple or by yourself would help to identify the reasons why these unhealthy relationship dynamics developed.
Your information regarding the time line for qualifying for insurance coverage are accurate for some, not all insurance plans. The requirements vary by policy and insurance company. As for surgeons not wanting to accept another's surgeon's patients, this is primarily based on wanting to limit their professional liability risks. Sad but true, the bottom line there is the dollar...
One consideration I want to share with you is that having a band is not always limited to just regular follow up appointments. Sometimes one can have unanticipated negative consequences...I was hospitalized for weight loss related issues, not band related medical issues. Twice since being banded I attended a regular scheduled appointment with my bariatric surgeon, and he sent me directly from his office to the ER. Imagine the logistical nightmare this situation has the potential to create...
I know that many others who participate on this forum have opted to travel great distances to their surgeon...even to a foreign country. They usually have positive outcomes. I'm just not comfortable with that idea, and am better off for having my surgeon based locally.
Other's mileage may vary...best wishes as you consider your options.

Thanks everyone. I just hope i can stick it out at my job long enough to get approved! Ugh! I just dont know how to get the documentation they want. Ive never really seen a MD type doctor on a regular basis and apparently the one i did see didnt make notes of my weight loss attempts. Thanks a lot! So im at a loss. Just waiting to hear what my case manager wants me to do. Trying to stay strong but its hard! :/

Thanks to all of you guys for your good advice. It's amazing to have so many experiences at my fingertips. U guys are great

Number 1, your mother has a problem not you. You can't change your past but you can change today. Today is your day!! You don't need anyone's approval. It's time you loved you for the person God made you. I don't even know you, but I love you because you're a child of God and God doesn't make mistakes.
All I can say is may God have mercy on your mom's soul.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Hands down, best decision I've ever made for myself. I feel better and am happier than I've been in many, many years.

Only regret I have is not doing it sooner!
I dont feel the band at all. I do feel the port esp now that I not longer have any fat covering it. It doesnt hender me from doing anything. I exercise with the best of them. If the kids get to playing rough and hit my port, that does sting a bit. At this point, I go through every day life not even thinking about it being there.
Good luck on your journey!

Oh no....don't get stuck in the one last time zone.
I looked at my situation and said it was those foods that got me in this place of
need for WLS.
I have tasted those foods before and in moderation may again one day.
I am finished with making bad choices!
You can do it keep busy..find new habits.
At this point you need determination to see you through this journey,
Stop eating and fix you inter voices.... you have to succeed it is for your health
and happiness!
Best of luck to you!

For me I have decided this is my last chance to be successful.
Pre surgery I was frozen with the fear of failure. I then became determined to make this successful.
I have changed one thing at a time and now 11 days post op I am down 2 dress sizes from the beginning of my journey 6 months ago and very happy to Celebrate my success!
I have gone on the Dr.Oz web site for some great recipes. I try really hard to only take in healthy foods and limit my carbs with almost no sugar.(sugar is the devil)
I was told to have 80-100grams of Protein and 100 oz. Of Water daily, I am making every effort to do that. My day starts with a shake and I eat healthy portions for lunch and dinner. I am new to this and working hard to stay on track.
If I can assist....please contact me...you too can do this!

For me I have decided this is my last chance to be successful.
Pre surgery I was frozen with the fear of failure. I then became determined to make this successful.
I have changed one thing at a time and now 11 days post op I am down 2 dress sizes from the beginning of my journey 6 months ago and very happy to Celebrate my success!
I have gone on the Dr.Oz web site for some great recipes. I try really hard to only take in healthy foods and limit my carbs with almost no sugar.(sugar is the devil)
I was told to have 80-100grams of Protein and 100 oz. Of Water daily, I am making every effort to do that. My day starts with a shake and I eat healthy portions for lunch and dinner. I am new to this and working hard to stay on track.
If I can assist....please contact me...you too can do this!

You can do it! Stay strong...remind yourself why you are doing all of this! You can enjoy yourself without having food control you! Have fun!

Hi & welcome to ALL the newbies on the Forum,
I have been reading and have been forwarded some of your Posts and Blogs and thought I should make a post so you can save yourself the trouble of having to post.
I can't stress to all of you the importance of sticking to your diet steps! Many of you are at different stages but all seem to be having the same problems.
For those of you whom are at Pre-Op stage. If your required to lose weight before, now is the time to start. Everyone has been asking can they have lets say their "Last meal"
the Answer is Yes, But don't make it a week long event. Pick ONE DAY/NIGHT eat whatever it is you want to devour before they put the inner fat kid in a straight Jacket. To many have been going wild. Party's over.
For those who are in the liquid Stage... People it's not Rocket Science.. it's liquids... if you can't determine what's a liquid, i seriuosly think you need to go back to elemetry school. I'm not trying to offend anyone Please don't take what I say like that. It's more a sarcastic way of saying THINK!
Now those in the first fill pending stage.. Yes you have a Band strapped around your stomach but , it has yet to have any saline injected, so Yes your going to be able to eat alot, not as much as before, OBVIOUSLY! So don't take not having a fill yet as "Free Ticket" because your going to discover the unpleastries that come with trying. If your due for a fill go! Remember one thing everyone, the only person your hurting is yourself. I knwo it's hard not to eat, your stomach is growling, and with all the day to day stresses we face it makes it that more harder to resist. But do yourself the favor, if you feel hungry inbetwen meals SIP Water , DO NOT drink with a straw it makes more gas and will be even more painful. and never chug anything!!!! I will tell you all a tip: anything cold will cause your throat to tighten up and restrict you. Anything Hot will do the opposite it wil lhelp relax your throat. so keep that tid bit in mind.
anyone else who has been filled more than once and has been banded for a year or more, and still makes foolish mistakes, i say this WHATSA MATTA U?

I was really glad I took a toothbrush and paste which was not provided.

Ashley, I am 3 days after my surgery and it has been some work.
I started off tackling one thing at a time. Added exercise, stopped late night snacking,
Identified I was an emotional eater stopped that and began to journal my food intake.
Do your research find a surgeon who has the best support and stay plugged into this on line community.
There is a great deal of support here....it has been a blessing to me! Good luck!

Some of the new members are asking about soft foods, what is considered a soft food? Mashed Potatoes, Jello, pudding, Anything that is just that soft, But So many are having issues with eating same stuff, Guess what there are some other forgotten alternatives, BABY FOOD as nasty and gross as it sounds, think about it before you say HELL NO!....
1) you have no problems giving it to your newborn right? They are growing right, So Don't you think Gerber know what they doing, not saying eat the damn strained green Beans UGH! But for those of you who have not had the joys of parenthood, take a stroll down the baby food isle next time your food shopping, go see how they have gotten better with choices.
Another trick we all forget we all have either a blender or food processer in our homes, how often do you use it? Did you ever stop to think, Well I could probably eat that if it was softer, TAAA DAAA there is your answer to making it soft enough to eat! Now don't go get stupid and toss a Big mac and fries in there and think i'll still lose weight, You got the band for that exact reason in 1st place (some of us). So Yeah I'm saying there are ways to still eat what you loved before but use it wisely! I was able to lose my weight in the most unconeventinal way not condoning it but willing to help those " MAVERICKS" who walk to their own beat like myself! GOOD LUCK !
P.S. no matter how much you lose, everyone will still have that inner fat kid living inside screaming to get out!
I just learned to tune him out much like my ex wife and son when they talk to me!

It is all about the mental dialogs you have with yourself. Do not allow negativity to destroy your desire. Yes you can!

The liquid diet is a common feature of the bariatric surgery landscape, as widespread and despised as kudzu in the South. Since there’s no way around it, you might as well make the best of it by learning the reasons for it and trying the practical tips I’m going to give you.


WHY A LIQUID DIET?
Bariatric clinics use differing protocols for their patients’ pre-op and post-op diets. Why? When you finish explaining that, perhaps you could also explain the meaning of life? If you asked your surgeon or dietitian, the answer would probably go something like this: “We have adapted these procedures to suit the needs of the patients in our individual practice, based on our experience of what produces the best outcome and the fewest complications.” In the case of adjustable gastric band patients like us, you might expect the band manufacturers to dictate what are called “best practices” in patient education and care, but the fact is that if Allergan and Ethicon-Endo were to employ armies of band police to supervise every bariatric surgeon in the world, no one would be able to afford a gastric band.
However those clinics’ protocols may vary, the liquid diet is extremely common part of bariatric patients’ pre-op and post-op instructions. Contrary to popular belief, the liquid diet is not intended to torture the patient. The main purpose of a pre-op diet is to reduce the size and improve the texture of the liver (any weight loss is a plus). The liver is a big organ whose left lateral segment lies on top of the part of the stomach where the band is placed. The pre-op diet uses up the glycogen stored in the liver, shrinking it and making it sturdier, less slippery, and easier to maneuver with laparoscopic instruments. This not only makes the surgeon’s job easier and quicker, it also reduces the risk of complications for you. If your surgeon doesn’t require a pre-op diet of any type, I would have to conclude that he or she is mighty confident in their surgical abilities, but I would also want to ask them how often they have to abort a surgery or convert from a laparoscopic to an open incision technique because of problems handling the patient’s liver.
The purpose of the post-op diet is to keep you nourished while you and your upper GI tract recover from surgery. Although AGB surgery is usually minimally invasive (when done laparoscopically), it does require incisions and some internal dissection, as well as manipulation of your internal organs. All this can cause swelling. One day your stomach was fat, dumb and happy. Now it's got a collar around its neck. In order for it to digest food in any form, your stomach muscles must expand and contract to break the food down and move it along to your lower GI tract. Expecting your stomach to do that comfortably and safely while wearing its brand-new collar just isn’t wise.
So to allow everything to heal properly, and the band to seat itself against your stomach in the correct position, most surgeons require patients to follow a staged post-op diet, starting with liquids. What happens if you don’t follow your post-op recovery diet?
Food can get stuck in the stoma or esophagus and cause an obstruction and/or vomiting.
Vomiting can disturb the position of the band, which can cause the band to slip.
Peristalsis (the muscular action of moving food through the digestive system) can disturb the position of the band, and that can cause the band to slip.

So don't do it!
"But I already cheated!" you say? It's not the end of the world, but don't do it again!
"But I'm starving!" you say? That's too bad, but that isn't the end of the world, either. Not, it's not fun, but hunger is not a good excuse for cheating your health in such a major way. I'd guess that seven of ten bandsters starve their way through the liquid diet phase. If you absolutely cannot bear the liquid diet for another second, or you think you might be genuinely allergic to your protein shakes (which could be lactose intolerance rearing its ugly head), call your surgeon or nutritionist before you put something in your mouth that isn't on the approved list. And by the way, the same advice applies to following a liquid diet after each fill you get, so you might as well perfect your liquids survival technique now because you’re going to need it over and over again in the future.
SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR SURVIVING YOUR LIQUID DIET
Don't worry about how many calories you're consuming, but stay away from milkshakes, ice cream, frappes and fancy coffee drinks.
Drink protein drinks (protein will keep you going longer than sugary stuff like fruit juice).
If you don't like the smell or taste of protein powder, try putting the drink in the freezer long enough for it to get slushy, and/or put it in a covered beverage container. Sometimes it's the smell, not the taste, that's bothersome.
If you don't care for sweet tastes, try unflavored protein powder (from various sources including Unjury®) or Unjury® chicken soup flavor protein powder (www.unjury.com).
Add Unjury® chicken soup flavor protein powder to blended creamy soups (follow the Unjury® heating instructions or it will clump up and refuse to dissolve).
Add fat free half-and-half or milk to prepared chicken bouillon or broth for a creamy drink.
Add unflavored or fruit-flavored protein powder when making sugar-free gelatin. Check out the recipes at the Unjury website. Be aware that “unflavored” doesn’t mean the protein has no flavor, so the end product isn’t going to taste exactly like the original.
Buy your favorite soup from a local restaurant, strain out the solids, and drink the broth (Chinese hot and sour soup is wonderful this way).
Buy or make bean soups, puree and thin them with broth, water, or milk. The pureed soup must be thin enough to pass through a drinking straw.
Add powdered non-fat milk to soups and shakes to boost the protein.
Crunch on sugar-free popsicles, slushies, Italian ice, or ice chips.
Don't hang around people who are eating real food.
Experiment with the temperature of your liquids - cold may feel or taste better than hot, or the other way around.
To prevent boredom, experiment with recipes for protein shakes (you'll find at least a million recipes online).
Keep busy! This is a good time to address holiday cards. Who cares if it’s the middle of June?

AND IN THE TMI DEPARTMENT…
A few final words about your liquid diet. Don’t panic if consuming liquids sends you running to the bathroom more often than you’d like. LIQUIDS IN = LIQUIDS OUT. If that happens to you, ask your doctor to suggest a safe, effective OTC anti-diarrheal medication.
And remember: This too shall pass. In more ways than one.