EL1

I don't know if this will help but before I got my band I got a cognitive behavioral therapist (my insurance pays). She has really helped me change my eating habits. I consider myself to be a true sugar addict. I can't touch refined sugar or I almost go into a trance where all I can think about is more sugar. This usually leads to a binge of about 2 weeks until I get off of it. I think I have figured out that I use sugar as a sedative. Stress really triggers the sweet craving, my therapist has helped me rewire my brain to deal with stress. Just a suggestion but just realize you are not alone and you never fail. Just like when you learned to walk you had to keep trying. Elizabeth

Hey everyone, It has been a while since I posted. I have been doing well, but since the last month or so my weight loss has slowed---slowed isn't the right word, maybe every so slightly creeped down occassionally. I was thinking I needed another fill (I have 1.5cc total), but I was reading on some other post that the total fill amount for this band is 4cc. So I began to panic. I just assumed in a 9.75 band you could have 9.75 cc. Anyway I guess I was hoping to hear from you guys and the amount of cc's you had to speed up your weight loss. Also I realize that some of this is from eating the wrong things---obviously if I only ate protein and vegetables then I would be good, but the whole reason I got the band in the first place is because I like to eat....even after I have had enough. This brings me to my second problem. I have found if I really want a piece of pizza that I can eat a little, wait 10 to 15 minutes then eat a little more til it is all gone. I think I am suppossed to just eat til I am full the first time but my mind wants the whole damn piece. Anyone else dealing with this. THanks, Elizabeth.

First let me say it is really early here and I haven't had coffee yet so sorry for any spelling/grammar errors. So I got on the scale this morning to weigh (I now only weigh on Monday mornings). I had felt fat and bloated all week. I also felt like I ate way too much (with the whole no restriction/wanting a fill thing). Anyway it says I lost 5lbs. Now I should be excited but I'm not. 1. If I am losing weight does this mean I won't get a fill on my doctors appt this week. This makes me sad, because I want one. I liked not being able to eat very much. (okay I know if I am losing weight I am being healthy, but I can still be dissapointed). 2. Has my scale malfunctioned. I had a doctors appt with my family doctor and it said I gained weight. I brushed it off to differences in scales, but maybe my scale is malfunctioning. 3. I had in my mind that at this weight a pair of pants would fit-- I rushed to try them on--still to tight. Does that give more support to #2. 4. If I can be so damned stubborn about refusing to believe a weight loss then why if the scale goes up a pound or too why can't I have this same attitude. If anyone made it through my ramblings--Thanks. I just needed to vent. Have a great day everyone. Elizabeth

I am feeling frustrated as well. Up until last week I was doing great. I started on solid foods and then this week seems like I can eat alot. I have to eat slowly but I can still eat way more than I should. I feel scared. I was reading some posts about how some people think it is stupid that newly banded people are overeating, but for me most of it is emotional, which is why I got the band in the first place. Anyway I don't get a fill for a week. Hope to hear good news from all of you that got fills. Might jump over to the earlier months and see if they went through the same battle (I'm sure they did).

I have lost 23. I need to update my ticker!!!! Hoping to get my first fill on Nov 1st.

Hey everyone, Wanted to know how everyone is doing. I am getting banded next monday. Getting nervous, but excited. Can't say I am looking forward to all the liquids but I am sure it will be well worth it. Anyway can't wait to see how everyone else is. I know a few of you have already been banded. Congrats and let us know how you are. Elizabeth.:clap2:

I only told one of my friends and my mom. I would like to tell my brother and my dad because I think it might help them, but it is amazing how much trouble my friend and mom have keeping it from people. Its like they have to say something. My mom had to tell people I was having surgery on my ovaries. I asked her how I could have the surgery and no one at work even knew I was having anything done and she even had to mention I was having surgery, couldn't she have said she was coming out to visit just to visit. Evidently this didn't cross her mind. I say if you don't want people to know tell as few people as possible. Even the people with the best intentions can't seem to keep things quiet.

poohlvr, my doc says 60-80g of protein/day, but it is the same for her lapband and gastric bypass patients. Maybe she just does it for everyone. Theoretically lapband patients shouldn't need as much protein as gastric bypass. If your doc says 25 and you aren't having problems then I wouldn't worry. the only thing I guess is that I find that the more protein that I have the less hungry I feel. I'm not sure anyone knows why some people's hair falls out. I have heard protein, biotin, multiple different vitamins etc. I know if mine starts to go I will start taking them all :confused:.

I was told 6 weeks before any ab work or "heavy lifting". I have been walking about 20 minutes a day trying to establish the habit of daily exercise. I did do an elliptical machine the other day with one of my friends who is in the army and really in shape and I was going so slow on it it kept shutting off. :faint: Kind of embarrassing. I had forgotten how hard those things were. When I was in college I used to do them for 45 minutes and yesterday I thought I was going to die after 2 minutes. Anyway I switched over to the recumbent bike, thankfully it didn't shut off!

You know I think all of this worry comes from all of us having failed diet after diet. However we have to keep in mind that this isn't just a diet. I am really trying to concentrate on relaxing and letting the tool (i.e. band) help me. I know it is going to help, so I have now developed the fear that it is suddenly going to pop off and I am going to have to get it removed. I am sure all of this comes from the anxiety associated with not wanting to get my hopes up that maybe I have found something that is finally going to help me, but if you read the statistics it will. Not overnight, so like I said, i just keep telling myself to take one day at a time, use the band to learn new eating habits so I can make some permanent changes.:clap2:

I have been keeping a daily diary of what I eat and find that the days that I am hungry I eat more carbs and don't drink all my fluids. I have been very strict about limiting my carbs to only at night (and then very few) and drinking as much as possible (more than 8 glasses). I carry a water bottle in my pocket so I can sip all day (you can find the little 8oz ones a the grocery store). Anyway the days that I stick to this, my hunger is well controlled and i don't have difficulty sticking to my calorie limit.

I know how you feel. I haven't updated my ticker lately but I lost 8lbs pre-op, 8 lbs the first week and only 1 the 2nd week. I was really disappointed, but then I realized that there would be weeks that I would loose more than others or maybe none at all and I had to look at the overall picture. Also, I stopped weighing my self everyday because I would go up and down daily which I know is shifts in body water, but it was frustrating. I am on my 3rd week and can tell from my clothes I am losing weight, but refuse to let myself weigh again until Monday. I keep telling myself that this is a lifelong battle/change and I can't expect to wake up and be thin no matter how badly I wish it to happen. I will say that I can tell a big difference in how much I can eat, even when I know I eat way too much it is still less than I ever ate before so I am really doing good.

I fantasize about hamburger meat. :biggrin1:

thininside, where is your pain when you walk. I was told by my surgeon that ibuprofen is good for inscional pain, but I have read on the boards that some surgeons have told their patients not to take it. It works for me. I have noticed that I get pain in my left shoulder when I walk. From what I read this is from "gas". I have tried gas-x and mylanta for it and nothing seems to work. Its not terrible, more annoying. Hopefully it will go away soon.

docsdeb- I don't know what thread you read, but keep in mind, that thread is what life is really like for that person, not for everyone. The majority of what you read is positive and for all you know that person could have just been having a bad day when they wrote the post. So far (although I have only been banded a week :confused: my experience has been very positive. I haven't had a panic attack in a long time and the band hasn't changed that. I guess you have to weigh the risks of what the changes in your life are if you do get the band vs the complications that come with obesity. For me the complications that I read associated with the band were minor compared to the complications associated with hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. I agree with poolvr, don't rush into anything, but also don't let anxiety prevent you from getting a tool that will help you overcome obesity. Best wishes, Elizabeth

Oh yes, I wrote a letter to my family. Didn't need it, but it made me feel better. Something about being under anesthesia and not being able to make any decsions for yourself that is very scary. Don't worry though I am sure you will be fine, but I know how you feel. Keep in mind that if the surgeons/anesthesiologists thought anything bad was going to happen they wouldn't do the case.

I get hungry like 30-min to an hour with just water with protein powder. If i have some soup it lasts a couple of hours or more. I think its normal to get hungry all the time in these stages like you said because the water moves through so fast. I really want these six weeks to be over so I can eat normal food and have a fill. Oh well, one day at a time. Atleast I have passed the surgery hurdle, I never thought that would get here.

it kept me up all night. I hope it doesn't you, but remember atleast you get to sleep during the surgery. Good luck!!!

I think you would be unusual if you didn't have doubts. I think whenever you have surgery though there are going to be things that you have to get over, some worse than others. I am really suprised that my self control is so much better after surgery than it was before. I'll admit there were times that I didn't stick to my pre-op diet, but for some reason "cheating" post-op isn't the same. It is a lot easier to stick to the plan and when I did go off I ate a piece of velvetta cheese or an ounce more of soup. You will do great, just remember to take one day at a time.

Hey, I am post op day #5 and I have noticed today my appetite has started really coming back. I am supposed to be on full liquids for one more week until i can start pureed food and I am having a really hard time with it. Just wondering if anyone else is too. I keep telling myself how important it is not to strech my pouch out but today I ended up making some really soupy oatmeal. It helped. I have also found that I have been really depressed. I can't wait to go back to work on Monday which will probably help with the hunger, some of which is boredom and lonliness I'm sure. Anyway not trying to be a downer, I think this is probably just a normal part of the process, for me anyway, and don't expect it to last forever. I am just scared of any hunger at all, because, well no need to explain I'm sure you guys understand. thanks for reading. Elizabeth.

Congratulations!! I am suprised my pain has lasted as long as it has. It is really mild, but is still there, esp when I get up from sitting down or laugh. I went out with some friends friday night who dont know I was banded and everytime I started to laugh I kept grabbing my side. One of the girls was so worried about me, and I kept trying to make up excuses like I had a stomach bug. Like I said, it is rarely bad enough to even take pain medicine but it is still there. I'm a little jealous you get to move on to mushies, I would love an egg but my doctor says no eggs til week 2. On my plan eggs do count as mushies so I am sure your eggs are good. Keep us posted on your progress, it makes me feel good to hear what other people are going through! Elizabeth.

mermaidpuppy-hang in there. don't be depressed it makes me sad. It is weird how dependent on food you find out you were after this surgery. I was talking to my mom and I said you know atleast when I had nothing to do on a vacation before I could atleast plan a big meal, now even that is out. (although I could plan a Protein drink, but it didn't seem the same). Anyway, I was going to let you guys no that I did a lot better today and was looking at what I ate yesterday compared with today. I think the difference is yesterday I started with pudding and yogurt instead of my usual 20gm Protein Drink. I also only got in 1/2 the amount of Water I was supposed to. Today I pushed more protein early and got all my water in and did a lot better. Maybe soon drinking all that water and getting all that protein will become second nature and I won't have to work so hard at making sure I do it everyday. What is it they say-- it takes 3 months to form a habit. We can all do it together!!!!!!!!!:confused: Elizabeth

So I went for my last pre-op visit today and the surgeon really tried to talk me into gastric bypass. Her reasoning was that she sees better weight loss with bypass and less complications. That is just really hard for me to believe because when we were going over the stats the mortality rate was 1 in 100 for bypass compared to 1 in 1000 in lap band. I know that weight loss will be slower with the lap band, but she has me all confused. I never even really considered the bypass, mainly because there is no way I can take more than a week off from work. She seemed to think I would be okay going back to work after a week (just said I would be tired). Any comments? Need some encouragement I guess. thanks!:help:

I'm right there with you ghostbuster. I find myself weighing everymorning. So far the scale has been in a downward trend, but I worry the morning it isn't, all those feelings of failure are going to come rushing back. Which is really stupid considering right now my diet consist of liquid with Protein powder which has put me in ketosis and when I start back on real food I am bound to gain some back. I guess part of it is just for me seeing a number on the scale that I havent seen in a long time and reaffirming it is real. Last night was the first night I didn't dream of eating food. I think it was a real breakthrough for me. Like you said, I'm not all that hungry, but years of eating for comfort is hard for the mind to adjust to. Yesterday I wanted a bean burrito from taco bell so badly, again not because I was hungry, but it was what I loved to do on a rainy day. Eat taco bell on my couch and watch tv. I can't do it anymore. I sat there and cried. It was weird, like I was grieving for a friend that died. Kind of glad my taco bell friend died because this morning I feel better than I would have if I would have eaten it. Anyway, i have been rambling but hope everyone is doing well. Elizabeth

If anyone every asks about my scars I am going to say the same thing, my gallbladder. I figure if something does happen to my gallbladder then I can always say my pancreas needed some work:). Elizabeth