desertmom

hi all I have been complaining and asking the same questions for the past 5 weeks and want to repeat it again.....I am 3 days away from seeing my follow-up doctor and will then ask him about all this.....problem is when I had a temprature the first week he said nothing can be wrong he saw what was done inside and all was fine......on another board I've heard a lot of complaints about him and now I dont quite know how to aproach the man..... I am a RN and very optimistic about the operation.I have lost 28 pounds in spite of all this because I stick to the calorie counting and dieting this dr prescribed....I have no eating problems.I eat small amounts and sometimes it feels as if something gets stuck and then I have a huge pain in the chest but I expect that is normal.......however.... I still have pain in the area where I think the band is.Not all the time but when I have eaten and when I walk on my treadmill it feels as if there is stitches that pulls a lot......also the shaking gives me a big pain in the stomach.... Then I get palpitations for no reason all the time.....never had it before the operation...... I get an intense pain in my stomach when I sit down.I have to lean back or sit up very straight otherwise something squashes in there......or something pulls my esophagus.....I also get spasm in my esophagus but way less than before..... Now,people say that they dont even know that they have the band after a few weeks.I feel this band around my stomach all the time.Sometimes painfull sometimes just discomfort....... Again if this is normal I just need someone to tell me so.I dont know what it should feel like and will it get better. I can now sleep on my sides and I can breathe deeper most of the time.. I have the Cousin 9cc band and I hear that the surgeon put some saline in when he does the band...about 2 or 3 cc's. I dont know if this is true and will ask the follow-up guy....he is not the surgeon that did the band however...... OK,this is a mouthfull.......please just tell me so.If I should just shut-up and get on with it.....well say so please.At least I will know but then my expectations and the reality of this operation is two completely different things and I cannot recommend this to anyone again..... Please help....

hi I bought this book "I will get you thin" and thought great this is going to help me as well.Until I saw that I wasnt able to weight for 2 weeks..... I have a complete obsession with my scale(s).Yes, there is 2 side by side just to make sure that I dont miss the .2 up or down.Like that would make any difference what so ever. When someone suggests that I put the scale away for a time it feels like I am setting myself up for a disaster.What if I dont weight for 2 weeks and I gain 5 pounds?What if I only lose 2 and didnt know that I should control it more to lose more?How will I handle the dissapointment after 2 weeks? bla,bla,bla......... I am like a lunatic and the scale rules my moods a lot.Lost 2 pounds....great day...gain .2 diet diet diet .........lost nothing......diet..... How do one give this up?Am I the only scale crazy person out there? When people suggest eat what you want I get palpitations from stress caused just by saying it.I will most definately gain weight if I do that even if I eat just a little.Which of course is debatable weather that is possible to do... How do one fix the abnormalities in one's relationship with food after so many years?When I hear that some people eat what they want and lose weight I want to die with jealousy and envy.......I would love to have limits.Without having to contol everything around me so much..... Anyhow,anyone else with problems like this?

Cathy, Ditto,ditto,ditto,ditto.......I could not have said it better in a million years. The feeling that the Lord might just reject me even though I know that is not Who He is....never left me....my failure was sometimes like a huge wall in my spiritual life.I have overcome a lot of other things in life,even stopped smoking after a long time.....(hardest thing I've ever done...) Being this overweight made me so self centered.Everything in my life (and that of my family...) ended up being about me and my fat.....inability to live normal.Depression about failure.Rejecting myself for this....NEVER OVERCOMING EVEN WITH ALL THE CHURCH PROGRAMS.....FIT FOR PRAISE.....ect. ect....The self rightiousness experienced by some that one day I will get it,obviously not yet........ I realized the greatness of God in operations like this.The fact that He did allow me to get help because I needed help.That is also relying on Him. Anyway,me me me me me me......might stop once living becomes easier and moving around and doing things is more enjoyable.......When the obsession with weight and the scale and diet and food is gone.... Great day for all.

hi ok,now not to be funny or anything.But what whould "giving up" be when you have a band? Just wondering.

hi I had the same thing.Thought it was thrush so I bought some mycostatin and voila, one day later it was gone......might not have been thrush but the medicine surely worked.... Have a nice day

hi Dallasdoll What I did recently was to get myself some low fat Snacks.Yes, I know that they say dont snack and bla bla bla......low carb (I'm a specialist low carber by the way..lol) but I figured if I crave eating I must be ready for the cravings that usually made me eat a lot of junk. Now, to fit in the calories for the snacks,at least 300 some days,I had to cut a little into my food calories.I am trying to stay at 1000 so.Meals 250 calories each and 250- 300 for snacks.That includes a low fat sugar free ice cream cone every night.Sometimes when not satisfied I eat a packet of low cal walker light crisps....again I know it is not ideal but what, I have to live with doing this. Also,tracking on fitday just for a while is so interesting because it teaches you the calorie value of food......and to make a meal more.......bulk up on low cal vegetables which is most except potato,corn and ......you get the idea. Venting is great.A lot of us feel a lot like you and I think I did still believe that this band will make me lose weight no matter what.Why would they do an operation that will fail if you dont diet?And I still believe if you get propper restriction it will help to lose weight without soooo much effort.Look at the what have you eaten today threat....I laught because If they see how much I eat they'd think I'm mad...... Any how,keep the spirits up and hve a good day.

hi Been banded 4 weeks and even though Im moaning and complaining like mad I have lost quite a bit of weight (I just realized yesterday!) I started writing a long thing about what to eat and how but the truth is wether you eat high carbs or low carbs the old adage of calories in calories out still goes......I have been tracking with fitday.com and well,when I go over 1200 calories I dont lose weight. O heck, count your calories and stay under 1200 and you will lose weight......and that to me was the saddest truth ever about 2 weeks ago....I got very down in the dumps about it and regretted having done this op and not getting the DS or something.But now I think the victory will be in feeling normal about food and eating and enjoying what I eat and thinking like a thin person about food. All information that I have seen since I have been doing research for the past 2 years says that this is not a self acting device and calorie intake should be limited and exercise is not optional but compulsory....... Dallasdoll,I know that I have had to make a choice about this band......it is not going to work by itself no matter what I do or want it to do......it aint happening.... I have to pay attention,decide to eat less,be satisfied with less,enjoy what I eat more,taste what I eat (not try to scoff it down because I can...) and when I think I feel full not to continue because I can, but to stop.......... I know what you are talking about I have been there this month........ and it is hard (will be much easier after fill of course)but it is getting easier every meal I choose to be in control and to enjoy eating until I THINK I am full (I dont feel full until 20 minutes after I have stopped eating by the way..) This is hard,but it can be the a great learning curve (bla bla bla......)Point is it has got to be a great learning curve because we wanted the band,we got the band now we have to work with the band or what ? stay fat? not on your life.............You have to let go of the old overweight eater and get to know the new thin, healthy eater. If I can do this,anyone can.....and I am doing it ....baby steps and day by day....consiously and positively.....(and that was my own motivation session for the day,thank you!) Have a great day!

hi I dont want to sound like I just complaining.........but...... I still have a lot of pain in my left side.Can I just take pain meds for this?Is this normal to have that much pain and discomfort.It is not directly on the port it is more to the left and higher up on the side of my ribcage........will this go away? The second thing is that I have been having severe indigestion.It is like a shooting pain up in my esophagus and it ends almost in my jaw......(sounds so strange again....)It feels like a spasm and it comes and goes without provocation.......when Im not eating,or when Im eating,when stomach empty or full.......maalox or gaviscon does not help for this.... On top of all this, I am not really losing any significant weight.I am below 1000 calories most days.I am carefully checking what I eat.I dont overeat.I dont snack.I just dont know what to do.......tomorrow I am 4 weeks out and I have only lost about 3 pounds in the past 2 weeks.....slower than ever before....nothing to make all this worth it....I walk every second day for 30 minutes on the treadmill. I am having a really tough time understanding why everyone else seems to be carrying on with there life after 4 weeks as if nothing has happened and I still have times when I just have to lie down because of the severe discomfort I am experiencing. I was banded by dr De Bruyne in Dubai and the follow-up dr is a local and not very forthcoming about anything.He just recons nothing can be wrong because he saw exactly what was done in theatre. I havent been taking anything for pain for the past 2 weeks but maybe I just should? I have never had any operations before so I dont have any Idea how long recovery should take and what is normal and what not? Please just inform me before I drive myself and my family insane.Everyone says I have become a hermit because I just cannot go out for long,I just get to uncomfortable.. O,and I am a RN and by now,after reading how well everyone else is doing,scared to death that this is not going to work for me.... Thanks for being able to have somewhere to ask these questions!!!!!!

hi If you follow the rules you will lose weight,no doubt. However,one can drive yourself crazy if you weigh all the time and want to lose a lot of weight fast.I thought low carbing (always lost fast like that,couldnt keep it off though...) would make me lose fast.I dont know why but I lose slower now than ever before but I am consistenly losing something.In the past lost a lot gained more......... Be patient,follow the rules,keep a firm eye on your calories (even thin people do..) and lose weight......one cannot eat high cal food,even less than before, and expect to lose weight......calories in, calories out........weightloss..... The battle is a lot the same than before.Only this time it can be won....... Know that you can make this work..... Dessertmom Banded 30 April 318 then 295 now...

I used to be a RN now the perfect job.....full time mom.......

HI Well,I am 11 days post-op and I feel very good.I am also eating and adjusting to that...... Only one question. Is this terrible pain that I get in my back (after been on my feet for say an hour.....)normal? It is like period pains but higher in my back....also deep in my stomach.......but from my back....if this make any sense..... please just say stop whinning if this is normal......... Thanks

hi Theresa Great place,great people.It is developing so fast now that a lot of the old charm is being lost.Westernization (money...)is killing the traditional big time no matter what the locals say.I love it here however and dont really want to think about leaving again. I am feeling much better everyday.I still have a considerable ammount of pain in my stomach but the doctor says that is normal.Or he thinks I am talking nonsense.....That said the feeling that my lungs are compressed to the size of a golfball at night is getting better. Please tell me.Do you feel the band all the time?Can one really carry on with normal activities with this horribly squashed feeling inside?Will this start feeling more normal eventually? Ok,enough.I am not complaining just wondering. Have a nice day.OH,btw your picks are great........

Hi I am just scared that the lifespan of this band isnt 30 + years. That said,dont knock Babs.She has done exceptionally well and she hasnt been insulting to you or anyone.I think any high BMI that is honest with themself will secretly agree.Might not have the guts to say it........ This is not personal.She can have an opinion and you have to respect that.She isnt rejecting you,darling.Merely expressing and opinion. I completely get what she is saying but then not everyone will. I hope you stay well with your band.That you stay healthy and lose all your weight and that your dreams that you talk about all come true for you.

hi April 30 for me. Yes, I had diaree for about 3 days....liquid in liquid out.....unless it is black (not dark green...sorry....)then need to phone dr. It is better now I am on mushies... and yes it is quick but my dr insist...... Gas still huge problem......but it gets better everyday.....just take it nice and slow....and whoever said this was such an easy thing lied.........but it gets better..... Hope you feel better soon.....

Hi I wouldnt have had this surgery if I had less than 70 pounds to lose.My doctor does the operation on people with a BMI of 42 and over. This is not just a little band around the stomach.When a person needs constant medical supervision it means they have a medical condition that warrants it.If you have no specific weight related co morbids (and I dont think migraine is directly related....but may be food related..) then why create a "condition"? I am in the medical field and if you need someone to say dont have the band,I will say it.Dont have a band.Doctors shouldnt do the operation on people with such a low BMI anyway. When I was 40 pounds overweight I wore a size 14 and I looked like a doll......I was only ever thinner than that when I had an eating disorder. Relax,enjoy life.I sometimes think that if I get to 40 pounds overweight I dont know what I will do..... I really have sympathy with any person that's got weight issues.It is so much thing of how we feel about ourselves.But having an operation is such a drastic thing. Please you all,dont jump on me.Any operation is a risk.And this is a foreign object being implanted into your body.It should only be done if really neccessary. That said.....it is only my opinion and we know the saying about opinions. Thanks

hi I will change the signature.I actually lost 45 since end Feb when my best friend had her op.(didnt want to stay behind with the weight thing..) I started my pre-op fluids 7 days before op and lost from 318 to 308. When I got back from hospital I weighed 318 again....... Today....303... Fantasy gone....late afternoon tightness in band is back.....and it feels just terrible....

hi I'm feeling much better.........I am even having some chicken Soup diluted 2X strained 10 times......and it goes down ok. Today I'm going to try some fruit juice. My "food" for the past 6 days: 1 can of Ensure instant .....330calories And well, Water water water..... Weightloss 0.....I need to up my calorie intake to get moving and to feel better and today I am having a fantacy about a hotdog......

Hi Flower My doctor told me 50 percent BUT he expects me to get to goal so they can do the plastics in 2 years.He emphisized a 100 times:THE BAND IS NOT A SELF ACTING DEVICE.YOU WORK WITH IT, YOU CAN LOSE MOST OF YOUR EXCESS WEIGHT.You will not be able to eat "what you want" and lose weight. Please look at the successful losers on this forum......they exercise and eat they way the band is prescribed....... This is not an easy way out.But it is a way out....... OK,so I'll work with it and we'll see.........

OK, Now that I think of it i just presumed that one couldnt have those.At the moment I'm not sure exactly how I got the idea but it will come to me.......I have been doing research into weightloss surgery for 2 years and if I wasnt a chicken (and the Vitamin issues..)I would have had the DS.Somewhere along the way I got the idea that gum and mints are forbidden but cant remember if it was for another surgery..... Thanks again.It is ok not to use those now.At least I can in future. Nice day to all.

Hi again, Is mints like Polo and chewing gum now a no no forever? I never thought of it before but I stopped smoking 2 years ago and since then have always had a piece of gum or a mint in my mouth........and today I am missing it big time..... Thank you

hi Feeling a lot better.Had a good night sleep.Still on my back but what the heck that will also pass. The nausea is a lot better. Good news that the "pulling" feeling will get better. I have just noticed that the Ensure plus instant drink is not really high in Protein at all.High in carbs though.Also pretty high in fat..........I will go and get the Isopure.... Feeling good....hope you all doing the same..

I just forgot to say,if it wasnt for this board I dont know how I would have gone through this whole proses..... Thanks

Hi Thank you,thank you, thank you for all your advice and support. When you dont know what is going on and all eyes on you to carry on with your life as if nothing has happened you start thinking what have I done,what have I done. But reading all this makes me realize that there is a time of healing that I have to go through and it will get better. Thank you,I will get the isopure Protein and I will drink more Water and chill......... Just by the way,how does the band feel in your stomaches? Do you feel something "pull" when you breathe out or stretch? Have a good day all......

hi Thanks for your replies.I dont know what pregnancy feels like (adopted both my girls..) but I feel like I have had the biggest meal ever and that I have had to much to drink...if that makes sense....... When I lie down it is a lot better.I am managing 40 ounces of Water and one ensure Protein drink a day.Havent had anything else.I feel to stuffed..... I still have a low grade temprature that gets a bit higher in the evening (100,4) I had a CBC done with chest x-rays 2 days ago and they are normal. I also go very cold,but shaking cold at times. Anyhow,I am sure I might be to active.... but some people are back at work day 4 post-op.I am just a bit scared at the moment because this is a foreign object and I am a woosssss........Never had any operations before. Thanks for your advice,will update tomorrow.

hi Info please. Since yesterday I have been feeling unbelievable nauseas.Have this full swollen feeling in my tummy and even Water makes me feel sick. Is this normal........help please