Jugido64

Just wanted to say I should've trusted my surgeon first time around! I had my band done 2014. At first I was very successful. I was working out, eating really well, letting this tool assist me. Then my back went bad...horribly bad. Three blown discs put me on the ground...litterally. (I'd blown two discs previously but had learned to adapt). Now with five blown there was no way for me to recover the level of exercise needed for my band to be all it needed to be.

My tool could not save me from myself at that point. Not working, extreme pain, heartache and frustration. I started reaching for carbs, soda, and sugar. Even 3-4 ounces of these 2-3 times a day will put any weight loss far behind you. I even went back to phentermine for three months. Nothing was going to work. I was not going to have the health, life changing results I needed. Fortunately my gall bladder decided it was time to go and my band left my body at the same time.

Now the real mind bending changes started! Health insurance cares about criteria not about the toll taken on your body. Regaining weight to meet criteria is not only incredibly hard on your body. It's even harder on your mental health. Having switched up my thinking, my eating, my mental image of myself...gaining weight back nearly broke me.

I had my revision surgery August 2016. I started with my health as my greatest concern. My blood pressure had gone back up. My cholesterol was dangerously high again. My heart, well my heart had some of its own issues prior to the sleeve surgery. Within the six weeks I took off from work I was able to drop about 25 lbs. My blood pressure was back to 110/70 without medication. In the next two months my cholesterol was back in normal range so I dropped the medication. My heart issues had completly resolved as well.

I'm finally continuing to lose fat while building muscle. I'm still losing weight though it has slowed down. I'm 50 lbs down at 6 1/2 months and I could not be happier. Life below 200 is healthier than I thought was possible at age 53. Revision was truly the best option for me...unless of course I would've trusted my surgeon in the first place.

I had a band then went back about 9 months later for a gastric sleeve. I did so because having a band requires extremely vigilant eating and a lot of exercise to make the band work. I had an extremely damaged spine so once it let go....no more exercise.

Two weeks isn't enough time to "plateau". If you're still doing 2-3 Protein drinks daily and maybe 2-4 ozs of cottage cheese or greek yougurt....you'll still be losing. Your body must adjust and if you're sneaking in any carbohydrates your body could be clinging to any empty calories.

I hope your body, mind adjust to this tool. Best wishes

I was intrigued about vapor delivery systems but I haven't seen much research about long term because it hasn't been around long enough.

I recommend you don't have one at all. I use the one at my dr's office. Seriously. I also use the electronic one at the gym. Dr's office is once a month. I'm just now coming up on 4 months post op from banding. I use the one at the gym if I think about it. It's so easy to become obsessed with your scale just like before WLS. It becomes another way to "scale" your success or failure. I personally prefer use of a scale in a "safe" place where I have support if it's not what I had hoped to see or even when it's better than what I hoped to see.

For a food addict as I am it was terrifying! Until I realized it was not about giving up anything. It was about simplifying everything. Taking a few steps back from food has allowed me prospective on many other things in my life. How I view my own life and how I view others. I thought for many years if I was able to "control" my eating ie not overeat to the point of being sick, I was doing just fine. I now know that is another belief that had to be smashed.

I love yoga. A few simple poses and some good clean deep breaths and WOW I am back to center in about 15 minutes. I love this quick smooth way to be brought back into focus.

I use Premier Protein 30gram shake. You will find them at costco and I think they're on sale this month. Also the Premier Protein Bars. Easy breezy beautiful.

My physician didn't "test" for nicotine however there was extensive talk around the subject. There was also a requirement to be tobacco free for at least 3 months. That being said I am a reformed smoker and a previous surgery while smoking cured me. Hacking your lungs out is not good after abdominal surgery....just sayin.

The first fill should be done on empty stomach ie no food for however long per your surgeon instructions. Mine says 4 hours no food before fill then liguids for 24 hours.

A fill may or may not work. Do as your surgeon and coordinator instructs and follow the rules: Protein first, anything else second, no fluids 1 HR before or after meal, 64+ ounces of Water per day. 15 - 20 minutes to eat meal. When you feel done you are done! Not another bite.

Is anyone here athletic and would like to buddy up doing the "Couch to Course" Atlas Spartan training? I'm start tomorrow and it'd be awesome to have another jock type work out with me. It's free to register and they will send you a daily work out. Who wants to train???

Seriously count 60 seconds between bites! It may feel foolish at first but it'll save you from slimeing or vomiting.

Hmmm something I'd never considered. I'm coloring my hair but other than that nothing. Of course I'm only 40% down in weight. I may look haagish by the time I'm done. Ahhh that'd be a shame. Ha ha ha!

They say at least 3 months prior to surgery. Quitting the smoking is easier if you have a support person and different if you chew gum. I swear having gum is a quick fix for a stressful moment.

I'm looking forward to going scuba diving in Cozumel, Mexico and using less weight to get neutral! In scuba terms just means less to weigh me down enough to sink. Fat is buoyant and muscle is much easier to sink

I had no problems with meds. I only take two so it's no biggie. I also ordered my Vitamins in liquid form a custom blend. I was not released to work out for 30 days but I was encouraged to walk daily and increase time weekly. I returned to HIIT work outs at 45 days and have been actively participating since then. I am losing inches and firming up remarkably and since starting to work with a trainer 30 days ago I am well on my way to definition and true strength I've never had before. Weight training is a friendly reminder that I was once a jock and then I tore my body up...so at age almost 51 I'm so excited to feel like my body is returning to health one layer at time.

I love my surgeons idea. If solids are difficult go back to liquids for a week or two. You won't die and three to four Protein drinks a day for a week or two should smooth out those issues.

Pain meds, Water, sugar free Jello, sleep for 2-3 days. Then START LIVING!!!

• Thank you for the input. It is usually the same on most bariatric sites. Very few talking about the "bare bones" of this deal and more about the superficial aspects. I've been a part of several support groups regarding WLS and again it's frustrating due the lack of autonomy and how we got here. I suppose I'm seeing my own reflection and in many ways it's mucking up my view. I wish everyone here the best and happier, healthier lives as a result of having banding done.

If your surgeon put this as a "goal" you've already succeeded! You've been on liquids for DAYS!!!! Any one person who is a food addict understands the miracle of doing something this foreign to one of us. I say congrats, settle in and get prepared for the rebirth of YOU!! It's a lot of work ie the exercise when you can start post surgery but it is worth it. Our overeating is but a symptom of what truly ails us....

Thanks for the input on this. I don't do mashed potatoes or any other "useless" food. If it's not feeding my body in a good way I simply don't eat it anymore so the only indicator that my adjustment is wrong would be the Water I drink after a fill or the inability to keep fluids down in the following 24 hours. That is my litmus test. If Water and other fluids are not going down then there's an issue. So far I've had a minimal fill of unknown quantity. I'm still losing and I'm still filling full off of 3-4 ozs at a time so it seems to be doing it's job slowing the emptying of my stomach pouch. That's all I can go on....

I can see why it would be scary for some people. I'm not one to be spooked by such things as I've had surgery before and have done very well. I suppose I wanted to know why it is a hot topic for some and then not anything to someone else. I mean a band is non mechanical and a piece of cake surgically so again I wondered why it seems to be a hot topic amongst banders.

I am so proud and pleased with the decision I made to save my own life by having WLS! I'm my own hero! I've been sharing my surgery with those who inquire and I have made announcements to family and friends. I'm very happy to share my decision with others. As with any other part of recovery (I've been clean/sober for 19 1/2 years) I have chosen to keep no secrets. I talk openly about having had this surgery to free myself from the grip of food addiction. I don't keep my decision to myself, I have also spoken to my employer and my coworkers and they are very supportive. Everyone I've told about my decision has been extremely supportive. Coming forward as a champion for my right to choose a healthy life has empowered me in so many other ways. I am able to remove people, places and things that are no longer serving a higher purpose within my life. Shedding the fat has taken on a whole new meaning.

I do carry a card in my wallet that indicates my status as a GB patient and my surgeons office etc. I guess I don't feel the need to know as it feels to me like it's one more thing possibly to use as a reason I am or am not losing weight. I understand the idea of knowing in case of an emergency however I also know scars indicate placement and if you had your surgery at a local hospital records are available. I'm very fortunate as my surgeon is local as well as my hospital, I feel that I am responsible for what goes in my mouth....my band only slows the flow therefore I am still ultimately responsible for my own weight loss/gain. I am grateful for the feeling of being full without over eating.

Why does it matter how much Fluid is or isn't in our band? I'm clueless on that? Is it just one more thing to hopelessly obsess on like the scale? I have had a fill and I honestly could give a rip about how much is in there. If it's helping me feel full ie giving my brain a chance to recognize satiety I'm all good with it. Why does it matter if it's a month or years before a fill? I must be missing the point with all that. I guess I'll try to conjure up a moment of caring about it but honestly I'm too busy getting on with my life to give it a second thought.