Cloeymn36

I seriously appreciate your post because my gas pain has been major and i couldn't think of what i could be doing to affect it but perhaps I am just drinking broth too fast and overall need to chillax!:smile:

Hi Bandster Buds, Well, I was banded on 3/17. Woke up in recovery and thought, "Whoa, anesthesia rocks, I don't remember anything!" Fought back pain from gas all that night and walked the lonely halls in my sexy hospital gown with my boobs flopping to and fro... I only had one bout of nausea and that was the night I came home from the hospital. Hadn't had much to eat (drink) and I think the gas was just too much. Heaved pretty badly but managed to move on. I'm still dealing with major gas issues. Can toot but I have to really push and don't want to do that because it hurts my abdomen and surgery area. Getting broth in and juice....but I feel enormously full in my chest and upper abdomen most of the time so it's hard to tell if I'm hungry or not. Tried the gas-x, not really working. Walking, stretching..... I'm a little worried I'm having more gas than normal or that I have become the newest Thanksgiving Day Parade float. I have only lost 6 pounds since starting the liquid pre-op diet. What the hell?????? Does gas add weight?? lol Somebody make me feel better and tell me that my gas is somewhat normal???:smile:

Now I never listen to this woman because I basically think she is on a major power trip and so rigid in her thinking and rude to callers but I unfortunately got stuck in a car with her on the radio and I can NOT believe what this woman said about overweight people... A woman called and said that her husband recently gained 30 lbs. and she wondered if it was wrong of her to be bothered by this. Dr. Laura said, "Of COURSE you should be bothered! Your husband is living an undisciplined life - eating whatever he wants and not exercising - this is all about one's CHARACTER. Obviously your problem with your husband is that he has NO CHARACTER to allow himself to behave this way!" This woman has a national syndicated talk show and she NOT ONCE inquired as to what could be happening in this man's life that he put on this weight. The idea that there could possibly be stressors within him, the marriage or even looking at this change in the husband with some empathy did not even remotely happen. Instead she attacked his character. So I guess she officially endorses discrimination of overweight people by anniliating their characters. Lovely! I wanted to pull over and take a bat to my radio!

Seriously. I don't care if she poses for tiny hooters monthly. Attacking someone's character is pretty serious business and I don't particularly find that one's character and overeating is connected. Does that mean that ALL skinny people who eat healthy have GOOD characters? Hmmmm....

I think that there are very good doctor's in Mexico and surgeries are and can be very successful. I work in a hospital that has a Bariatric Program and I work closely with the medical director of that program. He has mentioned to me that people who get banded in Mexico have trouble at times finding doctors who will assist them with complications (although rare) and fills because of the liability they are afraid of. And that is coming from the bariatric program themselves. But other people I see on the board have no problems at all finding fill doctors. So, go figure!

Yep, Anne you're right. As the HR director, one does have access to decisions made on behalf of the policy holders WHICH COMPLETELY SUCKS but nothing much one can do about it. Now, if this person were to say something to other employees, then it becomes a violation of an employee's right to confidentiality regarding their healthcare.

I have the same exact dilimia. I was supposed to have the surgery Jan 11th and it was moved to the last week in January with a vacation coming the 1st week of February. I postponed the trip. I don't want to have to worry about experiencing any complications and being away from the needed medical care. I also anticipate some pain and discomfort from a new surgery and I don't think I would enjoy my vacation as much. For me, I chose to wait.

Oh wow. I'm reading these posts and squirming considerably which means that they are hitting home BIGTIME! Yes folks, even therapists are uncomfortable with our OWN feelings. Often when seeing a very overweight person I have sympathy. Then I became more overweight (going from mildly to moderately to morbidly) and that feeling turned into empathy (boy do I know what YOUR going through kind of thing). Generally I have a soft spot for all people who struggle and wear it on the outside because I guess I know that it what I show to the world. The thing is.....and I know that this isn't necessarily right for me to feel....I always cringe when I see an overweight person in clothes that don't fit, poor hygiene, disregard for what they're presenting to the world. I'm embarrassed for them. And, I suppose, ashamed. No matter my size, I always make a point of dressing well, putting on "the face" and in my way saying to the world, "Yep, I'm overweight but I STILL can look good". I guess when others don't it makes me mad because I assume that they will be perceived as "a fat slob" and I don't want that stereotype to take over because then I have to fight it personally. Wow, shallow huh?

St. Joseph's Bariatric Care is great 651-326-3600

A tear rolls down my cheek thinking of my own best friend I lost last year. Amazing what unconditional love and devotion can inspire in our own hearts. Hugs to you. Long live Mr. Whipple and my Rusty.

I work in psychiatry and counseling so suicide behavior and acts are part of my day EVERYDAY (and believe me, it is so hard sometimes). To say that it hasn't entered my mind would be lying but it has with only the slightest fleeting moment and long enough to think, "nope, not the answer". I hate my obesity and what it deprives me of in so many ways but to kill myself because of it would be to forget that I love MYSELF, ME INSIDE THIS BODY and I deserve to live. That is why I am getting the band.

I love that you shared this. I have the same problem. For me, fattening food is an inside hug. Healthy foods just dont' hug me much. Now, obviously bread, Cookies, cake and candy taste a hell of a lot better and my desiring them more is understandable. But, I have a negative reaction to fruit!!!! When I was a kid our mother didn't have any snack food open for eating EXCEPT fruit. So even though my tastebuds say "eh, ain't so bad", my head says "this is GOOD FOR YOU FOOD" - run!!!!!! For me, when I see someone eating healthy and being in control of their own nutrition AND they are thinner then me, the resentment comes from jealousy - of their control, their thinness and their (what I perceive to be) lack of food addiction. I assume they have no fun in their life because they can't throw back a half sleeve of oreo's and watch t.v. right? But for them, possibly food isn't the hug and the fun it is for me so that's why they aren't struggling for their dieting.... Does that make sense?

Honestly I think a lean cuisine and a salad is perfectly fine unless your salad is comprised of crazy caloric stuff and the size of Pittsburgh. I know that I don't intend to eat a 1/2 cup of food 3 times a day because I don't want to ruin my metabolism and lose weight so fast that I have skin issues. I told my surgeon just that and he said, "Good because I don't know who told you that nutrition info. but they aren't setting you up for success eating that little." Good luck toots.

That "put them in a bowl and microwave them" scenario was absolutely cruel. For God's sake I sat here reading that and starting having little chocolate orgasms until you mentioned putting in the Lawry's. Hmmm...I wonder if that would be kinda sickly yummy? Ha Ha

Hi Ho, Hi Ho Just waiting for my "GO!" then I'll be banded not EXPANDED HI HO, HI HO!!!

Jonathan, You must be incredibly relieved!! I read your post about your slip and I felt so frustrated for you but now to hear that going back on liquids rectified everything I just have to do a little mini-hustle/electric slide in my computer chair. By the way, I love to read your posts. You are the most eloquent, intelligent and sensitive guy and to think, you're straight!!!! Yeah!!!

1. What does your handle mean? My name is Claudette but my nickname became "Cloey" around 5th grade and it stuck. I'm 36 and originally from NY, now a Minnesotaon for the past 1 1/2 years. 2. What book are you currently reading, or did you last read? I'm trying to read but nothing is sticking except keeping up on everybody's posts! 3. What do you do for a living? I'm a psychiatric social worker in a hospital on the inpatient mental health floor and on-call crisis social worker for our ER. 4. For what in your life are you most grateful? Being relatively healthy and my family who are great people. 5. What's one thing about you that you think would surprise other people? I'm extremely self-conscious but most people think I am very confident - NOT!! 6. One word to describe yourself? Perfectly imperfect (screw it, I used 2!) 7. One word others use to describe you? "Bubbly" - (blech!) 8. Would you rather play a game with someone better or worse at it than you? Hmmm....neither, evenly matched. 9. Favorite movie? Favorite show? Not sure about movie, favorite show is Biggest Loser & Survivor 10. Something unusual about yourself? When I was a kid I wanted to be a news anchor so I would read shampoo bottles aloud while going to the bathroom as practice. LOL!

With all due respect, obesity due to PCOS is a definite factor but if you are over 100 lbs. overweight you are ALSO likely to be abusing food (i.e., eating beyond hunger). So my humble apologies to anyone on the site that was "gasp!" mistakenly labeled with a food addiction - those with PCOS, thyroid disorders and gland problems.... I actually never thought of having a food issue as being such a horrible thing but obviously you do.

I am looking to be banded mid-January and I too read some worrisome posts but then I continue the alternative - to be 100 pounds overweight and growing! There are countless ways my obesity hurts me - emotionally, physically and socially and probably financially as well. Every bandster takes a chance but ultimately you have to work your own program, follow your own doctor's advice and go for it. I'm psyched. I'm ready for all of it - the good, bad and torturous liquid diet....

Wow, I think it was the popcorn. God knows it drives me nuts when the little kernels get stuck in my teeth, it's somewhat abrasive.

I agree with some of what's been said but I think that anyone (including us) who have surgery to assist us in losing weight is overcoming an addiction to food. If you consider that we continued to eat despite the toll it took on our bodies then we can't separate ourselves from others who still are living in it, we just made a decision to give us strength we don't innately have. Hopefully this surgery will give us the motivation and confidence to internalize the better habits but it doesn't for everyone and that doesn't make us better, just luckier. That's the way I feel.

I really appreciated you taking the time to share this story. It makes me feel more secure when people are honest about the emotional aspect of the surgery and the inability to eat again after the surgery. When others totally bypass that aspect it makes me wonder if I am too food-happy to be successful. Then again, I think we all overeat and do so in a big way or we wouldn't be here to begin with. Thank you again.

You know, I've been thinking about this liquid diet situation myself. I'm pre-op but have been told I'll have to go on a liquid diet. Here's the thing (and gosh, I don't mean to sound jaded). If you lose a chunk of weight before the surgery (say, 10 -15 lbs. from the liquid diet pre-op phase) and then approx 10 from the post-op liquid, mushy phase...then you've lost 25 lbs just in the pre-post phase...how much weight is actually lost from the band itself? They say that most people lose 50% of weight needed to be lost. So if you were 250 and you need to lose 100 lbs, 25 lbs. is half of 50% avg. lost. That means that the 2nd 50% would be the band (equal to approx. 25 lbs). Is the liquid diet a placebo in disguise????!!!!!

Hi. I totally understand. I'm preparing for surgery but can't have it until January and I'm nervous already myself. It's such a huge life change and the one huge obstacle I've had in my life I'm actually doing something pretty radical to deal with. How will I cope? How will I react? How will I deal with the newness, the pain, the recovery without my best friend???? What if I don't lose weight? What if ? What if? So I tell myself...oh SHUT UP. hee hee

Hi. I have to tell you, and I know that I only represent my own opinion but I would not have this surgery (or any major surgery) out of the country. Lord knows it's hard enough to deal with complications or follow up without having the obstacle of having had surgery in a foreign country not known for its' fine health care. That being said, if it were me and I was really set on having the surgery I would just gain the 20 lbs. Lord knows I've done it anyway 5 times in a row and for no true purpose. Now I'm waiting for people to crack me one for my honesty. LOL!