Wheetsin

I wore an oversized knit dress, the kind with the empire waist & tie in the back (I just call them house dresses, but I see people wearing them in public) and those fugly "Croc" shoes. I wanted something where I could just raise my arms up & be dressed, and not have anything hitting on my staples. And shoes I could put on without someone having to tie them, or having to worry about wiggling into them like flipflops.

Fills don't make you eat the right foods. Since you say "messing up" I'm assuming you're eating to eat, and not eating because you're actually/truly hungry. If you can't get past mental pull to food, then all a fill will do is make you hurt when you continue to overeat or eat carelessly. If you're truly hungry so much that you're eating more than you think you should, then consider a fill, otherwise you could do a lot more harm than good. This may sound remedial, but I would say that the next time you're compelled to eat, stop and ask yourself a few questions. Are you really and truly hungry? My morbidly obese mother will eat at dinner and an hour later she's saying "I'm starving!" Well, we all know that isn't the case, there's no way she's feeling true hunger, she's just feeling the need to eat. How do you feel mentally at the moment that you're compelled to eat? Are you "fine" - or are you upset/sad/stressed/etc. to where you're compelled to eat as an emotional release? Why are picking up the crap food over the good food? Do you have good food available or have you started to (perhaps subconsciously) stock up more on crap food? Are you having a craving? Are you after convenience? Etc.

I would proceed with the surgery, with a different surgeon.

The band doesn't just open like a bracelet might. If it were me I would think 1) surgeon error or 2) defective band. Definitely fight them on the fills, and ensure that you have no revision fees at all.

I did not have to see a cardiologist nor do a sleep study. However I did not have any known comorbidities. It may be something that is now standard as the result of changes with the program, but I'm assuming at the time I went they were only required if you had related comorbidities. The only test-type things I had to do were standard pre-surgical chest x-ray, EKG, bloodwork. The person who referred me to Dr. Hoehn was a former bypass patient of his. She did have sleep apnea, and was required to do a sleep study. She also had to do a lot more bloodwork than I did - not sure why. I've referred several people to him and at least 4 have had the surgery and at least another 4 are in the paperwork/insurance stage. They like to share their stories with me, and I've not heard of any of them needing a cardiologist or sleep study - yet. :tongue2:

You pulled up a thread that's nearly a year old, and nearly half a year out from any activity, and are telling people to give OP a break. That's actually endearing. :tongue2:

You are a stronger woman than I.

Wal-Mart is nasty. I hate Wal-Mart. But yesterday, in the middle of a snowstorm, I needed a snow shovel. I had taken the morning off, so I figured I would add this to my list of things to do. I called everywhere I could think of and they were all "freshly sold out." Finally I called Wal-Mart and, of course, they had tons. So I go to Wal-Mart at about 9:30 am in the middle of a freaking whiteout and they're BUSY, and these people AREN'T buying things for the storm, and they aren't employees. What the heck? What do all these people do that they're hanging out at Wal-Mart in a blizzard at 9:30 on a work day? One thing that really got to me was the hygiene of the employees. I bought a shovel, then saw a different one on the way out so I took back the first and then bought the second. Both the cashier I worked with and the lady at customer service for the refund were truly dirty people. Their shirts and pants were dirty, the customer service lady had dirt in her fingernails and greasy hair and was pretty smelly. The cashier lady was just a slob. SHe didn't greet me, didn't respond when I greeted her. She rang my stuff up, bagged most of it, and then just stood there instead of telling me a total. (By bagged most of it, I mean that a few things never made it into bags, it's like she reached between the bags and dropped my item on the counter, one thing she dropped on the floor and made no effort to pick up). This isn't just me hating Wal-Mart so I'm portraying it in a negative light, this is really what happened. There were certainly clean, well-groomed employees there. Just not the ones I was able to work with. A while ago I was trying to find some kitchen rugs to coordinate with curtains I already had. I'd tried every store I could think of, except Wal-Mart. *cringe* One thing I learned is that Wal-Mart employees assume everyone known the ways of the Mart. Not the case. I go in and I'm accosted by a senior citizen wielding a sticker gun and a roll of smiley face stickers. She points to my curtain and asks me, "You brining that in?" Ok. The curtain is in my hand, and I'm walking in the store... what am I missing? So I tell her yes, and she slaps a sticker on it. Whatever. I start to walk in the store and she yells at me that I have to go straight to customer service. I ask her why, and she says because I have a curtain. This is still not making any sense to me, and I must have shown it on my face, because she says, "You can't bring merchandise for refunds into the store." WHich REALLY doesn't make any sense, but I told her that it wasn't a refund, it was mine, and I was bringing it in to color match it. She honestly and actually gets mad at me and snaps that I should have told her that. Told her what? I had no idea. I figured they tagged everything incoming to the store. *sigh*

When I had my surgery, as well as when a coworker's husband had his (about 8 months ago) he was booked out right around a month between the consultation and the surgical openings. I was just trying to remember the sequencing for another thread - but my insurance approval came in January, I had my consultation in February, and surgery was March. Based on that I would guess that if you're already working on your pre-op, maybe a month or month and a half?? But that could be completely wrong if he's busy, or you need more/fewer psych appts, etc. I just asked my co-worker about her husband and he had the same experience, each "phase" took about a month, so a month for all your prework, and a month wait for the surgery.

Do you have a consultation scheduled with Dr. Hoehn? That's when you get your date, at least when I had mine done. Getting my consultation date was *I think* one of the earlier things that happened. Edited to add - I misread your post. I think the program has changed a lot since I went through. I don't remeber anything being required prior to getting the consultation. In fact, I think I had the consultation, then started getting scheduled for all the other stuff in the meantime. I think!

I've seen Alli at the store but never really looked at it. From your post I'm guessing it's a fat blocker? Ugh, a friend of mine took whatever the last big one and would have huge oil slicks anytime anything digestive happened.

I should add - yes, I did just address the protein/eating issue. The mental side is a completely different piece of cake. I'm dealing with it, too. I've hit this sort of complacency that I don't want, but can't quite shake off. I'm not at my goal weight, but I'm also no longer than huge freak I used to be. I've returned to the point where I'm starting to feel good about myself, which you'd think would make it easier to get the last of the weight off, but it's have an opposite effect. It's great that you're working with a therapist -- here's to all of us being able to get our heads on straight!

Maybe try some easier proteins. I know lots of junk gives me more problems than healthier food - e.g. my last two PBs were each on a potato chip. One protein that never gives me a bit of problems are cooked turkey pepperoni. Have you ever tried that? Lay them on a paper plate and a about 5 paper towels, and microwave them until they're bubbling & shrinking - about 3 minutes. As soon as they come out, blot them with more paper towels. This will cook them crunchy while removing most of the fat/grease. They're small, chew easily, and have lots of flavor. On days when I can't do regular meats, these have always worked. If you need to lube them up a bit, you can try scooping some cottage cheese on them -- and they're REALLY good with some "garden vegetable" cream cheese.

My surgery was about 2 years ago, just long enough that it's getting hard to remember the specifics, but I think my order went something like this: Call of confirmation from the office > scheduling (consultation, dietician, education session with the coordinator, psychologist). I had met with the dietician and coordinator prior to getting my surgery date, which I got at the consultation. The psychologist's office was a little backlogged so I ended up squeezing that in last minute. In fact my last visit with him was the day ebfore my surgery.

I *think* Dr. Malley does his own fills, but I could be completely wrong about that. I've never met him, though I have considered having my post-op care transferred to his office. I know 4 people who were banded by him, as far back as about 3 years ago and as recently as last month, and all have been exceptionally happy with him and his entire office.

I am starting to get discouraged. I have very little restriction but am scheduled for a fill 02/20/08. I guess my problem is knowing what to eat. I have a whole book on what not to eat, but not what you can eat. I guess I am having problems with meal planning. I find it difficult to find things that are low carb AND low fat. What are some meal suggestions? Low carb and low fat pretty much doesn't exist. For the most part, if one is low, the other is high. I do tend to pay more attention to carbs than fat, so between a low-carb item or a low-fat item I will usually pick the low-carb one. I don't pay much attention to fat now that I think about it. I willingly eat full fat dairy products, dressings, etc. Fats aren't bad, just be aware of the type and do keep a consciousness of how much you're eating. Another problem is eating things I shouldn't. How do u guys keep from eathing things you shouldn't? Well, I don't really have anything that I've told myself I shouldn't eat, because I didn't get banded so that I could live out the rest of my days on special diets. If I want something, I have a reasonable amount of it. That's the beauty of the band. Here, just like folks who aren't obese, we have to accept the same compromise in that if we eat crap that exceeds what we need for a week, then at the end of the week we probably haven't lost any weight. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! What does your exercise routine look like? Right now mine sucks, and as a result I'm being a little more finicky about what I eat. When I'm exercising, I can be a little less finicky about it. I hate running - can't stand it. Even before I got fat I hated it. And no one who runs looks like they're having fun, they all look like they're being tortured. A good friend of mine is one of these people who wakes up around the time I'm going to bed so that she can run before work, then she runs after work, then she runs some more, etc. I asked her once -- how can you stand running? Why do you do it? She replied, "Because as long as I'm running, I can eat whatever I want and not have to think twice about it."

Very normal, especially if you're not showing any other symptoms of being sick. Put it this way. Our bodies aren't designed to make a solid out of a liquid. If you had a liquid pre-op diet, there has already been a period where most remaining solids will have left your body. Then during your surgery you got pure fluids, and there's a liquid phase post-op. The mantra is "Liquid in, liquid out."

Not necessarily. As we lose weight and our internal fat (the fat around our organs) begins to disappear, it's entirely possible for the band to become looser. It's also possible for the tightness of a fill to diminish within the first few weeks after the fill. Not sure why on this one, my total guess would be that the fill induces some swelling that subsides and makes it seem as though the fill was only temporarily effective. Was your change in restriction gradual, or overnight? I'm not sure what the capacity of your band is -- is it a 10cc band?

Being a vegetarian while banded is entirely possible, we have several vegetarians. Many surgeons don't share the emphasis on protein. Several of our non-US bandsters have had no emphasis put in protein. Protein is good and all, IMO mostly because proteins keep most ppl fuller longer (banded or not)... and for the obviuos dietary reasons, but food groups are equally important. Many bandsters don't follow a specififed diet lifestyle (me included) -- it's living a regular life, just eating less quantity.

Alcohol in and of itself should be tolerated as it was pre-op. Some surgeons will outlaw carbonation, some discourage drinking due to the caloric content, etc. But there is nothing inherent to the band procedure that would prevent alcohol (some of the other procedures do).

Doh! What the heck was I thinking of? Weight Loss Surgery Options Gastric Sleeve Resection

I've not read too much about it but I believe it's basically a temporary lining in the intestine that keeps the digested food from being absorbed, much as the RnY does by permanently removed a portion of the intestine. I *think* they leave it in for 6 months, and then it's removed.

I'm a visual person and have a hard time explaining above. This may help. First pic - right after surgery. Second pic - 2 months post op. Third pic - about 5 mins ago. The area indicated in black is the red/elevated part of the newer incision (the overall incision was much larger, that's just the small piece of it that hasn't calmed down yet). You can see how much better the overall port incision is now than 2 months post-op.

I've never seen medical research indicating that OTC topical treatments (e.g. Mederma) have any significant impact on scarring. If you're fairly recently out of your surgery, say 6 - 8 months or less, there' a good chance your scars may improve on their own. Immediately post-op my post incision was fairly raised and very red, even after the others had subsided. Over the course of about 12 - 16 more months about 1/3 of the scar begin to fade and flatten, and then another third. Today (almost 2 yrs out) the scar is noticeable, but nothing at all like what it was. In August I had a cholocystectomy and that incision crossed my port incision. A small part of the newer incision is still red and noticeably elevated. Not like a mountain or anything, but far from flat. That was about 5 months ago, so I'm hoping that in the next 6 months I see improvement.

Since you have had your lap band surgery, are you obsessed with food and what you are eating OR does it all become routine and you dont even have to think about it anymore? I am not. Eating is more of an inconvenience. Very few times do I have an emotional reaction to the prospect or action -- "look forward to," in other words. It's just something I have to do. I am worried that the band may start to control my life and every thing I do. I want eating to be something I control--not something that controls me....if that make sense. I want it to be something I dont even think about...just eat good food and the amount of it I NEED, and not think about it too much. (after I learn what works and what doesnt....kwim?) The band will not control what you eat. At most it will control your portion size and perhaps remove a few of your choices, but that's it. The rest is up to you. and.... Were you obsessed with food BEFORE the surgery? Was your next bite always on your mind? Or you LAST bite, for that matter? Beating yourself over what you just ate? In a way. I beat myself up for not being on a diet, more so than on a last bite basis. That was one of the great freedoms that came with my band: I didn't have to beat myself mentally, everyday, saying "I should be trying to lose weight..." As for food - there were times where it was on my mind, but probably not that many. Perhaps because I was not much of an emotional eater. An example of when it would be on my mind - if we were planning a vacation, I would think first about the food and hope they had this or that.