JRT Mom

You have given yourself one of the most important Christmas gifts you can ever have--the gift of health! Merry Christmas!

You really do get used to it. I had a lap band 10 years ago and it was one of their rules, too. It didn't take long to get used to it, and even 10 years later when the band wasn't working I still didn't drink while eating. Now I have a bypass and that was something that was so ingrained it wasn't difficult. You could probably take tiny sips of water, but you'll quickly get used to not drinking during a meal.

WOWEE! You really ARE Superman! More like SuperDuperman! My Hero! Seems like you Aussies always do better with your Journeys than us Northern Hemisphere types...Maybe the gravity is less down there???

By the time you read this, you will have joined us on the other side! Best wishes, prayers and positive vibes coming your way! And like everyone else says, WALK!! Be patient with yourself--it's hard at first to do the drinking they want you to do, but don't push it. It WILL get easier.

If you are going to drink wine, I would try it at home first. Many people report that the amount of alcohol it takes before they are drunk is way lower than before WLS. I'd hate for you to get sloshed on a half a glass of wine and fall overboard!? Also be careful about the sugar content of your wine, you don't want to get dumping syndrome from it. You should stick to the drier wines. As far as the foods, by six months you shouldn't have any eating restrictions other than just small amounts. You should stay away from really fatty foods as you may dump from that--it'd definitely pass on the foie gras! Bon appetit!

Agree that a large part of it is the calorie restriction. Your body expends calories just keeping itself warm, and you are eating a lot less so it's burning most of that fuel keeping your body alive, so it's turned the thermostat down to save energy! I'm down 20 pounds and I'm FREEZING!! Even the hot flashes are so minor I almost don't notice them now.

Wow, your psych thinks 147 is too thin for 5'4"? And she has no experience with WLS? I think you should consult your doc and/or dietician to see what they think about that. Maybe have your psych consult with them? Maybe she needs a bit of education, and it might make her a better counselor for future WLS patients.

The Lap Band was a great tool, until it wasn't. About 50% of the people that have had them for over 10 years are now having problems with them and getting them removed. Many WLS docs wont even do them now. I also was one of those statistics--it worked great for about 6 years and then the problems started...slow weight gain, constant vomiting, reflux, etc. I just got it out three weeks ago--it had slipped--and got a RNY revision and I have already lost 20 pounds. The band should be working for you, not you working for it. Whatever what you decide to do, good luck! We are here for you!

Ooh, empowerment! That's a great way to sum up why we do this. We are getting ourselves healthier, on our own terms. Thanks for adding empowerment as a good reason why we do what we do!

Is your sister also obese? Could it be jealousy that you will lose weight? Regardless of her motives for you not having it, it is YOUR life, and you'd like to be healthier to enjoy it longer. She'll come around.

This feeling is TOTALLY normal. Most of us have used food as a coping mechanism and now it's been removed. After a bit of time this feeling should ease as you develop different coping mechanisms. Hang in there, it WILL get better!

I just got a revision from a failed lap band to a RNY bypass with Medicare insurance and a supplement like you. The doctor's office assured me that I had met the criteria (BMI of 35 with co-morbidity and a three month diet). However, Medicare doesn't do a pre-approval process--you just get the surgery and the office submits the bill and you hope they are going to pay for it! I just got it three weeks ago and the office said no one had been denied as long as they met the criteria, but I'm sweating bullets here..,

I had to look the Linx up, and if sounds like a good way to help alleviate GERD on sleeved people. Too bad it's considered experimental, especially since it probably costs WAAY less than having a sleeve to RNY conversion.

Your doctor should have given you an eating plan. If he didn't, you may want to visit a dietician and he/she can help you. Or if you'd rather not, there are some good books about eating after bariatric surgery. Many of them can be loaded into a Kindle, if you have something like that. There's also a lot if free info on the internet if you google "eating after bariatric surgery". Good luck!

Going from liquids to pureed is WONDERFUL! Once you can eat something that has texture the worst is over.

Tell them you are going to die in 5...4...3...2...1...

Hi Brandy! Welcome to the "other side". I had my surgery only 6 days before you did so we are going through this together. You've come to the right place for mostly good advice and kinship.

It will in some ways be worse than you imagined and in some ways be easier. Be patient with yourself. Follow your surgeon's recovery diet. Mine put the fear of God in me about rupturing my pouch by eating too much and the wrong kind of foods to soon. Don't expect to be able to drink all the water at first they recommend. Drink enough to be hydrated and wait to drink the camel size volume when you can handle it. See #1 Be patient with yourself. Good luck!

When I got my lap band years ago I loved the chocolate protein shakes. Now that I've had a bypass I can't choke them down. Maybe if you dilute it with some skim milk so they're not so thick...

So what happens in your "other" stomach where the acid is produced? Does it just roll and gurgle around? There's no way to vomit the contents of the remnant so I guess it just goes into the small intestine? I see my doc for my three week follow-up so maybe I'll ask if I think about it.

I start that stage on Wednesday. I was at Sam's tonight torturing myself in the food section, and found a pimiento cheese spread made from gouda cheese! Only 8 grams fat and no carbs. It should be perfect as soft food!

Took me a week, and then went out and bought a bottle of miralax. Well, the threat of miralax might have been enough, because later that day the train came through....now it's only every three days, where before it was a daily train. I think if nothings going in, nothings coming out...

I'm sure you'll do great. Finding this forum really will prepare you for what to expect and how to cope with it. There are some negative peeps here, and I don't think the downers are inherently mean, they are going through a rough patch, but mostly a bunch of folks that DO care how it goes for you, and after you are "on the other side" with us you'll help the next batch of WLS newbies, Glad you joined us!

You look great! I see by your ticker that you are below your goal. I hope you're not trying to lose more...you look fantastic where you are!

You were very beautiful even before your surgery. But now, WOWZA!