sandielaw

Ultimately, you need to be 100% comfortable with this decision. You'll have to live with it, after all. Why did your doctor push for the bypass? Some doctors are convinced that the band simply isn't as effective. Others don't have much experience with the band and thus don't have much in place in terms of support. I know that some doctors will recommend bypass for patients with really bad diabetes. Something about the part of the intestines that get bypassed has a big impact on diabetics. Write down all your questions, including everything you're afraid of. Talk to your doctor BEFORE you have either surgery. Make sure you're completely comfortable with your choice before you move on.

I *just* had this conversation with my DH. He came *this* close to saying that WLS is the easy way out. Oh, I almost lost it. If you've never been 100+ pounds overweight, you have no idea what it's like. Diet and exercise is absolutely the right prescription if you need to lose 10 pounds. But it doesn't work so well for losing 100+ pounds. Plus very, very few people succeed at losing (or maintaining) a loss of 100+ pounds. WLS isn't an instant fix. It requires hard work and patience. You know all that...you've done your research. Most people have no idea what all WLS involves. You could take two different approaches: 1) Explain the surgery and your new lifestyle to them. When they learn that you have to workout and eat right, they may be more understanding. I've noticed that my geekier friends are interested in the science behind the band. 2) Tell them where they can shove it. It's your body and your decision. This is what you feel you need to do to be a healthier person. That's GOOD, right?

I am glad you're working out and lifting weights. Don't be afraid of increasing the weight if you can do more than 8-12 reps. You won't bulk up like Arnold...you're a woman. Most women simply aren't built for that. Those machines aren't terribly accurate, so don't pay too much attention to those numbers. Also, the fat burning zone is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, a larger percentage of the calories burned are from fat when you're working out at a lower intensity (60-65% of your maximum heart rate). But you burn so many more calories at a higher intensity (80-85% of your maximum heart rate) that you'll still burn more fat. If working out for 30 minutes at a lower intensity burns 146 calories and 50% of those calories are from fat, you've burned 73 calories from fat. Working out at the higher intensity burns 206 calories. Even though only 40% of those are from fat, you've still burned 82 calories from fat. Working out at a higher intensity burns more calories, more fat, and it makes your heart and lungs stronger. Of course...the "fat burning zone" puts my heart rate in the high intensity category...so it's just a matter of perspective. Your DH's heart rate goes up more slowly than yours because he's in better shape than you. Your body has to work really hard to get blood out to your muscles, which makes your heart rate skyrocket. His body doesn't need to work so hard, so his heart rate doesn't go up quite as fast. Keep up the good work and you'll start to notice that your heart rate isn't going up quite so quickly. :smile:

Seriously? Do me a favor: go get that paperwork and circle "success" on every single day. Yes, right now. Go on. We'll be here when you get back. Done? Good. Doesn't that feel better? You need support right now, not reprimands. While you can sabotage your efforts, you mustn't think of it in terms of success or failure. This diet shouldn't be a test that you pass or fail. It should be used as a training tool to help you see what normal eating should look like. The band won't work if we don't make lifelong changes in our eating habits and patterns. This diet is showing you how to make those changes. Yes, it's really hard. Yes, it requires a boatload of planning. You have every right to feel frustrated and deprived. Give yourself some credit though. You're making major changes in your life right now. There will be bumps in the road. Treat your mistakes as learning experiences, not failures.

Propel Fitness Water does have calories and does contain sucrose syrup. However, it also contains sucralose, aka Splenda, which is an artificial sweetener. It contains 25 calories per 8oz serving. There are usually 3 servings in a bottle. So it contains about 75 calories per bottle.

I'm glad you're able to get in to a seminar so soon! Let us know how it goes and keep us updated on your progress toward the surgery! :biggrin:

Weight loss surgery has been shown to help with type 2 diabetes. I'm not sure if it has an impact on type 1 diabetes or not. The band forces you to eat less, reducing your body's need for insulin. Losing weight in general also helps because your body doesn't need as much insulin. I've read that gastric bypass (RNY or DS) can affect type 2 diabetes almost instantly. It has to do with the part of the intestine that they bypass. I think the DS has a bigger impact than the RNY. Talk with your endocrinologist, your PCP, and your surgeons about the different surgical options and what your goals are around weight loss and controlling your diabetes. Congrats on the insurance coverage!

I'm not on a plan like this...but I am familiar with the concept. I was on several similar diets pre-op and learned a lot about the principles behind it during the college nutrition courses I'm taking for work. I have a lot of trouble sticking to diets like this because of the enormous amount of planning required to make it work. Hitting 100g of Protein every day is hard. There are loads of websites that will tell you how many calories and such are in your favorite foods. In addition to eating well, it may help to change up your exercise routine. Adding strength training or increasing the weight you're lifting can boost your muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat even when you're just sitting around...so more muscle is good. Interval training can also boost your calorie burn. Instead of going at a steady pace, mix it up. Increase your speed, incline, or intensity for a minute...then slow it back down for a minute and repeat. The effect is amazing. Good luck!

I can't stand sugar free jello...so, no, I didn't eat that. I had protein shakes, pureed soup, pudding, yogurt, and sugar free popsicles. Every surgeon's pre-op diet is different, so be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions.

Oh yeah...the liquid diet is no fun. Not only are you cutting back dramatically on calories, but you're hardly consuming any carbs. Aside from being ravenously hungry, I remember being irritable, weepy, forgetful, and downright stupid. I snapped at everyone who even looked at me funny. I'd cry at the drop of a hat. I can't tell you how many times I forgot basic and obvious things or walked into a room without a clue why I was there. Worst of all, I had a hard time concentrating on anything. I would forget what I was talking about mid-sentence at work...embarrassing. BUT...it will be over soon. You'll still be hungry after the surgery, but you'll probably be allowed to have a bit more in terms of carbs. Check with your surgeon though... Remember, the pre-op diet is about shrinking your liver and losing some weight. But you're on liquids post-op because it puts less stress on your system, allowing you to recover faster. So don't panic if you're still hungry and not losing weight right after the surgery. The band won't work if you're not healthy.

Carbs are present in tons of foods: Beans, veggies, fruits, dairy, whole grains, and of course sugar. Refined carbs, like bread, rice, and sugar, aren't exactly nutritional powerhouses. But they're not evil...they just need to be consumed in moderation. I have heard that some carbs like rice can expand in your stomach, which would theoretically force your pouch to expand. I have no idea if that's actually true or not...maybe one of the vets around here can weigh in on that part. I want to be able to eat like a normal person...just in really small quantities. Of course, I still have to make healthy choices...just like normal people. But the occasional cookie or bite of pizza shouldn't be forbidden. If I were ok with depriving myself, I'd be able to stick to a diet...and I'd be skinny right now. Since that's clearly not the case, I am sticking to my "all things in moderation" theory. That being said...talk to your nutritionist about your concerns. She's the expert, after all.

I haven't tried pickles since my surgery, so I can't speak from experience about the stuck thing. I can say that I prefer the fresh pickles that have to stay in the fridge to the shelf stable kind. I find they're crunchier and less rubbery. My grocery store sells them next to the lunch meats.

GI stands for glycemic index, which ranks food based on its impact on blood glucose levels. In theory, a low GI diet will keep your blood sugar stable throughout the day. It helped me a lot to understand how the band works. The band acts like a gatekeeper for your stomach. solid food sits in the small pouch above the band. The band lets the food through into the stomach very slowly. If you eat too much or eat too quickly, the band can't keep up. This will probably cause pain and may cause you to vomit. When this happens to me, I get a pain right under my breastbone. It feels like I can't quite take a deep breath. That's why band patients are told to eat slowly. You want to give your body time to tell you it's full. There are soft stop signals (burping, feeling like you need to sit up and take a deep breath, hiccups, etc.) and hard stop signals (throwing up, sliming, etc.). Obviously, you want to learn what your soft stop signals are because the hard ones are no fun. The opening in the band is called the stoma. When foods get stuck, your body compensates by producing lots of extra saliva - sliming. Of course, if the food is simply too big to fit through your stoma, you'll throw up. Chewing really well ensures foods will fit through your stoma. I find it's easier to chew thoroughly when I take really small bites. Drink as much Water as you can. Staying hydrated is good for you in so many ways. I've noticed that my band feels tighter when I'm dehydrated. My doctor doesn't have a lot of rules about food and the lap band. I didn't have to see a nutritionist and there aren't any forbidden foods. He said soda would cause gas and could be painful, but didn't outright forbid it. I've been encouraged to try Pasta, rice, and bread in very small quantities. Some people can't tolerate certain foods...but many people have no such problems. Anyhow...that's what I've found helpful. :shades_smile:

Yes, you are stuck and it sounds like you've been sliming (the extra spit). If I had to guess, I'd say it was because of the ritz crackers. Try using a heating pad to relieve the pain for now. I've noticed that I get that pain in my chest if I eat too quickly, even if I've taken small bites and chewed really well. Slowing down gives my body time to tell me it's full.

Congrats on the surgery! Yeah...that's painfully unprofessional. :blushing: Remember, you have no restriction yet...so you will be able to eat more and you will be hungry. That's ok. Just take it easy for the next few days. You're still healing. Eat and drink as much as you need to. Well...I suppose there isn't much eating on a liquid diet, eh?

First and foremost, congrats on building such a great exercise program and on completing three half marathons! I have read that your restriction can change over time even if you don't get fills/unfills. It can be caused by tons of things - losing weight, gaining weight, stress, exercise, dehydration, etc. That's part of why I chose the band over the bypass. I wanted the ability to adjust down the road if I started having problems. As for your diet...your needs may be a little different than most band patients based on the amount of exercise you do. You might want to talk to a nutritionist, preferably one who works with athletes AND band patients. Your situation is somewhat unique...I don't know a lot of band patients who are running half marathons on a regular basis. I'm curious to hear about how the appointment goes...so keep us in the loop! :blushing:

Hey! I am looking for other patients of Dr. Winterstein in Omaha. Methodist has been doing bariatric surgeries since 2003 and was recently awarded the Center of Excellence designation. There are two doctors doing surgery here: Dr. Winterstein and Dr. Anthone. Dr. Anthone does gastric bypass surgeries - primarily the duodenal switch (DS). He's been at Methodist for 5 years. Dr. Winterstein is new to the bariatric program at Methodist. I think he's been doing bariatric surgeries for less than a year. He does the lap band and vertical sleeve gasterectomy (VSG) surgeries. I love Dr. Winterstein's laid back attitude and sense of humor. He's very big on listening to your body and working with your band. I picked him over a more experienced surgeon in the area primarily because of his personality and his staff. They are helpful and friendly. It never ceases to impress me that Dr. Winterstein and his staff know me by face and voice. I feel like they care about me and want me to succeed. I attended the support group meeting last Thursday and I was floored when I realized I was the only lap band patient there. Of the three other patients of Dr. Winterstein, only one was done with her WLS. The other two were having the DS done in stages...first the VSG by Dr. Winterstein, then the intestinal rearrangement by Dr. Anthone. The nutritionist that runs the support group stopped by to talk to me. She wants to do more with the lap band patients, but it seemed like she didn't know how very different our eating habits are from bypass patients. Dr. Winterstein doesn't require visits with nutritionists, before or after surgery. I suspect she doesn't get much exposure to lap band patients. It has become clear to me that the support from Methodist is aimed primarily at the bypass patients. I'd like to get together with other patients of Dr. Winterstein to talk about what we need in terms of support. I don't think nutritional classes are the answer...but I do think it would help to talk about the challenges we face. I would also love to start a program where post-op patients talk to pre-op patients about what they can expect. I know a lot now that I wish I had known pre-op. So...to make a very long story short...is anyone out there a patient of Dr. Winterstein?

My PCP didn't want me to have the surgery. It didn't seem to matter that I had tried dozens of diets, had a BMI of 42, and was beginning to show signs of several comorbidities. She wanted me to do a medically supervised weight loss program for a year before I even considered the surgery. The program was expensive and my insurance wouldn't cover it. Plus, it was across town and required visits 3 times a week. Between the cost and the time, I knew she was setting me up for failure. She tried to convince me that the surgery was dangerous. It was clear to me that she didn't understand the difference between a bypass and a band. It was also clear to me that she didn't understand the dangerous position my weight put me in. Fortunately, my insurance company didn't seem to care what my PCP said. They approved the surgery anyway and it was completely covered. I've lost 33 pounds since I started this process in early August and I couldn't be happier. My pre-op check up was done by a doctor recommended by a friend. She didn't seem put off by my decision, but I spent a total of about 3 minutes talking to her. She's at a university hospital and most of the actual appointment was conducted by other people. I'm going to see her again on Friday for a regular check up. If I'm not happy with her reaction to my surgery, I'll ask my surgeon to recommend a PCP. I figure he'll know at least one or two docs who are supportive of the band process. Not only do I trust my surgeon (duh), but I love his attitude and perspective. I'd love to find a PCP with a similar outlook. How'd the surgery go? It was scheduled for last Friday, right?

Ugh. Tonight was my first experience with PB/Sliming. I had my surgery on 11/6 and my first fill on 12/2. I have a total of 4cc in my 10cc band. Before the fill, I was able to eat without problems. I didn't eat much, but I never got sick. The fill gave me some restriction. I knew I was full when I felt the need to take a deep breath and sit up straighter. Sometimes I'd burp a bit, but nothing productive. I've been practicing taking small bites and chewing like crazy. I was feeling pretty good about how things were working out. Tonight, I had 1 piece of sesame chicken. I was in pain instantly and knew something was wrong. It took less than a minute for me to lose about half of what I'd eaten. I still feel really awful. The worst part is that I'm still hungry...but there's no way I'm eating anything else tonight. Anyway...just wanted to share. This sucks.

Has anyone else suffered any emotional problems while on the pre-op diet? I did it for 7 days before learning that my surgery was moved back 2 weeks. By day 3, I was a wreck. I cried at the drop of a hat. Really...I started bawling after hearing a song on the radio...it wasn't even a sad song. I had to leave work one day because I couldn't stop crying. I was also very irritable...to put it mildly. Normally, I'm a relatively laid back person...but I was clenching teeth and slamming doors at the littlest things. Last, but certainly not least, I got stupid. Really stupid. I would lose my train of thought mid-sentance and frequently walk into a room without any idea why I'd entered. In general, the word I'd use to describe my emotional state during this pre-op diet is rollercoaster...without the ups. Oh, there were physical effects. I lost 6 pounds in four days. I was shaky, nauseus, and cold all the time. But I expected most of that. The emotional symptoms caught me completely off guard. I kept track of what I was eating and realized that I wasn't eating nearly enough. I know the idea is to lose weight, but 500 calories a day is simply not enough. Although I was really bummed that my appointment was moved, I am seeing it now as a chance to capture the lessons learned and do it right the next time...which starts Thursday, 10/23. Lessons Learned: Buy Protein powder! I picked up Ultimate Nutrition Protein Isolate in chocolate creme at GNC. It was $19.99 for 57 servings. It tastes great and mixes up pretty well. I'm going to pick up vanilla before the 23rd so I can mix it with juice (I'm allowed a few cups a day). Start the day with a Protein shake. Do not attempt to survive on a cup of sugar free fat free yogurt. Eat every 3-4 hours. I ended up going 5-7 hours between "meals" because nothing sounded good to me. I will force myself to consume SOMETHING every few hours to keep myself from getting shaky. Take a Multivitamin. Every day. I bought chewable ones since I won't be able to swallow the traditional, massive Multivitamins. Don't cook for the family. During these two weeks, they're on their own. Not that I cook a lot for them...but making eggs and toast every morning for my son was torture. Coming home to the smell of garlic bread had me ready to gnaw off a limb and eat it. Along those same lines...avoid family meals if at all possible. I will be spending a lot of evenings at the library. Have a plan for how you'll spend your time, when you'll eat, and what you eat. Here's my plan (yes, this is more for me than for you): My son has karate or cub scouts on Tuesday and Thursday evening. Even if I don't take him...we don't eat a "normal" dinner on those nights. It's just sammiches or Soup and we don't usually eat it together. I have therapy on Wednesday nights...which means I'm not home til after 7. That gives the boys plenty of time to clean up dinner. This Friday will be a challenge...but we usually go grocery shopping on Friday nights. On the way home, we pick up fast food (I know, I know). I am planning on picking up a bowl of soup from Panera. That way I can feel like I'm eating out without messing up the diet. We play D&D on Saturdays with a group of guys. We don't snack at the table (everyone has a weight issue) and dinner is pretty solo. This coming Sunday, we're spending most of the weekend at the local zoo "Spooktacular." Costumes and animals...and $8 hot dogs. We never eat at the zoo and you can bring your own food. So I plan on eating beforehand, bringing protein Water, and a cup of Soup at Hand. Next Monday, I've got another appointment in the evening. Which means I won't have to watch the boys eat whatever delicious, carby-goodness they plan on preparing. I am taking off Halloween to go to my son's fall festival at school. I know that sounds like torture, but the parents really don't get to eat much at these things. I plan on eating right before hand, bringing protein water, and eating right after. We're having family portraits taken on the 2nd. That will be a challenge because we're going to a friend's house where there will be food and schmoozing. Thankfully, my husband hates this woman and the visit will be brief. I've never been so happy about his feelings toward her. The following Monday will be the hardest night for me since we have absolutely no plans. I'll have to book a client call or something for that evening. If not, I may go to the library to work instead of doing it at home while the boys eat. Whew...I feel like I wrote a book here. :biggrin: If you made it this far, I'd love to know if you had/are having emotional issues during the pre-op diet and if you have lessons learned to share with us.

Thanks for sharing your stories. I know how very important the pre-op diet is...both for my body and my mind. Honestly, I am not nearly as worried about the post-op diet. I'm kinda counting on not wanting to eat as much...that's the whole point, right?

Gah! I went in for my pre-op appointment on 10/14 and they had me down for the wrong surgery! So...it's been moved back to 11/6. Ugh.

Thank you, Ronda! I can have the veggie soups and those V8 ones are delicious. I will check out the french onion one. That Protein Water is a life saver. I was surprised at how good it tasted and how filling 30 calories could be. I think part of my problem is that I've been subsisting on soup with 1c of yogurt a day. Just not enough protein. But I have shakes now and I'm going to look for protein powders tonight.

Are you kidding? I'm already sick of broth. More than anything, I want solid food.

I'm scheduled for surgery on October 22. Reality is setting in. Oddly, I'm not as worried about the after stuff as I am about getting through the pre-op diet. I'm counting on not wanting to eat as much during the first few weeks post-op. I love hearing from all of you on this!