adagray

I think its funny all the controversy over one Cape Cod. For all the time spend updating and reading this post, I bet if we had all spent that time on the treadmill instead we could've all had a Cape Cod and burnt up the calories in it too. LOL Ultimately, though, we all have to fashion a 'lifestyle' utilizing the band as best we can as individuals. My dietician has a lot of advice, but ultimately I have to decide what I am willing to do permanently for my lifestyle. In some cases, that means I embrace something more than it is even recommended. I've been able to get in more Protein, more Water, and more exercise than what has been recommended. I have eliminated carbonation, caffeine and artificial sweeteners as recommended even though I didn't think I could at first. I have cut way back on alcohol, but for me, this is something I want to keep in my lifestyle in moderation. I think everybody has something they refuse to give up entirely or refuse to embrace (like exercise or drinking water). I think on the long list of behaviors that could slow your weightloss, drinking one Cape Cod in a month is pretty minor.

Thanks for all your replies. The calcet ones sound so yummy, but they contain dairy and I am lactose intolerant. I have to take a lactaid chewable every time I eat milk products or my tummy isnot happy. I'm still getting used to doing that. I only figured out about 3 months ago about my lactose intolerance and its hard to remember to take the lactaid every time I need to as it is. So, I searched around online to try to find something else. I decided to order some Bariatric Advantage calcium citrate Chews. They come in lemon flavor and chocolate. I read a review from someone that said the lemon flavor tastes like a starburst candy. So, if that is really the case, then it should be much better than the big chalky ones I am taking from TwinLab. I will report back once I get them in the mail and have a chance to try them.

I was told the only exercise I should do the first month is walking on a flat surface or using a stationary exercise bike. I know it is so boring. I usually do Jazzercise, but they said even though I do it low impact, it engages the core too much for the first month. They did say that doing walking videos like Leslie Sansone's (Walk Away the Pounds) are OK. I also bought a Wii game called 'Walk it Out' which is just walking in place, but you get points for walking in time to the music and unlocking things along the way so it is a little more interesting than just walking in place. It is only $28 from Amazon.

LOL I totally agree w/you. I like it, but I use it more as a replacement for sour cream. I REALLY like sour cream so it works for me. I put it on my fajitas, a dollop in soups/stews/chili, to make dip, on a potato, etc. If I want to eat it like yogurt, I mix in agave nectar and fruit to make it sweeter, but I feel like it is still kind of too tart for me.

I have my first fill scheduled for tomorrow. I don't have a cold YET, but my whole family has been sick. My son is over it, but my husband and daughter still have it. So, I'm worried I am gonna get it any moment now. So, my question is if I do get this cold between now and tomorrow, will I still be able to get my fill?

My surgeon also only had pre-op diet instructions for a few days prior. I had surgery on Thursday and was supposed to 'eat light' on Mon and Tuesday. Wednesday, I was to have a light b-fast, then only Soup for lunch, bowel prep, then Clear liquids the rest of the day, then nothing after midnight. Don't worry if your instructions are not exactly like mine or anyone else's. It is very normal for different surgeon's to have completely different instructions. LOL As for the nails, I have no idea... maybe call back just so you don't take them all off for nothing. Best of luck to you!

My scars are really small and already healing really well (had surgery on 12/17). Mine are also across my tummy like your surgeon does (one that is one inch and three that are less than 1/3 inch). There is also one under my left boob that is so small you can't really even see it anymore. With how well they have already healed, I think they will be barely noticeable within a year. I heard that the scar treatment sheets that they sell at CVS are really good so I bought some of those today. I have my first fill on Wednesday so I'm gonna ask then what they think of the scar treatment sheets and if its OK for me to start using them. I assume it will be since my wounds are all closed, but just want to check to make sure. But, honestly, even if I was left w/a horrible scar on my tummy, it would be worth it. At least you can hide a scar on your stomach. You cannot hide 100 pounds hanging off the front of your stomach. LOL Of course, if the scarring is a really big concern for you, you could seek out a surgeon that does the single incision lapband through the belly button. For me, it just was not something I seeked out because I have no intention of ever wearing a bikini again no matter how much weight I lose. I will be ecstatic to just look OK in a one piecer. ;->

This is a tough question, lots of things to consider, and only you know how hard you have already worked w/the band. Personally, I would convert to gastric bypass if I did everything I was supposed to do w/the band and still failed w/it. My health issues are too numerous and severe to ignore (high bp, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, and sleep apnea). If I can't succeed w/getting these health conditions under control w/the lapband, then I would do a second surgery to convert to gastric bypass because doing nothing is more scary to me than gastric bypass. But, I would definitely give the band more than a year to see if I could work with it. I mean going into this we all know it can take 6-9 months to even get to the point where the band is adjusted properly. And, I think you owe it to yourself and the band to give it at least one year after proper adjustment to see where you end up w/it. And, there are so many lifestyle factors that you have to embrace regardless of whether you use the band or bypass to try to lose weight. You need to embrace exercise no matter what. You need to follow certain rules about the foods you will eat. You need to actively manage your weight and your health. Neither way is really easier I think. I go to a support group through my surgeon's office and sometimes we split out by surgery (so lapbands are in a separate room from gastric bypass), but sometimes we meet all together. And, trust me, that gastric bypass patients can struggle just as much as lapband patients. Anyone who says either surgery is easy is lying.

Check w/you doctor about your post-op diet. Mine did not have us do a pureed or mushy stage. I went straight from Clear Liquids on day 3 post-op to solid food from day 4 on. I also had my first glass of wine around day 7 post-op (when my parents came in for Christmas). Definitely do NOT drink beer or any carbonation, but if you want to nurse a glass of wine, I think you'll be fine... worked for me. All that said, if you could postpone it, that would be easier of course.

My surgeon's recommendation is 60-80 grams of Protein per day. I guess I'm a protein fanatic because I usually have met this requirement before dinner and end up eating around 90 grams of protein in a day (and I haven't even had one Protein Drink, shake, or supplement since being banded). I have not had a fill yet, though, and am not supposed to eat bread/rice/pasta/potato/etc for the first month. So, I end up filling up on protein, fruit, and vegies. I suggest that if you are having trouble getting the protein in, eliminate starches (such as bread/rice/pasta/potato/etc.) from your diet for at least a few days as it will force you to be more creative about finding protein choices you like. Honestly, I could never make it through the first month w/absolutely no starches. I usually have a little starch w/one meal per day. But, I think it helps to shift your meal planning around what protein you will have rather than plan the meal first and then figure out how to add enough protein to make your rqmts.

I really seriously doubt you have stretched your pouch. Basically, restriction is what creates the pouch and you don't have restriction yet so you don't really have a pouch. I hope this makes sense. Basically, your band is like a belt that creates an hourglass type shape in the top of your stomach and the top part of the hourglass would be your pouch. But, since your band has never been tightened much, food is probably not collecting in the top portion (or pouch) and if food has not been collecting there, then you couldn't have stretched it out. One of the psycholgists who runs the support groups for my surgeon's office says that one of the best things about the band is even if you 'aren't ready' or 'don't get it' at first, you can turn it around w/the band and have just as much success later when you decide to work with it. He said he has seen people who didn't lose anything with their bands the first year, but then they started coming for fills and to support group and started losing just like they were newly banded. So, I say try to look on the bright side... you have a band already installed and you haven't gained anything since pre-band. Those are TWO really great things! Put your mind to it, find a new doc to take over your care (hopefully, one w/support groups cause I think that would help you feel a lot better), and I'm sure you'll do great!

Awesome! Congrats to you!!! You are almost halfway to your goal. Woohoo!!!!!!!

Don't worry, it gets better! I know my 3rd or 4th day was the worst and it freaked me out because I was expecting that everything should get better after I left the hospital (not worse!). I highly recommend doing a ten minute walk every 1-2 hours. It REALLY helps more than anything else and you will feel tons better within just a couple days.

This is the brand I ordered from drugstore.com prior to surgery: Calcium Citrate, Chewable wafers Online at drugstore.com (Twinlab) I bought three bottles at one time because I'm supposed to take 2 of these 2x per day to get the dose my surgeon wants. So, each bottle only lasts 15 days. I'm just about to start my third bottle so figured I should restock soon. Not sure if I want to buy more of these or try some other brand of calcium citrate. I hated these at first (big and gritty), but I've gotten used to them. I wonder if there is something I would like better, though. For those of you who take calcium citrate, please respond and let me know what brand you take and if you like it. And, if you've tried others, what you think. Thanks!

If your doctor doesn't have you on a pre-op diet that excludes it, then go ahead and enjoy! My doctor did not have any rules regarding cutting out alcohol before surgery.

I was only told to give it up for one month after surgery. The reason given is because caffeine is acidic and you want to avoid anything acidic on the stitches (where your stomach is sewn around the band) while you are still healing. I think advice on this varies a lot, though, cause I've heard of some people drinking coffee immediately after surgery and others who have been told to give up caffeine forever.

LOL I love the title of your post. YES, you can have a freakin drink for sure!!! It will not hurt your band and your stomach will process it the same as it did pre-band. Those that say that it goes to their head faster... that can be explained just by the fact that taking in fewer calories (like being on any diet), you will get tipsy/drunk faster because you have less food in your stomach. Of course, it is high in calories, and they are empty calories so you gotta watch that aspect of it (just like you would on a diet). And, just like someone who loves Cookies and has one or two as a treat, that is fine if you can really stop at one or two. If you gotta eat the whole bag once you get started, then you are surely better off just giving it up. I think its great that you are already thinking about doing extra exercise to make up for it. Also, make sure to drink extra Water (since alcohol is dehydrating).

I am in Arizona too. I did research online mainly and decided to go w/Scottsdale Bariatric Center. Dr. Robin Blackstone was my surgeon and she is one of the top bariatric surgeons in the country. SBC is a Center of Excellence and has a great reputation. All of their surgeries are done at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Hospital (which has a separate bariatric wing) or Piper Outpatient Center which is connected to the Hospital. I have been very happy w/their entire program and everyone I had appointments with there from Dr. Blackstone to the psychologists to the dieticians, to the insurance coordinators. If I had one gripe it is just that they are a very busy practice so many times appointments run late. But, everything else and awesome support groups really make up for it. They have support groups twice a month run by a psychologist. OK, I'm starting to sound like an infomericial. I would just recommend you at least attend their seminar because it is a great education in all of the available weightloss surgeries (they do lapband/realize, RNY, and the sleeve) and what you can expect from each one. Even if you don't decide to go w/them, the seminar is well worth the time. Here is their website: www.scottsdalebariatric.com

I was so bummed a couple of days ago when my surgeon's office called to say that they had to postpone my fill from this Friday to next Wednesday. I would've been getting my fill right NOW, but I am so glad right now that I'm not. I woke up this morning w/terrible cramps and sooooo bloated. Yep, my TOM is here w/a vengeance. I can't even get my rings off if I wanted to. I've heard that water retention and bloat like this can make your band feel tighter so I am so glad I am not getting my first fill right now. And, I usually only have PMS type symptoms the first day or two so I should be totally back to normal by Wednesday for sure. :thumbup:

I was so bummed a couple of days ago when my surgeon's office called to say that they had to postpone my fill from this Friday to next Wednesday. I would've been getting my fill right NOW, but I am so glad right now that I'm not. I woke up this morning w/terrible cramps and sooooo bloated. Yep, my TOM is here w/a vengeance. I can't even get my rings off if I wanted to. I've heard that water retention and bloat like this can make your band feel tighter so I am so glad I am not getting my first fill right now. And, I usually only have PMS type symptoms the first day or two so I should be totally back to normal by Wednesday for sure.

I dropped 10 pounds really quick right after surgery too and then had a week when I lost nothing, but now am losing again at least one pound a week (sometimes two). So, now I am 5 weeks out and down 15 from my surgery date. Just keep doing the right things as much as you can and hopefully you can still lose a few more pounds before your fill. Just gotta realize that the band isn't doing much for you right now because your swelling from the surgery is gone and you don't have any restriction. I think most of us have gone through the same thing or are going through it right now. I know I am!

They will charge $63k to your insurance and then your insurance will pay whatever the 'negotiated amount' is which will probably be around $15k. Its so ridiculous. I don't understand where the high numbers even come from... totally not based on any reality of what anyone or any insurance company actually pays. With the fill, I would assume it works the same way... they charge $800, but your insurance will pay a 'negotiated amount' which will be much lower (probably closer to $150) and you will be responsible for whatever coinsurance percentage you have on the negotiated amount (not the billed amount).

OK, I am going to Bunko... the girls won't let me out of it. LOL All my friends know I'm banded and are supportive so at least I won't have anyone making a big deal about me not eating or drinking. It will be different to be there AND not be able to indulge, but its probably a good thing for me to get used to since I'm sure it won't be my last fill.

My friends actually call it 'Drunko' so it really is more about drinking and eating than the game. I mean I know I could just go for the company, but I'm not sure. Its an adjustment for me to just have ONE drink and a little to eat... just not sure if I am ready to go to an event like this and have NOTHING. Then again, it seems like almost nobody has such a long liquids phase after a fill like my surgeon does. It would be about 34 hours after the fill so maybe I could experiment at least w/some bites of food.

I do it low impact style. In my post-op education class, they said nothing but walking and stationary bike for the first month. I was supposed to have my one month appointment on Friday (actually 5 weeks post-op), but they had to postpone it until next Wednesday. I am really sick of just walking and I feel like I am losing what little muscle/fitness I had gained when I was doing Jazzercise before. Do you think its safe to just go ahead and start back doing it even though I haven't had my 1 month check-up yet? As it stands, my 1 month check-up is gonna be 6 weeks post-op. I could just do the low impact aerobics part and skip the ab and floorwork at the end. I've tried out a few of the moves just to see how they feel and it feels fine to me. I don't have any pain left from the operation at all. Even my abs feel normal. What do you think? Did anyone else here start low impact aerobics around 1 month post-op?