Mary Kay Lady

First of all, if you don't already know...ask the dietician/nutritionist the range of grams of protein they want you to take in every day. (For example, my dietician/doctor want me to take in between 30 - 80 grams of protein every day. It is to prevent hair loss and to keep you healthier.) Then keep track of your total protein intake in grams. That way you can show the nurse (the next time you go in or when she calls) that you are getting enough protein in each day. As long as you are getting in enough protein - it shouldn't really matter in what form...of course unless your doc requires you to take in only liquids for three days following a fill (like mine does) followed by three days of pureed food before resuming regular consistency food.

WHOA there.....the band will allow you to put unhealthy foods/drinks into your body - it will not prevent you from doing that....and that's exactly what it sounds like you're doing.... Step back and look at the literature you were given before and after surgery....make an appointment to speak with the dietician....but stop doing what ever it is you're doing.... I do not count calories or carbs.....the only thing I ask myself before I buy, cook, or eat a food item is: IS IT UNDER 5 GRAMS OF FAT AND UNDER 5 GRAMS OF SUGAR? If so...I can eat it ...if not....I will pass! VERY SIMPLE..... I have lost 50 pounds in 5 months...and have about 40 more to go....I'm not saying it was easy...but making poor food choices is what got me and all of us into the situation we were in. Do you do any exercise above your normal daily home and/or work activities? Exercise is crucial to our weight loss.... So READ LABELS...and get up and MOVE!!!! GOOD LUCK!!

Chubbyboomer...sorry for your troubles...but you are the exception to the rule - NOT the norm. It sounds like your band is too tight if you're not able to take in anything but liquids and soft foods. And the fact that you have lost hair and have tooth and gum problems points to not enough Protein in your diet...NOT a problem of the band - that is solely the patient's problem - WE control what we put into our mouths...we always did. Even if you are limited to liquids (as most of us are immediately post-op and after each fill)...and to pureed...(again post-op and days 4-6 after each fill)....YOu control what type of liquids and pureed foods go in....Drinking McDonald's shakes instead of a Protein shake made wtih fat-free milk is not the problem of the band...it is OUR problem....the band is a TOOL...it is not the BE ALL or the END ALL...WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES as to WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR BODIES!!!!!! I'm sorry this did not work for you....but you have to work at it for it to be successful! Sounds like you expected it to do all the work for you!

Traveler Girl...you definitely need to ask to speak with the dietician at your doctor's office. I realize that each of us is different, but I was banded 2 weeks before you - (December 17th) and have lost almost 50 pound so far. You should have lost something by now - even if only 20 or 30 pounds. It may be what you are eating in addition to how much. My dietician recommends we eat foods that are less than 5 grams of fat per serving and less than 5 grams of sugar. It is pretty easy to lose weight if you stick to that criteria. That and walking at least 3 - 5 days per week. Some people's budgets and schedules prevent them from joining a gym...so walking doesn't cost a thing...start! What has your doctor's office said about your not losing each time you go??? I gained one pound at my last visit (after having lost 48 pounds) and my surgeon asked me if I needed to see the dietician....so I am very surprised that an appointment has not been made with you for a consultation. Do you keep a journal of what and when you eat? I find that writing down everything I eat tends to keep me on track more so than when I don't. As far as living on canned tuna...variety makes it more fun and easier to stay on track. You must eat your PROTEIN first....and not fried...baked, broiled, grilled, etc....then veggies next...again - in no cream sauces, etc...and a tiny bit of carbs last...if there is any room left. As I said - I was banded on December 17th and have only 4.75cc in my 10cc band so far.....7.5 - 8 ccs in a 10cc band 4 months out is quite a bit - are they sure that your band hasn't slipped?? You need to have a heart-to-heart talk with your doc and your dietician SOON to find out what you can change to start losing......!!! Your situation is not the norm....so something is different. Good luck ....and don't give up...get to the bottom of your problem and then work to remedy the situation!!

Great idea! I know that I never should have waited so long! When people ask me if I would do it again and/or if I have any regrets..I telll them that I would do it again in a heartbeat...but that I would not wait so long to do it! Congratulations for being proactive!! (My skin would be much more elastic if I were younger!!) You go girl!!

WOW, California - you had Lap-band surgery to lose only 48 pounds? WOW!!! Good for you - guess when insurance is paying the rules are different! Congratulations...and good luck! :drool:

It starts at 5:30 for Lap-Band and 6:00 for gastric bypass. The group is open to the public and is a great place to learn more about weight loss surgery if you're considering it, have a surgery date, or have already had the surgery. The group meets in the Baxt Building at Miriam Hospital - the entrance is to the right of the main entrance. The meeting is held in the Hurvitz Board Rom on the first floor. There is always a bariatric surgeon and dieticians in atendance as well as the bariatric nurse practitioner and the group facilitator who is a LICSW and a WLS patient. This month's presenter is Megan Condon, RD, LDN, who is speaking on Liquid "CandY". :drool:

My MIL asks me everytime she sees me..."So..how much have you lost NOW?" Mind you she lives with us and sees me pretty much every day - and as we know there are some days that we don't lose anything.. But she seems to indicate that I am failing if I don't "report" a weight loss. Lately, she has been coming up with these clothes and telling me that they are "too big" for her - and asking me if I want them. Mind you - she is no twiggy....not that she is morbidly obese - it's just that I feel like she is continually mocking me. But I just keep on plugging and keep on keeping on. Even though she makes things like spaghetti and pizza, and Desserts, and asks me why I don't want to have any....H-E-L-L-O!!! That is partly how I got this way in the first place. But now that I have a tool - I politely refuse and repeat each time she asks me "I cannot eat that anymore!!" And I don't! As I taught my children - LIVING WELL IS THE BEST REVENGE!!

There is nothing wrong with you! Each person's body handles surgery/lifestyle changes differently. What may seem to have been a breeze for one person, may be difficult for others. Each person's tolerance for pain is vastly different as is each person's reponse to a surgical procedure. Soooo, don't beat yourself up over this - and if all else fails...CALL YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE - that is what they are there for. There are no stupid questions that you could ask them....just those that remain un-asked!! I assure you - they have heard it all!! Most docs apply the band totally unfilled - and for most, the physical presence of the band does afford some restriction...but for others it may not. Everyone and their situation is UNIQUE!! The biggest thing I can stress is to follow the instructions given to you by the surgeon's office and/or your dietician. I hole punched my sheets each time I got them and put them into a report folder. I referred to them very often for guidance and when I wasn't sure about something. If I couldn't find my issue there - I either called the office or asked the next time I was seen. Another good source of information is your local weightloss surgery support group. I try not to miss a meeting and in the beginning was there to learn and ask questions....now four months out, I find that I can actually offer some insight as I've gone through it and have some "experience" with some of the issues that a pre-op or a newly banded person may have. We ALL want to go to sleep and wake up to find that ALL the weight is gone - but that isn't happening!! It didn't all go on overnight -so it isn't coming off overnight either!! Good Luck - and take one day at a time!

As far as I know - Medicaid does cover Lap-Land surgery and fills - but I would call your case worker and ask - or go to the RI Medicaid website - Rhode Island DHS Home Page Good Luck!

Hey Miss Vickie! I did a lot of internet research and spoke at length to couple of people who had already had weight loss surgery. Then once I was nearly certain that this is what I needed to do, I called my health insurance company to find out if bariatric surgery was a covered benefit, and what their criteria were. I also asked them if the few docs I was considering were even in their network. Then I basically narrowed it down to those docs who went to the Miriam Hospital - which is the hospital I prefer to be treated at. I then went online a bit more to research the docs and their practices/history of bariatric surgery one more time and finally chose dr. Harry Sax from the University Surgical Associates office on Collyer Street in Providence. I first saw Dr. Sax on September 5, 2008...went through all of the required testing and evaluations and was banded on December 17, 2008. I am 17 weeks post-op and have lost almost 46 pounds from my highest pre-op weight - the week after Thanksgiving. I was wearing a size 20 -22 Women's clothes preoperatively...and am easily able to fit into a size 16 average at this point. This is the best thing I ever did for myself...and my only regret is that I didn't decide to do it sooner! Good luck with your journey...please keep me posted. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.

Congratulations paxie!! This is the first step in your new Healthier life! Welcome to the Banders Club!! Be sure to keep us posted on your progress and don't hesitate to ask us anything if you have questions.

NC Medic, It happens to most of us....I realized when it happened to me that I needed to kick in more exercise! AND stick to what my dietician told me - eat nothing that is more than 5 grams of fat or more than 5 grams of sugar. It did the trick for me...and I am back to losing weight again! I too was banded in December...we gave ourselves a NEW LIFE for Christmas!! Congratulations on your decision to get healthy and for asking for help!!

Popcorn is definitely at the top of my DO NOT EAT list from my doctor! I even made a point to ask at one of my post-op visits when I saw that some people in here mentioned that they were eating it. Along with CARBONATED beverages - that also made "the list"...not at all good for us banders. I feel that we went to our physicians because they are the professionals - and are paid to know their business. I take my lead from them. So far so good...my weight loss is constant and I feel GREAT!

Doxie...I realize that all docs are different, but mine has me on protein liquids (2 -3 oz every hour) for the first three days following a fill, followed by pureed food for the next three days...THEN regular food once again. If you're having difficulty eating regular food right after a fill, I would try that first before asking that they remove some saline. It's entirely up to you and your physician...but thought I'd offer a suggestion as to what seems to work for me. Good Luck!

Hey Lori! I too was a bit panicked before my first fill as I didn't know what to expect. Now all docs are different, but mine numbed my abdomen before doing the fill, so there was just a brief needle pinch followed by a little burn of the med...and then I felt NOTHING else...at all! My first fill was followed by my having to go over to the hospital for an abbreviated UGI (upper GI) series...all they did was have me put on a gown and drink a little bit of barium while they watched in go into my pouch and beyond. In my case the radiologist determined that the band was too tight and sent me back to the surgeon's office to have them take out a bit of the saline. And while they "numbed" my port site again - it was actually still numb from the first time. So...the short verison of that is that I was so relieved that it was not as big a deal as I had myself worked up to believe! Please let us know how it goes...I'll be thinking about you on the 2nd. (My next fill is in a week from today.)

My dietician...who is NOT new to this...told me not to concern myself with the calories - just that I: 1. MUST get 60 - 80 grams of PROTEIN in each day 2. Be at the right consistency for the week I'm in 3. Stay within the portion size for the week I'm in 4. Stay at/under 5 grams of FAT 5. Stay at/under 5 grams of SUGAR ...and NOT necessarily in that order!

My dietician...who is NOT new to this...told me not to concern myself with the calories - just that I: 1. MUST get 60 - 80 grams of PROTEIN in each day 2. Be at the right consistency for the week I'm in 3. Stay within the portion size for the week I'm in 4. Stay at/under 5 grams of FAT 5. Stay at/under 5 grams of SUGAR ...and NOT necessarily in that order!

Veejee...I see Megan Congdon, who is located in my surgeon's practice at 195 Collyer Street in Providence. The practice number is 793-5703. She is extremely knowledgeable of bariatric nutritional requirements as she works with the surgeons...she also attends every bariatric support group on the 4th Tuesday of each month in the Baxt Building at Miriam Hospital.

Hey Gina #1...I am also from Rhode Island and was banded on December 17, 2008 at The Miriam Hospital. My surgeon is part of University Surgical Associates - at the Collyer Street office...and he is excellent! I have my first fill at the end of January and my next appointment is February 27th - they didn't say if it would be time for a fill, but as it will be a month from the last one - what the heck..why not? I hope to be down 40 pounds by this weekend! Not too bad for almost 9 weeks post-op. Do you attend any bariatric support groups? I attend the one at Miriam Hospital held on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Look forward to "talking" with you!

I was allowed to drink 30cc every 15 minutes for the first week...then, weeks 2 and 3 I pureed just about everything to applesauce consistency...and ate farina for Breakfast. I pureed regular food with the unjury chicken Soup flavored broth...Week 4 I was allowed to begin to transition to solid foods. By the fifth week, I was eating up to 4 ounces of food at a time. I ate alot of ground turkey that I stir fried with onions and spices then pureed it in the blender, put my alloted amount into tiny containers and took them to work and microwaved them. I am now nearly 9 weeks out and eat regular food. I limit my bread to the 1/2 slice of toast each morning and eat no rice, or any other Pasta, or any junk foods. I cut my food into tiny pieces and chew very very well. I stop when I begin to feel full and wait a half hour before drinking liquids.

Hi Leslie and Cleo's Mom! I am from Rhode Island but did live in Pennsylvania for a while...had my daughters at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media Township back in 1974 and 1975! I've noticed that we "Menopause Mommas" are definitely in the minority! Hey - we should start a forum for "MENOPAUSE MOMMAS"!!! Take care...

I buy something called "Better than Eggs"...in a carton next to the egg beaters - theyliquid is actually yellow - not clear and disgusting-looking! I add a splash of fat free, lactose free milk and a bit of "Magic" - a Salt Free spice by Chef Paul Prudhomme and have myself a tasty and healthy breakfast by adding a half slice of Arnold's Double Protein bread toasted with a bit of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray on it! I have had that almost every morning since being allowed to eat "food" ...I even take it to work and "nuke" the "eggs" in the microwave at work and toast my half slice of bread - 3.5 grams of protein in that half piece of toast!!

A super company who sells on the internet and has extremely FAST shipping is UNJURY...I get the chicken Soup flavored Protein powder - it is the best by far! They also carry vanilla, chocolate and unflavored. They have Medical Quality Protein... I was banded on the 17th of December...ordered on Sat or Sunday - the 20th or 21st...and my shipment arrived BEFORE Christmas - even with all of the Holiday mail!! They also have Travel packets are 21 grams of protein, 0 fat - that fit into a purse/pocket for when you're on the go...you just need to add to WARM Water - not boiling or even hot - less than 130 degrees is all it takes! Website is: www.unjury.com Email is: Nutrition@UNJURY.com or call toll-free: 1-800-517-5111 Good Luck!