ThinnerKimmer

I had my one year follow up appointment today. I thought, "hey, let's finally update the ticker on here!". I haven't lost any weight since May 10. I'm so frustrated. That's an 8 month plateau. I know it has a lot to do with me, but there are so few foods that I can keep down that I find I eat the same (sometimes not so good-like mashed potatoes) things all of the time. I do get out and exercise every day. I'm just really upset about this plateau. Yes, I know this is a tool and all, but I don't eat all that much as it is. My doctor has given me 3 options that I have 3 months to think about. 1) Keep the band and tighten it. This scares me, since it was too tight in June and I couldn't get it loosened for about a month. I should have lost some weight then, but if i did, it's all been gained back. 2) Get rid of the band. If it's not doing anything for me, why keep it? I'm aware that I will gain back everything I've lost and I'm sure my diabetes will come back. This is not an option i'm really considering. 3) Go for a gastric bypass. My doctor has suggested this as an alternative. My BMI is just under the qualifying # right now, so there may be a review with the surgeons group or whomever it is that discusses it, but it is a definite possibility. What would you do? I've got over 50 lbs to lose to get to goal and the scale isn't moving. I'm at the point where I feel I'm just a failure. I'm 27 and this was supposed to change my life. I don't think I've done what I'm supposed to. I don't have any support where I am since I got the band as a clinical study and NO ONE I know has gone through this. I need advice, opinions, experiences... ANYTHING!

oh my gosh! That's so exciting for you Peanutband! I thought that you weren't allowed to get pregnant until 2 years out? Well, if you're excited about it and your dr is cool with it, i hope you have a safe and wonderful preganancy. When are you due?

i've been downing protien shakes for the most part. I know it's not "real" food, but it fills me up and i don't have to worry about food getting stuck (i tend not to chew enough still). Other than that, I say away from carbs because bread and stuff like that just doesn't go down. It's a good motivation not to eat it.

I've had 4 fills so far. The first was 4 cc in a 9cc band. I'm up to 7.3cc now... but it's working!

So I will be 4 months post op on May 14th. But today... I HIT ONEDERLAND!! It's an awesome feeling. I love shopping and I love that I have way more energy than before! How is everyone else doing?

I had a fill today for the first time. I have a 9cc band and they filled it with 4ccs. The hospital that is doing all of my band stuff does every fill in front of the x-ray machine. I took 3 shots of radioactive crap and the first was before the needle. They did 2cc and then I did another shot and they injected another 2cc. I took a final shot and the Dr said that it looked like there was no restriction. Great. My band is almost half full and there's nothing stopping me from eating The Dr that is in charge of the banding patients wasn't in today, but she called and said that we will do a follow up next month with another fill if needed. I'm just scared that going back on solid foods, and with no restrictions, that I'm going to fail miserably. How much did everyone else get for their first fill?

I have type 2 diabetes as well. I actually got the band as part of a diabetic study that McMaster University is doing. They're trying to associate some hormone that is eliminated with weight loss surgery (there were 3 random groups, RNY Bypass, Lap Band and Medical Management, that participants were slotted into after heaps of pre-screening tests. Guess what i got :cursing: ). I was taking 2000mg of metformin, 6g of gluconorm and 40 units of Lantus insulin daily. When I started my pre-op diet I cut out the insulin right away and then the gluconorm and finally was weaned off of the metformin. I am 2 weeks post op and was told by my specialist not to take anything until I see him at the end of Feb. He thinks that I might be back on metformin (although a smaller dose) for a bit until I get my weight down, but that it will actually assist with weight loss. I was told that insulin makes you gain weight (the fact that I gained 16lbs in 2 weeks when I started it leads me to believe that this is correct in my case) and that the gluconorm can also cause weight gain. I'm ok going back on my metformin for a while. Since I am part of this study that is specifically for diabetics, they have done a whole bunch of tests that I'm sure the average patient doesn't go through. That being said, my bariatric specialist has told me that my pancreas secretes enough natural insulin to support a person with a normal BMI, and the entire team of doctors is convinced that once I get down to that level that I will be off of all diabetes medication for good. Hopefully, the same is true with the rest of you. It's a stupid disease and it's nice to know that it can be "reversed", if you know what I mean.

I was banded on the 14th and my doctor is making me take 4 weeks off if work. Which is fine by me, because even though it's a desk job, I still find it uncomfortable to sit in a chair for very long. My port side is still a bit sore. I feel great, otherwise. Today I started to add yogurt, sugar free pudding and strained low fat cream Soup to my diet. It was the best lunch I've had in at least a month! Anything but more broth works for me! I'm only hoping I don't gorge too much today, since I can't seem to lose any weight right now. I expect my first fill to be the 3rd week of february, but I think I'll find out at my post-op appt on Friday. I feel like I could eat and eat right now and not ever feel full. I hate to say it, but I can't wait for the feeling of restriction! My dad came over yesterday and brought my dog back (she's a puppy and likes to wake me up by jumping on me... not a great idea for the first couple of weeks, so he was dog-sitting). He said that he could tell I was thinner, which was nice. Having my dog home is totally going to help, since she loves walks and it motivates me to get outside in the -18C weather :cursing:

The carnation stuff has 14g of protein per serving. I guess I should hit up the nutrition store and get a supplement then. Thanks for the info!

my dietician said no added sugar was fine for us.... 2g isnt *that* much. Just dont eat the whole box in one sitting! :thumbup:

I got banded on January 14th. I lost 20 lbs in my pre op diet 2 weeks before surgery. I lost 8 lbs in the 9 days following surgery, but since then, I have stalled. I'm not eating anything but Clear liquids and sugar free carnation instant Breakfast 3 times a day (as instructed by my dr). I haven't gained any weight, but i haven't lost any in 4 days. Which i now find unusual. Is this normal? Does it change after a fill? Kind of frustrating that it was dropping soooo fast and now nothing. My dr is expecting me to lose 15-20 lbs in the next 4 weeks.... and I have no idea how to get there. Any help/insight would be appreciated. I can't use my eliptical yet to help things along because it makes my tummy jiggle and that hurts where my stitches are. I was hoping to sneak in a bunch of exercise before the 6 week wait period was over. That is clearly not happening yet.

i'm so jealous! I have 4 weeks of liquids after my jan 14th surgery. Wednesday I finally get to add in yogurt, sf pudding and thinned oatmeal. Then it'll be a week of pureed food, then a week of minced and then, finally solids. I'm so aching to chew that it's ridiculous!

I was banded January 14. The gas pain is totally gone and the pain at my port side has pretty much gone away. I'm a little concerned, because i've only lost 8 lbs since the 14th. I lost 20 lbs on the pre op diet, but I haven't lost anything since Thursday. I'm still on a liquid diet, and having minimal calories, so I don't see why I'm still not dropping any lbs. It's a little frustrating because I was doing so well before. Anyone else notice any plateaus?

Ha ha ha! I know what you mean! I'm staying with some friends until I feel well enough to get around on my own and we were watching tv last night and then my friend turned to me and was like, "I heard that from over here". The noises are soooo loud sometimes. As for the pain/hunger/gas pain, I chalked it up to gas pains most of the time. I knew when I was actually hurting, because there is no mistaking the port pain. give it a couple more days and you'll be able to tell. I can eat a portion of sugar free Jello and that'll fill me right up if i'm not sure if i'm hungry or not. It's 5 calories and not a bad way to test the waters, if you know what I mean.:scared2:

I was banded on the 14th too. I was told to have diabetic boost as my source of protien and i felt very sick after each time i drank it. This morning I had sugar free carnation instant Breakfast and was fine all day. Then I had a boost for lunch and again, felt horrible. I'm pretty sure that from now on I'm going with carnation, because the gas I get from boost isn't worth the 16g of Protein. I had a hellish first few days too, but it does get better. My port is on my left side, i reckon, because I get serious pain there every once in a while, but even that is getting better. Just hang in there. It can only get better from here.