Melissannde

It's been 21 years since my last section, but I remember the section as being a whole lot worse. With a band you don't have a brand new life to try to take care of while you're healing.. uh.. wait a minute.. maybe you do.. LOL Anyways, banding I think was much easier.

you could try teeny tiny sips of hot tea. But take it very slow because if you add too much Fluid too fast, you'll make things worse. Warm liquids tend to make the band relax a little and that may be enough to let what is stuck slide on down. some say walking around helps, some folks say the chicken dance works (never did for me), some say sip (again, teeny sips) pineapple juice, some say take papaya enzyme. Both the pineapple juice and papaya enzyme are supposed to help speed digestion along. I think it just takes time myself. I know when I first had these feelings, I thought to myself If I didn't know I had a band, I would think I'm having a heart attack. Anything is possible, but I doubt you'll tear the pouch with a corn tortilla and some chicken. Next time leave off most of the tortilla and make sure the chicken is moist. Chew chew chew.. tiny tiny tiny bites. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi Neenee, I'm not familiar with BoJangles, but wings shouldn't be a big concern (unless they were fried.. not such a good choice). The bread and the french fries.. now there's part of what is keeping you hungry. Has anyone told you about white carbs (bread, rice, Pasta, potatoes and all colors of corn) and how they can make you hungrier? These are all what are called High Glycemic Index foods. High GI foods have the ability to make your blood sugar spike, then drop it lower than before you ate. When the blood sugar drops.. your body reacts by saying.. I'm hungry.. feed me!! Try omitting these things from your eating plan, cutting way back or at least going to whole wheat versions. I do understand.. I love good bread and it took me a while to wean myself off of it. I can have a little bit now and then, but I know if I do, the next day I'm going to be fighting hunger all over again. It's so not worth it MOST of the time. Do some research on Glycemic Index/ Glycemic Load. It's very enlightening. There are some techniques to use to get around the blood sugar spiking and scientists are learning more about this all the time. The candy isn't helping the situation. Ditch it or give it away. Until your resistance muscle gets a little stronger, it's just too hard to have it around. Yes, exercise can make you feel a bit hungrier. Try having a small protein snack after exercise. A string cheese stick, a snack size cottage cheese ..something like that. Your doctor was wise to limit the amount of fill. While you might not feel it yet, it's not uncommon for a fill to take up to 2 weeks to make itself known. If he had filled you enough for you to feel it now and then it kicked in again in 10 days.. you'd be TOO TIGHT. Not a pleasant thing to happen at all. I've been too tight. It's not fun to have pain with every bite that you swallow. Then you start having pb episodes. You really don't want that. Also you should know that it may take more than one fill to achieve appetite suppression. Eat your protein and drink lots of water and other low calorie things between meals. A small (low calorie) healthy snack that has some protein is probably ok if you can't make it between meals. Ask your doctor/nurses/nutritionist for guidance on this. I know you're frustrated, but this is a long journey.. a marathon, not a sprint. You can do this.. we're all rooting for you.

There's cheese and then there's cheese. I avoid large amounts of full fat cheese (for reasons that aren't germane to the conversation). But the light baby bell cheeses or weight watchers string cheese or the light laughing cow cheeses are all on my "consume with moderation and no guilt" list. ::grin:: (I'm trying to be light-hearted.. there's no room for guilt in my new way of life/eating plan)

You don't have to lie. Not telling everything isn't lying, IMO. I tell people who aren't particularly close to me that I'm eating better (not perfect..lol) and working out. If they're close or if I see that they're struggling with their weight, I'm much more likely to share about my surgery. I have yet, in 19 months, have anyone say that WLS is the easy way out. Probably because most of the time people know how hard I'm working in the gym. Congrats on your 20+ lbs lost. :hi: I put + .. cause I'm sure it's more by now.

I agree. I've also been told that. There are the Protein "bullets" that you can buy various places (I've seen them at Walmart). I think there's 25gm in 3oz. Don't recall the calories.. I think 110? I'll sometimes measure out an oz of one of those to help my muscles recover from an intense workout. Not a routine thing.. I mention it to share that the flavor of them isn't too bad. Esp. since the volume is so low.

start (if you're not already) recording your food at a website such as thedailyplate.com, which is free for most of it's functions .. there are many other sites, also free. You'll find when you do start keeping track.. that there's Protein in things you never thought about. 1/2 cup of broccoli has 1.5 grams of protein. The oatmeal I eat has 7grams in 1/4 cup (dry.. 1 cup cooked). So, you may actually be getting more than you think. Good luck. (I rarely drank Protein drinks and had no problem getting my protein in. I still have more than 1/2 a tub left of a Protein powder that I bought pre-op. I still only drink them now if I'm in a huge hurry and don't have time to sit and eat quietly).

You may want to consider cutting out or at least cutting way back on the pasta. Pasta is generally considered a high glycemic food. High glycemic foods have a tendency to make our blood sugar spike way up and then when it drops down again, hunger comes back. Other high glycemic foods to avoid are white bread, white potatoes, white rice, all corn. I know.. all the "good" stuff that we love. Argh. Ok.. now that I've given you the bad news, let me give you something a bit happier to "chew on". ::grin:: If you really want to eat the pasta, change over to whole wheat, and cook it al dente (chewy). Cut back to 1/4 cup. Add in some extra (low carb) veggies. The lowest potatoes on the glycemic index are ones called Nicola. I can't find them where I live, but maybe you can. The next least damaging to use are red potatoes (or "new" potatoes). When I fix green Beans, I'll boil some of these with the beans and I'll have maybe 1/2 of a little one and lots of the green beans. Brown or Basamati rice is said to be lower on the glycemic index than others. Try substituting Quinoa in place of pasta or rice. It's got a fair amount of carbs, but is also a complete Protein. These are just suggestions about why you are getting hungry sooner than you would like and a way to address the problem. :hi: Do some reading on the Glycemic Index/Glycemic Load. It's very enlightening. Good luck.

sorta. you can always eat around the band if you try. not advisable, if you want to lose weight. It may have very early beginnings of digestion, but the churning and mixing with digestive juices really happens in the lower stomach. Hence the reason that food that is pb'd tastes almost as good coming back up as it did going down. you're right, solid, dense food doesn't immediately go through, but it doesn't stay in the pouch as long as previously thought. yes and no. my doctor does advise patients not to drink 30 min before or after nor during meals. I followed that for a long time, but have since changed my pattern. I now drink right up to the first bite, avoid drinking during the meal (but am not rigid about that if I need a sip for some reason) and don't drink for about an hour after eating. If this caused me to be hungrier sooner, I'd modify my behavior again. Some doctors are no longer giving out the no drinking with meals advice, saying sips are ok, just avoid large amounts of fluids. Follow what YOUR doctor advises as closely as you can. Not necessarily easier to digest, but things that are soft and slide past the band without causing pain. These type of foods are very often higher in calories or high glycemic. I think that's the reason that weight regain often occurs with a too tight band, rather than meals being too small in volume. I believe that is from statistical studies. "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." I am not a statistic, I am an individual. I plan, hope and pray to beat the average. I have so far with over 150 lbs gone in 19 months. I've been told that average is 50 to 100 in one year. Hope this helps a little.

i 4th the idea of calling the md

Whoops.. incomplete thought/posting on my part. What I meant was that I'd rather deal with the apron than to have the surgery without general anesthesia. Right now I'm flip/flopping back and forth on the idea of plastics. I'm 53.. can't see me having a bikini body ever again, and yet, there's only so much that spanx can accomplish. And since I'm not employed and dh is looking to retire in the next few years, can I justify the expense? I just dunno. Sorry for the confusion.

I have no clue on the reason for gain, but have a suggestion. Start taking your measurements. Record them now and check them again in a month. Note what you are wearing and measure wearing the same thing next month. My trainer says to measure as early in the day as you can before you get active to minimize the muscle swelling effect. I started doing this when my weight loss slowed way down and I was getting discouraged. I've seen a big change in measurements. Yesterday I took back to the store 5 pairs of shorts that I bought this summer, but had never worn (still had tags). They were too big. :hi: Getting thyroid and other hormones checked is a good idea. I love Zumba. Went to a Zumbathon (3 hours.. I did 2) weekend before last.. it was like being at a club .. minus the alcohol. Hang in there. Keep us informed of what you find out.

If the economy was better I would. 3 hour drive and expensive hotels and parking.. not right now. Maybe next year. Frustrating that the Oncologist I see doesn't have office hours on Thursdays or Fridays.. I could combine a checkup and the conference. Oh well.. such is life.

VERY very common to be tight in the morning with little appetite and to loosen as the day goes on. I lost only like maybe 2lbs during the mushy stage. Significant weight loss for me didn't start until I was on solid foods. Also very common because mushy foods are often high calorie and not very filling. This is the time for healing, not for weight loss. If some happens, great, but it shouldn't be your main focus right now. Something you could try.. don't know if it will work, but shouldn't hurt.. is to drink something warm (coffee, tea) when you first wake up (this is when I take my Vitamins.. with my coffee). Warm drinks tend to loosen your band a bit and then you might be able to "eat" instead of just drinking your Breakfast. This MIGHT put you on a more even keel..where you are fueling your body at a more even pace and it won't be screaming for substance by night time. I don't know your weight/height.. but 900 might be too low for you. If your body isn't getting enough, it can slow your metabolism way down. This is something you'll need to play around with to learn what works best for you. During the healing phase, I would wake up at night with awful stomach pains. I finally figured out that I was hungry! I took to taking a container of yogurt to bed with me.. when I woke up hurting, I'd eat a spoonful or two of yogurt, just enough to ease the hunger and go back to sleep. Would do this off and on all night. It's not recommended eating behavior in general, but during healing it's ok to bend the rules a bit. Hang in there, it gets better.

Not unusual at all. Some people bounce right back and others like me take a long time to feel better (2 weeks). I remember commenting to my husband about having new empathy for those who suffer from chronic pain. I think you should call your doctor again and talk about your level of discomfort and that you are supposed to return to work on Thursday and see if they can help. Best of luck to you.

While anything is possible, it's unlikely that you have caused a slip this early in the game. It's normal to have the ability to eat just as before surgery once the swelling has gone down. I wouldn't call it normal to DO so. You still need to control the amounts you eat as much as you can. It is not easy, this is why the period of time between when the swelling from surgery has receded and before you get enough fill to reduce your appetite is sometimes affectionately called "Bandster Hell". Congratulations, you just reached another stage of band progress! If you're getting stuck already you still have some swelling. Slow down, smaller bites, chew very very well. Don't wait too long between meals so that you are so hungry you take your first bites too fast (first bite syndrome.. very common for new bandsters). Now is a good time to start making new habits. Did your doctor give you any guidelines on how much to eat? If he/she didn't, a common amount is 3 to 4oz of Protein and 1/2 cup veggies 3x a day with small protein Snacks in between if necessary. Also drinking lots of Water (or other very low calorie fluids) will help keep the hunger at bay between meals. I'm not saying it will make it go away, but it will reduce it. It will take a fill or two or three to reach appetite dimming. That is how the band works for many people. You should not rely on the band to restrict what you are able to eat.. I've always been able to eat bread ..I CHOOSE not to most of the time. You will always, always be able to eat more. What you are aiming for is to eat a small amount and stay satisfied for a reasonable period of time. Please call your bariatric professionals and ask for guidance. Does the practice you use have support group or nutritionist/dieticians that you can consult with? Hang in there.. it will get easier once you start getting fills.

I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in quite a while at the store today and she was "oh my Goodness, you've lost so much and you've changed your hair color too. I almost didn't recognize you". I laughed and told her I was going incognito these days. I'm not sure when people really started noticing.. I was very reclusive when at my highest weight.. it took me losing quite a bit before I started doing more than just walking in my very isolated neighborhood.

banded 19 months. Never had to crush a pill. I have cut the big Calcium ones into smaller pieces, but now use chewables. You're tired cause you had surgery less than a week ago. Give it time, you'll feel better in another week or even sooner.

I don't recall a time limitation from my doctor, but drinking isn't all that important to me. I'm not being judgmental.. just honest. He does say that alcohol will slow down your weight loss. Another bariatric professional recently told me that alcohol will stymie your weight loss efforts for 3 days after imbibing. As always, do consult your own physician if in doubt. And no beer, champagne or other sparkling wines. P.S. I had a lemon-drop martini this weekend (sans the sugar on the rim).. it was wonderful!

The bariatric practice I use stresses that there are no "bad foods", there are poor, better and good choices. If you've made a few less than stellar food choices.. oh well. It's not the end of the world. You can get back on the weight loss wagon tonight. You don't have to wait till tomorrow. If you live alone, get rid of the temptations.. down the disposal or into the trash. If you have to share your space with non bandsters.. it's a little harder, but still doable. Can you designate a cabinet or area for the other people in the house to keep their things that you'd rather not see? You could even go as far as to put a lock & key on it and give them a key and not keep a copy for yourself. Make yourself very small and attainable goals. Even as little as .5lb a week.. and when you reach that goal, give yourself a non-food reward. Manicure, pedicure, special book, bubblebath? As you get stronger, gradually increase your goals. Look at this list of 100 reasons to lose 100 lbs, maybe some of them will speak to you. Copy & print it out and put it where you can see it daily. Better yet, make your own list.. it will speak to you more. 100 Reasons to Lose 100 Pounds Baby steps. Almost everyone backslides a time or two. Just get back up and try again. Don't beat yourself up over eating things you feel like you shouldn't. If beating ourselves up worked, there'd be a lot of skinny bruised people walking around.

I don't think I'd want it removed w/o general. Maybe and this is a HUGE maybe.. with a spinal.. but there would have to be mighty compelling reasons to avoid general & only have spinal. I think I'd rather deal with the apron to be honest. This from someone who's had 6 surgeries, including the band.

Are you seeing any results from the exercise yet? If not, maybe start by taking your measurements now, and again in a month (or sooner). Lay out your exercise clothes the night before so you don't have the excuse of not knowing where things are. Give yourself a small reward when you've been to the gym every day for a week (a mani or pedi?, a book you've been wanting?, even a SMALL low calorie food item would be ok.. but I'd really try to find a non-food reward. I have a serious yarn addiction.. I love to crochet. So I could reward myself with some yarn I wouldn't normally buy. You know what pushes your buttons and what you won't normally allow yourself to have). Perhaps if you know you have a reward waiting for you if you make your goal.. it would make it easier. But sometimes it's just about putting on your big girl panties and getting it done. I saw a T-shirt the other day.. said on the back "Get over it Princess.. this is BOOT CAMP". We've just got to get over it and get on with it. I understand the early morning thing.. a year ago I was getting up at 3am (!!) so I could eat at 4am to go to boot camp at 5:30am. Crazy I know.. but it did so much good for me. Now, let's talk about Halloween. It's over. Won't be back till next year. What can you learn about what happened this year? That your resistance muscle isn't very strong yet. That's ok..you've only been exercising it a little while. It will get stronger. For now, get the leftovers out of the house. Send it to work if you can or dump it in the trash and put something nasty & disgusting on top of it. Next year, don't buy stuff that you like. Or if you feel like you have to have "the good stuff" look for things that are less damaging. I found that the hershey's dark chocolate kisses are only 20 calories each. I can find room for 20 or 40 calories in my plan. Reeses miniature cups are much more.. so I won't buy them again. And a small amount of dark chocolate is good for us. Practice delaying tactics. Tell yourself, I didn't plan for that piece of candy in my eating plan today. I can plan for it tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, put it off one more day. Make a list of why you want to lose weight. Here's a list of 100 reasons to lose 100lbs. Maybe some of them will resonate with you. 100 Reasons to Lose 100 Pounds Print out the ones speak to you and post it where you'll see it several times a day. Put a copy in your purse. One day at a time, one step at a time. You can do this!

congrats on the NSV. Hope the bronchitis leaves you soon.

I wouldn't worry all that much about the pizza, bread, candy.. you've only had one fill. It's not unusual to be able to eat things at this point that later on will cause difficulty. You do need to limit the AMOUNTS of what you're eating though. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. What does concern me is the Diet Coke. Carbonation can be a huge problem for a band. The carbonation is thought to stretch the pouch and repeated indulgence can lead to a slip of the band. Even letting the coke sit out till it goes flat is no guarantee that there's not occult carbonation still in the drink. Why would you want to go through all the work & expensive of having surgery to risk it over a diet coke? If you can't resist it .. get it out of the house. At least for now ( I know how it is.. my dh and kids drink it in front of me.. I think they're cruel). When your resistance muscle is a bit stronger you can let it back in. There's lots of other things you can drink. Powerade Zero, Crystal Light, Fuse Slenderize (20 cal in a 16 oz bottle.. acceptable once in a while), Diet Cranapple, Diet V8 Splash (both of the former are ok on a limited basis as they have a small amt of calories), Unsweet Tea, coffee, Water. Try making some Sassy Water. Sassy water is 2 quarts of water with Mint, Ginger, Lemons and cucumbers in it. It's part of the "flat belly diet" plan. I'm not advocating the flat belly diet, but there may be some value in the Sassy water as Ginger is supposed to help digestion. You could also throw some Splenda or Equal in it if you wanted. Look at Judith Beck's books on behavior modification (Beck Diet Solution). She has many ideas/actions that can help you change your behaviors. She also has an online newsletter. Shrink Yourself is another site that some people find useful. If you're not journaling your food intake.. start. Be totally and brutally honest with recording what goes in your mouth. ABC.. All Bites Count. If you're not honest with what you write/type, you are only harming yourself. Previous poster was right on the money suggesting you find another activity instead of eating. Play the piano (or learn to do so), Crochet, Knit, clean out cabinets. Go through your closet and find the clothes you want to get back into and place them where you can see them as an incentive! Make a list of the reasons you want to lose weight and read it every time you want to eat something that's not so good a choice. Post it on your fridge. If you REALLY REALLY want something . determine how many calories are in it (as close as you can) and make yourself work the calories off first. That technique cured me of wanting McDonald's sausage biscuits. It takes a heck of a long time on the treadmill to work off 430 calories. My legs told my mouth to get over it!! LOL I wouldn't normally talk/type so harshly, but you asked for tough love. Hope this wasn't too tough for you. So, you made a few poor choices. You can't undo what was done. Say oh well, and get back on the plan tonight. You don't have to wait till tomorrow to improve your eating. We're all rooting for you. You can do this!!

I've heard that if you can document repeated yeast infections where the skin folds over.. that it might be covered.