Melissannde

not sure how "little" this is.. but I can get into a smaller car now w/o having to put the seat all the way back.

I've heard of it before. It's not all that uncommon, just a first for your doc. :blushing: They thought they might have to take some of my "starter" fill out too, but I finally settled down to where I could tolerate fluids. Good thing as my port area was VERY tender. I couldn't even think of something accessing that area 4 days out.

All these NSV's make me smile. I'd type out a few, but I'm about to go get ready for a HUGE NSV .. going to walk (and maybe run a little) in my first 5K tomorrow!! (if it doesn't rain big time).

I asked Jessie about the not drinking after eating conundrum (to refresh memory.. Jessie Ahroni is a nurse & author working in the bariatric field. She's been banded 12 years. Lost her excess weight and has maintained. ) //I shared the article by Dr. Simpson with some other bandsters and now they are questioning the no drinking after eating. What is the point of not drinking for a period of time after eating? I don't know what to tell them// Jessie's reply: "Some doctors think that's not important. I still try to avoid it. I don't think it's a good idea to wash your food through,even if you don't have a band. As always, experiment. If it makes no difference and you're still able to feel full for hours and lose 1-2 pounds per week then whatever you are doing is working. If you're not staying full or not losing then waiting for awhile after meals before you start to drink would be a good technique to try. I have had my band so long I KNOW when my appetite is shut off and I am not going to eat again until my next feeding time. That's when I start drinking. It is usually more like 20 minutes than the hour that some people recommend, but in the beginning people don't know that so they should probably still watch the clock. Our docs recommend 1 hour and I have been told that we are all to say wait one hour so the patients all get the same instructions. I do think that each patient should try to do what their doctor recommends. I drink BEFORE I eat. I rarely have the urge to drink with eating. It's a habit I have developed. Drinking with meals seems weird to me now. I use to drink a lot (2 or 3 diet cokes) with every meal before banding. That really didn't serve me well." If I hear anything from Dr. Simpson's patient, I will share that too. I started my weight loss journey not drinking 30 min before or after my meals as my doctor recommended. I've since amended my routine to drinking right up to the first bite and wait an hour after eating to drink. I think the drinking before eating helps keep me hydrated and allows dryer foods to go down with less issues. I've also been known to sip hot tea if I get something mildly stuck during a meal.. but I try to avoid that if possible. Everyone is different and has to find their own path on this long strange trip. :w00t:

Same here. No idea what happened.

Fills have varied for me. The first few took a little while to make themselves known, and honestly the nurses were so cautious at my fill amounts (because I was losing weight) that the effects were very subtle. UNTIL RECENTLY, I rarely had difficulty eating or had anything get stuck or any of the other problems you hear people talk about. With my last two fills (.2cc.. that's point 2.. a very small amount) I start feeling the difference as soon as I'm back on solids. Beginning of my journey I got a fill monthly. Now I'm going a minimum of 2 months.. and sometimes 4. Last adjustment was in early September, I have an appt Nov. 3 and I don't think I want any more Fluid, but am not sure. If the NP agrees I'll put it off till either December or January. Hope this answers your question.

Hi Jeff, Let me first say I'm sorry about your injury. You don't mention the severity of it, but I hope it's not so severe to keep you from mild exercise such as walking. I started out at almost 400 and have lost at least 150 lbs in 19 months.. and I think it's more like 167. Will find out for sure early next month when I go in for my next check. The bypass (RNY) is one way to address the weight issue, and it was suggested to me by more than one doctor, but it was never presented as the only way. I was afraid of the malabsorption because of other health issues. The RNY IS reversible, but it's a very difficult surgery. The band does take work. It's not a walk in the park, but very doable. You must make good food choices, walk away from the table when you're finished with your portion and exercise (if possible). I do know a few banders.. online and in person, who are very limited in their ability to exercise. They are still losing weight, but it's slower for them. Keep investigating and asking questions. Research, research, research. This is wonderful that you are looking into this at your age. You will really extend your life.

I really need to clean off my work area and drag my sewing machine out and start running some seams up on some of my clothes. Have ya'll thought about taking some of your good things..I wouldn't bother with cheap stuff.. to someone who does alterations? Hmmm maybe there's a niche job.. or at least a way to bring in a little extra.. doing alterations for the WLS crowd. :w00t:

I suspected that this article would be controversial, but also thought it might be helpful to some. I work on the principal if a technique works for you re: weight loss, ride it till the wheels fall off. If it's not working for you.. re-evaluate and make a change somewhere. I agree that the food not staying long in the upper stomach (or pouch) and the prohibition against drinking after eating seems contradictory. I know someone who is a patient of Dr. Simpson and she said she would try to remember to ask him about this next week when she sees him. To clear up some confusion, Jessie Ahroni didn't write the article .. Dr. Simpson did. Or at least it is posted on the site that bears his name, so I would think that he at least approved the article. Many thanks for the thoughtful and insightful posts on this subject. I'm somewhat tender-hearted and really hesitated to post this as I don't deal with confrontation very well at all. Sometimes I can't even open this thread.. I'm so afraid of negativity. :w00t: Thanks for being gentle with me.

Thanks. Got myself entered .. Set my goal at somewhere less than 1lb a week, which is about what I've been doing lately. If I get more.. wonderful! If I don't, I won't be distressed. :w00t:

While I haven't had my tummy growl at me :w00t:, I know what you mean about not being able to eat more, yet feeling hungry. This is a new development for me since my last fill and I'm trying to work with it. I have to eat my portion and get up and move away from the table. Eventually I do get satisfied.. the hunger isn't overwhelming. I keep telling myself.. hunger isn't an emergency. There's always more food if I really really need it. Hang in there, hopefully it will get better.

Vitamins were discussed at support group this past Monday (Oct. 18) and the group leader (my doc's insurance coordinator & a nurse) said that the current thinking is that chewable children's vitamins aren't appropriate for bandsters.. that they don't have the right amount of nutrients for adults.. even if we take two. I don't know where she got the information, she didn't have any documentation, but this is something I've heard before from other bariatric nurses. I personally take the chewable Centrum vitamins, but when I run out, I'm going back to either Bariatric Advantage or Celebrate vitamins. Whatever you take, you should have blood work checked ever so often, either with your PCP or your bariatric physician. I have a friend who is banded that her Thiamine (a B vitamin) is so low she's going to have to have injections to bring it back up. She was on regular vitamins.. not bariatric. The deficiency was found by her surgeon.

Yes, the full feeling is very different. I don't even like to call it full, I prefer satisfied. When I start to burp I know I'm getting very close to being done with my meal.

I have had fills take up to 2 weeks to make their presence known. I've also had increased hunger from an unfill take 2 weeks to settle down. Sometimes I wonder if part of it is psychological instead of purely physical. :biggrin:

Some broths have a lot of sodium. That might be making you extra thirsty. Look for a low sodium option. And while not drinking after "eating" while on liquids does seem a bit silly, it's good practice for later.

Consulting your gyn is good advice. While it is PROBABLY just anesthesia and weight loss messing with your hormone levels, we also need to be aware that obesity is a causative factor for cancer, in particular endometrial (uterine) cancer. I speak from experience. I had very irregular cycles before banding and in fact was recommended to look into banding by a gyn (who was also banded). Around the same time that I was going to the banding seminar, I had a menstrual cycle from hell ( won't go into details unless someone asks) and ended up getting a biopsy done. I had very early cancer and had to have a hysterectomy. Gyn/oncologist says obesity may or may not have played a role, but everything I've read says it does. I think she's just trying to keep me from blaming myself. :/ Anyhoo.. my point/opinion is: a little irregular cycles or spotting I wouldn't worry about too much. If it goes on more than a couple of months, I'd get it checked out. Sorry if I scared anyone, but I'd rather folks be safe than sorry.

Mine is very similar. Liquids rest of day. Mushies/soft that evening. Regular as tolerated the next day. Any problems tolerating one stage.. go back down and restart. Continuing problems..call & go back in for unfill. However, I get very small fills. Those who get larger fills may need to progress slower. I'm glad it's all individualized as we are all so different. :wink2:

HAHAHAHAHA.. thanks for the grins. :wink2:

My doctor's reasoning is that fills can take up to 2 weeks and sometimes even longer to have an effect. That's why he will only allow fills every 4 weeks. We're also not allowed fills any closer than 2 weeks before planned travel.

I don't know about the long timers on this board.. but I got the link to the article from Jessie Ahroni. This is how she approaches life with the band.. to see how little she can eat, not how much. Jessie is a long term bandster (12 years now) and works in the bariatric field and has written a book about banding: "Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery". She is also one of the moderators at the yahoo group "Smart Bandsters". I posted the link for a reminder to myself.. to stop eating when my measured portion is gone (or even sooner if I start feeling my soft stop). I've been pushing the limits just a bit too much recently.

I just found this challenge.. is it too late to join?

my search for the christmas challenge isn't bringing it up. Could someone please post the link? Thank you. Never mind.. found it. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/anyone-interested-christmas-challenge-117098/index2.html https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0ApBMiLjvkwExdEh3eXQwZ2JOemthWHRhaWRZMldpR2c&hl=en&authkey=CIbr1NIE#gid=0

Good point. I had to go check my Powerade.. 0 carbs. yeah!

You're very welcome. I will mention that if you are post-menopausal or have hair loss that started BEFORE Banding (or other WLS for that matter), you may want to consult your PCP as there might be something else going on. Turns out my hair loss is not weight loss related, but due to my hormonal status. I'm seeing a dermatologist for my problems. I don't know if I will get mine back, but I can help prevent further loss. I've been put on Rogaine and am going to ask about Proprecia (no chance of me getting pregnant).

Tonight we're having some leftover brisket that my DH smoked this weekend. I trimmed the fat off of about 3oz and stuck mine in the oven with some low-carb bbq sauce to get tenderized. Veggies will be either some steamed broccoli or some stir-fry squash, onions & bok choy. TOMORROW though.. will be kinda special. I'm planning to make my turkey meatloaf that uses both ground turkey & ground turkey sausage and bake it inside a pumpkin shell. I very rarely fix potatoes, corn, rice or anything like that. I don't want high glycemic carbs, they tend to increase hunger. If other family members want those.. they can fix it themselves (we're all adults.. no little ones here). Hope this helps.