Melissannde

I wouldn't compare it to cough syrup, but I don't care for it much either. I'd really rather have Water. What I DO like is Powerade ZERO. I do try to limit myself to one a day until I get my 64oz of water in...not that there's anything wrong with drinking it.. I'm just trying to get more good ole H2O down.

the purpose of the band is to lose weight by suppressing the appetite. Lap-band weight loss surgery is not about restriction

For Omega 3? Is that why you were taking fish oil? I use flaxseed. Grind in coffee grinder and add to foods. Only 1 tbspn/day. There's also flaxseed oil, but I've never tried it.

I came out of surgery with 3cc's and never had to crush any medication. I did break the huge calcium pills.. tried putting them in applesauce or yogurt. Always hurt my band. I finally gave up and went to chewables.

This is from a posting by one of my bariatric nurses on the facebook page my doctor has for his practice. Hope you find it helpful. The Latest on Nutrition and Hair Loss in the Bariatric Patient by Jacqueline Jacques, ND Nutrition and Hair Loss A common fear and complaint of bariatric surgery patients is postoperative hair loss. While for most of us as people, our hair is important as part of our self-image and body image, it is not very important to our bodies. For this reason, nutrition can have a great impact on hair health because when forced to make a choice, the body will shift nutritional stores to vital organs like the brain and heart and away from hair. Hair loss has many causes. The most common type of hair loss after weight loss surgery is a diffuse loss known medically as telogen effluvium, which can have both nutritional and non-nutritional causes. Whether you are aware of it or not, for most of your life you are always in the process of both growing and losing hair. Human hair follicles have two states: anagen, a growth phase, and telogen, a dormant or resting stage. All hairs begin their life in the anagen phase, grow for some period of time, and then shift into the telogen phase,which lasts for approximately 100 to 120 days. Following this, the hair will fall out. Typically, about 90 percent of hairs are anagen and 10 percent are telogen at any give time—meaning that we are usually losing a lot less hair than we are growing, so the hair loss is not noticeable. But sometimes this can change. Specific types of stress can result in a shift of a much greater percentage of hairs into the telogen phase. The stressors known to result in this shift, or telogen effluvium, include the following: high fever, severe infection, major surgery, acute physical trauma, chronic debilitating illness (such as cancer or end-stage liver disease), hormonal disruption (such as pregnancy, childbirth, or discontinuation of estrogen therapy), acute weight loss, crash dieting, anorexia, low protein intake, Iron or zinc deficiency, heavy metal toxicity, and some medications (such as beta-blockers, anticoagulants, retinoids, and immunizations). Nutritional issues aside, bariatric surgery patients already have two major risks of major surgery and rapid weight loss. These alone are likely to account for much of the hair loss seen after surgery. In the absence of a nutritional issue, hair loss will continue until all hairs that have shifted into telogen phase have fallen out. There is no way of switching them back to the anagen phase. Hair loss will rarely last for more than six months in the absence of a dietary cause. Because hair follicles are not damaged in telogen effluvium, hair should then regrow. For this reason, most doctors can assure their weight loss surgery patients that with time and patience, and keeping up good nutritional intake, their hair will grow back. Discrete nutritional deficiencies are known to cause and contribute to telogen effluvium. One should be more suspicious of a nutritional contribution to post-bariatric surgery hair loss if any of the following occurred: 1. Hair loss continued more than one year after surgery 2. Hair loss started more than six months after surgery 3. Patient has had difficulty eating and/or has not complied with supplementation 4. Patient has demonstrated low values of ferritin, zinc, or protein 5. Patient has had more rapid than expected weight loss 6. Other symptoms of deficiency are present. Iron Iron is the single nutrient most highly correlated with hair loss. The correlation between non-anemic iron deficiency and hair loss was first described in the early 1960s, although little to no follow-up research was conducted until this decade. While new research is conflicted as to the significance of ferritin as a diagnostic tool in hair loss, it has still been found that a significant number of people with telogen effluvium respond to iron therapy. Optimal iron levels for hair health have not been established, although there is some good evidence that a ferritin level below 40mg/L is highly associated with hair loss in women.1 It is worth noting that this is well above the level that is considered to be anemic, so doctors would not be expected to see this as a deficiency. Zinc Zinc deficiency has been tied to hair loss in both animal studies and human cases. There is data linking zinc deficiency in humans to both telogen effluvium and immune-mediated hair loss. Zinc deficiency is a well-recognized problem after biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch, and there is some indication that it may occur with other procedures such as gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding. In 1996, a group of researchers chose to study high-dose zinc supplementation as a therapeutic agent for related hair loss2 in patients who had undergone vertical banded gastroplasty. The study administered 200mg of zinc sulfate (45mg elemental zinc) three times daily to postoperative patients with hair loss. This was in addition to the Multivitamin and iron supplements that patients were already taking. No labs for zinc or other nutrients were conducted. Researchers found that in patients taking the zinc, 100 percent had cessation of hair loss after six months. They then stopped the zinc. In five patients, hair loss resumed after zinc was stopped, and was arrested again with renewed supplementation. It is important to note that in telogen effluvium of non-nutritional origin, hair loss would be expected to stop normally within six months. Since the researchers conducted no laboratory studies and there was no control group, the only patients of interest here are those who began to lose hair again after stopping zinc. Thus, we cannot definitively say that zinc would prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery, and further study would definitely be needed to make this connection. A further note: The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for zinc is set at 40mg in adults. This study utilized a daily dose of more than three times that level. Not only can these levels cause gastrointestinal distress, but chronic toxicity (mostly associated with copper depletion) can start at levels of 60mg/day. Information related to this study has made its way to many a support group and chat room—even to doctor’s offices—with the message that “high-dose zinc will prevent hair loss after weight loss surgery.” Patients should be advised that high-dose zinc therapy is unproven and should only be done under supervision due to the associated risks of toxicity. A lab test to check for zinc deficiency would be best before giving a high dose such as this. Protein Low protein intake is associated with hair loss. Protein malnutrition has been reported with duodenal switch, and in gastric bypass to a much lesser degree. Little is known about incidence, as only around eight percent of surgeons track labs such as total protein, albumen, or prealbumen.3 Limited studies suggest that patients with the most rapid or greatest amounts of weight loss are at greatest risk.4 With surgical reduction of the stomach, hydrochloric acid,5 pepsinogen, and normal churning are all significantly reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, pancreatic enzymes that would also aid in protein digestion are redirected to a lower part of the small intestine. It is thus likely that maldigestion rather than malabsorption is responsible for many cases. Some studies have also implicated low protein intake.6 Research also indicates that low levels of the amino acid l-lysine can contribute to hair loss and that repletion of lysine stores may both improve iron status and hair regrowth. In a study of anemic patients with hair loss who were supplemented with 1.5 to 2g of l-lysine in addition to their iron therapy, ferritin levels increased more substantially over iron therapy alone.1 Biotin Many individuals believe that supplementing with, or topically applying, the nutrient biotin will either help to prevent hair loss or will improve hair regrowth. To date, there is no science that would support either of these presumptions. While biotin deficiency can cause dermatitis, hair loss is only known to occur in experimentally induced states in animal models or in extreme cases of prolonged diets composed exclusively of egg whites.7 Other Other nutrients associated with hair health include Vitamin A, inositol, folate, B6, and essential fatty acids. Hair loss can also be caused by systemic diseases, including thyroid disease and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and is influenced by genetics. Conclusions Hair loss can be distressing to bariatric surgery patients, and many will try nutrition themselves to see if they can prevent it. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that early hair loss is preventable because it is most likely caused by surgery and rapid weight loss. Later hair loss, however, can be indicative of a nutritional problem, especially iron deficiency, and may be a clinically useful sign. Educating patients about the potential for hair loss and possible underlying causes can help them to make informed choices and avoid wasting money on gimmicks that may have little real value. References 1. Rushton DH. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2002;27(5):396–404. 2. Neve H, Bhatti W, Soulsby C, et al. Reversal of hair loss following vertical gastroplasty when treated with zinc sulphate. Obes Surg. 199;6(1):63–65. 3. Updegraff TA, Neufeld NJ. Protein, iron, and folate status of patients prior to and following surgery for morbid obesity. J Am Diet Assoc. 1981;78(2):135–140. 4. Segal A, Kinoshita Kussunoki D, Larino MA. Postsurgical refusal to eat: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or a new eating disorder? A case series. Obes Surg. 2004;14(3):353–360. 5. Behrns KE, Smith CD, Sarr MG. Prospective evaluation of gastric acid secretion and cobalamin absorption following gastric bypass for clinically severe obesity.Dig Dis Sci. 1994;39(2):315–20. 6. Moize V, Geliebter A, Gluck ME, et al. Obese patients have inadequate protein intake related to protein intolerance up to 1 year following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2003;13(1):23–28. 7. Mock DM. Biotin. In: Shils M, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, eds. Nutrition in Health and Disease. 9th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1999:459–466.

It's not vomiting as you know it pre-banding. It's more of a baby-spitup type deal. You have something inside that doesn't agree with your band, you get rid of it, you feel good again. I've been banded 19 months, only had to PB once in a restaurant and that was due to a rather stressful situation (had picked up my dd from the ER in a another city after she totaled her car.. major stress). I had plenty of warning, it was no big deal. In fact, it was almost a year before I had my first pb episode at all.. everyone varies so much in their reactions to the band and how they eat afterwards. Sliders are foods that are soft and slip past the band and don't contribute to satiety. Things like Ice Cream and Yogurt are obvious sliders. Less obvious ones are Popcorn and salads (sometimes). What is a slider for one person might not be for another person. Grilled chicken for me is a very hard food to eat. It's often dry and will get stuck and cause a pb episode quicker than other foods. I usually get grilled or baked fish, but then again I'm a seafood lover. Keep asking questions.. we all learn that way.

Heard that during RPM class yesterday. Two different people talking about people they know who had a band and didn't lose weight.. or lost it and regained. And I raised my hands (both) and said.. I have a band. It does work if you work it. It's not a magic wand. The nay-sayers just need to be educated. It does get tedious though.

I agree with all the previous posters .. pb'ing isn't all that bad. It's merely getting rid of stuff that didn't agree with your band. And once it's over, you feel good again. No nausea. What I wanted to mention is that soft foods will not work the band correctly in the long run. They will not satisfy you and keep you from being hungry too often. In fact, soft foods are an excellent way to "eat around the band". Not that they don't have their place...during healing or after a fill.. but they shouldn't be a regular part of your food plan. Glad you're doing well. :smile:

Where is it and what is the name?

Personally, I think you should call your doctor asap about the incision being warm and swollen. If it's getting infected, better to treat sooner than later. Yes, I've heard of the recall. Sorry you were one affected.

Try having a cup of hot tea before your meal. That should relax your band just a little bit and make it easier to eat. Bites should be the size of a english pea or a pencil eraser. Chew until liquid. Put fork down between bites. If you start getting stuck to the point of throwing up.. you're definitely too tight and need an unfill. If it hurts to eat.. you need an unfill. If all you want to eat are slider foods (yogurt, pudding, Protein drinks, soups).. you may need an unfill. (good grief.. this sounds like "you may be a redneck" jokes.. hahaha)

I came out of surgery with 3cc's. My first fill was 1cc. I could eat anything I wanted to also, but I (MOST of the time) stayed at the 3 or 4 oz of Protein and 1/2 cup of veggies that my Doctor recommends. I know another long term bandster who says she doesn't gauge her restriction by how much she can eat.. but by how little she can eat and stay satisfied (not full.. there's a difference) for 4 hours. Sounds like you're doing pretty good. Stay with it. :smile:

I often use non fat greek yogurt in place of ff sour cream. I'll have to give that a whirl in cauliflower ..but not tonight. Want to go to support group tonight and that's an hour drive one way. :thumbup:

I pb'd on broccoli last night too. I didn't cook it well enough. It needs to be really soggy for me now. Cauliflower works better. Really bites cuz I LOVE broccoli.

I don't regret having it done at all. I don't feel deprived, I eat just about anything I want, just in greatly reduced amounts. I've lost 160 lbs in 19 months. I did not do all that well immediately post-op, but I attribute that to being given inadequate pain control medication. I would not have been able to fly at one day out. While you may do very well and be able to handle it, I would make contingency plans in case you don't do well. Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Best of luck to you.

Where to start. First of all, the band is around our stomachs, not our mouths nor our brains. You are going to have to work on the dis-connect between wanting to eat as we did before and the desire to lose weight. Getting a fill will only fix the stomach part.. the brain and mouth part will take work on YOUR part. The wait for a fill for 6 weeks is recommended by the band manufacturer, this is to allow for good seating of the band. Your doctor may or may not agree to an earlier fill. You can ask, but IMO you would probably be doing yourself a disservice. Are you supposed to be on solid foods already? Every doctor is different in their progression for their patients, so I'm not scolding about what you chose to eat.. just wondering. At 2 weeks out I was allowed regular food too, but at 18 months from surgery I still haven't had regular pizza. I haven't missed it all that much either. Who is putting pizza in front of you anyhow? This isn't very supportive behavior for a new bandster (again, just my opinion). Next time your family is having pizza, consider making your own, bandster style. Look at the website Flatout Bread – Better Than Sliced Bread for some ideas on how to make a healthier pizza. You can use the flatout bread or just a low carb tortilla. If no other choice than regular pizza, I've read other bandsters blot the grease off the top with napkins and then just eat the toppings..leaving all or most of the crust behind. Another option is that next time something is served that you know you are going to have trouble with portion control is to take a bandster portion (3oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies.. OR meat size of the palm of your hand, tennis ball size of veggies), eat yours slowly and then remove yourself from the table. My church often has a coffee hour after services. I get a small portion of whatever and then when I'm through, I go do something else. Last time I put myself in the kitchen washing dishes so I wouldn't eat. Try going for a walk or putting away the clean dishes, fold clothes, crochet, knit.. something to keep your hands and mind busy. Does your doctor's office offer a support group or a nutritionist support? Please call and find out and get yourself to a meeting. Take whoever is buying the pizza too. So you fell off the wagon.. get back on and try again today. DO NOT GIVE UP!! :thumbup:

I agree it will vary. Depends on your activity level, your weight, height and some other things that aren't so easily measured. I like to use The Daily Plate on LIVESTRONG.COM - Calorie Counter, Weight Loss, food Calorie Counter, Nutrition Facts | LIVESTRONG.COM and use the calculator there to determine my caloric needs to lose 2lbs a week.

I like Ross. I found a pair of the famous Not Your Daughter's Jeans there ..usually 100.00 or so.. for only 20.00. I also like the Gloria Vanderbilt line of jeans, esp. the "Amanda" cut for my body type. She has other cuts for differing types. GV jeans are available at Bealls (which might be Stage other places.. and maybe Fashion Bug?). My support group has clothing exchanges from time to time. Ask your coordinator if they would have one.

Try not to stress over family visiting. Let them come, but tell them you will be adhering to your doctor's orders regarding food and exercise and hope they will be supportive. And someone I know, who has been banded 12 years, says "progress, not perfection". If you should make a poor choice or two while family is visiting, it's not the end of the world or the end of weight loss. Just get back on track and try to do better. Congrats on your banding. P.S. Is there an error in the stats re preop diet & date of surgery weights?

I have no idea if you're causing yourself harm. Don't know your medical history or exactly how your doc secured your band. I can tell you that some people get stuck on salad. Popcorn is a slider food and will tend to make you HUNGRIER in the long run. Try as hard as you can to stick to the program your doctor has set for you.. and call the office on Monday for guidance on these foods. I know it's tough.. hang in there as best you can.

smoked salmon (forget if it's chicken of the sea or starkist) in a pouch. Mix with reduced fat philadelphia cream cheese (in the mini tubs). Spread on crisp & light wasa crackers. top with thinly sliced veggies of your choice.. suggestions, onions, cucumbers or tomatoes. Salmon is 120 cal, cream cheese, 80, wasa, 20 each. I usually eat 3.. so whole meal (NOT counting veggies) is 260 calories. The wasa contributes some carb, but also Fiber. John Soules fajita chicken slices, with 1/4 cup gebhardt fat free refried Beans. heat for a little bit, then lay a slice of 2% cheese over the beans (I like pepperjack.. ) and heat another 5 seconds to melt it. Add green veggie of your choice. eat the chicken and beans together.. the refried beans helps the chicken go down. I agree with the poster who suggests moistening things before heating. That helps enormously. You could also try drinking a cup of hot Water with lemon, hot tea or hot coffee before your meal. That should loosen the band just enough to let you eat without problem. The last thing to consider is that you might need a tiny unfill. I had one of .2cc back in May when everything hurt to eat. Solved the problem for me. I got the .2cc put back in early September. Good luck!

I would definitely try another doctor before I went for another surgery. 3.5 cc's is probably not enough for you. I've had to be unfilled too because of being too tight, but they only took out .2cc's... 2.5 cc unfill is pretty big, IMO. It can also make a difference in which band you have, the realize band seems to take more fill to achieve dimming of appetite than the lapband. This is a general observation, and not necessarily true of all people ~ disclaimer. Good luck on finding another doctor. In the meantime, push the fluids to help with appetite.. I know, not easy. Hang in there!

One of my nurses said that popcorn is considered a "soft" or slider food. In general, not recommended as something that will keep you full. Are you getting stuck on it?

Or Ultrasound. No radiation. My NP used U/S to find mine until I lost enough weight for them to find it easily.

I can see that point of view. There's another way I might use this idea though.. I recently needed to make something for a bake sale and contributed things that were low fat & low sugar. If I had known about 100 calorie cupcakes, I might have made them for the bake sale. The recipe I found said it made 14.. that would be just about right. One to mess up, one for me to eat and the rest to the bake sale. ::grin::