catfish87

My opinion, YES! Always...unless there's a medical reason to avoid the x-ray. Why would you want somebody doing something blindly/guessing when they can see it? Sure it costs a bit more, but so worth it....again, just from my experience. Heres a link to my surgeons fluoro page: http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

Yea....what CG said! This is your life....not some race to see how fast you can get to some magic number. (although I'm guilty too!) Hell, I'm coming up on four YEARS and not at that scale goal yet. Some days I eat MUCH more than others...and I'm fairly "tight". But thats life with the band for me....and its working that way. Be proud where you've come so far.... Try going and carrying around a 60# bag of concrete/whatever for a while..

I have the option of cooking at work as we're there for 12 hours, so you may not be able to cook at work. But here are some things I eat at work. Corned beef cooked in a crockpot, Sauteed shrimp over spaghetti squash, Avocado's, cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, Clif bars, Fresh fruit (grapes, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, apples ) If you like fish and have access to a Long John Silvers, they have a "hold the batter" cod plate thats really good and healthy. Wendy's chili is pretty good. Thats about the extent of fast food for me. Wednesday at home I made a big pot of Lentils with some onions/smoked jowl pieces and seasoning and had it all day. ( and still have some ) Thursday I took some Flounder filets, and we steamed them with some veggies at work.

Ride to work Thursday evening: http://connect.garmi...ivity/344814433 Distance: 20.96 mi Time: 1:17:49 Avg Speed: 16.2 mph Elevation Gain: 162 ft Calories: 619 C A quiet 12 hour nightshift in between Ride home Friday morn: http://connect.garmi...ivity/344814457 Distance: 21.07 mi Time: 1:15:45 Avg Speed: 16.7 mph Elevation Gain: 270 ft Calories: 839 C

Unless you're having some kind of alergic reaction to some new food ( the Protein shakes maybe??....never heard of it though ) its probably your body adjusting to not having the "normal" things you've been giving it. Hang in there! It may seem as though you can't do this, but trust me, you can. Most everyone has been through a pre-op "diet" that last from a few days to a few weeks. For me it was Clear liquids....basically ZERO calories for a week pre-op. And after about the third day, it actually got much better for me. Best wishes

This is interesting...... Where might I be able to find this info? Some study or medical journal? Could you point me to a link about this? I have never heard Carbon dioxide gas can cause erosion. Thanks, David

I agree with your doc....for weight loss and overall health, cardio is what I've seen the best results from. After all, weight loss boils down to calories in vs calories out. Could you burn 1100 calories of weight training consistently? No way I could... Stick with what works for you....and don't expect a scale loss every week. It will come, provided you just stick with it. I've learned that lesson finally, as sometimes I'll go two/three weeks without seeing it on the scale, then the next week be down 5 lbs.... Best of luck to you!

Short group ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343981956 16 miles Time 1:20 350 cal

This evenings ride : http://connect.garmi...ivity/343756781 Distance: 26.28 mi Time: 1:33:08 Avg Speed: 16.9 mph Elevation Gain: 206 ft Calories: 973 C Mid Month totals Count: 15 Rides Distance: 326.11 mi Time: 22:02:35 h:m:s Avg Speed: 14.8 mph Avg HR: 126 bpm Avg Bike Cadence: 65 rpm Calories: 11,614 C

Great Post! This just goes to show, there are many ways to overcome a less than supportive PCP.

If I could offer a word of encouragement/advice for you? You're very new at this still. It's ok to make mistakes! We're human after all....and we didn't get to needing surgery because we ate correctly all the time. What's most important now is to eat those things/types of foods that have been ok'd by your surgical team...liquids/mushies/soft foods...depending on the stage of your post op diet. Eating more of the ok'd foods if you feel you must, would be better than progressing to "off limit" foods. Theres a reason you were asked to avoid certain types of foods... You probably didn't have much, if any, saline added to your band during surgery. So you are probably approaching or in whats referred to as bandster hell on here. That period of time after surgery but BEFORE the band does it's part. It's all on you right now....another diet until you reach what's referred to as the GREEN ZONE. Most everyone experienced that bandster hell, when we were wondering what have I done, why am I so hungry, etc. It will pass, given correct adjustments after your body has had a chance to recover from surgery. It takes some longer than others to reach that level of restriction....maybe NO fills (very unusual for the band by itself) some may take several, but you can get there....just never, ever give up! Hang in there!

I've had mine for almost four years and here's my answers to your questions. 1. the installation surgery, including all the preop testing, etc bill was about $20,000. I paid about $1000 out of pocket for copay, pshyc visit, etc. Since surgery, I've probably had 20 office visits in four years....my portion appx $50 each...some are more, some less. Depending on what's done. EVERY person will probably have a different answer, depending on insurance. 2. I went back to work two weeks post op, to a "light duty" position. I work in an industrial setting, so your experience will vary depending on your physical demands. 3. I COULD eat most any type food now. I avoid my problem foods which are very few. I also choose to avoid some others as they are just not worth trying for me...no benefit to eating bread, Pasta, "slab" red meat such as steaks. I CAN eat just about anything, just smaller amounts. 4. As far as a doctor recommendation, MY OPINION, just choose one with lots of procedures under his belt. Also, DO NOT CONSIDER a doctor who will not use fluoroscopy...at least most of the time. Its that important. It allows them to SEE your band, and not have to guess whats going on. As a side note, I suggest folks who are even thinking about sleeve to consider finding a doctor who does band over plication. It looks VERY promising. Best of luck in your journey, whatever you decide.

Morning ride http://connect.garmi...ivity/343483203 Distance: 22.73 mi Time: 1:21:41 Avg Speed: 16.7 mph Elevation Gain: 814 ft Calories: 847 C

Thanks Steph! You offer me lots of motivation too!

Short ride after vacation...a flat, in the rain. Life is good...but, gatorskins??? 11 miles 36 minutes 479 calories https://connect.garmin.com/activity/343239357

Got me some new clip-ins today....I held out for over a year, but I think I'm gonna like em! Todays rides: http://connect.garmi...ivity/341038622 Trying them out. Distance: 5.53 mi Time: 25:27 Avg Speed: 13.0 mph Elevation Gain: 103 ft Calories: 282 C http://connect.garmi...ivity/341038636 Distance: 26.24 mi Time: 1:31:48 Avg Speed: 17.1 mph Elevation Gain: 212 ft Calories: 958 C

This is so common.... How often do you hear of companies providing training to their employees informing them of their rights to be protected under FMLA? In my experience, rarely if ever.....but be sure, they'll inform you of their absence plan, etc.....

Another important thing to remember is IF your company provides you with a short term disability policy, FMLA in no way diminishes the benefits of that policy. You may choose, or your company may require you to use the benefits (paid leave) concurrently. You wouldn't think companies would try and subvert this law, but under advice of bean counter's/company "lawyers", some will. It's your right, not a company benefit. I've been through this as a union rep a few years back. We had to arbitrate this very issue for a member. We won, she got her backpay...and the company has since changed their policy.

Here's a short video ( I took with my phone after the fluoroscopy ) of what my restriction level looked like today during my doctor visit. He was pleased with the "pouch" size. Said everything looks good... almost 4 years post op. I now have 9 cc's in a 14 cc band. In the video, about 4 seconds in, you can see as I swallow the contrast liquid and it flows past the band.

Todays ride...It's hotttttt out there! http://connect.garmi...ivity/339599118 Distance: 30.02 mi Time: 1:52:22 Avg Speed: 16.0 mph Avg HR: 140 bpm Calories: 1,202 C

Morning solo ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/338751160 Distance: 29.31 mi Time: 1:37:12 Avg Speed: 18.1 mph Elevation Gain: 327 ft Calories: 1,196 C Short group ride: http://connect.garmi...ivity/338847253 Distance: 14.08 mi Time: 59:57 Avg Speed: 14.1 mph Elevation Gain: 176 ft Calories: 413 C

THATS how you CAN do this. You answered it perfectly! Once you fine your sweet spot......."not dieting", "feeling satisfied after meals"...sounds like you might be there to me. Congrats!

I often tell people I used to eat more BEFORE I got to work, than I do all day now. Previous Example of Breakfast at Hardees that I'd eaten probably HUNDREDS of times on the way to work. Two loaded omelet bisuit's, large hash rounds, orange juice, add an apple/raisin biscuit....say hello to a 2000+ calorie "breakfast"....then I'd wonder why I was sleepy when I got to work. I can't remember the last time I've eaten from a drive-thru....