GoingforGoal

Potential complications with body jewelry: 1) If an emergency occurred and an MRI was warranted this is an absolute no no. Metal is forbidden in MRIs despite location (the machine is a huge magnet and the metal WILL come out), 2) some nose/oral jewelry can interfere w/ placing G-tubes and ET tubes to secure an airway. Last thing med professionals want to deal with is a secondary issue like a rip/bleeding or worse swallowing the object etc. 3) down below jewelry can interfere with placing a catheter and because scrubbing for sterility is required, again, risk for tears etc, 4) tummy jewelry potentially an issue with abdominal surgery (depends where the laproscopic incisions are placed (some go through the belly button for instance) etc. Lastly, body jewelry does harbor bacteria, and just like wearing makeup etc removing these objects will hopefully decrease risk of infection. Speak to your doc as to what is required and what he is comfortable leaving in. But these are the rationales.

Any calorie is possible on the band but in all honesty, that would require one of the three: 1) cheating the band through liquid calories (think icecreams, shakes, liquor or things that dissolve quickly like cake, Cookies etc), 2) eating excessively. The rule is 3 meals, however, if you wanted to eat more meals or snack continously you can get excess calories or 3) having a band that is not filled to green. Without restriciton, it's like being preband. Not even men are on 1500 cals typically with the band. Once you are banded and at green you should not feel as hungry nor should you be capable of eating large meals thus restricting caloric intake.

Im sorry, not trying to be insensitive...but I would die to eat 1500. I eat approximately 800-900. Avg for bandsters is 900-1200 depending on activity level. This is actually a good transition for you so when you dip down further it won't be such a shock or as difficult... (daydreaming what an extra 600 cals would be)

Everyone is different because we all have different insurance, which has different requirements. Some ins. companies require a period of time of supervised weight loss the traditional method (mine did not), some require extensive tests ranging from pscyh tests to an EKG. Than there's nutrition meetings/classes, consults etc. And these are scheduled first come first serve, or they are offered on a set time frame (ie classes once a month for instance). So it's a matter of what your insurance co. requires (check with them) and how soon you get orders to get these tests completed. If you were like me, you'd try to get more than one done at a time to expedite the time

Nothing you share with your doctor should be embarrassing. This is a mere reflection of your feelings regarding being obese etc. As a nurse, patients who are forthcoming and confident yield the best results because they recognize that a proactive attitude can give them the success they seek. So go in there and just tell him that today is the day you want to change your life.

If the port was damaged or dislocated you may experience: persistant pain, noticeable swelling, noticeable harden fluid filled sack underneath skin. If you were able to feel your port you might detect that it has migrated (typically up) or is lying sideways (as if it wants to flip). Other things may include a notice in decreased restriction (as if the tubing was damaged and caused a leak). I'm just thinking off the top of my head. However, it is very rare and quite the feat to accomplish this. I'm on a farm getting mauled by animals constantly, I have 3 boys 18 months to 10 and they maul me where the animals missed, and than I'm always trying to do 3 things at once so things falling on me or me slamming into things is an everyday occurance. I'm not sure how newly you are banded, but if recently, than the area can be ultra sensitive to pressure. But be more concerned with persistant and increasing pain

If you get mildly stuck where food easy regurgitates without force I usually stop eating and than later that day introduce fluids to see how I feel. If all is well I will usually proceed with solid foods. However, if you get stuck and it takes a prolonged period to pass, is super uncomfortable and has symptoms like nausea, acid reflux, or it induced vomiting this is when you should exercise some caution as this type of 'stuck' will have caused some inflammation. To do so, go on a liquid diet x1 day and the next day intro some mushies first and than solids if all feels well. Liquid diet can be extended for however long is necessary if you continue to feel sore or if you notice increased restriction (d/t inflammation). Chicken is one of those meats a lot of us struggle with us. One day it goes down no problem, next day not even close. Make sure your lean meats are super moist and cut it as small as possible before chewing it down like a lawnmower. Hope this helps

Nope, just means it's time for a fill. Call the doc for an appt

Although I have told all the practitioners I have come across, no one has commented on it. The only person who has was at my cosmetic surgery consult. She does the financing and was just completely interested in learning more (she was not in need of one herself). I have also found myself educating other medical professionals on what exactly the lapband was. It's really fun to get xrays and the techs freak out because there's something unusual in the abdominal cavity and they think it's acute ahahaha..nope..thats the lapband.

You have perfectly described a too tight band. We are not substituting one unhealthy lifestyle for another. I know we are all eager to shed pounds and feel motivated when that scale goes down, but we cannot neglect our health by depriving ourselves of the basic nutrition our bodies require. Depending on how much of a fill your doc gave you in March, you may only need a smidgin of an unfill. For example, if you are relatively new to being banded and your doc gave you an aggressive 3cc fill, you may just need 0.5-1 cc taken out. If you are on the other spectrum where you are getting maintenance fills and your last fill was only 0.5cc than maybe a 0.1 - 0.25 cc is warranted. Eating continuously on a too tight band can set you up for serious complications ranging from slipping/erosion to malnutrition. Although these complications may be experienced by the small percentages, you can believe they are higher in those who are noncompliant too. Get to the doc and get a partial unfill.

So I read your post and it put me through a bit of rollercoaster. 1) I was so happy to hear that you recognized you were gaining self control. There is nothing more rewarding (even weight loss) than realizing you now have the tools to succeed AND you are using them to your advantage. The reality that this is happening and that it will continue to happen is just such a relief and is motivating! I am just thrilled that you've come to that realization and congratulations! but than 2) I saw the self doubt trickle in. And YES! this has been our norm for so long that it's just a natural knee jerk reaction. We second guess everything because we have failed repeatedly. But this is not only different, this is the solution. This is what has been missing for us all these years and that is why you no longer need to self doubt. You need to just keep reminding yourself YOU ARE IN CONTROL. Control doesn't mean perfection. It doesn't mean eating clean 100% of the time. It means giving yourself permission to indulge on occasion with control. It means recognizing gaining 1, 2 even 3 lbs is not failure..it's a break and one you can easily turn around from...again, because you are in control. The more freedom you give yourself, the more control you have and that = success. I have full faith you can do this. Ignore the others. We are individuals and some of us make poor decisions. You sound like you have a good handle on this and are doing things right. You'll get there..one pound at a time. Now put that self defeating attitude in a box and burn it ahhaha

I would definitely say at least one week. Everyone responds differently to the pain and despite pain thresholds, previous surgery experience etc you'll find the discomfort inevitable. Some residual pains such as entrapped gas peak 4-6 days after surgery and that in of itself can make working super difficult (even at a desk). Others discover their bodies are ultra sensitive initially to the band and feel nauseated, acid reflux symptoms, prolonged pain etc. Waiting it out a week to learn how you are going to tolerate and recover from the procedure is better than going to work prematurely and exasperating the pain.

Nice! I'd hang it on my door in my bedroom as a daily reminder of what the near future holds

There are many variables that you have to remind yourself of. Everyone starts at different weights, some are on different diets, metabolisms are different and the list goes on. 10lbs is exceptional and your doc will be satisfied with that. I know it's hard, but don't get into the habit of comparing yourself to other's progress. It's not tangible so just focus on you and reward yourself for the loss you do accomplish

Everyone is different as you have caught on to. I lost 30 lbs quite readily and than it slowed once I started needing fills. You will not lose 10s of pounds a week for too long, especially once you start eating your solids again. Be mindful that if you do that that is not something to strive for and you'll need to incorporate more calories. But you have another month or so before than. Until than, enjoy the loss, take advantage and best of luck

It is hard to retrain yourself to eat small bites and slow down, especially when rushed or distracted. So we have to create new rituals if you will to ensure that we do this by being mindful of these habits when we eat. Tools such as smaller plates, smaller utensils, putting forks down between bites are all good suggestions. But also try to other things like not eating when standing (it compels you to move around and do things like cleaning, putting things away, making calls etc), set the mood with some soft music to calm your nerves and to distract the mind (if you are like me who is constantly thinking of what needs to be done or have 3 kids making a ruckus thus making food chewing a nonpriority). Also sometimes if this just becomes a super hard habit to bust, try different cooking techniques. For example I find if I ground my meat it already helps with the first step of breaking down my meat. Cooking with water or even a light based tomato sauce helps with drier meats that have a tendency to be hard to pass. Finely chop veggies instead of eating them whole sized etc. Just anything that helps in case you continue to be forgetful

As a nurse, I am here to tell you that it is not our role to guilt, scold, or harass our patients. A good doctor will evaluate your progress and help you identify what went wrong AND how to get back on track. Education and support is paramount from your medical staff. If everyone was healthy and compliant we'd have no jobs <wink> On the other hand, the one who is actually doing all the guilt tripping is you. Because you realize that you let yourself down and now it's time to face it. We all have had setbacks. Some have stalled on their wl for months, years. Others have gained some to all their weight back etc. This happens because we no longer abide by the rules AND we no longer work with our support team (docs etc) to get back on track. Keeping the band in green is the lifeline to having a band. Finding excuses to not go to the doctor will keep you out of the green and that is a guarantee for failure. So no more sulking...get up and call your doc for an appointment!

Sorry I also forgot to add that many people who are postop are on narcotics and drinking alcohol is a major contradiction.

Sorry hon but it's impossible for any of us to answer your questions. Every insurance company covers different things and sometimes it's specific to locale, even employer. You will have to consult with your insurance company

Karen, I would advise against consuming alcohol for a couple reasons (at this stage). 1) right now your stomach is on the high acidic side. Making you prone to things like acid reflux and ulcers. Alcohol and caffeine alike increase acidity in the stomach and can predispose you to these complications. 2) I know you may feel like you don't have to watch calories, but these mindless liquid calories are not what your body needs right now. Protein is essential for recovery. Alcohol is a blood thinner and thus slows healing. It offers no nutritional value. and 3) Right now is the prime time to follow the rules, being diligent with healthful choices etc. You are establishing new habits and a foundation for the remainder of your banded life. Yes, alcohol can be consumed when you are banded. I would just advise against it until you are well established on solids for now.

Hello Neka, Pink is correct and I'll try to add some thoughts. When you have surgery they put CO2 gas into your abdomen to expand the area so the doctors can visualize and manipulate your organs safely. Although they do remove the gas, there will be residual gas left in the abdomen cavity. This will rise (it is gas afterall) into your chest cavity causing a great deal of discomfort. Some people use heating pads for some relief. Some other things to do: stay on top of your pain meds to assist you with this discomfort, continue to breath deeply even if it causes pain (we are all at risk for things like pneumonia after surgery and so we have to address those issues along with pain management), and stay mobile. The more you move the more blood flow the quicker your body can eliminate the gas through reabsorption. As for filling full with liquids. Yep, welcome to bandland. Right now you are in an acute phase after surgery where there is inflammation at the site of the band. This is causing a sensation of restriction. Hopefully this is what you'll feel as you get fills and try to achieve 'green'. You will see varied experiences from other bandsters who say they feel no restriction and those who can't get their daily allotment of cals or fluids in. There's many reasons for this as well 1) some docs fill the band during surgery with up to 3cc of fluid some do not put any in leaving their patients at 0cc to start, 2) our anatomy is different. Some of our esophogus' are wider than others so the band is not a one size fit all gadget after all , 3) different bands, different surgical techniques, excessive manipulation, additional surgical revisions (ie hernia) blah blah can all have a slight effect on what we sense post op. What you are feeling is normal. Focus on the resistance and learning to eat/drink to the band's comfort. Don't force fluids if you feel restriction. Reduce volume to sips if need be. As inflammation goes down you'll feel less restriction and more capable of drinking/eating with ease. Hopefully this carries you into mushies because others are postop day 2 and feeling wide open and starved. Good luck hon

Hello logging is a great way to get intimate with what is actually going in your body and understanding how your body reacts to it. Your log can be as simplex or complicated as you want. Think of it as a science experiment if you will. If you simply want to see how many calories you should take in for optimal weight loss...record your foods (their calories) and any calories you burned from exercise (deduct from calories taken in). Than record your weight daily (same time- I recommend naked in the a.m. before eating/drinking). Follow the trend. If you are eating 1500 calories and you are gaining. Scale back 100 cals. Any improvements? If you are losing stay at that range. If you are not, scale back on your cals until you start losing consistently. 0.2 lb/day is the standard. The opposite can be done as well. Let's say you workout everyday and you are only taking in 800 cals. Perhaps you are taking in too little. Add 100 cals until you see wl. Do NOT make huge changes or inconsistent changes. For example, don't go from 1500 to 1000. That alone can put you into a plateau and that's not a fair representation of what your body would do with a calorie reduction. Also, your log is only as reliable as you are consistent. So if you workout every day, keep it up. If your target is 1000 cals than eat as close to that as possible. +- 100 calories can really effect the outcome. Mind you, you will need to readjust everytime something changes (working out more/less for example). I hope this helps

Because we are always advised by our docs/nutritionists differently. Additionally, there is a huge gap between how many cals one person takes in on average vs the next bandster. Many factors contribute to this (exercise level, age/metabolism etc). So people will bawk at how little or how much other people consume because it conflicts with either what they were told or what they do

FYI Eating out is something we all struggle with. To overcome eating the wrong foods OR assuming the healthy "sounding" foods are better choices, I elect to go on my cellphone and look up the nutrition menus for each of the restaurants I visit. It allows me to preselect my meal within the target calorie range I wish to consume. It's also an awesome way to guilt you out of eating wrong foods when you are floored by how many cals are actually in it. Muffins (no matter how they are made or what's in it are terrible for you..put that on your no no list). Anyway, this is taking a proactive approach to eating. Not only does it help you make true healthy choices, but it's an education onto itself by getting acquainted with how many calories are in the meals/sides etc you would normally eat.

I wanted to add that early on in the banding process I too would feel no hunger. But that has changed. I am 3.5 yrs out and in 'green' but I feel hungry more readily than I did before. Everyone is different of course but I think in time most adjust/adapt. Some people have had to set reminders for themselves to eat every 3-4 hrs. Ensuring adequate nutrition is your responsibility. You are a new bandster so realize things will change with time and you'll get the hang of eating protein rich foods. I highly recommend keeping a log and getting figuring out what your ideal calorie target is. If it's 800 for example, than start finding foods that'll get you to 800 without feeling bloated/stuffed. Calorie input/targets are very controversial on this forum. Some gasp at those in the low digits (<1000) and others who exercise consistently are in higher digits (1200+). But the fundamentals like min 60g protein is essential for everyone