MoxieDO

Banded July 22. Lost 20lbs preop. 10 lbs since surgery. Eating mostly fish and soft noodles. I'm starting to eat more now, I'm afraid I'm overdoing it. I concentrate to make sure i chew my foods well. I've kinda stalled at weightloss since starting mushies, I guess that's to be expected :/ I don't really measure what I eat, which I think I will start doing soon. I can't wait for my fill so I can feel more restriction Emotionally-stressed, not because of the band...I'm in the middle of studying for my boards and applying to residencies. There just is not enough time in a day, but that is pretty much how my life always is. The good thing about all this is that I'm not eating my stress. Started increasing my exercise regime again, I hope that will accelerate the process. Keep strong, ya'll!

haha, didnt see that you had posted...GL! Ask questions!

Friends of mine had surgeries done by him. When choosing a surgeon, especially for this procedure, find someone who provides education and support. Also, you are going to want to find someone who is conveniently located near you...you do not want to have to travel for fills and support group meetings.

I was banded by Dr. Adam Smith July 22. Great experience so far. Very good with education I think. Also like the support group. So far, no problems pre or postop.

I took the gasX strips the moment I got home after surgery! I didnt want to bother w/ gas pain. I had a little pain for 2 days, got to walking and it was gone in no time! I was up and around by day 3 post op...but every surgery is different. After my lapchole, I was in dire pain for 5 weeks! After all the lap choles I've done, that is very unusual. The moral of this story is, every surgery is different, so take what does or does not happen in the first 4 weeks with a grain of salt...and take a gasX strip when you get home

I wasnt hungry at all the 1st week and a half. Now ending my second week, I am starting to get hungry a little more everyday...yes, physical hunger. I think its different for everybody. I read some posts where ppl were hungry the 1st day/week. Can't wait for my first fill! Keep strong!

Oh yeah, I was an eater! I think its funny when the waiters give me the "that's ALL she's gonna eat" when I order from the kids menu or get a box to go...it makes me chuckle! The waiters get a little offensive when I shoo them away from my water glass too. I havent had my first fill yet, so I'm starting to eat a little more each day. I'm using will power to keep it under control, but for how long, who knows. I don't know how to cook and my mom has left, so now its back to shakes and soup :/

Walking around and squeezing your calf muscles will decrease your chance of a DVT. Infection is a possibility that goes with being alive, hahaha. Just keep your incision sites clean, i.e. dont pick or touch them very much. Watch for redness, warmth, and thick, perfuse drainage.

Got nothing to add, but this thread gets more hilarious as it goes on...

I did those protein shots...they dont taste very good, but I can tolerate a few sips of them for the amount of protein they have. When you get to protein shakes, try diet V8 splash plus your protein powder...it def is better than just water and protein powder and I will take the extra calories (which are not that many) if it means I will get my protein down.

I think everyone has already made the valid points. I would just add that you really don't weigh that much (if I'm reading your counter right). You might not drop weight initially as quickly as some of us heavy weights. 1-2lbs weight loss a week is what you should expect anyways. If you are doing as much activity as you say you are, you just might be building muscle as well. From what I understand, the post op period is what is most difficult for everybody...I've hit day 10 and I see my weight loss slowing down, but I've also started the mushy part of the diet as well. Best of luck and dont let the scale dictate your life! You have made steps to being a healthier person and let those steps be your focus.

The more weight you have to loose, the faster it will be in the beginning. The are a lot of factors as to why this happens, the main one being that larger people burn more calories to function than smaller people...think of it this way, you expend more energy to move a 50lb weight than a 10lb weight. There is a period, I think it's referred to as "bandster hell" when you exit the liquid stage and start on mushy and real foods, where your weight loss will slow. This is probably the body adjusting to the new influx of calories from its previous deficiency (if you follow the post op diet). I think I'm entering this period right now...I lost 32 lbs in 3 wks and now I am not dropping the couple of pounds a day I was. The suggested safe weight loss is 1-2lbs a week. I think if you keep a healthy diet and exercise, this can be increased, but I wouldnt expect extraordinary weight loss every week. Good luck!

I think this just about sums it up. I am self pay too, so I definitely know the added pressure of having to finance the whole process. Know what you are getting into, take a deep breathe, and go forward to whatever WLS you choose, if you choose it. :juggle:

The studies show that lap band and bypass have have the same amount of weight loss at 5 years. The only difference is bypass is faster. I think I would also add, that unlike bypass and the sleeve, with lap band you "keep" all the nutrition you eat, so the band requires you to have more accountability about what goes into your mouth. With that said, all of the available options have their complications and set backs. I began my journey at 347, lost 20 preop, and 13 lbs since banding last week. Good luck and make a choice that is best for you.

I keep a bottle with me all day and just sip it. If I gulp a lot, I will keep some of it in my mouth and make it into two swallows. The first few days, I used a teaspoon to sip everything and thats really what has helped with getting things into perspective of how much i should drink.

P.S you can sugar free popsicles!

Once you have gotten all the sugar you need, the rest of it is turned into fat...so if you start eating a lot of sugary things, you are just defeating your end goal. With that in mind, some sugar every once in a while is ok, you're human. The post op liquid days were not so bad for me...I wasn't very hungry. Just stick to the diet so your band doesnt slip. good luck!

hello back! I think I started around the same BMI as you, though 2 years older, hahaha. It's not an easy journey, but I think it's worth it. 3 weeks ago, I weighed 30lbs more...its all just unbelievable. Unfortunately, I have crappy student insurance, so I bypassed all the stuff you are about to go through and funded it myself. Best of luck!:tongue2:

wow, just read this and got inspired. Congrats on the success. I hope to have somewhat of the same story too. I cant believe 3 weeks ago i was 30lbs heavier. :tongue2:

ugh, i have gas pains and constipation :laugh: guess we all gotta go through this together. :thumbup:

I'm self pay too and I completely understand your hardship. However I have to agree with your doctor to get cardiac clearance. Your age+morbid obesity could equal disaster on the operating table. Add a history of heart palpitations isn't helpful either. Your stress tests really only looks for ischemia in the heart.The echo takes a look at the valves and how well the blood flows to different chambers of the heart. If you have sleep apnea or have ever had a bad illness in childhood, these could be affected. these tests can usually be done together, I dont know why you have gotten the run around, but the point is, you probably need these two tests. If you choose a different surgeon, be sure to collect the records of these tests, you have a right to them.

0k, so i guess I'm the only one who didnt mind the barium-kinda a mint chalk taste I had it done 2 yrs ago for potential ulcer etc...umm post op did you guys have to lay on your belly, cause i think that will really hurt, or did u just do the standing swallow test?

I think its awesome you already took initiative to make a schedule. Moving around (within reason) is really what will help you heal and also prevent things like clots and deconditioning. I think its important to advise that you make this (exercising, diet) part of your life, but don't let it become your life. You are going to have a lot of wonderful adventures coming your way, dont miss them. I wish I had this opportunity available to me at your age and the maturity to take it. The only way I could parallel this is that I let getting into med school take up a big part of my life when I was that age and now wish I had lightened up a little more, I still would have gotten in. Just as you will still reach your end goal, even if you take on a job or an extra class. Keep focused and Best of luck!

yay! good luck! mine is July 22, Wednesday. :wink2:

P.S. dont do the slim fast shakes, they have lots of sugar and will do nothing to help you. I have protein shake in morning followed by 2 snacks: either cheesestick or protein shot. For lunch or dinner I usually eat a soup of some sort (my preop diet is a full liquid diet, so I can). At night I might have a sugar free popsicle or sugar free pudding. Somewhere in there I have starbucks something or other, cause I gotta stay awake to study. I also eased into my diet by taking the first 3 days and gradually adding or subtracting one thing of another...helped me to not go crazy.