BetsyB

Denise, I'm here---late, but Truman had other plans for me. Plus, I got to sleep a bit late... I have to catch up on posts--but LOVE Greek yogurt. Unflavored, with a little really good-quality vanilla (Nielsen-Massey or Penzey's) and Splenda. YUM! (These days, I also stir in PURE unflavored protein so it sticks with me longer.) Okay, time for work...blah. I will read and respond later....you know, when I'm procrastinating (more).

I love the name Calvin--and you're right: by the time you get approval, he may be very mobile!

Yes. I have to eat very slowly, and really "listen" in between bites, or it's easy to overlook. But I tend to have the deep breath/sigh...followed by one, single hiccup. The hiccup often comes AFTER I've decided to stop eating. With time and more restriction, I think the hiccup will be a "too late" signal like it is for Hummingbird.

A hiccup is my warning, too. But it's pretty common for there to be a little bit of phrenic nerve irritation post laparoscopic surgery--and that can play in for some people, too.

I think it's pretty typical to get nervous. But you will come out with flying colors--and be SO glad you went through with it!

Au contraire :smile2: I don't know whether you will rely on them after surgery, so there may be no point in ordering. But Inspire Proteins from bariatriceating.com are awesome. I still use them to bump my protein up each day.

Since you've gone maverick, make sure that you're getting the right combo of nutrients (the same carb/fat/protein ratio as the recommended shakes) and that your new shakes don't contain sugar. And be aware that hemp Protein is not as bioavailable or complete as whey isolate. (That's why shakes with whey tend to be recommended by doctors.) A bit more about your diet changes: it's one thing to change Proteins to one that has the SAME composition as what was recommended. It's another to head off in your own direction, and rationalize that you need the protein from food, etc. Our bodies have more than enough energy stored to sustain us during a two-week low-carb diet. And those stores NEED to be depleted; stimulating the liver to give up its glycogen stores creates a smaller liver that is safer to maneuver around during surgery. Changing things up can interfere with this. It's time for a call to your doctor/dietitian. Tell him/her that you can't tolerate the recommended proteins. Ask for good alternatives. ASK whether you can substitute solid protein for the shakes. Don't make up your own rules---remember, doing things your way hasn't worked well for you; it's taken you to the point of requiring bariatric surgery. That means that listening to the doctor is probably a better approach for now. As for the weakness and diarrhea: they're pretty par for the course for a few days, until the liver does start kicking out its carbohydrate. People usually start feeling better on Day 3 or 4 (just like you did), whether they change proteins or not.

Guys, a five-month-old is different from a toddler. And heavier than a 2-month-old. I understand the desire to have it done right away--really, I do. But talk with your doctor. S/he will tell you whether there are lifting restrictions, for how long, and for how much weight. You don't want to learn that you have a restriction when the nurse is reading your discharge instructions and you have no backup at home.

I don't care what kind of way out it is. It's a way OUT. I was unable to find the way out--despite numerous tries over decades--anywhere else. Easy? I don't think so. But let's say it is...just for the sake of argument. I'm okay with that. It can be whatever kind of way out it wants to be-----as long as I get to keep that light at the end of the tunnel. It was never there before.

Nah. They may give a temporary fix, but what happens to your skin is going to happen to your skin---pretty much regardless of what you do. It's a function of genetics, age, how much you lose, how long you were overweight, whether you'd gained or lost other times, whether you've been pregnant, and so on. The wraps FEEL good, though!

It sounds to me like you made it work for you. Nothing wrong with that! You chose something out of your comfort zone---but it aligned with what you needed really well. To me, that says that you're internalizing your "rules" and applying them in a real-life way.

Vonhelzing, that is an issue that is between your mom and her insurer, really. It's not a reflection on the surgeons or the hospital--it's a reflection of the insurance contract. I have Empire BCBS--my insurance contract covers bariatric surgery at centers of excellence. I have traditional 80/20 insurance with an out-of-pocket cap. I read the contract VERY carefully before even going to the seminar. At the seminar, I provided info for pre-approval, and got a call within 24 hours verifying coverage. There were no surprises. My total outlay has been: 3 $35.00 copayments pre-op (office visits) $155.00 payment to surgeon for my part of his fee (after insurance) $300 program fee, not reimbursable by insurance (the services are WELL worth the cost; they include nutrition counseling, use of gym facilities--and trainer--and fills) $100-ish in copays for preop labwork and pulmonary function tests $35, each, for copays to pulmonologist, cardiologist, and psychologist Each and every one of these things was dictated, 100 percent, by my insurance contract. The doctor and hospital? No input whatsoever, except to inform me of my obligations. I'm glad you and your mom had good experiences elsewhere, though. We all deserve really good doctors, and it's great that there are a lot out there!

My doctor did monthly weight checks between my first consult and my surgery--even after I had met the requirements for insurance approval. If your doctor doesn't do this, I really wouldn't worry too much. Many doctors want their patients to demonstrate a commitment to change before surgery. But it seems that just as many recognize that many people have a sort of prolonged Last Supper syndrome. If you're worried, call the doctor's office and ask what the doctor's stance is. If it is a concern, ask to see the nutritionist/dietitian before your appointment.

You will have lifting limitations for about 4 weeks. With an infant, I imagine that would be difficult without full-time help.

Yep, my doctor's office is in the eat-your-protein camp, too. They do concede that supplements can be useful on days when eating is tough. And they're okay with substituting a shake for one meal a day. Or to reach Protein goals when they seem unattainable. The latter is how I rationalize my continued use of 1-2 per day. I really don't get enough protein, otherwise. I am sure they'd frown on this...but I don't really see how to stick with ALL their recommendations, otherwise. Something has to give--either I use them and get enough protein, or I don't, and don't.

Congratulations! You've done a wonderful job!

Ha! That sounds like something my son would do! My oldest nephew and his mom lived with my family of origin when I was a teenager. That poor guy had more moms, between my mother, my sisters, and I!

Awesome! What a great day!

Nothing immediately up front. But before my last preop appointment, I was required to pay a $300 program fee.

No, meat won't harm your liver. It's carbs you need to really watch out for. No harm, no foul--now follow the rules from here on out! Good luck :smile2:

I wouldn't go so far as to say stupid you, but I would say that anyone eating several cups of food post-banding is not making choices compatible with weight loss. I would also suggest that, unless the bulk of your intake is really slider food, your level of restriction is NOT what you think it is. What are you eating in a typical day? How do you feel when you eat it? How soon after eating are you hungry again? WHY are you eating cupsful of food? Because you're hungry, or because you can?

Bob, I'm glad you're feeling better today! Liz, I have a 21-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son. I'm VERY familiar with Peanut Brain Syndrome (PBS). The best is when they act like we're the idiots. The good news is that adolescence isn't nearly as horrible as everyone makes it out to be. And that they emerge as real HUMANS on the other side. I've really enjoyed watching my daughter become her own person. But PBS makes me wonder, at times, how they manage to survive the day.

I'm sorry you're disappointed, Christine--I would be, too, I think. Try to think of the Metformin as a temporary crutch to get you over the first hill. Odds are very, very high that, with continued loss, you will be able to ditch it. You've made amazing progress, and will continue to do so. You're doing wonderful things for your body. Some of the rewards will take a little time to manifest--but you're well on your way. (((Hugs)))) You'll get there :w00t:

This is going to sound harsh, but it really is not meant to. It's really just matter-of-fact. You say you can't. But really, you can. You're not doing it, but you can. The problem is that you're expecting some grand external MOTIVATION to arrive for you. And it's not going to. It may show up every now and then---but it's not a given, and it's not a constant. You don't wait to be motivated to brush your teeth. You just do it. You don't wait to be motivated to take a shower. You just do it. Eating well, exercising, etc.---those are things that just need to be done, too. Sometimes, motivation is high. Other times, it's in the gutter. It doesn't matter. These things need to be done. So do them.

I'm two months out, too--and if I ate when hungry,I'd find myself eating ..well, all the time! (I'm only just beginning to approach restriction.) I eat at scheduled times. Eating when hungry has never worked for me in the past, so I'm tackling it in a new way. (That is not to say that, if I'm starving between meals, I won't grab a Babybel...) I find that, when I factor in getting all my fluid and exercise, the mealtimes sort of fall into place. I am tighter in the morning now, so I have a warm drink soon after getting up. Then I take vitamins, meds, etc. After an hour and a half or two (during which I drink my first liter of water for the day), I have breakfast. Since I'm not supposed to drink for 90 minutes after eating, I do my exercise after breakfast. When I get home, I drink another half-liter of water before lunch---by then, it's at least 12:00. Lather, rinse, repeat---after 90 minutes, I work on the second half of my second liter for the day, then start dinner. If I'm hungry later in the evening, I have a warm protein drink (especially if my protein grams are on the low side for the day). It's kind of regimented, but it seems to be doing the trick.