BetsyB

Seromas are no fun, but fortunately, they're usually no biggie, either. I had a fairly extensive one after my last c-section (at least as long as the largest banding incision), and while it was scary (before I got to the doctor and was reassured), and kind of gross, it was no big deal. The body is pretty amazing, and heals things very nicely when left to its own devices. I know it's not how you envisioned things going--but it sounds like you're well on the way to recovery :thumbup: Congrats on your great loss so far!

Well, you're in an unenviable position, but it's one that almost every bandster before you has experienced. It's a shame that more surgical groups don't really prepare their patients for a significant period of time during which they will not experience restriction. It's normal, and expected--and yet so, so many of us feel tremendously let down. It sounds as though your doctor is very conservative with fills. By the time I was 10 weeks out, I had 8.5 cc in my band; even then, I was only beginning to feel as though the band was making a difference. I'm 9 months out and have pretty good restriction now, though we're still fine-tuning. It's a process--a long process that can be very frustrating if you don't work to cultivate the right mindset. Look, you were obese for a long time, right? Long enough to figure out that dieting alone wasn't going to do it for you. So you have the time to work toward restriction, right? You have the ability, in the meantime, to make food and exercise choices that support weight loss. You can lose weight while you work toward restriction; it's all in your choices. And really, you can choose to accept this as a normal part of the process, or you can choose to be miserable. I opted just to accept it and to eat as though I had restriction, even when I didn't. It paid off for me. It involved weighing and measuring and--yes! being hungry sometimes. Just as if I were on a diet. But I knew I was working toward restriction, and knew it would be the last time I'd be hungry in the name of weight loss. It was excellent practice of a new lifestyle, and prepared me well for eating with restriction. I know it's very, very easy to get into a funk---it is a frustrating process. But you've got the band. Now it's time to work it. Talk with your doctor; ask if your fills can be more frequent or involve infusion of a greater volume of saline. 6 ccs in 6 months is pretty darn conservative. You'll find that, after a certain point, tiny increments do make a big difference---but you're not there yet. Don't give up! Really, getting to that sweet spot (or even close, really) makes a HUGE difference. You're well on your way---it may not seem like it because your progress has been slow, but it's right around the corner for you.

Not really. Typically, the stomach both chemically and mechanically breaks down food. If you've ever thrown up post-banding, you've no doubt noticed that the food that is regurgitated does not contain the bile and stomach juices typical of "normal" emesis; these are present in greater abundance in the stomach below the pouch. The strong muscle contractions that churn food with these chemicals are greater in the stomach below, as well. It could be, but I don't know anyone who's had this done. There is some controversy whether leptin and ghrelin are significantly impacted by banding; some believe that it's purely a restrictive device, with little to no effect on "hunger hormones." This can be true, but it is 100 percent within the control of the individual. I haven't touched a carb other than those from veggie, fruit, or legume sources, since banding. Not my plan :thumbup: I am well on my way, less than 10 pounds from a normal BMI. I fully expect to reach my personal goal, which is 30 pounds further.

While hypothyroidism can cause coldness, for most of us, it's the result of losing lots of insulation. My thyroid is a-okay, but I almost always wear Under Armour and wool socks these days. My ample blanket of fatty insulation is almost gone, and it's totally changed my personal climate.

Not to be overly blunt, but sweets and chips don't go down easily if you choose not to eat them. Your band is empty, so eating healthy foods should not be obstructed, unless you have some persistent swelling. Yes, return to liquids, then advance slowly through mushy and soft foods, as tolerated. Choose good-quality foods, and eat them in appropriate portions. As you move through the stages to solids, be really careful to take small bites, and chew well (so that you don't swallow anything larger than a pencil eraser). Once you're handling solids well, you can assess the need for a fill. Stress does make my band tighter; during those times, I gravitate toward foods that are "easier" on the band. Pushing it leads to swelling, which compounds the problem. Babying the band does the trick. But what does the trick more is adopting good coping techniques. For me, exercise is a huge part of the solution.

I was a long-term, die-hard addict preop, and haven't gone back. When I've had a sip or two to swallow meds (out with family, needed something fast, they had drinks and I didn't sort of situation), it has tasted horrible to me. By the time you've gotten through withdrawal, chances are that you'd just say, "Bleh. This is what I've been craving?" Because it really is kind of gross. (And the carbonation is really uncomfortable, even after just a sip.) Totally not worth it.

It really doesn't migrate, per se, because it's firmly anchored to muscle. However, as you lose body fat, the position of the muscle changes :thumbup:

I don't, but because the sugar alcohols in them cause me terrible bloating, gas, and diarrhea. I can't imagine that a small serving would impede weight loss; if you aren't bothered by the sugar alcohols and are losing well, I wouldn't worry at all. You can always pare them out of your intake if you run into trouble.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat--it was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

The only things I used from my bag were the lip balm and moisturizer. Oh, and of course my change of clothes (for going home). I did buy a nice soft stretchy bra--that was comfy both in bed and on the way home. Otherwise, I didn't even use the robe and slippers---I did tons of hall-walking, but it was the middle of the night, and no one was around. The gown they gave me wrapped around well, so nothing was visible. And because of the telemetry leads, IV tubing, etc., it was just easier not to wrestle into a robe.

I have to add, it looks like your doctor's really conservative with fill volume; that can stretch things out a bit. My first fill was 4cc, and my second 4.5. I don't know the volumes of subsequent fills (I stopped asking), but they were smaller in volume. At first, larger volume fills are okay, because they simply don't effect as much of a change. (You won't swell terribly because the band is relatively lax, and not squishing the stomach as much). With only 4 cc fill now, I wonder if maybe the doctor would be willing to give you a more aggressive fill next time? It's worth asking.

My fourth fill was the watershed for me. With the third, I felt ... different, but not significantly. The fourth, which was much smaller in volume, had huge impact. Since then, I've been fine-tuning. Hang in there--you're doing everything right! You will soon reap the rewards :wink2:

Thank you. But as you can see from my weight loss, I don't need luck. "Your mileage may vary" means that everyone is different, and what works for one person does not necessarily work for another. I stated what works for me, and then, with that phrase, acknowledged that your needs might be very different. Do what works for you. Clearly, your approach is doing the trick very nicely. Other approaches are no less valid or appropriate. Not everyone has the same food issues. I don't avoid ice cream because I am afraid of losing control; bingeing has never been an issue for me. I was never a compulsive eater. I could eat a scoop of ice cream and not think about it again for six months. If I wanted to, that's exactly what I'd do. My weight issues are related to ridiculously low caloric needs. This doesn't leave much wiggle-room for extras. I lose---and more importantly, FEEL--better when I choose foods that meet my body's needs. I don't miss the foods I don't eat. If i did, I'd find a way to have them now and then. It's not "extreme thinking." It's the result of identifying what my body needs, and respecting it.

I went down a size or so around 60 pounds or so (well, 75 from my highest weight). Since then, there hasn't been any change. I'm in the same size shoe I was when I was at goal previously, so I think this is it, for me.

Totally normal. I have good restriction, and can still drink fluids very freely.

I aim for 80-100 grams. Now that my weight is lower, I am happy with the lower end of the range. My diet consists primarily of lean Protein and nonstarchy veggies. I also use protein supplements 1-2x/day.

My brain has stayed pretty aligned with my body during this particular loss. I think exercise has tremendously helped me get in touch with this. That said, I'm not blind. So my well-aligned brain can see my upper arms and say, "Um, no." (I have a consult with a plastic surgeon scheduled for when I'm at goal.)

Well, my doctor's regimen omits oatmeal and fruit--he's a Protein guy. Have you ever smelled baby food meat? Even babies don't like it! Oatmeal and fruit, I'd be fine with. But I'm 9 months out and still haven't added oatmeal back in!

No, you haven't failed. Banding isn't an event, it's a process. You have plenty of opportunity to turn it around. So do it--it's all in your power. If you really are genuinely hungry, give your doctor's office a call; they may allow you to advance your diet sooner than originally planned. Know that every doctor has different protocol---mine has his patients on pureed Protein on Day Three postop. The chances that eating small amounts of food too soon will cause lasting damage are really very small. Try to relax. Beating yourself up can perpetuate the poor eating cycle. Forgive yourself. Look for a solution. Call your doc, or research other docs' postop eating regimens. Don't get sucked into the vortex of self-recrimination---just make a plan to succeed, and follow through with it. You really can do it!

Give them a call and ask; I got my second fill 3 weeks early, then kept my scheduled appointment and used it for my third fill. So, I got 3 fills in the space of time usually required to get 2. It made a huge difference for me. In the meantime, knock off the eating everything in sight! :thumbup:

I was working, part-time, within two days or so. But I have a very flexible job that allows me to work at home. It hurts---enough that you really, really want the pain to stop ASAP. Fortunately, it usually passes quickly--one way or another (the food either moves through the stoma or is expelled) Walking can be done immediately postop; more strenuous exercise, including weight-lifting, is postponed until after the 4-week check. At that time I was cleared to exercise without restriction. No! I was hungry, and happy to do it. Restriction is a very gradual process, so early eating experiences tend to be pretty much like preop eating. Well, we're divorcing; he likes the loss just fine, but the loss has helped give me the strength to leave a marriage in which my needs have not been met.

Bleck. If I had to do baby food, I wouldn't have had surgery. Seriously--how repulsive. Every doctor is different. Mine has his patients puree Protein for about 10 days (starting on the third postop day)--but a quick whiz in the Magic Bullet is light years away from he grossness that is baby food! After that, it was soft/moist foods. Your doctor's regimen may be different.

I have a Realize band and couldn't be less concerned about the issue they're addressing. It is not apt to ever pose a problem for any of us; if it does, it is easily correctible.

I order bariatric Vitamin caps from my doctor's office. They dissolve quickly, so there are no getting stuck issues (and I do tend to have problems with pills). They're more reasonably priced than Bariatric Advantage or Celebrate, and I feel better with them too. I order from bmisurgery.org

I feel absolutely nothing different when swallowing--and I have good restriction. When I feel my band in action, it's toward the end of a meal.