BetsyB

If your doctor allows leeway (mine was fine with other protein shakes, as long as they fell within certain protein & carb parameters), I'd strongly recommend making a switch to Inspire proteins from Bariatric Eating. Their shipping is fast.

Most of the literature does state that pain is right-sided, but it's NOT unusual for it to be on the left side, or to migrate. I hope you get good answers soon--and feel better fast!

I wait 60-90 minutes; my surgeon recommends 90. if I drink sooner, I do find myself hungrier--but that's probably because I'm just moving into dense Proteins. (The mushies tend to leave the stomach more rapidly, especially if Fluid is added.) I don't have any trouble getting fluid in. I just make sure to keep a Water bottle by my side at all times other than the off-limits times :thumbup:

Really? You can't get over it? LOL Look, at 4 weeks postop, there's little to no restriction. There just AREN'T the brakes yet in place. It's the time when we should be focusing on adopting healthier new habits---which, sure, will be breached from time to time. The time to breach those new habits is once they are firmly in place---not right out of the starting gate. Yes, life will involve veering off plan occasionally. Often deliberately, and usually with absolutely no adverse consequence. But why NOT take advantage of this time to master the learning curve. After you've got it down, THEN you can play around a little. Really--is a drink all that important? So important that you "can't get over" the advice not to drink so early in the game? Because if that's the case, you may well be one of the ones posting, in a year, that you just can't get over how you've only lost 10 pounds since you were banded. Re: absorption of alcohol. Our stomach capacities are smaller. Alcohol will therefore take the place of other foods and fluids our bodies need. It's dehydrating, so it's important to alternate it with nonalcoholic Fluid, and to put the brakes on early so that you can give your BODY what it NEEDS--not your MIND what it WANTS. And no, the enhanced intoxication isn't psychological. Tolerance is reduced when intake is so low.

Thanks, Sue, for the good wishes :thumbup: My surgeon is adamant about waiting at least a year, as well. Fortunately, I'm past my baby-making years--my "baby" is now 13!

I understand the back pain concerns completely--I have horrible back issues. I was told that they'd be hugely compounded by pregnancy and was VERY pleasantly surprised that the hormones of pregnancy and breastfeeding vastly improved my pain! If I could have, I would have stayed pregnant forever, it felt so much better! There are a LOT of options for back support for pregnant women--your doc will have good recommendations. You'll be a great mom :confused:

It's a great book---it really is compatible with WLS. Another I'd recommend (along the same lines) is The Food and Feelings Workbook by Karen Koenig.

It has a great deal to do with weight loss. For starters, it affects glucose tolerance--which really puts the kibosh on easy weight loss. A lower in carbohydrate (particularly refined carbs) and higher in Protein (not necessarily HIGH protein, but bumped up a bit) is desirable. Focus on lean protein, heart-healthy fat, carbs from veggies and legumes in relative abundance (after you've met your protein needs), and WHOLE grains and fruit in real moderation (again, after you've met your protein needs). Weight Watchers meals are convenient, but they are NOT good nutrition. It's just as easy, and healthier, to grill some dense, lean protein and steam a bit of veg or make a small salad.

Time is always a problem! But look how skewed your schedule is. Where is the time for YOU?! Your daughter needs a mom who is healthy--she is heavily booked in activities; surely something can give. If nothing else, exercise WHILE she's in her activities. She's in MANY that are fitness-based; while she's engaged, you can do something for YOUR body, too. Or, during homeschooling, work PE into the schedule. Do a Walking Away the Pounds DVD during independent reading time. Where there's a will, there's a way. You just have to work on the will part :confused: As for the soda, if I can give up a lifelong HEAVY caffeinated diet soda habit, you can give up that last one each afternoon---especially since it is jeopardizing the patency of your band! Withdrawal from a single Coke a day is minimal, and can be handled with Tylenol for a couple of days.

I started with my insurance policy. It required I use a Center of Bariatric Excellence. That pointed me in the direction of a couple of hospitals and surgeons. I was lucky enough to find out the father of one of my son's friends had surgery with one of the surgeons in my group. His feedback helped a lot. But all things being equal, I usually start by searching my state's licensure records; though it's not the best gauge of doctor competence, learning whether a doctor has a ton of complaints against him/her is a starting point. Referral by other doctors is iffy---they are not always motivated by real competence. That said, I don't think you're going to find too many shoddy doctors at NYU or Cornell; university-affiliated hospitals are generally the best in terms of quality of care (including nursing care). Since you're dealing with guys who are essentially "tied" in terms of competence, I'd go with the one I felt most comfortable with. You're forging a lifelong relationship--so rapport is more important, IMO, than it is for most other surgeries.

I didn't really have this issue. Once the ball was set in motion (I attended my surgeon's seminar), I was 'in the system," and really---I viewed that as a proving ground for my readiness for surgery. The approval process takes a while. For me, at least, it involved several months during which I made routine trips to the surgeon's office for weight monitoring. I wanted to be approved, therefore, I gave it my all. That does not mean I didn't eat. (Nor does it mean I don't eat now--because really, even with a fresh band and a limited diet, there are plenty of ways to prepare foods that taste very good.) You are NOT GIVING UP food. You are learning to make better choices. There's no time like the present.

I would ask the psych to check with the person who handles insurance for your surgeon's office. S/he will be able to tell the doctor EXACTLY what to include. My psych sent in a 14 page report that made everyone's eyes roll!

I reminded myself that there IS no "last supper." After most of the weight is off, then nothing will be off-limits, food-wise.

Is there room for one more among the Jan Bandits? I was banded on the 12th, and am doing well..but HUNGRY! First fill on 2/12, second on 3/3. 1.What is your current and goal weight? 217/109 2.What is your surgery date? 01/12 /10 3.What is your age? 48 4.Where do you live? Chicago suburbs 5.Where are you having surgery? Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet 6.Who is your Doctor?? Brian Lahmann 7.Insurance or self-pay? Insurance, mostly 8.What was you "deciding factor" for having this surgery? Tired of beating my head against the wall, losing weight over and over, but having difficulty maintaining

I think the Believes are good, but prefer their Inspire (powdered) line to their ready-to-drinks. As good as BElieve is, there still lingers a bit of that proteiny taste/smell. If you don't live near a BE store, the shipping of the BElieves can be tricky--they're packed in glass, and in wintertime, freezing can cause breakage. Plus, they're pricier to ship than the pouches of powder. The Inspire line (including the PURE unflavored whey Protein isolate, which is GREAT--can be added to anything) really lacks ANY trace of the baby-formula-ish proteiny taste/smell. The Dutch chocolate Cake Protein Powder mixed with Almond Breeze? As good as any cocoa you'll ever find. The Pom Razz Sangria in a bottle of Water with Crystal Light lemonade is delicious, too. (Other flavors are great, too, but these are my go-tos these days.)

Addiction-wise, you've shown very fast symptom substitution---most of us do white-knuckle it quite a bit early on, but avoid turning to alternate destructive behaviors. It really concerns me that you've swapped out addictions so quickly. Was the psych you saw for preop evaluation worth his/her salt? I would get into a professional ASAP to nip this in the bud. There are healthy behaviors you can substitute for the destructive--no need to replace overeating with alcoholism. AA would be a great corollary--but I really think that seeing someone who has good experience dealing with the cross-addictions that can occur as a response to bariatric surgery would be a REALLY good idea

The great thing about banding is that it is compatible with later pregnancy. Like all pregnant women, you will need to be careful to get proper nutrition. Your surgeon and OB can work together to determine the calorie level you require, and your band can be adjusted accordingly. YES, you probably WILL have back pain---it's a common occurrence during pregnancy, when body mechanics shift tremendously. But it's TEMPORARY---as will be the weight gain. After all, you WILL have the band still, and will be able to lose the modest amount of weight recommended as a pregnancy gain quite easily. We ALL worry about...well, everything!...when it comes to pregnancy. But this really is one worry you can put to rest. Please don't let your pregnancy be soured by weight ruminations---so many of us (even pre-banding) focused far, far too much on THAT, and far too little on the absolute miracle going on in our bodies! PS-Your worst case scenario seems to be regaining your weight thereby harming your baby for life. My kids have had an overweight mom for a good deal of their lives. Know what? They were gobsmacked when I told them I was having WLS. It had never occurred to them that there was anything about me that required changing. Really, having an overweight mom does NOT RUIN KIDS' LIVES.

I can understand your frustration, and am certain that, in your shoes, I'd be looking at alternatives, too. The alternatives I'd seek, however, would not veer immediately toward gastric bypass. I'd first do EVERYTHING in my power to achieve good restriction (even if that means switching doctors for fills), and would eat very, very, VERY carefully. (You know, like a bypass patient is required to eat.) That means, aiming for at LEAST 60 grams of Protein a day (80-100 is better), starting with protein and eating other foods ONLY after protein needs are met (if there's room), taking a good-quality bariatric Vitamin, exercising daily, getting adequate Water and rest---the WHOLE SHEBANG. With gastric bypass, weight loss is more effortless. AT FIRST. But once the honeymoon period's past, you have to work it as much as you have to work the band---only, well, there's not the leeway for increasing the restriction that the band gives you. Bypass is a great solution for many. It really is. But it's not going to make things easier for you if you haven't been able to manage to do them with the band. It's a much more difficult surgery that requires far more nutritional vigilance for life. The risks are also far greater--not just operatively, but in terms of long-term malabsorption and malnutrition. Why not see if you can find another surgeon in your area who (a) can help you assess your nutritional intake (take a few weeks' journals to your first appointment), (:wink: GET YOU TO APPROPRIATE RESTRICTION, and © broach the subject of revision only when it is apparent you are doing everything possible with the band. The declaration of failure of the band seems premature to me. But I totally understand your frustration.

They sell coats and hats in TN, right? C'mon. You can walk outdoors---and really, it's great for the soul to be outside and in nature. I walk twice a day, outdoors, through Chicago winters. Layers and determination are all it takes. A persistent canine helps. It is addictive.

Is there hope for those with two left feet? Or is it one of those classes that require a lot of coordination?

I walk for miles and miles each day, and am looking forward to summer---I HATE wearing walking shoes (obviously, I still do), but am looking forward to MBT walking sandals. I will wait to invest in the shoes until next winter...foot size will probably be different by then!

I get all my Protein from bariatriceating.com. Their Inspire line is outstanding. My surgeon offers bariatric Vitamins, but I like Bariatric Advantage chewable supplements better--my only "stuck" incident involved a pill, so I'd rather chomp mine up.

I'm not sure I buy into the necessity or value of doing this. Haven't we ALL tried and tested our willpower adequately over the years? Isn't that what drove us here in the first place? The preop diet isn't easy. But most doctors do not recommend just 3 shakes a day, particularly in concert with an hour of vigorous exercise. Some surgeons require NO pre-op diet. Why not let things unfold, and tackle them as required? There just seems to be so little to be gained from proving, to ourselves (once again) how HARD things can be. Why not take the path of least resistance? Do what is asked of you, when it is asked. (And yes, if your doctor suggests a trial, comply---but feel free to ask him/her the rationale for doing so before you do so.) If your doctor is like mine, you might be very pleasantly surprised. Yes, I had a preop diet. It involved 2 shakes a day (spend this preop time seeking out ones you REALLY like), as well as a dinner with Protein and veggies. In addition, we could have broth, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello. NOT a feast, to be sure---but certainly not something that required tons of white-knuckling. You're having this surgery to LET GO of the white-knuckling. Why not start now? It's weight loss--not punishment.

Hydrocortisone can affect wound healing; I would avoid it unless my doctor okayed it. OTC oral Benadryl or its generic equivalent is the route I'd take.

Awesome article, and awesome cause, Mike. Yes, there were some of the (near-obligatory, I think), "Sheesh, eat less! Exercise more" posts--but I was encouraged to see that they were fewer in number than I've seen in the past. Talk is cheap. It's easy to say it's as simple as "energy in, energy out." But we all know that whole host of factors--many of which are physiological, and not related to our behavior with forks--come into play. But we can't really expect people who have never been obese, let alone MO, to understand that. For them, it often is a very simple, "I'll cut out my bagel and take the stairs." (Lucky bastards.)