BetsyB

You don't have to love it--you just have to do it. You don't need a punishing regimen to see results. I'm a walker--I walk long, and I walk fast, but I didn't start out that way. As I've lost weight and gotten better-conditioned, it's just happened. You can't use body aches as an excuse. The body needs to move; it hurts when it does not. Will you get sore? You might. But that doesn't last forever. I let pain keep me from exercise for too long. I have 5 herniated disks and sacroiliac joint disease. I have a bum knee and a bum shoulder. When I started exercising routinely 4 years ago, I found out something startling: using those body parts didn't make anything worse. And more surprisingly, I felt better. Not everyone ends up loving exercise. But it's one of those things, like brushing your teeth, or emptying the litter box, or taking the garbage to the curb on Thursdays. YOU JUST HAVE TO DO IT.

It sounds like your band needs some fine-tuning---and that you need to get moving! My back is horrible I have 5 herniated disks from neck to tail, as well as sacroiliac joint disease. I am in pain almost all the time--sometimes severe, even with meds. I exercise every.single.day--usually twice. It does not make my pain worse--it promotes weight loss (which helps the back enormously), and the movement is good for the body. Unless your doctor is telling you that walking will cause you permanent nerve damage, please don't use back pain as an excuse to keep you from doing the one thing that is most apt to give you relief. If you don't have one already, find a good pain specialist. Periodic epidural injections help me tremendously. Appropriate medication can help you engage in life productively, as well. Even simple measures such as ice or heat can make a huge difference. Re: "chewing to mush." That would gross me out, too. My doctor's rule of thumb is "no bigger than a pencil eraser." If I had to chew to mush, I wouldn't eat!

Beano helps :thumbup:

I know it's morning, so my answer's a day late and a dollar short. But if liquid is going down, I would wager the pill had already past, and the sensation you were feeling was a bit of swelling resulting from the stuck incident. pills cause me trouble, too. I've had my meds switched to liquid whenever possible. My Vitamins are capsules, but not time-release. Taking them with warm liquid ensures the Gelatin cap dissolves before I have real trouble.

You're thinking of endoscopic. Laparoscopic means that fiberoptic cameras are used to guide surgery.

Are you confusing laparoscopic surgery with single-incision surgery? Most bands are installed with laparoscopically. Traditionally, this involves 5 incisions; 4 are tiny, and one (the port incision) is a bit larger. Single-incision laparoscopy involves one incision through the bellybutton. It's not nearly as widely done. With most surgeons, it's not an option because they don't do it, for a number of reasons. Open surgery (with the traditional single, large incision) is done in cases where laparoscopy is not an option; if my surgeon told me he needed to do it this way, I wouldn't even question him---some people do need open procedures, and I know he'd share a very good rationale with me.

Please don't do this without checking with your doctor or pharmacist. Many capsules should not be opened and sprinkled. Time-release caps are designed to dissolve in the small intestine rather than the stomach, and opening them completely changes the bioavailability of the medication. Quite often, meds come in other forms. When they do not, a similar drug in liquid (or crushable) form is usually available. When I have (non time-release) caps bugging me (not usually stuck, per se, but kind of lying against the stoma and obstructing things) warm liquids do help (rather than back things up). They dissolve the Gelatin and make it possible for the cap to pass through easily.

I don't have advice on the bread, because I haven't tried it. But... Please don't do this. It is eating disordered behavior. Instead, try to find a bread you can tolerate. Lots of people like the bagel thins, when toasted, and find that they work well. About the plastic surgery: most surgeons want their patients to be at their goal weights, or very close, before consultation; there's no way to give concrete answers about what to expect if they cannot see the "blank canvas" with which they will be working. HOWEVER, it's not too early to start "shopping" for surgeons--interviewing them, discussing options, and so on. ETA: It used to be that patients would be advised to wait 6-18 months after reaching their goal to have plastic surgery. It's not the general recommendation any longer; if there is excess skin, there is excess skin---there is no need to wait to remove it (and it ain't going anywhere on its own).

That's why the years they do couples seem to work better, I think. Especially early in the season, when there is such a disparity between the progress of the men and women. As the seasons progress, it seems like the women often have the edge. We always wind up with one or two who really, really kick ass.

I agree, it's time to see your PCP. I would not relate a long-term headache to the band, but would simply describe the nature and duration of pain as best as you can. Provide as much information to the doctor as you can--without drawing conclusions. By this, I mean that it might be useful for him to see food journals (might be an allergy issue); to know how much Fluid you're taking in; to see a calendar/journal in which you've recorded details of each headache (how and when you experience onset of pain, rate it on a scale of 1-10, describe what you do for relief and how well that works; relate it to any identifiable stressors or activities, etc.) Headache can be tricky to pin down. The more information you can offer, the better.

It's pretty common for loss to periodically slow down/stall. Sometimes, the body just sort of says, "Hey! What's going on here!" and rebels a little. It regroups, then loss resumes. Make sure that you're doing all the stuff that promotes loss--eating the right foods in the right amounts, getting enough exercise, getting adequate Fluid, getting enough rest. If all of those things are on target, just hang in there---the ball will start moving again :thumbdown:

Pull out your insurance policy and read their requirements for bariatric surgery. You may find that you do not need your PCP's participation at all. Then, research surgeons who perform banding in your area. Attend one of their seminars. Find out how s/he can get the ball rolling for you. If your insurance does require a referral from PCP, find another. Drugs aren't the answer---they never have been, and they never will be. I personally would not be comfortable with a physician who prescribed them when I had the documentation you describe. She is being paternalistic and making decisions for you when you have already demonstrated a strong commitment to losing weight and have made a personal decision for which you need her support.

One thing that leaps to mind (because I actually have a husband for whom this is currently a very real problem) is your hydration status. I am going to give advice that sounds counterintuitive. If you are drinking 10 glasses of Water in addition to other fluids and Protein drinks, you might want to pare back a little. (Post-op, you'll likely have to pay attention to getting ENOUGH liquid, so this is not a long-term suggestion; just something you might want to consider as you endure the preop agony.) Everyone always says to drink, drink, drink. But once you're well-hydrated, there's no such thing as "better hydrated." Our kidneys do an exquisite job of ridding our bodies of excess fluid---but when they are flooded with too much Fluid, their ability to finely regulate electrolytes is compromised. This can wreak havoc with electrolytes (sodium in particular) and cause weakness, headache, and other (sometimes very serious) problems. The easiest way to gauge hydration is urine color. If it's very dark, you need more fluid. If it's pale yellow, you're a-okay. If it's clear, you can ease off on fluid a bit.

At two weeks out, I would not be terribly concerned about damaging anything. I"m sorry you experienced discomfort---rice can be problematic for many. But just hop back on the wagon. You'll be fine :thumbdown:

When you get stomach flu, quite often, you have diarrhea instead of vomiting. If you do heave/retch, doctors often ask that you notify them so that they can prescribe antiemetic (antinausea/vomiting) meds so that you don't risk band slippage. The anatomy is such that stuff from the lower portion of the stomach can't really get back up--so the heaving is dry (unless you have a little bit in your pouch at the beginning). So, the idea is to stop that heaving so that your band stays right where it belongs.

That I can exercise complete control over what I put into my body---and that it feels great. Eating a low-carb diet and exercising routinely Believe in yourself. Set yourself up for success. Have high expectations, but realize that you are human, and are "allowed" to make mistakes. You will learn from them Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. I think it's the most crucial part of the lifestyle change. Don't be discouraged when, at the beginning, you do not feel "different." It's typical to experience a period of time when the band isn't yet doing its "trick." You may be hungry--but it will be the last time you'll be hungry in the name of weight loss. DON"T LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR LOSING WEIGHT--you can lose weight during bandster hell; follow your doctor's rules--and you will lose. If you do feel discouraged, know that it gets so, so much better as you approach and achieve restriction. Don't be afraid to take pain meds if you need them. We all emphasize what a breeze the surgery is--and compared to many things, it is an easy procedure. But it hurts, and if you need pain relief, use it--it will help you get moving, and that is so important. Walk as much as you can after surgery--it will help you feel better much faster. But also be sure to get enough rest. Don't break the rules--at least not at first. Learn how to maximize your loss by using your band the way your doctor intends. You will have a lifetime to tweak things to fit your lifestyle; commit to spending the first year or so adopting new habits.

When you talk to the surgeon, spend some time with him discussing how and what you eat. If you were to journal your food intake for a period of time before your appointment (fitday.com is a good site, but there are many), it will help him get a really good idea of what "kind" of eater you are. BMI isn't the only criterion that should be used to decide what surgery to have. The long-range results for both gastric banding and gastric bypass are about the same. (Yes, you lose more rapidly with bypass---but overall, the outcomes are similar.) It is more important to identify which surgery with which your eating style is best aligned. My doctor paid a lot of attention to my eating history. I did have food journals for him to look over---and in the end, he told me he thought I was a much better candidate for banding. Your doctor may reach a different conclusion---but you can help him reach the right conclusion with you if you give him as much information as possible.

Without even getting into the starvation mode debate, there's really no way to ascertain whether Amanda needs more or fewer calories based on the information given. Journalling both food and exercise on a site such as fitday.com will give a far better idea of energy input/output. The "day off" this week, as well as very loose adherence to an eating program ...well, maybe Amanda needs more calories, or maybe she's grossly underestimating her caloric intake. Amanda, in order to make wise decisions about the course of action to take, you need to have good baseline data. All the advice from others in the world doesn't amount to anything if it's not the right advice for you. To figure out what's right for you, you have to assess your situation clearly and honestly, then systematically make changes to find what works (and what does not). So, start by recording what you're currently eating. Assess what it's giving your body. THEN make changes. Maybe, for a two weeks, you would want to try adding 100 calories/day. Assess how that change affects your body. If it works, keep it up (or even see if another 100 calories keeps you going at the same, or better, rate). If not, try something else (bumping up or changing exercise, eating a few fewer calories---depending on what you determine your baseline to be---bumping up Protein, paring down on carbs, whatever.) Getting a baseline idea of what isn't working can help get you on track to a routine that will work. And like Denise noted, it may just be that you've hit a rate of loss that will be typical for you. The results really, really do add up over time.

Congratulations!

I'm starting to get this--and it's so silly! I'm a little more than 10 pounds from a normal BMI--and plan to go lower. I think some people are just so used to having me a certain way that they don't *get* me now. They'll get over it

I'm sorry you're feeling so cruddy. coffee (even decaf) really stimulates stomach acid production; if you are experiencing indigestion, it probably is not a good choice, at least right now. For me, warm liquids are soothing, so many you can find an alternative.

What you're doing wrong is making up your own rules and assuming they will work better than what your doctor told you to do. In short, you're sabotaging your success. I'd recommend tracking your eating and exercise on Fitday.com. It will let you enter the nutritional information for your Lean Cuisines. After a few days, look at the pattern. You will likely see that you're getting inadequate Protein, and a whole lot of ...well, nothing. Throw in a day off every week---and you're setting yourself up for failure. I am not in the "you're eating too little" camp. I think rather than focusing on the often-given "eat more" advice, it would be a FAR better idea to reconsider the nutrition advice given by the surgeon/dietitian whose expertise you (or your insurance) paid good money. You may or may not need more calories. There's no way to really know, because you're using free days, etc. Track what you're doing so you have a realistic view of what you are giving your body. You don't have to track forever--just long enough to get an honest view. Sluggish weight loss aside, you are not giving your body what it needs to be healthy.

My favorite is tuna tartare or tuna sashimi from my favorite sushi place. But it's not something I rely on routinely--I can't afford it as often as I'd like! On a routine basis, I rely on the basics: chicken, fish, turkey, lean beef, lean pork. LOTS of Beans (chilis, soups--and yes, I know some doctors say no to Soup because it's supposed to be a slider, but for me it isn't, so I eat it). I use Protein supplements pretty routinely to bump up my protein because I feel and lose better when I aim for 80-100g/day. My favorites are the Inspire powders (Dutch chocolate, especially) and PURE unflavored whey protein isolate from bariatriceating.com.

I know it's hard to hear, but the first fill often does not effect the change that bandsters so badly want. Band adjustment is a process. For some of us, it takes several fills to experience any restriction--and often more to fine-tune adjustment. As frustrating as it is, try to remember that this is the last time you will be hungry in the name of weight loss. Stick to your doctor's recommended eating plan--so that you get a leg up on loss---and know that it will get better. Your first fill may or may not give you some relief. It's not unusual for there to be some restriction at first (due to swelling), and for that to subside. No matter what your experience, it will take you a step closer to where you want to be. I didn't feel much difference at all until my third fill. I was lucky that my doctor was willing to accelerate timing for me a little bit; I had my first fill at 4 weeks, and my second and third fills at 3-week intervals after. (Usually he waits 6 weeks.) But even after that point, I've had a lot of fine-tuning; I've since had 4 fills, and only now have what seems to be lasting restriction. Don't get discouraged. It does get easier each step of the way....but it's a process.

Hboyd is correct. The first place to start is with your insurance policy. It will spell out the conditions that must be met in order for bariatric surgery to be approved. Depending on those conditions, you may have to have a referral from your PCP to a surgeon---or you may be able to initiate the process yourself. My insurance covers the procedure for those who are 18 and older. (Don't be discouraged--the preop process is lengthy, and starting it now may be just right.) It does not require my PCP to be involved, so my next step was researching surgeons in my area. My insurance specified that I use a Bariatric Center of Excellence, so that narrowed choices in my area. An acquaintance had used a certain surgical group, so I started (and stuck with them). From there, it was a matter of following the surgeon's path: I started with their informational seminar. At that time, I provided insurance and other basic information. Within a day or two, the surgeon's insurance specialist verified that I was preapproved, and scheduled me for an appointment. From there, it was a matter of following the surgeon's procedures (also guided by insurance requirements, to a certain degree): seeing various specialists for surgical clearance. My insurance did require a 3-month supervised diet. My surgeon did not specify a plan; I was permitted to use any method that had been previously successful for me, but was required to lose 6 pounds within that time frame. (The amount was dictated by insurance; though they require a BMI of 40 without comorbidity, they used my STARTING weight---which is good, because the 6 pounds pushed me below 40). Once all the criteria (surgeon and insurance requirements) were met, then the paperwork was submitted to insurance for final approval. So...start with your policy. It will tell you what is required. Depending on its requirements, you will either see your family doctor or attend a surgeon's informational seminar. If you are not relying on insurance, then you can start with the seminar. Good luck! I think it's great that you're choosing to conquer this problem now, when you have your whole life ahead of you.