BetsyB

Ha! No, I haven't had pasta--but I don't think low carb is for everyone, or even necessary for good loss; it just does the trick for me. salad is not a slider for me---but it is kind of hit and miss. I can have no problem at all, or one darn leaf can lie across my stoma in a way that prevents anything from moving for hours. Still, I love a good salad, and am stubborn. So I keep trying.

Well, waiting for motivation to show up isn't the answer. You have to do what you have to do, whether you feel motivated and fired up, or not. Think of the things we do each day---it's not like toothbrushing or making the bed or cleaning the cat box are particularly motivating. But they need to be done, so we do them. Same goes for efforts that support loss. So far, your loss has been good. I know it's demotivating when you don't see the results you'd like--but that doesn't buy you indulgences; you still have to do the same stuff. What are you eating? Are you journaling what you eat and your exercise? Fitday.com is really good for helping you get a handle on your energy intake/output. If you an afford it, a BodyBugg provides the same information, only a bit more accurately. Getting the scale moving in the right direction is motivating--but only to a certain extent. (If it did the trick, none of us would be banded.) So you really need to identify what you are willing to give up, what you're not willing to give up, and find a way to put those things together in a way that supports loss. Also, IMO exercise is the most critical piece of the pie. If you're not already incorporating exercise, it's time to give that some very serious thought.

For me, it felt very diet-like when I was working toward restriction. I reminded myself it was the last time I'd be hungry in the name of weight loss, and stuck with my doctor's plan--which is quite restrictive. That gave me a leg up, in terms of loss; by the time I reached restriction, I'd lost a good deal. Now that I have good restriction, it doesn't feel like a diet at all. When stomach real estate is limited, then the restricted intake feels just right. There are very few times when I feel restricted, or limited, or as though I "can't" have something. The "can't" feeling now is much more of "don't want"---I don't want to eat things that don't give my body what it needs. I don't want to eat something that will push me past "enough" and into uncomfortable "too much" territory. I don't want to eat something inappropriate if it will take up space that could be better used for foods that would provide my body with good nourishment. It all falls into place when you have restriction. The head games really quiet down when hunger is removed from the equation.

Thanks, everyone--the things I've gotten credit for (like the pudding in protein) have come from other sources. That one is from the boards at Bariatric Eating, where there are also a million really excellent recipes (not just for doctoring Protein shakes--lots of great recipes for that--, but for many foods.) Like Honk, I use romaine for sandwiches. I haven't yet had bread, and don't plan to reintroduce it any time soon. I also like Jachut's green smoothie recipe. It's great for sneaking in veggies and fruits. From a Weight Watchers board, I got the idea for pumpkin smoothies. I use vanilla protein, almond milk, about a quarter cup of canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the plain pumpkin), and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. LOVE this, especially this time of year.

walk and wait....that's pretty much all you can do.

Welcome--glad you found us :biggrin:

I use a bariatric multi my doctor's office sells--because my FSA reimburses me. I've also used Bariatric Advantage, and like them. In addition, I take Biotin, Co Q-10 (at my surgeon's recommendation), Vitamin D, Omega oils, and zinc.

I low-carb with the band; I know I would not be nearly as successful without this approach. That said, I think it's worth trying to tweak fill level a bit; you had a lot of trouble at a higher volume of fill---but there is a lot of room between 7 cc and 8.5 cc. A LOT of room! I'd probably ask my doctor to fill in tiny increments; as you toe the line of restriction, that's often the best route to take. Low-carbing is so much easier with restriction. I wholeheartedly think banding was the best choice for me--but do have appropriate restriction. And THAT is what makes it possible to stick to the impossibly low calorie range and carb intake my body requires to lose.

No doubt about it--it was the best decision I ever made for myself.

I think the "eating just about whatever I wanted" is the problem. It doesn't matter whether you are banded or not, "eating whatever you want" doesn't work, particularly if you have a history of morbid obesity. Even if you're exercising a lot. It's great that you've had a fill--now you need to concentrate on making sure your body gets the right fuel in the right amounts. In your shoes, I'd journal eating and exercise at Fitday.com, to see where you're coming out, in terms of calorie balance or, if you are gadget-minded and can afford it, investing in a BodyBugg for the same type of information, but a little more accurately.

Yes, you can get protein count books; my surgeon gives one to each patient in a "goodie bag" preop.

I haven't encountered this much IRL---but when I have, I've told people, very simply, "I found a way out." I was not able to lose successfully---and maintain that loss--before surgery. Now I am. Doesn't matter one damn bit what they think about my choice. For me, it was the way out. Easy, hard, whatever....I got out.

My doc vetoes all NSAIDs. He makes exceptions for those who take low-dose enteric-coated aspirin for cardiac purposes. (They are tiny pills, pass through the stoma, and are absorbed in the small intestine.)

I aim for <50 g/day net carbs, but I don't agonize over the number. I get carbs only from veggie, legume, and fruit sources. (Mostly from nonstarchy veggies.)

"Really? you think so, Doctor? I'll keep that in mind next time I'm up at 5 a.m., exercising before work while you're...what? sleeping? And when I'm measuring out my 3 ounces of Protein and half-cup of nonstarchy veggies, I'll be sure to remind myself how easy this is. Sure, the band will help with hunger--once I reach restriction. But only as long as I use it properly. But hey---if you say it's easy, it must be easy, huh? I hope you are better-informed about the topics you discuss with your patients." (But then, I was always a mouthy nurse.)

I am taking Celexa, which is a 'cousin' of Zoloft. I started this past week (for reasons similar to yours), and was queasy and stomach-achey for the first couple of days, but that has receded quickly. My doctor chose Celexa because it's one of a handful of SSRIs available in liquid form. In capsule or tablet form, I do experience a lot more discomfort from meds---but the liquid really is far, far easier to tolerate. Zoloft is available in liquid form, if you're not already taking it that way. Once the initial gastrointestinal side effects (which happen to pretty much all of us who start this class of meds), you may find that liquid works better for you, too. Regarding the post about kava: it really is excellent for reducing anxiety, but its hepatotoxicity has caused it to come under close scrutiny. I'm all for natural alternatives, but kava is one that I've abandoned because of several documented cases of liver failure related to its use.

I would choose a plastic surgeon who is experienced with bariatric patients; mine routinely cares for patients with bands, and routinely switches ports to low-profile ports during lower body lifts and abdominoplasties. If my surgeon were at all uncomfortable working around the port/tubing, I would choose another surgeon. I am not yet at goal, but have a consult scheduled for the spring.

As I posted on the other thread, Elfie, most doctors refuse to perform the procedure on young teens. There is a reason for this, and it's maturity and compliance. It's not just a stubborn opinion I refuse to change--it's the current medical stance. I'm not a 'never change my mind' person--I am an RN with experience both with bariatric patients and adolescents. However, very small studies are now appearing, demonstrating that for some, banding is a good option. http://www.generalsurgerynews.com/index.asp?section_id=69&show=dept&issue_id=642&article_id=15311 If continued research backs studies like this very small one up, I think we can expect to see more surgeons willing to perform the procedure on younger teens. And for some teens (just as for some adults--because we all know that it isn't the answer across the board for anyone), it may be a good choice. My issue will remain primarily ethical. Banding, as we all know, requires enormous lifestyle change. I believe that the person making those changes should be the one to consent. That is never the case when a minor is operated on. And that is a problem for me.

whoops--duplicate post.

Eggs do that to me every time. They are like lead, and stick around for the longest time. They don't typically get stuck for me---they just don't pass through quickly. Your serving size was really pretty big (if you had both eggs at once)--and that could be playing into your discomfort considerably.

I was cleared to use this machine (and do all exercise, without restriction) after my 4-week check.

Not more than a year out, but hair loss tends to peak around 4-6 months postop (because the trauma of surgery interrupts the growth cycle). Starting preoperatively, I focused on getting 80-100 g protein/day. I started bariatric Vitamins preop, as well. Postop I added Biotin and zinc. When loss started, I used Nioxin shampoo and conditioner, at my doctor's recommendation. At 8 months, the loss has pretty tapered off, and regrowth is occurring. Even though I did all the "right" things, I think I did them more to make myself feel as though I was doing something when, in fact, the loss would have occurred anyway. Still, it didn't hurt anything!

2-4 weeks postop is recommended. Hold out as long as you can--it really will help your wound healing.

She was banded (there is lots of documentation of this), and was rumored to have planned to have it removed because she was concerned it was playing into her previous bulimia issues. Last I read, she was unfilled, but still had the band in place.

As a teacher, you do indeed know many. As an RN with experience regarding compliance in this age group, I do, too. My stance is that a 14-year-old is developmentally unprepared to make a decision to alter his/her body in this way. I believe it's unethical for parents to make this type of decision for kids. A few years make all the difference, IMO. Just a handful of years---an 18-year-old, for example, may be in a totally different place. (Or may not be--I mean, there are plenty of adults who have difficulty complying! That's for the surgeon and psych and everyone else who helps determine readiness to assess.) Would those who were fat as kids loved to have had a solution? Absolutely. But childhood's/early teen years are the time, perhaps, to focus on fostering the skills required to have success with banding, if that's the ultimate plan. Spend some time really preparing. When able to offer legal consent independently, then I think it's a terrific idea, and would support either of my kids if they were in that position. I do have a fourteen-year-old -- he's smart, he's motivated, he's ....fourteen. No way on God's green earth would I consent to elective surgery until other avenues had been thoroughly explored. And at 14, you just can't ever say they have, IMO. (Then again, I don't have a child who's battled obesity throughout childhood--nor did I, so perhaps my opinion is colored by that.) But, in stark contrast to my opinion is this study, which I just pulled up. It's very small---so small that I am not sure its statistical importance. But it is food for thought. Its gist is that banding works better for 14-18-olds than lifestyle change alone. http://www.generalsurgerynews.com/index.asp?section_id=69&show=dept&issue_id=642&article_id=15311