BetsyB

I did all of the recommended things--getting enough Protein, drinking enough Fluid, taking Biotin and zinc supplements (and a bariatric multivitamin), using Nioxin, etc. I did lose enough hair that I got quite nervous that, if I lost more, the whole universe would notice---despite the efforts I made to prevent the loss. Fortunately, the loss really tapered off. It peaked during months 4-6, and now it seems to be staying put. I suspect that all the things I did to prevent loss just sort of prevented me from going nuts---it made me feel like I was doing something. In reality, the hair growth cycle is interrupted by traumas such as surgery---but it gets back in sync with time.

Each surgery has benefits and drawbacks. I chose the band because it was the least invasive, surgically-speaking. And also, it does not interfere with the absorption of nutrients. (Bypass results are faster partly because nutrients are not absorbed; after about 12-18 months, the body does become more efficient at again absorbing some nutrients---which can affect loss or result in gain. But lifelong deficiencies of other nutrients remains a possibility---one that I was not willing to risk.) Another consideration for me was the fact that the long-term weight loss results for bypass are about the same as those for the band. Because the odds of success were roughly the same (albeit somewhat slower with the band, for many), I again opted for the least invasive. I should also mention that my surgeon--who performs both surgeries, as well as the sleeve---recommended against bypass for me. I had identified before seeing him that my issue with loss was caloric intake; my body requires around 800 calories/day to lose, and that was not sustainable long-term without intervention. When I produced a long-term record of my dietary intake, exercise, and weight history, he agreed that banding was the best option. I've been very, very happy with my decision. I've lost at a great rate, and have felt terrific. I do have to say that my surgeon recommends the same diet for banded patients as he does for bypass patients---and that has been tremendously important in terms of promoting my good loss. There are so many considerations--I wish you good luck with your decision. If you want any more information or feedback, feel free to PM.

If you're feeling well-restricted, I, too would avoid a fill. It sounds as though you're doing the right things. Sometimes the body just needs a breather to regroup. Plateaus can be persistent, but they always end. Do make sure you're doing the things you need to do to promote loss---at some point, you might need to reassess caloric intake (because needs go down as you lose), but it's probably premature for that. Hang in there! If you're concerned, journal your intake and exercise someplace like Fitday so you can identify if anything warrants tweaking. But chances are, just riding it out will do the trick :thumbup:

oh, no--both of you--I'm so sorry! I am definitely tight with stress--very. It can be a struggle to eat. Jacqui, it isn't a given you'll look sick. There are wonderful antiemetics now that will be a godsend. When you do have difficulty, it can be helpful to choose cold foods rather than warm---they tend to be easier going down (and staying down, if vomiting becomes an issue; hopefully it will not). I will keep both you and Rach in my thoughts and prayers.

I get 800-900 calories/day (I am for low 800s), ~100 g Protein, <50 g carb. I take supplemental Omega fats, so sometimes my fat grams are a higher than the 20 g your nutritionist recommends. (Some days, they're 20 percent of my daily intake, some days, more--I don't obsess because I'm fine with the heart-healthy stuff, and it does increase satiety.) I exercise at least once daily--usually twice. I've lost at a very consistent 2.6 pounds/week since banding. I've had a couple of very brief plateaus--but have been very happy with my progress.

I never have viewed sneezing as optional--when I have to do it, I have to do it. But you're right, it can be uncomfortable postop. I always tried to splint my abdomen (press a pillow or my hands against it) before a cough or sneeze; it helps.

I think it's important to keep in mind that people tend to post when they are having difficulties. Those of us who are doing great don't tend to post, "Had another great day today--no problems at all!" People post to vent, or to get solutions---but there are an awful lot of us who are really happy with the band.

There is no "just in case." The clothes are history. I was contemplating keeping my largest pair of jeans as a reminder of how far I've come, but I really think I'll just take a picture of me in them when I hit goal----and donate them to charity.

I'd call the office; in a busy practice, the website is the last thing to be checked. A call will get a response.

My doctor's rule is to notify him if more than 8 or so hours elapse without the ability to drink fluid.

How frustrating for you! Do you know how many ccs you have in your band? When you say you can't eat anything, what does that really mean? What foods are you eating? In what quantities? I would strongly recommend journaling your intake someplace like fitday.com; it makes it much easier to see why loss is or is not occurring. I know you're experiencing a lot of discomfort, but is exercise a possibility for you? I know that it helps me tremendously--for loss, but more importantly, emotionally. When I am frustrated, there's nothing quite like a walk outdoors to put things in perspective. It sounds as though you're terribly disappointed right now. But you're still early in the game. Because you haven't had the opportunity to really use the band in a way that promotes loss---and you haven't yet achieved appropriate restriction---I am not sure I'd rush to have it removed. You can always have it taken out, down the road, if you determine it really is the culprit in your discomfort. But since it's there, why not work hard with your doctor to achieve the right level of restriction? Then you can fine-tune what you're eating so that it meets your needs, satisfies you, and promotes loss. The hernia repair itself may effect a great change in how you feel---and make you see things in a new light. I'm so sorry for your frustration and pain--sometimes, it seems terribly unfair that things are so difficult. But hernia aside, you're in a period known as bandster hell---when you're low on the learning curve, have inappropriate restriction, and have to learn how to live with the band and how to work it in order to achieve success. The band really might not be right for you. But bandster hell is probably not the best time to reach that conclusion; few of us achieved the results we wanted during that phase unless we were very, very committed to eating a restrictive diet and were willing to be hungry while we waited for the band to become adjusted well enough to help with the task. Did your doctor give you realistic postop expectations? Does he offer good aftercare and support?

It's true, however, that eating something like a dense chicken breast just isn't as easy as eating a slider food, whether that food is "good" or "bad." My band is pretty nicely restrictive. Most days I tolerate dense Protein very well---but when I have PMS or am very stressed, I do have difficulty with certain foods. I accept this, and work around it. But if it were to be the norm for me---if, for example, I had really practiced taking small bites, chewing really well, and so on, but still was uncomfortable with dense protein or got stuck routinely---then I would seriously consider having a bit of fill removed. It's really a learning curve, though. Most of my discomforts are from user error--from pushing the envelope when I know I'm tight (or accidentally finding out I'm tight, but not "listening" after the first bite tells me). With time and experience, you'll learn what "healthy" foods work for your band. And you'll also learn that there may be days that are just plain unpredictable. I had one yesterday---for some reason, I couldn't even get cottage cheese down. Cottage cheese! How mushy can you get?! So I just had a soft-foods day. Not "bad" stuff--just stuff I knew would go down and give me the protein and other nutrients I needed. This resulted in a very hungry day, because mushies slide on through so much faster. But at least I got what my body needed into it---without aggravating things.

I second the warm liquid advice. When I get stuck on pills, it's not a throat sensation---it's like a clogged drain sensation. That said, there is a phenomenon known as pill esophagitis, when pills actually do get stuck going down. It happens more frequently when they are cut (and therefore not smooth and designed for easily passage). Warm liquids do help. But what helps me most is asking that my doctors prescribe liquids for every medicine that can possibly be prescribed in that form. I just have terrible trouble with pills. (Gelcaps, no problem. Capsules, no problem--they dissolve before getting near my stoma. But pills? Either I get pill esophagitis that bugs me for days, or I get stuck, and spend a couple of days after getting stuck on everything else, too.) PS--I hope that whatever you're taking meds for resolves quickly so that you feel better fast!

Losing well shouldn't be the sole criterion, either. Yes, if you're losing well, you might not need a fill. But you might be losing well because you're white-knuckling it---so also assessed should be the amount you're able to eat, and how long it keeps you satisfied. I lost very well long before I had restriction. Why? Because I stuck to my doctor's very restrictive food plan, with which it would have been impossible NOT to lose. (It also would have been impossible not to want to gnaw the legs off furniture, it left me so hungry.) My doctor wanted to know what and how much I was able to eat, and when I became hungry again. That information, along with the amount of weight I lost, was useful. Weight loss alone does not give the full story.

Congratulations! One of the best NSVs for me, so far, was fitting into a pair of jeans I'd stubbornly hung on to for 10 years. (And they're not even out of style!) Lord knows why I clung to them---but I sure do like wearing them.

It really does need to adjust. And periodically, it will do it again. It's frustrating---but it passes :biggrin:

I have no idea whether this would be the case--I haven't tried any "bad" foods since I had surgery. (I really don't think foods are bad, per se---eating's not a moral issue, and there is plenty of room in life for treats. But since surgery, I really have avoided testing the waters; it just works better for me to focus on foods that give my body what it needs.)

Yes, they will give you a fill. Not losing isn't a disqualification--you don't need to "earn" fills. The band does not do its job until you reach an appropriate level of restriction :biggrin:

Well, smaller bodies do use fewer calories, so in that sense--yes, your metabolism is slowing. But that's something that occurs no matter how you lose weight, or how fast. (And it's not likely to be what's at play right now.) You say that you're making better choices. Does your doctor have a recommended eating plan? I ask, because some do have an, "Eat what you like--just less" approach, and IMO, having some general guidelines tends to produce better results, at least at the beginning. That said, what are you eating? In what quantities. It can be really useful to journal someplace like fitday.com; you can assess, then, whether your food choices are supportive of weight loss. You can also track your exercise---at this point, your body's ready for cardio, at the very least. (You need clearance from your surgeon before you do resistance or other workouts.) And you should be doing something daily, for optimal results. If you really are doing everything you can to support weight loss, take a deep breath, and relax. Our bodies really do sometimes just take breathers from loss. Mine does it every 25 pounds or so; it doesn't tend to persist for very long, but it is frustrating. That's where journaling comes in handy; I can assess whether I'm doing all I need to be doing, then just let go and wait it out. (Having a BodyBugg has helped me see how my caloric needs change with weight loss, too--this has been really useful for me. If you don't have a BodyBugg and/or aren't interested in one, that's fine---you just have to keep in mind that as you lose, your intake will have to go down. It's one of the cruelties of the universe! As we get smaller, we just need less to keep our bodies going.)

I think it's really important to note that, while hungry--it was something I was really well-prepared for, so it didn't seem hellish. I just told myself, "Eh, you're hungry. You won't be soon." I was able to stick with my doctor's (very stringent) recommended eating plan by reminding myself that it really would be the last time I would be hungry (ever again!) in the name of weight loss. I was fortunate because I knew what to expect in advance; I think it's lots harder for those who are taken by surprise.

I ditto the recommendation for the BodyBugg--I love mine. That said, you really simply have to put aside the notion that the band is going to create weight loss for you. It's a tool. When you do achieve good restriction, it will make it impossible for you to eat more than a certain amount. It will never--NEVER!--help you make good food choices. That's all on you. If you're a carb addict, you will have to learn to modify your behavior so that it supports weight loss. Because the band? Well, it's going to let foods that sabotage loss through. What is your doctor's recommended eating plan? Mine recommends a low-carb regimen, adding back grains and starches only after a certain percentage of excess body weight is lost. It seems very restrictive, but it works. And when stomach space is at a premium (once restriction is achieved), it helps ensure that food choices provide what the body needs---not just what the mind craves. The thing I've found is that, when I am compliant, my desire for the carby, junky stuff vanishes. If you give your body a chance, you may find that your cravings vanish, too. I think that therapy can be a really good way to help you get to the roots of the reliance on food. Truly, when it gives up its grip (or, really, you give up YOUR grip on it!), it's tremendously liberating.

Happy anniversary! You're doing a great job!

I had no fill at banding, and was hungry by Day 3--when I was allowed to reintroduce pureed Protein. It was not "head hunger"---it was stomach-growling, genuine hunger. I white-knuckled it until my third fill, which gave me some restriction. But it took 4-5 fills to get to the point where the band was doing the trick as much as I was.

My doctor does all of my fills with fluoroscopy. My port is easy to access, so he uses it to assess fill rather than locate the port---but either way, it's a good tool. I'll describe the procedure for you. I stand in front of the machine--this allows my doctor to view the port, etc. He inserts the needle, which is connected to the syringe by a couple of inches of tubing. After he injects a bit of saline, he lets the syringe kind of dangle (weird sensation, but not bad), needle still in place. While I drink a swallow of barium (which is radio-opaque and therefore shows up on fluoro), he watches its movement through the stoma. This helps him assess the degree of tightness. If I need a bit more saline, he then repeats---a little more Fluid, another swallow of barium. The difference for you would be that your doctor would use fluoro to locate and assess the position of the port, which is also radio-opaque (and therefore visible under fluoro). It's no biggie--just a tool that helps guide things so that they're not "operating blind."

If you're supposed to be on Clear liquids, then adding protein is premature. If you're concerned, double-check with your surgeon to be sure; mine really wanted CLEAR liquids for a period of time, to allow the GI system full rest. Added protein defeats that. Yes, this is quite normal. Often, feeling better translates into more activity--which can then increase soreness and swelling. It took a good ten days for me to feel close to "normal." Even then, I had times of increased soreness. Heck, even at 7 months, I still have days when my port site complains.