BetsyB

I wonder if re-measuring your height would make a difference. Being an inch or two off can make a significant change to BMI. You're so close that it might be enough of a difference.

My insurance (BCBS) has a three-month period. From my first appointment with my surgeon to the day I wound up in the OR, it was about five months; I was approved within about 4, but the holidays pushed available OR time into January, when I was banded. The time actually went quite quickly. There are lots of odds and ends to be done that fill up the time---appointments with specialists for operative clearance, preop classes, and so on.

My insurance company only used my starting BMI to determine eligibility. Well, that and results of the required testing intended to demonstrate that I was a safe candidate. (Other policies may be very different--be sure to ask your doctor's insurance specialist what YOUR specific policy requires.) My surgeon required a 6-pound loss (at least) for those who had three-month insurance waiting periods, and 10 pounds for those with a six-month period. No ifs, ands, or buts--if you couldn't lose the required amount in your timeframe, then banding would not occur. For those who do not meet their loss goals, the clock is reset to Day One, their waiting period is restarted, and they can try again (if their insurance companies allow--sometimes, noncompliance with a surgeon's plan rules you out; again, VERY important to check with your insurer for specifics). I think most doctors want to see their patients demonstrate an ability to change habits and adhere to a new way of eating before undergoing a life-changing surgery that requires enormous dietary change for most of us. They don't expect miracles--obviously, dieting hasn't worked for anyone who's seeking weight loss surgery. And I suppose that they do see quite a bit of Last Supper Syndrome. But they do expect general short-term compliance, because it is a predictor of long-term success with the band.

My surgeon--like many others, does have a $300 program fee. It's not specifically for the preop diet--it covers nutrition seminars, use of a hospital gym facility, a BUNCH of educational materials, and a few other things for which they do not receive insurance reimbursement.

The sensations you're feeling are not due to malnutrition. They're due to recent anesthesia and surgery--and will pass. Your body has ample fuel reserves to keep you going, even on dramatically reduced calories. As you recover from the surgery, the weakness, dizziness, and so on will resolve Do make sure that you get adequate fluid--that is very important. But otherwise, don't try to project too far into the future. You will not continue to feel this way. (It's also very typical to be scared and panicky and emotionally labile after surgery--so don't feel as though your response is unusual.) I hope you feel better fast!

You're less than two months out. How have you arrived at the conclusion that it isn't the answer for you? It's a process. By all means, encourage others to do their homework first. Those of us who do so tend to develop realistic expectations and enjoy success with the band. But now it's time for you to take responsibility for your own success. Do the homework NOW. Work the band so that you, too, can enjoy success. The key word there is "enjoy," by the way. Which is hard to do in any way, shape, or form, when you are so firmly ensconced in negativity.

Check with your doctor. Mine wanted me to stick with clear liquids---and nixed the addition of Protein. Even Protein powder added to clear liquids doesn't permit the same degree of bowel rest as clear liquids alone. All doctors have different "rules" and rationales---so you need to check to be sure.

I'm not nearly as concerned about calorie level as I am about disordered thinking about food. 1200 calories may not be the right level for you. It's not for me. But that's not what is important. What is important is that you are giving yourself really rigid rules that are completely unnecessary---and possibly harmful. Why only protein shakes, yogurt, and fruits and veggies? Why not solid protein? Or legumes and cheese? When you start assigning "good" and "bad' values to food and eating, I think you can head into trouble pretty quickly. Thinking of meal-skipping as a positive is a red flag for me, too. This is something I'd talk with your doctor about---getting into therapy sooner rather than later can save you all kinds of trouble down the road.

The "wait a year or two" advice is outdated; now, surgeons simply want your weight to be stable, and for you to be at a good BMI (though some will operate well before most should consider surgery). I think wearing compression garments (I like UnderArmour) is really helpful--it provides good support so that redundant skin and an otherwise pendulous abdomen does not strain the back. But it does not do anything structurally.

I was very fortunate. What my doctor did not tell me, I learned on my own. I have not had any postop surprises.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time! I think a lot of us tend to forget that abdominal surgery real can and does make most people feel pretty cruddy for a period of time. Even those of us who describe it as a breeze ...well, we're speaking in relative terms. It's like having a baby--you get something good out of it, so you put up with labor and episiotomy and other indignities. You're still very close in to your surgery. I'd discuss the discomforts you're having with your doctor; chances are, they can be relieved or significantly reduced. I guess I haven't seen the same posts you have from people who sleep upright every night or Celebrate vomiting in the name of weight loss. I have had occasional stuck episodes--but if they were the norm for me, I'd be discouraged, too. But it sounds like, in your post-op ickiness, you're having a really strong case of buyer's remorse. Be aware that any surgery to remove the band will cause similar discomfort. That consideration alone may make you find it worthwhile to stick it out for a bit to see how things unfold. A month from now, you will be in a totally different place. You might still want to have the band removed--and that would certainly be an option. But I'd strongly recommend getting past the postop hurdles (with help from your doctor--reallly, s/he has tools in the arsenal to address your issues, so there's no need to suffer in silence) before making that decision.

Transfer addictions after bariatric surgery are really, really common. Alcoholism is rampant in my family---so I avoid alcohol for the most part. Basically, my approach is now that I have limited stomach real estate---and I just can't use it for things that don't benefit my body. While I can occasionally be convinced that the lycopene in a Blood Mary is beneficial, in general I'd rather eat my calories. We often turn to symptom substitution when one of our crutches is removed. It's so easy for me to see how alcohol or other substances could be substituted for food. I've chosen to substitute exercise. While I am mindful that this can become a form of bulimic behavior, I'm FAR too lazy for it to reach that sort of proportion, so I view it as a safe, healthy transference. Take good care of yourself--I think you're really smart to identify a problem early, so that you can address it. There's lots of help available. I bet your surgeon could refer you to an AA group well-populated by bariatric patients. It really is THAT big of an issue. Good luck and (((hugs)))

My surgeon is a three-meal-a-day kind of guy. And that doesn't really work for me. I plan a couple of Snacks into each day that help me meet my nutritional needs, and are timed to prevent runaway hunger. That said, now that I'm at a good level of restriction, that hunger is hugely reduced. Have you explored, with your doctor, whether you're at the right fill level for you?

While Protein is important, overall, it's not critical at this point. Fluid, however, is. Focus on getting as much of that as you can--as you feel better, you can add in protein. (If you had a high-protein preop diet, your protein stores will tide you over for a while. My doctor, in fact, has his patients do just clear liquids---no protein, so the digestive system can really rest---for three days. So there is no immediate concern.)

It doesn't depend on fills. It depends on what you eat--which you can control, albeit with difficulty, even before you have restriction. I didn't lose tons on the preop diet because I'd been eating low carb for a while--my body didn't lose a ton of glycogen and the Water it carries with it. But I didn't gain any of it back, because even before I was restricted, I ate as if I was. Was I hungry? Yep. But I'd been hungry a bazillion times before, in the name of weight loss--and figured this would be the LAST time I would. It was worth the caution-I've had a steady rate of loss since banding, and during that difficult time, I got to practice behaviors that make it far easier to cope with the restriction I now have.

Triglycerides are fatty substances, but many people are not aware that they are intimately tied in with blood sugar. (High triglycerides are a huge part of the reason why diabetics tend to develop blood vessel and heart disease; controlling blood sugar impacts triglycerides profoundly.) Are you sticking to a low-carb, high-protein preop diet? If so, I'd ask my doctor to do basic screening for diabetes. If this is what is going on, it's a comorbidity that may tip the scale (no pun intended) toward surgery sooner---because the benefits of dietary change (mediated by the band) is the primary tool in the arsenal against it.

Breast tissue is largely fat---and I've lost quite a lot. That said, I was relatively large-breasted when thin before---and it looks like I will be still. Not a DD, maybe, but a C on on a small frame. Thing is, they will be significantly...rearranged, I guess...because of the stretching of skin that is not rebounding, as well as by gravity. So I do anticipate the need for reconstruction. Whether that will involve a bit of augmentation, I don't know. So far, it looks like they will still be proportionally large-ish.

Bit of a fixation, there, eh, HH? :wub:

Most of the time, I prepare meals from which I can have the Protein and veggie, and sit with them while they eat. I don't mind that they eat things I don't; my stomach space is limited, so I don't have room for those things, anyway. I'm NEVER at the table longer than they are. They eat fast, but they eat a TON more than the 2-4 ounces I never manage to finish. I'm the first one done, and clean up the kitchen and talk with them while they finish. That way, when everyone's done, I can head out to exercise, leaving a clean kitchen behind :wub: On days when I'm tight, or have prepared something for them that just doesn't work for me, I tend to let them have a guy's dinner, and eat at another time. Those days are numbered, though. My son's weight is creeping up (he wants to nip it in the bud), and my diabetic husband's blood sugar has been out of whack. As much as I've avoided playing mother to him regarding his eating, he really has NOT internalized the way he needs to eat to stay healthy. And since I want him to stay alive, I will be focusing on preparing---for the WHOLE family--foods that fit in just fine with my way of eating. (I still will have off days--and still say, "Hey guys--I'm going for a walk and will have a Protein shake when I get back." But we all will be eating the same basic way, with minor alteration for the pubescent male who has slightly different needs.)

It's CRUCIAL that you NOT put anything at all on fresh incisions. When you see your doctor for your first postop visit, you can discuss scar prevention; mine didn't want me using anything like Mederma for six months after surgery. Now I'm six months out, and the scars are almost a non-issue---I won't be buying any Mederma. (It works---it's just not something I need; only the port incision is particularly noticeable--and it's fading fast.)

I packed PJs and a robe, and didn't use them. The unit was not heavily trafficked, the gown they gave me wrapped around me twice---so I just held it closed and walked. I just didn't feel like wrestling into other clothes while hooked up to an IV, a pulse oximeter, and everything else they had me connected to. I don't think I crossed paths with anyone other than the occasional nurse during my walks--and I was up and walking every hour or two, with little naps in between. It was nighttime, so there weren't visitors. There weren't other patients up walking (I guess they had the sense to sleep!), there weren't doctors and students and transport people---just me, walking.

I use PURE unflavored whey protein isolate from Bariatric Eating.

You're only a few days postop--and yes, most people do have at least some restriction (if only temporary) from swelling in the week or so postop. I would not be surprised if you find that you feel less restricted as time passes--it's pretty common. You may be one of the lucky few who do have restriction right away. But the amount of food you ate doesn't really suggest great restriction---I would not necessarily attribute discomfort to being stuck; it's more likely it was due to advancing your diet too quickly. You don't really have to wait for restriction to lose weight. You just have to make wise food choices. (Cheesecake might not be among them :rolleyes2:)

I understand your frustration--truly I do. But "comfort eating" simply is not providing you comfort at this point. You want the comfort of losing weight the way you expected--not the comfort that comes from continuing to battle the same behaviors that has caused you trouble in the past. I know it's very difficult to lose when you don't yet have restriction. And getting to restriction is a slow, frustrating process. But you can choose to eat foods in amounts that promote weight loss, even before you reach restriction. You've dieted in the past, right? The band will work for you, in time. You can use that time one of two ways: you can accept that, until you achieve restriction, you won't lose the way you'd like. Or you can eat as though you do have restriction, accept that you will be hungry (but for the LAST time!), and lose weight even as you approach restriction. It's hard to do--but it's also good "practice" for what you'll need to do when you do have restriction. Is your doctor willing to work with you to accelerate the process of getting to restriction? If you were to call him, and let him know what you're eating, and how long it keeps you satisfied, would he schedule appointments closer together?

There are lots of good low-carb, high-protein recipes at bariatriceating.com.