BetsyB

Nothing's wrong with your band. You likely are not having difficulties because you don't have restriction or swelling of the stoma. People who have problems with the things you described early on usually had Fluid added to their bands at the time of installation, or have swelling of their stomas. As you have fills, and the opening gets narrower, some of the things you've been told will likely come to pass.

You say you're eating 2/3 less than before. What does this mean? Do you weigh and measure foods? Journal? Are you focusing on lean Protein, nonstarchy veggies, fruits, legumes, and heart-healthy fats? Are you avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars? When you exercise your butt off, what does that mean? What are you doing? For how long? How often? I'm not asking these things to be snarky--with the information, you can get good advice :w00t: FTR, my body is loss-resistant---the fact that I need to stick to 800-1000 calories/day WITH daily, vigorous exercise is a huge part of the reason I was banded; a band makes 800 calories liveable. Some of our bodies really do resist loss. That doesn't mean we can't achieve great losses; it does mean we have to be very, very careful about what we eat, and how much. I would love to be able to say, "The band lets me eat what I want, just in smaller amounts"? But I can't. My choices are either to eat the way that allows me to lose, or to stay the same (or gain). You have the same choice to make. If your body isn't losing doing what you're doing, it's time to make changes.

It's very frustrating, but it does get light-years easier when you approach and achieve restriction. That said, you can be one of the ones who loses weight. It is hard, and it requires really restricting what you eat--and bumping up your exercise. But weight loss can occur before the sweet spot is reached. I have fill #4 tomorrow. I have lost 45 pounds---and I don't yet have reliable restriction. It can be done.

Great post, Jacki! I'm losing at a rate of 2.65 pounds a week. You could knock me over with a feather, 'cause it never seems like it! Let's see...I've lost more than a third of my EBW. My goal is at the low end of healthy BMI for my height. (I'm just a couple of pounds shy of the halfway to an upper-end normal BMI.) 17 weeks---a third of the way there, and not yet really restricted. (Tomorrow's fill will likely change that.) You won't hear any complaining from me! (And to think that I ordinarily dislike math.)

Just to split hairs a little, South Beach is neither high Protein nor low-carb. It's well-balanced, protein-adequate, and carb-conscious--but mostly in the sense that it advocates choosing the right carbs. After Phase 1, they are permitted in quantities that push the diet out of low-carb realm. It's the way I aspire to eating---because I really do believe it's the way our bodies are meant to be fed. But it's not for me yet. With finite stomach space, I need to bump up the protein and knock down the carbs. (My body has plenty of stored energy, so I don't need the carbs for that, and my nutrient needs are well met, otherwise.) During the ongoing weight loss phase, I eat very low calorie, high-protein, low-carb. If you were to pare the fat out of Atkins--or bump the protein up on South Beach Phase 1, I guess that's pretty much what I do. I take in 800-1000 calories/day, with 100+ grams of protein, usually 35-50-ish net grams of carb (from veggie sources), and a real eye to keeping my fat intake at <20-30% of calories (with sat fat as <7% of total calories, as per the American Heart Association). I've taken the diet recommended by my doctor and bumped up the protein a bit (because I exercise a lot, I add 2 protein supplements/day)---and my rate of loss has been really good. (Though I'm only now starting to approach restriction--hopefully tomorrow's fill will take me there!--I have lost nearly 45 pounds in the 4 months since banding.) My doctor's rationale is that committing to a good year of eating low carb gets you to goal--after which you have a lifetime to finesse/add healthy carbs back/learn to maintain healthfully. This is not quite correct. Bodies that have fat stores have more than adequate energy---and do not require the energy from carbohydrate for good health. Protein is still used for cell building, maintenance, and repair. Stored body fat is used for energy--and that is the whole point of being banded and changing eating patterns. On the other hand, we do require a broad array of nutrients, so if we pare carbs down, we have to be sure that we are getting, from another source, the nutrients that we might be missing out on if we limit certain foods. This is not to say that your new way of eating won't have room for complex carbs; for most people, there's no real reason to pare them out. Some of us do better when we limit grains--not just in terms of weight loss, but because grain-based foods can be tricky, band-wise. If you don't have these difficulties, certainly incorporate them into your diet; I look forward to incorporating them further down the road, if my body is cooperative. Tracking your intake using a program like Fitday.com (it's free!) can show you where you need to bump up micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) you might miss out on by limiting grains.

What are your doctor's instructions for this phase of eating? We can't give recommendations without knowing this, because each of our doctors has a slightly different approach. Bariatriceating.com has lots of ideas and recipes for the stages of postop eating.

I felt banged-up for about 10 days---after that, it was business as usual :thumbup: (Exercise restrictions were not lifted until 4 weeks, though--you do have to be careful how much you use your abdominals until you've had your postop check.)

It's very typical for the restriction from the first (and second, and sometimes third...) fills to be very fleeting.

I disagree. It is a well-recognized, well-accepted way of reducing the risk of a clot traveling to the heart, lungs, or brain from the leg--a risk that is much higher with a BMI greater than 65. It's a simple procedure that has the potential to prevent life-threatening complications---I would not consider that "jumping the gun." It is meeting accepted standards of care.

For me, it was an evolution from, "no way, no how" to no doubts, full speed ahead. The journey started in the early 90s, when I worked with a surgeon who did an earlier version of banding. I was not at my heaviest then, still believed I could do it on my own, and very much did NOT like what I was seeing, results-wise. Fast forward a couple of decades, when it had become evident that I needed a way OUT. Techniques had come light-years, and by the time I genuinely considered it for myself, it was a full-steam-ahead, no doubts thing. And it was the best decision I've made in a very, very long time.

It's a stimulant drug, but actually an appetite suppressant. The reason for limiting it is that it may be related to ulcer formation. coffee also contains other compounds that can be very irritating to the stomach. The diuretic effects of caffeine have been found to have been HUGELY overestimated. If you drink 8 ounces of coffee, more than six of those ounces are available to the body for hydration; about two are lost to diuresis. For this reason, it is now known that caffeinated drinks CAN be counted toward our quota for liquids--as long as we take into account that a small part of what we take in is lost. (There are plenty of other reasons to avoid caffeine; hydration is not one of them.)

Yes, it's normal for bowel habits to change when eating habits change. If you're not uncomfortable in between, I wouldn't worry about it at all; there's simply less that needs to exit :thumbup:

That's awesome news, Erin---I'm happy for you!

I think it's wise to let people know your concerns--and to designate healthcare proxies so that, in the event that you do run into difficulties, they can be addressed. I will have to make modifications to mine, now---so thank you for mentioning this. That said, I choose to be healthier in the time between now and my eventual decline in old age. And actually, I believe addressing my obesity will vastly reduce the degree to which I decline.

I think it might be too early to be sure. I've had the same thing happen in the past, only to experience increased restriction again after a couple of weeks. My doctor is willing to give a little leeway if I really need a fill--he isn't insistent on me waiting the full 4-6 weeks. But he would be really reluctant to give on given the circumstances you've described, I think. It's just too close to your fill to know what is going to happen.

I can totally understand that. It's really hard when you're hungry. I can justify all kinds of things when my stomach is growling---including making ice cream a nice, hydrating liquid! But you made a good choice by going to bed :thumbup: It gets tons easier when you approach restriction--it really does. But until then, it's a good idea to get the tempting stuff that doesn't quite work for you out of the house.

I don't know about your surgeon, but mine specified that I use only sugar-free popsicles, and limit myself to 2 a day. Ice cream is not just like popsicles. It's loaded with sugar and fat, and requires a great deal more digestive activity. Why do you want ice cream? You just had surgery to place a band around your stomach to reduce your food intake. Are you already looking for ways around the band? I am not asking this to be mean--I'm asking because these are questions that you should look inside to answer. The band only takes care of one aspect of this process---the rest has to come from you. I know that you're hungry now. But ice cream, while technically part of a (non-bariatric) full liquid diet, really is not suitable for a bariatric diet. Your body has a finite amount of space for food--make sure that what you give it has nutritional benefit.

Yes, I do feel it from time to time--ouch!

You asked what the prep for surgery involves. When I got to the hospital, there was a bit of information-gathering. My nurse had actually phoned me a few days before I was admitted and taken my history---I was impressed that the same person was assigned to me in the hospital. After that, I changed clothes, removed jewelry, and went to the bathroom. An IV was started. Through the IV, I was given prophylactic antibiotics. I was given an oral antacid and an antihistamine, as well. The latter made me a bit drowsy. When I got to the OR, they moved me to the table with a nifty hovercraft-like thing that made it effortless for all involved. Then they stealth-anesthetized me. When I say "stealth," I mean that there was no major build-up to it---no, "I'm going to give you this medication now" or "Count backwards from 10." I was awake---and BAM! I was out. Yes, I was intubated. You will be, too. The anesthesia used was light enough that I emerged very easily and quickly. I was still intubated at that time, but of course the anesthesiologist was right there--and as soon as he was aware that I was aware, I was given a tiny bit of sedation and the tube was removed. This is pretty much the worst case scenario, and I can assure you that it was no biggie at all. It was a fleeting sense of, "hey, this thing is still in me!" and then it was addressed. There was no pain, no struggle, no nothing---just appropriate action to keep me safe and comfortable. In the recovery room, there is a nurse present at all times. If you are too cold, you will be given warmed blankets. If your throat is dry, you will be given ice chips or Water. If you are in pain, you will be given pain medication. Every effort will be made to keep you as comfortable as possible--and that includes emotionally. If you're frightened, they will address that, too--both before and after surgery. Please don't let fear of intubation hold you back. You won't be aware of the tube's placement (you will already be under anesthesia)---and even if the very worst happens and you do develop awareness of it as you emerge from anesthesia, it's not scary. It's just sort of momentarily gaggy---and then BAM! It's all better. I was kept in the hospital overnight; my surgeon and insurance require this. Once I got to my room, I felt pretty good. I did accept pain meds when they were offered---they helped me feel good enough to get up and walking right away. THAT is what helps the most! I had a nice night of not having to worry about whether my cats, dog, or son would bump my belly---and this little bit of time gave me the opportunity to gain my bearings a bit. By the time I went home, I felt pretty darn close to normal, albeit sore. There is pain--but it is very manageable. Compared to other surgeries and procedures I've had, this was by far the easiest.

While it's true that our bodies have a great deal of stored energy---and that therefore we don't require as many calories as those without excess weight to lose--we do need nutrients that our bodies cannot manufacture. We have to be careful to meet our bodies' needs for protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. We have less need for the energy-dense carbs, though they often are nutrient-rich as well. It's safe not to eat when not hungry if your body's needs for nutrients has been met. If you get enough protein, get a dose of heart-healthy fat, and get good-quality nutrients from fruits, veggies, legumes and (if you eat them) whole grains---and take a multivitamin for good measure, then there's lots of leeway, calorie-wise. But your body positively requires the nutrients. In the short term, you won't cause harm by skipping meals. But at two weeks out from a fill, you're leaving "the short term."

My doctor uses fluoroscopy during a fill. I don't see any responses that describe this, so I'll tell you how it goes for me. (It is very simple and quick.) I stand against a wall next to the flouroscopy machine. The doctor locates my port, cleans it with an alcohol swab, and inserts the needle. He injects a small amount of Fluid, then rests the syringe against my abdomen (it hangs from the needle by a small length of tubing). He has me swallow a mouthful of barium, and observes its movement through the band. Then he returns, injects a little more, and we repeat. This continues until I get to the right level of fill. Then, out comes the needle, on goes a bandaid, and it's all done. It's really no biggie at all. H

My internist's scale is about 400 years old, resides in a hallway where it's continually bumped, and is--at his own admission--rarely calibrated. It, at very best, measures a downward or upward trend. My gynecologist's scale is even older---his father started the practice, so it's been through two doctors' worth of patients banging up against it. It's calibrated every now and then---but still, at very best, gives a general idea of upward or downward trend in weight. My scale is a very good-quality Terraillon digital scale. It weighs me at exactly 1 pound less than my surgeon's scale. Every single time. My bariatric surgeon's scale is --- as one would expect in the office of someone who specializes in weight management-- state-of-the-art. Every single time I step on it, I weigh 1 pound more than I did at home. That kind of consistency tells me that, of the four scales regularly used to weigh me, two are accurate: my surgeon's, and mine. Comparing them is no problem---because they are consistent. My point is that, just because a scale is in a doctor's office, it doesn't mean it's accurate. Stick to what your surgeon's scale tells you. And if keeping track of an accurate number is important to you, consider investing in a really good-quality home scale. Don't let the rest drive you nuts. ETA: Yes, I track inches. I take measurements monthly. Lots of times, when the scale is not cooperating, I do lose inches. In fact, I've been pretty much at the same weight for two weeks---and just got into jeans that definitely did NOT fit at the beginning of that two weeks. The scale doesn't tell the whole story.

You already know they weren't the best choices. There's no place to go but forward, right? Really, guilt is wasted here. You deviated from an eating plan; you didn't murder your brother-in-law I'm with Anne. Try to keep healthy options available. And always have a plan. Even if you don't have a Protein Shake on hand, it's usually possible to order food for any eating stage from almost any menu. You may have to ask the kitchen to modify menu items---but it can be done, and pretty easily. If you're honest with yourself, you'll know that the real issue was that you wanted the bar food. You just have to decide, before you even walk into a bar or restaurant, that you're going to stick with your plan, no matter what temptation comes your way. Or, you can choose to make an exception. And that's okay--there's room in life for that. HOWEVER, I wouldn't recommend making many exceptions in this immediate postop period; diet is advanced slowly for important reasons.

I don't think I'd attribute this to diet change--it sounds as though it's more likely coincidental to the timing of the diet change. Have you seen your dentist? If the pain is worse since surgery, it's possible that intubation aggravated a minor problem (cavity, loose filling, etc) that was already starting to bug you.

Nope, no straws for me.