BetsyB

what a sweet husband! Mine picked me up at the hospital--but was relatively busy for the rest of the day. I didn't need him at all, except to handle dinner for himself and my son. The following day, he was back at work as usual, and I was fine. Re: the overnight stay. This seems to be driven by surgeon preference and insurance requirement. My doctor does keep patients overnight, always. My insurance also requires it. I was grateful for the time---I sort of eased back to my usual level of consciousness under their watchful eyes, got up and really mobile, etc. before going home.

Roger Gould's Shrink Yourself has really good tools for tackling emotional eating. The Food and Feelings Workbook by Karen R. Koenig is also very helpful.

They will not reveal ANYTHING about your health that you do not authorize for release.

Great loss---and great attitude!

In the morning and the evening, I have a Protein Shake. During the day, I have three meals. At each, I eat 3-4 ounces of Protein (lean meat, fish, poultry, legumes, or sometimes cheese or cottage cheese). In addition, I have 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies each day, usually at lunch. (I'm tight at night.) Some days, I have a fruit, too. (I'm "allowed" to daily, but never seem to think of it when I have room.) I get a bit of good-quality fat (olive oil or flax seed) each day, too. It boils down to 800-1000 calories, 80-100 g protein, <50 gram net carb. I don't watch fat like a hawk, but do aim for <30% calories from fat, with most of it being unsaturated. (I journal on fitday.com.) It sounds more restrictive than it is--it's really quite liveable. Yesterday, I had chicken-black bean chili with a little cheddar for one meal, smoked salmon with chive cream cheese on romaine for another, and Asian pot roast for dinner. I don't usually cook separately for myself--I just pull from my family's meal what works for me. ETA: I forgot to add my exercise. I walk 3.5-4 miles FAST each morning and most evenings. (I've been doing this for about 4 years---increasing speed and duration.) When I'm not injured, I go to the Y on alternate days for resistance training. I plan to add yoga on the non-Y days---just have to muster up the courage (and $$) to venture into the studio to get their try-a-week pass.

Blarf. Neither! Inspire from bariatriceating.com :thumbup:

I've had fibro for...well, more than half my life! I have felt GREAT since surgery. The low-carb, higher-Protein diet has helped me tremendously, as has the weight loss itself. (I realize some of this may be coincidence; a flare can startle me at any time...but so far so good!) I didn't have any adverse effects related to the anesthesia, surgery, etc. I did make use of the pain meds given to me, however. I do have ortho issues that concerned me--operating table positioning can cause soreness. But I must've been handled with care, because I didn't experience anything untoward. I also did not have the dreaded shoulder pain--which is good, 'cause my shoulder hurts badly enough without added insult! ETA: Exercise is the BEST medicine for me--I discovered this a few years before banding, and it still holds true. Once I learned that pushing through the pain didn't really significantly worsen things (I mean, I felt crappy anyway...), and got into a good groove, I found that I feel much, much better with regular, vigorous (but not punishing) exercise.

He does take me right to restriction each time---but just as with fills without fluoro, the restriction can be very ephemeral. There's only so much Fluid that can go in at one time, when you make allowances for tissue swelling, etc. So, while I might be nice and snug at first, it has not always lingered. I do think that having fluoro gives him a bit more freedom to be generous with fill amounts---he doesn't need to be super cautious and give tiny fills because he can see whether a larger fill works. Ultimately, I do think this will get me where I want to be sooner than many experience. But I'm not quite there yet. I've got 3 fills down, 7.3 ccs in an 11-cc band, and think the next fill will likely get me where I need to be (and you've got almost 3 months' head start on me, time-wise, if that gives you an idea about the rate).

If you were going to have a problem with it, you would definitely already know---if you didn't experience trouble right away, then it moved through your stoma without a problem. It's more of an issue with people who have more restriction :thumbup:

I'm not coloradobanding, but I'll share what I eat. It's been working very well for me. My doctor's regimen is pretty stringent. I follow it pretty closely, but added in 2 Protein supplements. (He's a three-meals-a-day guy, but this works better for me; I find I eat smaller portions at mealtime as a result.) early morning--warm Protein Drink and supplements later morning, after exercise--3-4 oz. protein. Today, I had this in the form of chicken & black bean chili---the Beans are carbier than animal sources of protein, so it's a good choice for me after exercising. (Legumes, vegetables, and occasional fruit are my only source of carbohydrate.) lunch--3-4 oz. lean protein (meat, fish, chicken) plus 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies OR small serving of fruit. Today, I spread 3 leaves of romaine lettuce with a little bit of chive cream cheese, then topped it each with an ounce of smoked salmon and cracked pepper. dinner--3-4 oz. lean protein plus 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies (if I didn't have one at lunch)--tonight, this will be an Asian pot roast. I may have some broccoli, too (since I don't have a fruit on the agenda). evening--protein shake and supplements So, over the course of the day I have two Protein drinks (~30 g protein each), three 3-4 ounce servings of protein, and a couple of small servings of nonstarchy veggies or one serving of veggies and one fruit. After 75 percent of excess weight is lost, I'm "allowed" to add grains back in. (I say "allowed" in quotes because I realize it's all a matter of personal choice.) ETA: Protein is emphasized because the amino acids found in dietary protein are needed for cell maintenance and repair. Our bodies store energy in the form of both carbohydrate (glycogen in the liver) and fat. While we do need certain essential fatty acids from our diets, we really do NOT need much in the way of carbohydrate (for energy) as long as we have excess body weight.

I dunno. I'm in the "don't believe in starvation mode" camp. There is not peer-reviewed research to back it up. But beyond that, for me, eating more is NOT the solution--I gain. I gain at calorie levels well below the results from that calculator. Eek! I would explode! Maintenance: 2392 Calories/day Fat Loss: 1913 Calories/day Extreme Fat Loss: 1544 Calories/day Seriously, to lose at a slow to moderate rate (when overweight) or maintain (at normal weight), I need 800-1000 calories (WITH daily exercise). The last 65 pounds of my excess weight came from following a 1200-1500 calorie diet! I'm not posting this to be argumentative or to discourage you from trying a different approach; rather, I'm just pointing out that everyone's body is different, and we all have to determine what works for us and what does not. I did this by tracking my intake over a very, very long time (a couple of years). I also tracked my weight changes (up, down, whatever...) With help, I concluded that my caloric needs are far below anything a calorie calculator would ever determine for me. Once I internalized that unfair bit of information, the band became the logical solution. Looking at what and how much you eat is a very good idea. Eating more to lose weight may or may not be. It's totally worth a try---but be ready to give it up if necessary. I wish I had! Instead, I really clung to the belief...and wound up much heavier and much more frustrated. (I do think that eating small, nutritious meals at regular intervals is important, though.)

Do you journal what you eat? Have you done so for a period of time? I ask, because if you're able to look back to the time when you were losing well, you can get good clues about why you're not losing now. I bring this up because what really made a huge impact on me (and, in fact, drove my decision to be banded) was learning that in order to lose (or to maintain at a normal weight), my body only needs 800-1000 calories/day. WITH exercise. I learned this by journaling intake---both when I was eating in that range, and when I was not (and was not losing or, worse, gaining). I really bridled against that knowledge for a very long time--it flew in the face of everything anyone ever told me, and I simply did not want to accept it. But it's my reality, so I have a choice: eat in that range, or not; the latter results in gain. (Thank God for the band, which makes it possible to stick with that level of intake without utter insanity.) I bring this up because it sounds like you need to rethink what you're eating. You've reached that, "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got" point---and it's not working for you. So it's time to make a change. DON'T discount the loss you've already had--that's a big accomplishment! Now it's time to lose the rest--to get back to basics, and find what works for YOUR body. That may mean making diet changes. It may mean making exercise changes. Tracking what you're doing can give you a leg up on figuring out what to do. I don't know what your doctor recommends, but the diet you've described would cause me to gain weight (and my doctor to blow a gasket). Can you de-emphasize refined carbs/starches/sugars, and focus more on lean Protein and nonstarchy veggies? I'd also work with your doctor to achieve a good level of restriction---you may need to increase in tiny increments, but if you can get there, it will help a lot. Until you do, remember that just because you can eat at least 2 cups of food doesn't mean that you should. You shouldn't, plain and simple. Eat as though you have ideal restriction---even if you don't, yet. Practice eating that way so that when you do, your eating does not cause problems that result in a need for another unfill. (I'm not saying that was why you needed it in the past---just suggesting a way to avoid potential problems as you increase your restriction.) You CAN do it---you've shown that with the 20 pound loss, continued dedication to exercise, and the fact that you haven't regained any weight. So do it!

Really, the only must-haves were lip balm, a nice lotion (I felt so, so dry after surgery), and pain meds. Comfy clothes that were easy to get on helped. So did bottled Water (easier for me to keep track of my intake that way) and sugar-free popsicles.

I use fitday.com---I've used it for years, and really like it. After a while, you build up a good custom bank of foods you eat most often, and it becomes really simple to track your intake. I also like that I can access it from my Blackberry.

I totally agree--yes, slider. But also, quite possibly, hunger triggered by carby choices. What happens when you eat solid, lean Protein and nonstarchy veggies/

I know I'm in the minority, but 1500-1800 calories/day thrusts me squarely into gaining-weight territory. Even with daily vigorous & sustained exercise. It's possible that you need to cut back on your intake.

I don't log how I feel, restriction-wise, on a daily basis. I do, however, log unusual stress, my period, and what I eat and drink--and that helps me pin down what's going on when I do have some sort of confusing restriction question in my mind. Really, things tend to dawn on me as I crouch in the bathroom, coping with something stuck. I don't have consistent restriction, so when I get stuck, and it's not due to obvious user error (like swallowing a pill that is too large), I do try to make sense of it if possible. (A bit of TMI to follow...) This happened to me last night, with a food that simply should not have been a problem, in a quantity far below what should have presented a problem. I was able to determine that this last happened right before my last period. And checking dates...sure enough--I knew that was it. I woke up this morning with my period. So now I know to keep a closer eye on dates and really listen to my body carefully when the timing's right (or, really wrong!) Did that make any sense?

Me, too. And PMS and stress....it took a while to begin making connections, but the randomness is beginning to make sense now.

1. Eating as though I had restriction even when I didn't yet. (Allowed me to lose during the first months.) Journaling on Fitday to make sure I meet my nutritional needs and don't go overboard, calorie-wise. 2. EXERCISE! 3. Enough sleep. (Being tired disinhibits me, with relation to food.)

My doctor doesn't have this rule, but I know several banded people who've had to be scoped to remove gum they've accidentally swallowed and that has gotten stuck in their stomas. It tends to shape itself to the stoma and be particularly difficult to get to pass through. Ouch! ETA: pills are a HUGE problem for me. I cannot take any pressed tablets. I can take capsules or gelcaps because, if they get stuck, they eventually dissolve. But pills? They've been a no-go since before I had restriction with anything else. I get my meds prescribed as liquids now. I do chew gum--but I'm a lot more mindful about it.

I use Inspire Proteins, which dissolve without any equipment. But I do like the Magic Bullet for smoothies I make with frozen ingredients. I'm not a big gadget girl----I have food essentials, but as long as I have a Water bottle, a good skillet, measuring cups and spoons, and a reliable food scale, I'm a-okay in the kitchen.

As a medical registry, RemedyMD gathers information about to help assess effectiveness of the procedure. I think it's really important that clinical data be available for research and registries, and for that reason, would not hesitate to provide my information. Any time you're a patient, your medical record (which may also be electronic) may be used for similar purposes. The record primarily serves as communication among healthcare workers so that you receive appropriate care. But charts are often used for research purposes. Data is often entered into registries. The difference with RemedyMD is that you know that your data is being collected for that purpose. In my opinion, RemedyMD's sort of an extension of your chart. But it gives something back: patient education. Sounds like a win-win to me. I do understand your concern about privacy and confidentiality---it's always a concern with medical information. But it seems more secure than many other places our medical information is stored.

I've had 2 c-sections, too--and banding was NOTHING like them. It was much, much easier. BUT it still involves general anesthesia, manipulation of internal organs, etc---and there is NO way I would have wanted to go out for a birthday celebration the day after surgery. None whatsoever. I have a very high pain threshold. But it wasn't a pain issue as much as a general-crud issue. Anesthesia, meds, everything all together just would have made it very unpleasant for me. There's gas pain, there may be nausea, there's incisional discomfort, there's bloating....nothing overwhelming on its own (really, it's very manageable). But that's if you can just kind of hang out for a few days. A graduation that soon seems ambitious, as well. Sitting for a prolonged period, milling through a large crowd, etc.---no fun, IMO. In your shoes, I'd reluctantly try to reschedule surgery.

I'm so sorry you're having such an awful, awful time. Your experience has been horrendous--but I think your doctor is probably being honest when she says she's never seen anything like it. Complications do arise--but it sounds like yours is particularly unusual. And particularly unpleasant for you. I hope you feel better fast---what a scary situation!

Ordinarily, I'd say that it's a mistake to interpret losing after indulgence as confirmation that eating more results in loss. Our bodies are fickle, and weight loss is rarely a steady downward progression. Usually, an unexpected loss after a "cheat" (I hate thinking of eating as cheating!) is just coincidence. That said, 500 -800 calories/day is very, very low---and I do wonder whether, if you veer toward the low end, eating a bit more did "tell" your body, "It's okay to let go of that fat!" (Are you sure your doctor wants you ~500 calories?) Our bodies can get kind of stubborn and complacent, and little "jolts" now and then sometimes do seem to help get things moving. That may be what happened with you---or it may just have been coincidence. I suspect that if you were to plot your weight loss, over time, on a graph (fitday.com can do this for you), you would notice that your loss follows sort of a pattern---and that it does so regardless of indulgences such as those you've described. For example, my graph has a lose-lose-lose-lose-tiny upward bump-stall pattern. It happens over and over. When I'm stalled, I contemplate shaking things up---then look at the graph and see that, no matter what I do, the pattern just repeats. It's just a matter of riding it out. One thing I've figured out is that sometimes, it's just not something I can figure out! It should be a simple calories in/calories out thing, but sometimes the body plays tricks we don't understand.