BetsyB

Thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts and prayers. They were all set to send Mark home yesterday--and do all testing on an outpatient basis. I was beside myself---it felt SO different to me this time, and I was really scared that they were overlooking something serious. They changed their mind when Mark had more chest pain---and ultimately took him to the cath lab. The good news is that he didn't have another heart attack. His stents (he has 5 or 6) are all patent, and nothing else stood out as a good place to prop open. (He has lots of diffuse damage that can't be stented, though.) So that's the good news. The bad news is that his cardiac function has decreased drastically---to the point where they're talking transplant. We've always known this day might come. But he's been chugging along for 10 years without it becoming a reality; I guess it was easy to pretend it would never get worse. So...I guess we take it from there. Mark does have a transplant team. Though it was always a "distant" possibility, we thought it was wise for him to be on their radar if and when the time came. He's checked in with them every year or so since his first heart attack. Hopefully, they will be able to just pick up where the others left off. Hopefully, the timing is right; my biggest fear is that they will rule him out because the diabetes has damaged other organ systems. So far, that does not seem to be the case, but he's never been subjected to the type of rigorous testing that occurs pre-transplant. If I were looking for a silver lining, I would have to say that I feel "lucky" (in a perverse way) to have traveled the transplant road with another family member; my brother received a liver in 1994. Very different organs, but the pre-transplant path is similar for both. Knowing what is coming---and that it can be endured---is comforting. Anyway, thank you all. I will now go back and read all of your good news from yesterday and respond instead of focusing just on myself. (Sorry to burden; writing does help, though.)

Hooray! Uneventful is the way to go! I'm so glad things went smoothly! When I was in the hospital cafeteria yesterday (just getting unsweet tea), I imagined you rolling your IV pole down to your cafeteria to test the bread. I know you won't---it just made me giggle. Which, in turn, made the three people in there stare at me.

No, don't pull them off---at least not until they are hanging by a thread. They're there for a reason. If the itching drives you nuts, ask your doctor if you can take Benadryl. Don't apply anything to the itchy skin; it may interfere with wound healing.

Gloria, in my decaffeinated glory, I can't find where to do this. Can you direct me?

Bob! TWO milestones in one day---amazing! You will be in my thoughts today--I know you will take it all in stride and be walking the halls tonight, raring to get on with your new life. I can't wait to hear how WELL it went! ETA: If you all can spare some healing thoughts, my husband, Mark, was taken to the hospital by ambulance last night for unremitting chest pain. The jury's still out on whether he had a heart attack. (Enzymes aren't all back yet.) Having been down this road before, I think it's likely the worst is yet to come--just based on how he feels this morning. (He's been known to go in, only to conveniently have a heart attack where they can observe its occurrence in the cardiac cath lab; considerate dude, no?) He has a history of catastrophic MI with resulting congestive heart failure. He is also an insulin-dependent diabetic---and right now is a metabolic mess. His hospital visits often have a sort of routine, predictable feel to them. This one feels different to me. So, good thoughts would be appreciated. My kids could use 'em, too. Thank goodness my daughter is home for spring break--it's much easier to reassure her when she's in the same room! Off to blow off steam with Truman, then to submerge myself in work so that I can be free to go to the hospital later in the day. I hope everyone else has a CALM, catastrophe-free day!

I think it's probably the only rule I wouldn't put into quotation marks. It's hard-and-fast--the one that EVERY doctor seems to have. Your stomach capacity is limited. Drinking with meals initially (early in the meal) serves to fill the pouch. This limits your ability to get in the Protein and other nutrients you need. This effect is short-lived; the Fluid then causes your pouch to empty more rapidly---defeating the entire purpose of the band. I don't find the rule hard to live with. My doctor does not permit drinking with food, or for a period of time after, but i can drink right up to the first bite. I don't gulp, but in social situations, I can sip up until mealtime...then focus on the food. (Another behavioral modification that's positive :w00t:) It can be difficult, sometimes, not to drink AFTER a meal--that's where sugarless gum is my friend. NOT ALL DOCTORS PERMIT THIS. (If swallowed, it can cause obstruction.) Mine is okay with it. Some of my family members have adopted the no-drinking rule at mealtime and report that it helps them feel more satisfied---sooner and longer. I practiced it preop, and found the same thing. If you're not convinced, give it a try now--maybe you will understand the rationale better once you experience the difference.

I've been "fat in the head" my entire life. I have not, however, always been fat; that came in adulthood. While I accept responsibility for my weight as an adult, I do believe that irresponsible adults in my childhood set the stage for this. Being fat was such a part of my self-image that the weight gain I experienced with children (and after) was very difficult for me to actually see. When I did see it clearly, I was able to lose. Maintenance was a real issue, though. So now I'm working not only on my weight, but also my head.

Long before it puts on belly fat, it puts on Water weight. It can be combatted by...well, eating the way you're eating! The belly fat's not destiny. The water weight might be--but at least IT'S ephemeral.

Bob--BEST wishes for a safe, uneventful banding today! You will do awesome! The rest of y'all have to wait until I get some caffeine in me. We are such a chatty bunch! (I love this thread...it really is motivating!)

Jen, that's an AWESOME loss! Juliansmom (I love the name Julian), I will be VERY interested to hear about the Zumba DVDs. I think I might be too clumsy to do it publicly at first (I really have two left feet), but doing it at home for a while might make me brave enough to try it at the Y. ETA: Did you all see Gloria's thread about using the band as a tool? Pop on to her blog to answer the questions if you have a minute: http://www.gloriasbandedliving.com/transforming-003-maintaining-004-getting-the-most-from-my-lap-band%C2%AE-how-i-learned-to-use-my-tool/

The body is a weird thing. It sometimes just doesn't do things in a predictable way. We all know that creating a calorie deficit causes loss. The body knows this, too. But sometimes, it inexplicably clings to it---then drops a chunk all at once. You lost 10 pounds abruptly---now your body is saying, "WTF? I'm disappearing! Better hold on for dear life!" and clinging. It won't be able to do so for long :w00t: Keep doing what you're doing. The loss will happen. You just have to trust the process. Your doctor may well tell you that 10 pounds in 4 weeks is exactly the rate he wants to see.

I missed the part about not having been in since October. Did your surgeon expect you to be working on the 10-pound loss during the time between then and now? If so, I'd give the office a call and 'fess up. They will be able to give you good guidance. (It sounds as though you haven't really gotten that guidance...)

Awesome! Congrats---your hard work has certainly paid off! BT, I would run naked in the streets, at that weight, but would likely be blinded by wildly flopping body parts.

I eat my Protein at mealtimes. I supplement in between. Our stomach capacities are small; getting enough is important. If you're not getting enough in, this might be one of those occasions where it's appropriate to "smile and nod" at your doctor's advice, so that you can make sure you meet YOUR requirements. (His are different.) If you've experienced hair loss, and it's not yet fully regrown, dying your hair DARKER will make the loss more obvious. Going lighter (and shorter) tends to make it less obvious.

Gloria, the link doesn't work.

Hooray--congratulations!

I agree with the advice to go with slightly less aggressive fills. I'd also avoid milk immediately post-fill. It kind of gunks up the esophageal mucosa/stomach mucosa and can be hard to take right away. I'd stick with clear (and for me, warm works best) fluids. If you don't want to call the doctor for a little unfill, I'd sip, sip, sip very slowly ALL DAY LONG. Little sips add up to adequate fluid---and if I were able to achieve that, I'd try to hold off to see if things loosened up with a bit of time (as swelling goes down). A really good gauge of your hydration status is the color of your urine. It does NOT need to be clear to indicate good hydration; if it is pale yellow, you are a-okay. If it is very dark, you do need to bump up your Fluid intake; if you cannot achieve this by drinking, then it's important to see the doctor. Good luck!

The information about caffeine being dehydrating has been debunked. It is very, VERY mildly diuretic. And by mild, I mean that if you drink 8 oz. of green tea, about 6 oz. remains available to hydrate your body. Tea (or any caffeinated drink) will not dehydrate you. It will help hydrate you like any other liquid (or moist food)---just a little bit of it is lost to diuresis. This is a concern that can be put to bed--and I wish the medical community would catch up with it and do so. That said, caffeine does irritate some peoples' stomachs. And it does trigger some peoples' hunger. I'm not one of those people. If you're not, either, then I think tea is a great thing to drink. Lots of antioxidants, nice and soothing, and a nice treat in the day. (And yes, I'm drinking tea right now. I've also started experimenting with herbals, and really like Celestial Seasons mandarin orange spice tea for a change of pace.)

I very much understand your fear. I was a little skittish at first, too. But really, if you can tolerate yogurt and applesauce, you'll be a-okay with the other foods you've listed. Take it slow, and --most of all---relax. (I don't mean that snarkily; I'm referring to physically relaxing, not implying you're too tightly-wound!) Your body will handle it just fine. The fear really will dissipate once you get just a little bit of experience with the band. I think one of the "best" things to happen to me was a stuck incident a few days after banding. It wasn't food-related--it was a pill. It taught me that even, worst-case scenario, things work out okay. A few minutes of pressure, some deep breaths, a little spitting of saliva, and the "clog" moved through, and my stomach gurgled empty like a just-unclogged sink (complete with sound effects). Worst-case scenario, you will be fine, too. But there's no reason to expect the worst, given the success you've had so far. It's safe to advance your diet--there's nothing in it that will stick. Good luck!

Selswick, your weight loss is ASTOUNDING--great job! It's really hard, though, sometimes--isn't it? I'm a stress NON-eater, but in the past have eaten in response to other emotional triggers, so I understand that it's tricky to know what to do when they hit post-banding. You're obviously very committed to finding good alternatives and continuing your excellent weight loss. And in this, I think the band can be a tremendous aid. The court sometimes orders repeat DUI offenders to place "governors" on their cars. These require that the driver breathe into the device. If their blood alcohol level measures too high, the ignition will not work. If they test clean, the car will start. I named my band The Governor. Just like the governors in cars, it makes sure that I can't eat beyond a certain point. So far, I have not tested its limitations. (This does not mean I never will.) Instead, I've tried really, really hard to find other things to replace eating. I write (here, in a journal, on Facebook, whatever....), I walk my dog, I go to the gym---when worse comes to worst, I pack it in for the day and go to bed! I am not burying my feelings---I think that tends to bite us in the behind (and if you look at the size of MY behind, you'll know that I mean this quite literally; stuffing feelings can have disastrous results, weight-wise. Now that I don't have the ability to overeat, I very much want to avoid cross-addictive issues). Rather, I'm trying to find substitutes. One thing I'm doing---that is surprisingly difficult (but it really shouldn't surprise me, given the lengths I've gone to to avoid it for four decades!) --- is taking the time to really identify the emotions I'm feeling and their sources. And then TALK about them with the appropriate people (or in write when that is not possible). OMG--it is SO FREEING! It's hard at first, but I feel like a more genuine human...like this band--this silicone device placed in my body by a surgeon with completely different intentions--is opening the door to a completely different relationship with myself and with others. Not everyone loves this, I have to warn. Some people prefer NOT to hear what I'm thinking! But really---it's a good thing. It feels healthy, and it feels right, and it feels true to myself. And you know what? I'm seeing positive changes extend to others around me. The way my husband and kids relate to me is subtly different. I can't quite pinpoint it---but if I had to define it, there is an element of greater respect, I think. It's NOT because of the weight loss. They really were quite blind to my body size---truly. It's far more in response to my self-respect, I think. I don't know if any of this made sense. I guess what I am mainly saying is that you CAN find alternatives, and they will make you feel good about yourself. And that good feeling will reap rewards that extend far beyond weight loss.

Ditto the advice to ask for an aggressive fill. I have an 11 cc Realize, too. My doctor put 4 ccs in for my first fill. I felt a tiny bit of restriction---for about 18 hours. I go back on Wednesday (three weeks early) for another fill, and have my third fill scheduled for the 26th. I did have to ask for the upcoming one; my doctor did not anticipate I'd need it. But he was MORE than happy to oblige when asked. Don't be afraid to ask!

For me, the gas pains peaked around Day 4, but I remained bloated for about two weeks. I felt really good, though, by around Day 10. That was sort of a turning point for me. The gas you're feeling is likely not in your intestines---yet. Carbon dioxide was used to inflate your abdomen during surgery. And it does hurt quite a lot. (It also causes some tissue irritation, so that contributes to the discomfort.) With time, any gas that remained in your abdomen after they finished diffuses into the intestine and is expelled by the "usual" route. Until then, it's mighty uncomfortable. You also are experiencing swelling--and in this case, you're right; you're NOT being a good sport! You chose an elective surgery; surgery = incisions = swelling + pain. These, too, diminish rapidly. Until they do, remind yourself that it's all for a good reason--and something you very much wanted. It doesn't feel like it now, but it really will be worth it--I promise. My hunger returned ...oh, around Day 3. Not everyone's does. Since you are ABLE to drink lots of Water, replace some of that with Protein, even if you don't want it. It will help your body heal. (It will also help flush excess Fluid from your body.) Are you walking as much as you can? That helps a lot, too.

It varies dramatically from person to person, and even from size to size. I've found that at the higher sizes, there is less weight variation than in lower sizes. (For example, moving from an 18 to a 20 happened within about 10 pounds; moving from a 12 to a 14 required over 25. It made it a lot easier to ignore weight piling on.)

Elfie, I'm SO glad you feel better! I have chronic pain issues, and pain + fatigue really do a number on me. They are supreme disinhibitors, food-wise. They also trigger cortisol production--which feeds into it. Add in that it interferes with exercise... Pain relief is a GOOD thing!

Yes, I take Vitamins. Initially, I took Bariatric Advantage chewables, but switched to the capsules my doctor's office provides. (Their gelcap quickly dissolves; no "stuck" issues.) I did so because my flexible spending account reimburses me if I purchase through my doctor's office. (It probably would for the BA ones, too, but it would require hoop-jumping, and I'm all jumped out these days!) I also take a 200 mg. capsule of Co Q-10 twice a day, and a Vitamin D supplement (both per my doctor), and calcium/magnesium softgels on days when I don't get enough calcium via my diet. Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate are two brands that make vitamins specifically for banded people. Whatever you do, please don't take children's vitamins! We are adults who've had bariatric surgery--our needs differ from those of first-graders! (I say this only because I know doctors who still recommend this--or infant vitamin drops.)