happygirl65

I get what you are feeling TOTALLY! The closer I got to surgery the more scared I got...am I going through all of this and spending all of this for nothing? The answer is NO. I need assistance, something I CAN BELEIVE IN. This battle for me is such a mental thing. If it wasn't...if I was good at paying attnetion only to physical hunger to feed myself I would not be so fat....and I would have good days or weeks where I could be gung ho and stick to anything including exercise and proper nutrition...and then something would happen, I would get off track and blow it....severe cycle...a pattern for me. My hunger would actually make me sick if I tried to ignore it. Now...just 12 days post op, I am not hungry at all. It has been really different. I no longer get sick from not eating. The physical sensation of hunger just isn't there...at all...perhaps not everyone is that way right out of the gate but so far I am. I have been 12 days and I have lost 12 pounds in that time. It's crazy to watch my body healing it'self. It's not perfect. I have had my first battles with emotional hunger a couple of days ago and I can see that once I am not adhereing to a liquid diet my family could easily sabotage me with their pizza and del taco nights. (read my blog for a full on wah fest at my emotional hunger...link in signature) but once I distract myself...watch a movie or play my guitar and stop thinking about it for a while and allow my Protein shake to do it's job then I am over it and it is much better. I think I am going to call a therapist next week and start something up there because I want to deal with this emotional hunger thing before I let it give me an excuse to fail. Hang in there. Only you can tell if this surgery is right for you, but here you are...doing the research, starting the work it takes to get to surgery, and just know that it is totally normal to have doubts afterall it is a drastic solution that will change your life forever. In the end it was the changing forever part that really worried me, and now I am looking SO forward to eating real food...I already have my first meal all planned out...lemon pepper grilled mahi mahi and green Beans.....OMG I can almost taste it now...drool. You will do great. Just keep pluggin away and the 2 months will go by before you know it!

I have BCBS of AZ...I din't have to have an essay, but they do have specific requirements, best idea like the prev poster said is to call and find out what the requirements are, most likely it is records, medical history type records provingobesity for 5 yrs, letter from your primary doctor recommending surgery, proof of other requirements like psych eval and nutrition classes, and I personally had to submit hand written notes proving I attended an "info seminar". It was about a 2 month process to get all the paperwork in order etc. That said, I do beleive that you SHOULD write an essay or at least a list of your current health complications from obesity, your future risks, reasons you want to do this...because as you do lose and as you go through the process it will help to remind you why you are doing this. It is pretty common to start doubting your decision as you go along the closer it gets to becoming reality. Good luck to you! I wish you every happiness no matter what you decide.

...and dont forget you are WORTH the effort.

And keep in mind that our calories required to maintin the weight go down with every pound we lose so it bears a recalculation from time to time and also shows why weight loss slows if we are still eating that 1000 calories you lose 40 lbs and suddenly your calorie requirements to maintain are less than they were before.

OK, my seriously vest adice having been where you are a few days ago....DON"T skip the pain meds...you will feel ok for awhile but once the hospital drugs are out of your system there will be pain and lots of it if you don't take anything! TRUST me...it's much harder to get rid of pain than prevent it from coming on too strong....so....rest, plenty of pillows, don't lie flat because it hurts like a b-witch to get back up and take those pain meds on the schedule round the clock! Keep Water by the bed and walk whenever you can to get that gas pain out! Congratulations!

Yep day 3 and four port site ain was pretty bad for me, doc said ice, not more than 15 min at a time on the port site and keep on the schedule for the pain meds for at least the first week. Do NOT overdo it. Don't carry more than 20 pounds, don't bend over. I have a front load washer and have to get down on my knees to load it and switch clothes, it is EASY to overdo it, just rest and only do the stuff that HAS to be done and that no one can do for you. Everything can wait...they wont remember you being a superhero for washing an extra load of laundry and hurting yourself....so take care of YOU!

Each day does get easier...did a nurse call to followup with you? If not call the surgeons office and check in and tell them how you are feeling and see what they say. Are you taking tiny swallows? For me the best was on day two when I was finally able to let out the mother of all belches and things got way easier from there! Keep walking and trying to burp...one of the things that helped me (a friend told me her trick) is to lean forward (you can put a pillow on your tummy for support if it hurts) throw back your head and open your mouth...this can help release the gas trapped in the lower stomach. Hang in there it gets easier everyday. I feel almost normal today on Day 8

I think it's a tricky thing learning to listen to our bodies. I would say just measure 1/2 cup less than you eat now...then just stop even if you don't get your full feeling yet...you might find that satisfied is different from full. For me, food stops tasting good and I don't want to eat anymore...but then I am still on liquids, I have heard some people talk about soft signals as things like...a burp, a hiccup, a pain in the shoulder...stuff like that. Just try going super slow and trying to feel in between bites for a soft signal maybe. You have come so far you are doing awesome. Very inspirational Good luck finding your full signal.

Well that makes sense, but I don't currently have a large stock of protein shakes since they told me to use milk mixed with my soups, hot cocoa etc to get my protein in....so I have been doing that....maybe that is what is keeping everything kind of low cal...but I did manage 700 cals today...not too shabby. I feel a lot more energy so I think I am going to shoot for 700 as a minimum and just follow what I feel otherwise.

I know it hasn't been that long since you had a fill but you may need another if you are getting so hungry so soon...after such a short time it would be unusual for you to have hit the green zone already from what I am reading. I am sorry you are going through this. It looks to me like you really have lost a tremendous amount of weight. That must feel really good! It is hard to deal with people not understanding it and you know, you don't have to explain it to them. It's not your job. Your job is only to live your best life, focus on finding the joys in your own life and embracing that. You are probably feeling blue that you haven't lost more...(even though you are successful already) I was that way even before I had the band and my friends would ask me all the time how it was going....clearly they couldn't "see a difference" because it takes about 20 pounds before someone else can see anything on a person at 40 pounds they really start commenting. The problem comes in usually when we expect too much of ourselves. It IS important to raise the bar of expectations of ourselves but we also have to forgive ourselves for not being perfect because NO ONE IS. The fact is that people who have not battled obesity don't understand your issues and how hard it makes it for you when they are always "checking in". You could explain your feelings to them, or you could just try to relax and let it go, knowing that you are making life long changes...which means you WILL have days where you feel down despite your great choices, and some when you just make some bad choices and then you will get right back up and do better. Life is not a success only journey, we live, we learn, we do better. That is exactly what you are doing. Try taking some time to yourself to enjoy things that YOU like to do that don't involve focusing on your weight. You may be overwhelming yourself with it, just living and breathing weight loss instead of creating a new healthy life that is not so food centric. It's a thought. My heart goes out to you. We fight the very same battle and I think I do understand. I wish you all the best and every happiness.

You can take something with lots of fiber to bulk it up...like metamucil or something like that but you may want to call the doctors office and see what they recommend. I have heard and read that it is pretty common while you are on a liquid diet. I am a week out and while it's not constant it has been watery and is getting better the more soups and things that I eat.

It's frustrating because I emailed the docs office and got no response I will probably call them. But I feel pretty good except for this head cold I am coming down with. I think I may even be done with pain meds now which is awesome. 1000 calories does sound like a reasonable amount. But it is also nice to see the pounds melting off. ..but I don't want to sacrifice muscle or my health.

THe first 4 days post op I gurgled nearly nonstop...I joked on my blog that it was like tiny tigers having a growling contest in my tummy, it has settled down now...day 7 it's hardly there but when I lay down it happens a bit. Gets better the more I drink actually and warmer liquids seem to help break up some of the gas that is rumbling around.

So I am 1 week post op today and am on liquids for 2 more weeks. I am not hungry at ALL and know I need to eat when I get weak or dizzy...so, my question is...is 500-600 calories too little, just right, for this phase? I am counting them because I can't be accountable for everything I put in my mouth if I don't and it's good practice for later...plus I have been doing it for a while anyway. Any suggestions? I am eating basically 1/2 cup of creame of whatever Soup, yogurt, cottage cheese, tea, Protein shakes...occasionally coffee so I am following the list the doc gave me...I just am not in the habit of making myself eat when I am not hungry. I started to a little bit when I realize the first few days I was only getting 300 calories and would get dizzy whenever I stood up. 600 seems to be helping with energy but should I add more on purpose or just enjoy the lack of appetite for now?

Myfitnesspal.com has an online tracker and an android app so you can use whichever is convenient at the moment. I use the phone interface during the day and check in for notes and stuff on the computer sometimes...it is really cool and has a HUGE dtabase plus you can program it with your own recipes so I can put in...Tori's chicken taco and it will know what that means and add the right amount of protein calores and fat. It takes a little work to put in your recipes but you can also find substitues in the large database. It's simple. I love it. Lost 20 lbs before surgery just using that and keeping accountable.

Hi! I am so inspired by you! Here you are, still at it and reaching out for support because you recognize that you need that. We all need that. 93 pounds is HUGE...way to go! I understanf gaining before surgery. I went through this total "last supper" phase where I just wanted to eat everything that I told myself I would never eat again...not because I knew I couldn't after the band but because I knew I shouldn't. It was my mental way of letting go and saying goodbye to those foods. I practiced being mindful of every taste and every mouthful of the breads and pastas that I will not allow myself to order and ya know, I found that while I may crave them from time to time...that is just the learned habit of the comfort food self medicating I was doing and there are PLENTY of really delicious healthy foods that I will be able to be very satisfied with. I am even excited to come up with a new way to have my previous favorite...pizza....using eggplant instead of crust and making my own. And some casseroles that will include spaghetti sauce, olives, mushrooms, onions, zucchini and motzerella cheese. The main thing I am going to do is like you said, measure my food to no more than a cup and be done...walk away, find a new activity to distract myself from the thought that I want to eat more because I know from experience it will go away and I will feel full for several hours. I have gotten the advice from my doc also to put myself on a timer, eat or plan to eat a meal or snack every 4 hours until dinner then be done. I can totally do this...the other thing that successful people do is make a plan for the week and stick to it. If you plan it out not only will you not exceed your calories for the day, you will also SAVE money at the store buying only what you need! I go a step further and plan what I will make based on the sales ads and coupons I have...it is challenging but I do love a good challenge and since it cost me lot of money to have this done it is kind of fun to find ways to save money to pay it off faster. I wish you every bit of luck and support. I think you already know what you need to do, afterall you have had tremendous success already, you just have to kick it into gear again and remember why you are doing all of this and that you are WORTH it! Hope you have a fantastic day filled with great choices! Best wishes to you!

Jduck...I think you bring up an EXCELLENT point with the kids! That is such an important and often overlooked side effect of obese parents. We DO teach our children by our example. In their lifetimes and especially childhoods they will learn SO MUCH MORE from what we do than what we say. I just got the lapband 6 days ago but already my children are noticing what I am eating and they know why because we have made it a big deal in our house and this morning while making school lunches my daughter was scanning the fridge and pantry for healthy items and asking me to cut her sandwhich into 4 peices so that it was easier to just eat a little bit if that is all she felt like she wanted. She is only 5 and I feel I am saving her from bein the chubby kid. My two older boys 7 and 11 have already learned some really bad habits that we are going to have to work on changing for them so that they can grow up healthy and KNOW the right things to do by my example and their Dad's example who is also obese but doesn't have the lapband. I am proud of the choice I have made as well and doing great just a week out. I have already lost 8 lbs since my nutrition class before surgery. Probably water weight but still....even if that was ALL water that is a GALLON of liquid I no longer have to carry everywhere I go. That feels pretty awesome.

Not too hard for me either and I am only 5 days post op....you can check out my blog...I have a detailed account of my surgery as well as a few posts since then. http://toritattles.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-surgery-day-story-as-told-to-my-band.html All in all not too bad of an experience. I was more scared of the surgury itself too because you have to give up control entirely to this team of people and literally put your life in their hands, but in my case they did everything they could to make it go smooth, and keep the process moving along so I wasn't sitting and worrying about the next step. it was not bad. There was some pain post op and recovery has been smooth as long as I remember to take my pain meds. It's not bad. But it is a life changing event and you need to do your own research and search all of your reasons and expectations for doing this. It will really help when you are doubting your decision and if you need the encouragement to keep going when you get tired of the battle...as we all seem to do from time to time.

As you are losing weight the band gets looser due to the fat loss in your stomach perhaps? So your fills are helping it keep up to where it has been and not getting further ahead. My doc says that the band doesn't make you stop eating, you have to do that. You should measure your food eat the right amount and walk away...basically the band helps you not be hungry when you choose to eat smaller amounts it sends that signal to your brain...and just because you can eat more does not mean that you should....if you eat your measured servings and are hungry in 2 hours you need another fill....that is what they have told me anyway. I think it may be a blessing that you have never gotten uncomfortable, stuck, or vomitted from the band. That is awesome because you are still losing weight based on YOUR choices...celebrate that! You deserve all the credit for that. Just try NOT to eat to much...especially if you know it is too much, you don't want to damage or stretch the stoma. Best wishes to you!!!!

Even though you have had 6 fills doesn't mean you have reached that magic restriction level that your body may need. You should be measureing your 4 oz protein, 4 oz veggies eating that and stopping....then if you are hungry before 3-4 hrs have passed you do not have proper adjustment in your band...at least that is what my doctor says. I would not say that a 20 pound loss is unsuccessful. That is really good...just keep at it, remember that each time you lose some weight you are also losing fat around your stomach where the band sits and you WILL need those adjustments to keep it working to it's greatest potential. I have heard of people not going back to their surgeon because they are embarrassed that they have not lost enough ...please don't feel that way. You reached out for help because you need help, so use the help, get the additional adjustments...you will get there. And once you are properly adjusted it will hopefully be easier to make the healthy choices again. Best of luck to you!

I was banded on 1/25, have had no real hunger either but I do have to stay on top of the pain meds but the paid does get better each day than it was the day before. Just remember that pain meds work better if you keep on them as prescribed, it's harder for them to take pain away once it is established....someone told me that and it is good advice. The walking does help with gas pain but be careful not to overdo it! I am noticing I get lightheaded when I walk for more than 20 minutes or so since I am not taking in very many calories....tomorrow I am going to walk AFTER I eat and see if that helps Good luck to you! Glad you are feeling good. THat is awesome.

Congratulations! 3 days ago I was banded...stay on top of the pain meds...did they send you home with some pain meds? I got sent home with Ibuprofen due to a codeine allergy but had to call in for something stronger...also had felt like I ot punched in the gut really hard many times! The walking they tell you to do really does help, even when you don't really feel like doing it. I wish you a speedy recovery!

I am only a few days Post Op...I am still in pain and learning all the new feelings and sounds of my body but I am happy with the decision because my health and my life and my kids are so very important to me. Don't get me wrong. People can and do lose significant amounts of weight without surgery and some even keep it off. The bigest thing that has to change is the mental aspect of things. When I was younger...in my 20s losing weight was about my appearance. And I was easily able to derail my progress with thoughts of "vanity is stupid" and "people love me for who I am not what I look like" and " I am a good person no matter how fat I am" and it gave me the permission to stop trying to lose weight way too easily. Then my mom who is only 56 yrs old had a triple bypass surgery...her second heart attack actually...then one day she fell and couldn't get herself up for over 3 hours. There was no one to help her, her muscles are weak, the neuropathy in her feet and hands from her diabetes made it hard to even feel her way and couldn't get enough footing, all the strenght that she could muster couldn't help her lift her body off the ground for 3 entire tear filled hours. My heart broke for her and I thought...there is no way I can let this happen to me. I also didn't want to continue the pattern and pass on the poor habits and choices onto my own kids dooming them to a similar fate. No, I decided to have surgery because having a tool that will help me be less hungry will assist me in making better choices and give my best efforts of planning and exercising a chance to work without making me more hungry when I increase my activity and by taking away the aspect of eating too much because I simply get too hungry after a week of dieting and start eating too much. Weight loss even with the band is not going to be easy. But over the last 5 months I just keep thinking that it will be a lot easier than dealing with the health problems that were looming on the horizon if I don't. I honestly feel that if I hadn't started really caring about my health...I would have not been able to keep the weight off...now that I do, it's about lifestyle changes and not dieting and that sounds really cliche....but it's true. I am at a point right now where I realize that as much as I love potatoes...I should probably never eat one ever again...or relgate it to the only very occasionally list. But when you know that it's just not consistant with your goals it really stops making sense to want the foods you shouldn't have anymore....there is no justification, it's all accountability. You still have to hold yourself to a higher standard...this lapband...just helps you do that by making you less hungry and giving your logical mind a shot at combating the hunger we all face every single day....that's just my two cents worth. Sorry if it was too long.

Had an excellent experience with Doctor Simpson doing my surgery. He and his staff are all so calm and professional it was an excellent experience and I felt well cared for ecery step of the way!!!

Congratulations! I wish you a painless recovery! I am feeling it now myself having gotten my band placed two days ago. Each day really has been better than the last...the walking really does help even if you don't feel like it.