Search the Community

My surgery was 11/14/13 - 4 weeks ago tomorrow...Here's an update on what's going on with me. The Protein shakes are really getting to me. I’m so sick of them!!!!! I know it’s time to start changing it up – I have to the break the vanilla, strawberry and chocolate barrier. This week I found a sample pack of Health Wise Soups that I forgot I purchased before surgery. Jackpot!!!!! The Cream of chicken was so good – it has a little less protein (15 grams vs. 20 with a shake), but that 5 grams of protein was worth my sanity that night. I have also had the chocolate mixed with warm 1% milk and some sugar-free peppermint syrup. That was a nice treat on a cold, snowy night reading my book. This morning, I mixed a chocolate with a cup of decaf coffee, a splash of 1% milk and some sugar-free salted caramel syrup – Caramel Mocha, anyone? Yum! I also have some products on order – hot chocolate (high protein), oatmeal (high protein/low carb) and some Click decaf coffee. I need to get out of this rut – getting your protein in is so important and it’s difficult to get that last shake in, mainly because I just don’t want it. I haven’t stepped on the scale in a week – tomorrow is weigh in day and I’m a little scared. I feel really good physically – I still get tired easily, but for the most part, I feel good. I’ve been exercising at the gym walking at least 2 miles per day and usually 2.5 miles or more. Yesterday I did a personal best of 60 minutes and 3 miles (thanks to the hubs for saying he had a few more minutes of his workout left, so I ended up going a whole hour!). I’m more worried about the mental aspect of weighing and not getting the result I’m looking for. I feel like I’m getting smaller – I didn’t feel like that late-last week or early-this week, but I do now. I don’t know if that is Water retention or me just being psycho… I am still in the same jeans I wore pre-op, which is a little depressing. I think I was in denial about how tight those jeans really were pre-surgery! Plus they are made out of that stretchy jean-like material, so about 10 minutes after you put them on they will stretch to your bulk – a great characteristic if your fat and lumpy. They certainly aren’t tight now and they are a little loose in the waist. I will probably need to get new ones in a couple of weeks. I can’t wear my 2X Old Navy yoga pants any more – they literally fall off me. I am keeping one pair as a reminder of how big I really got. I should burn the rest of them. Tomorrow I move to a “soft foods” diet. I have been on puree foods the past two weeks, but I’ll be honest, I didn’t puree a lot. I let my chompers do the pureeing for me. My surgeon and my local doctor are polar opposites when it comes to food. My surgeon said, “Introduce foods as soon as you can and no need to puree if you have teeth and saliva.” You could almost hear my local doctor gasp when I told her that – she is much more conservative and I think if she thought she wouldn’t have a mutiny on her hands, she would make patients wait a year before trying Greek yogurt. So, I’ve been doing a hybrid mainly for my sanity. I chew, chew, chew and chew some more. The Eat Slower app is also a helper – it slows you down and helps remind you to chew your food. I purchased the Carb Balance Tortilla shells – the whole-wheat fajita size has 3 net carbs. I have had dreams about those shells! I want a taco (small, baby taco) and a pizza with the shell as the crust. Mmmmm…can’t wait.

the diarrhea you describe sounds just like what i had when i was taking a certain drug. i hated it , out boating and my husband would have to take me back to the boat launch. i never had a solid stool during the time i was on it. so check your medications in case the doctor missed something. the other problem i had was hyperperistalses. that is when the intestines move to fast. it causes pain and loose stools. it has only shown up on 1 of the many upper and lower gi's i have had. the doctor says that it goes into remission is why we don't see it all the time. the medication is hyomax-sl. i was just thinking that if you have even the smallest of food allergies it could get your intestines going. i hope you get to the bottom of this, no pun intended. but taking out the band should be the last resort but at least discussed. some ppl can't tolerate all the Protein that we eat this could be the problem too. perhaps a barium swallow to follow the barium as it goes through the digestinal tract. good luck. and i do hope you find out what the problem is even if its the band. i just though of another one, diverticulitis, a upper and lower gi missed this but a barium enema did not on me. just some ideas

Yeah from what i've read on here some surgeons are pretty loose with their diet progression...mine wasn't and had a strict week by week plan Weeks 1-2: Full liquid 10 grams of protein per meal 6 meals a day (clear liquids) Weeks 3-4: Blended 10-15 grams protein per meal 4-6 meals a day (blended meat, fish, eggs, or tofu, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, bady food, cooked vegetables, fruit, soups,) Weeks 5-6: Low Residue 20 grams protein per meal 3-5 meals a day (lean poultry, fish, or lean ground meat, creamy nut butters, egg or egg beaters, soft cooked vegetables, light yogurt TOASTED bread) Weeks 7 and beyond: 20-25 grams of protein per meal 3 meals a day (fish, poultry, legumes cooked soft, fresh or canned vegetables and fruit, cooked cereals, potatoes not fried, whole grains like rice quinoa or barley) avoid sweet beverages, whole milk, citrus acidic foods, alcohol, caffeine, fried foods, breads with seeds, fruit with tough skins, high fat meals, soft gummy bread, sugar and sweets that's sort of a skeleton of what to eat if i forgot anything someone please add on

I went for my second fill last week and I could definately tell I had a fill. It's been several days now since my fill and I can eat a little more but still feel like I am getting full faster. My weight loss was only 4 and 1/2 pounds this last time. I think I've lost a few more since my fill. So I'm about 25 pounds lighter now since my surgery on Oct. 5th. I wish it were going faster but I need to exercise more. That's my goal after this week my life should start to slow down a bit and I can actually make time to exercise. I'm really happy with my decision to have the lap band. I know I have to keep working hard myself to loose this weight. I can do it!

How much does insurance want you to loose pre op in order to approve surgery? What type of diet were you on? Just starting journey and have lots of ?s.

Doreen0716, I completely understand. I will be a year out on the 19th of this month and I've been at a stall for 3 months as well. I try not to let it get the better of me because praise God we've come a long way from where we were. I'm down 70 pounds trying to loose the last 10 but it's a serious challenge. I workout and I try not to consume over 1000 calories. I'm going to try to reset my sleeve/body by starting over on the liquid diet and go from there. So maybe that could be a start for you also. I see alot people are doing the keto diet that had the sleeve, so maybe try a diet plan that's fit for you. But whatever the case dont get frustrated re evaluate and keep pressing. I think the process has just slowed for us all after so many months, to me it seems like when i hit the 9 month mark it slowed big time. But keep us posted on your progress.

I want to loose 40lbs and get to goal. This will take a serious effort. Gained 3lbs baking but lost it this week was sick. Only got a short time frame so even if I loose half I'll be happy.

Yep I had excess skin. You cannot really predict if you will based on others' experiences though. It depends on your age, your health, elasticity of your skin, etc. Too many variables to predict. Chances are though, you will. I was able to get a tummy tuck and panni approved and covered by my insurance. I've been so thrilled with the results (pictures are in my profile and on my blog). I was denied for the skin on my arms, but honestly it's not bad and really bothers me more than anyone else. But it doesn't bother me nearly as much as being 140 pounds overweight did.

hi there, i had sleep apnea before i had the band and had it really bad, so as to say when i came out of surgery they battled to wake me and get my qxygen saturation levels back to normal, but an hour or so later i was up and about and since loosing weight have lost the sleep apnea, and my bad snoring.

Okay, hoping one of you guys can help me by sharing your expeirecnces with restriction and fills. I had my first fill three months ago and have lost about 5 pounds since (all in the first month after the fill). I do feel some restriction. Sometimes I PB, sometimes I'm very tight, and sometimes I'm very loose (like today when I ate a large order of chicken with cashew nuts and 10 fried wontons in a single sitting). But I rarely if ever have that "full" feeling 10 minutes past my meal. I'm thinking that I need a slight fill to keep the food in my pouch longer but I'm nervous because I know how tight I can get at times. What do you guys think?

By popular demand here is my hubby's home made egg drop soup recipe. Egg Drop Soup 8 cups of water 7 chicken boullion cubes 6 jumbo size eggs pepper to taste We like a lot of eggs in our soup so if you don't like as many, just don't put as many in. It's really good though. You can also use white pepper, but we had the regular laying around so we used it. There you go everyone. Glad it got such a good response, I'll have to tell hubby his soup was a hit when he's done mowing the yard. On another note. Ventured out for the first time since surgery today. It was nice. Wore a pre banded pair of jeans and they were really loose. Super happy about that. :thumbup: Still working on my cookbook and that's about all I'm doing today. Go back to work Saturday so I'm just enjoying the time off. Talk with you all soon.

So how did the fill go??? My doctor had me stand up an she felt hard through a large bruise on my tummy....but I nearly passed out.....the long skinny needle really didn't bother me at all though; it was just her pressing into my Sore port area. So how did your Dr do the fill???? Plus mine did not numb me at all....others have mentioned laying down AND skin numbing.

Think about the band...and ask yourself "What is the reason people get fills?" Is it to boost will power and self discipline? Is it to make this process hard? And frustrating? When I was first banded, I was VERY FRUSTRATED...I did not go through all this just to be on another diet...I was actually gaining weight after my first fill.... Fortunately I have a Dr. who calmed me down and explained in simple terms what this band is all about, and that it is a process that takes consecutive office visits and fills, over several months to get this thing "Tuned" and humming to perfection.... Many people sell this Lap Band short before they give it a chance...we want INSTANT results...I read posts here everyday from people who have had the surgery only weeks prior and can't understand why they are not loosing!!.....It does not work that way...maybe with by-pass or the sleeve, but the band has to be adjusted over time.... Until then it is just "Bandster Hell"

Have You Ever Had a Situation in Your Life When You Wanted To Do Something But, People Try To Make You Think Their Way is Correct; buy a home, get a new career, leave your husband or wife, go back to school, loose weight their way,start your own career, buy a car, Spend your money, have a child, think your bosses way is correct, when he or she is not or what ever it is!! And people can't figure out why you won't listen!! John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:05 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. Love You!! Happy Thursday!!

I'm in the same boat. I've been lazy. I know that my band is a tool and I have to make healthy eating choices and exercise. I was doing good once i was in a routine with walking. Then i got too busy with 2 nursing jobs, both 12 hour shifts that i made the excuse i have no time to walk. also no time to make healthy eating choices. ugh!!! But spring is coming, and before we know it summer will be here. I don't necessarily care how i look, but i want to feel better so i can be active with my family. One of the guys at my drs office says to just walk 30 min a day. he says anyone can do that and if you're consistent, you'll loose a pound a week. I dont like vegetables and i love junk food. So I'm hoping that if I stick with veggies ill develope a taste. yuck. Well good luck! Ambra:unsure:

Thanks, Coops! I know I'll have some rebound on the tummy skin, but it's in pretty bad shape after 2 c-sections with over 9 lb babies both times. I had stretch marks bleeding during my first pregnancy and my stomach has never recovered from the second c-section. I'm not even sure what the result would be after surgery, so that's one question I'll definitely be asking! I'm not 100% sure if my insurance will pay for a tummy tuck, or if it's actually good for a pannulectomy (sp?) or something else entirely. I have been talking to a couple of IRL friends today and I've decided to do a couple of things in anticipation of my plastics appointment. I'm going to add in a dedicated ab routine (more than I've been doing), up my cardio and my weights, especially the weights for my arms, back and stomach areas. I know none of that will magically change my skin issue, but I want to be in the best possible physical shape I can before I have surgery. If surgery is the decision I make, that is. No matter what, I think I probably have 4 or 5 months before I could possibly be scheduled for surgery, so I have a little time to work on both continued weight loss and toning.

Highest weight 338lbs Current weight 278 338lbs I know i still have a long way to go as i need to loose another 100lbs but one step at a time... This surgery has given me life back... Would do it again in a heartbeat!!!! Am starting to see my waist...!!!

I'm a little over 3 weeks post op today and think I might have overdone it. I did tons of yard work and I know I shouldn't have, but I haven't been sore and I thougt it would be okay. I should have known I was still healing! Tonight when I got in, I noticed that my port site was really swollen and sore. Also, I can feel my port perfectly right beneath my skin. I don't remember ever feeling it this close to the skin before. I'm sure I'm just swollen from the activity and that my port hasn't moved or anything, but I'm a worrier! I don't feel nauseated and I have eaten and all is fine there. From what I have read, everyone that has "messed" something up has had severe pain or nausea. I wouldn't call my pain severe at all. Anyone had this happen after lifting, bending, etc?

I was banded today and noticed that I have a red stain over the entire surgical area and then some - I suppose it is used to clean the surgical site. How does it come off? Soap, Alcohol, or do I just wait for it to fade?

Hi New on the forum. Looking for some information from experienced sleevers. Still deciding weather to actually have surgery. I'm about 85% yes. I'm about 240, 5'7, BMI: 37.6, 34 years old. Recent blood tests reveal that I'm in the 'normal' range for every thing on the list but can't seem to loose weight. I've been struggling with weight loss for as long as I can remember. Frustrated! Post-Op Vitamins: I read here and other sources that you need to take post-op Vitamins depending on what your surgeon says (anything from B12, Iron, etc). No where have I seen for how long patients need to take the vitamins for? Do you gradually reduce Vitamin intake after a few months? Do you get your nutrients from food once you're eating more solids? Are you taking vitamin supplements "for life"? Insulin Resistance: I'm about 98% sure that I have insulin resistance (still to be confirmed by a doctor) - does this surgery help with reversing that? Anyone have experience with it? If anyone has any advice, information, encouragement, I'd appreciate it.

Hi I did Bikram for one year before sleeve and it is awesome you divide your weight by the time you spend in the room and that is how many calories you loose .....sorry cant answer the other questions but I can't wait to get back into it I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as I did...

Miss Mac I could use the loose stool if u know what I mean

Well, it's Feb. now and although I did go down to 187, I am back up to 192. I hate myself so bad. I have gotten 3 fills, and I know the band is there because when I am really hungry, I eat too fast and the food gets stuck, it's very painful. I had foot surgery on Dec.15th and have not been able to exercise since. I can ride my bike now, but it is too cold. I am at a standstill and disgusted with myself. My friend who had her gastric bypass the same day I had this is down 96 lbs. That really made me depressed. I have no will power and really should have gotten that done. I ate right today but ate 2 cup cakes tonight. I pray I can get this right. I am ashamed:think that I did not loose more. My family wonders why. Patti

I heard from the surgeons coordinator yesterday and got the date for my orientation. The next available date isn't until Aug 25th. I will check back with the lady who does the class next week (she out until next Wed.) and let her know that if she has any cancellations to call me. I was watching "Big Medicine" tonight and they were showing the before and after pics of a lady that had plastic surgery after she lost all her weight. Hubby made a face and some noises and I just looked at him. He got mad and said, "I'm not going to tell you again that I don't see you that way and I'm not going to discuss it again." I tried to talk to him and say that I understand but he has to understand that when he makes comments about large people or saggy skin, that it bothers me. How do I know that deep down he isn't disgusted by me? So I said, "let me get this straight...I can't say anything to you about how this bothers me when you do that but I'm supposed to understand and it's ok for you to do it even though I've told you it bothers me?" Then he accused me of twisting what he said. Son was upstairs and piped in saying "Dad, that is what you said" and was promptly told to butt out. So I sat here quiet for awhile and that bothers him and he starts bugging me for being pouty. I wasn't being pouty but what could I say? Then he starts walking up the stairs to go to bed and brings it up again and just as I start to reply, he cuts me off and then acknowledges he cut me off but kept on talking and then finished walking up the stairs to bed. And he wonders why I rarely feel like making love. Agh!!! :smile2: I don't even want to go to bed now but I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn so I have to.

I FEEL AMAZING... I feel that Im about 98% I had a very physically active day yesterday and today, and I was able to get threw them with little to no discomfort.... Today I did get a little discomfort when walking across campus.. It was right next to my belly button, Where my port is, and I think that it was just the walking pressure on my lose skin that made it discomforting.... Well, today I was able to add "full liquids" to my diet, and this morning when I woke up, I was able to get BFast-1/2 of an EAS Strawberry Protein shake in Lunch-1/2 of an EAS Strawberry Protein Shake, & two mashed up Chef boyardee mini raviolis. Dinner- TBD All day long Im constantly drinking my water, as much as I can.... I dont want to get dehydrated! Best of Luck and Prayers to all....