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Well I've been stalling the last couple of weeks, and was a little dissappointed to have missed my march 5th goal, by a whopping 7lb! However upped my Protein again, and today I finally got to onderland, and even if I sound a little self absorbed, it feels sooo good, and I am a little proud of self for getting there. Next Mini goal is 195lb, which is simply "overweight", well I never thought I'd be so excited by the prospect of being overweight, but it sounds so much better than being clinicaly obese, and on the road to morbidly obese, which is where I was until 5th January. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!!!!!

Try GasX and do more walking I had my sleeve 3-4-13 and it's still hard to drink water try a baby slippy cup it's help with the air you take in when drinking...Good luck with your new life!!

Hi All, In Nov of 2009 I attended a lap band seminar and was able to sign up for an appointment in January of 2010. Due to several issues on both the office and my schedule the appointment got pushed back to March of 2010. After a 3 hour wait in the office I was finally seen by the surgeon, he looked at the forms I filled out and seemed to imply I had not tried enough dieting because I only had one listing in the form. The surgeon then proceeded in a very demeaning way to say that I was not a good candidate for lap band and that I would only loose 50 lbs and be stuck unable to get any further weight loss surgery. Now my BMI is over 65, and mostly has been and prior to a couple of years ago I was not unhappy with my weight. But recently I find I cannot move well, getting more and more tired. I have sleep apnea and a varicose issue in my lower legs. I have what I call permanent pregnant woman's back and my lungs are scarred from chronic bronchitis and a bought of pneumonia. I hate the thought of trying fad diets to only have my weight yoyo which even I know is not healthy. Needless to say I was very upset. Now I have spoke with other Lap Band patients who were as heavy or heavier than me and they have lost well over 150 lbs each. If I were to loose 150 lbs that would alleviate a great many of my issues. I have a couple of new Dr's names but due to the rejection I got the first time I tried I am hesitant about trying again. Has anyone been through this???

Hello! I have a question? I am on puréed proteins for a week. I had my surgery on March 3rd. When I eat I am never getting that really full feeling like I thought I would get. I just get a tightness feeling right in the middle of my cheat when I am done with food. Does that mean you are full? Thanks everyone!

I am taking the Bariactric fusion chewables in berry flavor. They have everything you need in one big vitamin. I take them 3 times a day.

HAD MY SLEEVE- 12-27- 3 DAYS POST-OP- The surgery was at 1:30pm on tuesday- I remember being wheeled into the operating room- it was cold- the nurse introduced me to the staff...like was I supposed to remember their names...was there a quiz later???? Well, after that I was out like a light remember waking up as they were moving me from recovery to my room. Lots of chest pains- thought I was having a heart attack- they gave me nitro pills under my tongue and dilauden for pain. Really bad the 1st three days- heavy acid and pain, everywhere- couldn't stay in the bed- slept in the chair for 2 nights. got more x-rays- too swollen liquid not going down- xray doctor concerned. my doctor- not. finally this morning I got steroids for the swelling- by 2pm felt like a new person. Why couldn't I have gotten them yesterday? went home at 5pm with dilauden, vicodin, zocor, lavaxor?- daily blood thinner injection. and 2 things for acid reflux. some nurses were great- others were ok- some were downright idiots- I thought there were too many nurses with degrees- how they found these few morons I don't know- i.e. bariatric floor- she gives me a straw and tells me to take big gulps so the pressure of the Water will flow through- are you kidding me???? or one tells me to lie flat on my stomach to push out the gas (incisions and all!). and fyi I didn't ask for anything...stayed very low key. So far- best day I have had. Very supportive family- came home to crystal light, broth and diet Jello all lined up for me and all of my medicines in a daily pill box. After going through this I don't know if I would recommend it yet- will keep u updated/

It shouldn't, what does your insurance say? Mine said that I should be on a diet that would allow me to lose 1-2 lbs a week.

Hi there and welcome, we are glad to have you join us. In answer to your question, yes, what you are feeling is normal. In the first week or two immediately following surgery, you are not very hungry because of the swelling. However, once the swelling goes down, you definitely get hungrier. That is because the time right now is for healing, not losing. The band is designed to work with fills. Once you start getting your fills, you will find your hunger will start to dissipate and the weight will start coming off. Prior to getting your fills, it is not unusual to not lose any weight and even gain.

Got my sleeve surgery one week ago. Up until today I have felt no hunger and having a hard time getting 2 oz down. Today was the first day I actually felt hungry and ate 4 oz of salmon for dinner and was full but not stuffed. I then had some tea about an hour later and then a protein shake as a snack a few hours later. Didn’t finish but could have. And i am able to take bigger sips without pain. I feel like that is too much this early. Is it maybe just swelling is going down and healing is happening? I don’t want to stretch my stomach out. Anyone else experience this? What is the average amount that should be eaten at each meal this early?

Everything you eat in the first month feels like too much, but once you see the weight coming off you'll relax. I was most hungry during week 2 & 3. How full you get is definitely dependant on what you eat. Mashed potato vs grilled chicken for example Everyone is different and some people bounce back a lot faster and are able to eat more at first. Everyone else will catch up in a few months and be getting the same amounts down. Just feel lucky you are doing well! I could easily drink liquids so I ditched the protein shakes because they left me hungry and I was just drinking calories away. I switched them out for soft foods to make me feel full. Obviously stick with what your doctor recommends but just some information to keep in mind for later Sent from my LG-H850 using BariatricPal mobile app

but your weight loss is good. 20 lbs in 3 weeks? NOt to shabby. Thanks for the reply.

Congrats. I have Tricare and it took less than a week to get response from them. Tricare was awesome I only paideia copays and everything else was covered. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Of course it depends on your insurance and their work load. I was approved within 48 hours; for some it can take weeks. What did your contact tell you?

My name is candace. Just joined this site. I am scheduled for surgery 8/13/08. I am having pre-op testing done in the morning. I have to be there at 6:30 a.m. That would not be a problem except I have 3 children to get ready for day care also. My daycare doesn't even open till 6:30. Hope it all works out somehow. Anyway, i justed wanted to introduce myself.

I am very glad to report the band is finally installed as of yesterday. Very minor gas pains so far and all is good. As expected my stomach is sore, but not much worse than a bad bruise or overworked muscles. I am very glad to have the next phase of my LAP-BAND® journey begin. Leading up to yesterday, I was surprised how many people asked me if I was "excited" about getting the band. I told them I was not really excited, but "prepared" I know this is just the first step…yes a rather significant one…but a single step of a longer journey. The nurses kept asking me if I want a sedative before the surgery and I kept telling them no…it took 3 times before they stopped asking. I got the feeling that they thought I was trying to be a macho-male about the process. I did not have anxiety about the process, like many here, I have spent the past year doing research and knew this was the right path and the right process for me. So for all of those on the fence, do the research so you know what is going to happen and then you can relax. Watch the videos of the surgery, follow the blogs of people who have had success, remember that individual choice and execution is still required, just getting the band won’t do it all. And the final points I have taken away from all the people who succeeded with the band are load up on extra protein…exercise 5-6 days a week and crank up the intensity every month or you will plateau and we still have to eat better. No free ride. Now I just have to follow my own advice. Thanks to all of you who have been supportive and shared your experiences, I have learned how to be successful with the band now I have to do it. Update Today - This is the first day that I had any nausea and but other wise it is getting better everyday. I should be more else back to normal in a few days. Shaun

Anyone have any "MUST HAVE" advice for the few days?

I finished my 6 month insurance program the end of July but the first appointment I could get with my surgeon is Next Weds... I've been experimenting with protein and I really enjoy the banana cream and chocolate muscle milk light. I'm going to try the cookies and cream this weekend. I got the powder so I'm also going to experiment adding it to plain Greek yogurt and see if that helps to change things up! Good luck! The visits flew by once I was on month 3!

Hi Tanya, I'm also from CT but I'm doing my surgery in Norwalk. I'm obsese but when I mention it to others I always mention that I'm a little chubby. I don't know about your doctor but I can share about what I have gone through so far... I began this process in June. I've gone through 6 months of doctor/nutritionist supervised weight loss visits. Although at each one they both said don't lose weight the bigger you are the better. I've only lost 3 pounds. I have gone through the mental health and the nutritionist appointist that go through the actual diet. Although reading here I've noticed that everyone has a different diet. My surgeon will have me on a 2 week preop diet. I also needed my gallbladder out, I did that in July. Now I feel like I've jumped through enough hoops and I'm waiting for insurance. Hopefully it will come soon. My original idea was to get the surgery done in August (I'm a teacher) as you see that didn't happen but I'm still optimistic. I'm hoping for a New Year surgery.

I am new to this site and I am scheduled to be banded on 9/21/11. The Veterans Administration is paying for the whole thing thank the Lord. I am so excited about this procedure to finally loose my weight. I am 6'3" 435lbs. now and will be starting my pre-op diet in about a week. My surgeon is Dr. Roy Schwartz and I will be banded at Capital Regional Medical Center.

Hey, RNYTalk members!We’re into the long, lazy days of summer – but there’s plenty going on at RNYTalk.com! So why don’t you use this newsletter as a reminder to get on over to the boards? It’ll help you stay on track or motivate you to get back on board if you’ve gotten off track a little. Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Burning question: What’s the Big Deal about Protein? Member Spotlight: Meet Mamiof3kids! Bypass Challenge: Record Your Diet! Become a Board Expert: How to Get More Involved We hope you’re having a great summer and feeling great about meeting your weight loss and healthy lifestyle goals. Enjoy the newsletter, and of course please contact me any time with suggestions, comments or any other feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder RNYTalk.com Burning Question: What’s the Big Deal about Protein? Okay, anyone who’s gotten weight loss surgery or who is seriously thinking about it has probably already heard a ton about protein. You’re supposed to get about 60 to 80 grams per day, and eat your protein foods first at each meal so that you finish them before getting full. Also, your breakfast should be high in protein to give you a good start for the day. But why is protein so important? First, it’s an essential nutrient for your immune system and as a part of your muscles, skin, bones and other body tissues. But it’s even more important when you’re losing weight so fast, like you are after your gastric bypass surgery. When you lose weight, you’re losing body fat, of course. But if you’re not careful to get enough protein, you’re going to lose a noticeable amount of lean body mass, too. That means you’ll lose some muscle mass and your metabolism will slow down. Another benefit of protein is that it actually helps you stick to your low-calorie post-surgery diet so that you lose weight faster. Protein takes a longer time to digest than carbohydrates. That means that eating a high-protein meal will help you stay full for longer than a high-carbohydrate meal without much protein. So don’t forget to hit your protein at each meal! Aim for one to two servings per meal, and if you have a snack, include some protein. What are the best sources of protein? Stay tuned for the answer coming up in a future newsletter! If you have a burning question that you’d like to see answered in the newsletter, just send Alex a PM over in the forums. It can be about anything – roux-en-Y problems, food, fitness, weight loss, health…just let us know! Member Spotlight – Meet Mamiof3kids! This week’s spotlight is on Mamiof3kids, also known as Maybelin from New York, New York. At 5 feet even, this 33-year-old mother weighed 211 pounds at her highest weight. She decided to get the bypass because she was always tired and her knees were always hurting. Maybelin got her gastric bypass done on May 30, 2012, and she’s already down to 167 pounds! One of the best things about her surgery and weight loss is that spending time with her children is way more fun. As she puts it, she has a 15-year old teenager baby girl, a 3-year-old baby girl and a 2-year-old baby boy. She uses LapBandTalk.com to get advice on how to eat after the bypass, and encourages others who are struggling with their eating to find a dietitian for good advice. Keep enjoying your family and working toward your goal weight, Maybelin. Thanks for sharing your story and being in our member spotlight! We feature a different RNYTalk.com member each week in our Member Spotlight section. Let us know in the member spotlight forum if there’s someone you want to learn more about or if you want to be our spotlighted member! Nominating yourself isn’t bragging. We all want to learn more about you if you’re willing to share your trials, triumphs, tricks and tips! If you’re shy, just PM Alex with the message that you want to be in the spotlight. Thanks! Bypass Challenge – Record Your Diet! Each newsletter, we challenge you with another Bypass Challenge. It’s a chance to push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone or get you thinking about ways to make your weight loss journey even more successful. The challenge can inspire you to try things that you’d never thought about but that can make you more successful and confident in your weight loss journey. The challenge is completely non-competitive, but we hope you’ll post your results in the Challenge Forum so that other members can be motivated by your own challenge actions. Study after study proves that the most successful losers – and maintainers – record their diets. If you don’t already do it, now’s a good time to get into the habit. This newsletter’s challenge is for you to record your diet for three days. Include what you eat, how much and what time you had each meal and snack. You can also put in details like how hungry you were before you ate and afterwards, whether you ate exactly what you’d planned, and whether you were eating with people or alone. Did you learn anything new about your diet? Is there anything you can change so that your choices are healthier? Let us know how it went in the Challenge Forum! There, you can always look back at the previous challenges and post your results. It’s never too late to try something new. Better Boarding Tips – Getting into the Swing of Things For some members, jumping right into the conversations on the board feels natural. You know exactly what to say and have no trouble asking for help and providing your own support. For the rest of us, it can be a little tougher. We may not always know what to say to someone who needs help or how to reach out for support when we need it. How can you improve your social boarding skills? Practice! The more you post, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Start by filling in your profile, if you haven’t already. Head on over to the Tell Your Story Forum (or you can get there from the front page) and welcome a few new members. Then browse the forums until you see some topics that call to you. You might be able to answer some member questions about food choices or some of the pros and cons that you’ve experienced with your weight loss surgery. You’ll soon feel like an old pro with so much practice, and the other members will sure appreciate your input! That’s about it for this week’s newsletter. You can always find the old newsletters in the newsletter forum if you ever miss one. Thanks as always for your support, and we’re looking forward to seeing you out on the boards! Take care of yourself and each other, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.rnytalk.c...&tab=newsletter

Hi everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself! I just received word today that I was cleared from psychological standpoint for the surgery and the surgeon's office will be submitting my paperwork and I should hear back within about 7-10 days! I have a feeling they will deny it at first because with my insurance you need a minimum of 6 months of monthly visits with a PCP that shows weight loss and diet modification counseling and I have only completed 3 of those months so far. According to the surgeon's office, if they deny the request they will usually tell you what you need to do before you can apply again. I have an EGD scheduled for next week and a sleep study scheduled for the week after, so I am on the way!

Hi, I just joined today. I had my consult last week. Now have to meet with nutritionist and psych. I want to lose 20 lbs before surgery. My surgeon is Dr. Larson in Lake Worth, Florida. He doesn't require weight loss, but says it is easier on your lungs if you do. I will try. I want to know if you lose your appetite, and how fast larger people lose weight. Also does anyone prefer one band over another: Realize or lap band? How is energy level after surgery? Thank you, Louisa

I started at 260 and am to whatever my ticker says now over about a month. I did a low calorie diet for two weeks, then a pseudo liquid diet for two weeks prior to surgery (most days was two protein shakes, one protein bar, and two yogurts). I did have three normal meals during my pseudo liquid, but maintained a diet mentality so did not pig out like I would have in the past. since surgery on the 20th, I have done pureed soups, sugar free pudding, protein shakes, and yogurts. Tonight I had some soft noodles because I flew into another state for a work conference and there weren't any soups at the buffet dinner.

hi i was wondering if anyone else has suffered from this and found good solution, i was banded in june and over the last 3 weeks have started to lose loads of hair, i keep finding it everywhere! its starting to freak me out, so i'm going to make a concious effort to get the protein in and have started taking omega 3,6,9 (and daily multivitamins i've taken since op) i know up until a week ago my protein levels had dropped, but i can't handle protein shakes and now my stomach turns at the bars, any thoughts or ideas would be gratefully recieved:blush:

I am pretty sure we aren't supposed to lift anything any heavier than 10 pounds, or so I have read. I have my preop appointment with my doctor tomorrow and have written down various questions to ask him and this will be one of them. Wow!! You only have a week and 2 days to go!!! I have 14 days to go!! What's funny is the lady Theresa that was operated on in the video, she became pregnant not long after she was banded and had her baby in November 2008. She has videos on youtube under the user name Drmalley. Those are interesting as well. I decided to document my progress on their as well. I figured it would be a good way to keep myself accountable on my journey. :blushing:) Let's keep in touch and let me know how your surgery goes!! :confused:)