Search the Community

I've got one week of food freedom, going to have a few food funerals and generally enjoy my last week of being fat. Isn't that an oxymoron? Anyway. Pre op diet starts Monday. And with that comes TONS of housework to a - get my house super clean and organized before I go out of commission and b - take my mind off my growling belly Any tips for getting the house (and three kids and hubby!!) ready to fend for themselves for 4-5 days? I'm freaking out... Hubby isn't really up to the task so I want to make things as easy as possible. All laundry will be caught up, I will have the younger two outfits put together for a week's time. Aside from clothing, I can't figure out what else I can do? He doesn't cook, I am going to make a pot of chop suey and make sure we have Mac n cheese cups and plenty of bread and Nutella and fruit cups for the girls... Any other helpful hints from mamas out there?

I had GBS ON 12/10, surgery weight 228lbs, now 214. I have not list anymore weight since 22 Dec, 214. I'm drinking plenty of water, I get in at least 100 grams of protein a day and walk mile each day. I'm still in the liquid stage. My next appreciate is on the 29th. What am I doing wrong?

I am three weeks from surgery and start my liquids tomorrow. Any suggestions or tricks to keep me on the wagon during this journey. I am both excited and nervous about making it through these next few weeks.

Hang in there. I too bad horrible pain and nausea. I had my buyer's remorse lying in the hospital bed. Every day gets better and better. It's worth it. I'm down 22lbs in 4 weeks. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't had the surgery. Rest. Walk when you can. It's going to get better. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Some of my friends have experienced good results with a product called Estroven--it's a soy-based supplement that contains phytoestrogens. Evidently it helps even out estrogen and that regulates the hot flashes. Other than that, cotton/linen clothing, avoiding caffeine, hot beverages/soup, no hot pepper, and waterproof makeup (so that it doesn't sweat off)--so sorry you're dealing with this!! It's extremely frustrating. My hot flashes went away after surgery, but in the last couple of weeks, they're back again--I awaken at 4 or 4:15 a.m. (not on purpose!) and then experience a hot flash. It goes away pretty quickly. Before being sleeved, I had them at any time, and you're right, having them at work as a teacher is really challenging in lots of respects. You might look into the supplements to see if you can find an herbal formula that helps. Hang in there!

Hiya Meg, The ice cube thing is a good idea... not sure if I could do it in class, but defo at home. Did you find that when the flushes were with you it effected your weight loss? I did well last week but got a bounce up this week =[ It is soooo frustrating when I know that I am not eating more than 1200 cals a day. I'm thinking of really dropping the carbs again for a week or two... but in the past, it hasn't really showed a significant weight loss for me.... I'm in a bit of a pickle as of what to do! I am also wondering if I should just take some time out and just maintain for a while, but then I really want to get to goal... Oh I don't know...lol!

Welcome Laurie! I joined just yesterday, and am already loving it! I think you've probably done well with weight loss since you've only had it done for two weeks! At least based on everything I've read. Congratulations! I know you're going to like it here! kelly

Hi Eva and welcome. I think we all had some level of anxiety before banding. The recovery time varies from person to person. I went back to work to a fairly physical job in just under a week. Others have been off for only 2 or 3 days. For me, day to day life with my family is not much different. I cook all the same things, I just eat much less of it. The incidence of erosion is quite small. Remember that you will hear more of the complications on this site than you will of the people just doing alright with their bands. The best thing to do is just read everything you can here and ask lots of questions. You won't find a more supportive bunch anywhere.

I have been having problems with my weight going up and down recently. Only about 2 to 3 pounds. I was exercising 6 days a week but was told to decrease my exercise to 3 to 4 days a week because I was having symptoms of dehydration. Anyway, for two weeks straight, I stayed at 256. Then I lost to 252. Then I have gone up and down from 252 to 256 this past week. Today, I was at 255. What could be going on? I am sticking to my diet and I am exercising but not 6 days just 4 a week right now. Should I increase my days of exercise? I alternate cardio and weights/crunches etc. what is your take?

make sure with your dr that you're supposed to be released to soft foods... becasue my dr was very strict about doing liquids for the first 2 weeks to make sure the stitching around the band healed completely before sending food down through there. i know some others are given only a few days of liquids. so i would make sure you dont have have to do at least a couple days of liquids... especially those first few days cause you're so swollen around the stomach. it might be easier for you!

So I'm now a little over three weeks since being sleeved. I actually typed this up once before but somehow lost it and was too tired to type again until now. My time in the hospital started off with a glitch and ended with a glitch. At first (after being at the hospital for over 5 hours- also had a vena cava filter put in) my bloodwork showed I had low potassium. If they couldn't get it raised by taking what I call potassium "shots", which were super nasty tasting, then my surgery would have to be post-poned. Yeah...I freaked, but my levels did raise about 40 minutes after the potassium shot- so yay surgery! Everything with surgery went fine. The surgeon said if I hadn't lost the 63 lbs. ahead of time she would've had to have done an open procedure because my liver was still pretty big but thank goodness that didn't happen! I was so happy to wake up alive and with the laproscopic option! My other glitch was one night I woke up with a nurse sitting by my side. Apparently my oxygen levels went really low and I stopped breathing. The nurse had to stay with me as I slept that night since it kept going low- scary! Anyways that led me to staying in the hospital another night and I was supposed to stay a fourth night but they decided to let me go home if I slept with oxygen at home and scheduled some heart tests and a sleep study. Whew- I was glad I could leave the hospital! I was so ready to be home! Finally after a couple days home I got on the scale- oh I so shouldn't have- I had gained 15 lbs!!!!! What... I thought I was supposed to lose weight! So I know it was due to receiving fluids for 4 days and the air they pump into your stomach during surgery but still it was depressing. I've since lost those lbs- thank goodness. Then came the appointments. Had an echocardiagram and bubble tests done on the heart, potassium checked, additional bloodwork done, follow- up with the surgeon and nutritionist, and more bloodwork done to see if I had infection (had some bad stomach pain). All of that came back good. And then I had the oh so fun sleep study last night. Wow- that was an experience! How weird to be hooked up to so many wires and to have someone watch you sleep. The strangest thing was waking up in a pitch dark room while someone was saying my name. Of course I woke up forgetting where I was and I kept looking around trying to see who was calling my name- well duh it was over the intercom. he he . I haven't received results yet but the technician said I definitely didn't have severe sleep apnea and she wasn't even sure I'd be diagnosed with sleep apnea/need a c-pap. Both she and my surgeon guess it may be because of the pain meds why I had issues in the hospital- but of course I won't know for sure until my follow-up with the doc. Whew- well there is my story. Overall things went well. It is definitely an adjustment but I continue to tell myself it will get better and better. I've really enjoyed reading all your stories and NSV's and can't wait to be there with you soon!

I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to protein drinks. Most make me want to throw up. I found a RTD that is called Extreme Smoothie (chocolate dream) and is 35 grams of protein. I stopped drinking them and just started back a week or so ago and the weight is coming off faster now and that is the ONLY thing I am doing different. I would like to know what the name of the drink is at Trader Joe's. It seems that my body loses weight faster with a protein drink.

If I don't get my fluids in (I don't say Water, because I do a lot of SF decaf iced tea) my weight loss stalls....good enough reason to keep me drinking!!! Keep sipping away, it will become habit, and get easier! Kat

I was told that if my liver was too big, the surgery would be stopped. Thank goodness, my liver was small. In fact, I believe that was the first question I had in recovery, " Where they able to do the surgery?" I didn't have the Optifast diet. I was put on a 1000 calorie diet, which included 6 oz. of protein, a limited amount of veggies, fruits and starches. I was able to lose almost 10 lbs on it during the 2 week pre-op period. It is amazing how different our experiences are. I have friends that were on a modified Atkins plan. Thank goodness, we are all on the road to a successful journey. Since Monday I am down another 6.5 lbs! I am happy.

I am waiting for insurance approval. When I had my consultation with the surgeon (Dr. Singh, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore) I told him my PCP was concerned because my liver enzymes were frequently elevated on my blood test for cholesterol. He told me that could indicate fatty liver disease moreso than a reaction to cholesterol medicine, and fatty liver disease can become non-alcoholic cirrhosis. He didn't say the surgery would be cancelled, just that while doing it he would take a sample for a liver biopsy to find out. Also once I get a date I have to do liquids 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after banding. The before is to help shrink the liver and make the surgery easier. Don't know if anyone has tried this or heard about it, but in the current issure of Prevention Magazine there is a short article about milk thistle as a supplement and its main ingredient silymarin. Says it can detoxify the liver and help fatty liver disease, which (I didn't know this) can lead to diabetes. They suggest 200 to 500mg of silymarin a day and note that not all brands have enough. Trader Darwin Milk Thistle at Trader Joes and Natures Way Thisilyn are two that do. I plan to tell the surgeon's office once I am scheduled because they will be adjusting my meds anyway. I have pretty much every co-morbidity except diabetes. From what I read you need to buy what has been standardized to 80% silymarin, which means my 250mg milk thistle capsule has 200mg of silymarin in it and it states that on the bottle. I got the Trader Darwin, about $10 for 100 capsules. Prevention recommends 200-500 daily so I take one twice a day which gives me 400mg. And they said to be sure and tell your doctor. I figure anything that makes my liver a better surgical risk. The Nature's Way brand is more expensive but is availble at places like the Vitamin Shoppe and online. Has anyone tried this? I would love to hear about some experiences. My sister had RNY about 2 years ago and her PCP actually put her on milk thistle (though she doesn't remember why, and plans to ask him).

Congrats on your surgery! I am glad it went well and hope you get to feeling better! I just had mine last week 8/2. I was sore for a few days but now back at work and getting better every day. Good luck and prayers!

If you are doing any strength training then you are building muscle which will weigh more and coming down from 6x per week to 3-4x per week will make a difference. Once your body recognizes this it will adjust accordingly. Drink Water. They say that you only need about 25-30 min of cardio and 15min weights and large muscles burn calories/fat faster, so do leg weights.

Hi, I didn't have mine until last week and I had surgery on Jan 23rd. Good Luck

Im on Optifast, week#2.... My favorite "recipe" 1 chocolate optifast 1 packet of sweetner 1-1 1/2 tbsps of decaf coffe crystals 11/2 cup Water Pack blender with ice, blend til smooth!!!! Also i find the bovril beef bouillon super helpfull 10 calories per packet. Lots of water and crystal light!! Msg me if u want to talk

I'd like to set a weightloss goal weight for June 1st, but how does one go about setting a realistic but not too easy/obvious goal? I was sleeved march second. Sw 224 CW 198 Gw 173? That's 25 lbs down in the next 8 weeks. Think that's too much for me? Watch me hit my 3 week stall right now and throw me all off. Lol

I also am losing hair and have been for the past two months. My hair loss started right at three months after surgery. I have talked to my PCP. He said that the stress of surgery and rapid weight loss is most likely the cause since I lost 20 pounds in the first three weeks. I had test and everything was normal; thyroid, B-12, Iron, etc. There are other posts out here and they all say the same thing, after three months your hair will start to grow back and it will be a thick as it was before unless there really is a deficency so you might want to have the blood work just to make sure all is good. I am taking Biotin and using Nioxin shampoo. It seems to have slowed down the hair loss a little and I am at the two month point since the loss has started. I wish you luck, but I am confident that my hair, and yours too, will start to come back in.

Let me go on the record saying that I believe WW is the best and most realistic program out there. I had previously lost tons of weight on WW and felt great. Thanx to Mirena and other issues I gained it all back with interest. Now I need surgical help to get healthy, and most importantly STAY that way. That being said I am currently doing the WW program again to safely lower my BMI for my surgery. I am happy to report I lost 1.4 lbs the 1st week and 7.6 lbs this week. I am chipping away at my BMI bit by bit! Amanda Rae

hi all - i'm pre-op, 12/15/11 right around the cornerWhen I'm being plum lazy, and don't want to fix anything for a meal, can i substitute a meal w/a Protein shake - or am i not supposed to do that after those couple of weeks after surgery Kathy DOS 12/15/11

Summer temperatures mean moving everything outdoors, including your eats! Picnicking is one of the best parts of the season, and it’s a great way to involve the whole family while basking in nature’s beauty. There are three key factors to packing the perfect picnic: each dish should be able to be made ahead of time, not spoil quickly and be transported easily. Steer clear of heavy toppings, sticky sauces and mayo-based recipes—they’ll create a mess and attract insects; the latter can even pose a health risk. Instead, choose items that are easy to eat with your hands (or just with a fork—no knives allowed!) and will be safe to nibble on after an hour or two has passed (assuming you don’t leave the dishes out in the glaring sun—which is never a good idea, regardless of ingredients). My creative picnic recipes will have everyone at the table asking for more without guilt. Makes 16 kabobs Per 1 kabob 71 Calories CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE INFO ON THIS RECIPE AND SO MANY MORE:thumbup: http://life-after-lap-band.blogspot.com/

Congratulations!! I was sleeved a day after you and lost 22 pounds and then hit a stall. I am at day 13 of this stupid stall!! Kudos to you; I hope my stall dies and never comes back!!