Lapband Question

rosemarys_babee · 06-14-2009, 12:19 AM

I had lapband on 05/28/09 and I started getting really hungry on 06/09/09. I'm supposed to be on liquids for six weeks, but I am having a hard time getting full with no fills in my band yet. Before you ask, yes, I know the difference between being hungry and "head hunger" and this is real hunger. I've been walking at least one mile everyday trying to work my way up to two miles. Was anyone else told six weeks on liquids? Cause I was doing some research and Cornell University says you should be on pureed foods for the first 4 weeks and then introduce solid food. My doctor says I go right from liquids to solid foods at 6 weeks, but I'm getting REALLY down from being hungry all the time. Is anyone else having the same problem? I'd really appreciate some feedback.

goddess819 · 06-14-2009, 12:52 AM

You might be able to try a modified puree diet...stuff like soft proteins and such. I had the RNY and did a liquid diet for 1 week post op and then was put on a soft protein diet. I ate stuff like cottage cheese, scrambled egg, tuna salad. I know that each surgeon is different but adding something like that may help you out. If all else fails you could always call your surgeon. How soon until you get your first fill? It's my understanding that most surgeons typically do the first fill at about 6w post op.

Congrats on your banding! Did you take pre op pictures & measurements so that you can compare to?

Kristy

rosemarys_babee · 06-14-2009, 02:41 AM

I see my surgeon on Monday (06/15/09) for my post-op appointment. I hope she either does a fill even though it's only 2 1/2 weeks since surgery or allows me to progress my diet. I'm totally fine with soft proteins but there is just no way I can last another 4 weeks being hungry like this because the protein shakes and cream soup just aren't cutting it. In fact, I'm probably taking in more calories doing all that stuff than I would if she just allowed me to have something to eat. Thanks for the congrats, Kristy. I took pics at the surgery center before I started the 3 month diet my insurance required, but the only pic I've taken since is of my surgery scars. My mom says she can see definite weight loss and the scale says almost 20lbs since surgery. I never even thought about take measurements, though. I'll have to see if I can find a tape measure and start using that because they keep telling me that with all the exercise I introduced since surgery that I might not see a lot of lost pounds for awhile, but I should still be losing inches.

goddess819 · 06-15-2009, 03:28 AM

Good luck with your appt on Monday! If you're interested there's a WLS Divas thread on the diet & exercise forum which acts kinda like a support group and we have quite a few lapbanders on there....you're welcome to pop in there as well if you like.

MikesHAPPYwife · 06-18-2009, 01:20 PM

I just now saw your post sorry!

6 weeks of liquids would be pure hell & even if you had a fill liquids would go straight through.
My post op diet was this:
day 1&2- clear liquids
day 2-7- liquids
day 7-13-purees
day 14-21-introduction to solids
Then it was all solids but be careful with textures.
I was told to take in at LEAST 60g protein, no more than 90g carbs, and 1000-1200 calories.

The one thing about liquid diets is you loose quick, however, when you are able to eat again its hard to have "control" because you have starved yourself to long.

My dr said they like you to introduce purees because then your stomach gets use to it, you dont want your body to go into starvation mode.

Best of luck to you & stay strong girl.

Also, check out www.obesityhelp.com, its a great resource.

rosemarys_babee · 06-20-2009, 06:33 PM

I'm definitely on full liquids, but you're right it goes through pretty fast-even my protein shakes don't stay long. She didn't say I could (and I didn't ask) but I have been, when I get REALLY hungry, eating yogurt and baby food. She did put 3cc's in when I went on Monday, so the hunger is better but it's still hard because I can't stay full very long. Thanks for the luck, I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot of it to get through the next 3 weeks.

M~M · 06-20-2009, 10:46 PM

well, it makes sense to me that you can only eat a little and don't stay full for long, because that is the way we really should eat anyway. it keeps your stomach from being stretched out and therefore you don't eat portions too large for your body to handle. eating small small portions several times a day also keeps your metabolism up, so that your body can process what little you ARE eating into the necessary fuel it needs, instead of storing it and causing fatty tissue. congratulations! i've been considering lap band for quite a long time now and usually only get negative feedback... so keep us posted! good luck!

MikesHAPPYwife · 06-21-2009, 06:53 PM

m~m- there is alot of negative feedback out there because people who look to the surgery to magically make them skinny fail. Lapband is a small tool in the process of weightloss. Unless you go into surgery knowing that you fail, because you never realize you need to change your ways. Even after you have the surgery you have days where you fail & your mind goes back to the way it use to think & you have to get back on track. Being healthy is a day to day decision. THe lapband helps out but it has to be a decision that you make.
I also agree you need 5 small meals a day. Eat your protein, your veggie, and then if there is a room a little carb. We need at least 60g of protein and no more than 90g of carbs a day.

rosemarys_babee · 06-22-2009, 12:43 AM

M, I got a lot of negative comments when I decided to do my band-from the Dr!!! I just knew that RNY wasn't for me. I've been doing very well with my band and have lost almost 20lbs in the 3 weeks I've had it. As far as eating, I do about 2 protein shakes a day and a little bit of cream soup once a day. Normally, I'm good with that since I got the fill, but there are times where it seems to just flow right through me. For instance today was one of those days and then we went out to dinner and I had some real food - VERY small pieces that I chewed at least 30 times each and it was the smallest portion I think I've ever eaten in my life and I stopped when I started to be able to "feel" the band. It's really weird, it's like if I put something in I feel like it's resting on the band and when I start to feel that, I stop (yes, even with protein shakes).

Laura, I don't think I could eat 5 times a day and my Dr told me to try to stay with my 3 meals a day but that rarely snacks are okay. My protein shakes are over 30mg of protein each, so I think I'm good with the protein. I haven't eaten anything that would be classified as a starch or carb yet and the only veggie I've had is some beans. So, I'm doing well just getting hungry. I've noticed when I cheat and actually eat something (like a 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter), I stay full longer, regardless of how tiny the portion is. I have another appointment on 06/29/09 to see if my band needs tightening again. She said she's concerned that I may need more restriction faster than the average person because my hunger came back much faster than most people she's seen.

M~M · 06-22-2009, 01:52 AM

aw that's awesome weight loss! so happy it's working for you! i just talked to my FIL today, he's a chiropractor and a certified nutritionist. i had my back slightly adjusted and i will be going in soon to talk to him about my thyroid issues AND about losing weight. he's totally all about natural solutions and treating the body instead of the conditions... it makes sense to me! i'm hoping to avoid surgery and have been avoiding it for a long time. i'm trying to make it a last resort, but still am not going to be close minded to it at all. one way or another, i CANNOT stay the way i am. good luck to you again! i hope you get everything you wish for!

rosemarys_babee · 06-22-2009, 02:12 AM

MM, I tried natural stuff and my body just kept freaking out. I eat as organically as possible and avoid all artificial sweeteners, colors and flavors. I also try to avoid corn in any form and potatoes. So, everything I eat is very basic and I'm very particular about what goes in because of the side effects I can get from all of them. My diet before surgery combined with the right meds, which in the course of losing prior to surgery I ended up coming off of, helped me to go from 383lbs to 337lbs. However, for my specific health problems, I wasn't losing enough weight fast enough, so I ended up doing surgery but not before I put it off for over 2 1/2years. Meds aren't always bad, but I monitor my doses VERY closely and as soon as I feel something different, re-evaluate the doses. Because of the loss prior to surgery and the further loss since surgery, I've come off of most of my meds and am cutting down the dosage of two more to see if it fixes the new side effects. Good luck with your FIL and I wish you the best with whatever path you choose!!!

loveslady · 06-29-2009, 09:55 PM

Hi, I haven't had surgery yet. I too am planning to have lap band surgery after agust. MY doctor makes us wait 6 mths. During the 6 mths I have to go to pulmanory dr, psychologist, nutritionist, and take a tread mill test. Did you all have to do that? I'm tired of it. I'll be honest I have not been eating totally correctly. I have lost 4 pds but I gained it back. He says that he wants me to maintain or lose. It's hard for pcos'ers but he doesn't care. I do like the advice and knowing others that have had the surgery. I will definitely keep in touch.

rosemarys_babee · 07-01-2009, 02:33 AM

Hey Loveslady,
I had to get go to a seminar, get a complete physical, consult with the nutritionist once per month when I weighed in, do a psych evaluation (and she almost didn't pass me strictly because I take Lexapro) then prior to surgery I had to have a barium swallow, cardiac clearance, a pap smear and lose 7.5% of my body all in 3 months. It was difficult, but it's doable. Good luck to you, don't get discouraged!!!

goddess819 · 07-01-2009, 04:56 AM

Congrats again on your banding and I'm glad to hear that you're doing better after your first fill. So far your 20lb loss in 3 weeks is awesome! Keep up the good work!

I wanted to chime in on the requirements for being approved for surgery. It depends on your insurance company, so call them directly and ask them if they cover the lapband (some insurance companies don't) and if they do ask them what you need to have to be approved. Many require a BMI requirement of >40, co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, high triglycerides...stuff like that although not required with a BMI of >40 in most cases but if you do have those diagnoses it can help get you approved. In addition to those you may be required to do a 6 month physician supervised diet, nutritionist eval, psych eval, cardiac/pulmonary eval, sleep study and more. Every surgeon should require attendance of an informational seminar and a consultation or two.

Last note - I'm not knocking the Lapband...it was not the right tool for me, I needed the RNY. But, don't lock yourself into a procedure simply on the basis of it being 'reversible' or the popularity of it. Research each of the procedures available to you and weigh them against your individual weight loss needs. You just may find that another procedure such as the DS (duodenal switch), VSG (verticle sleeve gastrectomy) or the RNY (Roux-En-Y) may be a better fit for your weight loss needs. So...research research and research more. Check out www.obesityhelp.com and ask questions of each procedure. Last thing you want is buyers remorse (it's what I did and I LOVE my RNY). Plus, the more you know about your procedure the better you can educate those who are giving you negative feedback...9/10 who do that just aren't as educated about WLS as they think they are.

Regardless of which procedure you choose it's definitely a tool...and I'm learning that at 4y 11m post RNY and a 25lb gain that my tool still works. With going back to basics and upping my protein, cutting back carbs and upping my water I've lost 3lbs this week.

Good luck to you all in which ever procedure you decide to go with!!

Kristy

loveslady · 07-01-2009, 01:03 PM

Ladies, tell me about this psych eval. What is really about cause I don't really know what they would ask. I have completed most everything except the psych thing. They have scheduled so far away from everything else. It's not til august. I am done with everything including the nutrional classes by that time. I however was told that I don't necessarily need to lose any weight at the moment. It has me puzzled as to why not. He says its okay if I do especially because of my fat mid section. I'm working out but I have yet to get a handle on my eating.