Looking for anyone who has had Lapband over Bariatric with Dr. Edward Hannoush in CT

Agreed, as I mentioned to BethPets, I am not eating carbs at all like pasta, cereal, processed foods, etc. I am also exercising 6 days per week now.  I need to find a good endocronologist as mine retired.

If your BG is 131  Then you are eating carbs.  Unless you are going to take the correct meds to regulate them  (even at my heaviest my A1C was 5.6 and my BGs between 70 and 105 because I took my medicine)  you are killing yourself.  There are carbs in fruit, veggies and dairy product.  Get to a specialist because if your PCP thinks 9.1 is acceptable you need to get the facts.

Can you give me an idea of what you ate?  I eat hard boiled eggs for breakfast, salad with chicken for lunch and fish with veggies (not starchy) or chicken for dinner.  Keep in mind though I just started cutting out all carbs.  Before, even last week I was eating whole grains which I am not anymore.  No my PCP does not think it is acceptable at all.

I am not a doctor.  You need to see an endo now because your diabetes is out of control.  130 is not a good number and fast acting insulin like Novolog etc. is not the answer for a person with your A1C #.  It is basic science.  Either take insulin or only eat clean protein like chicken or fish.  Until you get back to eating correctly and lose a lot of weight,  you aren't controlling a very dangerous illness.

Hi Karen, 

I am sorry you have had so many problems.  I had the lap band only and I would say, it is pretty much a waste of time and money and it is also a major surgery with all of the possible complications.  It has made my life pretty miserable.  I have much difficult eating regular protein foods such as chicken, fish, beef and pork. No matter how much I chew, it seems to get stuck and hurts badly. I can eat all of the carb things like ice cream, grits, and the so called slider foods.  Cake, bread etc get stuck too, but I don't need them anyway. I still use some protein drinks to get in my protein everyday.  My surgeon told me to just get over it,  because he couldn't do anything else for me.  I only lost 40 pounds of the 100 I needed to loose.  I have slowly gained back 15 pounds despite being careful with my diet.  If it weren't for family pressures, I would just have it removed so that I can eat normally again.  

I know a young man who lost weight, but still had significant problems with his diabetes.  My diabetes is in good shape although I do take a small dose of metformin everyday. I would see a gastroenterologist to make sure there is nothing that you didn't mention wrong, but have no lap band, sleeve etc.  They won't help.  

If you can find a support group nearby you should join. I led a group for two years and most of the group had the same surgery you had from a variety of surgeons.  Only one or two out of 15 to 20 had no significant problems.  When we stopped the group after two years, everyone gained back some weight.  It is normal to gain some weight as you stabilize.

Continue to exercise as you wrote that you have been doing and actually count your carbs.  You can't just leave off the obvious white foods such as bread, rice, and potatoes because carbs are in so many other things.  You need to measure your food and record every bite you take each day in a little notebook. My doctor told me I should eat no more than 15 grams of carbs at each meal, but many people can't have that much and maintain their sugar at a healthy level.  You can buy a small pocket size carb counter book at many stores and there are free programs on line to actually count carbs, protein etc for you.  It is a lot of trouble, but it will work.  Write down everything you eat and the carb count for that food.  You will see where you are messing up after a few days.  

What everyone is told before surgery,  and I have seen over the last four years is that surgery is just one more tool.  You still have to work the "diet", that is count carbs, exercise and take medications that are prescribed to you.  It is an emergency that you see a diabetic specialist and take the medications you are prescribed every day. 

Good luck! and don't lose hope.  If gaining weight and diabetes are the only difficulties you are experiencing, you are lucky.  So now work the tool! Another surgery won't help unless it is needed to correct a problem other than weight gain.  Count your carbs, consume plenty of protein, exercise, see the doctor who specializes in diabetes and take your medication as instructed.  Otherwise that diabetes will kill you not the weight gain.

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca

Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry that the lap band has caused you so much misery.  I do think it is great you have lost 40 lbs.  The support group sounded great.  I will look for one.  I started exercise classes, (aerobics, strenght training) and try to go each night and Saturdays.  It's been snowing a lot here so they have canceled some classes. When that happens i ride my stationary bike.  But I am just getting started with my exercise routine and have been at it about two weeks.  I will make it a permanent lifestyle change as it is essential to my health along with eating right and taking my meds.  I have to admit I wasn't good about taking my insulin until I got scared straight with my A1C being 9.1 which I know is completely dangerous.  I am not taking it lightly at all. My pcp has sent my file over to the endocronolgist so I can get an appt.  I hope to hear from that office this week.  The just wouldn't book me an appt.  I had to be referred by my pcp. 

I got an ultra sound on my kidneys in November.  Everything looked normal thank goodness but I still worry if I have done damage. I suspect the endo will do more blood work.  I just hope it's not too late for me health wise.  My blood sugar has been better due to my meds and eating choices.  I am eating protien and vegetables and limited fruit.  I looked up the raw diet but not sure I can eat all raw; however it seems like a graet way to eat for health and diabetes. 

You are correct Rebecca, the surgery is a tool.  I really freaked out over my numbers but I feel now I can do this and overcome my health obstacles. I will seek out a support group and will start writing down all my food and the carbs.  I believe that will be very helpful. 

I wish you all the best in your journey.  You will get thorugh this too. I am very happy to hear your diabetes is under control.  I am going to lose the weight and get my diabetes under control with proper diet and exercise.  :)

Thank you for your great response and support.

Karen

Karen,  

Sounds like you are getting on the right track now.  See the endo and get the diabetes under control.  Sometimes they give you a general diet whi*****ludes more carbs than some people can have, so you have to figure that out yourself.  I wouldn't recommend the raw diet for someone who has had bariatric surgery because it has so much roughage and requires a lot of chewing. 

The next person is correct.  Exercise alone won't cause you to lose weight.  It will firm up your muscles and make you feel good so that the diet is easier.  You are correct, it is a total life style change which can be hard if you have a family that loves all of the things that shouldn't be in your house such as cookies, bread etc.  I have an Atkins cookbook that has a lot of healthy alternatives for bread, sweets etc. if you can tolerate artificial sweeteners.  Fruit can be loaded with carbs, so look for those with fewer carbs and limit to two servings daily probably.  My Mother's doctor told her she couldn't eat too much fruit, but that is not true for a diabetic which she was.

If you are the cook at home, you might just try some of the healthy stuff on your family without telling them it is different or a "diet" food.  Just gradually change what they eat too. Often, they can just eat a lot more than you which is fine. Also try small portions for yourself.  The pouch the surgeon created for you can stretch a lot if you eat too much.

Good luck.

Thank you Rebecca!

All the exercise in the world won't take weight off unless you eat less calories than your body burns. 

I am definitely not saying that exercise will take off my weight alone. I do understand eating less and burning more.  That is my plan.