Jill had gastric bypass surgery at the Center for Obesity Surgery and Treatment.

Jill Johnson is a great dieter.  Numerous times, she lost 100 pounds on a single diet and exercise plan.  While she had little problem losing the weight, she struggled to keep the weight off.  Within a year or so, she would manage to gain back all those hard-shed pounds.  At her heaviest, 5-foot-7-inch Jill was 273 pounds and wore a plus-size 24.

After a lifetime of a wild roller coaster ride of gaining and losing, Jill had enough.

“I finally admitted it to myself,” Jill says.  “I was incapable of losing weight and sustaining the weight loss with diet and exercise alone.”

As an advanced nurse practitioner, Jill realized that weight loss surgery, coupled with diet and exercise, would offer her the best chance of losing the weight and keeping it off.

In September 2007, Dr. Timothy Hipp performed gastric bypass surgery for Jill.  At the time of her surgery, she weighed 230 pounds.  Post-surgery, Jill reached a normal, healthy weight with ease.  But more importantly, she has not regained any of the weight.  In January 2011, Jill weighed 130 pounds.  Now a size 4, she has dropped more than 20 sizes from her heaviest.

Beyond her improved health and newfound energy, weight loss surgery has affected her love life.  She was single for 30 years prior to having surgery.

“I had resigned myself to the fact that I would probably live out the rest of my life with no partner,” Jill explains.  “This was because I had such a poor self image due to the constant fluctuation in my body size and the resultant changes in my appearance.”

In one of her most dramatic life changes yet, Jill started dating after her three-decade-long relationship hiatus.  She met Brian, discovering that it was possible for her to be in a loving and lasting relationship.

Although she appears to be younger, Jill is now 62 years old and has retired.  Ironically, she now how more energy than ever before.  Her son and daughter-in-law are avid cyclists, so despite the fact that Jill hadn’t been on a bike in 50 years, she bought a bicycle.  She and Brian, both fresh-air junkies, spend their free time in the great outdoors.

Jill’s advice to those considering weight loss surgery is to take action now.  Weight loss surgery is not a magical solution, she says, but it does make what was once impossible become possible.

For those patients who choose a Gastric banding procedure, adjustments will be necessary. As you may remember, the gastric band is “empty” when it is originally placed around your stomach. By “empty” we mean that there is not any saline in the portion of the bag that can change size and taper the upper portion of your stomach.

When you go in for adjustments, saline will be inserted into the gastric band through the port in your abdomen. The saline fills the expandable portion of the gastric band and changes the size of the upper portion of your stomach, thereby helping you to control your food intake. You will be scheduled to come in for your first gastric band adjustment four weeks after your surgery, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. In general, gastric band adjustments will be performed when you come on for a checkup with us. You will have multiple adjustments over the first year or two, until we work together to target the best fit for your body. Do not worry: the process is fast, easy and pain free. Our experienced staff performs gastric band adjustments regularly so you are in good hands.

After an adjustment you will need to expect some things. Nothing major, just guidelines that you will need to follow to stay on track.

Diet

Immediately after an adjustment you will have to follow a specific diet. It will remind you of the diet you followed initially after surgery, but it will move much faster from a time standpoint. Follow this diet exactly so that your body has time to adjust to the change in the size of your gastric band.

• Liquid Diet (first two days)- This stage begins immediately after your adjustment. For the first few hours (or up to a day) you will want to drink clear liquids. Soon you will be back to your favorite bariatric liquids until the end of this stage. Remember to drink 64 ounces a day and to include your proteins. Skim milk and doctor approved protein shakes are great choices.
• Soft Foods ( days 3 and 4)- The next stage puts you back on soft foods. You will be eating three meals a day and still drinking your 64 ounces of liquid in between meals. Remember to include protein, so have a shake if you need to. Try some tasty soft foods like:
  • Avocado
  • Sweet Potato
  • Egg Whites
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Skinless Steamed Veggies

Keep in mind that your stomach may still be adjusting in general. Stick to foods that you know agree with you. If you want to try a new food, we suggest adding the new food into your diet slowly. We also suggest that you wait until in between adjustments to expand your diet; you do not want to give your stomach too much change all at the same time.

Make Sure the Adjustment was Correct

Once the band is adjusted, you will need to pay attention to ensure a good fit. A band that is too tight can make you uncomfortable. Come back and see us for a readjustment if you are experiencing:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Regular heart burn
• Regurgitation
• Coughing fits that wake you up

Most often the adjustments you will receive are correct. Keep in mind that band adjustments are a process that takes time and communication between you and your medical staff. Every person is a little different, and as a result every adjustment is, too. With time and communication, your doctor will find the right saline levels for your comfort and weight loss goals.

Time for Another Adjustment

After your adjustment you will need to watch for some changes that tell you it is time for another. When you see these signs, you are in the “Green Zone” as we like to call it.

• Feeling hungry in between 3 balanced meals even though you are still drinking 64 ounces of fluids a day
• Increased ability to eat larger quantities of food without feeling full
• You stop gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week

If you have any questions about maintaining weight loss after your bariatric surgery or if you would like to find out more about the procedures and how they can help you visit us.

Sources:
University of California San Diego Medical Center
Lap Band Surgery Site.com

Related Posts:
Maintaining Weight Loss
Avoiding Unexpected Sickness after Surgery
Signs You May Need a Gastric Band Adjustment

If you have an adjustable gastric band, you know it works. The band was placed around the upper part of your stomach, dividing the stomach into two parts. Now you’re eating less because the upper portion of your stomach is small, making you feel full faster.

You probably also know that the band has to be adjusted over time. The adjustment, known as a fill, takes just 5 or 10 minutes and does not require surgery. The idea is to customize the band, either by slightly inflating or deflating it, based on your needs and goals. This is accomplished by changing the amount of saline that’s in the band. The saline is injected through an access port just under your skin.

So when is it time for an adjustment?

• It’s been a few weeks. Once you have been eating solid food for several days, usually about 4 to 6 weeks after the initial procedure, you’ll need to be evaluated. Your first adjustment may happen then.
• You’re pregnant. If you become pregnant while having a gastric band, talk to your doctor right away. You will probably need to have the band deflated to allow more nutrients to reach your growing baby.
• Food disagrees with you. While eating less is a good thing, eating too little can be problematic. If you can’t tolerate food, explain the symptoms to your doctor. Your band may need to be adjusted to better fit your body.
• Weight loss is slow. Most gastric band patients lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. If you find yourself losing less than that, your doctor may inflate the band more.
• You’re sick. If you are under the weather, your body may need more food. This may be a time to have the band deflated temporarily.

Some people have only one band adjustment during the first year, while others require several fills. Everyone is different, so listen to your body and stay in contact with your doctor.

If you have questions about gastric band adjustment, contact North Florida Regional Medical Center. You can visit out bariatric page online or call 1-800-342-6057. We’re here to answer your questions and help you meet your weight-loss goals.