LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

Uh, is it me, or do we have a one month countdown? And were are we, Penni? Who is in the lead? Have you kept track?

I am looking for a man named Dan, his email address is: dnny777@yahoo.com. Dan, I emailed you twice & it keeps coming back. Do you have another address that I can have? Diane Beck

I found this in the newspaper, I haven't tried it yet. one cup plain yogurt one-half cup milk one tablespoon vanilla whey Protein powder one-half cup frozen unsweetened berries (any kind) or peaches one-fourth teaspoon Crystal Light mix (any flavor) Put all of the ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth. Protein will be 24 grams. Betty

I believe this group has gone sour again. Anyone in the North Georgia area attending a support group. If so where and when, I would love to go.

Since my cholesterol and blood sugar are up again, I decided to take another look at this diet. It is a diet that emphasizes eating Omega-3 fats (olive and canola oil, mainly) over omega-6 fats (pretty much everything else). It also emphasizes eating 7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It is supposed to prevent heart disease, cancer, depression, etc. My friend's cardiologist ordered her to use this diet. Also, my psychiatrist suggested I take Omega-3 supplements to avoid having a relapse of depression. The health benefits are well-documented. It is not primarily a weight-loss diet, though it can be modified to include weight loss (just eat less, of course)…

Garden Frittata, Ingredients: 1/2 cup onion chopped 2 pressed cloves of garlic 1 cup of one or more of: spinach, broccoli, zucchini or mushrooms finely chopped 1/2 t. thyme 1/2 t. basil 6 eggs 1 C. grated swiss cheese 1/2 C. grated parmesan 1 t. salt 1/4 t. pepper 1/2 C. Lite Sour Cream 1 C. milk dash of tabasco Preheat oven to 350 degrees, combine all ingredients reserving 1/2 the cheese. Sprinkle left over cheese on top just before baking. Bake in 9" pie pan for 50 minutes. Very yummy and easy to swallow. We make this a LOT at the B&B I work at. Another good easy to swallow recipe is Spinach Gnocchi: Ingredients: 2 10 oz. packages of …

I had my pre-op testing done last week. When they stuck that tube down my nose for the esophegeal manometry, I pulled it out. I just freaked. I could feel it in my throat and began to gag and then I grabbed it and yanked it out. I know this wasn't a good move and I am not proud of it, but I was just wondering if anyone else had a problem with that test. I just have a nasty gag reflex and can't even go to the dentist without gagging 5 or more times. Anyone else have problems or am I a psycho? Sue3

I have come to realize that i have been afraid of failing with the lap band and that is why i have been sabotaging my efforts. NO MORE!! I have joined a weight management clinic here in Ottawa.They have many types of diets and tthey all offer the benefit of being follwed by a physician. I took the 500 calorie diet called a VLCD.very low calorie diet.This is extremely strict with 7 low fat Protein choices,1 fruit and restricited vegies(no corn,carrots beets ect)They tell you to have 2 protein supplements which they sell(of course)but they taste better than any shakes i have purchased on my own and are sitting in my cupboard untouched! I take the hot chocolate.It tast…

Hi folks. Waiting myself to get a referral to a WLS for the band. Anyhow, I was wondering, what happens, after you reach your weight loss goal? Do you keep the band still, or is it removed? Sorry if it sounds like a stupid question, but I haven't seen anyone talk about it anywhere on the site. Thanks! AudreyZ

Here are some requested before/after pictures of me. Not that I am anywhere close to goal yet though. Teresa

Hi Everyone, For some reason, when I tried to post to this site, my privileges were terminated and I could not post. Thats not a nice thing to do to a fossil bandster like me! So now I have a new avatar and a new login in name. I was formerly known as : Babs in TX and now my new name is babsyin tx. I know, not creative. I want to go on the Vegas trip. Is there anyone here who wants to share a room with me at the hotel? Is Michelle around? Anyway, I am pretty sure that I am going. I am getting ready to book my weekend. Hunting for some good prices at the moment. I am so glad to be back!! Babs in TX 334/203/170 -131 6/23/03

What the heck is PB? I am seeing that in various posts and have no idea what it is! Thanks!

Help! Does anyone else have this problem? I have been getting heartburn a lot lately-mostly in the afternoon. Sorry about the details here, but also having lots of gas. Gax-X doesn't help at all. I just had a fill recently but I've been doing well with that. I've been able to eat most things ok (even a small piece of banana bread) but I'm feeling a little restriction in the mornings. Does anyone else have this problem? The heartburn is starting to annoy me!

I have started drinking Campbell's chicken broth in the evenings when i watch tv.It's salty,warm,feels like a meal and for 1 cup it has: 10 cal 1.8 protein 0.1 fat 0.5 carbs Yum!

Does anyone know if sherbet is bad for bandsters? I'm in my puree stage and I need to drink a protein shake as a snack in-between meals. I like the Boost shakes and last night I added a teaspoon of orange sherbet to my 1/2 cup of Vanilla Boost. It tastes wonderful and I look forward to drinking my protein. The diet that was given to me didn't say anything about sherbet and I am the type of person who feels as if she doesn't stick to the diet something will go wrong. Looking for someone out there to say "It's okay, sherbet is fine, Enjoy!"

Holy crap. I just ate 8 oatmeal cookies!! I'm completely out of control on the carb cravings. Ignore this post--I'm just airing out my embarrassing secret so that tomorrow it will face me and perhaps, just perhaps, I'll be able to get this monster back in the closet. That is all. Thank you.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVISE ABOUT ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW BEFORE I HAVE THIS SURGERY. I KNOW THIS QUESTION MAY BE ODD BUT WILL I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH USING THE RESTROOM A FEW SAYS AFTER THE SURGERY DUE TO MY STOMACH PAIN? ALSO FARTHER ON DOWN THE LINE AFTER A FEW MONTHS WILL I HAVE BOWEL PROBLEMS SINCE ALOT OF food IS NOT GOING IN? WILL MY hair FALL OUT? CAN I STILL SWOLLOW WHOLE pills? WILL I BE ABLE TO ?? LETS SAY DO ANY TYPE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE MATERIAL A FEW DAYS AFTER MY SURGERY? WILL MY STOMACH SWELL? WILL I FEEL BETTER AFTER A WEEK? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. PICK ONE AND ANSWER IF FOR ME IF YOU WOULD. I WOULD BE SO GREATFUL!!!LOVE YA ALL! …

Monday night found me in the ER and tuesday pm found me at Dr Speigels getting and unfill. Thank everyone so much for you concern and comments, they did not go unread. My problem, it turns out was that I had food poisening from mussels and before I could get over that, I caught that nasty stomach bug going around. Lots o vomiting lead to extreme swelling in my esophogus, my unfill has allowed me to get down the powerade that I need to get better not to mention the chicken soup. It will take time to get over the weakness(and the phenergan they shot me with) thanks so much for listening(readin):tired :kiss

Kimberly... Just wanted to send some positive vibes your way! Good Luck with your surgery and wishing you a very quick recovery! Please come and update us post-op when you are feeling up to it! (((((HUGS))))))!!!!!!!!

New color, new style, new me!! Kathy Dr. Lopez May 21 2004 -41

Dateline Chicago -- Shoppers at a northside grocery store gasped in disbelief as a local woman went on a manic rampage Wednesday night. "Polenta! Hummus!" the Junoesque patron was heard shrieking as she threw item after item into her cart. The manager was asked to intervene when the woman was observed writhing in orgasmic delight while fondling a tub of cottage cheese. "Clearly deviant behavior," he observed with a sniff. The wayward shopper had only three words to explain herself: "Mushies start tomorrow."

Hi everyone i have a question. When you are loosing weight and you feel like your clothes are looser , and you see it in your face . You feel like your hanging down stomach is smaller ,You start feeling your ribs you look down at your legs and they look smaller. All the little things that you notice whereas other people might not notice. Guess i am rambling but You feel like you are loosing some without even getting on the scales. Do yall know what I am talking about? WELL since I have started loosing I have felt like it, except for this week. I was sure i had gained this week and was really surprised when the scales showed a half pound drop. But I am uneasy about how I f…

Hmmm, Been awhile since I have written, but I have been reading to catch up! I have a cold, one of those stuffy head, achy, chest cold things that really suck! Anywho, what the heck can I take? Especially for the cough?? My ribs hurt and my nose is sore!! Any help would be greatly appreciated! I was offered some Delsym for the cough, but don't know if I can take it!! Thanks! Baileym June 14th Dr. Deol

can any one recommend a fill Dr. in the Evert aira. I don't drive and need to find some one i can trust. Jest wanted to let you know that I got my surgery date for Oct. 28tgh with Dr. Rumbaut. thanks for your Input Ellen

How many of you actually measure your food. This is something I don't know how to do. Here lately I have been using a saucer as my dinner plate. And that's it. I'm just getting to where I can eat solid foods now since my fourth fill. I'm having the urge to snack, but I haven't been. I'm down from 280 to 214. I was banded on December 1, 2003. I was hoping to have lost 100lbs by my 1 year anniversary, but I don't think thats gonna happen. Hopefully I can make it under 200lbs by then. I think I would be satisfied with that. Please let me know how some of you measure your meals. or weigh them. I really need to know. Thanks guys for the support.

Hi Everyone, I have been lurking and not posting lately. Been pretty busy working and trying to get my business back on its feet. My first year of banding I had spent so much time on the boards, it was hurting my recruiting business. I booked my tickets for Vegas for our October bandster bash. I confirmed with Penni and look forward to meeting our crazy and fun loving host Lisa. I also had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Leatha (who is a very cool hip person) and I am so looking forward to meeting everyone here that I feel are like family to me, even though I dont post that often anymore. And no one here on this site knows what I look like, so I may have to go …

Ok, I may be the only one here that didnt know this, but JUST in-case Im not, I thought Id share it. In our local paper yesterday, there was a column that stated Splenda was NOT safe to use - so "I investigated". This is what I found.... 12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's Health Newsletter, December 2003 Q: What exactly is Splenda? A: In a simple sentence, you would just as soon have a pesticide in your food as sucralose because sucralose (Splenda) is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the test…

New Hope wrote: Wow, Leatha, do you realize how close you are to your goal? Way to go, girl! __________________ marie 229/190/?? 5' 3", 50 y.o. 1st fill 8/1/04 1cc Dr. Spivak, 5/26/04 Reach for the stars and LIVE LIFE !!! **************************************************** Marie, It's funny that you should say that. I was just sitting here thinking to myself - 183, WOW! Dare I think that I am anywhere close to finishing? I don't really have a goal, persay. Before I gained all my weight at 19-20, I weighed anywhere from 118 to 124. I thought I was fat then! lol. Dr. Wetter says my goal should be 159 and I think that's because the statistics say we…

Hi All, Well, I made an unplanned trip to NYC on Friday to have some of fill removed. The week before my Dr. put in .2 making my fill 3.5 so on Friday she removed that amount....and instant relief! I had constant reflux and heartburn, and I was only eating watered mushies and liquids and sleeping sitting up! I just couldn't believe that after a week of that torture that I only lost .6 of a pound. Honestly, what is the matter with me???? I was eating next to nothing. Geezer Sue, I have started the Wellbutrin, and I have no side effects (very low dose), and I am starting to feel happy again and not like throwing a pan across the room because it boils over. Donal…

Hey everyone, I haven't posted in a while been real busy as usual. I did finally get some new photo's of Nevaeh. They are coming for a visit this weekend, I can't wait. How is everyone doing? It has now been almost 3 months since my banding. I am down 41 pounds, I still haven't had a fill, and it is time. I haven't had any problems a few episodes of pb'ing and that is about it. It is time to get serious. We have just been so busy with all the nice weather that we have had here in WA. Lots of camping and working around the house and my job. I need to make more time to come here and visit I have missed reading all the post. Never heard back from Dr. Lopez of…

Here I sit one week until my surgery and I'm not at all worried, I'm not scared, I'm not anxious - nothing. Just kind of in a holding pattern until the 15th when I get banded by Dr. Kuri in Tijuana. And I have all of you to thank!! I feel as if I've read enough, and you have all been so generous and forth coming with information and experiences, that I feel like I know what to expect - both good and bad. I'm not going through 'last meal' syndrome. In fact, just the opposite. I've been working on the 'chew chew chew' and trying not to drink with meals (that doesn't work too well with spicy food). Thank you all for all your time. You are all an invaluable resource and…

Just thought I'd post the reply I got back from the lady who had an 'open' band. I can't remember the name of the person asking. :cry Reposted from Bay Bandsters: **Hi Leatha: I don't get e-mail thru Yahoo... too many to deal with.. so I just go on the website to read the posts.. Yes... my band in fact did Open.... No one knows why.. It was closed after my surgery Oct 30th 03... and closed for the first fill... and closed during the second fill.. then somehow over the next couple of weeks it opened up.. that was in April 04. It did not break (unless the clasp broke)... according to the x-rays it looks like it is just open.. and according to the way I fe…

I find that I have a really hard time eating consistantly. One day, all is well and I have no problem, while the very next day, I have PB to the extreme. The tiniest of bites refuses to go down and coffee is my only friend, someone pleeaasse help me through this dilemma. I am going crazy trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I do not feel my band is too tight, due to the fact that some days I eat just fine. Is it possible that my food is building up in my pouch and not passing thru, thereby keeping me filled up into the next day? all assistance is greatly appreciated.

Hi all, I had my band fitted one week ago monday 23 august. I have already shed 6 kilos, I am delighted, full of motivation and hope! I am still on a pure liquid diet which isn't too bad. I actually made a fabulous Soup yesterday with cauliflower, parsnip and curry powder and is is very satisfing even though it is in liquid form. Apart from the soup I am exsiting on fruit smoothies with Protein powder, yoghurts, jellly and custard. I must admitt I can not wait to move on to pureed foods next week. I can't wait to eat some mashed potatoe......... I was so excited to hear that one of you is actually eating sausgaes and still losing weight - I made the assumption that …

OK, I was hoping I wouldn't have to ask this, but I haven't seen it addressed elsewhere, and I'm desperate: Has anyone else had diarrhea while on liquids? For the first several post-op days I had the bowels of a cheese-eating 90-year-old, but in the last two days I've had to dash to the bathroom a couple of times with the runs. I'm drinking lots of fruit juices and yogurt smoothies, but I didn't expect this week to be so, um, productive. My diet hasn't changed in the last few days, and I don't have any flu symptoms. Comments or suggestions? Stocked up on toilet paper, I remain,

So we're back from vacation and it was a vacation in more ways than one. My husband is a devotee of road food and I have to say I just decided to go along with him on the junk wagon. I think there were entire days when my only Protein was the morning power bar! Yuck. I feel kinda crappy, actually, and am looking forward to getting back into a regular routine with less sugar/fat/salt and more protein/fiber/protein. But the vacation was fun! Cape Cod is a blast and we had a lovely time chasing my 3 y.o. around the beach. It's good to be home. I missed you guys! What's going on??

So, did you take appetite suppresents during your liquid phase? If so, were they prescription or over the counter? Can you tell this liquid phase scares me?

OK, what an old subject! I mean, its obviously old to those of you that are pleased with your results so far. (that sounds tacky, but I dont mean for it to be) Its the weight thing again.... I just dont understand it! I weigh every morning (and please PLEASE dont suggest for me not to do this). I lost 12 lbs right after getting the band (on liquids) and didnt lose another ounce until my first fill (fortunately I didnt gain -due to diet pills). Then it was down another 10 within 2 weeks. You didnt hear me complain about that; but now things seem to be on the up - again - like 5 pounds up. And I HATE taking those diet pills, but Im ready to get them out again. I…

I realized yesterday that I only have 20 days until my surgery. I am so excited and ready. I had and EKG a week ago and on Thursday I had an Upper GI. Can you say chalk milkshake?!? In about a week I'll have my final pre-op labs done and then I'll be off. Yahoo!!

I saw the surgeon today. I scheduled my psych evaluation already. I got a date for my endoscopy. I got a date for my nutrition class. I got a date for my pulmonary test. I got a date for my stress test. And................................. I got my surgery date: November 16! Let the rollercoaster begin.

You know how people always bring muffins,donuts,homemade chocolate cookies and such?to share... well pure torture for me i figure 'just one' and then end up sneaking in 2 3 4 and so on! So today with my new resolve i sliced cucumbers and cut up a large tomaotes into chunks and put those on the staff table with a bowl of fat free dressing.Every one loved it!!! and i could go into the kitchen several times guilt free!!! Chantal

Well, I'm banded. After a couple of nervous weeks, it's over. Dr. Tim LeMieur performed the procedure at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (www.cuyunamed.org) in Crosby, MN. He said he ran into complications due to a pocket of fat that was in the way, which he disected, and used a larger band than what he had ever used before. He also said I had the thinnest layer of skin that he had ever encountered, and that is why my port sticks out a bit. thanks be to God that he navigated through it all. Has anyone also encountered these issues? It was performed Friday morning; I went home Saturday morning, and it's now Tuesday morning and I'm still a bit sore. Is this common?…

I've felt a bit in the dumps lately as I'd had a "goal" for myself to be pretty much back to "Normal" by the end of the summer - banded March 2nd- I know now that was unrealistist, but have felt I've lost slower than I'd expected. And now I've only lost 2 lbs. in the last 3 weeks. I'm trying to kick myself into high gear here, and feel the positive, a plateau is to be expected, isn't it? I've set a new goal - Christmas - that's not out of reach is it? I have lost 58 lbs - 45 more would be SO wonderful!! 58 lbs gone, I know that's good, but what are you other's experiences with the plateau's? The weight loss will kick back in, won't it??

well !!well!!! I am in the 80's!!!!!ok 189 but still i am sooooooooooooooo happy.It's been 189 for 3 days so i guess it will stick.Just a few weeks ago i was 195!!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!!

Is anyone here a vegetarian? I was before getting banded, but I decided to stop because of the "solid protein" rule. But my cholesterol has gone up again, so I'm considering returning to vegetarianism. I'm just wondering if any of you have experience with it and if so, what do you do in lieu of solid Protein? Nancy

What does everyone take for headaches? I am almost two weeks post opt and I never thought to ask what I could take that would be safe. Any ideas?

Hi All, Up until yesterday I had been sticking with liquids and mushies and I started taking Prilosec at my Dr.'s advice for the heartburn. I was doing much better until last night when I tried solids again. I ate some very tender scallops that were easy to chew. I have had heartburn since and I keep burping, sometimes with reflux. I do believe that my band might be a little too tight! However, I can eat and drink, so I am going to try to wait it out. It has been my experience with fills (and remember that I am the QUEEN of fills having had 6) that they do tend to loosen. I know that some people have the experience that they tighten. The Prilosec dosage is for 14…

I read some where on here that liquids do not stretch out your pouch. First of all is this true and if so why do we need to sip our liquids then? Is it because if we take big gulps it will make us feel sick? Also I was curious when we sip our liquids how soon after we take one sip can we take another? I know it may sound like a stupid question but I was curious! Sometimes I am very thirsty and sip more often then normal so I didnt know if that was okay.

I had surgery on June 8th, with my first fill I felt no restriction. So I had a second fill 3 weeks later. On yesterday evening after the fill I was able to eat and keep down a small piece of salmon and about a quarter of a bake potato. This morning I was unable to keep down an egg. How do I know if I'm too "full" or perhaps I need to adjust to the new way of eating? I read somewhere that you may feel more fullness in the morning? Butta

Just a friendly reminder the meeting is today!!!! September 2nd at 6pm at the Holiday Inn on Jimmy Johnson. Hope to see you there!! If you need any additional information; please contact the office at 409-719-0009!! Hope to see you soon!!