B-52

Yes it is. And don't get alarmed if it loosens up on you also. Don't know why but it can fluctuate. Once in the Green Zone it gets more consistent.

Thanks; I did manage to change it using a "Gravatar"

Today, November 22, is the anniversary of the assassination of JFK. Can everyone remember where and what you were doing when you heard the news? I was sitting in my 6th grade class. Our teacher had a real sense of humor, and was known to pull some pranks now and then. So when someone came in and told him, he was visibly upset. When he then told us, fighting back the tears, we all burst out laughing. Needless to say it did not go over very well. They dismissed school and sent everyone home that day. Just like that. No buses, everyone just walked home. Don't think schools do that anymore.

Same here. My port sticks out like a 1/2 golf ball under my skin. I can palpate the tube a few inches as it moves mid-line then disappears. (goes deep) I just ate a Protein bar and can feel my band with every swallow. The restriction slowed me way down unless I get stuck. As a matter of fact, I think the last swallow is still sitting there.

I have (had) diabetes where I was taking 60 units of lantus at bedtime plus oral meds before meals. triglycerides, cholesterol, etc where all out of control which resulted n Cardiac surgery. I was banded 1/31/11, and since then all my bloodwork is within normal limits, I am no longer taking any meds for my diabetes, other meds have either been dc'd of cut in half. I get lab work done every 3 months before seeing my PCP. I anticipate further improvement as I am still loosing weight and have increased my exercise plan dramatically.

Are you bummed because you won't be able to enjoy the foods you used to eat? Many people get blue during the holidays for many different reasons.

I am at the point where I cannot eat anything that is breaded and fried. Chicken, fish sticks, etc, etc. Foods that are crunchy. Even raw vegetables which I used to love to snack on such as carrots. I simply accepted it and it is now a food I do not ever consider eating. There are other foods on my personal "do not eat" list.

I have been trying for days to change my photo/avatar. I go to my settings, change the photo. The new photo will show, but when I click "Save Changes", the old photo will reappear. I even went to lengths to remove my old photo from the system, even from my desk top, but it keeps coming up not matter what. Any ideas??

I use "MyNetDiary" on my I-Pad2. It is fully loaded! Not rated very high because it costs $10 so many people are afraid to purchase it without knowing what they are getting. Seems the free apps are the most popular.

I have not detected it to that level, but I have scratched my head a few times concerning posts that were illogical from someone who supposedly underwent this surgery. Perhaps it is one and the same. I'll look deeper when these posts are made.

I no longer get e-mail notifications whenever new posts were made. Has that changed also?

I'm having problems also. Been trying to change my photo/avatar. It shows the change in my profile, but not anywhere else. What did you do to get it to stick??

Very well said. Voices from real life experiences is what we need more of around here. Not repeating things they were "book learned" or "think" what is correct. People have to realize that there are people from all over the world reading these posts to learn for their life's sake. The best advice (and most accurate) we can give is what "We actually experienced" I'm 10 months out and 15lbs to my goal. I should get there for 12 months. Mr Dr is very aggressive also. It really helps. I really like it when I walk into my surgeon's waiting room and all eyes are on me as if to say "why is he here ?". The girl's behind the desk always joke with me saying I should come around more often and tease all the overweight ladies.

Interesting. That's good to know. I assumed it was a pst-op occurrence.

It took me 4 months with a few fills before I could say I hit the "Green Zone" and my weight loss journey truly began. Even then, when everything fell into place, all was not perfect but I knew then I could start applying all those things I was taught previously. I have not had, or needed a fill since May, and it still keeps getting better all the time!

Sorry, I disagree. The band not only restricts the amount of food I take in, it also restricts the type of food that goes in. There is NO WAY I can ever eat a cheese burger ever again! French Fries are dangerous also, as is pizza. If you are eating these items than you are selling the band short. Having the band, and having it adjusted properly, is the EASIEST diet I have ever been on, and I have been on many over the past 35 years! It's hard to call it a diet, because any diet I have tried I have failed at. So I needed surgical intervention to do what I could not do on my own! There is little or no work involved. Only thing I needed to learn is how to "Listen to my Band" My band tells me when I am hungry, which is not often, and my band tells me when to stop eating, which is very soon after starting. Also will tell me certain foods are off limits - like CHEESEBURGERS! When people say you have to "Work the Band". I'm really not sure what they mean. I let the band work me!!! "Living in the Green Zone" If you can eat a cheeseburger without getting stuck, then you may need a fill or 2 I can only speak from my own personal experiences and how it is for me. Not what I have been told.

In my case, the band is forcing me to change my eating habits. It has become 2nd nature because of lessons learned over and over again. Example: Today, all I have eaten so far is a Protein shake for breakfast, then went to the gym. After noon, as we are getting ready to sit down and watch some football on TV, my son says he is going out for Chinese take out, and do I want anything. I said sure, get me a small Lo-Mein, and some Spare Ribs. Now before being banded, I could have gulped down the entire thing, along with a Coke. Well I had ONE RIB, and maybe 2 swallows of Lo-Mein. My band started screaming at me! I am finished with lunch. dinner won't be so bad, as long as I choose the correct foods to eat. I cannot over eat if I wanted to. It is physically impossible because of this thing wrapped around my stomach! I am not sure how I could fail. I have tried dozens and dozens of diets and failed because I have no will power and discipline to see them through. With those I failed every one! The band took care of that. Lets face it, surgical option is for people who cannot loose weight by standard diets alone. I believe everyone here is a failure when it comes to dieting with will power alone. It is the EASIEST way to loose weight!

For me, I find that there are times I don't feel like eating and I just have a shake and Snacks. Sometimes for a few days. When this happens, I also find my band gets tighter for some reason. But as I begin to eat more it improves. The opposite is true. When I feel I'm eating too much (or frequently more exact) and feel no or less restriction, I'll go liquids for a day or two to get the restriction back. I also have trouble with meats and breads, I just don't think about them that much anymore. And, like you, I love soups!

My insurance would not accept Weight Watchers or anything similar. They insisted it be a "Medically Supervised" program by a MD. Weekly weigh ins, and progress notes must be provided by the weight Loss Dr. At first, my PCP said to use someone like weight watchers, bring him the the file and he will sign off on it. My Surgeon said NO! Won't work.

The nuclear stress test is the most accurate, but most insurance co. Will not pay for it unless you have a Hx. They inject a radioactive isotope into your bloodstream and then have you lay on your back while the machine takes photo's of your heart from different angles. The isotope shows up as a bright red/orange in your cardiac arteries showing the blood flow to the heart. Then you get on the treadmill and the goal is to get you 85% of your max heart rate for 5 minutes. They immediately give you a 2nd dose of the isotope and take a 2nd set of pictures. Before and after, the after is with your heart under stress. They compare the 2 sets and can determine any cardiac arterial blockages, and what %. I have had cardiac surgery (angioplasty) to insert a stent in one of my arteries based upon my stress test results. A severe blockage would have meant cardiac bypass surgery. (open heart) A cardiac arterial blockage will most likely result in a infarct if gone unattended. I now have a stress test every year. This was before being banded, and all a result of being obese. The Anesthesiologist is the one who is most paranoid about cardiac clearance before putting someone under.

I never experienced any hair loss, But I do get all of my daily protein.

Are you getting enough fiber? I was taking Metamucil for high cholesterol but stopped after my surgery because it is too hard for me to drink with a tight band. (have to drink it fast) Noticed a big difference. I started taking it again every evening before bed. 3 smaller doses spread apart,

As part of my learning curve, living with the band and learning new foods and eating techniques, I have been stuck many times. If I don't feel like waiting, then drinking some Water will take care of it. And I don't mean washing it down either!

In the beginning I was crushing them, only for a few days post-op, because I was told along with a lot of other silly things, that I have to. I was taking (and still am) one that is a fish oil (Lovaza) that cannot be crushed, and is very large. I take 4 every day. I have found that I do not have to crush my pills at all. I take them every morning with no problem, large and small. And my band is very tight. I prefer it that way. And just like my eating habits, I take my time, taking one pill at a time just as I do with small bites, swallows.

I can understand the "sigh". Sometimes I loose interest in eating. I feel that way between meals. That is my lack of appetite because I'm in the green zone. When the hiccups start it usually means I have already crossed that threshold. First sign of being stuck. With me it is usually a feeling of discomfort, like the food is just sitting there, which it probably is, accumulating in the upper pouch. May have a little tinge of pain. At that point I will wait a little and then continue eating slowly. If the feeling comes right back, them I'm finished with that meal.