TerriDoodle

Deb - As you see from my post above, in my experience it can take up to 2.5 weeks for the 'real' restriction to show after a fill. Try full fluids for a day or two, then move to mushies for a day or two...then try solids in itty bitty bites. That's my $0.02

Tracy - Oh yes, I definitely am experiencing the changes you are talking about. I just don't like greasy foods at all anymore. I'd rather have granola than a Snickers bar. This morning when I was thinking what I'd like to do today I thought about going to the Farmer's Market and loading up on some great fruit and veggies! That wasn't my idea of fun in my former life! I totally relate to how you are feeling about your job....I'm in the same boat. The difference for me is that I see the light at the end of the tunnel....only a few more years and I'm outta there with full retirement benefits. My idea for you is to look up a vocational guidance service who can do some testing for you and determine what you are best suited for. Maybe they even offer some placement services as well. Maybe talk to a headhunter for some ideas? Surely there are a hundred books on how to make that transition. If you could do ANYTHING you wanted, what would it be?

I think 2 weeks out is a bit early to decide, especially since you seem to be okay with liquids and soft foods. It could very well be that you have irritated your stoma with your sticking episodes and it may take another week or so for it to settle down. I went thru all that with my 3rd fill. I was 2 weeks out and could hardly eat anything!! I was just about ready to get unfilled when suddenly things got much better. I am now 4 weeks out and actually think I might be at my sweet spot! Give it just a bit more time....maybe baby it for a couple of days with fluids and mushies. When you go back to meats take smaller bites, chew more, wait longer!! You know the drill!

If your body is not used to working out you are definitely holding on to some water. There's not really anything you can do about that, it's water your muscles need for repair. JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, get your fills and try to keep your eyes on longer term goals...not week to week. I know that's easier said than done, but your frustration factor will be cut way back if you can manage it.

<----- I need to change that thing under my avatar.... to most folks at first glance it probably looks like Violent Gym Nazi. LOL! People are prolly scared to talk to me!

Judy would definitely NOT do that!!! JWDNDT!! WHERE IS THE PAR-TAY??? :whoo:

This explains a good deal about hair loss as a result of losing weight: Changes in diet can sometimes lead to hair loss

AND YOU SHALL!!! Good things are coming your way!! Congratulations! :):confused:

For me it would be a no-brainer, even if I were 200# overweight... I just don't like the idea of an irreversible procedure, causing malabsorption (malnutrition), with a high rate of serious complications. No thank you.

The other night we went to a nice steakhouse with another couple. The other girl and I split an 8 oz. filet. I had maybe 3 oz, 2 TBSP of potatoes au gratin and one asparagus spear w/ a bit of crabmeat. I was perfectly content. Oh, and I was the last one to finish my meal by another 10 minutes!

So, Jenn,....is this guy narcoleptic or what?? You can write him off! Loser! Didn't you say you stopped taking your diuretic pills?? Jeez, that can easily account for 4-5#, even more! Add TOM on top of that....and summer heat & humidity!.... it's a wonder you don't EXPLODE!!:eek:

Your doctor should have told you not to take pills larger than a birth control pill. As a matter of fact, you should only take liquid form whenever possible. If you took a capsule or one with an enteric coating, it could stay stuck in your stoma for quite some time....and irritate the heck out of it! Call your doctor and ask why you weren't given liquids for pain....and what pills you can and cannot take! It's important.

No, I think what you are experiencing is swelling from surgery...."extreme restriction", if you will. After you've healed you won't have to sit in any special way and you'll not feel anything very different from your before banded days....except when you eat! If you've chewed well and eaten small bites, at most you will feel a fullness in your chest, rather than in your stomach and you'll know that you can't put in one more bite. The sense of fullness changes in that way. You'll also stay satisfied for a few hours on small amounts of food. If you have eaten improperly by taking too large of bites or not chewing well you will feel pain in your chest ....like someone is pressing their fist into your sternum....until the food passes thru the stoma. If/when that happens do not take another bite or drink anyting until that feeling passes!!

I seem to remember that it lasted 3-4 weeks, but it got a little better every single day. Hang in there!

I've been banded 4 months and I eat steak regularly....it's such a darn tootin' shame that I have to eat filets though. :eek:

This thread should help answer your questions: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/scar-stages-share-yours-6117/ I'm only 4 months post op and of course mine are still quite visible, but they dont bother me one little bit!! The largest one is only an inch long, the others just look like the head of an eraser.

A good question to ask, then, is what (if any) type of advertising DID influence us to investigate the lap band further? I distinctly remember that the first thing I ever heard or saw about it was on a billboard. The "after" photo was a conservatively-clothed, 30-something woman who looked like she might even live next door to me....just an average woman....maybe 20# from being almost perfect. The board said something like "The lap band changed my life forever".... no big hard sell. The ad that made me start digging deeper and deeper was in a local community magazine where Dr. Speigal was advertising...and it listed his impressive credentials and gave more specific info about what the band is and is not. His office is 5 miles from my house! So that's what got me started in this direction. I credit LBT and Dr. Spivak with reeling me in. :eek: THANK YOU LBT!!!

Hi Pam! Well, don't worry... you'll still enjoy time in the kitchen with your hubby!! I hope you have a great experience with Dr. Davis!

I was banded by Dr. Spivak in April and, at that time, I don't think the new AP band was out. Mine is an inamed. Dr. Spivak and his staff are all wonderful. You've made a good choice. Good luck!

Well I think he closes with dissolvable sutures under the skin and then maybe glue w/ steri-strips? I have no idea. I just remember that the strips had to 'fall off on their own' in about 10 days and there were no stictches to remove or anything. I know there were stitches underneath because I had one that was sticking out a little bit. Congratulations on your decision to be banded. I know it's not an easy one to make, but I promise you won't regret it!!

((((SARA)))) Your news is heartbreaking!!! You poor dears...I am just SO sorry :eek: There is nothing I can do for him but pray, so pray I will. Is he in awful pain? What type of work did he do? What kind of recovery period will he need? Oh, honey... I can't even imagine how you are feeling about your baby. Please take care of yourself thru this, too...don't forget. We'll all be concerned so try to keep us posted periodically.

I like to think of critical people this way: Their criticism helps you to define what you DO believe and should make you more resolute in your decision. Know what I mean? So challenge is a good thing thinking of it that way. It's like when I have people who question my spiritual beliefs....it used to make me upset until I realized that everytime someone did, I just became more and more comfortable with where I was and what I knew to be My Truth. This is your path and your life. Claim it as your own and don't be shaken by those who challenge you. BTW - I guess you're banded by now.... CONGRATULATIONS!!! :eek:

Here's a good article about hair loss: Changes in diet can sometimes lead to hair loss I also posted it in the general discussion area Note that it does stress that if you have a genetic predisposition for hair loss that you are more prone to it. So that may explain why some women lose hair and some don't even though they may be following basically the same diet....like Atkins, for example.

When I was low-carbing I was on a forum like this one and girls complained about hair loss then too. (Tracy, how about on LCF?) And low-carb diets are notoriously high-protein, so it can't be a lack of protein. If I had to guess I'd say it had more to do with a sudden 'shock to the system', as in rapid weight loss. For those of you losing hair, how much weight did you lose, say, within the first 6 weeks post-op....expressed as a percentage of the total weight you needed to lose?

Of course it is possible!! Just not all at once! You would probably do well to break down your goals into small 30-40# increments which would give you LOTS of reasons to celebrate!! :confused: Best of luck and let us know how we can help!!