faithmd

Wheetsin, Avery is BEAUTIFUL!!! For your milk supply, I was just wondering if the LC you saw gave you any information about "power pumping" or suggested any herbals to try (Fenugreek for example) or possibly getting a prescription for Reglan? I've included a couple of links to some pages with good info. The third one has quite a few herbal suggestions to try. Hope it helps, and CONGRATS!!! Nice page that includes info about power pumping: kellymom.com :: I'm not pumping enough milk. What can I do? The page below has some really good suggestions about which foods are lactogenic (those that support lactation) as well as some other good suggestions for increasing supply: Living with Chronic Low Milk Supply: A Basic Guide Herbal suggestions: Lactogenic Herbs: Mother Nature's Milk Boosters, Part 2

I haven't been around much since late spring, and I am so sorry for missing a lot of what has been going on with you. I do check in on occasion, and just wanted to say, it is times like the one you describe above that I am embarrassed to say that I work for UM. I didn't realize how bad their customer service could be at times until I experienced it myself with my mother's hospitalization this spring. Once upon a time I would have said (from having been in that system for over 19 years) to call patient relations and then risk management (if you haven't already). But I've been there and done that. I got the requisite form letter from risk management that they would be looking into my complaint, but then nothing... As much as it pains you to do it, and as hesitant as you are (which I TOTALLY understand) to ruffle feathers there, I'd ruffle some with an attorney's help. One more suggestion, can you have someone else do the reconstruction if you are concerned about treatment by Dr. K? I'd suggest looking into Cederna if that's an option. Alderman does great breasts, so she's an option, too. Again I'm soooo sorry about this roller coaster you've been on. Luv to you and yours!

Bran, Dunno if you have already gone for that fill under fluoro yet or not, but Hurley does NOT use fluoro like Denise's (and most people's) doc does. Nancy only uses fluoro to see the port itself, they do not have you drink while under fluoro and watch the band/flow of fluid. I wish they did. But sadly, they don't...

I don't blame you for being leery, hun. I think that right now it isn't the best time for you to open yourself up like that. BTW, you look beautiful, love the Warhol-esque montage

I think you are an amazing advocate for the band, and I do wish there were more before and after photos for those of us who have had WLS, specifically the band. But you do have to be comfortable with it. I don't get it about the Doc. How could he go from being so great and such a good surgeon (like we both said, you gotta be in order to successfully change someone from make to female and make it convincing) to being such a huge a$$hole and uncaring? I'm flummoxed! I know you are more flummoxed than I, but I'm shocked! Have you considered making an appointment with someone else in plastics at the U? Amy Alderman is really good with breasts. I remember her as a resident, then as a fellow when I was in burn. She's gifted. I wish this had gone much better for you!

I've been awful about posting, myself. I am home taking care of my mom full-time right now. She had a stroke 5/21 and her rehab is a challenge. Last night was the first night I have slept in my bed since 5/31. I normally sleep in a recliner next to her, but I need to get back to work this week for at least a few hours, as this will be a long process, so dad took a shift to make sure he can care for her without me here. Glad things seem to be going okay for everyone. Congrats to all the grads, the new mommies, those with new jobs, Boo for getting this far out of surgery without pulling your hair out in frustration, Claud for being happy in Chi-town, and Bman for being happy dating a nice guy.

Hello Tess! I had mentioned in my response that I go after work. But my work day workouts are usually only about 45 mins to an hour. I tend to do the bike or the "gazelle" type thingy. I have been on my feet for almost the entire previous twelve hours so I don't spend much time on the treadmill. Besides, I HATE HATE HATE HATE the treadmill. I feel like a mouse on a wheel trying to get a dangling piece of cheese. If I am really tired by about 0400, and I don't feel like going after work, then I'll go walk for about twenty minutes, or take the elevator to the basement and walk up the stairs to my floor (fourth, but every floor is a FULL double set of stairs). a couple of times. When I was in better shape (read: younger) I would go try to run UP the DOWN escalator in the middle of the night. That was a GREAT workout.

I am crossing eveything I can for that HCG to continue to climb up and up and up!!! (But what's your PS gonna say

Welcome to LBT. Autumn! Congrats on your two sons! To answer you, yes! Absolutely! There are loads of bandsters here who have had successful pregnancies and nursed and then gotten back on the "bandwagon." You might want to check out this forum: Pregnancy with the Lap-band (NEW!) - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum It is all about pregnancy and the lapband. There are threads about breastfeeding as well. Hope this helps!

Grammylew, so sorry about your dad's passing. I copied and pasted in all the single line updates into the entire list: NAME ... Start Weight ... Goal ... Current Weight ... To Go 4jin............225.......199...........219.5.........20.5 Abby1...........172.......140...........172...........32 Allaboutme .....211 ......165 ......... 205 ..........40 Allison925 .....175 ......145 ......... 175 ..........30 Ann.............287 ......180 ..........197...........17 Anyalee.........231.......199...........231...........32 Angie4b1g ......237.8 ....205...........222.4.........17.4 Ariel ..........199 ......169 ..........199 ..........30 babs0101 .......216 ......190 ..........200 ..........10 Bbgray .........260 ......220 ..........260 ..........40 Bigbaby ........207.......167...........193.5.........26.5 bobby_hamrick...233.......199...........233...........34 Chocolate_Snaps.292.......242 ..........274 ..........32 chickatee.......184.......145...........167...........22 Cookielover ....198 ......175 ..........198 ..........23 cQQlgirl .......220.......195...........206...........11 Debihaines .....254.......200...........227.9.........27.9 eugeniam........200...... 185...........200...........15 Faithmd.........308 ......300. .........297...........-3 FairyFacade.....333.......180...........246...........66 Foofy ..........244 ......210 ..........235 ..........25 Gayle...........246.......190...........214...........24 Georgia Girl ...275 ......237 ..........244 ...........7 grammylew.......216 ......190 ..........196...........6 Hazeleyegrl1 ...233 ..... 200 ..........208...........8 HeatherA .......255.6 ....225 ..........250.9 ........25.9 HoppingToIt.....309.......240...........309 ..........69 Hungryforchange 225 ..... 190 ..........225...........35 Ivyrose325 .....261 ..... 215 ..........220...........5 Jeni 85 ........214.4.....184.........200.5...........16.5 Jennie1976......235.......205...........226...........21 Jfran ..........181 ......145 ..........181...........36 Jsprague .......240.......220...........233 ..........13 KarenG..........195.......165...........174...........9 Katrose.........268.......215...........234...........19 kristin1031.....256.......226...........199...........27 Legster ........216 ......187 ..........189 ..........2 Linda Lu:.......228.......195...........15.2.........20.2 liz_hager.......196.......170...........172...........2 Loftonall.......210 ......150...........210...........60 Lori_NC.........281.......250...........281...........31 Luluc ..........166 ......135 ..........137 ..........2 MamaJava .......283 ......233 ..........283 ..........50 Mamato3.........242.......199...........205.5.........6.5 Mandyjo.........188.......150...........175...........25 Mary-2b150 .....225 ......150 ..........193...........43 MissTrini.......218.......170...........218...........48 msdaneen........305.......145...........236...........91 Nadean .........204.6 ....160 ..........190.4.........30.4 Nhanson ........226 ......196 ..........220 ..........30 NOlanebryant....238.4.....198 ..........238.4.........40 Nykee...........325.......299...........325...........26 PigsRFlying.....230 ..... 150...........192...........42 Rainer .........256 ..... 216 ..........233...........17 Redtulips3 .....245 ......199 ..........203 ..........4 Sfeiner.........285.......271...........245...........40 Shadst83 .......233 ......199...........233...........34 Smithem1 .......240.6 ....190 ..........240.6 ........50.6 Soaf9...........265.......145...........220...........75 Squale..........314.......285...........314...........29 Sta6160.........205.......140...........170...........30 Stacy73 ........226.4 ....194 ..........222 ..........28 Starryeyed .....237 ..... 199 ..........193...........-6 Sunny112........215.......130...........143...........13 Suzzzie ........297 ......243 ..........273 ..........30 Syndy...........252.2.....212.2.........252.2.........40 TheCapn.........520.......399 ..........469...........70 Trish5713.......255.......230...........255...........25 TxArcher .......360 ......285 ..........346 ..........61 Wombat712 ......152.8 ....120 ..........132.2.........12.2 Wrestlersmom....266.......150...........260...........116 Tmusicmaker123..384.......299...........311...........12

Okay, so it wasn't a very lofty goal, but I made it already. Name..............Current.....Goal.....Lost...Still to Lose by July 4th atallen06...........231........215.......0......16 Bea1129.............231........200......5.5.....25.5 BigBandFan..........296........270.......0......26 Cgailee ............219........200.......0......19 darr5380............170........165.......0.......5 Epm316..............218........200.......12.....18 erikadawn...........217........190.......0......27 faithmd.............297........300.......12.4...-3(by6/21) Hastings............248........228.......5......20 Jennypoo............174.5......170.......4.5....4.5 jrob281.............212........190.......0......22 KarenG..............170........160.......4......10 kathystrick.........318........288.......0......30 kellygirl0520.......236........220.......0......16 legster.............188........180.......9......8 Lenore1890..........263.4......247.......4.3....15.7 Leslie2Lose.........225........208.......8......17 LessNLess...........149........140.......2.......9 Lilmissband-aid.....236.5......225.......11.....11.5 losingjusme.........244........238.......6.......6(started 5/30) Luu2008.............215........185.......0......30 luvinke.............217........190.......4......23 Marissa's Mom.......388........358.......0......30 MollyMolly..........189........188.......15......1 nancy52.............197........170.......0......27 Nettie..............193........170.......0......23 Newhope4me..........168.8......160.......8.2.... 8.8 njudono............ 298........277...... 5......21 NukeChik............229........222.......13......7 nurse7263...........244........150.......0......24 renewedhope.........185........180.......11......5 Sades...............194........185.......3.......9 Stacy73.............212........204.......0.......8 Sunshine2...........179........160.......4......15 (by6/29) Suzzzie. ...........273........260.......0......13 Tess415.............327........299.......7......21 TexasFire67.........170........145.......0......25 Wombat712...........130.6......120.......3.6....10.6

Oh yes, cheese is a LIFESAVER! Kraft makes snackable size 1 oz individually wrapped 2% fat Cheddar bars, they are wonderful! I love string cheese, but until I found the Kraft cheddar bars, string cheese was all I could find in lowfat or "lite" cheese. I also really find that snacking on almonds is very satisfying (if you are at that stage yet in your diets).

Thank you, Christine! Even though I haven't been around much lately, I have been following your blogs and rooting for you. You are sooooo inspiring!

I work nights, straight 12 hr shifts and I go work out on my way home from work in the morning. It is HARD, but it had become a routine (until my mother got ill). For food, I usually have a yogurt in the morning after I work out, before bed. I know, I am eating too close to bed, but I fell like I need a little something. I figure a yogurt isn't bad considering a "little something" used to be a full breakfast meal at BK or McD's. I eat light before work, maybe a Carb Control (better Protein than any of the other SF's) Slimfast in a can, or a yogurt with granola or a stop at McD's for a grilled chicken snack wrap. I eat a snack around 2300, maybe cheese and some deli meat, a Protein Drink, something like that. I eat "dinner" between 0200 and 0400, depends on how my night is going. I have a piece of fruit or a SF pudding on my way from work to the gym. Hope that helps!

I have barely been here lately, one of the biggest reasons I haven't been coming is just the reasons the OP posted about. I know I could choose to ignore those threads, but I just can't seem to help myself. I have really tried, though. I used to always navigate the board by the new posts button, but I've learned to navigate by forum so that I can avoid the majority of those posts that make me crazy. Yes, the OP certainly should have the right to post what she did, as do the detractors have the right to rebut. However, I would question the need to announce a break. Perhaps the title of the thread should have been something a little different. I am almost a year out and have not been without my challenges, and for some reason keep coming back here. But I also step away on occasion. Quietly. But that's my choice.

Woohoo!! Thanks Alex!

I did it again, I got back into the 200's today. I looked down and was shocked to see 298. I got on and off the scale something like five times. It was the same every time! Now, I've hit the 200's before, only to go back up to 314. Doggone it, this time I'm staying in Twoterville!!!! Once I hit the 280's, I think I'll finally believe I'm a resident of Twoterville to stay (or at least until I am fortunate enough to finally cruise to Onderland). I have to send off for some charms and make another charm bracelet (I have one filled with important milestones of my life on it) specifically for my weight loss. That might give me the impetus to keep going.

My thought? He should eat the costs, all of them. And really, if there was a way to transfer the pain to him as well, that would be helpful. I am intersted in what Farhan had to say about the port. If he wants to move it, I'd ask for a low-profile. I think JulieNYC said it was about $600 for the low profile port itself. If the placement is causing severe pain or "difficulty breathing" (hint-hint), then one would think insurance should pay for the port revision, you'd likely just have to pay for the port itself. Take care!

So what did Farhan have to say, BBK? Hope all is still well. Take care.

Whoa!!! You look FAB!!! Woohoo!!!

Would you guys get rid of the doggone rep once and for all, PLEASE!!!!!!

If you were to get restriction with your first fill you would be the anomaly! Read the Fill FAQ, VERY rarely does the first fill ever really do anything. It is a starting point to build on. Most folks say it takes a minimum of two, more often three fills to get restriction. Don't kick yourself or your doc...it takes time, hang in there!

Once you've healed from this (no binder, really?), I'd absolutely talk with Hurley about a port revision. He shouldn't have put it where he did in the first place. I just don't get why he says it is what it is. If it is painful and cosmetically not appealing, I'd think he would want to get it moved ASAP. You probably need your fill level checked by now, don't you? (wink wink) Maybe you should go for a fill (wink wink) and see what they say in Flint. I do remember when Princess had her breasts done the PS said to give them a few months and see what they end up looking like before deciding on a revision. So I could understand his desire to wait until September, but I agree, who pays? If he's unhappy with HIS work, I'd think he should eat the cost of most of it (save for maybe the anesthesia fees). Love ya and sooooo sorry you aren't feeling any better yet and got crappy news on top of it! I think ice cream might be in order.

Boo, I hope you feel better soon!! I'm thinking of you!

WELCOME! Follow this link: Frequently Asked Questions (NEW!) you will find LOADS of info on banding, FAQ's and more, and if you scroll down on that page, you'll find the instructions for how to use this forum. Also, MANY of us had hiatal hernia repaired. It seems they are frequently seen in larger patients. And yes, it needs to be repaired for the band to be placed and work properly. It is usually a stitch or a few on the inside. Nothing as dramatic as the surgeons sometimes make it sound.