faithmd

Every doc is different it seems on how long they want you on liquids or mushies after fills. The reason is similar to why you were on them after banding, for the inflammation and irritation of the stomach as well as to allow it to get settled. I see you have about 20 posts, and I am unsure how much research you've done before now, so please forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know, but I would guess the vast majority of people get NO restriction from the first fill, and VERY often, no good restrictive feeling from the first couple of fills. Many people report that their "sweet spot" isn't achieved until fill number four or five or more. Sometimes you will feel no restriction right away but BAM in a week or ten days or a couple weeks there it is! Isn't the body a wonderous thing? Who knows why that is, it just happens for some of us. Occasionally folks do feel restriction right away after a fill and then it goes away, too. This band is a finicky thing and I believe it takes a while for us to get to where we are comfortable with what feelings mean what. Good luck and be patient (easier said than done, I know!).

Sorry Chin, yes, I get that, too. I cannot belch sometimes and it feels like I sooooo want to. I think that's the gas that gets stuck in the lower part of our stomach. I have found that the times that I can go and walk after I eat that seems to happen less and less. Sometimes I just can't go and walk, though. Sometimes if you lay on your right side that will allow the food to go down into the lower part of your stomach and the gas can then hopefully move to the top and perhaps come out when you stand or sit back up. Sadly, it seems moving and walking is the best answer to gas pains be they in the tummy or lower down. It really does get the digestive tract working. I read somewhere that papaya and pineapple enzyme (chewable tabs) can help not only with a stuck episode (helps to breal down the stuck food), but it can help with digestion and moving the food through the tract better. Hope this helps, sorry I didn't write more about it the first time!

:welcomeB: Take some time, look around here, you'll find there's loads of great info. And yes, you are right, it is one of the MOST common things that happens after banding, GAS. There's loads of threads and topics about it, so don't feel alone. I've only been banded a month more than you, so I can't speak to whether it gets better farther out, but I belch all the time. Though my "lower end" gas post band is much improved from what it was pre-band.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

If it's a weekend (Fri-Sun) I'll come alone as my DH works Tue-Sat. Whatever works for the most people. But weekends certainly are more expensive in Vegas. I agree with beardpa about gambling being better on w/e's, but I am a penny or nickel or quarter slot kind of girl. I HAVE to stay away from the tables, I LOVE BlackJack...

Boy, I wish I were satisfied. I probably am, but my head hunger is soooooo strong. For me the soft stop is either a hiccup (or hiccough if you prefer) or a little marble in the throat feeling. Not like a stuck feeling, but just like a little marble.

:biggrin1::biggrin1::biggrin1::D That's me, open and honest (to a fault at times). I think that's part of what is wrong with our world, where are the consequences for actions? In the US people know the jails are overcrowded, they can beat folks or in some cases kill someone and get out in a couple of years or less (depending on the case). I fully believe if eye for an eye justice were instituted, lots of crimes would never occur. Can you imagine what person would be stupid enough to steal something if they knew they would be whipped or beaten on the hands? Or if they had their personal belongings then taken from them? Would as many rapes occur if a person knew that for committing that rape they'd in turn be raped or demoralized or have their genitals tortured? How many murders would occur if people knew that once convicted of murder, their own demise would be swift and in a similar manner to the crime they committed? (see above)

Yes, BBK, you do. You are a precious, beautiful, strong woman who deserves EVERYTHING you want in life. We all do. Why can't we seem to realize this? Why are we so willing to accept less than what we deserve? I put myself into the "we" category, too. My DH (Dear, Damned, Dufus, not sure which to choose) seems to want me to be with him more often lately (and I don't mean in the physical sense). We have a house about three hours away from where we live, and he usually goes there every weekend, he's there now for the holiday. He wants me to come up and join him. I don't want to go until Saturday afternoon, I have loads to do myself, but he sounded so sad that I wasn't coming until then. It's weird. Usually he could care less. Hmmmm Wonder if the weightloss is helping or hurting? I know it doesn't or hasn't made a difference in anything physical between us. But I wonder if he sees me starting to lose (I still have almost 30lbs to go before I get to where I was when I met him) and is either worried I'm going to find something else, or if he sees me finally as he did when we met 9 years ago?

I hope Wendell Edwards stumbles on this thread, he has a WONDERFUL list of Banding 101's and more advanced band rules.

Darragha makes some good points and has some good suggestions. I started my weight loss journey seriously in February. From Feb to my surgery date June 21st, I was able to lose about 40 lbs. I changed my eating habits, I started eating like I will be for life. I sis not think of this as a diet, if I did, I'd be doomed to failure. I read, read, read this site and others. I soaked up every bit of good information I could about the band and what life is like after banding and started eating that way. I eat my lean Protein first, then vegetables, then if I have room I eat my carbs. I don't really measure anything, I certainly didn't try to limit myself to bandster portions pre-band, that would have been impossible. I just wanted to get used to the life changes. I gave up almost all white refined carbs and switched to multi-grains and steel cut oats, etc... I am sorry, what I'm about to say isn't at all warm and fuzzy and may not on the surface sound very supportive, but I mean it with all sincerity and compassion for where you are right now: You have GOT to get a grip on yourself. You MUST overcome this! Take it one day at a time. You said you can do it for one day, but the next day you screw up? Well look at it not as a diet, but as a change to help you be healthier, and look at it as one day, not day after day after day. The band is NOT MAGIC. If you cannot get a handle on your eating now, you will not succeed later. The band merely restricts how much you can put in your mouth and swallow. That restriction may not come for months after the band anyway. If you still want to eat crap and junk, you still can. chips and ice cream go down very easily, you could probably gain weight if that's what you like to eat and continue to eat it. There is a huge amount of personal accountability and responsibility in band success. That's one of the reasons docs and ins companies require us to lose weight pre-band is to prove we can make that kind of committment. Take some time, perhaps write your feelings and concerns with how your life may be different. Spend time here, read and ask questions. We are here for you. It really can be done, and be done well. It truly is NOT painful at all once you've got your mind right and are ready for the journey to begin.

Hello and welcome! I'm sure plenty of us have had to have either a chemical or a treadmill stress test prior to approval. Noting that your age is 65, it is not at all unreasonable to want to see what a stress test will show. Since you are 65, and overweight, and not knowing your other medical history, I can only guess that your doc chose to do a chemical stress test versus a treadmill stress test for good reasons. Here's a link to a site that explains all about chemical stress tests: http://www.heartsite.com/html/chemical_stress.html The reason it takes several hours is for the dye they inject to make it through your body to where they want it to be. The reason for not eating prior to the test is that sometimes the medications they use can make folks nauseated and they don't want you uncomfortable or to throw up. Once the meds are in, and while you are waiting to go back and have the second part of the scan (the reason why it takes several hours), usually most labs allow you to go get a light snack. Good luck!

I wish this were the answer, perhaps for some it is, and they are really good suggestions, but I have been taking in at least 80-130 grams of protein daily, a MVI, Calcium supps and Biotin and it hasn't helped a bit. You're right, it doesn't seem that there is anything that can be done. But I just wanted to add that I don't hink it is with only fast weight loss, I believe it is with any significant weight loss. I found that about five or six months into my loss (at about 50 to 60 lbs gone) is when I started noticing it falling faster. So I don't think it matters if you lose 1 lbs per week, or 10, it's gonna fall out, but maybe it will fall more significantly with 10 than 1, I don't know.

Cyndi, I'm sorry you are going through this, too. There are simply loads of threads about this topic, but there is one really good one that was just started recently and is quite active. WasaBB posted to it just today, I'd like to link it here, please go check it out. In a nutshell, there's not a darned thing you, me or anyone can probably do. It's going to fall out and it *will* grow back, eventually. I posted there about my horrifying experince I'm having right now, too. I do hope this helps in some way: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f78/major-hairloss-any-suggestions-39115/

there is NO such thing as normal weight loss. There are tons of threads around here about how much weight have people lost in the first six months, how much in a year, what is normal, why aren't I losing fast enough, etc. There is no norm. EVERYONE is different. When I eat 800 calories a day I may lose for a couple of days or a week, but then I start holding on to my weight, I lost at 2000 calories a day, someone else might lose at 1400 calories. What they books and the docs say is they want us to AVERAGE 1-2lbs per WEEK of weight loss. Everyone fluctuates daily. We eat a little more salt one day and put more weight on, for example. I think you are doing GREAT. Keep up the good work.

I can't speak for what your insurance might or might not cover, the very best course of action is to call them. Some people travel a great distance to get the band but not necessarily out of the country. Perhaps across the state, or a state or two away or a plane ride away. Sometimes peoples surgeons retire or move away. Sometimes their surgeon's fills are $500 when for example fillcentersusa might only be $250.

Hunny Bunny, for that price, GO FOR IT!!!! Do it now with him, and you will get some idea of what type of shots you like, what angles capture you best, etc. Then when you are at goal, spend a little more and have it done again. Luv to you!

I totally believe in the eye for an eye thing. I think if you rape and murder someone, that's how you should die. If you strangle someone to death, then you should be hung or suffocated. You pour gasoline over a person and light them on fire, then you need to burn. You dismember and rape someone with a tree branch, then you should lose your limbs and meet Mr. Stick, too. In this sick fuck's case, I agree that the general population will likely give him what he deserves and like Dahmer, he'll likely meet his maker in due course as well.

A bit off topic, but I have always interchanged mL's and cc's in conversation, work and in teaching. I wonder if it's like saying soda or pop or soda pop, maybe what you say or how you have learned it is based on where you were taught? Dunno, just found the comments about cc's versus mL's interesting.

OMG it is so funny you two are discussing this right now. (Two of my fave ladies, BTW) Last night at work a lady says, "Wow, you're melting! How much have you lost?" I told her almost 70 lbs (no one knows about the OR). She asked how much more did I want to lose and I said about 130 more if I can. She said, "Wow, that's a lot of weight, I wouldn't have guessed you carried that much around."

Go for it, Brandy!!!! BUT: Find another photog, this one's really not very good. DH owend a studio in the past and did quite a bit of this kind of work. He agrees, find someone else. This guy's work isn't bad, but it isn't fantastic, either. For example, check out the photo gallery for Dita Von Teese (Marilyn Manson's soon-to-be ex) Dita Von Teese - Website Main Page WARNING there are a couple of topless or near topless shots there**** Those photos weren't all taken by the same photog, they were various folks, some of them were even taken by Marilyn Manson. And IMHO, they are all much better than this gentleman's work. Again, not that his stuff is bad at all, but I don't know if you'll be truly happy with the photos, especially if you do them now. I don't know if he'll be able to do you justice. The flip side of that is if they are going to be free or really cheap. Then I might say give it a try.

The biggest issues with tthe pre-op diet is clearing the liver of fat. While they may be "sugar free" (though they are full of sugar alcohols which in many people increase their, ummmmm, stooling), I would doubt they are fat free. Read the saturated fat content and make your decision based on that. Are you talking a few pieces meaning one of those little bags with about five small pieces in it, or are you talking a few pieces meaning a few whole candy bars?

Hello and welcome! Go to this forum: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/ Read all the threads there, there are a couple that have good wuestions to ask.

I'm soooooooo excited for you! Good luck, best wishes and here's hoping for as pain free of an experience as possible!!!

I LOVE the Smart Ones Thai chicken MMMmmmmm! I also like the Healthy Choice Steamers. They are quite good. South Beach makes some good meals, too.

I know...sooooo close! I am NOT changing my ticker until I am solidly below the 300 mark. Fingers crossed it's before the end of the month!

Getting closer.... Name...............................Starting……....L oss.......Current…....Goal….....ToGo losingjusme..(Christine).........293.............. ..15 .............278...........275............3 tann.............(Tammy)...........211............ ..... 3..............208..........198............10 Josette......(Josette)..............322……......... ..8..............314...........307.............7 RidinMyHDDream..(Carol)......264.................. 4 ..............260............254............6 FaithMD...............................308......... ........6.7...........301.3...........299.......2.3 Elisabethsew..(Elisabeth)......275................ .0..............275 ...........265............10 Libra.....(Angela)...................214.......... .......0..............214............208 ............6 glindab.................................282....... .......3.4............278.0..........265.......... .13. Inner_me...(Chris)..................295........... .....0..............295............280 ............15 waterlily1072...(Nicole)...........289........... ....12..............277.............0............. . 0 Rainer...(Lorraine)..................311.......... ......12..............299.............260......... .39 staindgal....(Bridget)..............319........... ....5 8...........313.2...........299..........14.2 jbtullis...(Jonathan)................317.......... ........7.............310............299.......... ..11 Insubordination.....................311........... .....6.6...........304.4...........299........... 5.4 Squale.................................334…....... ........9.............325……......310….........15 ShaunECook........................256.2........... .....0...........256.2……......245........11.2