leatha_g

Welcome to the board and good luck with your surgery!

Good to hear that she's home. Just keep the liquids going in her and get her up to walk, walk, walk. this is really the best thing to work the soreness out. Let us know how you're both doing!

Becky! Look at you in the 160's!!! Go Becky! Go Becky! Go Becky!:banana :banana

Some people have problems with chicken. So far, I've done well with it and it's one of the things that stays in my pouch the longest. I can't really eat beef unless it's ground beef or totally cooked to pieces.

If this girl were into drugs instead of food, someone would do an intervention on her.

Welcome Leslie!! We're glad to have you here. Sounds like you've at least done enough research to understand what's happening. Very good!

Well. It worked out pretty well. The day I saw the psychiatrist, I was sick as a dog with the flu, but we changed the meds. This type of change requires 'coming off' the original drug, which throws you into a sort of 'flu like' symptoms of basically withdrawal. So, luckily, I already had the flu and it wasn't any worse than I was already dealing with. After 3 days of stopping that one, I started a new one called Cymbalta. This is one of the newer drugs, not quite in the same family as the Pamelor, so the results will be an experiment. So far, the swing from one to another hasn't been as bad as some of my past attempts. My mood seems pretty stable. I am having some sleep issues, but they say give it 2-4 weeks before you can really rely on the results, so I'm being patient. I am keeping a journal in the process, so that I can report everything accurately when I return next week for follow-up. We did not discuss the eating disorders counseling yet. I was too sick to stay any longer than I did - which was over 3 hrs. ugh.. I don't know if it's the new drug or not, but I have lost 3 more lbs for some reason since this began and I can definitely say that my appetite has wained. It's also helped in that I take this pill in the morning as opposed to the evening and it is a smaller capsule, so I don't have to have that extra yogurt/jello etc in the evening to take it with. I'm not real sure about the cravings for sweets. Interestingly, I've had some. I even indulged in ice cream when I was so sick with a sore throat and still lost. I can tell you some things that I AM doing differently, however, which may be contributing. I have startd a regimen in the morning where I fix up a carnation instant Breakfast with Hood Carb Countdown milk for my breakfast. I also pour an 8oz glass of crystal light which I add 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of Vitamin C to. I have been bringing my tuna salad lunch kit to work and avoiding the cafeteria (and the evil homemade Cookies there), I may have a V8 to boost my lack of veggies, then in the evening, I either bake a chicken breast, baked scrod or crabcakes for dinner and add some veggies or not. I have also been taking a dry bowl of frosted mini shredded wheats to munch on during the day. Interesting thing, this past week or so, I haven't cared so much about the munching. Something's working..

Yes she is! My hat is really cute as well!

Welcome Home! Glad to hear everything went well!

Way to go Becki!! Congratulations on a superb loss and a great attitude! You go girl! By the way, Curves is a great place to start. There are many folks there who are just beginning exercise too. You'll see the inches come off even more. Get out there and get started!

Yep. Scrambled eggs are a culprit for me too. I believe it's the texture and they tend to just 'settle' in the stoma, like potatoes. The only way I can eat them is if I mash them with a fork, like for a baby and even then, I have to be very careful. Fried eggs are fine. It sounds to me like you have restriction. That's what we all want, right? :cool: Go slow, cut your food into eraser sized bites, chew, chew, chew. Stop at the first sign of resistance, the first big hiccup, etc. You'll get the hang of it!

Ladies!!! Back away from the ice cream freezers!!!

I'm really sorry to hear this Ethel. :cool: I had this same thing happen and as much as it's heard you would KNOW if you had slippage, it's just not true. My slippage was very silent UNTIL I got a fill and suddenly developed the nighttime reflux. The band simply can slip downward on the stomach creating a 'bowl' effect above the band without any overt symptoms. It seems to sort of just 'slip' up and down on the stomach until there is some more constriction or it bulges through enough that it begins to show signs. I know it's worriesome. Mine was unfilled for a month before my revision, but thankfully, I was able to use all I had learned about making the right food choices and I did not gain. I actually lost 5 lbs through the whole ordeal. Honestly, the second surgery wasn't any worse than the first, but it did sort of take the wind out of my sails for awhile. My insurance did cover the second surgery, thankfully, or I would never have been able to do it. I really hope all goes well for you. It's disappointing, but it all works out in the end.

I've heard some say that if they drank something with sugar, such as fruit juice this helps, also, you may be needing protein. More than that, are you getting enough liquids at all? Dehydration will cause severe headaches as well. I hope you get it sorted out soon!

Staci - Stop buying Big Mac's and you won't eat them anymore. :cool: Jane, get thee to a fill girlfriend, why have a band if you won't use it the way it was designed? Would you buy a car and not put gas in it? It really does help!

Katie, Very sorry to hear of your cousin's terrible news. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts. You're doing a great job girl! Keep up the good work!

It'll be no time now Sweetness!! I wish you a great experience!

I think I've seen it before also.

Yea. chips are not my friend. It's funny. Fritos are really the only ones I ever buy anymore. Cheetos used to be my favorite, but I haven't bought them not one time since being banded. The reason this came to mind was: My computer is in my bedroom and I'm notorious for eating at the puter and well, last night, I brought the Fritos to the puter and had a few and a few is the real story, however, I KNOW I shouldn't have them. So, when I woke up this morning, the first thing I saw was that bag of Fritos sitting atop my printer and that's the first thing that came to mind. 'Frito-Lay mark of the beast." lol. I thought it was funny, but let's be honest, most of their products are what got us where we are today. lol. Junk - my favorite food group! Ugh...

ROFL, this one looks like my pic just out of surgery!!

Aww..yes, I'm a week late, but your son is a doll, Paula. Reminds me of my son when he was that age...

Nancy, Cynthia Jones of Bandlandia.com has this swallowing technique that she swears by. Apparently, you have to be very conscious of when you are swallowing not to take in air at the same time. She says that if you hold your tongue to the top of your mouth each time you swallow, this will help. Maybe if you just try this for a day or so to see if there is any change you can avoid having to have an unfill. Good luck!

Thanks Nancy! Yes. I noticed the other day we've almost had the very same numbers all along. We're slow but we aren't quitters are we Nancy! lol. Congrats on breaking 180!!

Dr. Ponce of Georgia. This article was done quite awhile back. David is a member of Smartbandsters Yahoo Group and has done very well with his band. He also works for USA Today. It's got some good answers in it.

People have died who have had band surgery, but you are right. The stomach is not cut in this surgery. The people who have died were actually not due to the surgery itself persay. One lady in Detroit ignored very important signs of a complication and wound up dying AFTER she was home and did not seek help when she should have. There was also a man who had a heart attack on the table,which was not connected to the surgery at all. I believe there have been a handful of others who were similar situations. You can probably do a search on 'adjustable gastric band deaths' and see what that brings up. All in all, I believe we all know there is a risk anytime you go into the OR of just what you said, possible blood clots, anesthesia complications, underlying problems we didn't realize we had, there is always a risk of the surgeon nicking something by accident, but compared to the RNY, this surgery is far, far, less risky, not to mention there are very few patients who don't go home within 24hrs of having this surgery. If they do not, there is usually some comoridity problem that was anticipated before they even got there. At www.obesityhelp.com you'll find a Memorial page with hundreds of names of people who have died from gastric bypass. I'm really glad we don't have one of those with the band.