Dream4tc

Check the forum on here. There are people looking for clothes and exchanging. That might tide you over without purchasing. Clearance racks also good idea for cheap clothing.

Those are symptoms of being too tight. I had that experience and had a stuck episode that landed me in the ER because I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I would not recommend staying at that fill level, you will cause yourself more problems and the risk of aspirating your reflux at night, especially while you sleep which is dangerous.

Who says you can no longer enjoy Frappe's? Here is a yummy alternative. I love Starbucks, especially their Frappacinno's. My husband bought me a Frappacinno maker and I love it. I have used it in the past, but never tried to make sugar free, low calorie, high Protein frappe's. So here is what I used. (May use regular blender) Recipe Java chip mint Frappacinno Starbucks French Roast or Italian Bold Roast- 3 tablespoons 1/2 cup of Water. (Mix this and warm in coffee cup ahead of time if no frappe maker, will need to add this once mixed to blender) 2-3 cups of ice 3 packets of Splenda (which converts from 2 Tbsp of sugar) 2 Tbsp of Sugar free chocolate syrup divided. (15 calories) 2 Tbsp of Sugar Free Chocolate chips (Optional) Peppermint extract ( 1/8 or you can use more if you want stronger mint flavor) 1/4 or 1/2 Vanilla Premier Protein RTD shake, may use chocolate Topping once blended: 2 tablespoons of light whipped cream or may use fat free, or sugar free whipped topping. 1 Tbsp of the divided SF chocolate syrup drizzled on top of whipped cream Calories: roughly 200 calories, depending on the products you use. 15 grams protein. I use Fitness Pal to calculate nutrients.

Check with Lindstrom patient advocacy. They help with WLS appeals http://wlsappeals.com/

Yes there are sugar free gummy bears made by Haribo. I agree with Chele H......hehe these bears can be a disaster if you eat too many. The reviews on Amazon made me laugh so hard, it was hysterical lol

Have you considered trying HMR chicken soup? It is very high protein, low fat and tastes really good! I used this HMR program many years ago and was very effective. They also have some of the best tasting high protein oatmeal I have ever tried. You can order the foods separately. As you advance in your diet, it can be modified. There are tons of yummy tasting recipes. http://hmrprogram.com/static-assets/html/HMRFoods/HMRChickenSoup.html

I understand what you are talking about. I have struggled with weight all my life. I have been told that I am beautiful, hot, gorgeous....but I don't see that. I have always avoided looking into others eyes because of my lack of confidence. Sometimes, I feel pretty when my hair is done, makeup on, and dressed up. Then I see other healthy thinner women and say to myself "what was I thinking, I don't have a chance" I have an extremely hard time with taking compliments. I have been married for the past 10 yrs and my husband loves me for me and is supportive with anything I do. I don't feel sexy or desirable at this weight and he knows that and he compliments me all the time, but I don't believe what he says. I am working on trying to love myself, but when I look in the mirror, I see so many flaws and wonder if others see those too. It would be nice for once to walk in a room and turn heads just to feel desirable. I have tried therapy, and don't feel like I get anywhere with that. Some men, love bigger women, or women with meat on their bones. My husband met me and I was more overweight then, than what I am now. He told me he didn't like anorexic women. Self confidence will improve once we see the physical changes. The part that is harder will be the psychological changes that will need to match.

Ok, who is excited? I know I am! I will tell you a little bit about me. I was banded in 2011, lost 80 pounds but developed complications and had to have it removed just 3 weeks ago. I am still overweight, never reached goal. I decided to revise to bypass which is a scary thing for me. My insurance company and my surgeon wants me to wait 3 months before revision to bypass mainly to heal from my recent band, scar tissue and port removal. I also have been on a physician supervised diet since April. My NUT and Psych appt are Oct 2nd. Once they have that, they can submit. I have a tentative date of November 13th or 16th. My surgeon is ok with either date. What is really weird, is that I was banded around that time back in 2011. I am looking forward to meeting others who will be going through this at the same time, and to support each other

I hear the Lindstrom patient advocacy group helps with appeals. http://wlsappeals.com/

I have a fan that I keep in my SUV (I take it to Zumba classes), however I found it very useful when I had recent surgery. It was very warm in my room and I was on the 6th floor. My hubby ran down and got my fan and I was very comfy the rest of the time I was there

I asked my surgeon that specific question yesterday haha! He said it just stays. There are really no empty spaces in there. It's crowded especially with the fat cushioning all organs

Here is another with more research statistics http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1356398/#!po=16.4474

I spoke with my surgeon yesterday and I had asked specifically about Ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1 and Leptin. I asked if the hormone levels return over time or stay reduced. He replied with a combination of a yes and no. The body is an amazing system. It will always try and compensate to homeostasis. Below is a great article with research regarding the hormones for sleeve and bypass. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/578906

@MissRobin- I use Voltaren for arthritis and per my surgeon it is OK to use because it is topical. When they say no NSAIDS, they usually mean oral. Voltaren is usually one of those medications that are typically not easily obtained without special documentation from prescriber because insurance doesn't want to cover it because of the expense. Oral NSAIDS should not be used. I am a nurse, but not a doctor and I can't provide any official advice, but I feel safe using topical only for pain control. I would recommend checking with your surgeon.

IV Toradol is non narcotic and can help with pain, but will be depending on your kidney function most specifically creatinine level. I would talk with your surgeon about some options. I would also ask for a Pain management consult so they can also help you with a plan as well.

Walk as much as you can. You will be able to expel it quicker and have more relief. You can also try the Gas-x strips ,but I have found walking is the best remedy. It will get better

I gave up soda back when I was banded. I have always gravitated toward sweet anything, but soda is empty calories and can stretch your pouch from the gas in the carbonation. I love the Snapple line, they really taste good and enough caffeine to avoid those dreaded caffeine withdrawal headaches. I found an alternative sweet drink, but I don't think the sugar free and calories free line have caffeine in them. They might have a caffeinated line, check link below. I love SOBE!!! Sobe Lifewater is awesome!!! They carry 7 different kinds of calorie and sugar free yummy tasting drinks!!! They also carry others that have calories so make sure you read the label. Here is the mobile website. I love the Fuji Apple Pear, it is soooooo good !!!!  http://www.sobe.com/...e/products.html

Oops, wrong forum.

I gave up soda back when I was banded. I have always gravitated toward sweet anything, but soda is empty calories and can stretch your pouch from the gas in the carbonation. I found an alternative sweet drink and love it!!! Sobe Lifewater is awesome!!! They carry 7 different kinds of calorie and sugar free yummy tasting drinks!!! They also carry others that have calories so make sure you read the label. Here is the mobile website. I love the Fuji Apple Pear, it is soooooo good !!!! http://www.sobe.com/mobile/products.html

@@James Marusek you had mentioned Haribo Sugar free Gummy Bears. I just want to warn everyone....they are effective.....but...those are also known as "H-ell Bears". Please eat those in very small amounts, or you might regret it haha!!! For laughs.....you all may want to check out the reviews on amazon about these. They are truly hysterical!!!

Spoke with my surgeon yesterday. I have friends who are 15 yr veteran GB patients and have had stretching of their pouches and stoma with regain. My surgeon has been performing the above procedure now for 3 months. I asked him a little bit more info about this so that I can share with our community forum This procedure came out 2 yrs ago and right now the data is still very small and new to determine long term sucess or failure rates. He told me that the above procedure basically helps create restriction again for stretched out pouches. I asked him if it was covered under insurance and he said it depends on the insurance. He also mentioned that the above procedure would be cheaper, less invasive, and easier option for self pay patients in lieu of having to do another revision surgery. Currently he has been performing this himself for 3 months, so still it is too early to tell for long term sucess. I will continue to check with him over the course of the year to find out more info, and will update if I hear of any more new info about this. If accessing the above link on a cell phone, the animation video will be at the bottom of the page. If accessing that link on laptop or desk computer...the animation video will be top right of page. http://apolloendo.com/procedures/outlet-pouch-reduction/

That is a difficult situation. Do you have friends or neighbors, coworkers that would be willing to help. If you don't want them to know what you are having done, you don't have to tell them. Just say surgery without explanation. It's nobody's business unless you want them to know. Without knowing much about your relationship with your mom, I am not sure how much help I can be. Have you tried discussing the many weight loss efforts and options available with her? Does she know how your weight loss struggles have led you to this option? I think you should have a girls day and have a heart to heart with her and tell her how important this is to you and the positive impact this will bring to your life and everyone who loves you. Let her know that you will need her support through this and remind her that she can have some bonding time with her grand daughter. I would speak with her sooner than later, to find out if you either need to find other childcare arrangements if she won't be supportive and help, or if you will need to reschedule to December. My mom and I don't see eye to eye on everything, but she knows that I am a grown adult and will make my own choices, but she has always been supportive with my choices right or wrong. I hope that everything works out so that you don't have to wait. I can tell that are very excited, and that is awesome!!! Best wishes to you and your journey!

I happen to run across this on my surgeon's website and wanted to share. This is for people who have had weight regain after bypass. It appears that this is less invasive than another revision surgery, but can reduce the size of pouch and outlet. Hopefully, we all will have ZERO problems forever and be compliant, and never have to go this route, but... it can happen and we need to know what options are out there for help if it does. Read on There is also a great animation video on the right to see how it can fix this problem. http://apolloendo.com/procedures/outlet-pouch-reduction/

I was banded for 4 years and just actually had it removed due to uncontrollable reflux and vomiting, taking Zantac twice a day (H2 blocker), and Prilosec (proton pump inhibitor) twice a day, avoiding acidic and spicy foods, slept with 8 pillows to avoid aspirating at night, constant heartburn when I ate and when I didn't, was doing damage to my esophagus and not to mention the enamel on my teeth! I just had band removed 2 weeks ago and feel great with NO HEARTBURN for the first time in 4 years! When I spoke to my surgeon, I wanted the sleeve. For many people who haven't been previously banded, the sleeve is a great option, but for banders.....sleeve just makes the heartburn worse due to the high pressure it causes in the stomach. After much research and recommendations and explanations from my surgeon, I have chosen to do bypass. I am scared and worried about potential complications, but what scares me the worst is if I don't do bypass, I will be at higher risk for Diabetes and Heart Disease which runs in my immediate family. My Dad had a heart attack just last year and is dealing with Diabetes, and I am constantly reminding him to drink more Water, exercise more, and be more compliant. As a nurse, I have seen so many complications from Diabetes, (amputations, non healing wounds etc) and that is the scariest of them all. With bypass, that will significantly reduce my risk. Bypass has been around a very very long time and there is tons of info out there. Sleeve is permanent, once your stomach is gone.....its gone forever. Bypass is just re-routing, it can be reversible (not often done because if reversed the risks go back up and a person could get Diabetes again, heart disease, all of those disease processes that come with obesity) I don't want to keep having surgeries. I only need one My best advice is to research and keep asking questions until you feel comfortable in your final decision! The best thing is....., if there is ever a zombie apocalypse, I would have an upper hand with survival compared to many others because I could survive on just a small amount of food! haha! Best of luck to you and your decision

@Sparksrn Actually if the Physician is doing this, its a violation of the Stark Law. They can get into a lot of trouble for doing this. http://starklaw.org/investment.htm