donna12

thanks all for the well wishes, better today, still took it easy on food choice, I did however eat moist chicken in the cockpot with ff mushroom Soup on it so it was like gravy on it and I basically shredded it.

I do have a wonderful surgeon, he said to me and my mom who was with me, I just don't trust the other surgeons in the hospital (non lap band dr's) to do this therefore I want to be avail to my lap band patients 24/7. I have even called him at 10:00 at night before and he calls right back.

A week ago tonight, off subject here but a week ago tonight I had to be rushed to the ER here in Hopkinsville, I was falling, staggering and leaning towards my right side and couldn't walk, literally scared my mom to death, of course she was thinking stroke. She called an ambulance, got to ER, they did CT scan and then the ER DR came in and said I had a blood clot on the brain and they weren't equipped to handle it and I was being transferred to Nashville asap so off I go in the back of an ambulance again at midnight. Got to Nashville and throughout the night tests were done and Sunday rolled around and more tests, then the Neurologist came in and said "no blood clot, nothing, maybe this is inner ear, you need to follow up with an ear nose and throat dr", I was discharged Sunday night. Then Tues I went to see my dr here in town and he is treating me with Meclizine for inner ear, not helping much with dizziness so I will call him Monday. But the best part of this story is my lap band dr caught wind that I might have had a mini stroke and called me at home to see what was going on and to check on me, I was like dang, ok, thanks. So yes I do have a wonderful dr.

Sounds like you had a good ole fashion band whipping. I've had a few in the last 7 years and they are no fun. None of mine required emergency unfills, but I have had food stuck for SEVERAL hours and vomited for hours until the food came back up with my first lap band, but I surely thought I was gonna die.

Many people have had to get their bands REMOVED in an emergency from obstruction, one girl I know about 6 years ago was out eating with her family at Breakfast and ate a biscuit (BAD CHOICE) and the biscuit got stuck so bad, she vomited repeatedly and could not stop, removing all the saline from the band did not help, they ended up removing her band that same day, her stomach was just too obstructed.

I would say MOST of lap band removals are from either eating too much food on a too tight band (which eventually will cause horrible reflux, damage esophagus) and frequently getting food stuck and vomiting every single day..

When you get restricted optimally, there are some foods you should never eat, or eat with EXTREME caution, these foods have caused people to get their bands removed which are thick bread, hard apples, grilled dry chicken, chinese food, especially the rice, it's Gummy and will swell, and will cause obstruction, I've had repeated vomiting from it with my old band.

You have to eat band friendly foods as long as you have a restricted band, bread and Bagels are not lap band-friendly, all of your food should be moist, like baked very moist chicken and not grilled, things like low calorie Protein based casseroles, anything in a crock pot, like stews.

Many people will say they vomit every single day, but they forget to mention that they tried to eat a burger and fries, these foods will cause obstruction and vomiting on a very restricted band.

Some people will vomit so much until they cause band damage and once the band is damaged by slippage or dilation, unfilling will not help, and they will get reflux so bad until the band will have to be removed.

It's not really hard living with a band and avoid vomiting but you just have to choose your food wisely.and chew well.

Sorry about your experience, hope you and your band is on the mend.

Thank you so much for your insight from a veteran like you. wow. I know, I somehow still crave old foods and that day I chose a bagel instead of my normal shake and well I paid for it. I am able to eat toast or bread but try and limit myself on these things because of carbs. I usually eat fish, chicken, stews in the crockpot. Today I cooked chicken breast with ff mushroom Soup in the crock pot with some Amish fresh veggies steamed oh so yummy. Just when I was feeling restriction too, dang, and he took a whole 1cc out but I go back on the 5th and he said he would put it back in. Believe you me lesson learned. lol

I like Missy there isn't anything I can't eat with that said I tried eating a bagel the other day and didn't get it toasted enough so it was too doughy and I got stuck big time to the point I had to make an emergency run to my dr's for unfill for it to pass thru but I do eat bread and toast, for some reason that morning my band didn't like the bagel as I've eaten them before. Guess I was tight that morning.

same think happened to me today, I had a slight unfill today, I was stuck on food and had an emergency visit, he took out 1cc but he couldn't find my port and kept moving the needle around and poking it in and i was like hello it hurts hurry up and find it please. Luckily he did on the 3rd try.

ok, don't landblast me on what I ate for Breakfast, thought I could handle it. 99% of the time I make my own Protein shakes but this morning I chose to have a toasted bagel, strawberry at that with ff strawberry cream cheese to boot. Well, it didn't go so well, I finished it but then realized I was stuck and big time. Oh the pain I was experiencing and then all of the sudden the forceful vomiting. I vomited for 2 hrs, tried to sooth my band with hot tea when I thought I was done but it came back up, I couldn't even drink my Water, it came back up, time to call my dr. Of course by this time his office was closed. He called back in less than 5 mins, laughing at me said I guess you don't want any more Bagels do you, no kidding. He told me that he was still in his office and for me to come on in and he would take some out of my band. Got there and sure enough he took out 1cc and instantly I felt better and was able to drink. I go see him again on the 5th and he said he would put back what he took out but for right now I was really aggravated in there and for me to take it easy for the weekend on foods. Somehow during the course of the day I managed to lose 1 lb when I weighed this morning and tonight.

Let's just say I don't want a strawberry bagel for a long long long time.

Donna here and still learning this darn band!

Also, I forgot, Alex Belcher the admin to this site has a book out, you could contact him too. great investments.

I purchased Jean McMillan's Bandwagon at the beginning of my journey and it was like my band bible, I learned so much along with being on this site. If you are just starting out I would recommend this book, great read. She is on here so you can buy it from her I believe if not she can direct you where to buy it from. I've ordered others but none compare to this one.

SueBee I only wish I lived in Fla, Bealle's is nice. I live in Western Ky but have Nashville TN nearby and also Clarksville TN really close. I too have noticed I look in the mirror and see the old me and have caught myself trying on larger sizes thinking oh that won't fit attitude. Luckily I have a really hip mom and I've taken some of her stuff as she has lost 40 lbs and I got some of her Coldwater Creek long sleeve tees and turtlenecks and jackets. Having a yard sale Sat. and have lots of my old clothes to sell in it. However I did keep my largest pair of jeans, capri's and one sweater to remind myself where I had been and to never go back.

Went to a consignment shop today and found this cute 3/4 length cotton shirt, it was so me, size 2X, just knew it would fit because it was Croft & Barrow from Kohl's and althought I love Kohl's their brands run small on me unlike your more expensive stores like Dillards or Macy's but I went ahead and tried it on, well with disappointment it was too big but on the otherhand joy joy joy, too big right? Needless to say I left with nothing. Guess I should hit Kohl's to see about 1X's on sale...I see I need to shop. Oh and another one, bought a bra yesterday, size 38DD, instead of a 40DD, I was wearing a 44DD when I started. I really wanted to buy the 38D but couldn't afford the Wacoal bra and didn't have time to try it on so I stuck with what I tried on.

My size 22 capri's from Stein Mart are falling off of course better quality of clothing. Tonight I try on my cheap pair of jeans from Walmart size 22 and they fit, woohoo, excited. doin the happy dance.

Donna don't make me drive out there now! lol from Ky

good luck to you all and prayers going your way! What a wonderful journey you are about to embark on. I was banded 6-13-12 and wouldn't change a thing. Although my weight loss has been slow and steady I'm so happy, I'm down 72 lbs as of today. I'm so very excited for your both, beyond words! First few days for me were painful and I got extremely constipated but other than that, easy peasy. Walk walk walk and sip sip sip when you get home.

hugs

Donna

Amen sister, we can do all thing thru Christ!

All went well this morning with the procedure, no cancer, nothing, all looked good, whew! I was a happy camper since my brother is battling colon cancer and a tumor in his belly but feeling blessed at the same time. I know my obesity can attribute to cancer and having lap band a little over a yr ago has certainly helped with my obesity. Glad its all over with.

now that made crack up, too funny, thanks I needed that.

On the bright side of things, I just weighed and this morning I weighed 224 and just now, I weighed 222, guess I was full of it, bahahaha. Haven't been drinking like I should be tho and threw up my broth at lunch so don't want that again so the only thing I've had is a half cup of Jello and Water all day. I feel like I'm in the freakin pre op diet again. lol

I'm worn out and still have another bottle of nasty mag citrate to drink in a bit. This is the pits. I hope I drop a couple of lbs by tomorrow after all this. lol.

Was in Nashville for a dr's appt and afterwards mom and I made a quick stop at Stein Mart, woohoo, my fav, and what ya know I tried on a 2X top and it was too big so I then tried on the 1X and it fit, I bought it, yay. I couldn't believe it. A year ago I couldn't hardly wear anything from there I was growing out of their clothes I was getting so big, I mean my eating was out of control pre op that my weight was getting out of control on me. I was so excited, it was a good feeling.

On another note, as some of you know my brother's cancer is back and today was suppose to start his aggressive chemo but they put it off till Friday so he went on and worked. He lives and works in Nashville drives a Semi for a National trucking company but drives local. Today he was involved in a bad accident, it was raining and 2 cars hydroplaned, one went airborne then skidded into his trailer and went under his trailer and he ended up dragging this car till he could get stopped. crushed the passenger side, luckily no one was in the passenger side, no loss of life. I'm thankful no one died or was injured very bad. He was shook up pretty bad as he takes life seriously as well as others and it upset him to think it could have ended up tragic. Thanking God right now.

I had my surgery today and Walgreens pharmacy was out of my prescribed liquid pain pills... Is liquid Tylenol ok? My doctors office is closed or else I would give them a shout! Any advice is helpful.

Oh girl I feel for you, I lived on my Percocet for the first few days, I had a bad hernia repair and I was in a lot of pain. Like above post find another Walgreens that is open now and have them transfer it and go pick it up, you will need it.

I'm in Western ky, Hopkinsville, too far away for a workout buddy, and not doing that much myself due to a bad knee but wanted to wish you good luck with your surgery.

Thank you all so very much, I'm touched by the outpouring love here. Anna you and the kids are very special to us, I can't tell you how sweet that was for Bella to color a picture for Donny. You and your family will always hold a special place in my heart.

I am on lexapro and i didn't change anything and its small pills. Sometimes my Zonegran gets lodged in my throat and its a capsule and sometimes i take them apart and put in applesauce but for the most part i take them ok.

thanks again everyone! Things are getting better each day this weekend as things are sinking in. My brother on the otherhand is in good spirits, still jokes around and cracks jokes over the phone, he lives in Nashville which is an hr and half away from us but we talk daily. He's optimistic and is ready for his aggresive chemo treatments to start Wed. His las day of work for several months will be Tues. I seem to have gotten a handle on my eating, actually have lost a lb. Have been very active dealing with yard sale items, packing and everyday chores. I have my colonoscopy this Friday ck'ing for cancer since his started in the colon and was hereditary so fun fun for me in the prepping part, lol. Don't mind the procedure just the prep, sigh! Thank you all for keeping my family in your prayers.

Donna

thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for all the suggestions and heartfelt warm wishes for my brother and me and my family.

God Bless

Donna

I would gladly minister to Him. Will Pray for Him & Family

Oh my goodness Pastor O thank you for the offer, we are Christian people and my brother's wife works at a massive Baptist church in Nashville and has many people praying but if you would like to add him to your prayers that would be great as we've done the same in my church as well and I've got a prayer chain going on Facebook so the power of prayer is going strong right now with our Faith in God. He has been in remission and God allowed that so we have faith in God's loving hands again but God has a plan that none of us can control. Thank you so much.

Donna

thanks everyone for the virtual hugs, all I could do yesterday was cry and then eat a little at a time, still in a state of shock. Missy thank you for putting things in to perspective for me, I can't let this take over and let this ruin all I've done. You're right I know this. Thank you all for the prayers and support. My brother and I are very close. Linda I will try and turn to my mom for comfort although I feel the need to be strong for her now.