crabcake

Yeah, that's what I started w/ as well. Then had to go in for an unfill, 'cause it was too much! My weight loss hasn't been as good as yours (I haven't been good!). What are you eating?

Wow Carole! That's fantastic! You're so right about the mental stuff. I think it 'weighs' more than the other!

Maybe you won't have to give up anything...I'm trying to eat sensibly (oh how I try sometimes! ), but still eat the things I like too. The only things I've had consistent problems w/ is rolls and I shouldn't be eating those anyway. Seems like every time I try them, something gets stuck. I did that tonight. Spent the rest of the evening in the bathroom upchucking! Ugh! But for the most part, as long as I've chewed well, I've been able to eat most things. I've read where others on the list can too. All the things you mentioned s/b doable as long as you chew, chew, chew! Good luck to you!

Do you realize that excessive vomiting can cause your band to slip? Then it's back to surgery... It really does sound to me like you need an unfill. I had to do that right after my first fill. Went back 2 weeks later and had some taken out. I felt much better. You'll still lose weight, but you'll be doing it the right way. Best of luck!

The waiting room is always packed. They usually get you in and out pretty quickly. Write down your questions next time so if you feel rushed again, you'll be sure to ask everything. I know how you feel, I felt rushed and confused when I left. Up to the day of the surgery, I felt like someone was going to say 'oh, we confused you w/ someone else and you can't have the surgery!'. As I recall, you'll first receive an email w/ access information to the 'youremmi.com' video (I may have spelled it wrong). This goes over the actual surgery. It's something you're encouraged to share w/ friends and/or family. You should receive a letter/list from Naomi stating what things you need to have done (e.g., sleep apnea, blood work, etc.). If you don't have that yet, don't wait on it! Go to your doctor ASAP and start your diet monitoring (whatever they call it!). If you've been to the doctor recently, ask them if they have a record of your weight at that time and you might be able to back date your observation to that date. You'll have to go for a nutrition class there at the hospital. They'll give you a certificate stating you attended the class. Walk this over to the doctor's office before you leave, or take it by personally. Keep track of all your dates (e.g., when your blood work is done, nutrition class, etc.) that way if they say 'we don't have thus and such, you can say that was given/sent to you on this date). The nutrition class is probably the last thing you'll do before you go for your final blood work. They tell you to contact them 2 weeks after that to schedule the surgery. However, if you've gotten everything else in and have hand carried your nutrition class certificate to them and have already gotten your pcp blood work done, I'd start calling them right away. This way you can make sure everything they require has been submitted to them. You'll probably need something in writing from your doctor w/ your weight tracking, etc. Make sure you get that. I'd ask for a copy each time they update it so you'll have it for your own records. I recommend you be extremely pro-active w/ everything you do, otherwise you'll always feel unsure of the situation. Make notes of *every* conversation you have whether it's w/ them or BCBS or whomever. Get names too! I'm not saying this to scare you...they are very competent at what they do, but don't always share information w/ you. If you keep good notes, you'll feel more in control. Don't rely on them to make you feel that way! You'll meet w/ Dr. Schmitt once more, that's probably when you go for your blood work right before the surgery. This is your chance to ask him all the questions you'll come up w/ over the next few months. Like I said, make a list. You won't see him on the day of the surgery (at least I didn't), but Veronica, the nutrition nurse, will come in and see you. She's very nice and her being there made me feel more relaxed. If you have questions you've thought of since you last met w/ Dr. Schmitt, she's the one to ask. A week after the surgery, you'll go in and have your stitches removed. Lisa, the nurse practitioner does that. You'll need to call the day after your surgery to schedule that appointment. The day you get your stitches out you'll schedule your 1st fill appt. which s/b about 5 weeks after your surgery. After that they'll have you come in about every 4 weeks unless you need an unfill (which I did), in which case they'll get you in right away. In the meantime, read, read, read on this website. You'll get some wonderful tips and know what to anticipate. Hope this helps. Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions! Brenda (in Deatsville)

I was banded by Dr. Schmitt on May 8th. What would you like to know?

tell me about it! w/out them, all i see is shapes and colors! what time is your appt?

You girls hang tight. You've worked too hard to have anything bad happen to you. We're pulling for you. Keep us posted! IndioGirl, my doc gave me my card w/ the WLS info on it requesting I be allowed to eat either a child's or senior's portion. It's in small print on the card he told me to keep in my wallet stating I have had WLS (in the event I'm in an accident or something). Did you get a card like that? If so, check the small print (go put those bifocals on girl!).

You're right, no need to worry until you know something. It's great that they can tell you right then what's up. I'll say a prayer for you tonight. Best of luck tomorrow!

I did a search and found this article on hair loss that someone else had posted. Maybe it will answer your questions. Changes in diet can sometimes lead to hair loss

That's great! What are you eating?

Welcome pjanes! Hope you get a date soon. Keep us posted!

Hey Margi. The monthly support groups (e.g., April was Shrinking Violets right?) have been moved. If you go to the Main LB Forums, you'll see the monthly forums. Just work your way through there. Or, if I'm right and the Shrinking Violets are April '07, go here... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/ As for the 'stuck' stuff...I'd go and have a little taken out. I had a similar problem and was pb'ing something awful. I finally had .25 taken out and felt muuuuucccchhhh better! This isn't what (IMHO) the band was designed to do. You aren't supposed to have to starve yourself (which is what I was doing, 'cause I couldn't eat anything! Ugh! ). Best of luck.

Janie, once you go to the nutrition class, you'll have a better idea about what you can/can't eat (or should i say what's recommended?). 'White' products, such as white rice, bread, etc., are processed foods and are higher in carbs. Protein is what you'll want to focus on getting the most of (60 gms/day) and 1/2 cup of rice doesn't have a lot of protein and will fill you up (at least initially) quickly. It won't however tide you over very long because your body is going to convert it to sugar which is going to make you WAY hungry!!! :hungry: Another thing is some people simply can't eat it...it gets 'stuck'. There are foods you won't be able to eat again because they do that. I found out this weekend one of mine was bbq! I've had some things get stuck at one time and tried them again another time and they were fine. It just sort of depends on how tight your band is at the time you try that food (sometimes the band is tighter than at others, e.g., usually - but not always - in the morning). I don't think I'll be trying the bbq again though, 'cause it made me ill for 2 days! Read, read, read on this site. You'll find tons of information. Most, if not all, of my questions have been answered here. Best of luck! :gluck: Brenda

That's wonderful! Congratulations!

Karey, thanks for posting this. I'm a little over 2 months out and went in for my last fill about 2 weeks ago. I don't have another one scheduled for another 2 weeks and my stomach is rumbling big time! I try to still make good food choices and to ask myself 'are you full yet?', but when I'm hungry, I tend to fall back into my old, bad ways. Oftentimes I realize it's just head hunger, but I go on and eat anyway. I hope this is just part of the relearning process. And I hope you're right about eventually feeling full and that I'm not an anomaly! 'Cause right now I feel like I could eat Texas! :hungry:

It's been 10 weeks since my surgery. I've lost a few pounds (I weighed 221.6 at the time of surgery and I weigh 209.2 right now), but I'm eating way too much. I'm also making poor food choices. As a rule, I do fine during the day, but in the evening is when I falter. I had fill #1 on 6/12 (.5). I had to go back 2 weeks later and have .25 cc's removed as I was pb'ing too much. Then my second fill date was 7/9. When I went in I just knew the scales would either show I'd gained (horrors!) or that I hadn't lost anything! Actually, they showed an almost 7 pound loss! I had weighed on my scales at home before I left and typically, they run 4-5 pounds lighter than Dr. Schmitt's do. However, that day they were 6.3 pounds heavier! I even told the nurse I didn't think that was right. So I came home and ordered some new scales. When those came, they read almost identical to my old scales, so I feel certain those at the doc's office are wrong. I don't feel any restriction right now, but hope that changes as the month goes on (which I've read does happen). I'm eating like a horse and making poor food choices, at least at night. My next fill date isn't until August 7th; not soon enough if I don't tighten up! :help:

It's been 10 weeks since my surgery. I've lost a few pounds (I weighed 221.6 at the time of surgery and I weigh 209.2 right now), but I'm eating way too much. I'm also making poor food choices. As a rule, I do fine during the day, but in the evening is when I falter. I had fill #1 on 6/12 (.5). I had to go back 2 weeks later and have .25 cc's removed as I was pb'ing too much. Then my second fill date was 7/9. When I went in I just knew the scales would either show I'd gained (horrors!) or that I hadn't lost anything! Actually, they showed an almost 7 pound loss! I had weighed on my scales at home before I left and typically, they run 4-5 pounds lighter than Dr. Schmitt's do. However, that day they were 6.3 pounds heavier! I even told the nurse I didn't think that was right. So I came home and ordered some new scales. When those came, they read almost identical to my old scales, so I feel certain those at the doc's office are wrong. I don't feel any restriction right now, but hope that changes as the month goes on (which I've read does happen). I'm eating like a horse and making poor food choices, at least at night. My next fill date isn't until August 7th; not soon enough if I don't tighten up! :help:

Hello Sheila! I too have a 4cc band. I only received .5 cc's on the first fill as I still had lots of restriction then. Two weeks after that though I went back and had .25 cc's removed. I was having a really hard time eating anything and I pb'd a lot. Then two weeks after that, which was my scheduled #2 fill date, I went back in and had it replaced! The funny thing is, I don't feel restricted at all now! I can eat anything and lots of it! I hope your fill goes well. Have you been to the over 50 forum? If not, come on over, there's lots of us! Here's the link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/how-weight-loss-people-over-50-a-21117/ Good luck! :clap2:

Hey Manatee (Slim!), 'eating less and working out' IS true...it may not be the WHOLE truth (), but it's not a lie either! Congrats on your weight loss. I'm SURE it's noticeable! Just think what everyone will be saying by the time you reach your goal! :clap2:

Hey, anyone feel up to a challenge? My b'day is August 29th and I'd sure like to be in 'onederland' by then! I need to lose 10 pounds to do so. That would be a little over 1.5 pounds/ week. What say you? :help:

Good for you. It'll also help a lot w/ that acid reflux. I think you'll be surprised at the results!

Sorry...apparently I overlooked your reference to the 'breast'. The numbers I was referring to were the ones from calorieking.com, which are pretty close. I wasn't trying to challenge what you said.

Ummm...I'm not sure I follow. They're so close, I wouldn't think it would matter.

That's good. I had tried the patch several months before I did the chantix, so I had already cut back considerably. Like my husband says...use them all if it helps you quit! Best of luck. :clap2: