Kime-lou

Before I had my gallbladder out I had horrible pains and sickness. The two weeks before were aweful, basically I was sick all day every day and felt like I had a lump in my throat. I had mine removed Aug. 2011 before lapband in June 2012- best thing I did. If nothing else go to your primary care and see if they will do an ultra sound of your gallbladder, if stones are present they can go ahead and schedule surgery to remove the gallbladder.

If I don't chew them well I do have problems with them, odd, but I do and I have a friend who is 3 years post op and she has the same issue. Honestly, I think the biggest problem with anything is chewing. No matter what you eat your must chew, chew, chew!!

hubs wants grits and eggs for dinner (not feeling well)- no idea what I am having yet, but it won't be the same I do have some fresh green beans I need to cook.

Honestly, I have similar issues now and my sugery was June 2012 and I didn't have plication. I tend to get hungry before I realize it and it is dizzy painful hunger. My doc told me to set an alarm on my phone to remind me to eat.

I like the slim fast high protein - chocolate. Taste much like a choc milk. Slight odd after taste, but not to bad.

I have never heard it put that way. The doctor or PA always check my band with floro and just how much of an adjustment I need. So far I have gotten one each month.

My mom has had a rather bad hiatal hernia for the past 3 years. In the last year and a half it seemed to give her hell- nausea, inablity to eat, not able to drink much. In that year she went from the 170's to the 120's. But my mom refused to do anything about it because she was caring for my dying grandmother. Grandma passed in Oct, so mom finally agreed to see a surgeon. My lapband doc also happens to do these types of surgery as well. I spoke to him about her and he said to get her to come in. After talking he agreed that her nausea and in ablity to eat much if at all was due to having 1/3 of her stomach in her chest and that surgery needed to be done soon. Yesterday was surgery day. I don't mind being the patient, but I hate it when I have to watch those that I love go through pain. The doc came in and saw us pre-op and assured us everything would be fine. Mom went in and in about 2 hours the doc came out and said things went great, however instead of having 1/3 of her stomach in her chest she had over half of her stomach in her chest putting pressure on her heart and lungs. I have not idea what this could have done in the long run, but I am glad it's fixed. The doc said he had an easy time getting everything back into place and he did a plication to prevent her stomach from moving and put mesh in to repair the hold in the diaphram. When we finally saw her she was in horrible pain, which I expected. However, the insurance would not allow her to stay over night. So the doc told her the best thing to do was to go back to my house, which is only 20 min away verses her house which is an hour and a half away. So she came and stayed with me. This morning the gas pain was better, but she said she was sore to just breath. The doctor said this would happen since he had to work in her chest cavity. She is onl liquids for the next couple of days before going to mushy, but I know she can do it. Surgery, while painful and the afterward can often times make the need seem less evil, surgery is an amazing thing. Doctors have the ability to give us our life back. Mom lost weight because of illness and had to have surgery so she can eat, I had to have surgery to lose weight. Thank goodness for doctors with the knowledge and skill to do this. I have no doubt that what my mom had done was more technical since as he said he was looking at her heart, but he was skilled enough to do what needed to be done, to help her get better. A doctor with this much skill and ability to do these procedures well, don't you think we should listen to them. Use them for what they are there for- to help us heal and answer our questions along the way. If you have a great doc, let him or her know how you appreciate them and their ability not only by telling them, but by listening to them and asking questions.

Journey began- June 22, 2012 (band day) Weight- 244 (Highest 247) 3/3/14 weight- 192.8 Sizes- pants 14/16 shirts L So much as taken place since June 2012. Some days it really hits me how much I have changed both inside and outside. I have a lot of people to thank for this including myself. My hubs- For encouraging me to move it to lose it and for being my support. His encouragement has gotten me through the rough days. My parents- for supporting me in this journey and for telling me they are proud of me. Just this weekend my dad told my hubs to buy me a new coat because they one I had was wayyy to big- this really made me feel good because my dad does not compliment people. Lapband site folks: Carolina Girl- for her no nonsense, this is the way it way of responding and blogging. Often she reminds me what this is really about. Missy- for being the ever encouraging inspiration lapband rockstar. The way she responds to post and "likes" most encourages me to hang it and that I am not a crazy bandster. Jean McMillian- for her responses, her articles, ect. This last article she wrote slapped me upside the head and I needed that Gibbs slap. The great thing about this site is while you will on occasion encounter negative nellies and the general butt hole, you also encounter folk who know what they are doing, who have and are rocking the journey and can give great encouragement and support if you just listen with an open mind. Of course there are days when I feel like crap and that I am a total failure, I think we all experience this at some point during the journey. However, times like this weekend when I try on pants and find that size 16 shorts are to big and 14's are perfect and a large shirt fit just right let me know I am doing this no matter how I see myself in the mirror. There are time when I still feel like shammoo in drag, but I am doing this- I am getting smaller and healthier. So thanks to all who have encouraged, supported, listened, responded, posted their stories, blog - you have made an impact on this bandster!!

While I already knew these things, the article Gibbs slapped me in the head (NCIS ref). I needed to hear this said this way. Thanks for the inspiration and helping me think another way.

I questioned my doc about this. I was told to avoid the stimulant laxs unless absolutely needed. They recommended milk of mag- which I have tried and does work. However, I have started taking stool softeners daily- just one to prevent the need for the lax.

Go to your surgeron or at least a lapband doc not the ER- sometime the ER isn't expereienced enough with lapband patients. Go to a doctor asap!

muscle does weigh more. Often times when you first start working out it will take a while for things to even out and the scales to show a loss. Try measuring your chest, waist, hips- weekly and watch them go down- this is more of a tell tail sign than the scale. My weight has been stuck in the same 5 lbs slot for 2 months now, but I have gone down 2 inches- go figure.

I would avoid it due to the fact it is highly processed and most kinds contain a lot of carb due to the additives to make it hold together. Check with your doc or NUT to see if it's ok. I was told to try and avoid processed foods and imitation crab is very processed.

I choose the band due to fear. I didn't want all the fooling around with my inereds. The thought of having my stomach cut worried me, the chance of infection is higher. Also, with the band I only took off 4 days where with the sleeve I would have had to take off longer and I couldn't. Now looking backward, I may would have opted for the sleeve. I guess it's the wishing I would have lost more weight. I have lost 52 lbs in 8 months, not back, but I do wish it was more. Biggest things to look at when making the choice.... Insurance coverage Doctor's suggestion Time off Work (with the sleeve you will be down a little longer) Doc Appt. (with the band you have to go back a lot of fills and unfills) It is really your choice, just education yourself on what both procedures are, have an honest heart to heart with your doctor, make a decision and don't look back!!! Good Luck!

My doctor keeps drilling into my head that plateaus are expected and will happen even if we do everything perfect. Doesn't make me feel any better though. I hit about a month long plateau, then I dropped down one more pound, for 2 days, now back up that 1 pound. I think this is natural. Sucks, but normal.