Sharpie

You will do great Liz. I wish I was as thin as you are but I am okay with my port not sticking out. You cant even tell I have one except a small scar. I have had 3 fills and it hasn't been painful at all. I don't want more surgery either but think at some point I will have to have my apron done. am holding off as long as possible. Take Care and heal well.

after being banded 2 years I am so used to not drinking with meals. I actually just trained myself to not drink. If I go out to eat I usually sip a little Water with lemon before my meal arrives. After eating I will usually take a to go cup of Water if I'm not going home right away so at about 30-45 minutes after eating I can drink. My family is so used to this new deal with me they dont' even fix me a drink when we all eat together. I drink mostly water but occasionally I like chic fil a diet lemonade. Of course my morning coffee is a must.

He did not want gum because if accidentally swallowed it could become stuck requiring surgery to remove it. I personally was never a gum chewer I trust him completely so if he advises against it I will take is advice.

ask your dr. mine says No Carbonated drinks Ever, No Straws Ever, No gum, No drinking while eating. No Ibuprofen. I have not had a soda in 2 1/2 years but in all fairness Soda was never my issue. doesn't bother me to not drink while eating, you get used to it but I paid my Dr. good money for this surgery, I follow his rules . But, your Dr. is your person who will guide you through your process.

I could not eat that if I wanted to. I haven't had a real burger in 2 1/2 years. I have grilled burgers and had just the burger no bun with lettuce and Tomato on the side. Hubby and I went to a movie today and out to eat at Cedar River which is a seafood restaurant here, I ordered shrimp, slaw and some applesauce. I only ate about 4 shrimp a little slaw and a spoon full of applesauce. watching other people eat was amazing and I was one of the volume eaters, could out eat my husband and 6'4" son in law. but the portions are huge in most restaurants and it's obvious why Americans are obese. We live in the land of Plenty and most of it is plenty unhealthy for sure. Eating out is not my favorite thing because I can cook better than most of the restaurants . plus it's expensive. I am anxious to try Pannera bread though it's supposed to be healthy. They just opened one up here. I heard their turkey chili is good. might have to go there next week.

So happy for you Julie, I hope you took lots of pictures. My granddaughter recently got married and I felt so blessed to be healthy and happy enough to enjoy her wedding day. Thanks to my lapband I was able to look good and feel good for her special day.

sometimes people want to compliment but don't know how. I think he probably meant well but didn't have the finesse that you expected. Don't be angry for long, just remember to forgive and forget. It's part of the process I think as well transform from former obese people . I know I am not as sensitive as I was when I was heavier. I hope you become friends with the couple if only for the sake of your kids. There are many people in my life that I didn't really want to hang out with but because my kid was involved with their kids I made a effort to be cordial. Pick your battles wisely there will be plenty of them in the future.

I have never tried this particular one but it looks like it's a pretty good balance .. 100 calories for 15 gms Protein. it's over the 10% amount my nutritionist told me to look for and the sugar is low also. Are you already banded? or have you had weight loss surgery? I couldn't tell by your profile. check with your nutritionist if you have one but it looks relatively good.

keep away from anything carbonated. you don't want to all of the sudden without warning spit up. my doctor didn't want me to drink alcohol at all but did at 6 mos. allow me to have my Christmas drink of bailey's . I suggest asking your doctor all doctor's are different. and sipping on a white wine may not be off their list.

Not sure I would drink alcohol at this point but I'm sure your Doctor would be the best person to ask. I know at 3 weeks out I probably couldn't have drank if I wanted to. I might have opted for a fruit juice or Water with lemon .

sometimes people want to compliment but don't know how. I think he probably meant well but didn't have the finesse that you expected. Don't be angry for long, just remember to forgive and forget. It's part of the process I think as well transform from former obese people . I know I am not as sensitive as I was when I was heavier. I hope you become friends with the couple if only for the sake of your kids. There are many people in my life that I didn't really want to hang out with but because my kid was involved with their kids I made a effort to be cordial. Pick your battles wisely there will be plenty of them in the future.

final word on this.. I love it when Sharon Osborne who actually had weight loss surgery now pimps for Nutrisystem. also Jenny Craig is another nasty food at a high price. Actually Weight Watchers was the best nutritionally sound program I was on but after I went to meetng after meeting and nobody seemed to be losing weight I got discouraged and quit.

final word on this.. I love it when Sharon Osborne who actually had weight loss surgery now pimps for Nutrisystem. also Jenny Craig is another nasty food at a high price. Actually Weight Watchers was the best nutritionally sound program I was on but after I went to meetng after meeting and nobody seemed to be losing weight I got discouraged and quit.

HCG female hormone (I did the homeopathic) ate 500 calories a day for 21 days then had to do a maintenance phase where you could eat more calories.. I lost weight but felt so deprived I went nuts after a few rounds. Lost 50 lbs , gained back all plus more. I had no energy and lost hair. They stopped selling it in the US but I was able to get it through the internet.

oh I forgot I also went to a "diet" Doctor. took B12 shots, was prescribed fastin (speed) and they sold diet products like Cookies and chips and shakes.. The fastin made me hyper, mouth was constantly dry and I ended up losing about 25 lbs but as soon as I stopped going to the very expensive Dr. I gained it all back and more. None of those so called diets worked, what has worked is the band that stops me from overeating and has changed my outlook on food. I still have a few times that I eat sugary foods but it's short lived and I am back on track the next day.

HCG female hormone (I did the homeopathic) ate 500 calories a day for 21 days then had to do a maintenance phase where you could eat more calories.. I lost weight but felt so deprived I went nuts after a few rounds. Lost 50 lbs , gained back all plus more. I had no energy and lost hair. They stopped selling it in the US but I was able to get it through the internet.

HCG female hormone (I did the homeopathic) ate 500 calories a day for 21 days then had to do a maintenance phase where you could eat more calories.. I lost weight but felt so deprived I went nuts after a few rounds. Lost 50 lbs , gained back all plus more. I had no energy and lost hair. They stopped selling it in the US but I was able to get it through the internet.

I have bc/bs of fla. but it's a medicare supplement and my surgery was paid for by them and medicare but that was before Obamacare became the law of the land. I have heard from others that had to go on it that they cannot get bariatric surgery but I'm not sure if that is the case all over. Insurance companies love it because they can just collect money each month and exclude things they don't want you to have. I hope you can get it resolved .

I would go back to the original surgeon and get a referral. You might want them to do a barium swallow so they can see how your band looks. I am glad you got out of your relationship and can now focus on you. I think once you get a fill and start back on your plan you will do well. Hope is never lost and it's never too late.. I sometimes get discouraged but I come here for support and I also watch the 600 lb life shows to see how brave and courageous those folks are and through all of their struggles they keep fighting. I am hoping you will be successful as well.

I went to my Surgeon because he had thousands of lapband surgeries performed successfully. He also does sleeve and by pass. I did not want my intestines re-routed and a large portion of my stomach removed or stapled. the sleeve seems to be the flavor of the week, everyone is rushing to get it. I think over time there will be as many issues with the sleeve as people claim there are with the band. no surgery is 100% guaranteed. I chose the band because I wanted an option of removal or revision if needed. the follow up care has been good for me. I haven't had a fill in 6 months or more, haven't had any issues with my band. I have lost what I wanted and slowly , never lost my hair, never had dumping syndrome or malnutrition. I only take 3 Vitamins a day, B12, D3 and a Multivitamin. I am no longer on diabetic meds, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
I pray that I never have to have my band removed but I will most likely have it replaced if needed. All in all we all have to make the best decision we can for our own health.

had my band at age 66, medicare and BC/BS paid 100%. I have had fills for the past 2 years and follow up appts as needed. no out of pocket. I haven't had any complications with my band but hopefully if I do I can have a revision or another surgery . I doubt I would get 80% of my stomach removed but depends on my state of health and mind at the time. I am enjoying a new lifestyle of mobility and good health. I am diabetes free, normal blood pressure and normal cholesterol levels in many years.

had my band surgery 1/15/13. only issue I had was some nausea while in hospital which I attribute to pain meds. they have always made me sick. stayed one night, went home next day. scars are minimal can't hardly see them now. cannot feel port or band at all. eating slowly and chewing well has been challenging but old habits die hard. I have reached my goal and feel wonderful. I can and will get stuck and slime or pb if I eat dry or reheated foods. Otherwise I can eat what I want but I get the signal to quit. I am hoping my band last forever but if it doesn't I will probably either have another band or go without. I am afraid of bypass or sleeve. too drastic and too permanent . My husband had esophageal cancer and after chemo and radiation lost a tremendous amount of weight. if he had 80% less of a stomach or re-routed intestines we would not have been able to keep him from having malnutrition. so, since I had that experience I don't want to take that chance. Everyone has to take their own journey and for some the bypass or the sleeve works great. Regardless of how you do it , improving your health is always a good thing. Since being banded I am so much healthier , no more diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure and a lot more mobility. Do what is best for you and your situation.

I would go back to the original surgeon and get a referral. You might want them to do a barium swallow so they can see how your band looks. I am glad you got out of your relationship and can now focus on you. I think once you get a fill and start back on your plan you will do well. Hope is never lost and it's never too late.. I sometimes get discouraged but I come here for support and I also watch the 600 lb life shows to see how brave and courageous those folks are and through all of their struggles they keep fighting. I am hoping you will be successful as well.

had my band surgery 1/15/13. only issue I had was some nausea while in hospital which I attribute to pain meds. they have always made me sick. stayed one night, went home next day. scars are minimal can't hardly see them now. cannot feel port or band at all. eating slowly and chewing well has been challenging but old habits die hard. I have reached my goal and feel wonderful. I can and will get stuck and slime or pb if I eat dry or reheated foods. Otherwise I can eat what I want but I get the signal to quit. I am hoping my band last forever but if it doesn't I will probably either have another band or go without. I am afraid of bypass or sleeve. too drastic and too permanent . My husband had esophageal cancer and after chemo and radiation lost a tremendous amount of weight. if he had 80% less of a stomach or re-routed intestines we would not have been able to keep him from having malnutrition. so, since I had that experience I don't want to take that chance. Everyone has to take their own journey and for some the bypass or the sleeve works great. Regardless of how you do it , improving your health is always a good thing. Since being banded I am so much healthier , no more diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure and a lot more mobility. Do what is best for you and your situation.

As you get the band adjusted with fills, you get more restriction...you then MUST...you are FORCED to change the way you eat, what you eat, and how much you eat....failure to do so will result in unpleasant things....
After a couple of times, you begin to learn your lesson...it's behavior modification....
OR
As I read here all the time, complain you can't keep anything thing down...I am too tight.....go to the Dr. and get Fluid taken out...Ahhh, NOW I can eat anything I want as much as I want...just like before surgery....and I will join a diet group just like I did before surgery.
It's like touching a hot stove and getting burned....eventually - hopefully, you learn not to touch a hot stove....or you can say "Bad Stove" and never use it again....
There was a reason I had surgery....it was to do what I was incapable of doing it myself....(I wish I did not have to)
People say it's hard work...not exactly sure what they found hard, but for me the hard part was the first few months changing, modifying, my behavior - habits in order to be in "Sync" with the band....(along with exercise).....once I learned that lesson(s)...then it all fell into place......it became easier and easier and the weight just came off.
That has been my story, and now, I am 100% successful and living a a new life...so I am speaking from my first hand experience and success....
Other people will voice their opinions based upon their experience and success....and you will find different people have different experiences...it's perfectly normal.