mrsto

I don't have issues with anything passing through the band, or being uncomfortable going down. However, what I do notice is that there are certain fruits that give me a stomach ache; honeydew melon and pineapple....to name a couple. I haven't eaten all the fruits I used to eat, but I'm guessing I'll find more that no longer agree. Weird on the alcohol, huh?? I heard people say that you get buzzed a lot quicker, and they were SO right! I can feel the first sip of wine. That's not to say that I don't drink the whole glass, but I've certainly become a cheap date - LOL (if I were dating)

Unbelievable.....grown people name calling like this. She behaves live a child in grammar school. Clearly, the woman has issues that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Doesn't make it sting any less in the moment, but try & see those type of people for what they are.

Between higher taxes on the rich, and healthcare, there are absolutely no incentives for businesses to grow. This administration's model of taking from the rich to give to the poor, will have negative effects that we won't soon recover from. Big businesses create jobs. If there is no incentive for them to grow, there goes the jobs AND the economy. It's not like our economy is in a position to take that kind of a hit! It seems that liberals make decisions on how they "feel", instead of hard black & white facts. I'm really scared for where we are headed. My husband and I say all the time, that we're glad that we're in our later years, and hope that we live the last few out without a catastrophic event. I would hate to have young children in this world right now. Nothing looks very promising.

Yup - couldn't agree more.

A thousand times, YES. I say that without an ounce of hesitation. At my age, the chances were slim to none that I would get the weight off. I'm 2/3 of the way there, and I feel a hundred times better. I just said to my client today, that my knees no longer...or rarely hurt. Before surgery, I was going down hill fast. Now, my whole world looks so different, and I'm thankful every day that I was able to have this surgery.

To add, in our system where our tax dollars go toward funding health care for the poor, AND illegals coming into this country, they also continue to fund tens of thousands of people who "choose" not to work. Don't get me wrong, there are many people who legitimately require government assistance, who are disabled and unable to work. But I would venture to say that that at least half of the people living off of government assistance, are choosing to suck off a system instead of paying into it. Though our government is pretty damn messed up, there is no place on this earth that I would rather live. However, IMHO, they have their priorities a bit messed up when it comes to cutting costs and providing assistance to those in need. This country is hemorrhaging money, but continues to provide things like (for instance) food stamps in the form of a debit card, for people who use those cards for liquor, cell phones......ANYTHING but food. That is only a small piece of funding going out to those who should not be getting it. I can go on.....but, I'll spare ya'll my rant. Okay - I'm off my soapbox... Now, I have to go to work, so I can pay for MY healthcare, in addition to perfectly able people, sucking off the government nipple.

Yes, it is true what you say. I have good health insurance through my husband's government job, and am able to pay my out of pocket share. Anything catastrophic could certainly break us, and though my vote is against socialized medicine, I understand that for many, it's better than nothing. It's good to hear that you and your family have, and continue to receive excellent care though the Canadian health system. As with all things, there are good and bad stories. At the cost of someone's life, as with the people Mis explained, it's not a chance that I care to take. I fully believe that a better answer for this country, would have been to make health insurance more competitive; open marketing across state lines. It's like anything else in business......when there is competition, companies will lower their rates to bring in more business. The poor in this country do receive medical care, but they receive it through county facilities funded by our tax dollars. As with everything else, it's not a perfect system, but then again, we don't have the government deciding whether we live or die.

Oh TMF - what you've started here LOL!

YES!! I have to cough up a huge monthly payment on my surgery and other recent medical costs, but I'll take that ANY day over socialized medicine.

Yep, agree. It's a total shame...

However, he was re-elected into office for a second term. Makes the mind wander.......

OMG - you read that entire bill?? I'm impressed :-) Too many people drinking to Kool-Aid in this country. So much for "change". With Michelle Obama's campaign to conquer obesity, and to pull sugar and all other "unhealthy" foods off the shelves (or penalize us for eating them), I'm surprised WLS surgery is one of the first things to go. More bullshit from the House. Okay - I feel my blood pressure rising. And just when I FINALLY got off my hypertensive meds!!

I had it done as well. VERY happy with the results. I can't comment on what the band would be like without the added plication. But I can say that the handful of times where I started to eat beyond the amount I should have, the plication was a secondary STOP signal. And that signal was loud and clear. As with the posters above, I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you might have

LOL!

Sounds like you may be a bit too tight. Before the band, would you ever drink tea or coffee prior to eating? If so, did you have any issues keeping it down? If it's never been an issue, then you many need a slight un-fill.

I had one, and it was repaired during surgery. It is very common with obesity, and you will probably hear from many, saying that they also had them repaired at the time of surgery.

I've had three fills, and noticed it after the first two. Each time, it stopped after a few days.

I'm so so sorry to hear this. I didn't see your post yesterday, but now, reading through all of it, I'm in tears. I had to put down my cat years ago, and though she lived to be over 20, it killed me. To this day, 13 years later, I still think of her & well up with tears. My dog is now 5 years old, and I could not love her anymore than if I gave birth to her :-) I tell her every day that I love her TOO much, and that she has to live forever. My husband knows that when her time comes, I will be inconsolable. You gave Chester a beautiful life, and he was lucky to have you. I'm so sorry......all of us pet lovers know how you feel. In time, the hurt will fade, but Chester will always be with you.

Amen!!

Ditto.....same exact here.

I agree with all posters above. I agonized for months on which surgery to go with. I was scheduled for a bypass, but freaked out two weeks prior to the surgery. After a few more weeks of indecision, I settled on the band with plication. I knew up front that I would initially have to work harder with the band, but I was totally okay with that. Ultimately, you have to work with ALL the surgeries, and I was ready for the job. Once my decision was made, I wasn't scared of what was to come. After looking at a total rewiring of my GI system, choosing something reversible was the biggest deciding point for me. Do all your research; scour the internet, talk to every possible person you know who has had WLS, and come to the best choice for you. I was so crazed with my research, that I called people I didn't even know; friends of friends who had the bypass, sleeve, etc. All the bypass folks where happy as can be, but a couple of them had serious issues with Iron depletion. Even after several weeks of daily IV infusion, they were still having problems. Keep in mind that your stomach after the sleeve can be stretched. None of these surgeries are safe, unless you follow the rules. The beauty of the band, is that it can be removed, and also that it can always be adjusted. Once those other surgeries are done, that's it. You've permanently altered your organs, which is pretty scary, given that no one really know what types of illnesses are in store for us as we age. IMHO, it's best to leave nature alone, and start with something less extreme.

If you do other things while eating, like watching TV, don't do it. Stay focused on each and every bite of your meal; pick up a small amount, and chew it until it pretty much disintegrates in your mouth. Before you pick up another bite, focus on feeling the prior one going all the way down. Then repeat. For right now, until you retrain yourself, try and remove yourself from any and all distractions while eating. Once you become familiar and comfortable with how the new way of eating feels, it will start to become the new "normal". I take small bites & chew very well, but sometimes I find myself ready to take the next bite a bit too quickly. Even 6.5 months out, I still have to stop & refocus. Good luck! It's quite a learning curve

I'm with you, Tom. I never feel that I'm missing anything with the band. And the greatest and most liberating feeling, is that I can indulge in something on occasion, without the fear of going off the deep end. The band is my new best friend; my personal police officer

I was given Lortab. It's a liquid form of Vicodin and acetaminophen (Tylenol). It did make me a bit loopy, but it also made me not care much about the pain. It worked well for me, but not everyone likes it. Unfortunately, other than straight Tylenol, most of the pain meds have a drowsy side effect. You might want to ask your doctor about Tramadol. It's one prescription pain med that isn't quite so "sleepy". However, I'm not sure that it's the right type of drug for post-surgical pain. I was given that for back issues, and I know they prescribe different types of meds for different types of pain.

I love the idea of stuffing a chocolate chip into a raspberry. I'm going to try it!