JosieK

hi, i'm very glad i found this thread. i'm newly banded....i am going crazy. i havent been able to eat for weeks. all i can do is drink Protein shakes. i just found out 2 days ago i have aspiration pneumonia. i'm on antibiotics. so my breathing is better. this morning i was starting to feel a little like my old self and decided to try soft boiled egg (i need something of substance in my mouth). i ate 1/4 of 1 egg and i've just spent the last few hours sliming, throwing up and the shoulder pain came back 2 weeks ago they checked my band with the fluroscope and my doctor said it is "perfect". i feel stuck. band doctor tells me "dont worry" it is fine. i feel i cant go to a regular doctor as they dont know the band. i feel like the problem is in the middle of my chest. like my esophogus area. i'm leaving for a 10 day trip on sunday....i guess i just have to deal with it till i return... i'm sick of complaining.... but any insight???

hi stephanie, dr spivak had the easiest pre-op plan. i went to the seminar on wednesday, had my mtg with him immediately after the seminar and had surgery on friday. they told me just to not have meat the day in between. i have mild high blood pressure.... he will make a plan for you that is appropriate for the issues you describe the one thing i can say is...Dr spivak is very practical in his approach. what i mean is he doesnt overdo it or underdo it. in addition to spivak..his staff is great and sincere how far are you moving? their aftercare is great as well.....

hi laurel actually spin is usually part of the regular gym class schedule. i dont know if they have separate spin studios. i belonged to equinox in new york and now belong to lifetime fitness in katy, tx and they both have it i believe bally's has it too... anyway good luck in your search

hey julie, what kind of program did you develop (ie. exercise, food plan etc)

hi abominableglib, actually the major issue after my surgery was left shoulder pain. it lasted for a couple of weeks on and off. my doctor said it was something called "referred pain" this is a phenomenon whereby he operated on my stomach area and it radiates to the other side. i guess the nerves are connected. he said it is similar to when men feel left arm pain when they have a heart attack. i took liquid tylenol (fast acting) and used a heating pad. that helped....i also walked alot...

hi spinning is the actual class done on a stationery bike. it is done to music and lasts anywhere from 45 mins on up. i love it..i'm addicted. but i have to tell you it took me awhile to like it. also you have to take different teachers to see what style you like. i like rhythym based. some people like technical key is to get padded shorts/pants. the first time i did it without them....boy i was sore for a week. anyway i highly recommend it

yup...thats exactly what i meant...a little "electrical current" when i fall off the wagon ha! i'm a chocoholic...ha

hi, from my understanding... the policies are established by the employer not the insurance company. UHC administrates based on what the employer wants to pay for the insurance.

if i's true about the size of their "you-know-what" getting bigger after lapband....i'm going to search the website for a date ha!!! carlene....i'm sure the nuns in my grade school would be aghast too...or would they? :decision: ha

this is so funny.....glad i found this thread ha! i have a theory...guys who have great BIG ones....think their size can carry them the whole way. some of my worst were these guys.:notagree one of the best ones i had was a VERY small guy. he was so sensual and attentive....:clap2: so i agree with you guys about size...

hi sugarbear, actually i thinkthe PBing was my fault which in turn caused the aspiration into my lungs. i was having a heck of a time with the small bites and eating slowly. the concept sounds easy....but practically i underestimated the "power of the band" :nervous what is DL? i'm trying to guess..."dear lunch?" ha thanks sue (in russia)....the breathing is getting better altho' i had to sit up last night to sleep. but i just started the antibiotics. i feel like i have a hangover...BUT..the good news is at least i have an answer. not having the answer was really hard since i didnt see anyone else with this issue. i wish the band "electrocuted me" when i came in contact with chocolate ha! YUM...i'm dying for chicken....next week i can go back on meat. loriPA: congrats on your loss! anyway see you guys later

hi karyn, they are called "new-whey" liquid protein. stats are: 176 cals 42 gms protein 0 gms fat 2 gms carbs i ordered them online from vitaminshoppe.com hi rho_z: GREAt re: park plaza. i know what you are saying about the emotional side. i have to tell you i was VERY concerned about that. but something is different so far...i dont think about food like i used to. it may have to do with the physiological change due to the band. i read on a doctor's website they way it works is...the hunger receptors that tell our brain we are full...are at the top of the stomach. so being our stomach is banded at the top...we stay "full" longer. i thought most of my eating was psychological. but now i'm thinking some of it was physical. it sort of explains it. the other thing i'm learning....i could get on a diet in past...but i couldnt keep my resolve. the band doesnt allow me to change my mind when i get weak and want to gorge myself. of course you can just eat milkshakes all day and gain... but in reading posts on this web...i've found some of the people that complain they dont lose...never hit the gym and sit in taco bell. the ones i've seen being successful....follow a healthy plan and exercise. so i'm keeping those people in my mind as my "mentors" the hardest things thus far for me has been not drinking while i eat...and also taking small bites and eating slowly....very "learnable" but harder then i thought. anyway good luck and keep us posted

carlene, you gave me a good laugh this morning....i love your floor cleaner thanks and have a good day

hi kathy (mommytokk) i was banded by dr spivak on 3/30 and i have to say (i know everyone feels their Dr. is the best....) but he is the best (for me). i went to his seminar on wednesday and had surgery on friday (i was self pay). so follow his direction regarding pre-op. i was thrilled i didnt have to do the preop liquids....as terri said...afterwards you will be sick enough of liquids. i dont know if i wouldve made it doing both pre and post op. i am in katy. not sure how far league city is (i just moved here in October) but we are starting a new group up here on thursday nights. if anyone is interested i can give you the info i hear you re: shopping for clothes in regular stores. i think this is one of the biggest "prizes" that is motivating me... hi eljmom, actually your move may be a blessing in disguise. i lived in NYC before moving here and thought that would be the best place for an operation like this. but the experience of the doctors and support here in houston is quite amazing to me.... good luck girls

hi this is REALLY hard during meals. my Dr says ok to drink before, no drinks during meals and wait 30 mins till "after" having anything to drink when i go out to eat....i order ice tea right before my meal and throw it out. i keep forgetting i cant have it. these new "practices" sound easy....but boy are they hard

hi my orders from nutritionist is..ok to drink before, nothing during and wait 30 mins after

hi everyone, well i finally found out what my problem is..... i havent been able to eat anything for the past 2 weeks except Protein shakes. everything including chicken Soup and yogurt was coming up. yesterday i was starting to struggle with the shakes. my band was check with the fluroscope and it is "perfect" as my doctor said. i also havent had any fills yet my esophogus is where i felt the problem was. i've also had trouble breathing. i had pain in my chest when i took a deep breathe. the final straw was last night when i couldnt sleep lying down.:notagree i called the doctors office again...and the nurse there told me to get a chest xray. that it could be pneumonia... guess what?? it is. it is called aspiration pneumonia. it is NOT related to the lapband operation. it could be from PB-ing and something going down the wrong pipe and settling in lungs...they really dont know the good news is i'm on antibiotics and should be on the mend. the upside has been i havent wanted to eat at all (good thing because i couldnt eat)...only if i didnt feel so bad.... cindy: i havent had a fill yet but you post like you did and people will give you feedback. welcome sophie248: guess thats another place to save money...on the alcohol hehehe... they should add that to the lapband websites where they show you how much money we will save by not buying bales of food after getting lapband ha! mimijill: are you talking about phen phen? if it is...when i was getting the surgery they made a BIG deal to find out the last time i had it. it is pretty dangerous to cause heart problems. hi sugarbear, sg dodge and oh juli carol1951: glad about your fill lori PA: it's funny you mention the drivers license. i just moved to texas and got my new license 3 mos ago. i look horrible. i want to have it redone.....i have to figure out how to get people at the DMV :faint: to let me do it in a few months hi everyone else...i have to get to bed...

hi ictexas: i havent heard of protein pills but i just got the protein "test tubes" i havent tried them yet....but they definitely have alot of protein with fewer calories rho_z: i brought a pillow and blanket for the ride home. it was VERY helpful to have as i was sleepy and nauseous dont worry.,..dr spivak makes you feel VERY comfortable. are you having it at park plaza? the staff there is great. you will meet nurses that had surgery with dr spivak good luck and keep us posted

hi icetexas, where are the thursday meetings? i didnt know about those. i have attended the tuesday meeting thanks ahead of time

hi dorisa, everyone's experience is different. before my operation....i read many posts and was scared to death....and most of it never happened. i went in at 6:30 am. they operated at 9:00 am. i woke up at 10:30. took a little nap. then they made me walk 4 laps around nurses staion (1 at a time) and also i had to pee before they would release me. i was out by 2:00 the only issue i had was major nausea from anesthesia for about 10 hours after surgery and left shoulder pain. the key is to walk, walk walk and also do the breathing exercises they have you do. this is to avoid blood clots in the legs and pneumonia. these are possible complications from the anesthesia (they are rare but i was scared and followed their orders) i didnt have any pain from the operation.....the first day for me was the worst and then every day afterwards....i felt better good luck and dont worry (altho' we all did) when i did worry i thought of all of the positive people on this site that went before me and said they would do it again.

hi, 2 weeks after surgery... my doctor ok'd to spin, abs (which i was surprised) and light weights i am in my second week of spinning. i do 60 min classes and feel fine. i now have to start weights and abs (i dont love either which is probably why i havent done them yet) ha! have a great day

hi tammy, allow yourself this little splurge. it probably is PMS and will certainly pass soon. also when i'm cranky sometimes just saying that breaks the spell. keep your chin up....

hi thanks for the post/info on the papaya enzymes when i first found this website..i went out and bought anything anyone recommended. when i got the papaya enzymes in the mail...i was like.."what is this for?" i just had trouble drinking and Protein shake and took 3 of them..and voila...i'm fine.... have a good day everyone

hi heather, in my past surgeries...i never had any reaction to anesthesia except grogginess. for the lapband...i had pretty severe nausea for the first 12 hrs. i was talking to a nurse where i live and she said the type of anesthesia they use here in texas may be a factor. i dont know if i believe that.....but they have medicine for nausea. the key thing is to get up and walk, walk, walk after the operation and do the breathing exercises. they want to avoid blood clots and pneumonia which can occur after anesthesia (it's rare but i didnt want to take any chances) hope this helps

hi laura, i just looked at alloy.com. how do you equate the sizes to the ones in plus size depts? they have really nice straight leg denims