PamRN

Our scales must have been manufactured in the same factory. I think they must be related!

Some gentle nonmedication stool softeners we use pretty often at work are warm apple juice, a cup of coffee on an empty stomach, or prune juice. Some people say they eat raisins, craisins, dates or prunes. Stay away from cheeses, and bananas for now, they are constipating. You shouldn't have to push, if you do, it's constipation. You're fluid intake is probably on the lower side right now, so less water in the bowel combined with strong pain medications slows the bowel. The above juices/fruits draw water into the bowel so your stools will flow with gravity.

try some liquid or chewable acetaminophen for the pain. Stay on sips of liquids, warm tea might be soothing, a heating pad might help. You do need to see a band doc if this persists. Good Luck

I've read no abdominal stressing exercise for 6 weeks, but walking, running and bike riding were ok after one week. My doc said resume normal activity including exercise in 2 weeks, no ab straining for a month.

Gerd, recent bout of flu, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, upcoming scope... upcoming diet goal for quick results... All reasons one would be on a liquid diet for a bit. Who says she has to know how long you've been or will be on it. Maybe SHE is considering it, and is feeling you out to see whether you would support her. Just ask her..."What's with all the weight loss questions... are you thinking of taking a step in that direction?" If she admits she's heard you were, you could share with her that if you DID do something like that, for one thing you would think it very personal and not something you'd want everyone talking about. Secondly, admit that you think it "dumb" to kill oneself with weight complications, when there are very safe low risk ways to intervene for the sake of better health, and then even dumber that people who don't know much about it are so quick to judge it as a poor choice, "I mean really how the heck do THEY know?" If she pushes you to say if you are, ask... "do you really think I'm THAT over weight? DAMN! Maybe I SHOULD consider it! Thanks a lot!" GEEZ.... Anyway, good luck...

Sleezy HamsterDoodle aka Gidget Chicago

LMAO... good lord those are down right uninspiring... where can I find them? J/K definitely funny though

My only regret is not getting it done sooner

It's vasovagal syncope or vasal vagal response. It can be involuntarily triggered by a number of factors, including prolonged standing, alcohol, fatigue, hunger, and anxiety. Vasovagal syncope is caused by low heart rate and blood pressure, leading to inadequate circulation. The reduced oxygen supply to the brain results in syncope, or temporary loss of consciousness (fainting). Individuals usually regain consciousness within a few minutes and their prognosis is good, although the syncope has a tendency to recur. Though it can be a serious problem because it causes our blood pressure to decrease, our heart rhythm to slow, and can cause it to change rhythm, it isn't always a problem. We do a voluntary vasovagal manuever when straining while using the bathroom, or pushing out our babies (bearing down). In the case of PSVT or SVT a vasovagal manuever can be a life saver in that it can sometimes quickly change the svt heart rhythm back to normal. Good Luck, let us know how it goes for both of you!

There can also be a bit of a vacuum effect. When withdrawing, the band can only collapse so far before the vacuum or suction would "lock" the remaining saline in the band. We find this to be the case when withdrawing liquid medicine from bottles with a syringe. We first have to inject some air to prevent this. It seems sensible to me that the bands would behave similarly.

I hope you let Patty know how much we all wish her well and hope for both of you that her surgery is a total success. You both deserve it! Good Luck on the 10th, my prayers are with you.

I actually gained a few pounds back a few weeks after surgery, once I started back on solid foods. I thought for sure I was the first banded failure! For the first couple of months I didn't really lose much at all, then it started falling off a little here, a little there... Sometimes I didn't lose a thing, yet my pants size would drop... even now having lost only 2 pounds in the last 2 months, I dropped another pants size, and the girls at work keep commenting on how much I keep changing. So don't get disheartened by numbers on the scale. Your body has a major adjustment to contend with. It's going to go through the starvation phase where it holds tightly to everything you've got since your intake has suddenly dropped, then it won't have a choice but to start using your stores of fat, and you'll start losing again. Hang in there!

I tried just about everything, metabolite, accutrim, slimfast, stacker 2's, and so on... the last thing I bought was the trimspa, it made my stomach hurt, and nearly all of them made me jittery or bitchy. NO THANKS!

You look mahhhvelous dahhhling, seriously, that's a great picture!

Wow you do look great & Your son is so cute. Congratulations on your weight loss!

I'm glad to see you back Ryan. I think I speak for most of us when I say we miss your poetic diatribes. Your words paint such poignant and beautiful visuals. That's a great weight loss you've tallied! Please try and remember, when life's darkness creeps up on you, there's always a warm light on here. LBT has served me well this past year, I hope for you, we can do the same. Congratulations to you!

Congrats and welcome to the losers team! I hope you're feeling better today. It was ME that went shopping the next day... twice. We went in the morning, and again after a rest, in the afternoon. I went for the walking and boy oh boy did we walk... I was tender, particularly on my port area, but ya know... I didn't have that first gas pain. Everyone is different though, and every procedure is individual. You may be in more or less pain. You may have had a different level of difficulty for the surgeon, or had a different nausea causing anesthesia. Those things along with your physical, and mental condition going into this surgery all play a factor in how you recover. Listen to YOU, do what makes you feel best, and you'll get the best possible results. Congratulations bandster!

That's great news. I have worried myself over and over since banding that each time I've had an ache or pain or difficulty eating, or eating more than usual, or less than usual...etc that I've had slippage... or erosion... or rejection... or... I get from here that we all do some of that. I'm glad all is well for you! Going to the doc is always best when you aren't sure. I'd rather go and find out I'm ok, than wait and lose this lifesaver!

That was a cute one, I was just enjoying playing in the frost!

Welcome to the other side. Here's to good health, and great success at being a big loser!

He's the cutest lil monkey ever!

Is it time or near your time of the month? That can bring it on, as can stress, and sluggish digestion. The liver can also be the culprit. Here are some internet suggestions for under eye bags: Try to avoid stress and get extra rest, especially during menstrual discomfort. Drink plenty of warm Water. Avoid ice cold and carbonated drinks. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol. Add coconuts, raisins, papaya and sweet juicy fruits to your diet. Only take a moderate amount of sugar. (or use agave nectar) Avoid red meat and heavy fried foods. Avoid drinking fluids before bed. Favor only natural beauty products Do not smoke, and avoid second hand smoke. Get plenty of sleep. Place a washcloth dipped in warm water over your eyes for 5 minutes once or twice daily. Make sure you are laughing every day it gives excersize to facial muscles. For puffy and swollen eyes, make facial steam or facial wash with warm, salty water. For tired eyes use silk eye pillow. For inflamed baggy eyes soak cotton pads in cold milk with rose water, or cucumber slices or cool tea bags placed over closed eyes for five to ten minutes.

RNY folks lose a section of the intestine that absorbs fat, calories, and unfortunately, Vitamins. That's why they have to lifelong supplement. The "window of weight loss" for them describes the 18 months to 2 years after surgery. After this time they usually stop losing, and many regain because the body compensates for the missing intestine by learning to reabsorb fat and calories, but not vitamins. The Pouch can and does stretch over time, so they can eat more, and absorb more fat and calories. This doesn't change for bandsters in that we can get a tighter fill if need be, and lose again. We don't lose any absorption ability, just intake ability, so there's little need for supplementation if we eat right.

Up til about a month ago, I would receive emails when posts I participated in were responded to, but now I don't get them anymore. I checked my settings and it looks like I'm still set up to get emails instantly, but don't get any at all. Has there been an LBT change in policy or am I doing something to cause this? Just wondering if anyone else is having this?

nlyo fi het lowersf rea rangeo! Ickp lla thero olorsc ffo os heyt ontd atchc no!