make33

When I was going for my first fill, Wheetsin, I had read about your experience with lidocaine and already decided it was "none for me, thank you!". Luckily, my surgeon doesn't use it----BUT he said to me "This is going to hurt!!!!!" :eek: At least I have a very truthful surgeon!! That first one wasn't too bad, but for my second, I lifted my head off the table (told him I thought I had a 'hernia' which turned out to be my port!) and it popped right up to him--one swell foop and he was done!! From now on, I vow to lift my head up to expose it for him!!!

My 1/4 cup = 2 ounces and 1/2 cup = 4 ounces of food. I found a wonderful website when I was "logging" my food intake for my nutritionist for six months before surgery: Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com where you can input what you want and it will give you an actual nutrition label. (So you can see how much Protein you are really getting in each day) I know that "tea time" is important in the afternoon (with biscuits!), but you might be better served by mixing up a whey protein isolate shake and having it. I must tell you that after I have my Protein shakes daily (one mid-morning and one mid-evening) I am satiated for so long! Good luck to you... PS Mother was a war bride! Auntie Peggy still lives in Kent! :eek:

I'm totally with Mandi--I don't see where you have supplemental Protein drinks on your daily menu, (unless you didn't put them down) to help you get in the required 60 - 80 grams of protein a day... I am assuming you are from Great Britian (the "ice lolly" gave it away!) so I'm sorry to say I don't know how much 400 ml or 400 grams are. I eat approximately 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food at each meal. Good luck to you...

Can't answer on the hematoma question, but I will tell you that I had NONE of what you are describing! My surgeon used staples which, although totally uncomfortable, kept me totally together for the first week until he removed them. Yes, I would be freaked too--and I think I would be making a call to the Bariatric Center tomorrow to get the information you're looking for! Good luck to you... :welldoneclap:

I am in total agreement with you, jj. The commonality word to be used with the (Lap Band) tool is DISCIPLINE. Our bodies were controlled by head hunger and our portion control was askew severely!! With the tool, we get to have a new perspective into the foods we eat--and we actually have to eat s-l-o-w-l-y! I have actually found that there are foods I thought I LOVED before that through eating slower, I find I dislike now!! Amazing! (I'm still with you on the fish though...oooouuuooouuu!) My battle with head hunger continues, but I'm happy to say that most days I WIN that battle and I thank my tool for helping me really feel terrific every day of my life! :welldoneclap:

Well, honestly, I find I AM much more creaky in the joints as the years go by!! Healing time WAS my biggest issue. I think it was the "four laproscopic incisions" versus the actual cutting in the stomach that made my decision for me. But I do now (that I'm older) have issues with frequent urination, which caused issues at the hospital--at night I had an IV hooked up, oxygen in my nose, and my legs were wrapped in those manipulators and every half an hour I had to go - NOW~! :welldoneclap: Was all okay until the one nurse didn't bother to show and I ripped the leg manipulators off and never put them on again! Of course, everyone has to totally listen at the seminar to ALL the options and choose the one that they feel the most comfortable with--these are our bodies and we have to live with the decisions we make about them, good or bad...! :wink:

I have been at the EXACT SAME WEIGHT for two weeks now and was at the point of becoming discouraged--I mean how can you intake less than 800 calories a day and NOT lose even 1/10 of a pound???!! The Old Me said "To heck with it--just go ahead and have whatever you want because you're not losing anyway" BUT the New Me said "Keep up what you're doing with the eating right and working out and if nothing else happens, you feel really great!" Thanks, Lap Band, for bringing out the New Me...!

I always have to wonder when I see people in these threads say that the Lap Band is reversible--like wha-laa, the doctor can just extract it like a splinter in your finger! It really isn't as simple as some think. I chose the Lap Band because of my age and the fact that it was less invasive than the Gastric Bypass--and I was a good candidate because I feel I have the discipline to use this tool. My advice to you would be to read all that you can about each type and then make the decision that is best for you, m'dear. The very best to you...:smile:

Hey, generally in February our Curves (and I think others) runs a special for food banks, whereby you take in a few items of food and the initial membership fee is lowered or dropped altogether! Okay, so you take the cake and brownie mixes in, sign up for a year and you've killed two birds with one stone!!! :smile: Seriously, I'm sure there are exercise programs in your area which you could participate in--there is nothing better for the body than exercise and Protein, baby! Remember, every day is a new beginning and I really think you need to tell your family that you need all the support you can get. But in the end, you've got to get your resolve back on and go for it!!

The amazing thing is that it's not just "outsiders" that have preconceived notions about us and why we are obese. I had to see a nutritionist for six months prior to surgery--the first visit was an hour, discussing my lifestyle, eating habits, food choices, etc. I have also exercised since 1983 (I love it!) and I told her that (working out two days a week at Curves and two days at the YMCA). So the very next visit, we went into her office; and as she was opening my folder, she said "So-o-o-o-o-o, were we able to get ANY exercise in this month?" I was flabbergasted and just sat silent for a few minutes--finally I said to her "You didn't even LOOK at my file, DID YOU?" Needless to say, it showed me where her mindset was and between that incident and the fact that she had absolutely NO information on supplements ("I didn't learn that in college" she said), I put in the mandatory visits to her and wrote the experience off to total ignorance!! :smile:

I know it's a popular show, but I simply cannot watch "The Biggest Loser" (every person in my office does and has a blow-by-blow the next morning). Let's take some obese people and parade them in front of the world and let's TRY and see if we can make them a "normal" size, thus validating society's contention that we are obese from overeating and lack of exercise only! Even with just 32 pounds lost, I cannot believe the difference in treatment from some persons (and thus I know how truly shallow they are!) My coworkers know my intellect level, but outsiders suddenly treat me much differently. This is so sad, so very sad...

Well, I totally agree with you, Milton, it IS a disgrace that society allows such discrimination to continue! A recent study was performed over here with children and they found that most children do not list an obese child as "their best friend"--so it starts at a young age, sir. I've always felt that the obese are treated worse than minority races--but it's just not made as known. I don't know what the societal answer is--but this tool for portion control is a great beginning for those of us who can get it! Some of our insurance companies pick up the cost, as a hedge to potential future health costs they may have to fork out--but so be it, if it helps us all!

That's the only way to go, Hayley! Your life is going to change in so many ways that you cannot imagine them now, so read, read read to learn everything you can about working with this tool and what your future life will be like so you'll be ready. I began my journey last March and got banded in October and that's exactly what I did the whole time: from reading these threads to reading about the potential health issues (lack of Protein, etc) to learning more about food, since I NEVER listened in Health class!! Good luck, Hayley...:smile:

Congratulations on the weight loss and welcome!!! :smile:

Ditto---hot and red at the port site generally mean an infection is starting and I'm sure your surgeon will want to start you on antibiotics if so. He's the best person to contact...!

I know exactly what you mean--the list of diet products / systems tried is endless, sometimes varying every month! I had a hard time remembering mine, too, but finally came up with this list (from the early 80's on through 2007--but remember, I'm twice your age, m'dear!) 1. pills and shots with a diet doctor (they were legal back in the late 70's and early 80's!) 2. Formu 3 Diet Center - where you bought their food and weighed in. 3. Redux - got a small settlement from that class action suit! 4. Susan Powter's "Fat makes you Fat" program and tapes. 5. Hypnosis session at our local Holiday Inn 6. Jennie Craig (expensive and so not worth it!) 7. Herbal Life powder 8. Slim Fast powder / shakes 9. Dexatrim pills 10. Dr. Gott's No Sugar No Flour Diet 11. The absolute best of all: working out from 1983 to present, beginning with Elaine Powers (that closed down two months after I joined) to the present Curves and the YMCA (two days each weekly), for a total of nine gyms I belonged to. I'm sure I missed a bunch, too, but if you think hard enough, you'll be able to come up with a lot. Now here's a suggestion, put it into a Word Doc, because I kept mine and also handed it out to every doctor I had an appointment with for each file! Glad your seminar went well, Thin, and good luck on your journey--it's well worth the time....:smile:

On my last pre-surgery visit, my surgeon also recommended the gastric bypass for me--mostly because of my acid reflux, which he said can become worse with the Band. (Then he said his only option would be the sleeve) But with my age, I opted to go for the less invasive procedure. But you are young--go to your seminar and read everything you can on both--there are bound to be some bypass websites too-- I know you will make the best decision for you. My very best to you, m'dear...:smile:

You don't even need to ask me--the answer is a resounding "YES!" I feel more like a real person than I have in years, even with just the loss of 32 pounds, I am a different person: lots more confidence and I just feel terrific! Like Jelbel, I am three months and two fills out--and have never had an issue with sliming, pbing, or throwing up because I follow the rules: eat slowly and chew, chew, chew. You really ought to try it--you will NOT regret it!

Started back again in December (October surgery) and after three weeks, thought I had a hernia! Turned out to be my port !!! Went three times so far this week (two Curves and one YMCA) and will do the Y again over the weekend... Doesn't it just feel GREAT when you are done?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :tongue:

Yes, I was on a low carb liquid diet for nine days before surgery (was supposed to be seventeen days, but lucky me--they moved my surgery up!). And yes, I stuck to it faithfully--I didn't want ANYTHING to disrupt my surgery or cause a delay (I was so proud of me because it was hard~!)

Tulip, that sounds very logical to me--my surgeon told me one week after surgery that "if it's bigger than the opening to a straw, don't allow it to go down through the stoma". So a gel pen sounds about right! :eek:

I find bargains online all the time--and I especially like the ones where I get free shipping!! By the way, you will probably need to continue with protein supplements even after you go to solids in four to six weeks in order to get in your 60 - 80 grams, m'dear--so it's great you found one that you absolutely love! I may just have to try this (and split it into two servings, like you!)

Did you say you are bitchy and crabby right now? We didn't notice!!! We have all gone through it--someone said the other day that her COUCH started looking good enough to eat--desperation was our middle name during that time (the first four weeks)!! Honestly, my doctor gives fills every six weeks--no sooner--and so I've had two and am not totally restricted--so I have to warn you, much of this first amount of time is you working with the band. You may have to limit the amount of food you are taking in yourself--you measure it out for yourself and when it's gone, it's gone, m'dear. Tell your doctor about your hunger--I would think that by Friday (two weeks post-op) you may be able to start having some mushies (yogurt, cottage cheese, refried beans) but again, that's going to be his call. Hang tight, it's going to be over before you know it!!! :hungry:

I started last March and had the same six-month nutritionist visits as you, so we both had a long time to study the band and what our future lives would be. Was I apprehensive? Doggone right I was. Did I have doubts? Absolutely--NOTHING has EVER worked for me. Did I think it was "just another diet product?" No, I totally realized that it was a tool--and that it would take ME to use it properly. And am I happy? M'dear, I am GLORIOUSLY happy!!! Yep, like Julie, I am a slow loser but I feel full all the time and I have SO MUCH pep and energy! I just picked up all the blown down limbs / sticks in our yard, which would have killed me before, and I feel like I could go do it again!! (AND I worked out at the YMCA today!!!) You will have to make your own decision, but my experience was wonderful...

It's so funny because everyone is SO different! I DO use the unjury unflavored protein in sugarfree, fatfree instant pudding (I double up on the protein, so I get 15 grams per 1/3 cup serving). But I am still sold on the belgian chocolate whey protein isolate powder I get from amazon.com (with free shipping). Mixed in just WATER, it just tastes terrific at 21 grams of protein per scoop in 6 ounces of water. (and sometimes I'll add 1 1/2 scoops if I've been unable to get all my protein in during the day) One shake mid-morning and one mid-evening do a body good!! Now, if you want to talk nasty, I really have yet to find a canned shake that doesn't tast tinny--yuck! BUT CONVENIENT, I'll grant you!