Ginger_

I had a horrible experience going to see Dr Yau about a fill. Without going into details, he was shockingly cruel and rude. Other bandsters who are out in the cold since Slimband cut us off - where are you getting fills in the GTA, and what are they costing? Thanks

I can't eat fish or seafood, and too much fruit raises my blood sugar too high (type II diabetes). Add those constraints to the band.... Still, didn't keep me away from the ice cream, lol.

This cracks me up. My husband, who's been wonderfully supportive and gave me the money to get banded without a grimace, seems to forget I have a band. He praises me for eating what he considers enough food. Usually I can eat just one slice (1/8) of a frozen, thin crust pizza, but now and then I can eat two. He will say "Good job!". It always makes me laugh - hey, I'm not sick! It's SUPPOSED to be like this! If I could eat so much food I would want our money back! LOL On the other side, I just came back from a week in Cuba at an all-inclusive. Next time I go I will definitely get a small de-fill, as I had real problems there with eating. It was very hard to find good food that wouldn't be a problem eating. I lost three pounds there. I barely ate anything ~ I survived the week on ice cream and mojitos, with a few bites of meat & bread thrown in. Not a recommended diet, but it was just a week. Back to normal now, it feels good. I was worried about not eating enough there, never mind my husband. I think I would stress about what I could eat and then the stress would tighten the band, then I couldn't eat and that stressed me - it was a circle. Anyone else find that stress tightens their band?

Ginger_...30 Stacy 73… 56 Tulipstar...61 Mdicurn…30 time4me...65 Magooz07…11 Caresarn…16 georgia girl…69 Lapband4me...32 Sirusman…67 Allisarin…23 Tishamarie…49 EL1…23 Juliacleone…32 Kimmie…45 dsmit13…23 ScareDcat…50 Lapitup…22.5 mandi78…23 andrea71…28 Thinmom…23 Kellymovingon...35 flipper64...30 kagoscuba...37 Lucylu...15 Gurlygirl....27 Amber...39 suzygayle....40 Linda E......24.5 lbs Texrose 575 .....24.0 lbs itstime....23 lbs eastxnurse....30 lbs wannabthin...36.5 lbs Queenp....28lbs Chocolate_Snaps....52lbs Bekiboo26....58lb Jennie1976...49 lbs Hazeleyegrl1...45.9 lbs.

Sometimes given our "double jeopardy" it is hard to come up with meal ideas. Especially quick ones, as cooking sometimes is not possible with time constraints. I would love other diabetics to post their favourite meals and best ideas here, as we can all benefit from refreshing our cupboards now and then. Here's some quickies I enjoy: -banana with almond butter -sugar free, low fat yoghurt with ground flaxseed or Protein mixed in -skinned, sliced apples / cucumbers / baby carrots with humus -thin crust frozen pizza, no more then one a week - I love the McCain "Sicilian" one, and can never eat more then a quarter of it. Seems to be fine with my BG. Other ideas or recipes?

I live in anticipation of the wonderful feelings you must be having. Fab, good on ya - enjoy!!!!

I have type II also - unfortunately I guess I wasn't banded soon enough. The reason it was discovered was through TLBCs standard pre-op tests, so kudos to them. Shocker though, timing is everything! I was put on Metformin x4 per day, Lipitor x1, and Diamicron x2. I was just banded in September, and started the meds late November. I am down 25 pounds since Labour Day. Last weekend I took myself off half the Diamicron, so I only have it in the morning now. I did this because I have been having trouble keeping my blood sugar HIGH enough! Another shocker! So now that's my big problem, keeping it high! lol I never would have believed that three months ago when I saw 24 on the glucometre, but it keeps dropping into the 3s lately. I've had to start carrying sugar candies, glucose tablets and juice boxes with me. I'm going to have to lower the meds again if this keeps up, as low BG readings are more immediately dangerous than high. My two-week average is currently 5.9 - 6.0. For sure losing 10% of my body weight has a lot to do with it. My goal is to be drug free. My diabetes educator/dietician wants me to go on one small shot of insulin a day. She says they used to use insulin as a last course, but it is being used as front line now because it works so well. I'm thinking about it. I would definitely get banded again tomorrow, and certainly especially with the Auzzie findings. I do worry that they use the word "cured", even the Globe & Mail did - my understanding is there is no cure for DM2, only remission. Cheers and good luck with your decision!

I just realized that since I started losing weight I have been purging my house of crap. All kinds of junk, 8 garbage bags full of clothes, 6 carloads of boxes, more to come - all to the charity shop. It's like my house is a metaphor for my body, or the other way around. Maybe I just have more energy and am doing what needs doing finally. Have you found anything similar?

I know what you mean. I brought this up on another thread, and a very helpful person named Wheetsin helped - please see the thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/banded-somehow-confused-49481/ Cheers!

I was banded in September 2007. I thought I understood how it all works, but I'm a bit confused now. I have had three fill, 8ccs in a 10cc MidBand. I don't think I am at a good restriction yet, because it feels like food slides down into my "lower" stomach. Occasionally I do get something stuck that ends in a PB, but rarely. Confusion one: Food is supposed to stay in the upper pouch and slowly release down to the lower stomach. How should this feel? Do you feel the food resting up top?? Or do you feel it more like a regular swallow? I don't feel anything stay up top, and if it does, it's a PB for sure. Confusion two: If food sits up top like it's supposed to, why the PB? Food fills the pouch, nothing is supposed to slide through quickly, so how exactly does a PB happen? I thought something is stuck, and the body needs to get rid of it. But how can something get stuck at the top of the pouch if you've got food below it? Am I making any sense? 234/215/140

Cold water - what a great idea, I'm going to fiddle with that. Thanks again! BTW I was banded in September/07.

I guess I need to really pay more attention. Thought I was, but maybe everything is as it should be. The fill nurse told me she can feel her meals sit above the band, but I don't feel that. But as you say, everyone is different. I think I will go a couple more weeks before I decide if I want a tiny top-up. How do I tell if my food sits up top or slides through? I really appreciate the thoughts, especially from Wheetsin - you took a lot of time to help me. Wow Jack - "entire magnitudes of gustatorial satisfaction" - love it!! lol

I order water. I drink it before the meal, thirst quenched. When the meal arrives, I drink no more water. Everyone is happy.

The bite that gets PB'd is always the last thing I ate or drank, so does that mean everything else is passing quickly through the stoma? It should be slowed down significantly by the band at the stoma. I should be "holding" my meal above the stoma. Does this mean I need a small fill? I really appreciate any help!

I was banded in September last year. I thought I understood it all, but I'm a bit confused now. I have had three fill, 8ccs in a 10cc MidBand. I don't think I am at a good restriction yet, because it feels like food slides down into my "lower" stomach. Occasionally I do get something stuck that ends in a PB, but rarely. Confusion one: Food is supposed to stay in the upper pouch and slowly release down to the lower stomach. How should this feel? Do you feel the food resting up top?? Or do you feel it more like a regular swallow? I don't feel anything stay up top, and if it does, it's a PB for sure. Confusion two: If food sits up top like it's supposed to, why the PB? Food fills the pouch, nothing is supposed to slide through quickly, so how exactly does a PB happen? I thought something is stuck, and the body needs to get rid of it. But how can something get stuck at the top of the pouch if you've got food below it? Am I making any sense? 234/215/140

I was speaking to a very close friend last night and he started going on at me that I had to work at getting to the “real” reason I am fat and if I didn’t this band will not help me lose weight. He was adamant that I have “issues” that need to be resolved, and if I can’t figure it out I should be in therapy to work on it. Thing is, I don’t think I have any issues. I was never abused in any way, no major traumas, and no deaths of close friends or relatives. I just don’t know when to stop eating. I don’t sleep well, so perhaps I’m trying to eat the energy I’m lacking by not sleeping. And I’m lazy. My question to you is – do you think you gained weight because of “issues”? Everyone’s different, of course, but do I seriously have to go to therapy to look for issues I don’t even believe I have? Can’t I just be a lazy over-eater? Isn’t it the best course to work on losing the weight and accepting a healthy lifestyle? Does there HAVE to be issues?

Hi Jenn - at the TLBC at your first fill there is a seminar which lasts about 1 or 1.5 hours before you get the fill. There's some really good information. Good luck!

Hey Elizabeth - best wishes tomorrow, let us know how it went! Who's picking you up? Don't worry about gaining or losing before fills start - just worry about getting your strength back and healing the band sites. I gained 2.5 pounds before my first fill, but I don't care. I still don't really have any restriction to speak of, hopefully the next fill will help.

HI Elizabeth, good luck Friday! I just had my first fill yesterday, but still feel little if any restriction. Ah well, another fill in a couple of weeks! Cheers, take care!

Hi Rose, wish I could make but I will be in Arizona! Thanks, hopefuly I'll meet you another time.

How do some people do this for two weeks? I have to do it for one week, but I started a couple of days early since I gained 10 lbs over the summer. I'm not completely sick of cottage cheese & yogurt yet, but I'm getting close. Six days to go! I make mocha/coffee smoothies, sprinkle cinnamon on the cottage cheese, mix Protein into yogurt; I've got sf Jello (yuck - can't they make it with Splenda?), sf popsicles, broth, teas, sf drinks, Water and homemade lemonade. I picked up Magic Bullet and I love using it. Any other fab ideas anyone out there has? Puh-leeze! :help: I booked 4 months ago, I can't believe the day is almost here - but then Canadian summers flash by quicker then greased pigs on glass mountains haha. I'm excited but not so much looking forward to the clear fluids. At TLBC, do they put you under with the mask or with a drip? :notagree Thanks!

Count me in!

Hi! Just discovered this group for my very wn band month. I was banded Sept 13th in Toronto, and am doing well. I'm on mushies, it's no sweat. I'm getting my first fill in mid Novemver as I will be on holidays starting the day after I SHOULD get my first fill. I don't want any surprises oin my trip! I am looking forward to that first fill thought, I want this show on the road! Nice to meet you all! "Finer Niners"? lol okay

I sent you a Personal Message - check up there on the top right where it says "Welcome Haizel"!

Hi Haizel - I PM'd you!