HarleyNana

Make notes, when I saw my doctor pre-op, I had all my questions written down and went through everyone of them. Most of them were prompted by articles on LBT, he wrote the site down and said he needed to check it out.

Katie, I tried the spray Vitamins and the smell came through my pores and would last all day, plus you have to spray numerous times per day. Again, this particular liquid Vitamin is a 1 gulp a day and done. The spray may work for others as well, maybe I'm just over sensitive.

Read the message by Penni about liquid vitamins in General Discussion. I got a bottle and 1 quick gulp and you're done for the day. No after taste, it's yuky looking green, but a citrus taste that's gone by the time you put the bottle back in the fridge.

Darcy that's why I'm not going to weigh today. I had several things with salt, ham, Beans, etc and I know I'm holding Fluid, which is probably what you're doing. Don't get discouraged and re-evaluate what you've eaten the last few days, a lot of salt? Don't be too hard on yourself, those lbs will prob be gone in a couple of days.

Sounds like the Vitamin to me, especially since it's pretty much gone today. I always took my daily pills before bed, but now have tried to switch to am, to avoid the problems you dealt with last night.

Funny you mentioned Beans, I have eaten lots of bean products. When I go to Taco Bell, I get the pintos n cheese and a soft taco supreme, w/tomatoes, then I dump the pintos/cheese & contents of taco into a bowl, stir it up and makes quite a meal. For New Years, blackeyed peas. I think/hope these are healthy fiberous-protein choices.

Please let us know the results, hope all goes well. I know you had me checking mine out real good last night and this am.

Obviously, you can't take a few Chomps and swallow, ya gotta chew chew chew chew. Also, you could do half and see how it goes, then the other half, plus it's a healthy. I really think s/f hard candy and the viactiv is why I have managed to keep from grazing, (I put these on top of the real chocolates my dh can eat, he has to dig a little, LOL).Don't forget your liquid vitamins!

Oh yea, I finally broke the stuck on 18 lb , -20.5 now :banana .

Prunes, a banders best friend. Also fills in for a snack with a purpose.

Nancy, 60 lbs in 3 months, that's wonderful. Is the 1cc still holding you? My dr is planning on a fill every month. Hope I won't need one every month. Keep up the good work.

Melissa, I'm only 4 weeks post op and mine doesn't look anything like that, actually, I can't even tell which place is actually the port, although I think I know which one. You might want to pm Delarla, she's had major port problems, she would be the pro on this one.

Please let us know what you find out.

I'll be 4 weeks post-op tomorrow and I didn't think I'd ever get to -20. While I was still on liquids I stayed the same for days, I couldn't believe it, but I actually wasn't eating enough. In two days I had 2 cups of Soup each day, and gained 1.5 lbs. I almost cried I was so upset. So, I started eating higher Protein mush then lost the 1.5 and then some.

The body really does store food, it may be worth a try to eat more Protein and see what happens. I do very little carbs, maybe a spoon full of mashed potatoes, but no bread. I'm introducing solids now, still don't want to start breads or taters, I'm afraid if I start that will be my down fall, so I'm not going there, I hope.

Wow 19 lbs, have you picked up a couple bags of 10lb potatoes and see what your missing carrying around everyday. You've done quite well, it's not like you had a bypass, don't beat yourself up, enjoy your journey.

Michelle, you must live pretty close to Mexico. Do you drive or fly, I've never even been close, wouldn't know where to start. I may consider Mexico after my year of free fills. You've done very well, congratulations on your loss.

I'm 4 days short of being a month post-op and I'm already very happy with my band. It has given me the willpower I needed to make the right food choices. It's one of those things where you have a calm and just know this was meant for you to do. Enjoy your new journey and good luck.

Blossom, I would demand a appt/meeting with the Dr. I would tell him exactly what you've told us and that you want your free fills, unless there's an indication there's a problem with the band, I don't see where you'd need fluro everytime.

My doc said he was filling w/ 1cc on Jan 10, then another on Feb 10. When I asked about the fluro, he said, just a waste unless there's a problem, just an added expense. I get a year of fills, not 12 or 6, but a year of what ever it takes.

I would ask him why he used the 10 after he told you he would be using the smaller one, there must be a reason, but is it a valid reason?

As for his office help, either put them in their place or ask for the office manager and don't hold back! You paid for better service and you deserve the service and attention....just my opinion.

I'd be in somebody's face like flies on do-do. Doctors or their staff do not intimidate me, I'm footing the bill and I will be treated with respect or I will be making complaints with the medical board.

Stay out of the kitchen and get in that doctor's face! You've worked too hard to have a major setback. Good Luck!

Alex, I thought about that when I was typing the thread, lol. It's hard to pass up a deal like that and all of their things are very nice quality, and if you wear an 18, better order a 16. Their sizes run very generous as a rule.

If it would go through a straw I "drank" it. TG for the mushy stage!

Just wanted to pass this along for you ladies, (sorry guys), that need a new wardrobe, everything is 1/2 off and free shipping. This site has awesome clothes and small to xxxxl sizes. The code to use is WRH4329. Merry Christmas to me, Merry Christmas to me, but what size should I order, hummmm. Offer ends midnight 1/1/05.

Welcome Trish, like Marie, I consider this my extended family as well. Although, I'm still fairly new, I've enjoyed this site very much. I use to have Diet Coke running through my veins, but one day just switched to bottled Water and only since I've been banded have I had a hankering for one. I have vodka/oj every now and again, I keep adding oj to make 1 last longer. Didn't get intoxicated on just 1, (darn).

Good Luck

For those of you planning to pay those bills/charge cards off, you may want to start by making a phone call and asking for a cheaper interest rates, if they don't lower the interest, then use another card that charges lower interest to pay of the other cards. I had to make these request and changes when I got my g-son's mother out of debt, but if you don't ask, don't expect them to offer you the lower rate.

Alex, I think that's what happened to me, I dropped all my weight the first 2 weeks, 15 lbs, then up 1.5, then -17.5, now stuck at -18. I really feel my body is saying, "hold it", she's not feeding us a lot now, we got to store what we got. Also I've lost inches, don't know how many, but I can tell, yipee.

The -18 in 3 weeks was through Christmas and mushy stage, so hopefully next week I will see a drop, but then again, I'm starting solids, who knows!

When I get a desire for something sweet, I grab a piece of s/f candy, it really helps. I also use the chocolate Calcium pieces, that cures cravings for chocolate. Will be intersting to see how the fill does Jan 10.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I was slightly over 35 and under 40, but mine was self pay, $15,750.00, included surgeon, hospital, and all test, except psych test, another $150.00. My only "health" issue was slightly elevated cholesterol.

Lets see, lost 18 lbs, that's $883.33 per lb so far.

My one and only is to make good food choices and hopefully loose lots of weight with my new band, but no diet this time!

Wonderful pictures, I luv before and afters. Thanks for sharing.

Heather you look wonderful. I'm so happy for you, you've lost a person.