nursinggal

I say EXPERIMENT! May a recipe your own.... Paula Deen encourges that in her book too!

are you on any thing for acid refulx? The scope may be the way to go you since you having such irritation. there are some medication that will irrritate you stomach and I am pretty sure that pamperin would be one of them b/c it probably contains an NSAID. You may need to lay off tylenol, advils, etc for a while and see if that helps. Also, alcoholic beverages are not good for the band. All of those meds and drinks cause me gastric irritation. I would see how you feel after you eliminate these meds from your intake. Good luck and keep us informed!

That sounds good. I need something like that, because I, too, am always on the run! Thanks for sharing.

What a nice thing for her to say! That sounds like the clinic I used to use. I don't go there anymore. It was TOO negative for me. I am proud of you and glad you are exercising. I jogged/walked a 5K race May of 2006 at a weight of around 260! WE CAN EXERCISE! People are so bad at sterotyping others.

Dear Makemelean (good name)... Yes, I am a RN. I was banded June 1, 2005. I initially lost approx. 50 pounds. I took a new job in quality review, had boughts with my asthma and bronchitis, was on predinisone, had my band fill out due to esophagitis and eventually gained all of weight back plus 5 pounds. I was so discouraged and angry at myself. I felt out of control. I was feeling horrible, run down and could feel my health deteriorating. My internal med doc suggested that I give it another try. (I switched doctors b/c mine was not supportive). So I found a new doc, got a fill......it was too tightl.......had some taken out a few days later......and am doing better. I did lose 10 pounds, which made me feel great! I new it was a new beginning. I finally found like I found a right spot for me! Right now I am vacationing and am having a bit of difficulty "restraining" myself. But, I have got to take it one day at a time and forgive myself if I screw up. Good luck to you. I am glad you are on here getting support. I am loving this online support! I wish there was a convention that bandsters could go to! That would be cool!

Thanks for sharing that. That sounds so familiar to what I have been going through. I thought I was a "Band Freak". I am talking to my doctor about converting now. I pray for your continued speedy recovery and wish you the best of luck! My biggest fear, is that I will run into these same problems with the bypass, and, then what? Right now, I am on vacation at my brother's house and I am not eating real well. I am "overdoing" it. I don't want to sabatoge myself.

I think I can understand. I am the overweight one with the band for over 2 years now. I live with a husband who nags me, picks on me and stays on my case all of the time. It is not helpful to me AT ALL. In fact, it pushes me away from him and then I want to turn to what makes me feel good and that is .... food... I personally respond better when I have positive and encouraging support. Also, knowing that he loves me regardless of my size helps me. That is just how I feel about it. I am very aware that I have a weight probllem and that it affects my health. It is definitely MY JOURNEY... I don't require anyone to tell me this. I hope this helps. Maybe you can see it from a point of view from the other side. Good LUck!

I am guilty of slow sipping after meals too or not waiting long enough after meals before I start drinking.

28 pounds in 3 months is awesome. I don't think that is too slow. It is probably safer than losing 70 pounds in 3 months. It sounds like you are doing great. I know our metabolism gets screwed up after a lot of yo yo dieting. You know, you may need to reduce your calorie intake if you have hit a plateau. Because you caloric intake is based on your weight and since you have had a drastic weight change, it may be time to alter your caloric intake. I also agree with you on drinking plenty of fluids. You also may be ready to step your exercise regime up a notch too. After losing around 30 pounds, you probably feel better and can probably push yourself a little more. Keep the faith and keep trying! Good luck and keep us posted.

May I join??? I had lap band in June of 2005. I had lost 55 pounds, then gained it all back. I have been at a stand still since then. I am trying to get back on track now.

What a stimulating and debatable topic. I would have to say that a lot of times, someone will trade one addiction off for another. That is why it is a good idea to when doing something drastic like weight loss surgery or quitting smoking, etc., that we trade it in for something healthy..., Like EXERCISE! In my opinion, we all need to find something that provides us "comfort". I have used food for too long. Rather than turning to food, I have pick something else. Something I am still struggling with.

I am so glad for you. I hope this is "your sweet spot" too! I think I am at my sweet spot too. YEA for us!

Well, this plus size girl has taken on water aerobics and I am LOVING IT!!! I don't have back or knee pain and I stay cool at the same time. It is a win win situation for me! I am into my second week of it and look forward to going for a change! I am so excited about it!

i've made instant potato soup too. It is like a comfort food too and very helpful for those days things just aren't going down smoothly!

mmm...... another tasty treat. Sounds like a good summer dessert!

now this sounds GOOD!

i've always wanted to try a veggie burger, i guess, now is a good time!

you know...... that is such a good idea. It seems that the more I focus i what I am going to eat, the more I become obsessed, then I become more miserable because I'm thinking of food all of the time and then become more depressed because I start thinking of what I am missing out on......then give up. Bad vicious cycle for me!

there are days when I wish I had the bypass.... but, oh...... there are so many more risks. The good thing with Lap-band, is that it is possible to convert over to bypass if necessary!

I am just curious as to what foods you recommend us "Bandsters" stay away from. What foods can "irritate" the band. I think salad (lettuce) is my enemy. I have had the band for 2 years and was in and out of my doc's office getting fills, fluid removed, with little weight loss. NOt to mention my doc at the time had terrible bedside manner! Anyway, I have switched docs and am getting much better support, but got into the same trouble with my band being too tight and we nailed "salad" as the culprit. What is your opinion on this?

you have got to find a doctor. I am pretty sure the coughing at night is from acid reflux. when you are lying down the fluid creeps it way back up and stimulates your cough reflex. that happened to me when my band was too tight. Are you able to eat? Are you eating or drinking too close to bedtime. I have started taking prilosec. If you can't get to the doctor, try to get something over the counter for acid reflux and give it a try...if you can get it down. It is miserable.. I know! DO SOMETHING THOUGH!

Good luck to you! My prayers are with you.

Praying for your recovery and success. I missed your story and am trying to find out what happened. I too, am considering conversion to RNY.... I have had my band for 2 years and have had some troubles and weight loss then regain. I am giving this band another try, but still have RNY on the back of my mind! Good luck to you and keep us posted! Very curious as to what your story is???

I too, have struggled with my band. I have wanted it taken out of me. I have spent a lot of time crying. I had my band put in 2 years ago. I initially lost approx 55 pounds. I then started with the "get a fill" to being too tight, to "getting unfills".... then I just had all the fluid taken out and gained back all of my weight. I "learned" what would go down my band and satisfy my "cravings" at the same time, but it led to my weight gain and further depression. I also dealt with a doctor.......who....is not an encourager! In fact, he was pretty mean! 8 months later, and my health deteriorating, I decided to "GIVE THIS BAND THING ANOHER TRY!"... I changed to a new doctor...and had a fill. I ate salads and then all of a sudden my band was too tight! JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER TIMES! I couldn't get liquids down for over 2 days. I had 3 choices, go to my doctor, the ER or stay home and die. I went to the doctor. She took a little fluid out of my band. She assessed what I had been eating and we came to the conclusion that it was the salad. She said that salad will irritate the band. I felt like a light bulb went off! I started looking back at all of the times this happened... and yes.....I was eating salads and then would start having this problem! I really think it was the salads! I am now restricted and seem to be at a pretty good place right now and am praying for the best. So far, so good! I am able to get fluids down and am relearning how to eat. I am spent so much money, time and energy on this band, that I am determined that I am going to let it help me become healthier! Good luck to you too!

Yea......I am learning the hard way. Take it easy. Sometimes certain foods may irritate you (which has happened to me)... I finally figured out my enemy is salad! I was eating fine...ate a salad...and next day was not able to get anything down! Ended up at my docs office on Monday. Had to end up getting a little fluid removed!