HamuChan

Wow Jack! You know your sugar! I will remember that. I didn't know that there was so much to it.

I am still on my liquids phase. I did get the lap-band to lose weight but I don't want to hurt my body by starving it either. I thought liquids was a healing phase, not weight loss phase. That's why I'm confused. If someone drinks broth and Water all only, with no calories, their metabolism will ker-plunk. That why I was thinking that sugars would be ok. I am definately not an expert by any means, that's why I asked. Thanks for the input! :cheeky Anyone else afraid of zero calories on their Clear Liquids phase?

ACK! I just realized that you ARE listing your surgeon's web sites. I am so embarassed!! Please forgive me. Ooooopsie.... www.texaslapbandcenter.com I am such a bonehead! :nervous

Ummm, is this site run by lap-band surgeons? I was expecting people's personal websites and journals. If this site is mostly surfed by those promoting the surgery...ummm nevermind. Are their bandsters here that don't work for a lap-band promoter?? Please don't be offended by this!! I guess I just figured everyone on this site was just like me...a regular ol' bandster. Not working for a surgeon...

Ok, I have read here that people recommend sugar-free Jello and sugar-free popsicles. If you are on the liquid diet stage and your body is already getting very few calories from just water, juice, and broth; why cut calories in popsicles and Jello? You don't want to starve to death. Your body will shut down if you don't get enough calories. I never bothered to get anything sugar-free during clear liquid phase. It just didn't seem to make sense to me. What do you guys think? :ermm

Ok, look at this site. http://droakleymd.com/index.php?page=debate So is this page full of BS or do they have any hard facts? I came across this page randomly and am thinking that either these people are off their rocker or banders have been poorly informed. Obviously this company feels threatened by the success of the lap-band. What are your thoughts when you read things like this? Just curious.

Me and my friend spent two hours on the phone today and my band didn't even come up. I'm sorta glad bc I was afraid she would say something hurtful (unintentionally, of course) I think she's "ok" with it now, but she will never understand (no offense Band Supporter ) just bc she's not addicted to anything. When I was a kid I was watching my uncle smoke a cigarette. I asked him, "Why do you smoke?" He, of course, answered, "Because I am addicted." That made NO SENSE to me. I asked again, "Then why don't you just stop? I don't understand why you can't just not smoke another cigarette." I remember being so confused as to why someone cannot control the actions of their own body (i.e. opening a pack of cigarettes, lighting it, and inhaling). NOW I know. And I truely wish that I did not know that feeling. I have NO control over my body when it comes to food. It's like some other part of me takes over and eats everything. So hard to explain, but you all know what I mean. My Rational Brain: "I should not eat this, I am not even hungry." My Addicted Brain: "Ummmmm, donuts" Drooooool My addicted brain always conquers the battle. Darn you addicted brain! You're always so sneaky!!!

OMG Kathy, you scare me!! It's the same after the band as before?? I have failed so many times, what if I fail again?? I thought you had to break the rules to sabotage (sp?) the band? I mean there will be effort on my part of course, but I guess I had this idea that if I get the band and follow the rules, I will lose weight. Now I'm feeling down. Am I starting on another failing option? If dieting with or without the band is the same, why get the band? Ohhh boy.

I wanted to share a quick story with you guys. Two years ago my sister had RNY gastric bypass surgery. After the surgery, her intestines completely shut down as a reaction to the procedure. She need two bowel ressections and had damage to many of her major organs as a result. She was so close to death that my parents called me at one point saying that they doubt she will make it through the night. After three months of rehibilitation, including an in-home nurse, she felt better. I came so close to losing my sister that it scared me to death. I am NOT an RNY expert, nor do I know what the stats look like as far as complications, but that hit too close to home for me. Who am I to say that that procedure is unsafe, but that experience definately helped me choose the band. In fact, my mom wouldn't let me get RNY even if I wanted too. I hope safety to all RNYers! But, must give out a big shout in appreciation of a safer option, MY BAND!

It's swelling, I can feel it now. My tummy gets mad at me randomly and just closes up! Not even water can go through when it's going through that. It has opened up enough to allow me to drink milk once, and I hope it opens tomorrow so that I can get some liquids through. Man, I have killer swelling...I know this is abnormal. In fact, my Dr told me that I am the 1st out of 900 surgeries that this has happend to. Gee, don't I feel special!

I finally decided to tell my best friend that I had a lap band and guess what her reaction was?? Of course, she's skinny...perfect body. She says, "So this thing will help you control portion sizes? Why don't you just try and eat smaller portions? Then you wouldn't need to get the surgery." Gaaaaaah! I respond with, "That's the point, I can't control my eating. That's why I needed this." Her response, "Well I think all you have to do is eat less. Smaller portions!" OK! OK! How can I possibly expect someone without an eating disorder understand the thinking of someone with one. But she's my BEST friend! Now she must think that I'm "weak" or "taking the easy way" out. "Oh she must be so hopeless if she can't lose weight without surgery!!" :angry Her last comment was, "It must be nice to have something FORCE you to diet. I don't have that." I know what you're thinking..."this is your best friend, why is she being so mean to you about this?" Well I have come to the conclusion that she is clueless on this matter. She doesn't know what it feels like to be obese or have an eating disorder. She has never been addicted to anything, so she can't understand that way of thinking. How could she? So I can't blame her, she will NEVER understand but I still love her to death. At least I have you guys.

I found this site while I was digging on lapband reasearch. It's long reading, but is VERY useful for those considering the band. Some of the reading is statistical mumbo jumbo. But, this page gives the results of a 6 year study on 709 severely obese people who they banded. The results were VERY encouraging and good! Very few erosions and infections...but a few slips. Overall, it concluded of course that the lap band is a great tool! Which we all know, right? http://www.golapband.com/articles/outcome-after-lapband-surgery.htm

I am 7 days post op and experiencing the WORST heartburn. All I have tried to eat is cream of mushroom soup VERY SLOWLY. Since then, things have not felt right. Heartburn like crazy when I tried to drink gatorade. I am just going to give my stomach a break for the rest of the night. *Hiccup!* :nervous Ugh, please please please don't let it be a slip!! What could be wrong?? Why would I be having this terrible heartburn?? Liquids only!!

I finally have this lap band, the thing that I have been wanting for years. But, I am scared to death that something is going to go wrong. :nervous Either erosion, a slip, or an infection... Is there a way that I can prevent these things from happening to me? Or is it just random who it happens to? I will do EVERYTHING right if I just knew how to avoid those problems. I hope nothing goes wrong...I am being waaay too paranoid huh? I am still on liquids and am scared to try anything but milk and clear stuff. I think I just have that worrisome personality. Help me to not be so scared!!! :paranoid

Hello all! I was recently banded and am anemic. As in, I need to take in much more iron than the average person. Unfortunately iron supplements have a HORRIBLE side effect on me (an embarassing one). My physician recommended steak, but that's a no no with the lap band. Also, liver is so nasty that I can't bare to choke it down. Anyone know of any iron rich foods that are lap band friendly? Last thing I need is fainting spells. Thank you!! :Bunny

Thanks for all the replies! I am feeling so much better today. I was actually able to drink milk. Yahoooo!! I will be on this board much more thanks to all the wonderful support. Thanks again!!

Hello! I'm new, and was just banded Monday. I have been reading on the site and for about six months and have a quick question. Did anyone else have a hiatal hernia repair with their band surgery? I had and enormous tear in my diaphram (about the size of a fist) and that had to be repaired at the same time. The Dr also pulled my stomach down and stiched it in place. I was in massive pain and wasn't even able to get liquids down until today. :sick I ended up in the hospital for a few days this week on IV fluids. This surgery seemed to be about 10 times more painful than I thought it would be, plus the complications with the hosital stay and stuff. Anyone else has trouble getting liquids through at first? My stomach has been so swollen inside that nothing would go through. I feel like this has been going so bad, I hope everything works out! :nervous Thanks for being such a great support! I'll try to keep my chin up.