enjoylife

Whether or not you should go to the ER is a call that only you and your surgeon can/should make.

My experience is that if I regurgitate (for real) my stomach swells and I may have difficulty eating after that. I either have to take a break from eating and drinking altogether for maybe a whole day, but usually four - five hours. Then I try to sip Water or eat something that I normally have no problems getting down.

Maybe you just need to give your stomach a break and let the swelling go down. Give your surgeon a call and see what he/she has to say.

Good Luck to you.

The Diva

@ pacthelton, I have not attended any support meetings because I live 2.5 hours away from Dr. Singh. However, I may come down for a 100 lb pin. If I do I will send you a message, I would love to meet someone who was banded right after me!

@ caramia 71, I’m sorry to read about you having problems. I know that can be scary and frustrating. But just the fact that you have a surgeon who really cares about your well being is such a BLESSING. I tell anyone who says they are thinking about the surgery about Dr. Singh. He is wonderful and so worth the five hours I spend driving back and forth to get to and from his office. A drive I’ll be making soon (I just got a postcard informing me that I am due for a checkup). I’m ok with that – I really meant it when I named this thread I’m Lovin This Practice.

@bjackson – CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Being banded is a wonderful thing especially if you make it to Onderland (or so I’ve heard). I am desperately trying to get to Onderland myself. I’ve got 36 lbs to make make 199. Have a wonderful journey – don’t rush it. Listen to Dr. Singh – as you know – he really knows what he’s talking about!

It’s possible that no man will ever see me naked again. I have been celibate for seven years now. This is by choice, but now I think I am stuck. Seven years is a long time – those youthful years are gone and I won’t get them back. In that time I let myself balloon into a 332 blob of fat. Then in March 2008 I got the band. I lost 99 pounds – but had major surgery this summer and gained 27 lb back. Hopefully that will go away as soon as I start moving again. Although I look fairly decent in clothes, I know what I look like naked and I can’t see anyone wanting to be with that. Plastic surgery will cost me a fortune but I think I’d better start saving because between the flab, loose skin, stretch marks, and my c- section belly pouch – I am a sexual nightmare. It’s a shame because I am pretty and clothed I can look quite sexy at times (I hope this doesn’t come off as conceited). I just don’t think that a man would go from she looks hot in clothes to she looks like a flabby hag naked and be happy. I need an awesome plastic surgeon and a top of the line successful shrink – just writing this has put me in a funky/dismal mood.

Marie, try adding the ramen seasoning packet to the chicken or beef broth you purchased - that way you get the flavor and the needed Protein.< /p>

I was banded by Dr. Singh March 24, 2008. Dr. Singh was the third WLS surgeon that I investigated. I chose his practice for a few reasons: 1) I felt comfortable with Dr. Singh; his “bedside manner” put me at ease. He likes to make jokes – corny but funny ones, 2) I was confident in his ability to get me through the surgery alive – trust me I read everything I could about his practice. I wanted to know the statistics on patients lost, infection, and anything else I could find out. One thing I really liked was that Dr. Singh actually trained other doctors to perform this surgery AND (and this is important people) he likes working through the smallest incision possible. I have enough scars and I really didn’t like the idea of getting five more, 3) this practice made you jump through all the hoops you’ve ever heard of – which although it can get to be annoying, I knew that if I could pass all of the specialists evaluations that I had a better chance of surviving the surgery, and my last reason 4) there were no extra cost for crap that I did not need or lived too far away to properly use. The other two practices that I checked out wanted at least $2,500 for extra stuff – like gym usage, nutritionist visits (up to two whole visits!!!) and support group meetings. One of the doctors I checked out even charged for fills! I was like, ”Well what the hell am I paying for insurance for?”

Anyway, I really am thankful that I chose Dr. Singh. I have a friend that went through Dr. Averbach, whom Dr. Singh used to share a practice with and she recommended him, but I chose Dr. Singh. I could go on and on about this, but if you really want to know about my journey, you can check out my blog or any of my posts here on LBT.

Is it possible to subscribe to this thread? I keep looking for a link, but have yet to find one. It would be so much earier if I could subscribe rather than browsing the forums in search of monthly band discussion groups.

I’m not sure if you’ve eaten too much or not. Your surgeon’s instructions are different from my surgeon’s instructions. After my surgery I was on Clear Liquids for two weeks and then two weeks of mushies. I didn’t start to feel hungry until after a week of the mushies. Or was it one week of liquids and one week of mushies?... Anyway, from what you wrote, it does sound as if you are full. Try to not eat anything else for a while, and take tiny sips of Water throughout the day so that you stay hydrated. Of course I am not a doctor, but that’s my suggestion. It works for me when I have eaten too much – sometimes – when it doesn’t work; there is a serious PB in my near future. Since you were just banded a PB is one of the last things you want to experience.

Well, good luck with your doctor’s appointment. I hope that your surgeon will be able to help you through this.

I was just lying here munching on cheetos... Thamks to you and your pictures of 1 and 5 lbs of fat, these cheetos don't taste good at all anymore. Thanks for the visual... I am not trying to gain any of that back. No more cheetos for me - especially in the middle of the night.

I just realized that you just got banded! Yea You!!!!! Welcome to the Wonderful World of Bandsters!!!! Good Luck on Your Journey.

I have gone where I have never boldly gone before. I have posted pictures. Now I am waiting for the backlash... I must be crazy.

What happened to the Master Thread?

I have BCBS, I was approved and had surgery. My BMI was higher than yours, but still I’m wondering your surgeon can tell you that you won’t be approved without first having you to the tests. I had to do a six month supervised diet. I did, and I lost maybe twelve pounds – naw I don’t think it was even that much. I’ve read where quite a few bandsters went on those diets and simply didn’t try very hard to be successful. I tried, but hell if I could do an 1800 calorie a day diet on my own, I would not have needed a band. In addition, I had to get a psychological evaluation, cardiologist clearance, pulmonary clearance, and primary care clearance. Your surgeon simply looked at your BMI and weight history and made a decision? Go back to the doctor that diagnosed your back problems. Are you in pain? If so, tell him you are in pain. My orthopeadic surgeon was always telling me I needed to lose weight. If yours is the same, tell him/her to put it in writing. That goes a long way. I hope this helps you. Good Luck.

Oh.. a barium swallow!!! Ok I can handle that. Though my appointment for today has o be postponed. (not by me! - I got a call from my surgeon's ofc.)

I was battling 3 lbs a coupple of weeks ago, and believe it or not I started to lose when I ate more. Woohoo down 3 lbs this week. and i didn't even exercise. boy how i hate exercvising. Do you

aJoneen........................+4 75 pounds LOST!

Bandana....................... -3 95 lbs lost

BrandNewLisa............-1 80pounds LOST forever!!!

evelas5000..................+1

Desdemona...................0

Fenton...........................0 100 POUNDS LOST !!

HarleyGirl..................-1 85 pounds LOST!

Hopeinapril.................0

Kpodski........................1

Lynnt1215................. -2.4

NurseNiki...................0

Nycm00.......................0

Potatie.........................0 100 POUNDS LOST!!

Scrappy_Friend..... 0 150 POUNDS LOST!!!!

SpecialK...................-3

Sugarbean..................0 100 POUNDS LOST !!

Sharona......................+3

stellabella...............-.2 HALFWAY TO GOAL!

Tess415......................0

Thin2bme............... - 2.4 100 POUNDS LOST !!

WestCoastMom........0

Wishin4......................4 73 pounds gone!!

Kpodski............-1

Diva ...............+1.75 WhaT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!

Diva... sounds to me like you don't need a fill. Maybe a tiny un-fill...but that's up to you. I too had a very fickle band. Some days I could eat anything and others I could eat very little. I found it very, very important to remember that after a PB episode you are supposed to do 2 days of liquids to let your stomach settle down. Have you had your 1 yr post OP esophogram? That will tell about any slippage and can check for other problems.

Christine

What the heck is an esophogram! And does it HURT?

I thought I was through with procedures (other than fills) unless something goes wrong! I’m already having my hip replaced this summer, and I’m pretty sure that I will have to have more uterine fibroids and polyps removed (sorry Fenton) and that’s if I’m lucky!! If not – I’ve had a problem for a while - then I may be looking at a hysterectomy (and unless that comes with a free Tummy Tuck – I am NOT looking forward to that!). Again I ask… DOES THIS esophogram HURT!!!!! Well I got a call from my surgeon’s office saying that my appointment would have to be rescheduled. Good… that gives me time to research this procedure. I wonder if I can wiggle out of it. I was just hoping for an x-ray or sonogram. I do not want anything going down my throat. I hate that – and “esophogram” so sounds like a let's send a camera or some crap like that down this poor woman’s throat, and hey, just to keep things interesting, let’s keep her awake during the procedure.

Who else in here has had this done? How was it?

This morning I weighed in .25 lb heavier. I can’t even say that I’m upset. I mean it’s that time (again… sorry Fenton) and I usually gain then. I did not sit on my butt this past weekend so I’m ok. Of course if I don’t see some weight loss next Monday, I won’t be so chipper about it. I have yet to exercise, but I have been doing lots of house work. I just moved into my new home and I have so much work to do! I hate it, but it’s a necessary evil. Today I am going out into the yard and pick up sticks and branched. I need to cut my grass (for the first time this season). The grass is high now, but won’t have my lawn mower until tomorrow. I hope I don’t run into any snakes. If I do, then I will certainly be getting some exercise then!!!:tt2: This fat chick will be hustling out of that grass so fast, you’d think florence Griffith Joyner (FloJo) had come back to run through my yard rather than just plain ole me:ohmy:.

Christine my restriction is funky. I’m not really sure what’s going on with my band. Some days I can eat whatever and then other days I can’t eat anything. The last time I went in for a fill, I had to have it taken right back out. My doctor told me that I shouldn’t get another fill until I had lost about 25 lbs. I think I’m five lbs away from that goal. I’m not sure but I think I was around 265 then. Well, I still have PBs, sometimes if I drink to fast and sometimes if I don’t chew properly I guess. I am well aware of my band at all times. I hate not being sure if I am going to be able to keep don’t the glass of Water that I’m drinking. Of course I have not been back to the doctor since then. Well, this week I got a letter saying that I was due in for a check up. I made an appointment for May 5th. Who knows, maybe by then I’ll have lost 4.75 lbs to make that 25 lb goal, but I’m not looking to get a fill. In fact, I may ask him to check to make sure my band has not slipped. I really don’t want to know if it has, because I am not willing to give it up or be unfilled. I just don’t want anymore of a fill. Not until I get to a point where I can drink a glass of Water whenever I want (I know I cannot drink while eating) without the fear of having it come right back up. I think there is something wrong with the way I eat and drink though. For some reason I take in a lot of air which causes burping. (my doctor says the burping comes from eating too fast, but sometimes I burp even when I eat slowly.

Special K, I’m always going to look at the before and after pictures forum, for inspiration. I look at those pictures and I tell myself that I can do this too. At first I was kicking myself for not losing as fast as others, but now not so much. I just want to do and be my best. So, like you I look at successful people and I feel hope and encouraged. Sometimes I need that. Sometimes I think, “I’ve lost 69 lbs and I’m still FAT!!!:thumbup:” But when I look back at some of my before pictures, I realize that I lost a lot more than 69 lbs and although I am not thin, I am on my way to becoming the best me that I can be. Now THAT pumps me up!!!!

+ .25 (I would feel sad, but its that time... sorry Fenton)

Thank you Special K.. in that case I weighed -5lbs!!!!!!!

Ok, I know I'm the oddball for asking, but may I weigh in late? I weigh in every Monday. This helps me to be good over the weekend. If at all possible, I'd like to submit my weight loss/or not on Monday evening (no LBT access from work anymore). If that's not working for you, I completely understand, I just thought I'd ask.

I went through the same thing. I was filled on a Friday, and could not keep anything down all weekend. I had to resort to sucking on ice chips and then fought to keep that down as long as possible just to keep from getting dehydrated. Sucking on the ice chips was my doctor’s advice… either that or to take tiny sips of Water all day. And that was only IF I could hold off until the following Monday. Fortunately I was able to. My doctor is 2.5 hours away and since I had taken time off on Friday, I did not want to do the same the very next Monday. So I went to work and sucked on ice chips only to have the water come back up shortly after finishing and took the drive to my doctor at the end of my work day. I felt horrible; I was tired, thirsty, and hungry. From Friday to Monday I had lost 14 lbs. That may sound wonderful, but really it is not. I had just had 1.5 cc added to my band. I wanted about .5 - 1 cc removed, but my doctor explained that my stomach was now swollen and that if he only took out a little I still would not be able to drink anything so he took out 1.5 cc. I regained about half of those 14 lbs in a matter of days – once I rehydrated myself. I have never been so happy to sip water, o veggie and chicken broth before in my life. I was very lucky though. I have a friend who experienced and overfill – she passed out. She also could not keep anything down including liquids. After passing out she ended up in the ER where a new local WLS doctor gave her a complete unfill. Of course she really gained weight after that and now she is going through the slow process of having her band refilled (small increments at a time). GO SEE YOUR SURGEON and have him/her take out what ever was added to your band on Friday… You can always try for that number of ccs again just do it in smaller increments.

Scrappy, I just really looked at your signature!!! You look fabulous!!!! I am jealous - yea I am, but I am also happy for you!!!!!! Ok - I've gotta do my happy dance for you. We started at about the some weight and you were banded a few days before me... you have made me see what I could have done had I been more faithful to my band and to myself (and if my hip didn't need replacing). But as HopeinApril reminded me… we are all different. Still, I know I could have done much better. WOW I am really impressed with your progress.

Amanda, don’t sound so sad. I know it’s frustrating, but there could be a few reasons why your weight has not dropped. It could be that with all of your training you are gaining muscle weight – which really isn’t a bad thing… it just doesn’t LOOK good on the scale, but it’s great for your body. It could that your body is holding onto the weight out of sheer stubbornness – my body does that – and then bam – a sudden drop in weight seemingly out of nowhere. Sometimes when I can’t seem to drop weight I increase my Protein by drinking shakes. That helps. I lose more weight when I get more Protein, but I’m not a huge meat eater. The very fact that you are in a duathlon is inspirational to me (and I’m sure many others). Hang in there – you will see a change on the scale eventually, in the meantime, try to focus on the changes in yourself (attitude, clothing sizes, strength and health).

Christine, I’m sorry about what you are going through. I hope that everything works out for you. Please don’t become a lurker. One of the reasons I like this site is because of its honesty. I can get the good, bad, and ugly here. The lap band is not all roses for a lot of people (me included). Sometimes when I’m having one of my “can’t keep anything down” days (like yesterday) I ask myself, “What have I done?” Sometimes I’ve done nothing and sometimes I’m not chewing properly, and sometimes I’m greedy and try to out eat my band. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to come online and get some advice or reassurance, or wanted to Celebrate (my job has blocked the site – the IDIOTS!!!!) and I just moved into my new home and there was no internet where I was staying. This site (and particularly this group – helped me so much when I first got banded. It was (and now is once again) my support group, since I the place where I would go for meetings is over 2.5 hours away and meetings are on a week night. Even if you don’t think you will have anything positive to post but – it may be educational for your readers and in the long run that is very positive. But equally as important this is a place that you can come to vent, cry, ramble, and Celebrate without repercussion or judgment. It, of course is your choice, but I hope you continue to post – you might be a help to someone who is in your same situation.

I have joint pain, but it's because I have arthritis. In fact I have to have my hip replaced. My knees feel tons better, but my hip hurts daily. Have you gotten your results back from your doctor? I hope it turns out to be something more easily managed then what I am dealing with.

Exercising is hard... very very hard. Heck cleaning is hard. Simple things that most people do with ease are really difficult for me sometimes. There are some low impact exercise programs that you may be able to use. I am starting the walk away the pounds series by Leslie Sansone. I am also going to be playing Wii alot more with my daughter. I'll be losing, but at least I'll be moving.

If I can drop another 20 - 25 pounds the end of June. Then I am going to go through with the surgery this summer. I need to go ahead and schedule it by early May because they like eight weeks notice. If I'm not losing like I want to, then I will simply post pone it.

To nycm00 thank you for the welcome back and the instructions. They were GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you for the article Scrappy – I need all the advice I can get.

SPECIAL K!!!!!! Yea YOU!!!! I’m doing the happy dance for you right now – c’mon and join me ~~~~~~~~~~~~ tap tap shooby be doo shimmy shimmy sssliiiide!!!!!! 100 pounds – that is incredible (not to mention my goal). I am happy for you. Keep up the great work of inspiring us all….

Now tell me – how can you hold 10.25 ccs?????!! I have a fourteen cc band and I am at 6 (or is it 6.5) cc’s. I tried for 7 or 7.5 and I was spitting up Water before I left the doctor’s office. I can barely get liquids down now – but most foods go down ok… soft foods not so much, but hard or crunchy I am good with - usually. I miss applesauce, so I bought some, but the last time I tried it and I could not get it go down. Hot things seem to go down better than cold. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve drank something to have it have to right back out – followed by a bucket of slob. I am always thirsty. I miss water (the only thing I really drank before surgery) like you would not believe. Hot tea goes down well, but I don’t always have time for that.

BUT I know my band is responsible for me losing 64 lbs… I love my band. It’s just difficult to figure it out. One year out and I’m still getting to know it. Hmmmm, my band must be male.....

oh, can someone tell me how to update my signature. I can't remember how to do it.

Ok, my diet doesn’t look like any of your diets. I eat. Like last night, I had two huge pieces of cornbread, a half filet of fish, and about seven brussel sprouts for dinner. I don’t think I had lunch, but I a Popeyes thigh for breakfast. Now normally I do not eat cornbread – it really was a special treat, but I really should have limited myself to one piece. The Popeyes chicken was just easy so I ate it.

There are some nights that I eat a bowl of raisin bran for dinner (and yes I add sugar) – I can do that for a week and not feel the least bit deprived. Breakfast is usually iffy for me. If it’s easy and available, I’ll eat it – otherwise I won’t. When I’m at work, breakfast could be a bowl of oatmeal, or a yogurt. I am trying to eat more fruits and vegetables so I snack on grapefruits and tangelos. I try to make myself eat apples, but for some reason, I am not really enjoying them. I used to love grapes, but my band is not all that into them… of course the band usually has the final word on what gets ingested sooo… I can no longer eat regular bread. My band hates bread. White, wheat, oat, oat bran, sourdough, or whatever… I can not get bread down. Sometimes I just want a bite of a sandwich, but it is not worth the feeling I get in my chest and stomach after I east bread. I can eat crackers as long as I only eat a few, but who wants lunch meat on a cracker? I sure don’t. Applesauce, which I love, was not going down easy at all, so I gave up on that. Well not really. I just purchased a jar, so apparently I’m willing to try again.

Wow, I have not been on LBT in such a long time. My job has blocked access to the site because it thinks of it as social networking site. I used to find such comfort, knowledge and support here. Well I’m back… now that I have finally moved into my new home (the cable man came yesterday).

But I plan on starting anew. I have had my one year anniversary, and I am not thrilled with my weight lose. I am down 64 lbs, which I know is not horrible, but it’s not what I envisioned when was contemplating surgery. So I need to get moving…literally. I need to exercise. I am seriously considering the body bugg. It’s not in my budget, but I feel like it would give me the edge that I need. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

The site has changed so much. I look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Christine, You are absolutely right to Celebrate. I am seeing some flab, but Iwas also able to take my daughter to Disney World and walk all over four parks and fit into the rides!!!!. So celebrate your lost sixty-pounds,