SuzanneG

Sounds good! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

A lot of people have had good luck using the 5-day pouch test. You can search for it on this forum. It should get you kick started in the right direction! Congrats on your weight loss so far!

I was banded Jan 4, 08, so I know what you are going through. I was on pre-op for Christmas and New Year's Eve. YIKES! ha ha Doc told me to go ahead and "cheat" for Christmas dinner, but only that ONE meal. I took him at his word and it was fine. I still lost 11 pounds in 10 days! There are many different pre-op diets out there. Mine was fairly easy. For 10 days, 2 Protein shakes a day and one lean and green meal (4 oz of lean meat and 1 cup of veggies). The first three days are tough. You go through carb withdraw, but after that, it's smooth sailing. Congrats and good luck!

TCarroll, welcome to Onederland!! As for the dress, how close to wedding date could you pick one out? I don't know if you have your heart set on a certain one or not, but I went with a friend to dress shop, we went to David's Bridal and she picked her dress out and we took it home the same day. It just needed some tweaks for custom fit, but would be doable in a pinch. My advise would be to cancel that appt because you will be NOTHING like you are now by May. Just shop in April and buy a dress that is very snug, then if you have to make a last minute nip, you could get someone to do a rush job for you. Congratulations!

I have heard of it, but I think it's only for certain people. I drink artifical sweetners all the time. If he's a stickler, I wonder if he would approve Stevia (I think that's the name). It a new zero cal sweetner that is made from sugar. Wouldn't help you with Crystal Light, but you could do cool aid with it maybe.

Way to go MIK!

What do you mean by salt sensitive? Is it possible that you are dehydrated? If you don't drink enough liquids it can cause the band to get tighter. If you are able to drink with no problem and you can eat, some stuff, then you will probably be OK. Drink warm decaf liquids and be sure the hydrate as often as you can and things may ease up for you.

I hope your surgery went well. I didn't do any laxitive at all and I only did the injections while in the hospital (24 hours).

Sub, did you appeal to your insurance company with the info you just shared with us? Maybe they would make an exception?

GA, I read about it in another thread and they were saying on there that some people's fluid actually seeps out through the membrane/tube without an actual leak and that the thicker liquid permanently solves the problem. Maybe do a search on it and see if it could help you. I know you must be so frustrated! Hang in there.

Potato chips and ice cream are my two biggest weaknesses. I kind of wished potato chips hurt me. tee hee Sounds like either you aren't chewing them enough or you just can't tollerate them. The band is a fickle thing. I have a problem with french fries and pretty much every kind of white potato, except chips.

Sipping Water all day is the best way to drink it. I don't think you can stretch your pouch drinking water, but if you tried to chug it instead, I think you would have some pain associated with that. Good job. Sounds like you are on the right track!

My bariatric doctor did the endo, so he took the Fluid out, did the endo, then put the fluid right back in since there wasn't a problem with my band. So I have the same amount of fill that I had going in. It sounds like you are still swollen from your stuck maybe? Have you tried taking liquid ibuprophen? I keep the kids kind on hand for just that situation. Are you also taking something for the heartburn? The Nexium is for both the gastritis and the hh. Gastritis is where the lining of the stomach gets thin. It causes nasuea which I hate, and heartburn, etc. I think if I were you, I'd give myself another day or two on liquids and if you aren't feeling any better, call your doctor.

GA - I read where some people get a thicker liquid put in their band if they problems with fluid leaking out. It might be worth asking about. How did your appointment go? kathy - way to go!! Doesn't that feel great? Thanks for the well wishes. Only one more week. We're thinking about taking a cruise in Feb. DH has started running to get his beach body and I'm stuck feeling like a marshmallow. Even if I start running in Jan, it won't show by then. Bummer I just hope this is my last surgery. This will be my 5th surgery on this foot. boo hoo

aimerus, sounds like you may be too tight. My endo showed a hiatal hernia and gastritis. I was shocked to hear if have a hh because I had one repaired during my lb in Jan 08. I had no idea I could/would get one again so soon. For the first time I'm disappointed with my lapband doctor. He hasn't even called me to follow up after the endo. He did it while I was WIDE awake (very very little versed), then told me the results right then and there, but nothing about follow-on care. I called my GP and he gave me another month of Nexium. Are you feeling any better? Have you tried a couple of days of liquids to see if that helps settle things down a bit?

GA, sounds like they need to be more precise with your fills. I've been having the same .3cc put in and out over the past year. 1/10th of a cc makes a HUGE difference when you are close to your sweet spot. Less than 2 weeks to my surgery. I can't WAIT to start running again.

My doc said nothing bigger than an M&M. I too keep liquid cold medicine and liquid ibuprophen on hand.

Cruzlady, I had to switch to sweet potatoes because I have trouble with white potatoes in any form. I finally figured out, if it's something that I really LOVE, I eat too fast, even when I'm trying not to. I finally learned how to eat white potatoes, but I have to take tiny bites and puase between each bite.

Where do you work? I live in southeastern Spotsy, near Partlow. I work in DC, 82 miles door to door. Ouch!

I've have trouble with that sometimes. Just be sure to space them apart if you can. I also always drink something warm before I start to help relax my band.

Sam, well said. I like your attitude. My experience has been that folks pretty much like to see you the way you are when they meet you. Meaning if your hair was long when you met DH or whoever, and you cut it short, he'll probably prefer it long. If it was short and you grow it out, he will likely prefer it short.

Bradley18, I agree with Kiz. Also the longer you wait, the tighter you'll feel because dehydration causes the band to get tighter. Call your doctor now and go get a slight unfill.

They don't seem to impact my weight, but my doctor raked me over the coals for not taking them. He said by the time you have symptoms from not taking them, you'd be a mess. I take gummy adult viatmins. Yum.

That's what I thought too. I bought them but haven't tried them yet.

Moxi, I have my fingers crossed. Good for you for very tactfully standing up for yourself against an unprovoked attack!