AlysonRR

That's about how much I can manage right now, too. I'm starting to figure out my "soft stop", ie., when I'm full but not too full. The only concern I have is meeting protein goals with this little food, but I suppose a few weeks won't hurt.

You quoted me regarding the simplicity of abortion. Technically simple is different from lacking complication; technically simple means anyone with a few instruments and a little knowledge of anatomy can terminate a pregnancy. Yes, complications will happen, even with legal abortion. More complications happen when women who decide they want to terminate have to travel to a different town/county/state/country because there are no qualified practitioners in theirs - they will be later term and thus have a higher complication rate. More complications happen with illegal abortion - there's a reason some pro-choice advocates use a bloody hanger as a symbol of "never again". I stand by my statement that until there is a foolproof alternative, there will always be women who, for various personal reasons, do not want to carry a pregnancy to term, and they will seek abortion, legal or illegal, regardless of the risks. Lulac, I'm so sorry you were one of the few women who had complications :-( If I were faced with a pregnancy at 18 I would have done the same thing. Alyson

Interestingly, this is not true worldwide. In Eastern European countries married women get 4X the number of abortions compared to unmarried women. I'm sure there are cultural reasons for that (family size, less cultural stigma), but the number one reason is relative lack of access to more effective pre-emptive birth control methods, like the pill, IUD, so-called morning after pill, perhaps even condoms? My argument is that if sexually active women, regardless of age, have better access to free or very low-cost birth control the abortion rate will decrease. In several Western European countries where early sexual education and access to free birth control has become universal the abortion rate approaches 10% without a significant increase in the number of young people choosing to have sex before marriage, something I don't personally have a bias against, personally - I think late marriage should not keep people from experiencing mutually satisfactory sexual relationships. The reality is that abortion will never be entirely eliminated, legal or not; it's a simple procedure that can be done with a minimal amount of training. Until there is an entirely foolproof way (reversible anti-pregnancy injection at puberty?) for women to be sexually active without experiencing an unwanted pregnancy, there will be abortion. I wish that both sides could unite in the goal of decreasing the number of abortions. Since no pro-choice supporter I know is "pro-abortion", it's a goal many of my colleagues would get behind. Unfortunately, I'm sure the two sides would still disagree about the best way to accomplish that goal...

Oh, and I seem to be one of the lucky ones so far - I haven't been hungry at all. I feel my stomach growling occasionally, but it doesn't translate to hunger for some reason. I've wanted to eat something I can't have (tunbrod and lefse, Scandanavian flat bread we only make at Christmas), but it's been all head hunger, plus a desire to taste something other than soup and yogurt/protein shakes, LOL. I'm finding it very interesting to discover the new feeling of "full". It doesn't happen in the same place anymore! Weird. Good luck to the last of the December 07 bandsters on Monday! Alyson

My doc suggests *starting* with ~550 cal/day (three 2-4 oz protein-rich meals plus non-nutritive liquids through the day) during the first two weeks. I truly could only manage 2 oz at a time those first few days - I just had my first 4 oz bowl of soup yesterday - and I'm only just starting to surpass 500 cal/day. My nutritionist suggests moving toward 800+ cal (4-6 oz food). I can't imagine reaching that level of intake with liquids, but I know I'll have no problem once I start mushies at the beginning of week 3. I agree that 500 cal longterm would not be enough! Perhaps the OP misunderstood the directions? Alyson

I was hesitant about Magic Bullet because of the number of negative reviews, so I looked around and bought this one: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Tribest-Personal-Blender-PB-200-Convenience/dp/B000Q5TIJS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1198973474&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Tribest Personal Blender PB-200 Super Convenience Pack: Home & Garden[/ame] I like that I can use Mason jars as containers - I have an abundance of those - and that it has a grinder blade, too, so I can grind flax seeds. It's working great for me. I've made small 2-4 oz Protein shakes using fruit and big ice cubes as well as pureed Soups. It's small enough that I don't mind it sitting on the counter, plus it traveled easily to my mother's house for holiday dinner. HTH! Alyson

I don't know what kind of history classes she's been to, but I definitely learned the more balanced history you speak of, Beka. It's inaccurate to generalize about historical pagans - there were many different philosophies and rituals, etc. I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of ancient pagan religions did not include orgies or child sacrifice. It's also fair to say that the majority of historical christian sects did not kill infidels or torture unbelievers for their God, though certainly a fact that some did. What people do in the name of their religion is a huge topic, and I agree that simplistic generalizations are completely worthless in such a case. I know quite a few modern Pagans and they don't participate in ritual sacrifice of any kind. I also know quite a few modern Christians and they're not out killing or torturing non-believers (though some of them try to talk me to death when they find out I'm an atheist, lol). There are always individuals who think they hear the voice of God and are convinced to do harm, but thankfully nowadays most of them don't find enough followers to do a huge amount of damage... Alyson

Follow-up regarding my yeast infection: Yesterday I discovered that not only do I have yeasty rashes on my body, but I've also developed thrush (yeast in the mouth) and in my lower intestine. Ick. The doc put me on a systemic anti-fungal. My husband joked that I probably didn't have to worry so much about protein with all that yeast getting swallowed (yeah, he has a gross sense of humor).

I'm starting to feel relatively normal at day 7, but still have incision pain at what I think is my port site (under left breast). Man, my brother was on a roll tonight and I was laughing so hard but I was literally crying at the same time because it hurt so much!

I have a yeast infection (red itchy rash) on parts of my skin that touch. This happens to me every time I have antibiotics, and they gave me a large dose of antibiotics before surgery. So I'm treating with antifungal cream that was previously prescribed to me. Cortisone should relieve the itching, but if your rash is yeast like mine, you'll probably need antifungal tx. And steroids can make the skin thinner and make the rash worse, so be careful. Since it will be difficult to get in to a doc today, you could try over the counter miconazole nitrate (found in Monistat external cream) or clotrimazole (found in Lotrimin AF). Talk to a pharmacist if you take other drugs, and get in to see your GP to confirm the diagnosis. They'll have stronger meds that should help you get rid of it soon. HTH - Happy Holidays! Alyson

I'm struggling with getting enough liquid Protein, too. I've tried the unflavored, chocolate, and vanilla unjury powders and could only tolerate the chocolate, and even though I could choke it down it was not appealing :-( I wish more manufacturers made sample sizes - I hate the idea of buying these $20+ canisters only to hate them... I'm actually thinking about buying some medifast shakes - the doc gave them to me for a 2-week pre-op diet and I tolerated them relatively well. I can only eat an ounce or two still (banded 12/17) - it took me a couple days to recognize the new feeling of full! I've had yogurt smoothies (sure would be good to have a decent tasting vanilla powder to add!), chicken broth, several pureed chicken Soups, and eggnog. I'm more optimistic about fulfilling my protein needs once I get to mushies. I'm dreaming of an eggwhite (or eggbeaters) omelet with a little cheese... Mmm, refried Beans with a little fat free sour cream... pudding... I do need to find some Liquid Protein that works for me, though - my doc recommends liquid for two days after each fill and for two days after any episode of PBing or vomiting.

I've only just been banded, but someone here recommended these vitamins: LIQUID HEALTH™ I'm taking the women's multi which has extra B vitamins plus some herbs. The company has Co-Q and anti-oxidant formulations, too. HTH - Alyson

I'm officially a bandster, now. My surgery was yesterday. I did a 2-week pre-op Medifast and lost 13 pounds. They asked me to have a light dinner by 8pm Monday, and no fluids after midnight Monday. I arrived for surgery at the out patient center at 11am, where they set me up with support stockings, a saline drip, and a cushy recliner to rest in. They were running late, so my husband and I visited and read for a while. At 12:30 they added antibiotics and anti-nausea meds to the saline, and I walked into the operating room 15 minutes later. Dr Neal came out to tell my husband it all went well at 2:15, so surgery took less than 90 minutes. I woke up in the recovery room, got more pain meds, and pretty soon I was walking to the restroom. My husband met me there and helped me dress (I wore a sweatshirt dress and didn't bother with underwear or bra - just put my coat on over it). We were driving home at 4pm, so it all went very quickly! I sat on the couch and dozed for the rest of the day, taking my pain meds on schedule. I slept well, but woke up every four hours to pee, always about 15 minutes *before* I was due for pain meds - after struggling the first time I took the meds before trying to get up the next two times - much better! I'm taking it pretty easy today, but I've been up getting Soups and Protein shakes and Water - I also made some sugar-free Jello jigglers that are firming up in the fridge. I'm pretty comfortable sitting - lying down isn't as comfy and getting up from lying down is really hard. I can't bend over very far. But I only really hurt when I'm getting up or down. I'm not sure which of my five super-glued incisions is my port - maybe the one under my xyphoid? My post-op appointment isn't until Jan 3rd because of the holidays so I guess I'll find out then - I'm curious to know which size AP band I got, too. Hope surgery goes as smoothly for the remaining bandsters-to-be! Alyson

RE: medifast - I found that the taste of the rehydrated medifast foods was vastly improved by letting them sit for awhile. Plus I added sugar free espresso syrup flavors to them - vanilla shakes got hazelnut, amaretto, or coconut, chocolate got peppermint, hazelnut, or coconut - not as bad! Had my last medifast meal this evening (banana pudding w/coconut sugar-free syrup) - whew. Looking forward to chicken broth, mushroom Soup, fruit smoothie, etc.

My surgery is at 11am on Tues the 18th. As of Friday I've lost 13 lb on the 2-week Medifast 5+1. Getting sick of these particular rehydrated foods, though, and the idea of liquids isn't daunting right now because I just want some different tastes in my mouth! Best of luck to everyone with surgery scheduled this week! I'll post again on Thursday or Friday. Alyson

Thanks for sharing your sister's experience - I plan to be more active than that (I don't have much choice - I have two small children!), but it's good to know that the band will still be working for me as I work to regain some level of fitness.

The same medication in Sudafed and cold medicine pills is available in both liquid and dissolve-strip formats. The OTC aisle at our grocery store doesn't always have them, but the OTC aisles at RiteAid and Walgreens, the pharmacy chains available here, both have them. I can't remember the brand names, but a pharmacist should be able to help you find the medicine that works for you (pseudoprine, dextromethorphan, guanifesin, etc.) in a band-compatible format. Hope that helps! Alyson

I'm on my fourth day of a fourteen day pre-op Medifast 5+1 (5 of their "meals" plus 1 lean/green meal of lean Protein and green vegies). It's not bad - I'm hungry sometimes, but usually only when I've gone more than 2-1/2 to 3 hours without eating something. Between meals I'm drinking lots of Water to flush some fat out of my liver, plus a couple cans of diet pepsi (getting rid of it before I can't have it anymore :cry) and some decaf tea. I can feel that I'm losing weight already (I'm over the range of my scale) - no surprise since it's ~800-1000 cal each day - but I'm spending much of my time planning what I'll eat when, how I can take foods with me, etc. Wishing everyone a good surgery! Alyson

One thing I considered was whether insurance would cover any subsequent treatment/surgery if there were complications, now or later. I investigated, and they will not pay for any treatment of band-related complications. The daughter of an acquaintance of mine had to have her self-pay band removed due to erosion and infection and she ended up with over $100K of debt. The surgeon I chose costs more for self-pay ($17K) than others I've seen, particularly Mexican surgeons. But he is local to me, the cost includes all fills, AND he will cover the costs of any complications. That, to me, was worth the extra money. Good luck making your decision - Alyson

Someone here suggested Liquid Health. I was able to find it locally for a pretty good price, but there are quite a few online sites that carry it. I'm taking the women's multi - it doesn't taste bad at all. Good luck finding something that works for you :-) Alyson

Thanks - I appreciate your input. If I can lose the 60% I'd be low enough to get the knee replacement, and then be able to do more. The irony about the pool is that we're building a house, and one of my dreams has been to have an Endless Pool. I could pay for a pool if I don't do the surgery, not to mention that my family would enjoy it. But I'm concerned that the weight wouldn't come off with diet and pool exercise; I swam and did water aerobics 5 days a week two years ago and didn't change my weight at all, though I was more fit - then I had an injury and gained 40 lb... Lap-band seems more likely to help me lose weight and keep it off, and get me to the point where I can get my knee replaced and be more active without pain. But then I read some people's exercise routines and started getting worried I wouldn't have good results because of my arthritis. Thanks again for the feedback and encouragement - Alyson

Can you be successful losing weight with the lapband if you have difficulty moving? I have fairly significant arthritis in my knees and find walking somewhat difficult. Obviously, losing weight may relieve some of the pain, but since I've had knee problems since I was a slender teen, I'm not expecting it to resolve completely. Since I've been sedentary for so long, my plan is to start doing physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around my knees, and simultaneously begin a more general weight lifting program to increase my general strength. I'm hoping after a few weeks of this I'll be strong enough to start walking short distances. What I have to avoid is injury - the last time I injured my knee I managed to gain another 50 lb :-( I'd love to spend time in a pool, but the nearest one is 45 minutes away and doesn't have childcare... So do you think I can be successful with this plan? Have any of you had similar experiences? Any suggestions or comments are appreciated. Thanks - Alyson

I'm a 43-y.o. stay-at-home mom to two homeschooled children, ages 5 (girl) and 8 (boy). My husband and I are building a home - well, his salary is paying for it, I'm managing it, and our contractors are building it, lol. I used to be a research scientist. I started my weight gain/loss journey at age 9 when dad pointed out I was getting chubby and didn't I think I should stop drinking shakes and put me in a (boys!) soccer team for exercise. I was particularly clumsy at soccer and it did nothing for my self esteem... I wish they'd taken some effort to get me on a swim team instead - I'm actually a very good swimmer. Anyway, I followed a typical "lose 10, gain 15" pattern - the last round I lost 70 lb and gained 100... I'm starting my 2 week pre-op Medifast diet on Monday at just under 350 lb. My last straw was when my parents went to Hawaii last month - my son remarked that he wanted to go back, which reminded me that two years (and 50 lb lighter) ago I was jumping in the surf with my 6-y.o., and right now I don't even know if I could comfortably walk on a sand beach because of the arthritis in my knees and hips :-( My knees have been bad since I was a teen, so it was particularly stupid for me to have gained so much weight. I've been told that I can't have knee replacements until I've lost 125+ lb. I want to keep up with my young kids (hence the knee replacements) and I also want to live long enough to see my grandchildren. Consequently, I'm very highly motivated to succeed with my lapband. Looking forward to sharing progress stories with you all - Alyson

I'm still missing from the list :-) AlysonRR on Dec 18th. Thanks!

Hi - I'm Alyson in WA, scheduled for banding on Dec 18th with Dr Neal in Olympia, with a starting weight of 348 and a BMI around 60, depending how straight I stand . I'm starting the pre-op medifast 5-1 next Monday, but from reading here I'm thinking it would be advantageous to mentally start right now - I think I've had a bit of "last meal" going on. I'm not binging, but I'm definitely planning meals that I know won't fit into my new post-band life. I'm also doing some post-band meal planning. I'm not much for sweets so I've ordered some unjury unflavored, hoping it will mix well into broths and pureed soups during the liquid phases. I'm excited to start this next phase of my life, and a little anxious. I'm grateful there are so many people here sharing their experience. Alyson