taz

Hi. I'm from Memphis. Dr. George Woodman did my surgery at Baptist East on Feb 8th.:shades_smile:

I was banded Feb 8th too. A week ago all my swelling went down. It seemed it happened all of a sudden. My first fill is Monday. I am so ready for it. I'm in that I feel like a failure phase.:shades_smile:

Yes. Thanks. So much for mixing it into hot oatmeal.:thumbup:

I told people thank you when they said I didn't need surgery. I guess the next would be, "you have so much confidence in me. I appreciate the support". However.....when my husband started giving me a hard time before my first fill, which is Monday, I said when he had lost all his extra weight and left off candy, colas, and beer, he could say those things. I guess I have a little shorter fuse when he gives me that LOOK.:Dancing_shocked: Oh well. He hasn't said anything else today at least.:thumbup:

Are protein powders heat stable? Like in Jello or puddings? Would they work in soups or broths? Has anyone tried them? I agree that my shakes taste pretty good at first but as time goes on they don't go down as well.:thumbup: Any info would be appreciated.

Trissie, I think maybe you feel like I feel at times. Something like, no one really cares so what's the use. Maybe aggrevating family issues come up and seem to pull us under the surface. These can all be true at times. I think the suggestation of writing what you eat for a week on this site can get you started again. Also I think you can tell from the responses to your comment that people here really do care and want to help you to succeed because they want you to be happy. They want to help you any way they can. Perhaps a fill would help. I certainly hope it helps me on Monday. Anyway, if you or anyone else wants to email me just to bat around ideas my email is tzirbel@hotmail.com. Keep trying. The only way we don't succeed is when we totally give up. The good thing is that there are many ways to succeed.

I became a lifetime member of WW 27 years ago. It was the only thing that ever worked for me. I lost my weight from pregnancies with their help. Unfortunately when I found out my daughter had autism 18 years ago I never could get back in control. I was banded Feb 8th and did well until a week ago. I guess the swelling went down. I get a fill on Monday and hope that gets me back on track. I have also decided to go back to WW again. It is the best program, being both healthy and flexible. Portion control is everything and that is their main focus. I'm glad I will not be the only one. It could be that half the members have been banded and we just don't know it. Anyway, next week I get my first fill and start once more to WW. This time I think it will work with the help of my band.

Believe me, I tried everything. We were out of town for two weeks. My doc had to keep from giggling at me when I told her everything I had tried. She does have a sense of humor. Anyway, by the second day I was doing MUCH better. Thank goodness for meds.:thumbup:

I also had my gallbladder removed in Jan then banded Feb 8th. I have numbness below where all the incisions are. About an inch strip across the lower stomach. I see my doc in a week. I assume the feeling will come back. I will have to ask him. It is a strange sensation.

I had something similar. It turned out to be a yeast rash. Only a precription from the doc works and lots of the cream. From my own experience, if it itches like mine you are very motivated to get this cleared up.

Lifeway lowfat Kefir has 174 calories and 14 grams of protein per cup. It's a drinkable yogurt and tastes very good. Most supermarkets carry it and it tastes very good.

Does anyone have trouble with feeling hungry when you have a fibromyalgia attack. I can't decide if it is head hunger or if I am really feeling a sense of hunger.

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad things are going so well for you. Maybe when I lose more weight I will have better results too.:biggrin:

I just wanted to clarify that I was self-pay. The doc has worked an agreement with the hospital for $18,000 with no extra charges for immediate complications. I thought that was fair. That was in my contract. Thanks.

I am from Memphis,TN, for the last 18 years. Born in Arkansas, went to school at Florida State in Tallahassee. Went to Birmingham for a job. Met dh backpacking (those were the days:smile2:) and stayed for 10 years. Nashville for a few years and now Memphis. I miss going to the Smokies. They are so beautiful. I can truely say Memphis has noooo mountains. It has been nice being close to my mom and dad as they have gotten older and needed more help. But I would love to travel EVERYWHERE!

I had out-patient surgery. Still, the hospital billed me for an extra $8,000. The agreement was for $18,000 not $26,000. I called my doc's office. I was told they were not supposed to charge me for it. They gave me the # and person to call at the hospital. I did and that took care of it. Look at the contract you signed. It should state if there are other charges. Hospitals are notorious for overbilling. If no one calls they get more money. Also your doc's office should be abe to advise you.

I make a strawberry yogurt protein shake. 1 cup ff plain yogurt, 1 cup unsweetened frozen strawberries, 1 scoop unflavored whey protein powdered, 2-3 packets Equal, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Blend in a blender until smooth. Add a few extra frozen strawberries if you want to eat it with a spoon. I put it in large insulated cup and it stays cold until it's gone.

I am so glad insurance paid for you. You would think every insurance company would be pushing us down to the o.r. for surgery.:drool: It must save them money in the long run. I am just blessed with a sweet husband who didn't really want to do it but agreed when he saw how much I wanted to. Good luck with everything.

My doc found gallstones during testing for the band. I had mine out one month prior to the band. I did not find it as difficult to recover from. I had less pain than from the band. I was also very glad to have it out. My father-in-law and a friends son both almost died from complications from gallstones. I was almost running to the o.r.:drool: Hope this is helpful.

I was also self-pay. Because I stayed in Memphis, TN, and therefore chose someone locally (who had a good reputation) I paid $18,000 (which we had to borrow). It makes me shiver to even think about it. I think I will feel better after I have my first fill. Hope this is helpful. If you don't mind me asking, what are some of the prices you have come up with?

Hi. I have a love of ice cream too. I have an alternative that helps me now. I use one cup ff plain yogurt, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 2-3 packets Equal, about 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a scoop unflavored whey protein powder. Blend in a blender. I usually put mine in a wide mouth thermos and carry around all day. It will usually get me through breakfast and lunch with a few things added. I guess you could add a splash of milk if you wanted a thinner smoothie. I hope this is helpful. Have a great day.

Thanks for responding. You all really make me feel better. You make me remember a Shirley Temple song. :ohmy:Pick yourself us. Dust yourself off. Start all over again.

Hi, everyone. Boy am I feeling discouraged. I was banded Feb 8th. Things went alongpretty well until this past week. I guess I've healed because I have wanted everything in sight (and some that I can't see). I cooked for a meeting and made boiled custard to pour over strawberries. Of course there was some left....Not much anymore. It has egg yolks as its base and half and half. It is soooo creamy in my mouth. I also made banana nut bread. It was mostly eaten by the rest of the family. It seems anything will go down...dadgumit! Now, when it comes to having my first fill soon I am afraid. I want to lose weight bet it just seems so hard. My doc has no sense of humor. He will not laugh. Anyone feel like they don't want a fill? I know I have to have it. I can takemy meds now without crushing them up and gagging (literally) them down. Yuck! Nothing has changed!!!!!

Is anyone dealing with fibromyalgia as well as trying to not overeat? It seems when I am hurting with my fibromyalgia I want to eat comfort (i.e. fats and sugar) foods. For that short time the pleasure over rules the pain. Then I feel frustrated and angry afterwards. However, I still have the drive to go back to that comfort food. Does anyone else have that problem?

Jam265, you are absolutely right about working through Lyrica's weirdness. I have never had trouble with falling asleep while driving. Three days into taking Lyrica I fell asleep and woke up driving on the wrong side of the road. Thankfully no other cars. I was also dizzy in the beginning but most of that has passed. For me the good outweighed the bad.