Poodles

Oh well... if Jack is in it I must go see it. Forget Orlando and Johnny... Jack is the MAN!!!!

I feel so bad for you. I have been reading on Obesityhelp.com about the other WLS and know the frustration you must feel. They all look so weird. If I had to choose, I would do the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy . Simply because it just removes the stomach and does not reroute anything else. This line also interested me: "Patients interested in Gastric Banding may also want to consider this procedure, since it avoids the foreign body issue of a Band." http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/about.html I wish you peace in whatever decision you make.

My fill has kicked in already on liquids and mushies. I can no longer finish a full can of soup, so heaven help me tomorrow. I am going to eat 2 bites of tuna fish salad and see how that does for lunch tomorrow. Figure I will keep my shake first thing, since I was tight in the morning before my fill. I am so excited. I told my hubby that I feel like my life begins tomorrow. My new banded eating life. My new cheer: :cheer2:Protein first, veggies second, carbs last. 1/2 cup only! chew! chew! chew!

Well, I got my first fill today. They made me swollow the stuff and they put in .6 cc in my 4 cc band. The picture was quite nice. Said that this is a good first fill. I hope so. Go back in 4 weeks for another one!

Had my first fill this morning! Yeah! It is really easy and the worst part was the stupid sting of the numbing medicine. My fill center says nothing solid to eat 4 hours before, nothing to drink 1 hour before, then liquids for 48 hours and back to normal foods. I am so excited! Good luck to those about to get a fill... and don't worry.. it is so easy!

Went for my follow up today and got my first fill! I now have .6 cc's in my 4cc band. They showed me my little picture and boy am I restricted. They said that they wanted to go slow on the fills since this is my first one, but I think it is wonderful. The "hole" is just about the size of a pencil. My fill did not hurt, and it did not take me much time at all. I am so excited. Dr. B says to see him in 9-12 months, get another fill 4 weeks from now and then three months after that (or when I need one). I have lost 14 lbs without a fill, and he says that is great!

"but the reality is I have to know it's going to take time"-Leila Hey... speaking of reality. How have you guys/gals delt with the reality of not depending on food anymore. I literally want to cry... grieve my loss. I don't want to be a downer or anything... but was wondering if I was the only one thinking this way? This reality has finally set in. Yeah I want to lose weight and be healthier, but I am losing the only thing in my life that has been constant... old demons I guess.... So am I weird or is this usual newbie stuff???

Have an appointment tomorrow and will have him check out my incisions from the band and the hernia operation. I am two weeks out from the hernia operation. My baby went in the pool by himself today, and had fun without me. He is growing so quickly... he is tall enough to go down the big slide at the waterpark now. Thank you for all of the input. Wish there was a clear answer for this, but seems, as with the band, different doctors say different things.

I go for my fill tomorrow. Went to Bennigans and ate 1/4 of a monte cristo sandwich and potato soup. It was YUMMY! But yeah, I know it was not the best choice in the world. Figure with my fill tomorrow and liquids for 24-48 hours after that I deserved a little treat. I was stuffed with that, so I am wondering just how much of a fill I need. Will find out tomorrow under floro. Hope all is going well with all of you. Will let you know what fill level I am at tomorrow!

Ok, this may be a stupid question, but here goes: How long should you wait to go swimming after surgery. I figure it is like a bath right? So two to three weeks? What have your doctors said?

Ok here is my update regarding http://www.smokymountainminerals.com/ It is inexpensive and it works. I bought the 7 piece sample pack and love it. It has kind of a matte finish to it, but the mineral veil helps that. I use the bronzer as eye makeup. Have had no breakouts, and actually love how I look now. Since I have not worn makeup in forever, it makes me feel pretty. For under $25.00 it was worth a shot.

I love reading these articles. My favorite quote so far: "Therefore, we believe that LAGB should be considered the initial approach since it is safer than RYGB and is very effective at achieving weight loss." -Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: ends justify the means? Thank you Dr. C for the information!

Hey, I have been searching around and it seems that I have first bite syndrome. You guys may want to search for that too if you notice PBing first thing... just an FYI

Another full blown PB attack. Well Hell. I had another one. This time on ground turkey. First thing I ate this morning. I think I am too tight in the AM, because in the evening I am fine. Guess I am on mushies/liquids again today. Even though liquids and mushies go down easily at least they are "safe". I really don't think I need a fill now. Just need to figure out what solid foods I can eat. Take it easy guys/gals. Don't rush to solids too fast. They fight back!

You need to sip so things can go thru smoothly. First thing, you will have alot of swelling. Then as things settle down you will crave/want more. The first week, I honestly could not do more than sip. Guess they want you to take it easy, so you don't throw up a bunch of water/jello/whatever. I have also read that it is like a funnel, and you don't want to over fill the funnel. Drink 4 oz, wait 10 minutes, drink 4 oz more. Then see how you feel. At a month out I can drink 16 oz no problem, but I still try not to gulp. I drink it ice cold, and can FEEL it pool on top of my band and flow thru. Creepy but neat. I have asked if you can stretch your pouch on liquids and mushies, and have been told it is highly unlikely. Put myself back on liquids/mushies today after my first PB. Feeling better tonight. :confused:

I have also read about "hybrid" surgeries. Those with failed bypass going in and getting the band on top of that. So you end up restricted with all the other complications. Personally, I will take my chances with the band. I worked at a bariatric clinic one summer, and saw all the "behind the scenes" things with bypass. Trust me it is not pretty, and I want no part of that. If the band allows me to lose 50% of my excess weight, that is more than I can do on my own.

You have the cutest toes ever... AND the best number on that scale. I can't wait to see that number one of these days! Keep up the great work!

I told my OBGYN first and asked his opinion since he has been my doctor for the longest time. He had several patients that have it and totally recommended it for me since I have been large for so long. Then I went to my PCP and asked him his opinion on it. Told him I had been doing some research on the subject, and brought him the name/number/resume of the doctor I chose. Turned out that he went to the same school as Dr. B. He said that it really depends on how you work the band, and if you are prone to cheat that it would not work... however, he said it was worth a try since I have so many co-morbidities. You should feel comfortable with your doctors. You ask them about everything else, so why not the band? Just approach it like this: "Hey, I have been doing some research on the lap-band. Do you have any opinions on it? Do you recommend it? Would you recommend it for me?" And then go from there. It took me 8 months from first appointment to surgery. Good luck!

Yep it was a rotisierie chicken from Walmart that got me. I felt horrible. I have been drinking liquids since. Sucks that the first two bites I took today put me on liquids the rest of the day, but oh well. Chicken is the enemy!

IMHO... Number 1 will get the guy vote. Number 3 would get my comfy vote. Do you do heels at all? 4 1/2 inch spiked heels with the #1 outfit would get my hubby to drool... Or, you could wear # 1 top with black capris and what ever shoes. Heck, just bring out one of you Scarbourogh Faire outfits and wench it up! Another thought, since it is a Video Game thing... can you pick one and go with the "theme". Example: For a war game the cammo/boots, etc. Your SF outfits would go with Mario. (Damn I am out of touch with the Video Game world.)

Ok... I was brave today and tried chicken. After two bites I felt miserable and I actually had my first PB. Hurt badly, so don't think I'll be doing that again soon. Really wondering if I need a fill, if I go to solids, I should be restricted. Everything else is going well. My port side is feeling better, and my hernia surgery is feeling better, so I should be 100% soon! Glad to see everyone is doing well. Yeah June Bandsters!

If I don't drink my Isopure shake in the morning, I am hungry all day. Guess that will be my mainstay for a while. Since I start the day off with that, I do better. Still only down 12 lbs, but have not gained. I have my first fill on the 11th, if they can get it precertified.... stupid people. (I won't even get started on that... have had the appointment for over a month and they just sent the paperwork in today.) Anyway, I am ready for my fill! Sure my portions will be smaller after that. I did eat a South Beach Diet Bar today, and could not get the whole thing down. Was really full. Guess that is good! Have a great day all!

I think it is because when you chew them they turn to mush. Chips work too... but uhhhmmm, we are not supposed to eat them.

This is what my doctor includes as soft diet: STAGE III – SOFT DIET *Soft fruit (banana, melon, strawberries) *Cooked vegetables and fresh green vegetables *Soft Pasta (well chewed) *eggs *Toast or crackers That is on top of the mushies, cottage cheese, grits, mashed potatoes and such...

Regarding Water. I have read that you need to take your weight and divide it by 2.2 and that is how many ounces of water you need to drink a day. I would need to drink a gallon of water a day for my weight. I have actually tried it, and feel absolutely wonderful when I can get that much down, but as a teacher that is impractical for me. I can only go potty before school, at lunch, and after school so that is way too much water for me. Now that it is summer time, I have been trying to get in at least 64 ounces of pure water. There is some debate on water vs. other drinks. My doctor says only WATER counts as WATER no crystal light or other things. If the kidneys have to filter things out of the liquid it does not count. If the WATER washes things out of the kidneys it counts. I can understand that. As for constipation, I use the powder Super Colon Cleanse. It works well, and does not taste too bad. Just use a little bit every day though, because it WORKS and quickly.