Turler

You know what, I need to apologize. I got so blinded by the 20 pounds statement that I lost sight of the real topic here. I'm sorry for that. You do need to focus on the breathing. Take short walks, get up and move whenever you can. You need to keep working with your spirometer. It really does work to keep pneumonia away. Of course you should rest so your body can heal, but when you are awake you should do your breathing exercises as your doctor prescribed. It'll get better! Hang in there!

Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just confused then. You seem concerned about your weight and unsure of what to do. You have spoken of this a few times and I wonder why you wouldn't get an unfill...even just a little. I realize the Band is for life, but there are many here that have reached or exceeded goal and don't have any fill in their bands. My understanding is that they can now live a 'normal' life, eating normal portions (because by now they've learned to do that) and if they were to start gaining, they can get fills to keep them from doing so. The Band is not just for weight loss, but also for maintainence. I'm sure you look great to everyone, but you don't seem to feel the same way about yourself. Maybe you should take pictures. Sometimes we don't see ourselves the same as others until we see it in a photo (just like being overweight...we don't know how bad it is until it rears it's ugly head in a picture!) Maybe you just aren't used to looking at yourself at a healthy weight. If you don't like what you see, you can fix it. You have control now! I really hope you find some peace with all this. You seem so troubled. Let us know how you're doing. ~C

Good luck everyone! Hope you others already done are feeling well! Can't wait to hear from you soon!

I don't know how to post a quote from another thread, but I will give you the link anyway. love777pink is pretty harsh to a post op person (only 1 day out), and goes on to say she's lost 20 pounds this week!!! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/1-day-post-op-need-encouragement-57235/#post784071

20 pounds this week??????

That person has been posting stuff like that in other threads too. Ignore her. This is about support, not that kind of criticism.

What does your doctor say Grace? I would think if s/he is concerned about you losing too much weight they'd unfill you or test you for some underlying cause.

What is Gob cake?

Way to go BG! It is definitely a different ride, but you'll get used to it in no time! Dont' let the skinny tires fool ya...they're quite capable of making sharp turns! (Think Tour de France!)

Thank you...it appears to be resolved now! ~Carol

LOL...sick huh? The neighbor got the 'act' on tape. This guy is married with children for God's sakes! I mean really...nude, doing the hole in the table for the umbrella! C'mon!

Oh the drama with those brothers!! Good grief! I've never seen men cry like that...what a turn off. I couldn't believe it when even his wife commented on it. I'd be so embarrassed if I were her. I still want the girls to stay in the game! They are doing so good!

J: You are one HOT MAMMA!! Smokin'!!!! Check this out...this is our news for today: Man caught having sex with his picnic table! WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | Bellevue man facing charges for having sex with a table

Mishine: Oh my goodness...you've done wonderfully! Don't give up! It's not too late, you are not doomed. You need to re-focus, go back to the basics. Try to find that motivation you had in the beginning. And step away from the cookie...

Hi everyone! I was on Byetta a few months ago. I have insulin resistance. It is a wonder drug for many people. It can suppress your appetite, but it's main effect is delayed gastric emptying. It is a hormone from the saliva of a lizard (Gila monster)...they can go days without food because when they eat, it takes them a very long time to digest what they've consumed. It is NOT insulin. It helps your body make insulin, and improves your blood sugars. It can work very well for some people in controlling their blood sugar and HgA1C. Weight loss is a side effect...but a good one! I didn't lose but a few pounds and found that I felt fatigued a lot while on it. I didn't get some of the terrible nausea that a lot of people do while taking it, but it wasn't worth it for me to keep taking it and not benefiting with any significant weight loss. There are some bad side effects too, so not all docs are on board with handing it out. The twice daily injections get old too, but the weekly one would be nice. I'm not sure that someone with a lapband would need it though. You will get full faster due to the band anyway. Hope this helps! ~C

Maybe the word "diet" is the problem. Life with the band is supposed to be the "tool" that helps us learn to eat the right portion sizes. We should be choosing healthy foods in the first place, but most of us didn't which is why we need the band. If we were to eat Protein first, veggies than carbs to start with, we may never have had a weight problem. Usually by the time we have arrived at this stage of needing WLS, we are past some of that "oh, just eat right and exercise" advice. We are out of control. We can't do it by ourselves...we get the help we need through surgery. NOW we can choose wiser because we won't be starving after we've had the right portion (if not less now). Obviously, if you aren't getting any restriction, this part will be hard or even just as if you've never had a band. I am not banded yet, and I am not trying to give advice I know nothing about. I have spent many an afternoon with the dietician who has done a great job helping me change my point of view about food and dieting. I'm just not going to call it a 'diet'. The word itself denotes "all the great stuff you can't have anymore" to me anyway. I worry too about having no weight loss results after being banded. I am worried I'll be hungry all the time just like I am now. I can only hope I can keep thinking straight and not give up. I just keep reminding myself it's about how we view the food...fuel for our bodies to live. ~C I'm sure you're going to do fine. I keep hearing about a sweet spot. I hope you get yours soon!

Help! I can't get into the thread "Calling All April Bandsters". Every time I click on it, I get a message that says 'The controller could not be found'. Can you look into it for me? Thanks! ~Carol

WOW Stef! You are beautiful! You look really fit...your arms rock! That's a hard place for most women to tone up. Good job! Thanks for sharing. Oh, and I like your colors on your profile! J: Band Day is definitely cooler than the mall, but I still wish I could be there too since I missed seeing ya in March too. Besides, I'd kinda like to see H's progress and bear witness to the meeting of she and BG. I'm sure it will go fine! I think she's lost quite a bit of weight too, so I really would like to see her...our beginning stats are close I think...not sure. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon...one way or another. TOSRV even, maybe?

Yeah, I've learned so much from being on here. I can't wait to put it all into good use here soon! There is a meeting once a month in C-bus at Polaris for anyone who wants to come. It's just a bunch of us from here that get together and swap clothes, chat, learn, whatever. We've only had a few of these, but they are fun. There are a few threads related to C-bus...you can search for them in the upper right hand box if you're interested. See ya around! ~C

Jachut: I loved what you wrote! You are very smart and obviously what you've done has worked! You look amazing and must be so proud. I will be banded on April 10th and I am so glad I popped in here to read this because you are right! We Americans have too many quick fixes. Yes, chickens come in cans here...among lots of other strange things! I personally hate to cook, but loved home cooked food. I think our bodies respond better to natural sugar instead of artificial sweetener, yet ask anyone and they'll tell you if you're obese/fat/overweight you can't/shouldn't have sugar. Thank you for your great advice! ~C

He is right. Your Gall Bladder must come out first and not at the same time as your Band goes in. If you were to have them done at the same time, you risk Fluid from the gall bladder leaking into the abdominal cavity. This starts a chain reaction from your body that will send your body into fighting mode. It would attack the Band as a foreign object and then the trouble would begin. I don't know if any surgeons do them together, it would be pretty risky. I would rather do the separate surgeries, than risk losing the band. That sure would defeat all the waiting you've done for this! Also, the gall bladder would need to come out first because rapid weight loss can/will cause gall stones. You wouldn't want to make an already sick gall bladder sicker. I am not a doctor. This is how it was explained to me had I needed to have my GB out. You should always get another opinion if you are in doubt or question your current doctor. Sorry your doctor didn't explain all this to you. ~C

Welcome! Your gonna love this place! Where in Ohio are you from?

Hello everyone! Well here we are, ready for a new life. We made it to April! Wow, it seemed like it would take forever to get here, but here it is already! I am so happy for all of us. Our long journey has come to an end...in order to begin a new one. Good luck to all of you! Let's keep up the wonderful support we have going here!!!! ~Carol

Hi everybody! Just thought I'd try to help a little. NG= Nasogastric Tube. Yes, they can get it in without a scope, but it's risky. Your fill level could make it too tight for the tube to pass safely and they could perforate your stomach (which would be very bad...would need surgery) NSAIDS= NonSteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs. Just as everyone has posted. They can erode the lining of your stomach and cause ulcers and bleeding. Be aware that the list is lengthy, and if you are taking anything other than Tylenol, you should ask your doctor first! Some NSAIDS are: Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve some prescriptions like Celebrex too (for arthritis and such). Avoid Asprin too...same problem. Having a medical ID is so important. You don't have to wear it (although that is the first place EMS will look). You can keep something in your wallet, or they have kits that look like large pill bottles you keep in the 'fridge. Inside them is a complete list of contact info, medications, allergies, medical history, etc. Hope this helps. ~C

Have you tried 1/2 caff? Folgers makes a real good coffee and I can't tell the difference. I started drinking that when I got approved in January. I drink that or decaf every day now. ~C