strikeuptheband

Does anyone know how much caffeine is in the crystal light tea drinks? I was told to stay away from caffeine and it about killed me to give up my diet pepsi. I substituted Lipton diet green tea but they told me that also has caffeine. (I still drink it somethimes tho.) It would be good to know if any of the tea drinks have less caffeine than others.

Not to kill off the Fedex man, who, after all is just the messenger, you might need to wrap that envelope with farts in it with a lot of perfumed paper (or sweet spots or whatever that product the DS people use to kill the stench in their bathrooms.) This thread is killin me. I can't laugh...port pain is still there, but if I hold my tummy I can giggle at all this....

Wow! are we a bunch of lightweights or what!!!! Snuffy I will send you my numbers tomorrow. I just had to respond to this thread so it would go into my subscribed threads. That way I can find it again. I have been searching for it on new messages and it doesnt come to the top until someone posts here again. Maybe you have figured out..took me a while, once you post to a thread, it shows up on your list of subscribed threads and you can find all you have posted to all in one place!

Great Kiki on not needing your BP meds. I also had a drop (to normal and below while in the hospital. And when I got home, I never did have a high reading and haven't taken mine since the 2nd of June! So I guess thats cured!! Good luck to your fiance on his surgery. Thats great that you are both going to be going thru this together. Hope you are both wonderful supports for each other. Thats what makes it work!!

Awesome, Cathy!!! How much fill did you get? I got 3ccs but I don't feel any different. Still no restriction and i swallowed a large advil gelcap lastnite and went down just fine. I had no swelling or anything. He said I can come back in 2 weeks for another fill but I am taking a summer class and can't get back down there till the end of this month. Oh well, I am sticking to smaller portions and hoping will power will kick in the rest. I was down one lb this morning!:ohmy:

Gee Cathy, Maybe your doc should be talkin to my doc! Yesterday they told me (doc & nurse) that they just got back from some seminar on realize and the presenter (i guess people that make the band) said that its really better for people to get their fills as soon as possible which helps keep them losing and not get discouraged. He was willing to see me in 2 weeks to have a 2nd fill if I feel I need one by then. Unfortunately, I will be in a summer class M-TH all of July and unable to get away to get there before the end of July. So I hope I can manage on willpower till the end of this month. So far I feel no different and can still eat a horse.:thumbup:

I was banded just a month ago and had my first post op and first fill today. Also met with physical therapy and that skinny ***** reamed me for not doing exercises in the last few weeks. She didnt seem to care that I have been in pain every day from my port. I did talk to my doc about it today and he examined the scar, said it probably wasn't infected but it was red and sore looking and he put me on an antibiotic just in case. He also said the port was in there to stay, that I couldn't hurt it by exercising and it couldn't hurt me. I am just going to go slow on ab exercises. He didn't really say do them or dont do them, I am just going to start slow. Wow you did 60?? I doubt if I could do 5 to start!! Hope all is well and its "only" the flu!

Glad I won that battle! Their excuse....the girl who usually handles the charts has been on vacation. gimme a break. Its all computerized so there should have been something in there that said my fills were covered. I should have asked the doc when he first gave me that option to get it in writing. I hope its fixed now.

I guess I am the first to report in on my first fill!:thumbup: I had 3 appts today. First was the dietician who seemed pleased that I had lost a few lbs even tho I could eat a horse. I have a realize band and i have to log in my food on their website and my team can get on there and see what i have been eating. So I need to eat more veggies but she was ok with me keeping the calories under 1000 (most) days. Then went to PT. The skinny ***** was not happy that I had not gotten in much exercise. She didn't seem to believe I am still having port pain and cannot do stomach exercises. So she lectured me on all the things I already know and then she dismissed me. Hummph! Then on to see the doc and get my fill. I waited and waited, had it out with the front staff who wanted me to pay $75 when I was told my fills were free. Won that battle, waited some more. Got into the room and talked to his nurse who will be doing all the rest of the fills. She was nice and really encouraging. She was ok with the weight I had lost. Doc came in and we talked a bit. I told him about the soreness and he examined it. He didn't think it was infected, but the scar was red. He put me on 5 days antibiotics just in case. Then he numbed up my belly and that just stung for a second. I tried not to look at that biga$$ needle and he shot in 3ccs. This is only after 28 days since surgery. He is of the thinking that we should get to our sweet spot as soon as possible so we dont get so discouraged. He said if I dont feel any restriction on 3ccs in a few weeks, I can go back sooner than a month and get a second fill. I am likin this guy! They just said to go easy today, soft food and tomorrow I can go to full solids and just be sure to chew everything well and keep the portions small (even if the band isn't telling me to yet). So thats it...hope to hear from the rest of you soon.

Mrsgriffin, Good luck on the 2nd. It will be done before you know it and you will be on your way to a new you!! I can really relate to your being upset because hubby isn't all as supportive as you would like. Glad to hear you are getting along better. As for me, its taken me years to figure out that the only person I can truly depend on is myself. Its nice when others occasionally give me a boost and for me its icing on the cake. I know if I let myself down, I only have myself to blame. If I keep that in mind, I tend not to get so bent out of shape when someone "lets me down." My BF is another one from Mars that just doesn't get it sometimes, although I know he loves me in his own wierd way.

Hi Deedra, I got my band on June 2nd. I live in Trenton, MO, its in the NW part of the state. I would be happy to be buds with ya. Wow, its gonna happen for you tomorrow!!! How exciting! Keep us posted on how you are doing. I went to Boone County in Columbia. Who is doing your surgery? Feel free to email me thru this site if you want. Good Luck!!:biggrin:

I was banded this month. I tipped the scales at a whopping 201 right before surgery but had lost 20 pre-op. I am 5'3" and had (I say...HAD) problems with high BP, joint pain, and reflux. Now in less than a month, thats all gone! My insurance denied, not because I was such a little bit of fluff, but because my empoyer put in an exclusion. Was it worth it for me? YES! I still haven't lost a lot and havent even had a fill yet, but the other aches and pains have gone away...presumably replaced by port pain...sigh. But that too will go away eventually. I have steadily gained every year and I am now 56 and finally figured out that if I keep doing what I always did...diet, I would always get what I always got....more weight gain. I am now committed to eating healthier and in smaller portions and I need my band to remind me when I have had a healthy portion. My docs office figured out that to be successful, I only needed to lose 60 lbs. I doubt if I could have ever done that on my own. My own personal goal is to get down to 120 or a loss of 80 lbs. It saddens me that the insurance industry is so screwed up with their restrictions and hoops you have to jump through. I mean how crazy is it when you read on these boards of people adding weight in their pockets to weigh enough to qualify or those that wonder if its worth it to gain x number of lbs just so their insurance will approve them. I would never judge another person's desire to get to and maintain a healthy weight. I say good luck to us all on our journey.

wow, thats a long time, Kathy! At least you will be very healed up by then! (tryin to find the positive here! Hang in there!

Phoenix, Not even sure WHEN I can start doing abs. I was just thinking whenever it quits hurting maybe I could! I go in for my first fill next tuesday and will be sure and ask about that. I have had some relief today wearing my support grannypants. As for exercise, so far I have been able to get on my elliptical but building up endurance on that so I am not on it for long. Also I can do Water aerobics/water walking at the Y. If I wasn't so lazy, I would just go walk outside. Somehow the easy, obvious stuff just eludes me.

Phoenix is right on with this! A few years ago I had breast reduction surgery. They told me to keep the girls out of the sun until the scars have healed. This means do not even expose them in a tanning booth. I saw some before and after pics and some showed what would happen if you got in the sun. Unless you want them to look like they came from Target, keep em covered! lol The scars turn bright red and they don't fade over time.

I have seen them and might get one this weekend. I wore my 'grannypants' that are very snug and today I feel a lot better. Sure wish this would finish healing so I can start some ab exercises.:thumbs_up:

I have gotten some really high wasted (up to my boobs) granny pants and they hold me together pretty well. Unfortunately, the tightness in other areas has blessed me with a yeast infection:cursing: so I stopped wearing them for a few days. Can't win for losing some days! Hope this soreness goes away soon.

I was banded on the 2nd and get my first fill on July 1st. Can't come soon enough because I feel like I could eat the whole horse! Its a real struggle to stop after a small amount and I keep 'supplementing' with SF jello or SF pudding. Keeps the calories down but doesn't really help with the hungries. And the last two days I have been having some real pain around my port. Everything was healing pretty good, I thought, then this started. I havent lifted anything heavy, but it really hurts when I am sitting. Something is pressing on it (my fat roll, aparently!) I am ok when standing or laying down but sitting up, which I have to do at work all day is killing me. I am trying to hold out til next tuesday because its a 3 hr drive to get to the docs and I can't afford to do that real often. Plus, living in the midwest, I found out that one highway I need to take is presently closed due to flooding.:Angel_anim: Anyone else experiencing port pain and what are you doing to ease it? Hope I can hold out till tuesday!

I was self pay and I am keeping receipts of everything that was related to it...psych visit, dr visits, physical therapist, dietician, etc. Wish I could also deduct the Protein drinks, thats related and I sure cant call it groceries! But I need it. Being able to deduct buying smaller clothes would also be great but I don't think the tax man would go for that one.

Musicalmomma, What you point out is soooo important for us all to remember. WE are the ones that have to do the work. And WE are the ones that have to use that tool. Too many people use excuses and situations they think are beyond their control when in reality most things can be controlled with a little planning AND owning up to the fact, like you did, that YOU need to do this. We all need to be reminded sometimes that we CAN do this. Thanks for smacking us with reality, we need it! lol Good luck on your new beginning. I know you can reach your goal.

I was banded 22 days ago and last nite I went to the Y for about 45 min of water walking and a lap or two. I just kept moving and doing what I could. Felt pretty good. Water helps support us so we can move more freely. Hope to get back there a few times a week. (Gotta drive a bit to get there so I can't afford to go every day.) I would say if your incisions are healing nicely, go for it.

Cathy, I didn't 'realize' that you had a realize band too! So do I (June 2nd). What do you think of the Realize website where you keep track of your food and exercise? I like it but really don't have time to fill out all the things they ask. I do have some goals listed and my next appointments and I do enter the food I eat and the exercise I do. But i dont fill out where do I eat or what mood I am in or some of the other little stuff. I also can eat just about everything but am trying to stay on soft foods till my next appt on July 1st. I get a fill then and it cant happen too soon for me! I am losing very slowly now and having a hard time avoiding the sabateurs at work. My boss yesterday gave everyone a huge bag of candy...her way of showing her appreciation for our work??? She needs a band! lolol I managed to not eat the whole bag but I did have a few pieces of peppermint patties. Gave the bag to my skinny son when I got home.:thumbup:

Noahsmom, Everyone is different but as for me, I am 3 weeks post op and just this weekend got my rear moving. I did some yardwork friday for about an hour, saturday went bowling with a group for 2 hrs and another bit of yardwork yesterday. I have a very dusty not used much elliptical but will be starting that as soon as my energy level increases a bit more. Tonite I am going to do some Water exercises at the Y. Just start small when you get some energy. It does take a bit post op to get back to speed so don't try and do too much too soon. If you have a toddler at home, believe me, you are exercising! lol

Ahh yes, the evil liquid diet. That will make anyone crazy. I think if you make it thru that, the rest is easy. and you will make it. Just a few more days. THEN...more liquids...post op lol. But you will be on the other side with more substantial food to look forward to. Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing. It really does get easier every day.

Noahsmom, Its totally normal to have doubts when the time is close to your surgery. I am 3 weeks out today and I have yet to do any PBing, sliming, throwing up or anything. Just had some gas pain and sorness from the incisions, nothing that I can't handle. Try and think of the positive things and you will soon be over the jitters. Just think: you will be able to tie your shoes, paint your toenails, walk without pain, walk without getting out of breath....many many 'normal' activities that you do will be so much easier. Hang in there and you will be saying what others here say, that its the best decision they ever made for themselves!