HeatherO

I would let it come off naturally because it is not hurting anything, and you can have more damage and scarring if you try to hard to get them off. I wouldn't soak them in Water at only 8 days out. I have read elsewhere that people had the best success with baby oil if you let it sit for a minute and then wipe it away.

I started on 800 until I stalled and moved to between 1000-1200 where I have been losing well ever since.

It is the same for us. If we are sick, vomitting, pregnant, etc. we do not have to fast. If I find that I am really sick, I will break the fast. I am trying to break through discomfort or lightheadedness and getting used to fasting again. I really want to make a strong go of this but I do have it in the back of my mind that if it becomes too difficult physically I can discontinue. I also want to make sure that I am not giving in too quickly or using my band as an excuse because the first days of fasting are difficult for everyone. I won't risk my health for it, and I am not sure if I can last the 25+ days remaining without breaking fast . . . but I will try my best.

I had an issue when I first started doing vigorous abdominal exercises post banding. It went away in about two weeks. However, I was still only about 5 weeks out, while you are a couple of years out and completely healed. If it feels like everything is in place, that is a good sign. I would give the doctor a call just to see what they would say.

If you do not have too much irritation, I would go one day liquids and one day mushies and on from there depending on how things are going down.

Tea and coffee did not make me feel this way. To limit caffeine, I would drink chamomile tea, mint teas or other herbal teas and keep coffee at no more than 1 cup daily. They helped. I would drink them with splenda or without depending on how I felt.

If I am hungry, I definitely have a little something to eat. If I am not hungry, I still eat at least a little something at the regular mealtimes. I found that when I didn't do this, when I became hungry again I became overly hungry and it started triggering an urge to binge. I also found that being too hungry causes me to eat faster and I am more likely to PB or choose something "quick" that is not as healthy for me. I skipped meals for years thinking I was helping weight loss, yet I was definitely obese because it gave me a tendency to overdo it later. Now I don't skip and I lose steadily week after week.

I would get some anti nausea medication just in case you need it because that vomiting is the only thing you really need to worry about it. It would be best to get a script from your doctor. However, I did find some over the counter medicine named Nauzene chewables at Walmart that works well for this. I also saw it at my local grocery store.

I had the same problem but it only happened after week 1 until the end of week 2. I found a medicine called Nauzene chewables at Walmart that really helped with this. I also have seen them at my grocery store as well. This stage only lasted about a week for me . . . and it was definitely the Water making me nauseous.

I have been thinking about using Water in a way considered inappropriate, such as drinking after eating with a reduced timeframe to wait in this special case. Today was a lot better than yesterday, but I think that might be because I made sure to drink a lottt of water and eat healthy options. I also added a shake as well at night to bolster my calories a little because I just can't eat much in such tight timeframes. I am not sure if I can lose much weight during this unusual eating pattern. I have been losing steadily and am afraid to mess up a good thing . . . a routine that is working for me. I guess I will see how it goes.

Yesterday was the first day of fasting for me and I found that it was more difficult than in previous years when I wasn't banded. During fasting, I usually eat two meals, one before 5:00 AM and one after 8:00 PM (the time continually changes every day). Between these times during the day, I can not ingest anything orally, even Water. I try to preface every meal with two cups of water so that I stay hydrated and also drink water during the night, but it is slow going with tight restriction. I am having a rough go of it. I am not hungry during the day so that part is soo much easier than before. However, I am feeling really easily light headed and weak. I have also found that eating at night disturbs my sleep unless I wait a long time before going to bed. Are there any other bandsters out there who have fasted, and if so, any suggestions on getting through this stage a little easier?

I eat everything well done. However, it doesn't have to be very dry, it is more difficult to eat this way. I actually like a little yogurt near meat sometimes and that helps as well.

I am down my first pound for the challenge :0) _____Name______Start Weight____Current Weight____Goal________Lbs lost *****:cool2:***********:laugh:*************:tt2:************:thumbup:*********:w00t:**** 1day at a time.....263............263............243............0 2BHealthE!.........194............179............194............0 ahsem2bme..........244............244............225............0 aJoneen............223............223............213............0 Aphrodite1984......208............208............190............0 Ariel..............199............199............180............0 Barb12590..........228............228............213............0 Bea1128............210.5..........210.5..........188............0 Caramia71..........208............208............195............0 Crzytchr...........310............281............265............0 DebinFl............181............181............168............0 georgiagirl........245............245............230............0 HarleyGirl.........188............188............175............0 HeatherA...........210.5..........210.5..........200............0 HeatherO...........155............154............140............1 Jazzyywan..........255............255............190............0 Jodi_620...........196............194............177............2 Leslie2Lose........220............220............205............0 LisaB..............205.5..........205.5..........180............0 livn4thm...........235............235............210............0 Long2bthin.........248............248............230............0 Luu2008............203............203............183............0 Mamanmidwife.......299............299............285............0 memom..............210............210............170............0 mominlv13..........299.8..........299.8..........275............0 nip50..............175............175............160............0 NurseNiki..........258............258............239............0 odamay.............242............242............225............0 paige65............252............252............232............0 Renewedhope........171............171............150............0 SpecialK...........294............294............280............0 Tess...............304............304............280............0 Turler.............225............225............210............0 wowox7.............195............195............170............0 WyominGirl.........327............327............312............0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Instructions: Start Weight = Weight at the beginning of the challenge, Current Weight = Weight at time of posting, Goal = Goal to attain by Halloween, Lbs Lost = Difference between start weight and current weight.

Oops, I see the last post did not have Bunkey's last updates. I fixed it. Name_________Start Weight ____Goal____ Lbs lost____Current Weight *****:cool2:********** :laugh:**********:thumbup:******:tt2:**********:w00t:***** aJoneen............230.........220.......7.......... Bea1128............220.........199.......9.5........210.5 Babs0101...........185.........170.......0.......... blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4.......... BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......6.......... Bunkey1965.........212.........195.......19.........191:thumbup: Chocolate_Snaps....254.........240.......6.......... Darr5380...........167.........155.......5..........162 Epm316.............209.........199.......7..........202 erikadawn..........199.........175.......0.......... FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0.......... HeatherO...........172.........155.......18.........154:thumbup: Heft_Bandit........261.........245.......6..........255 JennyPoo...........169.........159.......5.......... KarenG.............166.........158.......7..........159 KathyStrick........305.........290.......0.......... Lapbandfan.........258.........230.......2.......... Leslie2Lose........224.........209.......4..........220 LessNLess..........144.5.......140.......0.......... LilMissBand-Aid....234.4.......225.......6.2........ Lunabeane..........221.........200.......16.........205 Luu2008............219.........189.......16.........203 Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0.......... luvinke............206.........190.......0.......... mamato3............199.........184.......11..........188 mcgreen............189.........175.......0.......... mdgarcia31665......225.........200.......0.......... melboyd............266.........256.......14.9.......251.1:thumbup: Missrach...........269.........175.......25.........244 MollyMolly.........192.........182.......2.......... mominlv13..........316.........300.......15.2.......299.8:thumbup: MSnika3............228.........204.......4.......... MyTurn.............250.........240.......7..........243 NANAbanded.........225.........199.......10.........215 Ninja..............204.........189.......5.......... NukeChik...........221.........199.......6.......... Ollie..............242.........210.......0.......... Redtulips..........194.........180.......14.........180? Renewedhope........174.........155.......8..........171 ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0.......... slgandera..........185.........173.......7.......... StartingOver.......220.........205.......15......... Sunshine2..........187.........170.......10..........177 want_so_bad........170.........155.......0.......... Sades.......(7/16).192.5.......180.......8.6........ Sadie..............220.........199.......6.......... smwww..............189.........179.......0.......... tp78...............212.........195.......7.......... __________________

1 more down, which is 1 pound more than goal :0) Name_________Start Weight ____Goal____ Lbs lost____Current Weight *****:cool2:********** :laugh:**********:thumbup:******:tt2:**********:w00t:***** aJoneen............230.........220.......7.......... Bea1128............220.........199.......9.5........210.5 Babs0101...........185.........170.......0.......... blesdbyonmzur......159.........148.......4.......... BTTRFLI1432........221.........210.......6.......... Bunkey1965.........212.........195.......17.........193:thumbup: Chocolate_Snaps....254.........240.......6.......... Darr5380...........167.........155.......5..........162 Epm316.............209.........199.......7..........202 erikadawn..........199.........175.......0.......... FloridaGirl........235.........215.......0.......... HeatherO...........172.........155.......18.........154:thumbup: Heft_Bandit........261.........245.......6..........255 JennyPoo...........169.........159.......5.......... KarenG.............166.........158.......7..........159 KathyStrick........305.........290.......0.......... Lapbandfan.........258.........230.......2.......... Leslie2Lose........224.........209.......4..........220 LessNLess..........144.5.......140.......0.......... LilMissBand-Aid....234.4.......225.......6.2........ Lunabeane..........221.........200.......16.........205 Luu2008............219.........189.......16.........203 Luv2Laugh..........232.........212.......0.......... luvinke............206.........190.......0.......... mamato3............199.........184.......11..........188 mcgreen............189.........175.......0.......... mdgarcia31665......225.........200.......0.......... melboyd............266.........256.......14.9.......251.1:thumbup: Missrach...........269.........175.......25.........244 MollyMolly.........192.........182.......2.......... mominlv13..........316.........300.......15.2.......299.8:thumbup: MSnika3............228.........204.......4.......... MyTurn.............250.........240.......7..........243 NANAbanded.........225.........199.......10.........215 Ninja..............204.........189.......5.......... NukeChik...........221.........199.......6.......... Ollie..............242.........210.......0.......... Redtulips..........188.........180.......6.......... Renewedhope........174.........155.......8..........171 ronni_NC...........243.........220.......0.......... slgandera..........185.........173.......7.......... StartingOver.......220.........205.......15......... Sunshine2..........187.........170.......10..........177 want_so_bad........170.........155.......0.......... Sades.......(7/16).192.5.......180.......8.6........ Sadie..............220.........199.......6.......... smwww..............189.........179.......0.......... tp78...............212.........195.......7.......... __________________

If it were me, I would go for it. However, I would schedule the surgery as close as possible to the beginning of our arrival in the US. That way you can make the most of your seven weeks before heading back out again. You also really want to schedule your fill at least a week before you leave in case there are any hiccups. Make sure you travel with your medical records for the other surgeon. If you do not want the Hong Kong surgeon to do fills, you should schedule a trip back maybe two months out to get a checkup and fill. My first fill was under flouroscopy and was an aggressive 6.8 cc. It then only took me two fills to get to my sweet spot, but I was lucky.

I think everything and anything can be eaten in moderation. The LF/SF option is a guideline. I think it also depends on what are own personal issues are as well. We will certainly be ingesting less calories with smaller portions. However, I think the LF/SF is a move to steer us towards healthier food options. Lean meats, fresh fruit and vegetables all fit into this category and should be the basis of our diets. We now have limited space to take in food and we don't want to fill our pouch with high calorie, high fat or sugary items. In the beginning, I did end up modifying my diet to eat closer to 1,000 calories for weight loss because I did stall at 800-900. However, I didn't want to use up my calorie allowance for the day on just a few things, so I ate LF/SF options. I have lost more than 60% of my excess weight, but I do so by making sure I get full at meals and I couldn't do that by making poor food choices with higher calories and still be satisfied.

I get occasionally light headed. If I stand up quickly sometimes I notice it. I really think it has something to do with my restricted calories. It never occurred before banding. Hollie, your new picture is really cute :0)

As long as you don't have a break in coverage, you don't have a problem. Also, I have never heard of obesity being considered a pre-existing condition regardless.

I think we all go through this the first bit of time after being banded until we get a sufficient fill. I was able to keep losing during this stage only after I really started exercising. I also went onto a diet of lean Proteins, tons of veggies, limited fruit, no potatoes or processed carbs and this helped as well. Just remember, this is only temporary. Once you have good restriction it will get so much easier.

It sounds normal. Plus, that heavy feeling can be used to your advantage. Those foods that sit for a while will keep you from getting hungry since they take some time to go through. Eating Proteins that don't go through fast as my base is really one of the biggest reasons I have lost so well so far. So where will you be traveling . . . some place exciting??? How long will you be away as well? You might be able to schedule your fill now for as soon as you get back.

I have had a similar problem before with one pb episode. I had to go on liquids for two days before I was able to progress to mushies and was eventually normal again. I also found that hot/warm liquids were more soothing for me. Just keep in mind that no matter how irritated you are, liquids wont cause any additional harm. However, if you can not get liquids down, call your surgeons office right away. Someone mentioned stimulating your gag reflex, I would not suggest that. Your stomach is already very irritated, this will just make it worse. If you think you still have something inside that might be blocking your stoma, some people have mentioned drinking some pineapple juice. There are other things mentioned but I am not sure of them all, they will be in other threads on clearing blockages. However, most likely I think you might have some swelling and irritation.

I am 7 + months out and I can not drink a lot of water quickly or it will come back up again. I have to take small drinks spaced. If you drink too much, you wont feel good. I eat nuts and they go down just fine. I did not have any restrictions on them. I am only careful because a little can carry quite a few calories, but I regularly use them to bolster my protein intake. There are sooo many shake choices that have plant based proteins, you should not have any problem finding an acceptable shake.

I did not take Cobra, but was offered it once when I switched jobs . . . and it was well over $1,000 a month. I was really shocked it was so high.

I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery. Time passes so quickly afterwards, you will be looking back over the last year of being banded before you know it :0)