JudyAnticola

Hoffman does catheterize, just not everyone. Just dont want to get anyones hopes up.

czar, I am trying to figure out what causes the pain. They tell us to chew small but it will stay in our upper stomach, but if we eat too big it goes through and causes pain? I would think the big pieces would stay up longer. Why would a big piece go through so fast? It would make sense if it sat in the upper stomach for a while and then hurt an hour later when it went through. So why does the big stuff go through (and then hurt) when the well chewed stuff stays in the upper stomach. Does not make anatomical sense to me!

I am 10/7 too, what time are you guys going?

Pineapple juice will also help dissolve protein (I think this is in the paperwork that BGH gave us). Bromelain (the enzyme in pineapple) can be used as well. I get in from the Vitamin Shoppe on Walden. However, as a person that has had things stuck a few times, I was kind of afraid to drink during that time. I would love to know if it works, if anyone tries it please let us know.

Val, I am planning on being there unless the weather is so fantastic that I have to go camping on Friday. If I go camping i will call your cell on Friday. If you do not hear from me then I will be there Saturday. I think Linda will be there Saturday, I will check. Nicki will not. I think the new girl was planning on coming back too.

We are all different, but I will tell you my story. Not much pain, drove in two days, worked in 5 days. Still have my lortab liquid. Except for burning skin on the day of surgery due to the incisions, I really never had stomach pain. The port was a little annoying, and if you eat wrong or get something stuck then there is pain, like you swallowed a baseball. There is some shoulder pain from the gas they give you to expand the work area for the doctor. The gas must rise to the shoulder area for some reason. It is also not unbearable, but annoying. But, others have had some pain, so please be prepared. Everyone is different. I do not think anyone I have talked to had excruciating pain. Probably the worst thing after the skin burning was I had dry heaves in the hospital. For the most part I had a good experience.

where is rent at the IMAX? I think they might want a sleep study, but check first because if it is not clinically indicated your doctor may not order it.

Linda's ministry is undergoing major growth and is upgrading a free medical clinic to the tune of 3.5 million dollars. The big announcement was made on Tuesday and the new covered it. They did not kill themselves with the coverage but at least it was on the TV. That is why Linda delayed her surgery, because she wanted to be totally focused on this event. Very exciting for her. Linda and her husband sold their family home and bought a delapidated church and built this ministry from the ground up. She has written a book, "Five Years of Faith". She is a very interesting person.

Did anyone else see our famous future bandster on the Buffalo News, Channel 4? Yes, it was our good friend Linda!! Good luck Linda with your new adventure.

I know that they have a good nutritionist, as it is one of my friends. She told me that they have a fabulous fitness facility right there for the patients to come to. Again, I am not sure if one is better than the other, if anyone is in a hurry it might be good to apply to both to see who has a seminar first. They dont have Dr. Hoffman, so they dont have the best surgeon, but I am sure they have a very good one, LOL! Lets stop talking about food, has anyone seen a good movie or read a good book? All this talk about eating is making me hungry!!

czar-you can eat just like before the band? If you have not lost any weight he will most likely fill you. If you are losing an average of two pounds a week then they will not fill you. Sorry that has happened to you. I was banded 7/17, I have been losing two pounds a week, but if it slows down then I will ask him for a little booster. I can only eat about a third of what I did before the band, but for sure I am eating more than the first month. We are all different though for sure. But dont worry, he will take care of you. If you are not losing Dr. H. will do what it takes.

Nicki has had to be unfilled twice. 3 cc does seem like a lot. What was in your first fill? Who did your surgery? If you can tolerate it that is great, should be some good weight loss for you. Take care.

You should be able to eat eggs without pureeing them. I did not think about it actually. I ate egg beaters, but assumed that they were soft enough without pureeing. You might be the first I have heard about pureed eggs. I bet you will be glad to finish this week. I have to admit, except for soups I stuck to foods that did not need pureeing, like cottage cheese, egg beaters, tuna. I would have starved to death otherwise, as I am too lazy to go through all the work of puree. Cant remember what else I ate. A lot of those soups called "soup at hand". They are pretty much pureed. They are even pretty good cold. I think I made a seafood soup to eat during that week also. anything that could be mashe dwith my fork. You are doing great though Bloom--you should follow the directions like you are doing. I was not the best patient. As far as eating too much, for me at least, I get a little warning feeling, and I know if I eat one more forkfull I will be hurting. It did not seem to take too long to determine when to stop. Sometimes I went beyond, that is when I threw up. Hoff says throwing up is not acceptable. So I have had to stop going that one extra bite. you seem pretty in tune to this Bloom, I think you will do just GREAT.

PS, Vicki, you are still doing great, it looks like you are at the maximum loss, two pounds a week. Question, for all of you, are we ever going to stop thinking about eating, not eating, weight or do you think it is on our minds forever, even with the band? I want to put it out of my mind but it is all I think about.

I cant imagine eating that much in the early stages of the band. Didnt it hurt or did you throw up? To gain 7 pounds means you ate 21,000 calories above and beyone what your body burned. Each pound is 3000 calories, if you gain one, you ate 3000 calories extra. OMG tell me at least you gained it on soft foods. I am hurting thinking about it. Not sure I am one to give weight loss advice, but I write everything down I eat, so I can not fool myself and say, "Gee, I did not eat much this week". Generally if I write it down I eat less, and if I do not lose at least I know why. When will you go for a fill again? Hoffman told me if I want to lose more I need to exercise more. (I say three days a week is enough, LOL).

I am not sure if BGH is really doing such a great informational job. We all have different information about vitamins, proteins, what to eat etc. Really, other than the MD appointments which are great, what other resources are available for information? Barb is helpful to if you have a problem. We need a resource for day to day questions so we can get the medical answers. Anyone agree? My sister went to Sisters and she is very happy and very skinny. Actually I was just suggesting she try both to see where she gets in first, since BGH is running at least 6 months. Not sure if they are hiring a new doc or not, which will make it even longer. I was looking into both but then BGH was faster, and of course I am happy with my surgery. I just wish it was easier to get answers to the day to day questions. Maybe they would put together a Q and A website.

Yes, Bloom, great job. Did you go right back to work then? Sounds like you did. How was it? Keep that momentum going.

If I were you I would apply to both Buffalo General and Caruana at Sisters. BGH is shorthanded, they lost one surgeon and one office person. Apply to both and see who comes through first.

I got the vitamins they told us to get, I am pretty sure they have iron, flintstones chewables. I take my vitamins and calcium together. Cant imagine an interaction.

Bloom, I lost 3 pounds the first week or so. I lose about 2 a week it seems. How did you do today? Nicki was there today but she did not see anyone she thought was you.

Yes the shoulder pain is bad. I pulled off the glue. I did not know it was supposed to stay on. I did not blow apart, LOL. The shoulder pain lasts a few weeks. I did not stay on the lortab because I went back to work and did not want to drive while on it. I save it for special evenings now when I hurt and want to sleep. I drove on day 3 to go to a funeral, did not have a problem but was tired after.

Band, my port sticks out a little. Probably will stick out more when I lose a little more weight. I think there is a low profile port that they can put in down the road (why not do it in the beggining one might wonder). Most of the bandsters I have seen have "outies" with regards to ports (protruding).

Buckets, we are always looking for new victims to share our stories, welcome!!!!

Yep coffee will be good! After September I should have plenty of time for that (I camp and camping season is over for me October 5). That would be great.

I did experience everything you are. the shoulder pain from the gas that they use to expand the opening for surgery went on for a few weeks, but it did get better. The abdominal gas (ie, fart) seems to stay with you but gets better, gas-x should help that type of gas. I used soft rolaids. I had a bruise the size of a baseball, I still have a slight shadow there. My port hurt for a while, and as you said it was really the only pain I had. I slept on my stomach right away when I came home. Occasionally I had to shift to get the weight off of it. It is better now. I was short of breath for about two weeks after surgery. I was worried too but it went away, probably anesthesia effect. The prognosis?-- You WILL live to be SKINNY!!!