ChicagoCoco

Hi, All. I had a second fill about three weeks ago and was in pain, was pb'ing, couldn't eat until way late in the day and then only one or two bites, was afraid to eat becuase of how often I was throwing up, etc. So, I went into the Dr's office where he took out .25 of a cc (the fill was 1cc). But, now, five days later I can eat lots, more than I could *before* the second fill. Does this sound familiar to anyone? What has happened? I'm confused and more than a bit worried that he might have punctured the band. I *am* restricted, but, again, not as much as I was before getting the second fill. Ostensibly I've got .75cc more in the band than I had then... Thanks in advance for your help and clarity. Coco

Thanks for your responses. While it's upsetting, it's nice to know I'm not alone in wondering. Does anyone know *why* this happens? C

Hi. I didn't have the band when I took this medicine. But, I took it for smoking cessation some years ago and remember that one of the side effects tht was often reported was decreased appetite. It's powerful stuff. Doesn't surprise me that it's affecting her band. I had to stop taking it because I started having heart palpatations. Eek. She should talk to both her PCP and Band surgeon straight away, I'd think. Luck! CCoco

I just got back from having my first fill. And, I can say that I almost passed out on the Fluro table--a couple of times! My surgeon and his intern were there and assured me that it is a common phenomenon. Evidently, there is a nerve that runs down the abdomen that is more sensitive in some people than in others. The needles, both for numbing and for filling, somehow impact that nerve. They were completely non-plussed about it, said it happens a lot, they flattened me out on the table a couple of times, gave me some Water and I felt better, though not completely better until I was out in the fresh air. All of that is to say: It might happen to you again and I wouldn't worry about it. Again, my surgeon seemed completly fine with it and they had a routine down to deal with it which tells me it happens enough for them to know what to do. Coco

I always like to give Harry and David fruit. Depending on how much you want to spend you could give a something like a box of rainier cherries (these are just in as I got mine today). Or, you could be more extravagant and give a couple of months of fruit. They have all sorts of options. The Figs are just in too and are breathtaking. The other thing you might do is give a gift on behalf of the surgeon's office to some charity that does good, medically-based work around the world (or, down in LA). That might be meaningful and would be put to really good use. Luck! Coco

Hi, All. I was just banded on June 19th and already find myself asking questions like "how do I get my head around not eating another huge plate of food," which I know sounds silly. But, it feels like a sort of grief (and at the same time a really great relief, as odd as that sounds). So, I guess I'm wondering if those of you who have been banded for awhile can share your tricks of the trade, the things you've done and still do to help move you past old behaviors. Thanks and Happy 4th! Coco

Oops! I forgot to say: You guys are great!! not just great great. But, Tony the Tiger GREEEEAT! Thanks again. Coco

All, Thanks so much for the wonderful tips!! I had ice cream in the house and am promptly throwing it away (not that there is much left. sigh). And, I've been using smaller plates already, but asking for them in restuarants is a great idea. Also, I'm super intrigued by the notion of fills. I can't tolerate that much food right now. I'm not sure if that's because of the swelling or if I already have som sort of restriction. In any event, more restriction is a little scary. If other folks have additional tricks I'd love to hear them. I'm compiling a list. Maybe I should post it? Thanks again, guys. And, have a great holiday! Coco

Hi. I gave up Diet Coke, which was my absolute favorite thing to drink, about a month before being banded. I'm amazed that I don't miss it. But, I did go through a week of headache and caffeine withdrawl, which proved to me that it was probably not the best for me, at least in the quantities I was taking in. So, I now drink lots of Crystal Light. I also have been making up tea drinks: hibiscus tea with apple juice and lemonade. Yum!! Sometimes, if I'm really jonesing for something sweet, I do sweetened iced tea. Also, I'll treat myself to Starbucks' Blended strawberry Lemonade. This isn't a drink on their signage, but they will make it and it is sooooooo good. Whew! Luck with the DC trip. It does get better after your body detoxes. Yep. Coco

Hi Everybody! Holy Smokes am I confused by "soft food." I'm entering the Soft Food stage of my diet. But, I'm a little confused as to what, exactly, this means and since the holidays are upon us and my surgeon is gone, I thought I'd ask folks who are in the know (at least more in the know than I am). According to my dr's guidelines my Soft Diet is supposed to be composed of "Soft foods that can be cut with a fork." (that's all they list. humph.) Does that include, in your opinion, Fish Fruit (fresh, ripe) Spinach Scrambled eggs and so forth? I find the provided guidelines very ambigious. I could probably cook some short ribs of beef so that they are tender enough to cut with a fork (I won't! but, I could, no?). Anyway, thanks for your help. I'm open to all suggestions. I haven't been able to find a list that explicitly for this stage... Happy Holidays, Bandsters! Coco

Thanks, Poodles. Why do you think crackers are included in your doctor's list of "soft foods"? Coco

a couple of years ago when I was trying to lose weight (I did, 50lbs! which I put back on :phanvan), my dietician told me that the Big Gulp Slurpee I was drinking everyday contained between 800-900 calories! 800-900!! :omg: Now, that was a Big Gulp, but if the "regular" Slurpee is even a third the size of the highest estimate given by my dietician, that'd mean it would contain 300 calories, or, if you rather think of it like this: 1/4 of your daily calories (if you're on a 1200 calorie diet). Yikes! Grumble. Coco ps--I was drinking the Slurpee because I thought: "well, surely *this* is mostly ice and air and can't possibly as bad for me as the, ahem, eight oatmeal chocolate chip Cookies I eat every night." Sigh. Pitiful, I was, says Yoda-Coco.

Hi. Thanks for the advice. I'll call my doctor today. Yesterday, out of frustration, I took some over-the-counter laxatives thinking, "it can't hurt." That seems to have worked a bit. Even though I wasn't officially constipated, I probably wasn't as normal as I should have been. The nerve thing sounds scary! I hope it's all gone now. Funny what gardening can do. I read somewhere that gardening burns a whole bunch of calories! Anyway, thanks again, guys. Your ideas were helpful. If I talk to my MD and find out it was something besides intestinal blockage/cramp, I'll let you know.

Hi, Folks. I was banded on June 19th and everything has been going well (I think!). But, I have a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, about four inches to the right of my belly button (and about five inches below my port incision). It feels like a cramp, but I don't have gas issues and I while I haven't been as regular as I'd like, I'm not totally backed up. Sometimes it moves slightly lower, as if it's hovering around the ovary area, but then moves back up. Any ideas? I've gotten myself a bit worried. The pain isn't the sort of thing that I normally have and so I'm convinced it's related to the surgery. Likewise, I'm not sure it's drastic enough, although it is uncomfortable when I do things like stand or walk the dog, to alert my physician. I hate to be a screaming Mimi. I guess I'm really just hoping this sounds familiar to someone and for some sage advice. Anyone? Thanks for your help!!! Best, Coco

Linda, what do Papaya Enzymes *do* that make PBing better? I've never heard of them and they sound like something very cool! Coco

Thanks, Amus. Have your pains gone away?

Hi, June folks! Congrats to those of you who are banded *and* to those of you who are yet to be banded. I've been lurking for a bit. Was just banded yesterday and had many of the same fears I see posted here. For what it's worth: the surgery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. The pre-surgery staff were really wonderful: warm, generous, gentle. I had to stay in the hospital overnight and that crew was fine, too. The only thing I'd suggest, for those of you who can, is that you bring with you an advocate, someone who can make sure you get an extra blanket if you need one. It's always nice and in my case, would have been a little less lonely. In any event, it's probably healthy to have fears. I figure fears mean I'm not a Pollyanna and am entering whatever it is with somewhat open eyes, always the best way to approach anything in my book. Glad to be among you! Yay! Best, Coco

Dear All, I've researched and researched and have all kinds of information about the procedure and so forth. I'm stuck, now, between Dr. Alexander Nagel at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Wellness Institute and Dr. Santiago Horgan at 900 N. Michigan Avenue. (maybe I should say, here, that I'm a self-pay person and so can move forward fairly quickly once I figure out which of these two doctor's/centers will be best for me.) I've found some old (dated) threads on LBT that briefly discuss each of these two places/doctors. But, I'd like to know if anyone has any current information that might help me draw a bigger picture. Ex: what kind of care do folks get from Dr. Horgan, any problems with the support groups there? How did people find Dr. Nagel as a surgeon? And, the support groups/staff at the Wellness Institute? I like the support mechanisms and staff at the Wellness Institute (and that it's at a reputable hospital in case something goes wrong). I like Dr. Horgan's experience (something like 700 surgeries). Eek! Eek! This is soooo difficult. Any illumination would be so appreciated. I am in the dark, for sure! Thanks a bunch. Coco

The Y also has a great Commit To Be Fit program. This takes different forms at different Y's. In D.C., for example, you could sign up to have your monthly hours logged (via machine) and the top hour earners were posted and so forth (I always find this sort of harmless competition a great self-motivator for me). But, also, the Y I'm currently going to has such reduced prices ($36.00 per hour) for personal training, that I use my personal trainer as an incentive, too. He pushes me and expects to see me in there more often than not (read: not so good at being accountable just to myself, much better if someone else has their eye on me). If money is a concern, I think that at some Y's you get to work for a session or two with a personal trainer (for free!) as part of the Commit To Be Fit program. Luck!:clap2: Coco ps--I also have a heart rate monitor that helps me get motivated. I know that if I expend 3500 calories, I've expended one pound of fat! Maybe a gadget like this and/or a pedometer might also help you?

Thanks, Renee. Very helpful. I'd not been thinking about the aftercare program as a lifetime commitment, but of course it is! Thanks again. Coco

Hi. I also had the same questions. My dietician assures me I shouldn't have a problem. Folks here said the same thing when I asked them. And, because I obsess, I've started testing by having a Protein drink in lieu of a meal every now and then. So far so good. Of course, this isn't the same as having liquids for days on end. But, I haven't felt faint at all. I've been drinking Isopure drinks from GNC, which, I have to admit, take some getting used to, but which have lots of protein per bottle... Anyway, you might want to check in with your doctor and team and see what they have to say about it. Good Luck! Coco

Ha! So great to know what folks do!! I'm a writer, poetry mostly. And, since that doesn't pay well (yep, when was the last time *you* bought a book of poems?) I am also a Prof. of English. ~Coco

Dsrjrr: that's great.:clap2: You and I are in the same boat in many ways. I'm still waiting to talk to two doctor's next week, but expect to get a surgery date soon. We also have a birthdate in common. You're not in Illinois are you? That would be too funny! Please keep me updated as to your progress! I'm really excited that someone my exact same age is going to be a bandster, too. Yay! Yay! ~ChicagoCoco

Dear All, I feel better and will definitely talk to both my doctor and surgeon before proceeding. Thanks so much for your wisdom. Hope one and all are well! Best, Coco

Hello, All. Has anyone had problems with malnutrition? I’m concerned as I have a condition similar to hypoglycemia (but not hypoglycemia exactly), which causes me to “crash” if I’ve not eaten. Does anyone know how the Lap Band will affect this? Also, is the pre and post-op liquid diet likely to cause me to crash, even if I am getting lots of protein? I worry about this specifically because when I was a teenager and on an Optifast liquid diet, I fainted for lack of calories (and really gave myself a nasty crack to the head). So, crashing is something to which I’m prone and of which I am fearful, given the relative permanence of this procedure. Certainly, I’ll ask my surgeon about this, but I thought I’d check with you guys first since you guys have actually had the surgery. Sorry for the number of questions, but I’m on track to have my consultation(s) and because I’m a self-pay will have a surgery date sooner rather than later. I’ve been searching this site (and thankful that it and you guys are here!) and have found most all the answers I was seeking. These are some of the last ones. Thanks in advance, guys! Shine, Coco