Jodi_620

So my DH pointed something out that made me think of this thread again. OK, so I have a German Shepherd dog who enjoys my lap band for the benefit of finishing my food after a meal since now that I am banded I often cannot clean my plate. He is a well behaved dog that does not sit at the table and beg but my getting up from the table with my plate was alway his indicator to come and get it. But yesterday at lunch time my DH mentioned that the dog jumps up when I hiccup because he knows that means I am finished. I wasn't sure he was right about that but I looked for that reaction at dinner last night and sure enough when I hiccupped the dog came running.

Just curious, did your doctor watch your TSH levels and did you have any adjustments in your medication while losing? When I first got the LB, I told my endo about the surgery and he told me that he wanted to track my TSH because it was very likely that my Synthroid dosage would need to be lowered as I lost weight and he was right, I had to be adjusted down two times during my weightloss period.

That was something I noticed after banding as well. I used to get daily headaches, not bad ones just dull annoying headaches. I had to take tylenol more often than I liked. But headaches are rare for me now. I used to also always wake up with an achy back and that no longer happens. And going up and down stairs without the aching and cracking in the knees and ankles is a wonderful improvement too. Like Willem said, you will discover many pleasant health improvements as time goes on.

It sounds to me like you could use a fill. How much you need in your band varies from person-to-person so I never pay attention to how many cc's I have compared to someone else. I just pay attention to my current restriction level. The two indicators are, Are you satisfied on small meals without getting hungry before the next meal? Are you losing weight/not gaining? If you say no to one of these then it is time for a fill. I would get a fill, probably just a slight one but guage it by drinking water to see if it goes down not by cc's in the band; water should go down slowly but go down and stay down. And because you have to travel so far, after you leave the office hang out for a while sip a little more water and wait until you are sure you are ok before traveling two hours back home. Wouldn't want to be overfilled, that is miserable and would be even worse with such a long travel distance.

Yes, Google "protein powder" and you will find many products both flavored and unflavored, I just Googled "protein powder UK" and found without much searching that Amazon UK has it. So you should be able to find something. Good Luck!

My ability to eat bread and many other supposedly difficult foods changes with restriction which changes from week-to-week and even from morning to evening. For the most part it just doesn't go down comfortably enough to make it worth the effort but every once in a while I can have a little. I could never do subway, way too much bread...way too much everything really. And I also can't do the typcal processed spongy bread from the bread aisle, I get a hearty bread from the bakery which is healthier anyway. 1/2 slice is usually enough. Pasta is never an issue.

Restriction (fills) will decide how much you can eat. 1/2 cup has never been enough for me, I eat around 1 cup and always have. That amount satisfies me and has given me success at weightloss and after three years the band is still working. Stretching comes from eating all the time and constantly keeping your pouch filled to capacity. Ideally you should be eating three meals a day and allowing your pouch to empty out before you take in your next meal (only eat when you are actually hungry). If you graze all day adding food to the top as it slowly trickles through the band then eventually you will stretch your pouch.

Nope, not the only one. I know other bandsters that have this as well.

Sure it can restart your weightloss, that is the great thing about the band. It is adjustable and there for you when you are ready. I recently let things slide, not for a year but for several months and gained back some weight. As the pounds came back I started to get down on myself and started to try and talk myself into being too ashamed to go back for a fill where they would see that I was backsliding. But I sucked it up I went in and got a fill and lost the regained pounds and then some. My advice, review the rules and take the fills slowly until you are where you need to be...and please don't be down on yourself.

When I go tthe band three years ago a guideline for many insurances was that you needed to be at least 100 pounds overweight. in order to be covered and many surgeons wouldn't even do it unless you were so this new view on it is all new and strange to me. I have lost a little over 100 pounds and know other who have lost more with the lab band. I think that if you are determined and you follow the rules you can do it just like others have. Don't let anyone discourage you.

I get the hiccups a lot but not continuous, just when I have had enough to eat. It is my indicator that I am full.

I don't think Nyquil has NSAIDS, I thought it had acetaminophen which is not an NSAID

Being this is your first post, I think we need more information. Do you mean tips with the Lap Band? Pre-op? going it alone?....

Yeah, being on the right side it could be gall bladder. Maybe talk to your band surgeon that way he can asses not only whether is it gall bladder but if not also if it could be band related. My lap band surgeon assessed my gallbladder problem and he is the one who removed it for me too.

You should be pleased with yourself...you are doing great! We dropped almost the exact same amount of BMI points in the first six months so your progress seems to be close to what mine was. I thought I would post mine to give you an idea of a possible timeline: 40.2 start31.8 in (6 mos) 24.9-Normal (8 mos) 23.5-Initial goal (almost 1 yr.) 21.6- Current (almost 3 yrs.)

Exercise is a key factor in determining calories. How much and what kind of exercise are you doing?

The Lap Band makers say "use caution when taking NSAIDS as they may cause irritation". They do cause irritation for me so I don't use them.

I agree the swelling should go down and make things a little easier. You don't actually feel the band, your stomach itself has no nerves so it can't feel anything. What you are feeling is probably more in your esophagus. Eating and drinking slowly is now going to the your way of life.But once the swelling goes down it will be a little more comfortable as long as you follow the eating rules.

My post said that it is believed by some that a blind NG could cause a perforation. I don't know any more than what I've heard and wouldn't argue that either way. But my post didn't say that NSAIDS could cause a perforation. The statement "NO NSAIDS" would be a separate alert item(not related to the NG) that some people put on the bracelet. NSAIDS can cause irritation, even the makers of Lap Band have warned of that. I took just some OTC type once and it burned like fire.

It is suggested to get one that at least says "No Blind NG" If in an emergency you need an (naso gastric)NG tube inserted, doing so without a camera and not knowing you have the band could cause perferation of the pouch. Some also add "No NSAIDS" and "No Sugar" I don't have one and it was never suggested by my doc to get one but I suppose it would be a smart idea.

I haven't tried other brands of greek yogurt so I don't have any commparison but I always buy Chobani brand. It is thicker than regular yogurt, which I like, but once the fruit is mixed in well I don't notice a more bitter taste than in any other type of yogurt but maybe it is just my taste. I have had peach, blueberry and honey and think they are all good.

I have never had the numbing and like you I don't see the point in being poked twice. The fill needle does not hurt any worse than a needle used in a blood draw, just that initial poke going in. Now that my stomach fat is gone, my port is at the surface but even when it was deeper the pain without numbing was no worse than it is now. The first fill is scary but it really isn't so bad, if you can handle the pain of a blood draw you can handle this. My doctor recommends I call immediately and get a complete unfill if I get the flu and start throwing up.

Yeah to get an accurate fill you want your pouch to be empty.I am actually told nothing to eat four hours prior and nothing to drink 2 hour prior. Then reintroduce foods slowly starting with liquids to mushies to soft solids...