MistyD65

Are you getting enough protein? From what I've read, that seems to be a key factor in hair loss.

Last week: 273.5 This week: 270.2 Loss: 3.3 pounds!!!! I think my good losses these past two weeks have been because I've actually gotten MORE calories. I've been hovering below 1000 since surgery, but the past couple of weeks, I've eaten out several times - always being careful. Whatever the reason is, I'll accept it! Great job everyone!

All right! Well, there are 4 of us so far, so I'm going to make it official and say we will meet at Vida Loca at 2 PM on this Saturday, September 27. Anyone else is welcome to join us! Vida Loca is located one block east of Mason Rd. on Kingsland Blvd. It is behind the Kroger shopping center. Now we need some way to recognize each other!

Who is up for getting together this Saturday at 2 PM? Unfortunately, I was not able to get a meeting room at the library, so we'll still have to figure out a location. A Starbucks will work if there are 5 or 6 of us, but I think we'd need somewhere bigger if there are more. My sister and I ate the other day at Vida Loca on Kingsland Road, a block east of Mason (used to be Las Rosas). They have a really nice, big patio. I guess I'll wait and see how many people respond that they plan to attend, then we can decide from there. And if you have any suggestions of places to meet, please toss them out there! I don't know about you all, but I could use some girl-chat time. :confused:

Who is up for getting together this Saturday at 2 PM? Unfortunately, I was not able to get a meeting room at the library, so we'll still have to figure out a location. A Starbucks will work if there are 5 or 6 of us, but I think we'd need somewhere bigger if there are more. My sister and I ate the other day at Vida Loca on Kingsland Road, a block east of Mason (used to be Las Rosas). They have a really nice, big patio. I guess I'll wait and see how many people respond that they plan to attend, then we can decide from there. And if you have any suggestions of places to meet, please toss them out there! I don't know about you all, but I could use some girl-chat time. :confused:

RUN, don't walk, back to your doctor. Make an appointment for a fill,and between now and then do what you know you are supposed to do. The fill may or may not get you to your "sweet spot", but even if it does, it is still up to you to make up your mind to resist the temptations of carbs and sweets. Accept that your doctor may comment on your lack of progress, and be determined that the NEXT time you go in he will have to comment on your GREAT progress! Ask him for suggestions, get involved with a support group, find something to do when those snack urges hit that will get you through them. And remember this saying, that has become one of my favorites: Don't give up what you want the MOST, for what you want at the moment.

It depends on what it is. If I am supposed to have 3 ounces of chicken, turkey, fish, etc., I weigh it. For my chicken and tuna salads, vegetables, cereals, and fluids (of course) I use a measuring cup. It is kind of confusing when things are listed in ounces, because that could be a measure of volume OR weight. Cups and divisions of cups, teaspoons and tablespoons are straightforward, but ounces......:embaressed_smile:

I was banded on August 4 and got my first fill on September 8, 5 weeks post-op. My next one is scheduled for October 20.

My doctor recommended Milk of Magnesia for constipation brought on by the liquid hydrocodone. I only took one dose, and it did the trick. A couple of days later, when I was starting to feel it again, I drank some apple juice, and it helped. Once i got off the hydrocodone, I had no more problems.

lol...I tried those Listerine strips...even got the Cinnamon flavored ones. I decided I liked my ketosis breath better.:thumbup:

Drury, are you exercising? I had not been until this week, when I had to do a lot of yard work to clean up from Hurricane Ike...and I had dropped 4 pounds since last week! I too lost a great deal of weight in the first two weeks after surgery, then it has just been crawling ever since. Exercise really does play a big part, especially if changing your diet alone is not working.

I've decided that my pouch holds a little less than a cup, because when I do eat a full cup....ow. I get a feeling kind of like having a stitch in my side, but right about where the band is.

Last week: 277.6 This week: 273.5 Just over 4 pounds! Woo hoo!! o/ Must have been all the yard work I've been doing cleaning up from Hurricane Ike. And no, I don't want another hurricane for more exercise!:smile2: AND........I've hit the 30 pound mark! :smile: As a reward I'm going to make an appointment to get my hair permed. It's been so long since my last one that it's almost all grown out! Keep up the great work everyone!:thumbup:

Wow... only one ounce of food at a time. Is that one ounce by weight or volume? It just seems like such a small amount to be able to eat. Have you been back to your doctor? I think I'd have to ask him about that. From what I've read, most people's pouches hold between 1/2 to 1 cup of food.

When I eat out, I have them bring me a glass of Water, for "emergencies" such as extra hot salsa! But I put it out of reach so I don't drink from it out of habit. If you take a small sip, I don't think you are going to hurt anything. I usually try to wait an hour after eating before I drink. And it IS weird. I'm so used to drinking with a meal. But I just don't do it anymore. At home, I don't fix anything to drink with my meals.

Hang in there! Sounds like maybe you aren't eating enough. Do you know how many calories you take in each day? My nutritionist recommended 1000-1200, and up to 1400 if you are exercising vigorously and often. Since you say you are starving yourself, your body is probably trying to do its darndest to hold onto whatever it gets. Eating more, but still within limits, can actually make you lose more weight. As far as fills, there are specialized "fill centers" across the country. Fill Centers USA is one that I know of. You are not getting the attention you deserve from your hospital. Does the Lap Band program at Mercy offer aftercare - nutrition advice, counseling, support groups, as well as fills? I think I would call the director of the program and make a complaint about your calls not being returned. You might check out the Illinois Support group threads here Illinois Local Lap-Band Support - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum to find out more about fills in your area. Best of luck and don't give up!

Did your doctor recommend the aggressive fills? Mine said that almost every time he has done a more aggressive fill (at the request of the patient), the results are not good. Even if you have a fill done under fluoro, and everything seems to be passing through the band just fine, from what I've read here, most people find that it can take several weeks to really feel the effects of the fill. By that time, what seemed like just the right amount of restriction becomes too much, and you can't eat without PBing. I would rather take the slow route than face the risk of hurting myself by rushing the trek to the "sweet spot".

:biggrin: The library is still closed, so this weekend's (9/20) meeting is once more postponed. I will call the library as soon as I see it has reopened and try to reserve a meeting room for NEXT Saturday (9/27), hopefully for 2 PM. Watch this space, as well as your email, for an update. I hope everyone is doing ok after Ike.

And please welcome our newest Bandster...call her the Hurricane Bandster...misskitty84!!! Neither high winds nor storm surge kept her from being banded this week!:biggrin: Aww BrownBear, that really sucks!:thumbup: I'll go out and try to push some power guys in your direction! Regarding this Saturday, the college library is closed, so once again our meeting is postponed. I will call them as soon as they reopen and see if I can reserve a meeting room for NEXT Saturday, the 27th. I'm going to shoot for 2 PM again. Watch your email for exciting developments.. lol:tongue2:

It was never mentioned as a no-no by my surgeon. I keep some in my purse for those "not-so-fresh" moments, but seldom chew it. I've never had any trouble with gas from chewing gum, but I only chew it for 10-15 minutes at the most. Once the flavor is gone, it's outta there. But I can understand the very real possibility of a big problem if it is swallowed. Perhaps I'll switch to mints once I finish this pack.

Ah, well that would explain the higher charge. If the fills are not normally done under fluoroscopy (x-ray), then having one done that way is going to cost more. My doctor does not use fluoro. If I were to need a fill done that way, we would have to do it at a hospital - thus more expense.

When were you banded Parul? That's going to have a lot to do with it. When I started soft foods in week 4 post-op (and before any fills) I was eating 1/2 cup of chicken or tuna salad and 6 Ritz crackers with no problem for lunch, and 3 oz of chicken, fish or turkey plus 1/2 cup of vegetables for supper. At first that would satisfy me for a good 3 hours or more, but now, in week 6, it only holds me for about 2 hours. It's not surprising that your 1 ounce of food is only keeping your hunger away for an hour. Are you just physically not able to eat any more than that, or is 1 ounce at a time what you doctor has told you?

Hey Illion. Katy fared pretty well. Lots of tree debris to clean up, a few isolated places are still without power, but I count us as very lucky. My house only lost power for 7 hours Saturday morning. We ended up with one large tree limb down in our backyard, but thankfully it didn't hit anything. Did you have any effects from the storm?

I'm glad you asked this. I've been wondering about it, too. What I don't understand is, if you've already eaten most of your meal, theoretically filling up the pouch and covering the stoma, why would a last, poorly chewed bite get stuck? I wouldn't think that bite would be anywhere near the stoma yet to block it, but the effects are instant. Any ideas?

Those commercials should come with a disclaimer: "Lap Band takes care of constant hunger AFTER you go through post-op Bandster Hell; AFTER you have 3,4 or more fills, which can be 6 weeks apart; AFTER you get a handle on Head Hunger; AFTER you change your diet to eat protein first....etc., etc." Yes, it is going to work, but it's not going to happen overnight. I'm afraid many are misled by the advertising for Lap Band, and even by the seminars held by surgeons. And this web site should be required reading for anyone considering getting banded, because it gives a "warts and all" overview.:thumbup: