kiz

We had an exercises specialist as a guest speaker at our lap band support group meeting. There are many exercises you can do to tightening your muscles while sitting in a chair in the privacy of your home. (I just googled "chair exercise" and there were tons of links). She also suggested using a "resistance band" for more toning. (There are lots of links for resistance band too). For cardio, she recommended a recumbent bike or elliptical over a treadmill and walking for those with joint pain. Good luck with your upcoming band surgery, and I hope you find ways to exercise that you're comfortable with.

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I had my first, second, and third fills two weeks apart each. My first and third fills were under fluoro, and they took a picture before they did the third fill, and I was very open. I felt some restriction the first week of each of those fills, but by the end of the second week, the restriction had waned greatly. This is very normal. Some people get restriction from the get-go, and others, it takes a little longer. It also varies based on how much saline the doctor likes to use with your fills. Some doctors are more aggressive than others.

Thanks for the advice, maw. I have an appointment this week, and I was going to talk to my doctor about the vitamins I'm taking (extra B12 and D). I'll ask him about the calcium combo. I'd rather just stick to the two sf Tums that he recommends, but I'm afraid the calcium isn't enough and not the right type. I also hate to take the Viactivs because of the added carbs and calories. I know it's just 40 cals and 6 carbs, but when I'm on my elliptical, I see with my calorie counter how much energy it takes to burn off just 40 cals. I wish there was was sf Viactiv.

That's great advice. It's such a motivator, especially when it seems like the scale isn't moving. My doctor does a white light scan every three months that does a total scan with measurements of your whole body. I forget how many total inches I lost at three months, but it was a lot. I'm going in soon for my six month. I hope it's kind to me.

"I might push her more next time, but only if she could do a vaginal one (I don't want to be opened up again)." Even though it's been several years ago, mine was done vaginally. I recovered very quickly, and was able to take a group of cub scouts to resident camp six weeks later. The only thing was more poor belly button was getting a workout. First, my tubal ligation was through my naval, then my gall bladder was removed through my naval, then they used my naval as one of the openings for my hysterectomy. I should have had a zipper installed. That's too bad about the insurance though.

I could have written your post. Are you absolutely sure there's no fibroids to speak of... I had my tubes tied the day after my last was born, just a few years before my hysterectomy. That ended up being kind of a waste, but, oh well. It was nice not to have to worry with contraceptives.

I didn't like the children's chewables either, and I was very relieved to find adult chewables. They taste much better in my opinion. I passed my Flintsone Vitamins down to my kids. I take one Viactiv and two SF Tums for calcium immediately after though, because they taste even better. They're sort of my Vitamin chaser, lol.

Not to wish fibroids on anyone, but that's why I had a hysterectomy (my tubes are still intact). I always had very painful cramps followed by a solid week of . It was such a blessing not to face that again. Thankfully, we had already had our children and weren't planning on any additions. I know this can be heartbreaking for someone younger, but if you're not planning on any more children, and you have very painful/heavy periods, the surgery really is worth it. I've had no complications. Only :tt1:.

Marie, I'm a believer in them too. That was great that you were able to buy some fast enough to give you relief. As you mentioned, they're very inexpensive, and seem very benign, so I think it's a great idea to have them on hand before you get in trouble. The first time I tried them, I was skeptical, but boy, they did the trick. I'm sure they were why I didn't have a PB, which I'm very grateful. Mine are papaya/pineapple extract chewables, and they have a very good flavor too.

It also sounds to me like you need a slight unfill. You definitely don't want to cause more swelling by continuing to PB. You can't even really hold down mushie food. My doctor's rule is if you can't hold down liquids, you need an some saline removed. If you can get to mushies, but can't move to solid foods within two weeks, you need to come in for a slight unfill. This seems to be pretty standard from what I've read. Good luck, and I hope you get this resolved quickly.

Happy to help, Debbie. I love your new title!!

I agree with the others. Gastric band aftercare is not always black and white. You'll want someone who is very knowledgeable on the ins and outs of fills, the variances of how different people's bodies react to the band, etc. There's a lot more to being a good band surgeon than the actual surgery. The long term care can be very variable, and you'll want someone who has first hand experience in dealing with patients after the surgery is completed. He could be the most competent surgeon in the world, but if he's not in practice with an experienced gastric band surgeon, you may be his first patient to experience a complication that he's not seen first hand. I wouldn't want to be that patient.

Click on: User CP (top of page on left) click on: Edit details scroll down to: Custom User Title (not a stupid question at all)

Personally, I find you putting yourself in the position to speak for God highly offensive, if not sinful. Only God knows what is in this young woman's heart, and as far as I know, He has the Last Word on forgiveness.

LOL, Mac! I know a few of those types that would be great for the show. It must have been a hoot watching the show she was on.

Worried, many people, me included, needed some fills at two-week intervals to get going on restriction. I'd feel restriction for two weeks, and then it would seem to disappear. I've had six fills in almost six months to get to my "sweet spot" that's sticking. I had fill 1 at six weeks, fill 2 at eight weeks, fill 3 at ten weeks, fill 4 at 14 weeks, fill 5 at 18 weeks, and fill 6 at 20 weeks (these are approx). I'm still going strong on my last fill, and it was four weeks ago. Before the restriction seemed to disappear, but this time it's not. My doctor said that my experience was very normal.

Best of luck, innotu.

I take Walgreen's brand of Centrum Chewables, High Potency A thru Z, and they have 100% daily value of iron (18 mg). That's surprising the Centrum Silver doesn't have any iron. I added a one small iron supplement because I was feeling sluggish. I got them at the Vitamin Shoppe. They're smaller than a Sudafed tab, and have 39% daily value for iron in one tab, and you can take three a day (I take one). The brand is Floradix Iron + Herb Tablets.

Check out the thread at the end of this post, and pick out a few people who are doing well with their weight loss. You should get some good ideas of what to eat. For instance, you mentioned you're eating soup, and while there's nothing in the world wrong with soup, it's not particularly a good bander choice for a satisfying meal because it goes right through your band. Share Ideas, What Did You Eat Today... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/share-ideas-what-did-you-eat-today-36828/

rhawkes, I'm sorry things haven't been going well. It sure doesn't help that you're doctor retired, and your new one doesn't sound all that supportive. Do you feel like you have good restriction with your band? Also, how is your diet? Are you eating good healthy solid proteins and veggies? Are you measuring your meals? If your able to eat big portions of healthy (non-slider foods), your band is still loose and not helping you reduce the amount of food you're eating. A lot of people track their foods. I haven't started doing that yet, but many people swear by it. There's several online sites to help you with that. One of them is Daily Plate. Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate Anyway, those are the first things I'd be looking at. Good luck, and please come back and ask specific questions, if you have any.

Also, chances are you, when you had your overfill and started throwing up, you got some swelling around the band area, and that's why you ended up needing a complete unfill. It's very good that you didn't let this linger, and took care of it right away. I wouldn't be worried about getting fills in the future, because your doctor will know to take it slow, and you'll know to introduce solid foods very cautiously. I'm sure your band isn't failing you. Good luck, and I hope you're feeling better soon.

Yup, count me in too. I get all my news from The Onion. :tt2:

I have good restriction, and I don't have to sip like that. I've never been one to chug water, but I wouldn't be able to chug now. I can drink very normally though. You will loosen up, as the initial swelling goes down. This is temporary, as avan said.

I agree with nomebug and tquad. This isn't normal, and if you continue to aggravate the area, I would think it's likely that you'll cause more swelling. I'd call my doctor right away, if it were me, and ask his opinion. My guess is he'll want to take more fluid out. This is one of those "a stitch in time, saves nine" situations.