Kat817

Welcome to LBT! We live full time in New Mexico, but have a place in Texas, between where you are in Austin and Abilene--near Brownwood/Stephenville. Good Luck on your banding, it will be so much different than past diet attempts!!! Kat

It could simply be that 3.1cc's is not enough restriction for you. You could go up from there, and see how it goes. I know I have read on here, that you can actually fit more than the 4cc.'s in the band due to the tubing etc. Is there a reason that your Dr. stops there? I understand you had restriction there before, but you have also lost weight since then, and that will cause the band to loosen. I would go up from there in very small increments, and see how it feels. How much more weight do you have to lose? Kat

It is not uncommon. They do stitch the port in, but it is in soft tissue---and some just don't hold. The surgery to put it back in right is less invasive than the original banding surgery, and does not interupt your weightloss seriously. Look up FairyFacade on here----her name is Laura, she is part of the Shrinking Violets Group, and she had this happen. Looks like she will still make her 100 pounds lost in the first year!!! Hope all goes well for you! Kat

Caryn---click on someones ticker, it will take you to Tickerfactory. Go through setting up your ticker...enter your weights, how you want it to show...you have a choice---you can show pounds lost or your weight. So one would show your current and goal weight the other would not. Then pick the back of your ticker, there are several pages, when you decide, click on the circle and go to next. Then pick the design to show where you are on the ticker--and do the same, click the circle and go to next. Then it will take you to a page that has the codes. Use the top one. Click on the writing inside the box, highlight it all and right click to copy. Then come over here to LBT, click on edit signature in the right hand corner of options----it will show you what your current one looks like and in the bottom it will allow you to change it. Go in there, click where you want the ticker to be, right click and select paste. It should show up all the code. At the bottom click preview signature to see if it copied correctly---it should be there, then click save signature. Next time, when your weight changes, all you have to do is click on your ticker, enter your new # and it changes automatically. Hope that helps, I am not a computer guru---waaaaay far from it!! If you have problems let me know! Kat

It is truly amazing what a difference a simple .01 or .02 cc's can make!!! hope you find a good spot for you. Let me know what the barium swallow shows. Kat

Yep---just did, just responded!!! LOL Kat

Hi girls! Look up lazy in the dictionary and you will find me!!! I slept better last night, Rick woke me up completely about 2 and had me take a pill, I was moaning in my sleep, and he thought if I let it go til I totally woke up it would be harder to control again. The sirgeon said to stay on top of the pain, not to let it get out of control again, as it causes you to tighten the jaw muscles....and exacerbate the pain. So he give me a pill------and I was off to Lala land again!! Feel about like I've been drugged this morning!! My Mom had an appointment, so I have Kinsey back, but she has been a sweetie. She come in and we went back to bed, when we woke up we were laying there talking about what she wanted for breakfast---she said lets eat cereal, and I told her Granny can't eat---my mouth hurts---she comes over to me, lays her hand on my cheek and tells me "You poor precious baby"......took everything in me not to laugh, she was being so sincere!!! She has played quietly with her Polly Pockets, and been wonderful. Now I need to find her some lunch. Thinking I might try to eat some soup. Lunasa--good to see you!!! You won't find any better support than these girls! Enjoy your new house and new nephew--they are such fun! My DIL mentioned she may not go get her birth control shot....their little boy just turned 2, so they are talking about another! I am keeping my mouth shut!! Jane---weather still causing your clients to hole up and not come in?? It is clear in our little corner of NM, everywhere else in the state is getting snow! We used to order from all the book orders too! This year, Ryan (DD's bf) sent Lindzie to school with the ok to buy a book, and a poster, and the other $10.00 was to go to pay for her lunches. Well she come home, and she had 3 posters, and a purse toy with colored pencils and sharpener and notepad in it, and a magnetic puzzle of some sort. And she give me money back Lindzie said all proud of herself, she had a few cents left over!!! He ask her what about your lunches? She tells him it's ok, they let me charge it!!! She did not buy her lunches nor a single book at the book fair! He took her loot away from her, and told her she has to do extra chores now to earn it back. She was unhappy! Well this little girl is starving! Her cereal wore off!!! So I better find her some food. Will talk to y'all later! Kat

HI---got some sleep, feel a little better. Made some frozen dinner thing for Rick. He kept saying not to do anything, but I hate not having some sort of dinner. So I cheated---bought a tub of Country Crock mashed potatoes, and Banquet Salsbury steaks, a can of green beans, and I called it dinner!!! My Mom picked up the potatoes for me---she said my lazy dinner sounded good enough she bought the same thing!!! LOL---Rick ate, I managed some mashed potatoes and gravy---and some green beans--feel a lot better. Y'all can have the demerol---it helps SO much, but it leaves me with a hangover headache. And I have some serious Demerol Dreams.....in a haze, half awake, half asleep! I am so ready to sleep well tonight though! I took my tooth out and rinsed it---supposed to do that 3 times a day now. 'Bout cried when it gouged into the socket though. Rick tells me "Dayum that's a big hole!" Ya think???? Tracy did they say you could peroxide the wound? Maybe keep it cleaned out? Is it in the skin fold of your stomach? Terry---how is your Mom today? You seem much calmer with the situation, hope all is well. I so hear you on the tattoos and kids. Rick and I neither one have one, nor allowed them when they were at home....but all 3 of them have them now! Manda's boyfriend has one on his arm, my DIL has none--which is a huge surprise! And our SIL has none, but encourages Abbey to get more....he is afraid of the pain, but hers make him happy. His Mother has 9 different ones. I -------totally lost my train of thought....no idea what I was saying next!! Haydee---hope you and Juan are ok---fighting is so upsetting. Rick and I have an occasional set to over something, but no knock down, blow outs for us! He is very careful with me still to this day, he does not raise his voice---and if we do disagree, he will sit down, and stay seated the whole time. Once early on we were arguing over something (Lenny and Manda I am sure!) and he stalked over my direction and I cringed or cowered, and it totally upset him, so now he never acts aggressive like that. Now the other day we were walking in from the road, where we had said bye to Manda and her family, and we were pushing and shoving, and trying to get in the house first, but it was all in fun, we were laughing---not arguing so it makes a difference. I have since had 2 of my neighbors laugh at us, acting like kids! I love that I can play that way again----used to be I could hip check him into next week!! Ok---I am off to dream strange dreams....Tracy you really don't need demerol dreams to go with your Chantix dreams!!! Hugs girls~~see ya tomorrow! Kat

Pat it had nothing to do with bravery!!! Years ago my a$$hole exhusband backhanded me. It broke my jaw. During all the xrays and things it looked like this tooth was broken in the root. We watched it, it never caused pain or anything, in almost 2 decades!!!! Then when it broke back 3 weeks ago, it took off all of the tooth except a tiny shell on the inside, the rest was gone--just that open root....deep down. Nothing for a dentist to grab to pull the tooth. So that is why I had to see an oral surgeon, they had to cut part of the gum down to get to the root and chisel it out ---literally. Today I am bruised and swollen. I saw my regular dentist today, and he did a lot of help----so I am going to survive. But right now it is nap time.....off to have some Demerol Dreams!!! Hugs right back atcha!!! When is your test?? Kat

Foofy, I wish it had been a good experience...but it was not pleasant! They had to dig out the root, and it hurt....today I am swollen and bruised. I have a spacer tooth thing that went right in on top of the open socket and stitches. Today I had it ground down some and it feels much better. To top it off, the pain meds he give me are far too big for a bandster. I ask him, he said no he didn't think they were real big, but they were. My DH cut one up for me, but I think it let too much dissolve at once and I was soooooo sick. I avoid PB'ing and throwing up at all costs normally, but I had zero control over this, I heaved and threw up for an hour. So of course all that pressure on the open socket did not help! Plus now I worry about my band!!! Of course! My dentist today gave me small pain meds I know work. So it is all gonna get better from here. I think I would have rather been banded again, or had another baby that do yesterday again.....glad it is over. Hope everyone else is having a better day today too---hope the requested group hug helped all of you!! Kat

Home again. Taking that little clip partial thing in and out DID hurt. But he ground it down so now I am not getting pressure put on the open socket, and it feels much better. He also give me a prescription for my little tiny demerol pills that help. So it is getting better. Headache remains, but that does not surprise me. Tracy, you poor thing. Did they suggest anything for your wound when the numbness wears off? Hot packs? cold packs? I know neosporin I think it is, now makes a type of their ointment with a pain reliever in it, some lidocaine I think---I used it on my burn last year, and it helped. I had a postule type of boil once----in a place VERY delicate, and uncomfortable. It began like the size of a pea---I felt it hurt when I wiped myself, and it grew to a big old marble size----I made an appt. with my GYN, but the nurse told me in the meantime to use hot packs, it would draw it where when he drained it, it would release more. Apparently they are not uncommon. I used the hot pack----and it broke in the night---drained. So when I got to the GYN there was not much pain involved. He said most are caused by a blocked duct, or pore, or ingrown hair. No fun, poor you and Laura. Pamela---hope your trip is going well. Did you decide on a gift for Susanne? Michelle--book fair done now? Terry----box # 3 out of the 4 boxes of checks I ordered come today, so figure the others will be here tomorrow, and I will send your $290.00. If they don't I'll use of of these, and it will never matter! Well my demerol has kicked in, the words and letters are blurring, time to go lie down....sweet relief is on its way......color me happy! Hugs~~ Kat

I'm back from the dentist again---hoping things will improve now. The paid meds the oral surgeon give me were too big---so we cut the, and then it was too much, made me so sick! Throwing up scares me, but like last night, I could not help it, it was in control----not me! So today I saw my regular dentist (love him) he ground my new partial holding the tooth in, and it feels 100% better without the pressure pushing down on the open socket. And he give me my little tiny Demerol tablets for pain----so now I should be on the road to getting better. Thanks for all the well wishes----hugs to all of you. Sherry--not sure what type of brain cancer your guy tonight is dealing with----but it is a different beast. My BIL was very sensitive to odors, and bright light. He had a glioblastoma tumor next to the medula oblongata, and it was inoperable. He could be relaxed though by talking to him, almost a hypnotic suggestion type of thing. When he was hurting we would lay by him and tell him to picture himself on the lounge on the back deck, and see the colors on the trees by the creek-----and his heart rate would seriously slow down----it was so surprising. I know you do totally different things, and you will likely (!!!!!) not be lying next to the man----but Ron, craved touch and just a small rythmic stroking on his forearm or his wife (my SIL) would of course be more touchy with him---but any touch, and letting his mind go where he was happy. Anyway--my point being brain issues sometimes alter the senses---as in his heightened sense of smell---and he ALWAYS was smelling something burn he said. Good Luck with him tonight---I hope you bring him comfort---I am sure just the presence of a loving soul will help him more than even you realize. Kat

Hi all- Rough night. I took one of my pain pills I had left from another something when I got home, because I could not wait at the pharmacy for the new Rx. I knew I had a couple left. So Rick brings them home to me and they are HUGE! No way to take them as is, so he cut it into 4 pieces, I guess it was too much at once, and I threw up forever. I hate that, it scares me with my band. So, took my last remaining agreeable pain pill this morning, and am due back at the dentist in an hour. He is going to remove the partial, and grind it to fit. So it will be in and out over and over----------------not something I am looking forward to. Anyway--I guess it is the next step. Tracy, hope your appt. is not too painful! I am still in jammies, and Rick just pulled up--------gotta go

I am home--he tried to pull every remaining organ in my body out through the socket in my mouth. Then my partial went in right on top of the open wound. Put very plainly, it hurts like a bi*ch. I am waiting for the pain meds to kick in---wish it would hurry! Til then, I am going to go lay down and throb. This sucks in such a huge way. I too would rather have had a baby---hell even a litter! Hopefully this pain will not last as long as a kid at home..... TTYL~ Kat

I am home---and hurt like a bi*ch sorry---but way too true. They put my partial in already, and it is pressing deep into the socket where they just tried to remove every organ left in my body through. I know I am whining....I tried to lay down but could not sleep due to the throb, throb, throb. So thought I would occupy my mind while the pain meds take affect. I pray they do not freak out with my band. As for the blood thing. When I had my thyroid surgery she explained different surgeries require different lengths of time to wait. She told me point blank that the longest wait is following a cancer Dx, and it is a year after treatment ends and a remission statement from the oncologist. Then she ask if I had had any tattoo's in the last year---I said No, is that how long the wait is?- and she said Yes, with a tattoo it is 1 year. This was through United Blood Services. I know I could wait a year, but it is something I do feel pretty strongly about. Without it Rick would have died within minutes. So there is a part of me REALLy glad those people didn't do anything that required a wait of a year. In all honesty with the questions they ask me, I have to wonder if your Sister is being honest with them Laura, they are so thorough---about tats, and piercings, and EVER having used narcotics involving needles, and even sleeping with someone who every used IV drugs---they exclude a LOT of people. If you answer yes to any of those ???? you are not eligible. Same if you have ever slept with a man who has slept with another man. So not only do I have to behave I have to be glad Rick has too!!! You have said your sister had some drug issues, and with the piercings and tattoos, it makes me wonder. Part of me wants to sit here and cry, the other part hurts too damn bad to even do that....come on drugs..... Will check in later. Kat We all teased my DH about getting Republican, Dallas Cowboy fan blood anyway!!! He is a serious Democrat, and Broncos fan!!!

Sorry bandster hell is rearing its ugly head upon y'all today.....:cursing: I really would willingly trade places with any of you though---I am waiting for my ride to the oral surgeon! I broke a tooth, and the root remained, now I get to go let a surgeon roto-rooter it out. Any takers????? Well sorry Angie, I would prefer the oral surgeon any day to my child getting bad news from a Dr. My heart goes out to you. Screw the van--------group hug the family!!! Well maybe screw the DH too!!! Shame on me.....:smile2: Hang in there-----------:biggrin: Kat

Mine did! He showed me with the sheet on my hospital bed, and an actual lap band exactly how he was going to do the surgery. He didn't happen to mention that not all of them do it that way. I have watched the operation on Big Medicine, and also on an episode of Montel Williams, and in both instances they did stitch the lower stomach up to secure the band while adhesions form to anchor it. Welcome to LBT!! Glad you made it over to bandland!!! Kat

My friend used one of the colon cleanse products sold on line, she said it DID clean her out---------of $85.00!!! She said there were pics of (nasty eeeeeeewwwww) big long ropes of waste and build-up----but it just gave her the runs, and she had a hard time getting her system to normalize again. She said she fought the diarrhea for over a week. I imagine that is all part of the electrolyte imbalance WABB refers to. I would think if it were something to be worried about, or if there truly were plaque type build up in there, the Dr. would mention it, or have it dealt with when they look around in there during a colonoscopy. If it were lining the colon the way they say it does, the Dr. could never see, nor identify the polyps they find. Never made any sense to me-------but neither did those Moms that think an enema solves everything from a headache to ingrown toenails...... Kat

YAY Linda!!!! I am so glad you brought it up to him!!! My DD told me all along, that the Dr's she worked for seldom had a clue what was going on in the front of the office, especially the one she worked for whose wife worked up front. She said they portrayed themselves as generous, Christian people, and in reality HE was, he donated time and service, and his wife hated it passionately, and overcharged, and billed insurance fraudulently--she was a witch my DD said! I am so glad you get to stick with the Dr. you like. Good for you!!!!!!! Take it easy on that new fill!! Kat

I don't have an issue with the tattoo itself----and it isn't the pain I am having a problem with. I am going to be unable to donate blood for a year after getting it though! That is upsetting to me! I am going to be out 3 months following my surgery I already checked---but a year? That seems so long! But I would not be the lone hold out----but I want the tequila not the crystal light!!!! Kat

My biggest reason was my own history. I am a cancer survivor, and with that, I also have risk of recurrance--if thatwere to happen, I wanted to be able to take in proper nutrition. With the band, even if I were to have to completely unfill, I could do so. With bypass, what is done, is done, and even well, you deal with malnourishment often times. I know myself well--I know telling me I cannot have something is the surest way in the world to make me work to get it! I do not deal well with deprivation! I did not like being told I could not eat sweets without becoming ill. WTH??? Nope, I wanted to eat a piece of cake on my grandbabies birthdays, I just did not want to crave eating the entire cake! It works! A small piece and I am happy, but to think I could NEVER have ice cream again, it would haunt my dreams. Right now they are working on the next improvements even in the band. There is talk of a remote control band eventually, eliminating the tubing, and port, and saline injections, your band Dr. will just remote control tighten your band down in small increments. I too hope that someday, the magic pill is introduced to the world....and obesity is no more--------and folks I would and COULD be right there in line, because my body is still in tact! The band teaches you a lot of lessons in how to eat, portion control---and it also allows you to live a normal life---which is what I wanted. Good Luck working with your Dr. I am glad some of these helped you solidify your decision. Hang out, ask all the questions running through your mind!!! Welcome! Kat

You are in what is referred to around here as "Bandster Hell". You have a band, but since you are healing, you cannot have food, and you are therefore hungry. We all went through it. It is not fun, and it is not easy. It IS however VERY, VERY important to stick to YOUR Dr.'s guidelines, not someone elses Dr. There are serious reasons for the post op diet being usually VERY restrictive. I had 2 weeks Clear Liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks of mushies, then on to a regular diet. Your body needs time to heal! It is compared to eyeballing the new car you want for months, finally getting go down and buy the new car, then you cannot go anywhere because you have no gas.....you have your band (car) but you have no fill (gas). When you can begin the fill process, usually at 6 weeks post op, then you can start working towards some hunger control, and restriction. Then the band begins working with you. The good news through all of this is.....IT IS WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Hang in there, you CAN do this!! As has been pointed out get in your Protein, clear liquid Protein drinks are available at places like GNC, they do help, with hunger, fatigue and healing! Try Zero carb Isopure--or some of the clear Liquid Protein shots they have. Also do not let yourself get dehydrated. Often diarrhea accompanies this stage, so you have to get lots of Fluid in. The loose stools are normal as well, liquid in= liquid out. You can do it!! Kat

Ya know Dianne----one would almost think I spoke from experience!!!! Ahhhh we live and learn!!! Kat

Welcome! The time line is different with everyone....sorry, I know that does not help you one bit! Different Dr.'s, schedualing with the assorted Dr.'s, how fastyour insurance gets back to them---it is all dependent. My psych appt. was a simple talk, I did not have paper work, some do, have a standard questionnairre. Mine simply ask me what led me to want the surgery.... how I envisioned life after the surgery..... What my ultimate goal was concerning weight loss....How my family felt about the surgery....who I had planned to share the experience with.....did I know others who had WLS....how I felt about their experience....was I afraid of the risks involved in surgery...how would I react if I woke up to find they were unable to perform the operation... Lots of things that way----looking to make sure I had thought it out, and no one was pressuring me to do the surgery besides myself, was her ultimate goal in the questions I believe. There was not a nutritionist/dietician here that accepted my BCBS of TX, so they allowed my PCP to do the nutrition counceling, and it was way off base I think, he was kinda idiotic in it, he had me keep the food diary, then simply went over it, telling me that this would be better, avoid that.....the usual. And his biggest---RIDE A BIKE!! He rides competitively, and that was his answer to everything. I ended up changing Dr.'s and am soooo glad!! I think it will be a simple Q& A of diets tried, how you eat on a regular day, how they want you to proceed from there. It is a guideline, to help, not judge your past behaviour. They often put you on a diet that you MUST follow to qualify for the surgery, proving you can and will follow the guidelines. Dress heavy for the appointment. Many people have issues with the weight loss, or the next appt. falls during TOM----hedge your bet with a little extra for your check in!! Once again---welcome to LBT!!! Kat

All the foods mentioned so far have a high gluten content, and it changes form as it breaks down, tends to go back to a big old ball of dough----often times bigger than the stoma opening----there in lies the problem. It blocks other food and saliva (slime as well) from going through, and takes a looooong time to break down, without stomach acids to aid in the breakdown---and the stomach acids are below our band. Snowbird, I must tell you--I have seen several of your posts this morning, and you are on the money!!! Way to GO!!! I love reading smart, well thought out, helpful posts---and yours have been! Jeannie---bandsters say they have a hard time with things that for one reason or another their band is not agreeing with. Sometimes as in the gluten rich foods above, it can be food related, other times it is our own lack of chewing well----or a food that is difficult to chew to the proper consistency---think shrimp, mushrooms, things that do not break down much beyond what you chew them. chicken for instance is pretty easy to chew to a paste consistency---but a mushroom does not absorb the saliva and break down the same way. Due to that, some foods can be simply too much for the stomach to try to digest and causes pain. Or if the bite is too big, or the pieces swallowed too big, they do not want to pass through the tightened down area of the band. Often times when you do have things that don't want to pass we "slime" it is our bodies way of trying to help. We produce copius amounts of very thick, sticky saliva. It is intended to help slick things up and pass them. Unfortunately if we have stopped up the stoma opening at the time, nothing moves---it just backs up. And there is too much slime/saliva. So spitting it out is the best bet. If you cannot do that, then it fills our little pouch quite quickly and then into the esophagus, and when it hits the esophagus, it triggers the gag reflex---and you have a sudden need to "throw up" or PB. PB's can vary from a simple hiccup while that bounces things loose in the pouch to a type of projectile vomitting. The biggest difference, is there is nothing but chewed food, and saliva/slime--sometimes looks foamy--but no acids. It can be a nothing like thing, or it can hurt, and take awhile--------there is no predicting, and they should not be common. Small bites, chewed well, and keeping portions small will avoid most PB's or stuck episodes. One thing about the band, it is a learning tool---a type of aversion therapy, you do it once, and you learn! It is VERY wise to ask all these questions before making your final decision. Way too many people wait to ask, and are surprised! Welcome to LBT--ask all your questions, we will try to help~!