Elisabethsew

I'm going to see my surgeon on the same day as you for another fill. My MD requires liquids the day of the fill, soft food for the day after and then back to solids. You're right, it does seem like the USA surgeons are more rigid in their dietary requirements. Good luck to you on the 7th... post how it went.

Have you had your iron levels checked? Do you take any vitamins? Iron saturation and ferritin levels determine if you're iron deficient. I tried the Nioxin but did not find it did anything noticable. Congratulations on your great weight loss.

Best of luck to you for an uneventful surgery and a smooth recovery.

There are several pregnant bandsters on this forum who can best answer your questions. One source of vitamins, protein, and calcium are fortified cereal like protein fortified Special K (10 grams of protein in a serving). Congrats to you and your hubby!

Most surgeons won't operate if you're sick or have had a recent illness. the best thing to do is call the surgeon's office and follow his/her instructions.

Congratulations! You must have felt wonderful. Good luck to your son in the game.

WOW. This was an "attack?" If you read my original and subsequent posts, it was most certainly NOT an attack. However, if you see it that way, I'm sorry. I thought differing points of views could be openly expressed but once again, it black or white. So, it's definitely time for this thread to die and you most certainly (and expected) to have the final word. Again, to those who agreed with my point of view and got negative responses, I truly am sorry. I'm out of here...

I'm very sorry that I posted this thread "in the wrong place" and that many of the thread killing people took offense to a polite request to curb (not eliminate) the cheese thread killing. People were afraid they would be "attacked" if they expressed their views in a thread with this topic and I can now see that their fears were justified. All I wanted to do was express a DIFFERENT point of view. You see thread killing as getting the board back on topic and as a peace keeping mission. Others don't see it that way. Can't we just agree to disagree? Again, I regret starting this thread and if you want to give anyone flack for not posting in the correct place (wherever that is) please direct it to me and not to others who share my opinion.

I would think the amazing progress you've had is proof positive that success can be achieved with the band.

Thank you. I appreciate you being able to see another (not better) point of view.

I guess the point is, who decides that it's time for a post to die? Isn't that the job of the moderators? I know the purpose of the tread killing group was well intentioned but, as you can see, not everyone feels the same way. Eventually posts die out naturally. Those that don't and need intervention should be brought to the attention of the moderators.

I think it started out as a joke but now that it's moving from one thread to another it's getting old real fast. And to all the new people, be careful... cheese is fattening... a little goes a long way. Sorry, I'm tired and getting a little silly.

While I'm sure no malice is intended, I would like to respectfully request that the self-appointed thread killers call a hault to all the cheese banter. I know the intention is to "break the tension" in threads where tempers are flaring but the intention is not accomplishing its purpose. In fact, it's causing more problems than it's solving. Since I have been on this forum, I have received a total of 6 private messages. Today, I received 15! The tone of all the PMs were related to the "thread killing group and the reason they were sent in a PM is because people are afraid to go up against this group in "public" for fear of starting another war. If I am totally off base and the majority of posters enjoy the cheese thread killing, please disregard this message. I hope I have not offended anyone as that was not my intention. I just think it's best to bring things out into the open so problems can be shared, discussed, and solved before they become wars or before people decide to leave. Thank you for listening and (hopefully) understanding.

Lisa is gone so why keep this thread going? I think you accomplished your purpose. LET IT DIE...

Delarla made her decision so it's time to move forward and get on with the business of supporting one another in our weight loss efforts.

Most people are unfilled at the time of banding. When the swelling subsides, people frequently lose restriction and can eat what they did pre-surgery. One and a half to 2 cups of food at a meal is pretty average. Keep in mind that it might take several fills for you to achieve restriction.

I believe they call it a "thread killer" and while some people find it amusing, others find it annoying. As they say, to each his own.

I bought the protein special K today but have not tried it. Is it similar in taste to the regular one?

I have a friend who tried it and rated it "useless" but that's only one opinion.

All piercing have to come out because there is no way to cover the ENTIRE metal with tape. I doubt you'll have to endure any shaving. Betadine (the brown stuff) is no longer used in most hospitals. About two years ago it was replaced with chlorhexidine... it's colorless and a better anti-bacterial agent.

I would have to agree that it's a very individual amount. Someone did a poll on here about fills and it seemed like the majority of people with a 10 cc band needed 7.5 cc or greater to achieve good restriction. I had #3 about a month ago and it's gone now. I have an appt. for 9/7 when I hope to get a small fill.

I did the hyalgan injections and they did nothing. I appreciated the honesty of the orthopedic surgeon who told me "the knee is gone and all you can do is a total replacement." He told me if I "shopped around" I might get a surgeon to do an arthoscopic procedure but that it would not produce any positive outcome. You are young so I suspect your knee damage is not yet near an "end-stage" level. Get at least 2 opinions before you make a decision. Also, you might want to hold off now that you're losing weight. Each pound of weigh lost take 3 pounds of pressure off weight bearing joints (hips, knees).

Penni, Neither you nor Lisa ever did anything to me so I have no involvement or right to comment on what went on in the past. Thank you for your explanation and for clearing the air. Perhaps now things can get back to normal and refocus on the issues related to lapband support.

Don't race into any decision until you explore and UNDERSTAND all the options available to you. Many people will have opinions but it's YOUR body and it's ultimately YOUR decision.

My final straw was the decline in my health. I have end-stage arthritis in my knee and need a total knee replacement. The orthopedic surgeon told me I would face a 6 month recovery at my pre-band weight versus a 6 week recovery at a weight less than 200 pounds. Also, the life of the joint replacement is lessened the more weight you carry. My "reward" when I lose the weight is not a day at the spa or some fancy trip... it's an end to the daily pain I have once I can get that new knee. LOL.