54Shirley

Congratulations ! Glad to know you are a little happier. Keep up the work, and you will be a lot happier. Shirley

Fair enough. I agree, people do have to eat to live and people don't have to do heroin to live, but eating more food than our bodies need is a choice. That is correct. Unless we choose to live on Artificial Nutrients, or Some other way... As far as being over weight.. Not everyone is a addict, some have Medical Problems. Mine started at the age of 4 months ! I began to get "BLOWN UP". Only to learn later that I had a Fluid RETENTION problem. So they put me on Water pills about 2 yrs. ago, and I am still on them. Also found a extremely HYPO THYROID. I am just now getting on medication for that. So with the band, and the Meds, and control. This will work, and I will do this. Just wanted to add that I had a PARASTIC TWIN inside me, found out with the removal of the gallbladder, and exploratory. It was attached at the intestines, and if it would have been on the outside? We would have been conjoined twins. The problem was no one new about this, and I was for ever sick. As a result parents, and Grandparents were forever stuffing something in my mouth so I would get nutrition, and Vitamins, and be Healthy. Well, it didn't work ! the twin still got it all, and I still got sick. When the surgeon found it in my 30s, I was already stuffing all kinds of stuff in my mouth, because of a learned habit, and everything tasted so fantastic "ADDICTION" I believe. He was shocked, I thought I was pregnant with twins, then even still under Anesthesia, I thought he was crazy, until he brought me the pics with my name on them. I almost threw up. It was terrible. He told me I would be better now. Well he was right. I barely get sick, but the love for food was always there. What to do.... My oldest son was playing catch with a baseball, and he threw when I was not looking, and broke my nose. I can't taste anything, and can barely smell bleach. So the specialist said forget it ! ! ! That's nerve damage. So now my hang up on food is over. I'm just telling my story, but I don't have a thing for it anymore. I do believe in Food Addiction, but I also know that complex medical problems can cause anything to happen. So now I am waiting to see my surgeon next week, and see if my turtle moves. That is a big deal to me...

If you want to view a program on food addiction. Watch the OWN (OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK) Tomorrow on her show, it's all about food addiction. 04-05-2011 www.oprah.com/own

Don't try to put a time on it. I never seen that work yet... Just celebrate when you get there. Like I use to tell my boys "IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU GET THEIR, JUST AS LONG AS YOU ARIVE" Keep that in mind.

I know we are talking about the same thing. You ha v e,, to eat to survive, So while you try to eat daily, all these other foods can be very tempting. Heroin, Booze, pills, whatever you choose to use "intenially" to get high on is done by choice. As a result,, I see a major difference. I agree that the food can be addicting "Depends on the person" but unless you want to live with a I V in your arm, you still must eat. Correct.

Pick up a bottle. It;s like Betadine. Just you get a head start on all bugs. Could be useful to you. Can't hurt ! I keep a bottle in the house always.

Congratulations ! ! ! It's nice to see some one make it. Have a CELEBRATION !

My Doc wants 2 1/2 to 3 days of fluid. Then start the Mushies, and work your way up.

Well... you don't have much weight to lose according to your Ticker. So go and kick some skinny butts, and in time, they will see you getting into good shape, and wondering how is she doing that? While they basically stay the same. I'm sure you would make a lot of us Bandsters Proud. Wish you luck on your Decision. AND GO KICK SOME ASS !

You can sip all day long, as long as you get the nutrition in. But put it in the fridge ! VERY BAD IDEA ! If its cold, chances are it will have a hard time going down. Eventually,,,,,,,, you can take say MUSCLE MILK LIGHT instead of adding 8oz. of Water, add 4 oz.. Mix that up, and pour it into a desert dish, put in the freezer, and you have a pudding. Still the same Protein level Shirley.

Protein helps kill hunger, so,,,, A shake wouldn't hurt. How many G of protein are you getting a day. Should be around 60 If not,,, then yeagh you should try the Muscle Milk Light. How long sence a fill? If you eat, and you are starving a little later, and your getting your protein in. Then call your Dr. for a fill. I can help you with info on the Muscle Milk Light with a supplier. Just wright me, and let me know if interested.

I'm really glad that you have all taken step by step fills, and have finally reached that point where it works for you. That's Great News ! This will help the people who feel they are struggling to see that this really does work! You just have to hang in there, and threw fills you will get there. Congrats !

I'll take the enchiladas , and lettuce wraps. Whatever you want to throw in that isn't to hot or spicy I'll take. I can't hold the spicy stuff. Thanks, Shirley.

Gallbladder by far ! When they took mine out. They opened me up like a fish ! Then they took the Appendix with it. That was one of the most painful surgeries I ever had. I had both knees replaced, and it didn't come near to what the Gallbladder surgery was. The LapBand was a piece of cake. I prept my skin on my stomach for 1 week with HIBBACLENSE a surgical soap to kill the cooties, and he did his part,. It was a snap.This soap is available at your pharmacy, and it's over the counter. (IT'S GREAT ! STUFF). I even washed my knees with this soap when I was to have replacement, and no infections at all. The nurse who came to the house was amazed, because all her patients had infections going on in the knee.

Your Doc might switch some to liquids, and you can invest in a Pill Crusher, Pill Splitter, and Pill Carrier Combo. They are on ebay, and they are priced fair. You just have to look threw them for the best price. Also my husbands is round. Every section is round, and it is stack able. So you can get all you need in One package Deal. They have them on ebay also. Just take your Meds to your Surgeon, and he will decide what you will do. They do this all the time. Shirley.

I eat Soups and maybe cottage cheese at the salad bar. Last time I went I slipt them my Bariatric Card, and told them what and how i wanted it done, and for a sensible price. They said sure not a problem. I had a Tuna Melt with no Bread. Just cooked in the pan, Swiss cheese added, and then $1.50 for it done that way. Show your card and save.

Your Welcome! I hope you find some alternatives for the things you can't have. I do a lot of ground turkey, and I dip my meats in some kind of sauce. It helps it go down. But dry is a problem.

The point about the band that I love the most, works this way: It's a step by step process, that is worked by fills. Every Time you get a fill (ADJUSTMENT) you get a little closer to a part in your life where hunger does not bother you. When you get enough adjustments, It makes life livable. The food BEAST doesn't bother you so much, so you won't say I'm Starving. It takes time to get there though. In the meantime you journal your food, and my Doc said you should get hungry about every 5 hrs.. If you start getting hungrier before that? It's time for a fill. Even a small one can take the hunger away. On the other hand, it can make you to tight. So you have to stay on liquids for a few days, so all swelling goes down, then try to eat. If you eat to soon you can cause swelling to happen Knowing certain things about the band makes it all possible. Some people don't listen to their Dr., or are not given tips. That's where this site comes in handy. I hope you keep my tips in mind. Believe me, it took my years to learn what no one told me. Only the advice from a new Dr.. Good Luck, Shirley.

Welcome to having the Band ! Every Day is different, so this is a step by step process. You have to try and see what you can have before you eat.. I drink a cup of hot tea first, it helps relax the band. Otherwise,, I have been banded for 5 years, and I still don't have a crystal ball to tell me what tomorrow will bring. Hope the hot Tea or coffee helps.

Dry foods for me don't go down at all. Like chicken Breast, Bread , Beef, etc. So the Doc said eat dark meat in chicken. It's a little better, Bread I don't even think of. I choose to dip my stuff in a sauce of some kind, and about 3 ounces of meat is doable.

Don't make it to hard on yourself,, you can set yourself up for disappointment that way. Do short term goals, but make sure they are realistic goals. You want to see 295 right? It's doable no doubt. But getting there is another story. Start off with say 25lbs.. Celebrate every time you knock out 25 lbs. You will soon then reach your 1st. Goal. Then when you get there,,, set some short term goals again, with a 2nd Goal in sight. If you do it this way, You will see, to reach each short term Goal won't take as long, and you will be happier when you see it coming off. Hope that helps ! I know that's what I do, and you will become a bandster in your month, (SAY JULY) and you will all have challenges. Like a Labor Day challenge. See who loses the most weight by then. Enjoy it, Shirley.

When you take your meds to your surgeon, He will decide liquid, crushed, split, or even a change for a while. Like 2 small pills in place of 1 medium pill. They will figure it out, they always do. But I would invest in a splitter, crusher, and pill carrier. They are reasonably priced. Just look around or on ebay. He will let you know what you can split, crush, or not.

You will do fine trust me ! It's not that complicated of a surgery. You will be glad that you have a new life to start. Enjoy it. Shirley.

As far as angry about a food addiction, I am not. It just doesn't seem fair that's all. As far as me, Well ! I was banded 10-31-06. Lost over 120lbs., and was well on my way, to success, when my surgeon gave me a fill, had problems, and told me the band was blown.... It took 3 years to find another surgeon that would touch someone else's junk. Then under fluoroscopy , it was discovered that there was nothing wrong with the band,,,,, he just deflated it because it was the thing to do ! He figured I was to swollen. Now I start all over again. I'm very glad that I can. So it's not just 19 lbs. down.. I have been there and felt the success of knowing that this is possible. And yes,,, I will do it again...

First of all it was only yesterday, so use your pain meds.... Second it's the top of the stomach that is banded, so that is part of the reason. Your Port placement could play into that also. If that's where it is. WELCOME TO BANDLAND !