54Shirley

The Doctors took me off the Naprison, and I hurt like no tomorrow. I got on Osteo-Bi-Flex, and it was like someone had oiled my joints, and my knees would move again.
Once I had my knees replaced. Well,, no more aches, and pains. Ask your Dr. if this is OK to take, Mine said yes.

I had extremely bad OA. in both knees. I use to take Osteo Bi-Flex for it, it took about 3 weeks, and it felt like my joints were oiled, they moved ! They were getting really stiff, not to mention they hurt like hell. I went to a Orthopedic Surgeon, and he said my knees were shot, (WHICH I NEW) and I would have to have Bariatric Surgery, and loose 100lbs. before he'd touched me. (INSURANCE IN HIS OPINION, SO I WOULD NOT REGAIN ALL MY WEIGHT. YEAGH RIGHT !)
I said that's it? Yep ! Come back n a year. I said I'll see you when it comes off.
I lost 100lbs., went back to him, and he started to replace my knees, Right one first. They were bone on bone, and literally starting to have holes in the knee. I asked if I had bone cancer, and he said NO your weight wore them out. So for some people if it gets to this stage, I wouldn't be surprised.
I wish you all luck, and good health.
But both mine are replaced, I walk unassisted, and am pain free.
Shirley.

Being Morbidly Obese cost me 2 Knees. They begin to wear out in my 40's. What I didn't know, was that since they are the shock absorbers for the body, they went out around the same time equally. Not even 6 months after the first knee was totally replaced, the other one was not working right anymore. So, time to replace the other one. $25,000.00 for each knee ! So he made $50,000.00 of me, plus I had to have the Bariatric Surgery, or he would not touch me. The knees would only ware out, and need replacement again.
Do yourself a favor, and save your joints. Yes they can be replaced, but they are Hinges, they only go back and forth. They can't swivel. Your Health is priceless.
Of course there are other expenses, especially cloths, and it seemed that no matter what I spent, I never looked good in anything. So I was for ever shopping for something that would look good. God how I hated that !
I paid $1,000.00 just to keep my Ins. for 1 more month to have the LapBand done. Plus some out of pocket expenses for scrips, and other little things.
But the Band was well worth it. It saved my LIFE !

Being Morbidly Obese cost me 2 Knees. They begin to wear out in my 40's. What I didn't know, was that since they are the shock absorbers for the body, they went out around the same time equally. Not even 6 months after the first knee was totally replaced, the other one was not working right anymore. So, time to replace the other one. $25,000.00 for each knee ! So he made $50,000.00 of me, plus I had to have the Bariatric Surgery, or he would not touch me. The knees would only ware out, and need replacement again.
Do yourself a favor, and save your joints. Yes they can be replaced, but they are Hinges, they only go back and forth. They can't swivel. Your Health is priceless.
Of course there are other expenses, especially cloths, and it seemed that no matter what I spent, I never looked good in anything. So I was for ever shopping for something that would look good. God how I hated that !
I paid $1,000.00 just to keep my Ins. for 1 more month to have the LapBand done. Plus some out of pocket expenses for scrips, and other little things.
But the Band was well worth it. It saved my LIFE !

Being Morbidly Obese cost me 2 Knees. They begin to wear out in my 40's. What I didn't know, was that since they are the shock absorbers for the body, they went out around the same time equally. Not even 6 months after the first knee was totally replaced, the other one was not working right anymore. So, time to replace the other one. $25,000.00 for each knee ! So he made $50,000.00 of me, plus I had to have the Bariatric Surgery, or he would not touch me. The knees would only ware out, and need replacement again.
Do yourself a favor, and save your joints. Yes they can be replaced, but they are Hinges, they only go back and forth. They can't swivel. Your Health is priceless.
Of course there are other expenses, especially cloths, and it seemed that no matter what I spent, I never looked good in anything. So I was for ever shopping for something that would look good. God how I hated that !
I paid $1,000.00 just to keep my Ins. for 1 more month to have the LapBand done. Plus some out of pocket expenses for scrips, and other little things.
But the Band was well worth it. It saved my LIFE !

You can request a Copy of your Records with a signed release form.
While you are doing that and waiting, start looking for a New Surgeon.
If you tell them you are all messed up like I was ! The response that I got was "NO SURGEON WILL TOUCH SOMEONE ELSE'S JUNK !"
So I told them I moved, and I found a surgeon to look at the whole thing under Fluoroscope.
Anyway nothing wrong with the band ! that a adjustment couldn't fix, and I did regain almost all of it.
So my advice to you is what I said, and move on it.
Shirley.

Every one knows that !
I still have to excuse my language, because the thought of So much Misinformation for the Newbies, is so wrong, and everyone knows that.
I was involved in the conversation, and was not going to bite for it. If you have a problem, seek out help. Try to improve your self don't just complain. That's useless to the Newbies.
So Lollicat I got cought up in the Heat I don't like getting cursed at, I can talk TRASH too, if I lower myself to that level.
That's why the apology ! Everyone knows I don't come on here just to shoot my Filthey Mouth Off.
So I'm glad it was stopped, because it might have carried on, even more.
Thanks for the 2cents though. Take Care.
Shirley.

Yes we do need a special CLUB ! Call it The Skinn- EEE ! Club.
I know how you feel, I carry my Cross with me 24 /7...
I am still Delighted that I had this surgery, and that the weight is coming off.

Ditto !
Just a word from someone that has been banded for 6 years.
My Band has not stretched at all...
I have a 4cc band, (THAT IS THE ORIGINAL BAND)
mY FILL IS AT 2.5 CC'S, and if I try to go tighter, well,,, I wouldn't be able to swallow Water.
So it has to stay in the Green Zone.
The Band is adjusted to fit your needs.
Example: If you have a 12 cc Band (IF THEY MAKE ONE ! CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE SIZES)
They may only need 6cc's in it to get to your fill line, and stay comfortable.
Then you have plenty of room for Adjustments.
It's not like your going to start at 11cc's, and then have to worry will you run out of room with the Band for Adjustments.
I have never heard of that happening at all.
So just a piece of advice thrown your way.
I'm sorry that I could not have told you this, before you changed your mind., just for comfort.
I wish you luck ! But please think about the above posts.
They are on the Money.
Shirley.

Being Morbidly Obese cost me 2 Knees. They begin to wear out in my 40's. What I didn't know, was that since they are the shock absorbers for the body, they went out around the same time equally. Not even 6 months after the first knee was totally replaced, the other one was not working right anymore. So, time to replace the other one. $25,000.00 for each knee ! So he made $50,000.00 of me, plus I had to have the Bariatric Surgery, or he would not touch me. The knees would only ware out, and need replacement again.
Do yourself a favor, and save your joints. Yes they can be replaced, but they are Hinges, they only go back and forth. They can't swivel. Your Health is priceless.
Of course there are other expenses, especially cloths, and it seemed that no matter what I spent, I never looked good in anything. So I was for ever shopping for something that would look good. God how I hated that !
I paid $1,000.00 just to keep my Ins. for 1 more month to have the LapBand done. Plus some out of pocket expenses for scrips, and other little things.
But the Band was well worth it. It saved my LIFE !

Try letting the fill relax. Stay on Fluid for 3 days then mushies for a day, and then try food Gently !
You could be sensitive, I know I am.
Thats what I was instructed to do, and it works.

O don't worry You'll eat again, especially seafood. I think that goes down the easiest for me.
Were in a League of our own ! So you have to understand that, no matter what they do, " even if they choose to eat like animals" You are now above that. Its off limits to you, and you have a special program to follow. They ! do not... So they can do what they want.
Yes its inconsiderate of them, but thats life. Nothing you can do about them, so you have to think about how you want to deal with that.
I had a similar problem, and I use to look at it as go ahead and kill yourself with kindness, while I keep working at getting into a smaller size. I was rite ! they all got bigger, while I got smaller.

I too had some major problems with a Chief Surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
All the weight that I lost, I had regained do to Bad Aftercare "Same As You".
So I found another Surgeon and was filled under Fluoroscope, and turned out that the
band worked.
Give yourself a chance, and see how this really can work, before getting cut up.
Your not a failure, your Dr. was one though ! So get yourself corrected, and then filled.
You will be amazed at the difference that this band makes when its working.
You know what its like to have no gas in the tank and stay on empty rite? It can be miserable, and aggravating.
The band works on the same principle, no Fluid, no restriction.. Get some Fluid in that band, and it will work.
Also a flipped port is a easy repair. They can even put it where they are comfortable with it. Lot of different spots to stitch that too. So Good Luck, and don't throw the towel in yet.
Shirley.

Being Morbidly Obese cost me 2 Knees. They begin to wear out in my 40's. What I didn't know, was that since they are the shock absorbers for the body, they went out around the same time equally. Not even 6 months after the first knee was totally replaced, the other one was not working right anymore. So, time to replace the other one. $25,000.00 for each knee ! So he made $50,000.00 of me, plus I had to have the Bariatric Surgery, or he would not touch me. The knees would only ware out, and need replacement again.
Do yourself a favor, and save your joints. Yes they can be replaced, but they are Hinges, they only go back and forth. They can't swivel. Your Health is priceless.
Of course there are other expenses, especially cloths, and it seemed that no matter what I spent, I never looked good in anything. So I was for ever shopping for something that would look good. God how I hated that !
I paid $1,000.00 just to keep my Ins. for 1 more month to have the LapBand done. Plus some out of pocket expenses for scrips, and other little things.
But the Band was well worth it. It saved my LIFE !

There both good bands but, allot of people think it just wraps around the top of the stomach and thats it. It gets filled and your on your way... Not necessarily so ! Mine is stitched in place. I will describe this, the reason is to prevent slippage. This is more common in Europe which is were my Surgeon learned the Technique.
They put the band around the upper part of the stomach, then pull the stomach up and threw the band, and over the side, and stitch it all the way around by going up, and down, and around. Then hopefully the band will not slip.
You should ask your surgeon if this method is used if you are concerned about which one will do a better job. This does help me.
Most people do not have this done, and they are fine with there band, on the other hand some suffer a slip, and somehow it has to be taken care of. Now your going to Mexico for surgery. Who is going to take you on for your aftercare here. A slip is major, and if you have the band just slapped in "by the way it's a implant, not a big deal at all." You better have someone who can take care of you. Now when I was banded NO ONE would touch the Realize Band. So if you go with that, make sure your surgeon will take care of that type of band.
Research instead of thinking. It's a Implant that will be your tool to work ! Do your research, ask questions to your Dr., and get answers to written down questions that you can keep, and learn from. With all your info asked, and answered. You can make your Choice.
Hope this Helps !
I hope its not Full Contact Sports Like Football, Boxing Karate etc... You will only get your tubing broke or your port kicked in, and if the balloon in the band is filled, so is your tubing filled. If you got your port pushed in it could send the Water up to the balloon and cause it to burst.
Think about what your doing o.k....
Shirley !

Your still healing if that helps at all ! So when it does start,,, it will keep coming off for a while, and fills help.
You say you stay under 1200 calories a day, and workout. Thats great ! But do you log it on line at all...
You can try myfitnesspal.com and it takes care of everything, calories,protein, exercise, and keeps it all in memory.
So you can go back, and retrieve your info. when needed. Also you can view other peoples Diary, and see what they
are eating, and get ideas from that.
Look me up if you want, I'm Losingintime on that site.

When I saw the Shrink for surgery She said no more then 700 calories per day. I thought that was rather extreme, and she said all the RNY Patients eat that amount so why shouldn't you !
I said I'm not hear for that kind of surgery. She said it doesn't matter.
So I talked to the Dr. when he checked to see what she had to say. What ! ! ! I'm your surgeon, and I don't give a DAMN what she says... You stay under 1200 calories a day, workout, and get your Water in, and this will work.
So I do between 1000-1200, but am comfortable at 900-1100 calories a day.

I posted this a while back.
If anyone in their community is willing to contact a BURN CENTER in their area Like a Children's Hospital. Contact the Chief Surgeon, and ask him in a nice way, if you donate your skin, would he donate his time to take it.
Children's Hospital of Michigan told me to contact them when I was ready to do it. The surgeon assured me that he would do all the surgery for free himself. Included Hospital stay. That's what I will do when the time is rite. You might want to venture out, and talk to the BOSS of a Burn Unit, they need the skin.
If one says no, I would not stop with that. But TALK TO THE HEAD SURGEON. It's his/her Decision. No one else's 2 cents even matters. I learned that when I worked in Foster Care, and had allot of Burn Patients. Sometimes others said what they wanted, and he came along and said the complete opposite, and what he said mattered.
So if you want it bad enough,,, I would check into this.
Shirley.

I posted this a while back.
If anyone in their community is willing to contact a BURN CENTER in their area Like a Children's Hospital. Contact the Chief Surgeon, and ask him in a nice way, if you donate your skin, would he donate his time to take it.
Children's Hospital of Michigan told me to contact them when I was ready to do it. The surgeon assured me that he would do all the surgery for free himself. Included Hospital stay. That's what I will do when the time is rite. You might want to venture out, and talk to the BOSS of a Burn Unit, they need the skin.
If one says no, I would not stop with that. But TALK TO THE HEAD SURGEON. It's his/her Decision. No one else's 2 cents even matters. I learned that when I worked in Foster Care, and had allot of Burn Patients. Sometimes others said what they wanted, and he came along and said the complete opposite, and what he said mattered.
So if you want it bad enough,,, I would check into this.
Shirley.

Thats easy,,, Flintstones Complete with CHOLINE Must have the Choline. They are chew-able.
I do 3 a day and when they test my blood I don't need anything else. Vitamin B is the Choline.
I buy mine on ebay 200 for 14.99 and they pay the shipping.
Also go to their website and print a coupon "COPY IT" and when you see them on sale buy a few.
Not to mention their not bad either, and I get my energy from them.
Shirley.
Interested in the ebay dealer ? Let me know, and I will share the name. He's very good.

Even if you have a small leak. It can be fixed with out surgery. The Dr. can put in a Acrylic threw the port, and if there is a leak it will go to it and seal it. Now of course if it's major, this will not work.
But if its any help to you I have had this done, and it doesn't hurt a thing. It can only help.
This is all done under Fluoroscope.

I have been on this site for 6 years, and Banded since 10/31/06.
I'm doing O.K. !
Have had a few hiccups like being deflated, and gaining the weight back, only to have to start again.
I changed Dr.'s believe me.
Most of the people that I new are gone. They were on here, did their research, lost weight or claimed that they failed, and
then have left.. I wish some of them were still around, I miss them.
But,,, it's a whole new bunch to me, and the majoriety of them are good folks. Hope you like it too.

I still don't see how an artificially manufactured Protein powder could be considered a better choice than red meat!

Well I posted that info., and I believe your not quite rite !
Corned Beef is a excellent Protein dish. Served with Cabbage ,Potato, onion is a good dish.
My Surgeon told me to eat the dark meat from chicken, the white meat is to dry for me to swallow, and the calorie difference is not significant.
Pork is high in Protein, and baking it locks the juiciness in.
Seafood or Fish is always a good choice.
Steak I like mine wrapped in Foil 2 x, and smothered with onions, peppers, and mushrooms. sprinkled with oregano, then baked in a 500 degree oven for 1 hour. You never had a more TENDER Steak.
Mushrooms can be oven baked or deep fried ? Other vegetables,,, You can have what you can tolerate.
Everyday is a different day with the band, so I take it one day at a time.
If you see this as wrong, then that's up to you.
But the Question was Can you tell me your favorite meals ?
These are all possibles. Including Lamb when I can get it, BBQ on a Grill is also great.
Look these foods up on calorie king and you will see they are high protein foods.
Remember: I'm talking about quality,"THE BEST YOU CAN GET" and quantity " LESS IS MORE !"
So I agree with elcee. Except for a hiccup or 2 This is all SPOT ON !
Thanks elcee.
Shirley.

DITTO !