cookiebaby

You guys might have already talked about this but I love to watch Caitlin Van Zandt on "Guiding Light". She had lap band in May of last year. She is exactly my height (but half my age) so I like to watch her progress. I'll take anything that keeps me going right now. I tend to be a little too hard on myself. There's online videos if anyone wants to search on her. I left a message for her on Facebook to see if she has a blog. I doubt I get an answer but you never know.

I just read about stretching our pouches. Since I haven't had a fill yet, I guess it's really not a problem yet. Gives me a month to practice not drinking with my food.

I'm having a terrible time with this problem. I've always had a little problem with swallowing food and it's probably because the meds I take make my mouth very dry. It's something I'm working on right now. We can't all be perfect at once. I'm still on the soft foods, though. Hope I didn't stretch anything.

I have to add St. Louis Bread Company. I think they go by Panera in other parts of the world. They have a big binder with nutrition info on everything in their store and they let you take it to the table to look at it. (That is if you can bypass the pastry display). Also, IHOP (of all places) has a nice selection of healthy foods with nutrition info.

There are so many of the decongestants I can't take because of high blood pressure. Any ideas? Well, here we go, someone can invent a slow digesting gel substance that makes us revert to liquids for a week when our weight loss is stalled.

Oh yes - I have a bad cold and everything I eat gets stuck. I am pretty sure the drainage blocks it up a little. I know this because I have thrown up and I don't want to get too disguisting here. I don't know what to take either. I did take a mucinex the other night but it took so long to break it up into small enough pieces - those things are huge.

Looking for ideas about where to go out to eat. What's your favorite restaurant (chain - so we can all enjoy) now? Do they let you order off of the kid's menu? What Entrees have you found that are good to eat? Do they offer nutrition info? I think Red Lobster would probably be my favorite - there's a lot of healthy options.

On my ten day visit, I had lost 15 pounds. I haven't lost anything this week and actually, 1-2 pounds came back on. I know I shouldn't be discouraged because most of that 15 had to have been Water but it's a little disheartening when I'm not eating much. I'm assuming that it will start falling off again soon - someone tell me their story and make me feel better. Good heavens, I miss salads of all things!

I have a history of migraines so not sure if what's going on is normal or not. I came out of surgery with one (okay - anesthesia does that sometimes). Weather changed and I got a bad one (normal). They are just hanging on. Anyone else have problems with migraines being more frequent, longer after banding? Maybe it's just my body detoxing? I only drank one or two Diet Pepsis per month before but I did drink iced tea and I have only had a few sips of tea so my caffeine intake has gone down. Just wanted to check before I have to go back to another doctor for my head.

Banded on 1/20/2009. I've lost 15 pounds as of today. I got to be an incision model. The band saleswoman was visiting the doctor and wanted to see my incision since I had the procedure done with only one incision and apparently that is a new thing. My doctor was really interested in my pain levels from the surgery and how much of the medicine I took. I told him the incision hardly hurt at all - more like uncomfortable but I wasn't a good measure of the pain meds because I have Fibromyalgia and I take pain meds every day. Also, in the hospital I was asking all the time because of an anesthesia headache. I love my surgeon. I know I say too often but Dr. Scott is the best. All St. Louis people should consider him.

I'm going to sneak in a question about it each time I see my doctor. He (along with his partner) invented this procedure. I didn't think about the stretching thing. I asked a couple questions today at my post op appt. and he said it is in trials in the US (they did many outside the US first)- they have done a couple at Wash U in St. Louis. My doc is not involved in the trials because it is "his" procedure and that's not allowed. It looks like if everything goes well here that it may be available in a couple of years.

I was banded on 1/30/2009. I have gotten hungry but a little mushy food or a glass of milk fill me up pretty quickly. I had my post-op appointment today and I stopped at Bread Co. to get a cup of creamy soup. I got the smallest one and ate it and left. I was full the entire way home - maybe a little too full but I didn't feel sick. That was the first time EVER that I have been to that place without eating at least two pieces of bread and maybe on dessert and then taking a chocolate croissant home with me. I was on top of the world!

I have heard of people doing way worse things that you are describing. Not that I'm saying to keep doing it but I doubt you have any problems from it. I would say the chicken isn't a great idea right now. You can't undo it so just go back to what you are supposed to be doing right now.

We were told that we can take a baby aspirin each day if we have been advised to do that by our doc - otherwise, no aspirin or other anti-inflamms.

Your age is definitely on your side! You should have a lot of elasticity in your skin and I would think it would snap back pretty easily but keeping moisturized is a great idea. Do you have stretch marks now? Good news - If not, you won't get them unless you gain weight back again. Stretch marks come from stretching or tearing of the skin. You won't get them from losing weight. Most people get them when they are pregnant - some when they get their breasts. I've got them on my stomach (baby), breasts and arms. Mine were never purple like I've seen on some people but they aren't that pretty.

My doc talked about a procedure where they go down your throat. I just watched a video of it at www.satietyinc.com. That's amazing. I believe my doc has performed this surgery but it's still in trials as of now. Can you imagine? I was amazed. Not much more invasive than getting my endiscope for my stomach that I've had to get a few times. I just have to say to everyone in the St. Louis area that my doc is fantastic. Dr. Scott - I'm one week out - feel fantastic and I will barely have a scar. One incision and it looks perfect.

I don't have many suggestions yet as I'm a week out. I've been looking for this info also. I'm seriously thinking about doing bunches of research on this and on restaurants that will "be nice to us" and starting a website. Not really to start as a money maker but maybe break even and get some good info out there. I have spent hours in the grocery store during the past couple of weeks scouring labels, etc.

I think my port is about six inches above my belly button (I'm tall) and I only have one 2.25 inch incision. My surgeon just started the one incision deal a couple of weeks ago. I'm pleased.

I am restricted on my exercise because I am going to have a knee replacement later this year but have you considered going to someplace with a pool? That's what I'm going to do as soon as they let me. It will give you more energy. If you are honest with yourself and you are really not eating much then you might want to have your thyroid checked. If that is fine then you are probably taking in more calories somehow than you think - the food diary was a good idea.

TQUAD, you are very smart! I wish I had done it that way. My Mom WAS my emergency contact and acted supportive. I've decided I'm going to turn into a selfish person (sort of). I told my Mom that it was okay to tell my sister that I was going into the hospital but it was a private matter and I wanted it to stay that way. Eventually, she may figure it out when I'm a gorgeous, healthy thin woman :confused: but for now I don't need the drama!!!!! I hate drama!! (unless it's on TV or at the movies).

Mother is driving me nuts. She probably won't be home for my surgery and I'm a little upset about that (long story). She asked me if I was nervous. Well, a little - I'm having surgery, duh. The reply was then why are you doing it? For the 10th time - hopefully to resolve or improve my diabetes, high BP, sleep apnea and improve my arthritis pain. Read off the statistics again. How do you deal with people like this? If it were a friend, I'd ignore them for a while but I'm stuck with my family:tongue2:. It's also MY fault she probably won't be back for surgery because I prefer she not tell my big mouthed sister who adds to every story she tells. Surgery is going to be a breeze compared to dealing with this family crap.

I went to my all-day class yesterday and got my ekg, labs, and chest x-ray. I can't wait! I'm getting my surgery with Dr. Scott at DePaul Hostpial in St. Louis.

I am going to SSM Weight Loss Institute/Dr. Scott. There is no fee required. They actually want you to do everything to qualify first so your out of pocket costs are low. So far, I have only paid $63.00 to the psychologist (they figure that is my dedictible). His seminars are free. I go to my all day class that includes talking to the doctor, classes and blood work on January 21st. I will get my surgery date that day which should be the end of January or February 6th. They require you attend a free conference, fill out paperwork, have your doctor fill out paperwork and then go for a psych eval. I had to have some sleep study results faxed also because I have sleep apnea but otherwise, they make things very easy. You can check them out at ssmweightloss.com

Gosh, I feel "lucky". I have 5 of the comorbidities: Diabetes, high BP, sleep apnea, arthritis and GERD. I'm only 45 and people in my family live to be over 100. I need fixed quickly! Do you have heartburn? That's part of the GERD thingy. Just thought that may be one that you hadn't thought about. My doc told me some good news. He thought I may be able to get off my 3 diabetes meds and my high BP meds.