susan1961

I'm from the 'everything in moderation' camp. I did my post-op recuperation at the home of a dear friend who is also a fan of fine wines... so I decided very early on that white wine was a clear liquid and I could have half a glass (as in 2oz) a day while I was on a clear liquid diet. :wub: Worked for me, though I know there will be critics. I am way too old to drink to point of hangover... some lessons learned in one's youth stick with you. Since I had my band, 4 months ago, I have never had more than a single glass of wine in a day. It does seem to affect me a little more.

On my busy days I keep a baggie of almonds in my pocket. They're easy to eat, can eat them pretty quickly, and it doesn't take too many of them to keep you satisfied for quite a while. I had a handful for breakfast and it didn't dawn on me until 2pm today that I'd had nothing to eat for 6 hrs.

Now wearing my old size 12 hipster jeans... and they're a little loose. Even my teenage daughter said 'mom, you look fantastic' (compliments from teen rare as hens teeth). Perhaps the strangest NSV is that I want to go running! It's been years since I ran or wanted to run (10 years ago I used to run 5 miles a day). I ran 3 days in a row this week... only 2 miles each time but still... to get up early in the morning and want to do it is incredible. The band and the weight loss success and the compliments and self confidence all together are life changing. I'm one happy camper.

Sounds very strange to me. I presume you had some sort of a non-invasive test (such as a stress test). All that can do is suggest there might be a blockage. Until they do either a special cardiac CT or catheterization they can't know for sure there's a blockage, and can't know for sure that the best way to fix it is angioplasty (vs doing nothing, doing a stent, or doing surgery). If you do need an intervention, the surgeon will probably want to wait several months, as you will be on medications that increase your bleeding risk. It is highly unusual for a woman in your age group to have coronary artery disease. I'd ask a lot of questions, check in with my PCP, and consider a second opinion. Best of luck.

I can't get rid of them fast enough!! I have been going through my closet pretty ruthlessly every few weeks. I don't plan to ever fit in those things again, so have no desire to keep them around as reminders. I took one full length 'before' picture, and that'll do as a reminder of my pre-band size. I'm fortunate in that I did keep my good quality smaller size stuff as I moved up in weight, so now I 'closet shop' by finding stuff in my closet that I hadn't worn for years that now fits again! (Patting self on back for buying classic things that don't go out of style!) I'm down two sizes and haven't had to buy very much yet, but am looking forward to shopping when I'm a size or two smaller still (goal).

I just went back and forth to Nairobi, 9600 miles each way. I chose not to have a fill (I was due for one) before the trip. I was maybe slightly tighter, but barely noticeable.

Yes, this has been a wonderful and unexpected effect of the band. I was thinking about it just yesterday as I grocery shopped. I am much more drawn to healthy foods, much less drawn to junk. I look at sweets and think 'nah, don't want it' . Yogurt and Soups are some of my favorite meals now, when I never would have chosen them before (I'm not too tight, I can eat anything, I'm not choosing them because they're soft). My grocery cart looked SO different than it used to, because what I now want to eat is so different, and in a great way. I had a friend ask me the other day if I 'hated not being able to eat'. I had to explain that I CAN eat anything I want, but the wanting has really changed. I feel like I now eat like a thin person; I don't think about food all the time, I never feel desperate for food, I don't eat when I'm not hungry just because some food is in front of me that I like, etc etc. Gosh I love this band.

I don't have any trouble with swallowing pills, at all. I used to cut them in half but don't even bother anymore. The only thing I can't seem to take is Multivitamins, because they make me nauseated. That was true before the surgery, too. Those I take in liquid form. I don't think it would be good to take any pills that are erosive, as they could sit in your pouch. I no longer take NSAIDS like motrin because of their effect on the stomach lining (that effect is pharmacologic, so is as likely to occur with liquid form).

Things will get stuck from time to time. For me it happens when I forget about the band and eat too quickly or don't chew well enough. I take papaya enzyme pills when that happens.... chew a few pills, try some sips of Water, and it passes within a few minutes. Feels like forever because it is awfully unpleasant. My sense is that the pills help but I may be imagining it. Other folks have recommended pineapple juice. I've only things come up twice since I had my band. After a stuck episode I usually put myself on an antacid pill (like omeprazole/prilosec) for a few days and eat only soft stuff for a few days. And, like you, I find I don't want to try those foods again for a good long time!!

I wasn't overweight until my 30's... and I HATED being overweight. I had my band in part for health reasons (prehypertension, slightly elevated cholesterol) but mostly because I couldn't stand being heavy. I didn't like the way I looked, but just as importantly I didn't like the limitations I felt it imposed- I didn't enjoy skiing, scuba diving, found running too hard on my knees, couldn't keep up with my cycling friends once we hit the hills, was not willing to go to a class reunion, felt too unattractive to date. I wasn't that heavy when I had my band (BMI 32, size 16) but I knew that if I waited longer I would just be heavier, and that plus older age would equal higher surgical risk. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the band. I'm no longer obese, have lost half the weight I need to lose, and feel wonderful. I am able to eat anything I want, but want a lot less of it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, and wish I'd done it sooner.

Before and shortly after surgery I had numerous people (including some of the folks who took care of me post-op suggest or say outright that I didn't look heavy enough to need the surgery. Frankly, I took it as a compliment- I pride myself on being fit (despite being overweight), having great posture, and dressing well, all of which cause folks to underestimate my weight. I'm surprised folks have been so offended by similar comments.