Suzdavis

My Doctor wanted me to stop taking the Nexium because he says taking it could mask band problems. It seems sometimes reflux can be a symptom of a band problem and he wants to be aware of it so he can treat it. I was on Nexium for years and thought I couldn't do without it. Now it is a wonderful thing not having to take it...No problems on the band end so far.....:thumbup:

OK!! My question is has anyone used the Bare Necessities arm sleeves? They are almost like Spanks except for flabby arms. I saw a segment last winter on Today Show, or one of those morning shows and it said that it would instantly hold in all that flab. Sounds too good to be true but I would invest the $ if it worked. I call it an arm girdle. Would also be warm for the winter...... I did a search and there are several on the market but most run between $31 and $65. Wondered if the difference in price would be worth it? I need something to help until the excerise kicks in:smile2::cursing:.....

We have french fried green beans in the restaurants all over our town. Try dipping them in some ff ranch dressing. You won't miss potatoes at all........

I too have Cigna. It was 6 months for me also. I saw my primary care Dr for the 6 months pre-op diet and then about 4 months into it saw the nutritionist and surgeon. At first it seemed like it would take forever but after the first couple months it flew by. After getting started seemed like every week or two had another appointment. Oh yeah and I got approved in 3 days. Surgeon's office sent the paperwork in and in 3 days I had a surgery date. Wasn't bad at all..... Suzanne

Sorry Kimley that should have been minus Fiber and sugar alcohols not Protein and sugar alcohols...Having a bad brain day.....

I think to get net carbs you take the carb content and subtract the total protein and sugar alcohol's. That could be labeled as Maltitol or some other form of sugar alcohol.

Daqui26 I just got back from Las Vegas. My surgeon told me to be real careful and not to eat on the plane or 1 hour after landing. I had no problems and would do it again tomorrow. Another word of advice, is if you go to any restaurant on the strip or downtown show your surgery card and receive the childs price. I asked like a dummy on the last day we were there at the Paris Buffet and they said if I had shown my card with ID I could have eaten at the childs price. The lady said it is common for most every restaurant to honor it.... We go several times a year and I was worried about spending so much for meals and not eating enough. Have Fun and win Lots...... Suzanne

Good for you.....I am not there yet. I only have 4 CC's and when I went last week we as a team decided not to have a fill since I am going on vacation next week. I really needed one but we decided for me to go ahead and enjoy my week in Vegas and just watch what I eat. RN said not to worry about losing or gaining just have a good time. I have a little restriction but she asked if I was at my sweet spot yet and I told her "No Way". She agreed I probably wasn't yet. I have an appointment two days after I return for a fill and I can already tell I need one.....Am really looking like you for more restriction....

I am exactly the same way. I do a Protein shake for breakfast and then can eat what I consider alot for lunch. About 1 cup of food. But for dinner sometimes I can only get maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food down and that goes really slow. I'm not hungry later so I just take that as all I can eat. I am losing at great rate according to my Dr. Anywhere from 6-8 lbs a month. I only have about 3 1/2 CC's in a 10 CC band. My Dr laughed and said I was "weird" because most people have the hardest time not eating too much at dinner. Said I was really lucky, weird but lucky. Guess you are right there with me.... Suzanne

I'm glad you got that taken care of. I know because I was too tight immediately after surgery. I know it is a little late but eating ice chips got me through the night until I could get to the Dr to have some removed. Funny thing is I could drink before I left the hospital. Got home and tried to take a vicodine, for pain, and it foamed up and I spit it back. I think that caused un-necessary swelling and that is why I couldn't drink. But the ice chips helped.....

I have bought the DaVinci SF syrup at Sam's Club. I think it was about $5 a bottle. You might check there.... We love the SF Vanilla and Caramel.....

So glad that you got that fixed. I felt for you. Wasn't a pleasant feeling. Now looking forward. My Dr is very conservative with his fills and I've had no other problems. At least now we know how it feels to be too tight. But remember it is still a learning process and you are early. So am I but in the almost 4 months I have learned lots of lessons and you will too. Believe me it gets a lot better fast. Good luck and begin to enjoy the weight loss. Remember it will be several months until it gets easier but it will..... Suzanne

Jade0729 there is a Bariatric Center at Wake Forrest Baptist and the Dr's name is Dr Aldolph Fernandez. If you go to the WFBM website and go to the Bariatric center you will find the number listed (sorry I don't have it with me at work. He did my surgery in April and I have had very few problems and his office is really good to work with.... He is a great Dr and I have a lot of faith in him. His office is at the hospital. I live in Lexington and as far as I am concerned he is a great DR. Good Luck in finding a Dr..... Suzanne

Thanks for the responses. I do have an appointment next Thrusday (13th). I think I have decided not to get another fill an just watch what I eat while I am in Vegas. That way I can call as soon as I get home and get a fill the middle of Sept and will leave for the beach the last of Sept. That will be the best. I intend to see what my Dr suggests and he is real good, I really like and trust him. He is very conservative and I think he will agree with me...... Thanks again, Suzanne

OK here's the scoop. I have 3.5 cc's in my band now. Some days I can eat like a horse and others like yesterday I can only get down about 1 1/2 cups of food all day. I drank Protein shakes for the other meals. I am going next week for another check-up and will ask advice there, but I am leaving in 4 weeks for Vegas. Don't want to be too tight while there but when I get back I am leaving for Myrtle Beach for 10 days. Don't want to be too tight there either but would rather be there than Vegas. Thought about waiting until I get back from Vegas or the Beach for another fill but don't really know which to do. Don't want to wait too long between fills. Husband gets scared when I get tight and PB (which doesn't happen too often) and doesn't want me to get another on soon. He doesn't understand how this all works he just see's me sit straight up eating (when it gets tight) and scares him. I tell him that is OK and it isn't the band's fault it is that I haven't learned how to eat and I will get there. I tell him I am in a learning curve and will get there.

Yes sounds like you need an unfill. I too had to go back 2 days after surgery and have 1.5 cc's removed. When I got home from the hospital I immediately had regrets about the surgery. I called the Dr and they told told me to come in. When he removed the saline I felt 110% better. Drank a whole bottle of Water before I got home. Water never tasted so good. Call your Dr immediately if you haven't already. I felt bad I didn't call the minute I got home from surgery, but thought I'd get better. I didn't and now I'm sorry I waited so long. You will be so glad after you go. I am so happy with my band and the only regret I have is I didn't do it years earlier. Suzanne

Last night decided to do some steaks on the grill. Was real concerned about the steak going down so was real careful not to get them overdone. DH cooked them perfectly on the grill and I made a salad and baked a sweet potato. Well we set down to eat and I had two bites of salad and it hit. OUCH!!! The golf ball effect in the chest. Couldn't believe the salad did it to me. I was expecting the steak to give me the problem. After about 10 minutes of walking around felt better and decided to try the steak. Had cut it up into small pieces and was able to eat with no problem. Had about 3 oz and was full. Did eat about 1/4 of the sweet potato. No question except to say watch out for that salad.....Sometimes the things that you don't expect, can give you the most problem. I have been able to eat salad before my last fill in July. Not anymore....

Does anyone know or has anyone ever heard if weather plays any havoc with the band. I asked my Dr about a plane ride I will be taking for vacation and whether I needed to do anything special with the band. He asked how long a flight and I said 4 1/2 hours. He advised me to not eat or drink anything on the plane while enroute and to wait several hours after landing to eat and then do liquids the first day. He says the pressure in the plane could easily cause problems enroute. My DH and I were talking about it and made me wonder if the air pressure in a plane could cause problems then why wouldn't the air pressure in a weather system also be a cause of being tight one day and not the next. Has anyone ever thought of this or seen any studies?

Well I love salads so decided to try one last night with spinach. Got the baby spinach with soft leaves and made me a salad. Granted I only used about 1/2 cup of well torn leaves and filled the rest of the bowl up with deli turkey and ham and LF cheese with cukes and tomato from my garden. Only used about 1 tablespoon ranch dressing and it was fabulous. Don't know if it was just a day when I wasn't so tight or the spinach that made the difference but I really enjoyed the salad. My DH said it wasn't really a salad since I only had a small amount of greens but satisified me. And I got a lot of good Protein.....

Good to hear that travel doesn't bother you. Hope my trip goes well also.. Thought the weather thing was an interesting concept....

Hey thanks. I have the smaller ones (4 to be exact). The small one is great but I have said I'd like the bigger one. Now I have one on order. The smaller one is perfect for my breakfast shake but if I add fruit it is almost too small... Thanks again.

Sorry Carbgrl for not getting back sooner. I did post in your other thread but didn't answer your question. I weighed 220 going into surgery. Has been slow since surgery and just last week got a little restriction. So am looking for the lbs to really start dropping now....

I would say the best way to describe getting "stuck" is to say it feels like you swallowed a golf ball and it is still in your chest. The hurt is just above your breastbone and hurts like HECK....Time is the only thing that will cure it this time...Next time prevention is the way to go. Small bites and chew until you don't have anything left to chew....

Just thought I'd jump in here and say that if you are diabetic watch the meds you take. Maybe you should ask the Dr about reducing them while you are on liquids. I check my sugar and adjust the meds accordingly...... My Dr just tells me liquids and like the other poster can be anything that would go through a straw. I usually do egg drop Soup and any kind of soup that isn't thick. I also eat grits but I am a southern gal..... Suz

Add a little bit of SF pudding or Jello to that Cool Whip and have a flavor......