Melissannde

Haven't tried the powder (MM LIGHT) but the MM Light RTD in vanilla creme and in strawberry creme is the bomb!! The chocolate tastes fake, the mocha is so-so. Eas Carbvantage is a poor second IMO. I have to add stuff the the EAS to make it taste decent. Have you tried the Syntrax Nectars? They're pretty good, but need a flavor boost if mixed with Water. www.si03.com I got them to send me a sampler package of 16 different flavors for about 15 or 16 bucks. Write and ask about samples.

I've not been sick this fall/winter (knock on wood), but last year had a cold, got better for 2 days and got another one right on top of it. I've known a LOT of folks sick with sinus issues/strep throat this year.. one a healthy teenage kid.. took her nearly a month and 3 different rounds of meds to get over her stuff. Take your Vitamins (adult strength please.. but childrens are better than nothing), and all other supplements recommended by your surgeon and/or PCP. Ask about taking Echinacea, Golden Seal or Elderberry if you are a believer in herbal supplements. If you are on prescription meds, do make sure that any herbals you try don't interfere with said prescriptions. I get a flu shot every year and do not get sick from them. I do know people who have gotten sick afterwards, but generally that's coincidence as they no longer use live virus to my knowledge. I think it's important to get the flu shot for bandsters because we do NOT want to be vomiting and risk slipping our bands. Hope everyone who is ill feels better very very soon. Remember good handwashing and use paper towels to open the bathroom door after washing your hands.

FluffyRN, I'm so sorry you're having these issues. If your bariatric surgeon won't listen to you this time, can you go to another doc? It seems to me that if you're having real vomiting even after being totally unfilled there is definitely a problem. I hope the new UGI gives you some answers. Best of luck to you

diarrhea isn't uncommon when you're on liquids.. Liquid in, Liquid out. Ask your doc if you can take immodium or modify your diet if the diarrhea is troublesome.

I have one by Taylor, I bought it from amazon.com. It has a backlight on the readout which is nice. It won't work on carpet, needs a hard surface such as wood or tile or linoleum. Everytime you move it you have to recalibrate by stepping on it for a second and then back off. When the light goes off, it's ready to use again. Mine weighs me only about 2lbs different than the doc's office and that's probably attributable to Water and clothing. I weigh daily.. but ONLY pay attention to a weekly weigh in.. usually on Thursday morning and done wearing as little as possible. I also take my measurements Monthly.. so if the scale isn't moving much, I can still see some positive changes.

Just be careful what you use. Many Protein powders were found to have heavy metals in them according to Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/july/food/protein-drinks/whats-in-your-protein-drink/index.htm From what I read and understand, it's the frequency and amount of use that's a concern. There may be more current information out there, I haven't pursued it because I don't use them (protein powders) daily. To the person whose doctor said no Muscle Milk.. it could be because of the heavy metal contamination or maybe he meant regular MM (which is pretty calorie dense). The MM light is only around 100 cal or so per serving (at least in the RTD boxes). I'm about to reorder Syntrax nectar of some flavor or another .. having trouble deciding which one. They're 90 cal per scoop, 0 carbs & 23 gram protein. I don't think the flavor is intense enough when mixed with plain Water, so I add crystal lite, instant coffee, Powerade zero.. whatever seems appropriate to the flavor. Syntrax used to have an offer where you could buy sample packs of the Nectar, you ended up with 16 different flavors for about 16 bucks. It's not on their website, you have to email and inquire about samples. www.si03.com Hope you find something you like.

Often it's the consistency of the eggs that's the problem. Things to try are 1) do not overcook them, leave them slightly moist. 2) add some cottage cheese to eggs before scrambling, this helps to keep them moist. I tried this, didn't care for it much, but I know others who love it. 3) have some veggies in with the eggs. I often make a mushroom, spinach & bacon bits scramble. The combination of texture works for me. 4) don't have the eggs for Breakfast. Maybe it's a morning thing that you're too tight. They might work better at lunch or supper. Or at least have a cup or two of something warm (coffee, tea, Water?) then after you've been awake 30 minutes or more, try the eggs. I haven't had issues with eggs yet at 22 months out, but I've always liked moist eggs. Anything DRY gives me fits. Good luck.

Thanks Dave. Looking at your ticker, we started near the same weight. If you keep on with what you're doing now, you'll be very successful. I'm fighting a mental battle with the slow down in weight loss now.. I keep remembering when I could lose 3 or 4lbs a week and compared to the rate I lose at now (.5 to 1lb a week), it's rather hard to stay encouraged. I'm grabbing every trick in the book (not weighing daily, taking measurements monthly, drinking lots & lots of water) to keep myself encouraged. Posts like yours help. Thank you. I don't mind at all you copying the guidelines. And that's what they are.. guides. If you find a particular one doesn't work for you.. ditch it and try something different. As my mentor Jessie says, lot's of ways will work, you have to find the one that works for you. I'm off to go find my Water bottle... getting a tad hungry and it's not feeding time yet.. so water here we come.

Oh no problem. I grew up with 3 sisters.. Momma would say "SueGloriaMelissaJane" Get out of my kitchen. LOL!! You kinda get over things like that. BTW.. I should give credit where credit's due. Those aren't my guidelines, I got them from Jessie Ahroni. Jessie is a band educator, banded 12 years herself and is a frequent contributor to the SmartBandsters list on yahoo groups. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters. She's also written a book on Adjustable Gastric Banding. I love Jessie.. she's been major support for me.

Hi Jen, Congratulations to you for making the effort to climb back on the wagon! That's a significant first step.. to want to do it. I'd suggest not kicking yourself..that won't help and may even hinder you if you keep feeling bad about yourself. Just say "oh well, the past is past and now it's time to move on". Here are the band guidelines that I try to follow MOST of the time: Guidelines: * No liquid calories [except 2 servings of non fat milk (2 x 8 oz = 16 oz/day)] (16 grams of protein) * No soft foods * Two 3-4 ounce servings of protein/day (2 X 21-28 = 42-56 grams of protein) * Always eat the Protein first, then the vegetables * Avoid bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods * 20-25 grams of Fiber a day (Examples: bran Cereal, fruits, vegetables, beans) * Eat only three small meals a day with maybe one small planned snack * Eat slowly and chew thoroughly * Stop eating as soon as you feel full * Do not drink while you are eating * Do not eat between meals except for a planned snack * Eat only good quality foods * Avoid tough stringy foods * Drink plenty of liquids during the day (48-64 ounces) between meals * Drink only low calorie liquids * Avoid carbonated beverages * Exercise at least 30 minutes per day And I'd also suggest going back to your surgeon to evaluate where your band is.. you may need more or less fill. Try not to be embarrassed to go back because of the regain. It happens to a lot of people. Again, congrats at wanting to make a change.

I'd still call my doctor, even if it's just "coughing up", it's too soon after surgery for this to be going on. They have someone on call (or should have) for such issues. Very likely they can give you advice over the phone. Take very good care of yourself post-op, don't try to macho it out. A little TLC now will pay off big in the long run.

Hi Vanessa and welcome to the start of your new life!! I don't know about Dallas bandsters on this site, I pretty much stay on the post-op section, but there's a yahoo group called DFWBandsters at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWBandsters I'm a member there even though I'm not technically IN Dallas.. I'm 2 hours (or more, depending on traffic..hehe) east. There's also a Texas Association for Bariatric Surgery conference coming up soon in Dallas..my doc and a lot of his staff are going and are encouraging patients to attend. I've registered, but still haven't 100% decided to go. http://www.txtabs.org/index.html (scroll down for the links about the conference). Again, welcome to bandlandia.

I think I lucked out. I got to my bariatric surgeon from the recommend of an Ob/gyn who had been banded by him. I had been toying with the idea of banding for a few years but some other health problems kicked me into finally taking the final steps. Meeting someone in real life who was banded helped alot. I guess because when I went to the informational seminar what the doc said and the post op information (posted on his website) sounded so reasonable, I didn't research any further. My doc too is 3oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies 3x day, 64oz of Water, exercise 30 min/day, healthy Snacks if needed. I had no pre-op diet (but I hear he's doing that now for a week for banding) and was back on normal food by two weeks. There are things that he doesn't do that I sometimes wish he would.. like check blood work or do an UGI at yearly intervals, but I can handle getting that done myself. I also wish the support group was run by a different person, but there's lots of ways of getting support. I agree that having reasonable expectations/goals for the band makes the process a whole lot easier and a whole lot more likely to succeed.

online only. www.unjury.com if you're cleared for Protein drinks, check out the Syntrax nectars too. www.si03.com (they used to have sample kits at about 1.00/packet.. but u have to write them and inquire) I rarely used protein drinks during my post-op period. Did just fine without them. In fact, I just gave away a canister of powder that I had cause I wasn't using it.

Possibly what has happened is that the 25lbs you lost wasn't all on the outside, some of it was fat lost around your stomach too. Your stomach gets smaller, your band gets looser, you loose some of the appetite dimming. It's possible they could do an xray, but that depends on whether your doctor thinks you need one. My doctor doesn't use fluoroscopy, he'd have to send me over to the hospital to get it done. If it was needed, ok, but I don't want to have the extra radiation. Hope they can give you some answers on Monday.

It took me a good two weeks to feel half-way decent. I blame the NP for only giving me a script for Darvocet. Never again will I let someone cut into my abdomen (even laprascopically) without better pain meds. By 3 weeks out I was ok. Hope you feel better soon. Call your surgeon if you don't feel like you're recovering as well as you should.

I dunno about butt-kicking either, but I can offer some suggestions: 1) Quit putting the words exercise and hate in the same sentence. Semantics yes, but words have great power. You can say I really dislike exercise or exercise is not my favorite activity, but quit telling yourself you hate it. 2) Find something that moves your body that you enjoy. Bike riding (with your kids?), Walking, Swimming (Denton is sure to have some indoor pools). Have you explored Zumba? The motto for Zumba is "Ditch the workout, join the party". I really enjoy Body Pump at my gym (it's for shaping and toning, not body building). I also do RPM (aka Spin aka Stationary Bike classes) which I don't really like, but I do it for the cardio and it's not too stressful on the joints. 3) not into group classes? Look at Leslie Sansone's "Walk away the pounds" DVD's. They're awesome. She's got a freebie session starting through ivillage.com soon. There are plenty of other DVD's of this type. Or if you have a Wii, try Wii Fit or I hear that Dance Dance Revolution is fun. 4) Look into behavior modification. I like Judith Beck's "Beck Diet Solution". It's not a diet per se, it's a book teaching how to get rid of negative thinking. While she focuses on food issues, there's no reason it couldn't be translated to exercise. Proud of you that you see the need to change and that you're taking steps in that direction. You go girl!!

When did you last see your bariatrician? I see you say you had 2cc's removed and that let your hunger come back. Can you go back and have a little more Fluid added? Having a good amount of fill (to maximum) and still being able to eat anything and everything is not how the band is supposed to work. The band is supposed to help us curb our hunger so that healthier choices are easier. We STILL have to work at it. I'd suggest reading Dr. Simpson's article here: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Don't be so hard on yourself.. while you've regained some, you're still at a -56 from where you started!! Think of where you might be if you didn't have the band. here are the banding guidelines that I try to follow MOST of the time: Guidelines: * No liquid calories [except 2 servings of non fat milk (2 x 8 oz = 16 oz/day)] (16 grams of protein) * No soft foods * Two 3-4 ounce servings of protein/day (2 X 21-28 = 42-56 grams of protein) * Always eat the Protein first, then the vegetables * Avoid bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes and other starchy foods * 20-25 grams of Fiber a day (Examples: bran Cereal, fruits, vegetables, beans) * Eat only three small meals a day with maybe one small planned snack * Eat slowly and chew thoroughly * Stop eating as soon as you feel full * Do not drink while you are eating * Do not eat between meals except for a planned snack * Eat only good quality foods * Avoid tough stringy foods * Drink plenty of liquids during the day (48-64 ounces) between meals * Drink only low calorie liquids * Avoid carbonated beverages * Exercise at least 30 minutes per day Good luck to you. P.S. The suggestion to investigate some kind of therapy for depression is a good one.

The first 6 weeks is about healing, not about weight loss. ANY weight loss that happens during that time is a bonus. I know that's not really what you want to hear. And 600 is awfully low, is that your doctor's recommend? The weight loss will continue, but give your body a chance to recover from the shock of surgery. Relax and follow the guidelines as closely as you can.

What do your post-op orders say about activity? I would use that as a guideline. I probably wouldn't do extreme movements or break dancing or whatever, but a little gentle movement probably wouldn't go wrong. All I can say is "probably" because I don't know your medical history. The best thing would've been to call your surgeon's office with this question... if they're open today, please call. My surgeon says basically no lifting over 10lbs for 2 weeks and "if it hurts, don't do it". Call YOUR doctor.

That is strange. I've never had that happen. I think I'd call my surgeon after the holidays and get them to review my surgical report.

Is it bright red blood? It might be an anal fissure or a hemorrhoid. Is it black tarry stools? Then it's bleeding higher up in the body/intestines. I would not wait. I'd call either your bariatric surgeon or your Primary Care Physician NOW. Bleeding is almost always abnormal and while it's probably not a huge problem, what if it was and you waited too long?

Have you lost weight during the two weeks that you felt "tight"? If so, that may be what is going on, you've also lost weight around your stomach and your band becomes looser and you feel "looser". I know you didn't state that you ARE eating anything and everything, but just in case, let me reinforce, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I like what Dr. Simpson has to say about the band and how it works: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html That's pretty much how I've done it. Eat my portion and step away from the table. I don't know your doctor and their way of filling, but I doubt you'll need to get all the way up to 10cc's. Once I got to 4 cc's, my fills got smaller and smaller and with just as good results. Try not to compare yourself (yeah I know.. easier said than done... I even do it and I KNOW better.. lol) to others. Hope this helps.

If you're being told 1/2 cup of food with little fill, I can understand your frustration. My doctor doesn't go by volume alone. We are told 3oz of Protein (about the size of a deck of cards .. all 3 dimensions) and 1/2 cup of veggies. If I put all of that in a measuring cup it comes out to close to a full cup. Weighed out, it comes to around 6 to 8 ounces.. depending on the density of the veggie. Yes, I think you should tell your nutritionist or dietitian that you are hungry and struggling. That you don't feel that 1/2 cup is holding you long enough. And I'd call and make the appt much sooner than 3 weeks from now. You need help now.. not in a month. ( btw: I don't like to use the word "starving". We rarely starve in this country. And words have great power.. if you tell yourself you're starving, it's harder to get over than thinking, I'm really hungry) My NP used to also tell me, if I eat my 3oz and 1/2 cup, then wait 20 minutes.. if I was still hungry after 20 minutes, I could have more veggies. Ask about that. Ask if you are hungry in 3 hours.. what to do then? Not everyone will fit in the same eating plan. They may have to modify it for you. I modified my own to be honest. I was SMO (super morbidly obese) at the beginning of my journey and 3oz of protein just wasn't enough. I ate 4 oz for a long time, but didn't tell anyone. I don't remember when I went to 3oz, but it was at least a few months. My weight loss didn't suffer significantly. In fact it was so good that the RN hesitated to give me my first fill. I had to stress that I was really struggling. Things to try to get you through if you can't get your bariatric professionals to bend a bit: Drink lots of Water between meals. Sounds silly & stupid, but it does work. Get Judith Beck's Diet Solution Book. It's not a diet book per se, but it's about behavior modification. It will help with the way you think about food and weight loss. Try drinking COLD fluids to slightly tighten the band. Hard to do this time of year (assuming you're not in Australia..lol), but worth a shot. I know from another thread that you don't like counting calories, but until you get good appetite dimming, that may be what you need to do. I used to find that mild exercise, such as brisk walking, would cut my appetite a bit. Besides, if I wasn't in the house near the kitchen, it was more difficult to eat. Good luck to you. We've all been where you are and we all made it through. You can too.

Call and make an appt to go in for a little unfill. Doesn't have to be much, .25 or .5 can be enough. UNTIL you can get in, don't eat anything solid or dense for 3 to 4 hours before going to bed. Try drinking some warm tea about 30 minutes before you go to bed. Elevate the head of your bed .. not just pillows, but put bricks or something sturdy under the headboard. If you absolutely can't do that, sleep in a recliner. Please don't ignore this symptom, it can lead to band slippage or even aspiration pneumonia.. neither of which is desirable.