elgrad

Today is the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Being a former Marine, I must ask your indulgence to take a few lines within this forum and wish a Happy Birthday to my brothers and sisters in arms. As well as to their families. Semper Fi! Elgrad

I like the "Band...James Band" thought! My band is named Bernard. Don't know why I chose that name..it just seems to fit. Now, naming your band is a very person decision. I first had to decide whether it was a male or female band. Most days, it's male. So, the male name. I would suggest you roll some thoughts around in your head and see what seems to fit. You could always go with "no-nam-e" (like sunami) and that might work. Or, you could try something really clever like "band-it" or "band-aid" or even "bandalot" (like Camelot- that mystical, magical land where dreams come true). There are many ideas. One will come to you, in due time. Elgrad

Bernard ( that's my band's name) does not like chicken, at all! He will rebel whenever I try to eat some. So, I have stopped eating it for awhile. I think it is because it can be dry and that irritates him for some reason. I have heard that if you cook the chicken in gravy or sauce of some kind, it helps. I am just too chicken (oops, sorry, couldn't resist) to try it for now. I don't think you have hurt your band but if it continues to bother you, contact your doctor. Elgrad

Trish, Could your meds be hindering your weight loss efforts? I know when I was on my diabetic meds, it was harder for me to lose weight. It the meds are part of the problem, you may need to see if they can be adjusted or (sorry to have to say this) you may have to resign yourself to a slower weight loss. But, as Jacqui has said, there are ways to increase the metabloism and help with weight loss, exercise being a very important one. You will lose tho, once you find the sweet spot. Good luck! Elgrad

Good Morning! I would follow what the MA has suggested, at least for 24 hours. It could be a mild muscle strain, due to all the coughing. And since the first thing most folks here would tell you to do is call your doc and you have done that, maybe just follow what they have said and give it 24 hours. If that doesn't help or the pain gets worse, then call to see if you can get in. I know when I am sick and I have to cough, I get a pain in my sides that feels like a muscle strain. It will hurt for a few days and then go away. Of course, that was pre-band, so I know we have uber-concerns when it comes to strong and unusual pains. If it isn't any better in a day, then go to the next step and get it checked out. Good luck and keep us informed, please! Elgrad

Okay, I know that we have to learn to trust and that may take some time. After all, I have trusted before, only to have my heart broken. I always put so much into a relationship only to find out it won't work out. But, now I have finally found a relationship that is making me smile with joy and love. I LOVE Bernard!! He is everything I was told he would be and more. He is supportive and steady. Who could ask for anything more? (Oooh, sounds like a Gershwin tune). BTW, Bernard is my band. I got my first fill on Friday, 1 cc went into Bernard and he is now happy to keep me honest and ful-"filled"! I thought to myself "Only 1 cc, how in the world would such a small bit of liquid love keep me satisfied?" Well folks, I am here to tell you that it has worked so far. I am not hungry in between my meals, and that is a BIG improvement. I have already lost 5 pounds since Friday and am feeling so happy to see the numbers on the scale go down. I know that our relationship will need constant tweaking, like any good love relationship, but I am willing to give this relationship my all, because I feel that it is mutually supportive. Good luck to all those out there that are on this journey. We can do this, because we have the tools now to make it happen. :smile2: Elgrad

I didn't have a lot of pressure to go with the by-pass but, I did do a lot of research on the many options of bariatric surgery. I decided on the lap band for many of the reasons that Jacqui stated. The biggest reason is that I wanted to take my time and do it right. Slow and steady for me has always been the best way. I guess I am a very slow learner and it takes me awhile to "get it". So far, I am very happy with my decision. I am 7 weeks out from surgery,have lost 20 pounds, feeling better than I have in a very long time, and completely off of my diabetic meds. I am controlling my sugars with diet and exercise. That is reason enough for me to be happy with my choice. But, everyone has to make the choice for themselves, based on your specific health needs and habits. Good luck in your choice. I don't think you will regret it! Elgrad

Heather, I am on the WW on-line program right now, which helps a little but not a lot. I think I miss the person-to-person exchange that the meetings give you. I would caution you, however, not to mention that you have been banded to too many people there, as others here have said that they have been given a lot of grief about it at the meetings. I plan to start going back to the meetings but will discuss my banding with the leader only. I still have a good relationship with my old leader and I am hoping she will accept the "new" and "improved" model of me, as well as encourage me along the way. Since I never went for the awards they hand out, just the info, I am hoping to just kind of skip those things and get the useful info that I need. :tongue2: Good luck! Elgrad

If you haven't had your fill yet, don't worry. It was painless for me and so quick. And what a difference that fill has made for me! Go for it!! Elgrad

I was just in your shoes! I was banded on 23 September and didn't get my first fill until 6 November. Well, before the fill, I had gained. Not because I wasn't being careful or eating the wrong foods...I just gained. I am old enough now to realize that I will never figure out how my body works! I just did the best I could and waited until the fill. Well, since Friday, I have lost 5 pounds! It does work, but you just have to be patient and give it time. It is NOT the bypass and it will NOT be an instant gratification type thing. This is a slow but sure thing. Don't sweat the small stuff, stay away from the scales until you get your first fill (easier said than done, I know) and try to be as positive with yourself as possible. You have made a very important change in your life and your body is trying to catch up with that decision. Be proud of yourself! You are on the way to a new life. Enjoy the ride and don't let anything take you away from the journey (not even a husband that needs a lesson in the proper way to support you) :smile2: Elgrad

I am working my way through the process of getting banded and I have been doing a lot of research into the whole band versus by-pass question. So, for those of you that have also done your research, can you give me five reasons why you have chosen the lap band over gastric by-pass? I have issues which could make either choice reasonable. I just wondered what has made any of you make the decision to go with the lap band. Thanks. Elgrad

Yes, you may have to get your meds changed. Time release capsules cannot normally be broken into smaller units (so that you can swallow them easily) and so may cause you difficulty. Always check with your primary care physician regarding which, if any, of your regular meds you will be taking after the surgery. I was taken off of my diabetic meds and am only on two small high blood pressure meds now, since my intake of sugar and carb laden foods has dropped to almost nil. My blood sugar levels are well within the norms now and if I were to take any of those meds, I would probably have a very low blood sugar incident. This is a balancing act we must play to ensure that we keep all the levels where they belong. Working closely with your surgeon and your regular doc is your best plan of action. Elgrad

Congratulations on making the decision to be banded! You are taking control of your life in a very positive way. I was banded on 23 September 2009, so I am relatively new to this lifestyle. I will tell you, for me, that the first ten days were the hardest. You are recuperating from major surgery, so you are Fluid filled and dealing with anesthesia, so life will seem very bizarre. You may wonder what you have done and why you have done it. You may feel a little depressed (especially if you see food as your friend, not just as food) and you will be sore. The physical things are temporary and will soon disappear. You will start to come out of the funk and have a clearer focus on the situation. This is where you will enter what is known as "bandster hell" (cue the creepy music here) This is where you are healed, not restricted and hungry. Do your best to get thru this stage and look forward to your first fill. This is where the magic begins and the purpose of your band becomes apparent. For, if you are like me, you have dieted a lot in your life but never had the switch that said "Stop!". Now, you will begin to achieve that switch. You need to come here and see what others say and how they deal with the different parts of the process. Remember tho, that this is your journey, not anyone elses. So, what one person experiences, you may not. All of us here will tell you what we have done and felt, but it is something that belongs to us individually. If you are a counselor, you know how this works in therapy. Each of us has our own story. Listen, learn and process what works for you. Let the rest go by.:cursing: Good Luck! Elgrad

I was banded on 23 September, haven't had my first fill yet and cannot, repeat, cannot handle bread or toast! It gets stuck and is very painful. Bernard (that's my band, by the way) hates bread and lets me know very quickly that he is not happy :cursing: He also dislikes chicken of any kind. Boy, I can hardly wait until my first fill to find out what else he dislikes. I have not tried rice, so am not sure what would happen there. My suggestion is to give yourself a little time and then, if you want to try it again, go very, very slowly and chew very, very well. I certainly hate it when I get stuck. The pain is not pretty! :cursing: Elgrad

I have. I figure that it must be a male band, as no female would intentionally cause me such pain when I eat something I shouldn't, so I have named him " Bernard". He does not like chicken and really hates bread and this is just the beginning. Bernard controls my life right now, but like any new relationship, once we come to an understanding, I will be in control. I just have to figure out his ways and then I will be just fine! We don't know each other that well yet, but I plan to love him forever. This is a relationship that I am willing to work on and eventually, we will become as one. Oh yeah, my husband thinks I am nuts, naming this piece of silicone, but since this is a very close relationship, I just can't see letting Bernard stay nameless. I mean, I know the names of many folks that don't have nearly as much control in my life, so why not? At least it gives me a name I can yell out when I have a PB episode, right?! :blushing: Elgrad

Oh yes, I am in bandster hell. I am hungry and trying not to eat more than I should. I knew it was coming and I am trying very hard to keep on top of things. And yet, I am still having episodes of being stuck. I have found that I cannot eat chicken, unless it is covered in a sauce and I most definitely cannot eat any kind of bread. Both have gotten stuck and have caused some major pain. I am one month out of my operation and have been given the okay to be eating just about anything, and most of the time I have no difficulty, exept for these two items. I have my first fill on 6 November and am hoping to get some restriction, but will have to wait and see. Until then, I continue to watch my portion sizes and am trying to stay away from all my trigger foods. Send some positive thoughts my way, as I am struggling. Elgrad

I did go to a birthday party 4 days after my surgery! I sat for most of it; took my clear drinks with me and my pillow for my tummy. And actually, I got up and did a little of the Electric Slide with all the ladies! Not much, but a little. I considered it my walking for the day! Was I sore? Oh yes, but I refused to just stay at home and continue to sit in my easy chair when there was a party going on. And, I felt better once I got up and got moving. However, everyone is different and I would tell you to see how you feel on that day and then make your decision. If you are still very sore and just don't want to go, then don't. Only you know how you will be feeling. Elgrad

I can help you on this one, as I just had an episode last night :w00t: PB ing is short for "productive burp". Basically, when you eat too fast or take too big a bite or your band just doesn't like what you just ate, you will get a reaction that feels like the food is stuck. Pain in your chest area, sometimes a lot of discomfort, followed by a time of trying to get the food to either go down or come back up. It can be very uncomfortable and you have to deal with it. I ate a piece of meat that I obviously did not chew very well and the reaction was immediate. I walked around a bit, chewed on some papaya enzyme pills and waited some more. Felt like I wanted to bring it back up but couldn't. Finally, after about 20 minutes, it went down. It is not the same as vomiting, because there are no gastric juices to speak of, just a lot of saliva. Which is where the sliming part comes in. Your body will immediately produce saliva in an effort to help things along. I kept having to spit because I couldn't swallow very well. Now, all this sounds nasty and it is in a way, but it will teach you a lesson on portion control and proper chewing habits. Today, I am back on soft foods and taking my time with the chewing. I do not want another incident like last night! Just be aware that it can happen, especially if you are like me and keep forgetting that I have a band in and cannot eat like I used to.:scared2: Elgrad

I am always amazed at how I always seem to find a thread on this site for the very issue that I am facing. I was banded on 23 September and lost 15 pounds on the pre/post op liquid phase and now seem to be stuck. I was wondering about it this morning on my way to work and trying to decide what to do about it when I opened up this site and voila- somebody beat me to the punch by posting the very thoughts that I have been having! I have been trying to faithfully follow a healthy eating plan since my surgery, even more so now that I was allowed to work in some mushies and do not feel that I have been overeating at all and yet, I stay in the same weight range. I am just going to grin and bear it for a while longer and wait for my first fill. As long as I am truthful in what I am eating and I have added a little exercise, lif is still good and I am sure the weight will come off. I just have to believe in the process! :thumbup: Elgrad

I had my surgery on the same day and I starting feeling really hungry about 9 days out. I was also supposed to wait before I went on to mushies, but I ended up calling my doc's office. He gave me permission to go ahead and start on mushies that day. What a difference it made in my energy level and my attitude! So, my suggestion is, call your surgeon and ask if you can start to incorporate some more solid foods. Just be careful tho, cuz I went a little overboard and had a nasty incident with a piece of baked chicken! Not a great experience!! If they give you permission, start out slow and make sure the food is mushie. Good luck. Elgrad

I have! I started by cooking some salmon and just flaking it out to that it was soft. And taking it real slow. I also made some chili using white meat chicken, pinto Beans and tomato sauce. THen, I just cooked it real well and used my spoon to mush it down. With some low fat sour cream...yumm! I also bought some turkey chili by Hormel and had it for lunch today. Again, mushed it up with my spoon and ate it real slow. No pain and it was really good. I plan on cooking some fish tonight and just making sure that it is very soft and in small bites. My doc said that anything I could mush up was fine, no big chunks and nothing rough, like a crust. Call your doc and see if he/she has any suggestions. Good luck! Elgrad

No, you are not the only one that had those feelings. I am exactly 2 weeks out from being banded. After the first 5 days, I was hungry. I was limited to Clear liquids only and I got real tired of broth and Isopure drinks. I finally called my doc after 7 days and he allowed me to move on to full liquids and some mushies. It is normal to be hungry, especially if you had a 2 week pre-op diet to follow. You are, to put it simply, running on empty. I would caution you tho not to hurry thru the stages. I thought that I was healed enough to eat some baked chicken. That was a mistake! I had immediate chest pains and slime like you wouldn't believe!! I went back immediately to pureed/liquid foods. Guess I am not as smart as I thought I was If you are hungry, call the doc and see what he/she recommends. Good luck and congrats on the weight loss so far. Elgrad

I do feel the same way. I am two weeks out from my banding, was allowed to go onto mushies a little early and thought I knew what I was doing when I decided to eat some baked chicken last night. WRONG! Boy, did I hurt for a few minutes. Scared me a lot. As to the cake, here's a tip that my mom gave me a long time ago, after she lost a lot of weight: Wash all your food before you eat it! Yep, just give that old cake a good wash in hot Water. You would be amazed at how many calories will be gone after that :thumbup: Works for all those unhealthy choices - candy, cake, etc. Seriously tho, don't be so hard on yourself. We have all been on this journey for so long that we sometimes revert to old habits. You will change, once you find your sweet spot and these things will just be a part of your learning curve. Laugh a little, especially at yourself, and try to relax. It will all come out alright. Elgrad

I have just been banded, so some of these questions I will not be able to answer, but here goes: 1) I cannot feel the band. In fact, one of my first posts to this group asked folks when they actually became aware that they had a band, since I don't have any conscious feeling of the device. 2) So far, I have had no complications at all. Now, I have only been banded for 10 days, so it is probably not the best indicator of potential problems, and others have had problems, but so far, so good. 3) Since I am post menopausal, no worries regarding birth control. I am sure others can answer this as can your surgeon, the best person to talk to regarding those type of issues. 4) Sex - I have been told that as soon as I am feeling well enough for it, I can enjoy. I plan on it! 5) I have not experience any vomiting. I had a little nausea on the day of surgery but I think that was due to drinking some broth too fast. Wasn't ready for that. They gave me some meds and that solved the issue. If you read other posts here, you will hear about "PBing" which is a term for Productive Burping, meaning that if you eat too much, too fast or don't chew well enough, you may end up bringing the food back up. It is not the same as vomiting, since does not have stomach acids in it. It is just like spitting things right back up. There are plenty of folks that will tell you that it happens, you deal with it and move on. I haven't had it happen to me yet, as I am still on liquids. I am sure otheres can give you a better idea of the process. 6) Of course you will eat food. What types and how much will change. You will find what foods do not agree with you and will learn to stay away from them but you WILL eat again. Just like a normal person would. THis is not designed to make you a slave to liquids or pre-digested food. It is a toll to help you control the amount of food you eat, if it is working properly. 7) I was given broth (not so great for me), warm tea, clear juice and Water right out of surgery. Everyone is different tho and it depends upon your doctor. For the past 10 days, I have been on a diet of Clear Liquids. Not to lose weight but to allow for healing. Today, I was given permission to move on to muschies - basically, Protein and such that is soft and blended. Again, not to lose weight but to enable me to not be hungry and still heal. In another week, I will move onto soft foods. 8) I have lost 14 pounds in the last 10 days. I do not count anything I lost while being on the pre-op diet, but from the day I was weighed in at surgery to today. I will tell you that I am not so focused on the amount lost at this time, as I simply want to get thru the healing phase and then actually start my new lifestyle, complete with exercise and proper eating. Some folks like a lot of weight lose during this time but for me, it was all about getting off all my meds and moving into a lifestyle that would be more normal for me. I am completely off my diabetic meds and will be off of my high blood pressure meds in 3 months. Success! At least, in my book. 9) I am beginning to be very proud of my choice and very happy that I made this decision. I will admit, at first, like most folks, I wondered if I had made the right decision. But remember, when you are still under the fog of the anesthesia, your emotions are very screwed up. You have to wait to get thru the chemical warp before you can begin to think clearly. Today, as I take my blood sugar counts and realize that they are normal, not because of insulin, but becasue of this choice, I am very happy! I hope that this has given you some idea of the process. Keep reading this forum and you will get a lot of useful, truthful info. Good luck whatever you decide. Elgrad

Dear Nancy, I was also scared and a lot overwhelmed when I first started this trip. There is a lot of information to absorb and if you have problems dealing with change, it can to be a bit much. Here's what I would suggest: Take a deep breath and try to focus on one issue at a time. Read as much as you can on the subject. There is a very good book out there titled - Bariatric surgery for Dummies (or something like that)- that talks about all the different types of bariatric surgery and everything about each one. I started with a seminar from my surgeons office, worked thru the book and came to this website, a lot! The pre-op tests will take some time and if you are using insurance, they may require you to take at a minimum 3 months before you can have the surgery. That is useful, "considering it" time, for you. I did all of that and had my surgery last week. Since I have type II diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, I can understand all your concerns. I have been off of my diabetes meds since the day before surgery (my numbers are consistantly low) only on high blood pressure (and may come off those in 3 months) and hopefully will be off my CPAP machine in 6 months. This option does work. It is not easy and you will find yourself wondering about it all the way, but for me, it is already accomplishing what I wanted it to do - get me off the meds! Please, take your time to think about it, don't feel rushed and use the resources that are out there. Then, it may not feel so overwhelming. Please feel free to contact me privately if you would like more support - elgrad@hotmail.com. I am also in North Carolina. Be calm and breath deep. Elgrad