Padanelle

Congratulations, Rae. Great job! Wishing you continued success. Joan

From reading the posts on this site, it seems most recomend calcium citrate. My nutritionist lists both. Since I'm supposed to take 1500 mg p/day, taken in 500mg doses spread out during the day, I take caltrate in the morning, and Viactive later in the day. I also get a lot of calcium from food sources (milk, yogurt, etc).

Hi Bobbie Jean, May I suggest that instead of using small baggies, you use ziplock or glad containers. They come in various sizes, and go from freezer to microwave. Great for individual portions for a picnic. Tuna sald can be a good choice. If you're worried about the mayo spoining, make it with balsamic vinegar & spices. A crustless quiche is also great, and will not spoil at room temperature for several hours. Applesauce, a pureed gazpacho Soup are some other ideas. Good luck.

I,ve been banded a little over 2 months, and don't seem to be making any headway in eating slower. I may manage to pause for around 30 seconds - 1 min inbetween a FEW bites, but usually loose my focus and go back to showeling the food in. I've had a few minor incidents of tightness/some chest pain, but it usually passes after a few minutes. At least I'm smart ebough to stop eating when that happens. lol. Definately a work in progress...

Wootsie, I would definately check further what your surgeon means by 3 bites per meal. I don't see how you could get sufficient nutrition by having only 9 bites per day, unless you are also taking major supplements, specially since most instructions say each bit should be small. How would you determine which 3 bites you take - all Protein? 2 protein,1 veggie? 1 protein, 1 veggie, 1 fruit, etc? It sounds like something is missing in the instructions.

I had just one incision, just below my belly button.

Good luck on Monday, FFC. The NYU operating team is great. Hope it all goes well for you.

Amy. Congratulations on your fantastic weight loss. I was also banded by Dr Fielding this past June. I love tuna fish for a quick Protein fix. When I'm on mushies, I just add spice (garlic, red pepper, tarragon) and some balsamic vinegar. When I'm on solids, in addition to the spices, I add Water chestnuts for some crunch & either sliced scallions or diced shallots.

Thanks. That was helpful.

Way to go, Sandi! Since lapband is a relatively new proceedure here in the US, it is so nice to hear a success story from someone who has been banded for 5 years.

Forgive me if this is a silly question, but I am technically challenged. I have been reading the posts on Wii, and am a bit confused. Is the Personal Trainer part of the EA Sports Active Program? What's the difference between Wii Fit?

Hi Jenny, Glad it went well. Hope to eventually meet at one of the NYU support meetings or events. Joan

After reading posts for a couple of months and noting how different everyone pre/post op and fill instructions are, I have come to the conclusion that it in many cases, it might not be a particular surgeon's general instructions vary, but that these instructions vary based on the needs of his/her patient. This would make more sense. I have seen bandsters who had the same surgeon as me post here that they have been given different instructions than I received. After all, when it comes to something as import as this surgery, there's a certain comfort to knowing its not just cookie-cutter.

After a fill I have to be on liquids for 2 DAYS & mushies for 2 DAYS. Most of the posts seem to have similar instructions (1 or 2 days of each), although some can eat right away, if they can handle it. We all have different reactions and in addition to what our doctors tell us, we also need to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. After 2nd fill last week, when I started back on solids, I absent-mindely munched on dry Cereal, and immediately felt tightness. Fortunately it passed after about 5 minutes. That was 4 days ago, and I still am not interested in eating solids. I am mainly having soft foods, and will avid solids until I feel comfortable swalling them again - hopefully very soon.

As far as I know, its just the empty calories at issue. Cheers!

I probably have not been reading a lot of the same posts, but I never felt those I read by people banded in Mexico were trying to promote having surgery done there. I am fortunate to have my surgery covered by insurance, but if I was self-pay, I would seriously consider having it done in Mexico. Mexico has been doing Lap Band surgery longer than the US, and many US bariatric surgeons have been trained on lap band by Mexican surgeons. A think post operative care & programs are an import part of the weight loss process, so I definately would opt to have surgery done close to home. But if cost was an issue, I wouldn't hesitate to have it done in a foreign doctor, by a surgeon and facility that has been checked out.

I've just started watching Big Medicine & Ruby. For me, the jury is still out on Big Medicine, as I find the surgeries a bit TMI. I really enjoy Ruby. She's really inspiring. On the lighter side, Drop Dead Diva is fun, and I have gotten hooked on Dance Your Ass Off.

I have been so turned off shakes, but this I gotta try!

before I was able to meet with the surgeon, I had to meet with a psych and have a letter from my PCP recommending the surgery. After meeting with the surgeon, I was given a list of medical tests that I had to complete before surgery. My insurance didn't have any addl requirements.

My thoughts are, why risk it when there are fairly good tasting chewable calcium and multivitamins. Regarding meds, I was told not to swallow anything larger than an advil. If you are going to try swallowing your pills, start with something small and see how it goes. And remember, each time you have a fill, something you may have been able to swallow before, you may not be able to swall after the fill.

When I went for my post-op check-up, I had to go for a esophofraham first, to be sure everything was in the right place and that I was healing ok. The NP showed me the pictures, and it was interesting to see what was going on inside. I've had 2 fills so far. The NP who does my fills is fantastic. Barely feel the pinch, and it is over before I know it. A fluro fill may be more precise, but if the person doing the fill is experienced, I don't think you have to worry. Besides, who needs all those addl x-rays...

Tuna fish is a quick Protein fix. I also add Protein powder to Jello SF/FF pudding, so 1/2 cup is about 115 calories, 10 g protein & 1.5g fat(1% milk. Be sure to read the labels on low fat/fat free products, as the sugar content is often quite high.

I was banded on Jun 8. My insurance only would cover me as an out-patient, but my incision kept bleeding, so they kept me until the next morning. Everyone was super. Most of it was a blur, and I probably wouldn't remember most of it, if I hadn't made notes. The nurses were very attentive and I felt like I was in the best of hands. When I wasn't sleeping, I watched TV. I had an IV, which assume had pain meds, so other than getting in/out of bed, I don't recall being in much pain. The literature thay gave prior to surgery stressed not waiting till being in pain to take the meds, so I took the pain med regularly for several days after I got home. When is your surgery?

Jenny, Good luck on Friday. Dr Fielding is also my surgeon. He did a single incision. I can't say enough wonderful things about him and his entire operating team. Joan

That's awful! Hope you have a better nexperience next time. I thought if they do an x-ray with the fill, its usually done before the fill. I'm always amazed how different each surgeon's practices are. You really have a VERY conservative doctor. I remember he made you wait what seemed like forever to be able to take a shower after surgery. So you have to wait 3 weeks after a fill before you eat solids? How long were you on solids before your fill? Good luck. I certainly don't have the knowledge to criticize another surgeon's instructions, but this is a hard enough jopurney to get used to and it sounds like he is sure making it hard to stay on track.