KMO

JMO congrats on your weightloss! You have done so good!!!! If you need a fill, then get the fill don't wait longer than six weeks. Keep up the good work!

Why are so many of these post having surgery in Mexico? Aren't there enought US Dr.'s to do it? Or is it that insurance wont pay and Mexico is cheaper??

I was banded in the US but, for those who have been banded in Mexico.. Most were denied from the insurance and were self pay. It is far more cheaper to be banded in Mexico. Not to mention Mexico docs have been doing the surgery a hell of a lot longer than the docs in the US.

Its stress.

I know for me, that it isn't stress. I'm actually very happy and stress free. BUT I do know that the doc does say stress can be a factor with the band. I'm not filled yet, so even if I was stressed this wouldn't be a factor for me. I don't want to hijack your thread Manny, sorry. :phanvan

Sweet Sue,

I also have not told anyone, besides my husband, that I've been banded. I did have a plan to tell my closest friends but after I invited everyone over for a bon fire, i brought up the topic of WLS and they all had nothing but harsh words to say.. so i never told them. Anyway, back to your question. This is what I did.

I told people I had hernia surgery, Yoda gave me the idea. :cool: I then told everyone the doc put me on fluids for a couple of weeks, everyone bought it. Then I got to the mushie stage and i'm telling people that after having the liquid diet, i'm having a hard time rushing back into solids, so I'm slowly working my way back. Then once you get to you solid stage you tell people, like someone else mentioned, that you are eating normal amounts of food. 3 oz of meat, then your cup of veggies and so on.

I hate to lie, no matter what the situation is but for me, I'm not going to give anyone a chance to watch over every bite i put in my mouth nor am I going to listen to anyone put me down for losing weight by taking "the easy way out". This is much harder than a non banded person can imagine. You still need to work at it, the weight just doesn't come off on it's own. It's all about making the right choices. IMO

Best of luck to you!

I also would like to see a newbie section, but i really would love to have the chat fixed, I emailed Wheetsin(thank you) and she passed it along and nobody got back to me after that. :cool: The chat seems to be an issue for quite a few people, I'm surprised that they have not posted.

Also, wouldn't it be great to be able to send an Instant message to someone from the buddy list page? Just like you can do in the chat room. yes, i know we have aim and others but i'd rather just click on my buddy list on lbt instead of loading AIM and having all my other buddies wanting to chat.

Manny,

I get the same feeling as you do but with me, It takes me about 10 min before I can continue to eat. Like you said, the food just pauses and then it's like the food is slowly sinking. Tonight it took me 40 min to eat because of this situation. I stop and wait to eat because i have the fear of vomitting. Like you said this all could be normal. I don't see my doc for another 2 weeks, but if you go before then please update us. Inquiring minds want to know. LOL Also, congrats on your wonderful weightloss, how amazing. You must feel great. Take care and good luck.

There are MANY,MANY threads on the preg. and the band. Go to search and just type in pregnant and several pages come up. I know there was a thread on page 2 and then on page 3. Just keep clicking through until you find what you want.

Here's a few threads

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=21968&highlight=pregnant

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=19944&highlight=pregnant

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22040&highlight=pregnant

well sorry for all the posts, i'm trying to catch up LOL. It seems like everyone, for the most part, is doing great. A lot of us seem to have the same challenges and questions. Pretty soon we'll all be experts.

I so agree about the bra area incision, mine is feeling so much better now, thank goodness. Over all, the pain is gone. I'm just "sore" when I move in certain directions or stretch/reach for something. I can, however, sleep on my belly without problems now.. YEAHHHH

Baylors Mom, Glad to hear you are okay.

Charlie, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you. As you may have read, a few posts back, I was admitted at my appt. and It totally slipped my mind to ask about the drinking before the meal! I am dying to know myself, it just doesn't make sense. The only thing i can think of is it might my us feel too full and we won't eat enough??? If anyone knows the answer to this.. please post.. I'd love to know, So does Charlie, I'm sure... LOL

Indianlight-

Charlie was referring to why we can't drink BEFORE a meal. I, at first, thought he meant with & after, as well. We were all clear on why we can't with and after but not before.

Also, not to butt in on your info. to Leona.. but the nutritionist I have told me it was okay to have string cheese, it's a good "snack" because of it's Protein content and it's low fat. I agree, maybe 1 a day is good. I guess it depends on what kind you get and how many you eat a day. Right now, i'm not able to eat it because I'm not at that stage yet. :huggie:

I'm not trying to come off as a know it all, because I am far from it. I value any info. i can get. we are all in this together. :huggie: So I hope I didn't come off as a know it all bitchy girl. LOL

Leona06

I'm no expert I can only go on the experience of the people I've met who have been through this and one friend who is at goal.

as your not loosing weight have you tried drinking more Water and not having your Snacks? I find that 'cos i'm drinking soo much in between meals I don't have time or hunger for extra food. It might work.

I was also told not to have cheese or just a tiny bit as its full of fat. If you change from cheese to something else that might help too...it seems a shame to go through the op and not start to feel the benefit, but we all have to find what works for us. Hope you don't mind me commenting I just want to help! Good Luck

Somebody asked why we couldn't drink after food, it's cos it will wash the food straight through the pouch making us hungry quicker. My doc said not to drink for 1 hour after food. I'm finding that difficult but just managing as long as I drink lots throughout the rest of the day i don't get thirsty.

Hi All,

I've had a bit of a set back. Also, I've had a tough time breathing after I was released from the hosp. after surgery, but I thought this had something to do with the pneumonia I got and never called the doc. thinking this was normal for pneumonia. Any how while at my 1 week post op appt., the doc walked in and the first thing he said was "you do not look good, at all". He checked my breathing and temp. I guess the breathing issues was bigger than I thought, also I had a temp of 101. Needless to say the doc sent me for immediate testing and I had a PE, a pulminary embolism.. known as a blood clot. SO I was admitted for 3 days and got blood thinners to melt it away. I have been so discouraged so far. Since surgery I have been in the hospital for 8 days and home for 4.5. UGGHH. Sorry for my pitty party.. I'm just worn out. So hopefully this is a new start for me and i can now concentrate on the band... I did have one happy moment. I stepped on the scale and i've lost 10 pounds. I thought i'd gain, due to the Iv's and such. SO one good thing came of all this. :huggie:

Even though many of you had no idea i was hospitalized, there were a few who did and I'd like to give a special thanks to those of you who sent a PM to raise my spirits and to JMO for checking in and calling me... it really meant a lot to me to hear your words of encouragement.. not to mention you kept me laughing.. .and made my time in the hospital pass by quicker.

Mary,

You look amazing! Congrats on your wl success and also on your pregnancy. Enjoy every moment of it, what an amazing experience giving birth and just plain ole being a Mom is.

I don't know if anyone has every told you this but In some of your pics... you have a slight resemblence of Uma Thurman?

Take Care....

Thanks KMO and Mary. My main question was before meals, not with. I can understand the with and after just not the before!

My bad charlie, I can drink up to 30 before a meal. I will ask the doc why tomorrow when i go in for my check up. It's a good question.

I think the hardest thing is going to be not drinking with a meal. I can understand the not drinking after eating for an hour but can anyone tell me why not before? The liquid will go right through the band and not flush anything through.

Charlie, Here is the reason why the two can not be combined. I am taking this info. from my dr's bariatric nutritionist. Hope it helps you.

Why can't the Protein and the fluids be consumed together?

Drinking fluids at the same time as solids will fill your pouch with Fluid, making less room available for protein. Vomiting is also more likely to occur, especially after three or more band adjustments. It is important to avoid combining liquids and solids for several reasons:

1) The slushy mixture of liquids plus protein will leave the pouch faster than the protein alone, which may result in early hunger and snacking behaviour.

2) You may be unable to meet your daily protein needs if there is less room for protein in the pouch.

Soup is an example of liquids and solids eaten together, and therefore soup is not recommended. Soup is also not a protein-rich food. Thicker stews containing adequate amounts of protein may be eaten with a fork.

broth can be consumed as a liquid in-between meals.

Cereal AND MILK is another low protein, liquid/solid comination that should be avoided. High protein oatmeal can be used as an altenative to cold cereal and milk.

This doesn't mean my nutritionist has any better answer than anyone else's doc or nutritionist. This is what my doc wants me to follow.

Also, for those of you who are bummed about slowing down on the weightloss, please remember that the first 6 weeks are for healing.. any weightloss is a bonus in this time frame because we are not filled yet. You all have blown the doors off my weightloss. I've been banded for a week and i've lost 7 pounds, some are you have far more than I have. Good for you.

:clap2: Donna Marie, that is excellent.. great job!! It must feel great to get those compliments sent your way...

Beth- I do hope it's just a bug and nothing too serious.:confused:

You can go to GNC and get the unflavored Protein and the best thing about GNC is they take back anything you don't like without hassle. You can try as many protein mixes as you like. I like the unflavored, of course. but choc. and vanilla are really good too. I mix the choc. with sugar free hot cocoa or milk, depending on the time of day. The vanilla I mix with sunrise orange crystal light and it tastes like an orange creamsicle. YUMMY YUMMY best of luck to you!

Kristen,

What a great point! I am allergic to penicillin too. I'm scared to death what can happen when your sleeping and I don't want someone to give me PCN by mistake. I don't trust anyone either, before surgery I told every person who i spoke with that i was allergic to PCN. Thank God i did because i guess it's standard to put a bag of antibiotics in you while in surgery and the general Dr. signed off on PCN for me. The nurse caught it before i even met with her but it was the first thing from my mouth and she said.. I got cha... lol but the sharpie idea is great, just for insurance on your life. Penicillin is so common that Dr's don't think twice about ordering it or members of pcn's family for you.

Diva- best of luck to you! You are in great hands and many wishes and prayers are being sent your way for an uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery.

GE- not everyones ports are placed in the same spot. For me I have my port closer to the middle rather than right or left. BUT I do have an incision very close to the bra line, like many others do, that bothers me if i wear a bra. I wish i would have asked to have it a bit lower.

I'm puzzled by this whole thread. I just checked, and the bottom of my bra is well up onto my ribs. I can get four fingers between the lowest rib and the bottom of my boob. Won't the port go under my diaphragm and below my lowest rib, e.g. in the upper right part of my abdomen? If that's the case, it shouldn't interfere with my bra.

What am I missing?

Giblert & Paulax.. Hang in there, yes you both have a tough plan.. but look at your weightloss.. congrats. Keep it up and you should count how many more sleeps til mushies.. LOL and Coach.. great job! keep up the good work.

Ready.. hang in there.. you should also just think how how many more sleeps it is before your next stage. LOL that is what i do.

Karis.. what great will power, it's so hard, but you can do this. I have to go through this every Sat. night. We have a huge Italian famil, so we have our family dinner with every food you can imagine... and the the gelato and italian Cookies come flying out.. UGHHHH I"m waiting for the mushies so i can have the meatballs and sauce with ricotta and spinach.. no Pasta though LOL

Coach.. Keep up the good work! You can do this.

Erics Mom.. what a great detailed post on supersize me, LOL nice job

BGP & Matt... big mac is a 6 letter bad word.. LOL

Vintage hound.. I have glue on my incisions, but i have a couple that look like a vampire bite too. LOL they are raised little marks..

Beth,

what did you eat before this happened. I know you said breakfast , but what did it consist of? Sometimes that happens to me if i eat eggs, my Protein Drink or coffe before anything else. I have no gallbladder so eggs don't always agree with me. Or could you have eaten anything with sugar?

I need some help from some of you veterans or nurses out there. I woke up this morning feeling fine. I had breakfast and then about an hour later I had diarrrea (sp?) and then my stomach started to hurt. It hurt right up under my breastbone. It was definitely my stomach. It hurt all day. I finally ate some Peanut Butter crackers this evening and some popcycles. I don't think I have fever although my thermomiter might be broken. I don't know what it is. Should I be real concerned about this or is it just something that will go away? I don't want to have any problems with my band. I thought it would be better by now but it is not. I know I haven't had a good eating day but I didn't think that anything would stay down. Oh yeah I had some Soup for lunch. It barely stayed down. I am hungry a little but not sure on what to eat. What should I do? Help:help:

Beth

Stesti,

60 grams is what is expected of us to take in, but I know I'm having a hard time getting 30 - 40 in right now. I am 1 week out today, from surgery. I think I'm having a hard time because I have no more unflavored Protein mix and need to get to the store quickly. LOL When you use the unflavored protein, you can just sprinkle it on your food and your really don't taste it. But right now, I just feel so full after every meal that i find it hard to get the all 60 in. I am on full liquids right now and i can start to add mushies in 4 days. I also have pneumonia so I have not been feeling so great either.

I'm not there yere, but eggs & meat are a good source of protein. Every ounce of meat or 1 egg is around 7 grams of protein. so if you eat 3 0z per meal, you'll have 21 grams right off the bat. Do you have a nutritionist that is available through your Dr's office? They are usually the best to ask. I love my nutritionist. I never go hungry and if i don't like anything that is on my plan, she always finds somethings I do like to help me get by.

Hi Everyone:

Just curious to know how much Protein you are all eating or drinking in a day. Are you shooting for a particular number? I'm trying to get enough Protein, but how much is enough?

Any paticular Protein rich foods you're enjoying?

Stefani

Ok, this is a wierd one folks...:paranoid

The doc said I could write on my chest where my bra line is so he doesn't put the port right under an underwire. So...what kind of pen do I use? You know how you always see the plastic surgeon writing all over the patient in Dr. 90210? What kind of pen is that?

How about a ball point pen? That washes off right?

Help me out here.

My Doc used a permanent sharpie marker to mark a place on my body, before surgery. You have to remember that your belly will be washed down before surgery, so washables will not do. I'm 6 days out and the marker is gone, after taking several showers. It's not really a big deal, it does wash off in time. The only person who will see it is you and the doc.

Tomato Soup is what is getting me by. I love it!!! I only have about 4oz at a time. You never remember how good Soup is until you have no choice but to eat it. LOL I didn't have any acid problems with it either.

Congrats to you Coach!! As a fellow Michigander (now in TX), I'm glad to see that all is well!! I also am not hungry but boy those smells and watching/hearing people crunch stuff is getting too me!! I'm having "food withdrawals" big time today. But, I'm committed to getting through these 2 weeks of liquids and on to mushies.

By the way, how do ya'll do with Tomato soup? Have you had any problems with that? I didn't buy any cuz I though it might bother me.

I agree with you Coach...can't wait to see how much we all lose...lbs. and inches!!!

LMO- YEAHHHHHH you did it, i'm so glad that you didn't chicken out. LOL How are you feeling today? It gets better each day, i promise.

Take care of yourself and drink, drink,drink.. LOL eating comes later. LOL

Liz- Where r you? I hope you are feeling good enough to get shopping. I am still wondering if you drank that margritia for me.. LOL

Kmo- I guess you went dead on me... Waited for a little while but had a big day so cya later chica.... quote]

Jmo.. yes the laptop battery..just went kaaaaaaaaaaaaaput.. LOL I'll chat with you later. Have a great day today, between having a mommy, daughter day and actuallly getting to drive, i'm jealous. LOL go around he block a few times for me. I'll chat with you later.

LIZ... I hope you are feeling okay and that your surgery has gone just fine. Please let us know how you did. PM me if you want to chat. OHH and Welcome to BANDLAND!!!