Humming Bird

I drink quite a bit of iced tea with sweet n low. I don't like the pre-made teas because they taste spoiled to me. I fill a 2 qt. picher about 2/3 with water and heat it up in the micrwave. I let 4 teabags steep in it for a couple hours. Then I fill the rest with ice and 5-6 packets of sweet n low. I'm very picky about brand of teabags...... Lipton tastes the best to me. (not the ones made for iced tea or "diet", just regular Lipton tea bags) Very tasty and refreshing

Yes!! My reflux was gone after the repair!!! My surgeon said about 1/3 of all his lapband surgeries include hiatial hernia repair. These hernias are very common in obese people. He gave me an 8 x 10 glossy of my hernia...lol, I would rather have had a pic of my band!

Whoooo Hooo! What a great feeling!

It depends on it trauma was caused to the actual stomach tissue by eating while the band had tightened up while at a higher altitude. The first time it happened to me there was trauma to my stomach tissue and it caused so much swelling I could hardly even get tiny sips of fluid to go through. The second time I went to an area over 10,000ft I knew what was going on and it was a simple fix. KeepMoving, were you at a higher altitude for a short time or are you still there?

Yes, this is exactly right. It's the pressure of oxygen ......higher altitude can tighten the band just like a fill. If the bandster eats like their "normal" it can cause trauma. The trauma causes swelling inside the stoma. This makes it even tighter.....like getting 2 fills. The best way to reduce swelling from trauma to the tissue is ice/cold. If the swelling is then increased by adding heat, removal of some of the fluid in the band may be the only soultion while healing takes place.

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oh, just remembered..... I did manage to get a huge rhubarb plant to grow!! It's beautiful

I think my gardening days are over. I used to grow many things, but since moving to the mountains can't grow much but pine trees. I don't get much sun and many things will not grow at this altitude. I do try to grow a few things in planters on my deck, but it just doesn't work out well at all. Now I just buy my veggies at the store and farmers market. This pic what my yard/land looks like.

We are talking about a different situation if the OP is talking about altitude tightening the band and swelling caused by trying to eat during that time. Drinking warm liquids in the morning is a different situation. From the OP she stated she has already done the warm/hot liquid thing. Your surgeons told you warm in her situation? strange. I have had the altitude problem several times and found a solution the hard way.

ice/cold reduces swelling in human tissue, not heat. look it up. This is why they have you put on ice packs after surgery.

Are you talking about going up in altitude? If so, yes I have had issue with this in the past. I have trouble when I go above 9500 ft. or so. My solution is to go down below 8,000 and stay there for several hours. Also drinking VERY COLD things during that time is helpful. (I live at 8,500 ft.)

There are so many things you have to consider. BMI is a good guideline, but not very customized for each person. I think about my frame size, my age, how I look and feel in general....... I'm 47 years old, 5'7". I think I would look sickly at a weight that would look good on a 20 year old. I am ok with a few curves and maybe even some excess here and there. It makes me look more like a woman than a stick...... I feel great in a size 10 jeans! I could work my ass off and get in a size 8, but I'm happy where I am...... I just know....I feel it.... I'm pretty much done.... now I just do my best to stay there.

FYI: Whey is from milk, so if you have lactose problems stay away from whey. (I use whey) The problem is you don't know what you will be able to tolerate until you are already banded. I would have loved to get in all my Protein from actual food sources, but I am very sensitive to many foods. I can not tolerate many forms of protein including dense meats and eggs. It just has to be figured out as you go. That being said, .....love my band

My doc had some basics to follow when looking for protein shakes...... I think it was they have to be under 150 calories and more than 15g protein. There are many that fall in those guidelines. I've found several that have 60g protein. Several times I have gone to places like GNC and asked for protein powder that has the highest protein with the lowest fat/carbs/calories and they show me options. If you don't like the "milky" type, Nectar brand is like Kool-aid and has many flavors. You can order it online (roadside lemonade is the best )

I can only speak for how it worked/works for me.......... I can not eat enough solid protein (food) to get in as much as I need sometimes. In the beginning I could not eat any solid protein. We need protein so we don't lose too much muscle. We also need protein so our hair does not fall out. In the beginning I drank quite a few protein shakes. Now I just drink them sometimes. Yesterday I made strawberry smoothies for myself and my grandson........I added 2 scoops of protein powder. It was yummy and good for both of us.

I drink coffee daily. ( I also drink tea daily) For my coffee I use sweet n low and store brand fat free creamer. A tall skinny (non-fat) latte from starbucks is only 90 calories and has 10g protein

I can only go by my own experience. No, I can not drink while eating and no thanks on the dry biscuit and then drink. That would cause me discomfort.

1. How long have you been banded? since July 2009 2. How much weight did want to lose? in the beginning.......114 lbs 3. How much weight have you lost? Lost 100 lbs in the first year .....112 total lost. 4. How happy are you that you have been banded: scale of 1-10 (1 being regretful, 10 being elated) I am elated give it a 20! Taking off all the weight took very little effort on my part. The band is the only thing I have found that really works!

I have always used good old Sweet N Low (pink packets). Every other type tastes bad or not sweet to me. I've used it since the 70's. Most common for me is in iced tea and coffee daily. When I make oatmeal I use good old brown sugar.

Many of us (people in general, not just banded people) grind and/or clench our teeth during times of stress. The best way to deal with it is to decrease our stress. I know this is easier said than done. Maybe being banded has you stressed out? If so, learn to enjoy the experience instead of stressing over it.

I took a week off and the first few days back still kicked my butt.

LOL....too funny! Through this journey we have to keep a sense of humor for some of the situations we find ourselves in. It sounds like the hubs is onboard and supports you in all ways. Remember he is laughing *with* you. LOL......thanks for sharing. I keep a barf bag from the last flight I took in my glovebox ...... just in case I ever need it. I have a couple family members that get a kick out of it.

I say both. When I am at my sweet spot I get full/satisfied on a small amount and I don't get hungry again for several hours.

Try this thread ...... posted by 54Shirley awhile back Thanksgiving Salad.... several ideas: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/139263-thanksgiving-salad/page__p__1689774__hl__thanksgiving%20salad__fromsearch__1#entry1689774

Sara, I agree with what everyone else has told you. What a great place here at LBT ..... great support. It sounds like you have entered "Bandster Hell" a little earlier than I did. Bandster hell can mess with your emotions as well. You have to "diet" through that stage, but it was the last time I ever had to diet. Keep your eye on the prize and follow the rules. A year from now you will be posting how skinny you are!