coltonwade

My doc wouldnt touch me until i quit smoking ! Lots of docs wont. I suggest you go to your family doc and ask them to put you on Chantix , the new quit smoking drug.I quit cold turkey , chantix came out a bout 1 month after i quit . I looked at it this way , If im going to gain weight from not smoking I might as well do it before the surgery . And as for insurance companies Looking at smoking " Helping" for surgery , I have not heard of that before and I would not count on it. Not only is smoking an issue for lungs it also causes you to bleed more. And increases healing time. Smoking: Should I Quit for Surgery and Anesthesia? Smoking and Surgery Don't Mix- Quit For The Sake Of Your Health HTH Mindy

you might want to be careful in Juarez and or Tiajuana right now . The violence is getting out of hand there. Living in Texas the News Covers what goes on in Mexico quite a bit. you might want to google those cities and see that the mexican government has to say about those cities right now . The mexican goverment has warnings out right now as well about travel to those cities Just searching real quick I found the following . Threats of Increased Violence in Ciudad Juarez during the weekend of May 23-25, 2008 Armed Mexican Troops Patrol the Streets of Juarez - borderfirereport.net Juarez, Mexico. Off Limits to US military. El Paso hospital still on lock-down - Burning Atlanta ThreatsWatch.Org: RapidRecon: Mexico ? Violence Breaks Out Again ? State Department Warns Americans So At least for now it does not look good to travel to at least those cities ? be careful and do your research not only the docs but the CITIES HTH Mindy

OH wow im sorry . I learned a long time ago gotta really watch the portion things. That and Things you "THINK" are "healthy" , look helalhty ect. really are not . I think i would probably right to that company and tell them how missleading their packaging is. it might not do anything but it might make you feel better! Mindy

Sending you an email . But to answer your questions No i did not really do low carb intentionally at least. My pre op diet was Low carb high Protein . I had to do that for 2 weeks. I knew breads, pastas, ect could be an issue for me post op as far as not being able to eat them . So I decided to try to avoid carbs as much as possible. At least the "Simple carbs " . I do eat Complex carbs such as veggies ect. I can tell you that after not eating them for almost a yr My cravings are almost none , cravings for CRAP that is . I was totally unfilled about a month ago and started eating some carbs BAD idea. I crave CRAP again . My "Average" weight loss per week is 2.5 pds a week . Some weeks I lost more some less. I'll send ya an email too Be happy to help Mindy

PCOS is Symptomatic , if you have the symptoms you have PCOS . I dont know if you are ever "Cured" of it. But maybe "remission" is a better word ? My periods at a yr out are still coming every month. But much do my dismay the facial hair has not let up . If your doc does not want you on the pill you might consider an IUD . I considered that before i made Hubby get snipped LMAO remember the more weight you lose the more FERTILE you are going to get !! HTH Mindy

Cup cake i sent you an email . Let me know if you did not get it Mindy

This is why i always suggest to ask the docs . I too had 2 weeks of clears and 2 weeks of fulls. My doc however allowed me ahead of time IF I needed it due to my migraines i could go on full liquids during the clear liquids stage . I ended up not needing it . Your doc seems flexiable a little as well. Sometimes if patients were to just say " Look i am STARVING I cant do this is there something i can add" the docs would allow it . But just do not do it w/ out asking . Mindy

NO I think in general Psych evaluations are a joke. Would they stop someone from getting a band ? YES DO They ? Most of the time no . MOST of the time the psych evaluations are something that the insurance companies require or the docs do to cover their ass . Im stating my opinion and I see nothing wrong w/ what i said. regardless if one is a WLS patient or not . SURE yours probably understands the ramifications a little better. Just my input Mindy

Pysch evaluations are a joke if you ask me . There are LOTS Of people who have been put through for banding that have no business being banded because of serious food issues. I dont think there is anything"wrong" with the OP . She just does not know how to get back on track MIndy

Well said. I noticed she's not posting anymore which is a shame . The OP might learn something from us old foggie bandsters LOL Mindy

ALSO Forget about losing weight right now . the first 6 weeks is about healing from the surgery you just had NOT ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS. Your weight loss WILL COME once you have restriction ! You have to heal first. Mindy

I am sorry but pop corn chicken chewed well is a LONG WAY away from cottage cheese chewed well !!! You have GOT TO STOP and follow the rules ! This is SERIOUS stuff ya'll are messing w/ by not following orders. The best way to get through the first 6 weeks ? You get through it . Its 6 weeks ! you drink when your hungry you get CRAP out of your house. You eat when your hungry but you eat ONLY THE STUFF YOU ALLOWED TO EAT NOTHING ELSE !! Stop justifying that its ok cause you chewed it well . ITS NOT OK . Your docs do not want you EATING Soilds because they do nto want the acids in your stomach to develop and they dont want your stomach churning ! Im AM SORRY to be so harsh but This is how it is . You get through it by getting through it .your not going to die of starvation at this time . Seriously . Eat when your hungry , Drink when your hungry , But eat what your allowed !!! Mindy

Debbie , I just sent you an email MIndy

Some people have had luck w/ mederma ? You can get it over the counter. I have it but keep forgetting to use it . That's for the scars. For the stretch marks, I am not sure what to do about those , I have TONS . I have heard staying hydrated and to keep your skin moisturized . HTH Mindy

Hi , My name is Mindy , Im happy to help anyone in need . Here is some info about me . 32 Female Married 2 boys Live in Texas July 16 I will be banded a yr Starting Weight 250 Current Weight 145 -50 Total Weight loss to date 105 Pds Pds to goal 25-30 **I am currently totally unfilled so i have gained a little weight hence the fluctuating weight LOL***** My Mentor style : I tell it like it is , I do not beat around the bush . I believe in following the rules ordered by docs. I firmly believe that is what has gotten me to where i am today , which is losing 105 pds in less than a yr . I am realistic i realize we all mess up and eat things we like . I am cool w/ that. So if you would like a no non sense person to help along your rd ,possibly become friends a long the way . Drop me a line Mindy

Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Or check out the sixties forum . They will be helpful im sure Mindy

I agree you should call the doc , if they told you to go to the ER then you should go if you have Gerd/ refulx after this but not before. and your having isssues w/ water. Mindy

what you have to understand is that your still healing from surgery . So you may become nauseated for a few different reasons . are you getting enough liquids/water in ? If you become dehydrated you may be come nauseated . make sure your eating enough of the right things ? If you are really feeling like your going to be sick , you need to call your doc and have him call you in a RX . HTH Mindy

I am not sure who you were talking to lol But go ahead and ask all the questions ! You are not too old for the band at all ! I am 33 and it was the best thing i ever did for myself . GOod luck , ask away Mindy

If your going to do the take home box thing at restaurants , especially when newly banded, I really recommend getting the to go box WITH your meal , when it comes out and taking only what you can eat , putting the rest in the box and putting it a side. If you do not , early on , its REALLY easy to over eat and get stuck and getting stuck in public is NOT fun , Espically if your trying to hide it . I still do this just do i dont sit there and "pick" at my food when im done . HTH Minedy

After you have been banded for a while you WILL be able to throw food away TRUST Me . I know its hard to believe now but after your banded food is just food. Its no longer the SCRUMPTIOUS peice of cake or fish or what ever, its just food. you eat to live not live to eat. So telling the waitress, take my plate im done when half of it is still there is not a big deal . I know this wont make a difference but Stop caring what others think or feel or say ! your not doing this for them , your diong it for yourself. People get use to being around us fat and we are the "fat friend" and EXCPECT us to be the piggies at the table. When that changes THEY are the ones that are uncomfortable it makes THEM self concious. SCREW THAT ! You are not having lap band surgery for your friends , your doing it for yourself. So if you want to eat half a plate of food and tell the waitress to toss the other half screw everyone else and what they think . People will notice TRUST ME . But who cares. Does not mean you have to tell them you had surgery . But does not mean you have to hide weight loss success either !! Good luck Love Mindy

This is what kept me from "Cheating" during the post op phase , the first 6 weeks. And honestly its not cheating its going against medical advice . You might think of it that way . But I imagined if i ate anything i should not , i imagined my band being ripped out of my stomach ! If you keep that mental image in the back of your head it might keep you from putting anything in your mouth you should not ? The "fear" factor of it all kept me from doing anything. HTH Mindy

First off you need to call your doc ASAP and let him know EVERYTHING that you have done . Not wait until your appt . you need to tell him NOW . I will be honest and i wont sugar coat much on this . You VERY WELL could have damaged something. The first 6 weeks are not about control, self discpline anythign else BUT healing . Your bands life expetancy depends on the first 6 weeks, it needs to form scar tissue around itsself. Hence the reason for slowly introducing food , its so your stomach does not "work" too soon in order to form that scar tissue. And under no circumstances according to my doc do you want to THROW UP! You HAVE TO CALL YOUR DOCTORS OFFICE !! Do not wait on this . This is not something we on the boards can tell you how to fix . NOW that being said I think you know everything i just said. Things DO GET easier once you have restriction I PROMISE it does. But no matter what the throwing up needs to stop . I dont know you but have you thought about counseling to deal w/ the food issues. Its not a bad idea for anyone honestly . Bottom line you have to follow orders for your band to be successful until you get a fill at least. Please call your doctor asap !! Mindy

The above posters have explained the pouch size very well. There is a forum here for people in their sixties , you might want to check that area out . here is the link to that Sixties - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum Also I was 250 when i was banded almost a yr ago , slept w/ my cpap . I did not get sleep apnea until i became over weight about 10 yrs ago . My doc told me " lose weight your apnea will go away " I am now at 145 and My sleep apnea is gone and I no longer sleep w/ my machine . I cant recall what exact weight I was that it went away I want to say it was around the time i got under 200 ? HTH Mindy

If you feel like your getting in enough Protein , your not eating junk , then you might need a fill. I would probably try to really eat lunch . If your allowed Snacks eat breakfast lunch and dinner and your snacks and make sure your snacks are protein snacks. Such as some lunch meat. If that does not satifsfy you then you probably need a fill. Its kind of hard to say w/ out knowing what your eating ? But the fact that you went back for seconds for lunch ? What was it ? My guess is you would need a fill , but talk to your doc he would best advice you . HTH Mindy