LollyMoe

Years ago, my friend had a bad scar on her leg. She rubbed EMU oil on it everyday and in a short period of time, the scar was almost gone. It was beautiful. I use the oil for other things too and I order it off the internet. The website is in Tennessee. Worth every penny I paid for it.

Thanks everyone for posting this information. I am going to be especially careful from now on. I'm sorry that Mrs Berggan got stuck and hope she is better now. Lesson learned the hard way.

I am seven weeks out. I had bruises for about three weeks and then they faded away. I was on clear liquids to full liquids to soft and then regular. You need the healing time and your body needs to adjust to the new object it has in it now. Don't rush anything. It's going to be a long journey but it can be successful. Too many people before us can prove it.

I am a hobby person so I can take up eating time with doing one of my hobbies. I am working towards being able to exercise more as my legs get better. In the meantime, I am keeping my mind on other things and not food.

Well, that's completely understandable. I haven't faced having that problem as yet and was curious. I thought it maybe b/c your basic diet was different than mine. Thanks for answering my question.

I would call mine "Longshoreman Belches". They are so loud and unexpected that I am embrassed by them.:thumbup: So far, I've been at home when it happens. I'll be glad when they go away!!!

I have a question. WHY aren't you eating chicken? It's the highest in protein. Higher than fish. My nut wants me to eat grilled or baked chicken everyday for at least one meal.

Thanks Kaninag. You're right about the legs. I am looking forward to more exercise and less cellulitis. I have been having problems with them off & on for about a year now. My PCP says when I've lost between 45-50 pounds, he would like for me to start walking some each day but in the meantime, I'm going to the YMCA to do water aerobatics. I have some other problems with my legs too. Some days they won't hold me up. They will buckle for no reason. We aren't sure why...maybe just the weight. As for the food problem. I'm not eating anything that I can't have normally. It's just that I want more than I should have in one serving. I'm using a small plate, a small fork, eating mostly grilled chicken or fish, with a approved veggie. I've yet to have anything that isn't good for me and I truly don't want it. It's just I'm getting hungry too soon after eating. About every two hours. I can't figure out if it's "head hunger" or true hunger. Today, I plan to go back and pick up some Matrix shakes. They seem to hold me longer than food does. I do appreciate your quick response. When I posted last night right before going to bed, I knew someone would have a message for me this morning. Thanks again.

1) My legs have flared up again with cellulitis, gosh darn it. That means Kelflex and legs up high. No exercise right now. I guess I'll be seeing my PCP on Monday. This always happen on late friday evening! Thank goodness I've got some meds here right now. 2) I got my first fill on 9/23 (4cc) and for a week I felt restriction but now I could eat the dog...if I had one. I am trying very hard to maintain so that I don't go off the deep end with food. However, it's hard between lunch & supper. I have been eating a peeled apple around 3 pm as Ashley said but I could eat three apples if I wanted. I don't know what to do exactly....just hang tough I guess until I go back for a fill on the 21st. Anyone got any suggestions?

Chew on crushed ice and in a day or two, it will be better. Good luck on your new journey.

I am so sorry to hear this news. It's rather starling to awake to more incisions than expected. I hope your recovery will go well for you. Just keep in mind the "WHY" you wanted to do this surgery and hopefully it will all be a success story in the end. Don't worry about the scars for now. Just keep your mind on the goal.

My nut wants me on 1000-1200 cals a day. She says that if it's any lower, your body will go into starvation mode and you won't lose. I get in around 60 gms of Protein a day. No more than 5gm of Fat and 15 gms of carbs per serving. She wants me to eat my protein first and then my veggie. I'm not a fan of NO CARBS completely. I have been there, tried that and wound up sick. Personally, I need some carbs in my eating program but have to be careful about getting in too many.

I would like to encourage you NOT to eat things that aren't good for you. Be careful about the fat content in foods. My nut says to watch the carbs & fat gms. No more than 5 fat gms and 15 carbs per serving. Way too much fat in what you are eating....especially the chicken/dumplings. I know you want to eat some of the things that you were eating pre-op but you are on a new journey now and will have to give up your old eating habits. We all know to stay away from candy, Cookies, cakes, etc but we also have to watch other foods that are normally considered "good foods" to us. Please don't do yourself in by the wrong type of eating. It isn't worth it and you deserve better for yourself.

CHEW, CHEW, CHEW is the motto around my house. I had a little problem with canned tuna the first couple of times I tried it but I can now eat it just fine. Try grilling or using the foil pack, the fish is more moist. Don't give up on it completely. If you try chicken, make sure you chew it well and use small bites.

I can't help you per se as I don't have diabetes. However, as a retired nurse, I can recommend that you get a tube of glucose from the pharmacy to carry in your purse for those times that your sugar bottoms out. Keep in really close contact with your PCP or whoever monitors your diabetes. You may find that you will be coming off all meds very soon. I have met so many people at group that report "they are no longer" on meds and how fast they came off them post-op. Watch it closely.

I don't plan to cheat! It's too important to me. I have to get in better health and off all these meds. I paid too much and worked too hard to start cheating with any kind of food. I refuse to let some piece of junk food do me in! However, with all of that said in my own behalf, I can understand the WHYS of your cheating. One thing is that you weren't prepared. Take something to work with you that you can have and eat that instead of starbursts (which you shouldn't even have near you) Think positive and strive to do what you know you should. It's a tool to be used to it's best advantage. Try harder and put the past behind you. Good luck!

The vaccine for shingles is for people over 65, it cost $195.00 at your doctor's office and medicare WILL NOT pay for it. However, some of the chain drug stores are giving it. You have to get a prescription from your doctor, take it to the drug store and they will give you the shot. Medicare will pay for this method! Go figure.

I was able to do the same thing. My doctor told me that I didn't have anything in my band yet but that everyone's anatomy is different. Therefore some people feel restriction right away and others do not, especially while still swollen from the surgery. I wasn't allowed anything but liquids (no crispbread) and everything went down fine. Good luck on your journey and if you have any other questions, just ask. There's always someone that will help.

My goodness, you are just out of surgery so to speak and of course you feel bad. You didn't get the kind of support you should have had from your surgeon or the dietican. I bet the d/c nurse didn't even go over your instructions for home care either or you would know what to do. I didn't have a lot of pain except for gas. I used Gas-X and walked a lot. My doctor recommended liquid Tylenol or liquid Lortab for pain and Phenergan for nausea. I haven't used either yet. The walking helped me the most. As for food. I was on a clear liquid for two days after surgery, full liquids for five days, and soft diet for 10 days. I was able to go on full food on the 15th day after I started the soft diet. I am seven weeks out and have lost 30.4 lbs. I had my first fill of 4cc on the 23rd. I am suppose to get in 40-60 gms of Protein, no more than 5 fat gms or 15gms of carbs. It took a lot of determination on my part to stay on program, especially when the swelling went down, but I am determined to be a winner in this journey. I refuse to be a slave to food any longer! You can do this....just give yourself time to heal. Drink your Protein shakes, Water, and whatever else your doctor said you could have.Don't give up.

I haven't anything take that long to go down but it did go down eventually. Have you tried drinking something hot, like tea or cocoa?

My dietian said that I could take no more than three small sips while eating. I don't do it all the time but when eating out, I do sometimes take the small sip or two. I have to admit that this has been very hard for me to get use too. Some foods are just more dry than others.

Busdriver: I joined the Gadsden one-$46 a month for a senior couple. I am going to try to go at least twice a week in the beginning. Maybe more as my legs improve. I will never be a exercise nut!

The leader of our support group works very close with my physician. She had bypass a few years ago and she tells about it but makes it clear that we are there to talk about lap-band.(I think these surgeons at this hospital has just about quit doing bypass. & are doing the band mostly.) She had scheduled a recontruction body surgeon to talk about taking off the loose skin. They have clothes exchanges. She offers samples of different flavored shakes, recipes. For the first 30 minutes, our meeting is only for post-op people and then she lets in the pre-op people. Hope this helps.

So sorry to hear about your mom. I do hope she recovers well from this and will realize she has been given a wake-up call. I didn't go into this b/c of my self image. I went b/c my PCP told me I wouldn't see age 70 if I do not do something soon. My obseity had finally caught up with me. I was always a happy fat person, felt no limitations, worked 14-16 shifts, and wasn't taking a lot of meds. I had to had a knee replacement due to a work related injury and my health made a huge turn in the wrong direction. In two years time, I went from 2 pills a day to 17 a day, COPD, a "flutter" in my cartoid artery, huge trouble with my legs, respiratory failure from asthma. Now, I'm on the track of getting better health and the weight loss will just be a side effect.

Hang in there. Don't limit yourself on your meds and try to talk with a psych doc when you need too. Worry about the WHOLE YOU. I hope things get better for you very soon.