FeatherHen2010

Now that we're moving closer and closer to socialized medicine in the US it only makes sense that they will work to demonize and ostracize obese people. They are working to "shame" us out of our fatness. Why? Because "they" say the cost of obesity is breaking the healthcare system. Yes, folks -- now a fatty who busts his/her butt working, pays $20k+ a year in taxes and subscribes to his/her own health insurance is lower on the totem pole than a homeless street person. Also notice how all of a sudden you only need to get Pap smears every three years and mammograms are unnecessary for those under age 50? Gotta cut costs somewhere -- let's start with the fatties and the females. What a load of hogwash: "We, as educators, must tell students when we believe, in our heart of hearts, when certain factors, certain behaviors, attitudes, whatever, are going to hinder that student from achieving and maximizing their life goals," (James DeBoy) said. If they are so concerned about it -- why don't they address this problem during K-12? You know, while "we the taxpayers" are footing the bill for the education. Gee -- I wonder what their thoughts are regarding the "beautiful butterflies" who are drinking their brains out every Friday and Saturday night, fornicating indiscriminately and posting raunchy photos of themselves on Facebook? Aww shucks, that's not destructive behavior -- that's a rite of passage...:w00t:

I feel you, sister. I just got my 2nd fill this week and can DEFINITELY tell I have a band now. Unfortunately sesame crackers are going down like butter and stuff like ground turkey taco meat and (sigh) my Morningstar Farms faux sausage patties are laying heavy in my chest. I had my first :puke:PB today on a MSF sausage patty. I chewed it very well too. I'm going to switch over to Protein shakes all day tomorrow and then switch over to mushies for a couple days before trying solids again.

Yep. I can feel my port. I'm pretty well healed now (surgery Oct 8), so I have to push around to feel it; however at about three-weeks to a month out, I was crouched down and had some pain on the inside where I could clearly feel something foreign in there. No doubt about it, baby. We've got implanted devices!

I've only had one fill so far and I could totally feel the band tightening as he injected the saline -- it almost felt like having a lump in my throat, only lower. That feeling basically lasted the rest of the day. I was still on "thick-uids" when I got my first fill. I imagine after being on liquids for five weeks it's not the best gauge. I go in for my second fill on Dec 2. I've been on regular food for the past three weeks so we'll see if it's any different. I should really have my second fill next week, but I didn't want to get a fill two days before Thanksgiving! :bored:

Hi, Canada: The answer to your question: It depends! I got mine free -- but I had to wait in line for three hours with a couple thousand other people to get it. If you want the shot at no cost here you must pay for it with your time. You have to get there early and be prepared to stand in line for hours. There are a lot of people who fall into high-risk groups that simply aren't willing to do that. My GP told me flat out two-months ago that he's not going to offer the vaccine and that if I'm interested, I should contact my county health department. I would have preferred to pay for the vaccine and been spared the hell of standing in that line; however the usual outlets that sell vaccinations such as pharmacies and so forth won't have any vaccine until late November at best. I didn't want to risk the wait.

I got mine Oct 28 -- and waited in line THREE HOURS to get it. I have asthma, and whenever I get the flu it goes straight to my lungs. I started getting the seasonal flu shot yearly about nine years ago and in that time I may have gotten the flu twice. Had plenty of colds, but not the flu. I am unconcerned about the safety of the vaccine -- A flu shot is a flu shot. The selection of viruses they include in the seasonal vaccine is different every year, and they all get the same amount of testing. Had they known about it sooner, H1N1 would have been included in the regular old "seasonal vaccine" mix. So, now instead of just having to get just the one seasonal shot, you have to get two. You have the inconvenience and expense of taking off work early twice and paying twice.

I'm in the same boat as you are. I lost 13 lbs on the two-week pre-op liquid diet. I was banded on 10/8, and have lost 15 lbs post op (and that was all basically in my first two-weeks post op). It's a little discouraging. Like Daphne999 I've consumed more calories on regular "diets" in the past and dropped weight quicker than I am now. I'm on regular food, but am really watching it: Not consuming more than 700-800 cal per day, very low fat, low carb, high Protein. I'm not exercising much, though. Oh yeah, and the stomach growling? Mine growls like crazy. I've literally had growls that lasted like seven seconds. Brrrrrrrrrrrwooorrrruuuuuugh. I'm not going to sweat it. We all got into this for the long-haul!

Hey martom -- I had my first fill today too. My doc hit my port on the first jab. It didn't hurt, but it was trippy how you can really feel it the moment they inject the saline. After reading your dosage I feel like a wimp! Mine was installed empty and I only got 2.5 ccs today; yet it still kind of feels like I have a lump in my throat when I swallow water! I was really looking forward to starting on my "mushy" phase today -- but now, I think it'll need to wait. :thumbup:

Hmmm! That sounds tasty -- I'm going to try it! :thumbup:

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I was banded Oct 8 and had some decent pain under my breasts -- mainly in the middle -- for about the first week, then it went away. Then about 10 days post op, I developed pretty nagging pain below my left breast (right where the spleen is), that lasted for about three days. It hurt when I inhaled, stepped hard, laid on my side, etc and felt better when I applied pressure to the area. Occasionally the pain would travel up to my left clavicle area. It worried me a little since it started so long after surgery, but I didn't call the dr about it. I believe the initial pain was caused by gas and the after-effects of abdominal surgery in general, and the secondary pain was caused by a combination of gas and constipation concentrated at the splenic flexure. If you are concerned, follow isaviolinist's advice and contact your dr. I had pain of one sort or another for exactly 13 days after surgery. Then like magic, the 14th day -- all of my pain was gone. Now, the hunger...:blushing:

I was banded Oct 8, and my surgeon prescribed a two-week pre op and four-week post op liquid (read: Protein shake) diet. Frankly, I can't stand it anymore. I feel like I'm cheating because I'm "eating" stuff like cream of potato soup and V8 broccoli soup that I've blended smooth with a stick blender, or maybe a serving of plain fat free yogurt. I've been having a serving of that type of thing once a day for the past several days because If I don't, I starve myself. The serving of soup or yogurt satisfies me enough to gag down a couple of Protein shakes a day. Either way, I'm not getting as much protein in as the dr orders. I made a batch of instant mashed potatoes a few days ago and ate one bite -- but then I got scared something would happen and felt guilty so I threw the rest away.:blushing: My "transition to solids" class is this Wednesday (three-weeks post op) and I fully intend to begin mushies immediately rather than endure a fourth week of post op liquid.

I had my surgery last Thursday, took Friday off, worked from home Monday and returned to work on Tuesday. I really felt like crap though. It also doesn't help that I have an hour commute (and I don't drive a Lexus if you get my drift). Frankly, I kind of still feel like crap. My doc requires a four-week post op "Protein shake" diet and I can't stand the shakes and Protein drinks so I'm basically starving myself. Constipated, gassy, and starving doesn't make for a very comfortable workday. :thumbdown:

Hi, KLY1977: It might help you to focus on all of the reasons that brought you to the decision to take this step. I'm not sure of your stats, but the reasons you made the decision were probably the same as the rest of us: You are suffering health problems that are the direct result of your obesity. You may have pain in your joints, and don't move around much. Perhaps you are unhappy with your appearance, and are aching inside to be able to go out in public and not feel scorned and ridiculed. Perhaps you look at the latest fashions and cry because you are unable to wear them. Perhaps you want to move ahead in business, but know your fatness is the only thing holding you back. This is going to be hard work; there's no doubt about it. Stick to your decision and do what your doctor tells you to do to prevent any kind of complications with your band. Remember you haven't permanently altered your anatomy here. In a couple of months you'll be enjoying real meals, in smaller portions, and will be on your way to the "you" you've been missing. Buck up!

Hi, Linda. Glad you're back! Two days out I'm feeling pretty good; much better than yesterday. I wanted to stay the night at the hospital too, but with my roommate there was NO way. (Surgery day story ==> http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/surgery-day-stories-64287/) Just got down a full cup of strained Campbell's chix noodle Soup & the last pain pill I took was seven hours ago (allowed one "Norco" every four hours). I've decided to try to do it with just plain ES Tylenol today. Have a restful weekend! :thumbup: