kll724

Try going to a all you can eat buffet. It will make you GAG!!!I never used to eat more than 2 helpings at a buffet. But, a lot of folks pile on their plates like they haven't eaten in months. I used to work with a woman who would use a dinner tray when we had luncheons at work. She took home a lot of food.( I know that she made a lot less than we did because she was a clerical person and lived by herself. She probably was able to make several meals from one take home dish.) But really, these folks at bufets have to eat what is there before them. My husband, who is still obese, was watching Golden Corral commerical and he says, "wow, 1st hey have the chocolate fountain, and now cotton candy, good grief"!! Anyway, I try to not go to those places, becasue I don't get my monies worth, never have but now for sure. It is hard to not notice that 1/2 the American population is obese to grossly obese. It is really sad when you see the children adn the mothers feeeding them all that junk food! Well, someday they to will need lapband surgery to save their lives. Thanks for the tppic. Karen

pb=productive burp. You will know when you have it!

I agree with the other ladies, the last few lbs are the hardest. When you have a lot of weight to loose, the lbs seem to fall off magically. But as your goal gets closer, it is harder to loose. And by the way, I find maintenance tedious! My surgeon refuses to give me any further fills, as with a barium swallow, he can tell that I can not tolerate a fill over 5 cc. It makes me jealous of other who can get 7,8 or 9 in a 10 cc band. But, anyway, I have had to lower my calorie count to around 1100 a day to loose and 1400 to stay the same. You might need to do the same. Good luck, Karen

You all sound pretty normal to me. Remeber that healing is a process. Some days you will feel better than others. In fact, some hours you will feel better. Walk as much as you can. Drink your clear liquids slowly, sip, sip, sip. Upchucking a little is pretty normal, at least for me. I am allergic to certain anesthetics,so until I knew that, after surgery, I upchuck, too! In my case, it is just not being able to tolerate whatever was in the anesthetic. But, if you drink to quickly, or try take in the wrong thing, considering that your stomach is swollen, you will vomit. Take care, and welcome to a Banded life!!!Karen

You all sound pretty normal to me. Remeber that healing is a process. Some days you will feel better than others. In fact, some hours you will feel better. Wlk as much as you can. Drink your clear liquids slowly, sip, sip, sip. Upchucking a little is pretty normal, at least for me. I am allergic to certain anesthetics,so until I knew that, after surgery, I upchuck, too! In my case, it is just not being able to tolerate whateever was in the anesthetic. But, if you drink to quickly, or try take in teh wrong thing, considering that your stomach is swollen, you will vomit. Take cae, and welcome to a Banded life!!!Karen

My surgeon requires a liquid diet after a unfil an dfill. I guess it all depends on your surgeon. I have had both and I have not really felt like eating immediately after, but when I a was over filled, it was such a relief that I did want something. If you eat, just take it easy. Just as a fill, you will be swollen, too! Karen

I had my gall bladder out about 8 years before I had lapband surgery. I ended up with a pancreatic disease 3 weeks after that due to stones in my bile duct, just as someone else mentioned. I am careful of what medicatons I use; I can not use most arthiritis meds as they can cause a reoccurance of my pain and pancreatitis! I have not had a problem since lapband surgery, however. Be careful of your diet. Sounds to me like you have a lactose intolerance. But, I am not a doctor, Good luck. Karen

You are right! We can all learn from others failures and successes! Many people on this site have had great sucesses and have lost over 200 lbs. It is not easy, life is not easy. It is not always fair, but life is not fair. Some folks fail, and some have failed lapband. I don't know why some lapbands seem to fail. Is it human error or manufacture error?? Either way, there is a failure and some folks just take it as another failed diet. I am sorry for that; but if they are forum followers, as I am, they will see that there are far more successes than failures. Thank you! Karen

Welcome Suzie Q2, I am, also, going to tell you that my lapdand was and is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had mine done at 61. I will be 64 this July. I have lost my 100 lbs and am in maintenance. That is my biggest albatross, as old habits die hard. I have 5 cc in my 10 cc band. My surgeon will not fill me further because I can't tolerate more fill, ( he does abarium swallow to see if it will go down!). I havean arthretic left knee. It is mostly better. My high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are normal now. So, I take no medications. I have been taking joint juice, by the way as my right shoulder is bad,now. (but that is not weight related)! I am a clothes hound and love wearing the new styles that are forbidden a "fat girl"; infact, I have to remind my hubby that I am over 60, and can't wear minis!!!I love the new me, you can do it for you and for life!!Karen

I vote for a tt, I would never go for a brachioplasty,as I think the scars are less attractive than the batwings. The batwings to go down as your body gets used to the less fat. Mine are disappearing and I have had my surgery and been at goal, or near it, for 18 months. But each to their own, best wishes,Karen

I am so sorry. I, too, have had 2 slips. He performed surgery teh 2nd time, but did not remvoe itand was able to revision it. I am at the total of my fill that I can take(which is a measely 5 cc), aand I have to amke sur eto keep within my calories to loose or not gain.. I too would be devistated if I lost my badn. Keep in touch! Karen

Really, the only fruit I have is in my smoothies. I drink 1 a day and add a banana and strawberries. I have had some melons but tend to stay away from fruit or fruit cups. I would love to be able to eat citrus; (I live in Florida and have fruit trees in my backyard). :-) Karen

You sound good! If you are loosing weight consistantly, and are not snacking or hungry, you probably are in the green zone. It would be a good idea for you to start some sort of exercise; walk if nothing else. Best wishes. Karen

I just had to comment on "walla". I would never have guessed it. I agree, if you don't know how to spell a foreign word, don't use it! I would have gone back and checked the spelling before using the word. I have brought up another browser many times to do the spelling checks. Most of my spelling errors are becaue I don't proofread before sending, so I get a lot of teh, and the like! Sorry for any mis-spellings on my part. Karen

Liquids!!Watre, clear liquids but if you can tolerate full liquids do smoothies! Best wishes. NOT green zone!!Karen

I live in Florida. Before moving here in 2006, I got rid of most of my winter clothes and work clothes. So, when I came here, I had or bought summer clothes from Lane Bryant or Woman Winthin catalogs. Nothing was very high end! I bought church dresses. I donated my church dresses to my churches better clotehs, slightly used thrift shop.( Most of the well dressed ladies in my church shop there, too!). The other stuff, I either donated to Salvation Army/Goodwill or threw out. I, like others here, spent a lot of time shopping with my hubby's help at the Goodwills here and in Az when I visited my sister. I had to purchase a heavy sweater,a dn winter jacket in Az becasue we wanted to go to the Grand Canyon in May. Best wishes, gadyou asked, I am sure others had the same delimia as you. Karen

All surgeon's have diferent variations of diets for their patients. Mine had me on 2 weeks liquid before. After surgery, I was on clear for 1 week, and full liqiuds for 2 weeks. Then on musheies for 2 weeks. i did not go back to regular foods until at least 5 weeks, maybe longer. when my son had his surgery, the nutritionist advised him that cottage cheese goes in the regular food diet and not mushies as it takes alot to digest it. Hang in there, most of us have endured the post op. Remember you are in the healing stage, the less work your band has to do now, during healing, the better for your stomach. Good luck ,stay strong, best wishes. Karen

Your BMI is only 33.3, so you would have to get approval. I think that medicaid does do lapband approval, but it would depend on what the doctor said on your behalf! best wishes, Karen

Oh happyt, I am so sorry to hear about your frined. What a tragedy. I had a slip and my surgeon was available, but i , also waited because I felt I was just sick with the flu. I, finally, called and went in, he said I should have come in on emergency on Sunday and not waited until Monday. He removed all the fill and operated on Thursday, i only need an adjustment and not a removal. But, I do hope that people read your friend's story and are cautious of slips. They do need to see their surgeon ASAP!!! God bless you and comfort you. Karen

Dear Kathylynn, You should start pretending that you have restriction! The 1st thing I did while on my pre-op was start eating off a salad plate. I, also, never use a full size fork. It is good practice to use a toddler fork and spoon. I now use a salad size fork with my salad plate and even when we celebrate holidays, such as Thanksgiving, I stick to my small plate and fork. Next, only eat what the surgeon's office or the nutritionist advised. If they told you to eat 4 oz or meat the size of a deck of cards, do it. I guess I am a lucky one, as I can only tolerate 5 cc of fill, period! You, eventually need to change the way you think, as well as eat. Sorry if this is coming off snippy, just trying to be of help! Karen

Very pretty, and a beautiful smile!Karen

I feel you marfar7! I had a slip and had to have a revision in the hospital to adjust my band. It started back in Oct(almost 2 years from lpbd anniversary). I have 5 cc in my band now and surgeon says that is all I can tolerate. He has tried 2x to get more in, but watching with barium swallow it doesn't pass. So I have gained 10-15 lbs and have to wear size 10s instead of my 8s. I am now on a diet to loose the extra weight as I have to control myself. I admit that I cheated because we all know that sliders are easy and excessive calories. He has advised me to stay uner 1200 calories to loose and 1400 to stay the same. Best wishes, I hope that you can fidn teh answer you are looking for!!!!Karen

I don't remeber well. Its has been almost 3 years from surgery and over 3 for my pre-op 6 month diet. I started to clear out stuff after loosing my pre-op weight as it was way too big already. I purchased a dress for Easter, as I started pre-op in April of 2009. I wore it 1 time and tried it on later in the spring to wear it again, it wa way too big! I am not one to hold onto stuff. I don't mind donating it to my churches 2nd hand store or Goodwill. I bought at them both while actively loosing and hit sales, so it doesn't hurt as much getting rid of clothes that are too big. Best wishes as you loose. Karen

Bless you and your understanding husband, ILUVMATH! I wish him best of luck with his prostate cancer. I had a partial hysterectomy when I was 32. I had hot flashes for about 1 week after them..Then had some mild flashes in my 50-60's. I owuld never say that I have experienced what most people talk about. Best wishes to everyone who is experiencing hot flashes. Karen

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Look, you just had a mjor change in your life after several other rnajor changes. You can do it, it will take time. As the previous lady, said she is very close to her pre-baby weight. I found that post baby weight usually comes off pretty quickly beasue you are so busy with the newborn. Take it easy, but if you need a fil to jump start your loss, do it. Best wishes, Karen