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First, are you type 1 or 2? Type 1 .. well, I have no experience. Have to defer that to more knowledgeable peeps. As for type 2.. I live with an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic. We do notice that his eating can vary widely on a day to day basis at home. When that is the case, he invariably needs more and more insulin. When he is in the hospital or rehab (unfortunately a frequent occurrence), the regular, consistent, counted meals result in his needing less insulin and weight loss. He is a hopeless case, and there is no fixing his home habits, so don't worry about him. But we can learn from him. In order to get control of things, you need to set up an eating schedule with counted carbs, and stick to it. Be extra conscientious about taking your blood sugar levels and adjust your insulin accordingly (if it's a system you can make modifications yourself). At first, don't change your eating habits, just keep track of them for at least a week. Once you know what you are eating, you can make tweaks. Drastic changes will likely result in low blood sugar levels, so make changes slowly. Meal management does become a full time job, but with your condition, that's part of the deal. The alternative, as you have discovered, is more insulin, weight gain, and possibly all the other diabetic complications.

Hello. I did go. It was an easy procedure but it didn't work. I need to have it done again. My surgeon told my husband when I was in recovery that he stretched in small increments because he didn't want to create another issue if he over stretched. So... I'm returning this week to meet with surgeon's assistant physician to discuss doing it again. Thank you for checking in!!!!

Learned last week that I was denied for skin removal surgery. Pretty bummed, what with warm weather coming and the thighs sagging. Apparently there's no way to appeal since BCBS has changed the criteria to qualify. Anyone else go through this, and what did you do? I can't afford to self pay, unfortunately.

What feelings did you have right before surgery? I know this is what I want to do but I just feel blah about it lately. My surgery is in 2 weeks and has been scheduled since March.

Hi, I had a drain for a week after surgery. I had to measure the output and keep a log. There was no pain involved. It is a tube with an egg shaped bulb at the end that collects the Fluid. The doctor gave me a gizmo to wear around my neck that I could attach the bulb part to. I wore that for awhile, and then I began just sticking the bulb part in my bra cup. It was easier. When I went into the hospital, I brought a large safety pin with me so that I could pin the drain to my hospital gown. Someone on this link had recommended it. I'm so glad that I did. I used it.

Final visit with NUT today and showed a 1 pound weight loss...that was all I needed!!!!! All paperwork is being submitted to insurance this week! Don't know if it is going to take longer because of the holidays..(hope not). Now I've got to just wait for that call!!!!!

Phat Journal Entry; Starting Weight: 325 lbs (March 10th, 07) Highest Weight : 340 lbs Curent Weight : 304 lbs Banding Date : MARCH 27TH, 2007.... 8 DAYS AWAY!!! I have lost 21 bls in 10 days of being on Optifast and excercising 30 - 60 mins/d. THE GOOD:angel: : Lost 21 lbs in 10 days....made it through first 3 days of intense carb hunger!! I am less nervous about surgery after chatting and reading enteries in this bulletin boards. I have decided that the best thing I can do to increase my chances of a positive surgery is to stick to my pre-op diet, remain positive and include the family in all steps. THE BAD : Hello my name is CanadianMacDaddy and I am an addict. I am addicted to Coke. Especially the Zero brand with its great taste, carbonation and sleek black label. I usually have 6 cans/day and have been warned that after banding carbonated beverages may be a NO NO! I quickly felt a stroke coming on as that also meant BEER... I am freaking Canadian and from East Coast... Beer paid my way through university (returned empties) after house parties. Anyway I am down to 4 cans of crack a day... even worse we just moved to Calgary and 4 houses down there lives a Coca-Cola service technician...Crack Master himself. The temptation is all around!!! THE UGLY :painkiller: : I have 3 young kids and Dad's quiet time was in the washroom with reading material or laptop. (A laptop in the washroom... is that a bad thing?) Now after being on Optifast I have no reason for the frequent bathroom breaks... "Terd No More" saw dust... so in a frantic search for fibre I have added lots in past few days and things are getting back to normal...well at least once a day regular! Pre-Op Meal of the Week: Ingredients: 1 - 10 oz Albertan Filet Mignon (pronounced MIG-NON) 1 strip of Canadian Back Bacon 200 grams of fresh raw mushrooms 5 grams of hot banana peppers 2 large white onions 1/2 bag of McCain's Tator Tots (any flavour) 6 Keith's Bottles of Beer 2 Carrots (for decorative purposes) 2 tbl of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Extra Virgin...yeah right) 6 large strawberries 1/2 a banana 1 package of Vanilla Optifast 8 cubes of ice Consume 1 beer. (Do not go to washroom) Wrap filet with bacon strip. Secure using toothpick as you will need this later. Bring frying pan to high heat with Olive Oil and place filet in pan to sear... count to 9 (for those of you in Ontario just count to 3 three times) and turn over. REPEAT. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Remove filet from pan and cook onions, mushrooms, banana peppers and tots in the remaining cow meat gravy. Add some beer for moisture. Cook for 2 minutes...or for 1 TV commercial period between hockey game. Consume 1 Beer. (Do not go to washroom) Cut Carrots length wise and place on plate with potatoes. Place mushrooms, peppers, onions and sauce on filet. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Place optifast, strawberries, banana and ice in a blender. Mix and pour into glass. Consume 1 Beer (Do not go to washroom) Now take filet with side dishes and throw in garberateur. Drink Optifast and curse any family that may have contributed to metabolic syndrome heredity traits. Drink last Beer (try not to get any tears in the beer) Use washroom now... laptop optional. CanadianMacDaddy... wanting to be 1/2 the man I am today !

I just want to spread the word that if you are proactive in the process of having your lap band and not always waiting for the Dr's to do all the work, you can sometimes speed up the process. I had my final appt with my doctors office the Thursday before Easter. They told me that they would submit my paperwork to the insurance company the Monday after Easter and that it would take 2 weeks to a month for approval. Well I decided to call the insurance company after a weeks time and asked them did they receive my paperwork from my Dr's office. They told me that they just received it 17 min before I called. The agent asked me a shocking question,she asked "Is this something urgent that you need because I can bump your review status to urgent " I said yes it is urgent to me" I hadn't hung up the phone 10 min before she called me back to tell me that I was approved. My surgery date was set today for May 17th 2010.

I am almost 10 weeks pregnant (sunday) and I haven't had any issues with food getting stuck..I drink lots of water before I eat and it seems to so called lube my band up so I have no issues getting anything down..I am probably not going to get unfilled but I say if you can't keep anything down you def need to get unfilled some...I would get some protein drinks like Mariposa said and try to keep those down...good luck and congrats!!

I stalled at 3wks and 7wks. I understand theres another coming up at around 14wks. Its normal and thats the time you want to take measurments instead of weighing yourself. chin up kid.. you are normal.. and if you have more questions.. theres always the chat room. Its more active at night.

Hi all - am almost 3 weeks post op. Dropped close to 20 pounds the first two weeks and I have only lost about 3 pounds in the last almost week!!! I know my doctor said it was inevitable - and he said I probably wouldn't lose much in the next couple weeks but it almost has me second guessing why I did this. I feel fantastic and I know I won't drop 100 pounds overnight but in my head I keep thinking that I lost more weight than this ridiculous amount by just eating healthy!!! I'm just about at my breaking point with frustration. I know it is normal but what gives? I'm ready to start losing again.

Hi, I had my surgery on December 10, 2013... the first two weeks I felt great... but now I am nausea and vomiting, the doctors have tried several things but I still nausea even when I take the medication for it and vomiting every few days. I see my doctor tomorrow also and I am going to ask for a CT, ultra sound or endo scope to find out if something is happening which medication won't help. I talked with several forums and one lady said it has been 10 months and she still isn't doing great. I somewhat upset because I am not sure if I made the right decision to have the sleeve. I hope things are going to be ok.

At 3 days post op I was on Clear Liquids but i remember this feeling of being bloated almost. It was hard to drink what I was being asked to drink. I sipped like crazy for many weeks. Once you get to the pureed stage, you should start to feel a little different.

I am going to Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. Where are you guys going? Are you as scared as I am?? I wish the next week and few days would fly by.

I am a couple days shy of 4 months & around the week of Christmas I noticed that I was starting to feel hungry. Like go drink some more Water & feeling wasn't gone. I am at a little stall this week only down .6 of a pound but I am sure I have gained muscle because clothes are fitting looser then weeks prior. I am sticking well within my calorie allowance & eating acceptable foods for my program. Ie no intentional eating of carbs allowed until the start month 7 obviously some foods like yogurt innately contain carbs but you all get what I mean. I am also getting exercise in daily so just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this? Happy New Year to everyone????????

I will be 3 weeks out on Monday. I am really craving spicy. How long did it take for yall to eat something spicy?

I'm just wondering if anyone knows why we have to crush our pills or open the capsules for the first 6 weeks. But after that we can take them normally? Was everyone else told the same thing? Do you know why? Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Are you still on omeprazole? the heartburn can mimic hunger but there is no way you are actually hungry. I had a kidney stone 3 weeks out and was having the worst stomach pains of my life.

My glue seemed to want to stick around forever! I think I still had incision glue clinging tight 6 weeks post. I picked the edges off and waited for the remaining glue to rub off "naturally".

Also will be having a drain that will be kept in for a week. I heard the drain itself is not too bad but getting it taken out is a bit of a doozy. My mom compared it to "getting a band-aid ripped off but it's on the inside". Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Took a couple of weeks for mine to be fully eradicated.. and yes, I had shoulder pain, too. You can take all the 'gas-x' /colic drops you like; walk around - I am of the humble opinion, it dissipates when it wants to... Sorry you're suffering. Hang on in there, try to keep mobile and it will go eventually...

My shoulder pain lasted about a week. Walking was the only thing that helped with the gas - and maybe like Reverie states above it was more relief from the gas pain than getting rid of the gas. It made me feel better.

I'm in the same boat. I think it's because my water intake is low. I've been on a stall for two months and then started logging my calories. I got down to 199 in April then shot back up to 209, got stuck there for two months and then finally lost 5 pounds just recently. I've been stuck here for about 2 weeks. By logging my water intake I noticed I'm barely getting in about 32 ounces or less. Hopefully something changes in the next few weeks.

Had RNY, no drain, just minimal if any pain, 6 little incisions and they are healing well , Precious Pouch 3 weeks old on Wednesday the 26th, she is tempermental, I am red-headed maybe she gets her stubbornness from Mama?

YIKES!! I had to have an complete unfill today I have been banded for almost 2yrs in June and I have lost almost 120lbs. But over the last week I had a very bad cold and lots of mucus. My band got really tight and I did a lot of throwing up and could not get anything down. So now I have to wait a few weeks to get a fill put back in. I am so scared!! I don't want to gain a lot of weight back. Other than that I LOVE my BAND