Cleo's Mom

Actually the government is going to put about $2 billion more in stimulus money into this cash for clunkers program. The fact that there was a greater demand than originally thought does not translate into the government failing to run this program. In this sluggish economy it was natural to have low expectations. I think the fact that the government even came up with this innovative concept shows that they are forward thinking. And not defenders of the status quo. We trust the government to run our military and keep us safe but somehow we don't think they can do a chest x-ray. People love the current run health care program - known as Medicare. Just try telling those recipients they will lose it.

What is the first thing the doctor's office does when you go for a follow up appointment? Weigh you. So what that number on the scale says must be important, at least to them. If there is anyone out there whose doctor does not weigh them as the first thing, I would like to know. And also if their weight loss/gain is not the first thing the doctor discusses with you when he/she enters the room. I think this should make an interesting discussion. I know my experience with both the nutritionist and surgeon is that you are weighed first. That is what they equate with success (theirs and yours). Therefore, I can understand why people get obsessed with their scales at home. This is the message they get from their doctors.

If only we had had all this delay, debate and consternation about the lead up to the war in Iraq that was totally unjustified instead of with health care reform. Bush gave the WMD inspecters 10 minutes to inspect, then he invaded at a cost of nearly one trillion dollars to date. Blank check after blank check was issued without any discussions, fear mongering or debate. After all, to be opposed to this costly (in terms of lives and money) war was to be unpatriotic and be with the terrorists. If only this war had been debated to the extent that health care has (after all it has been discussed since the Truman administration) perhaps nearly 5000 soldiers would still be with us and we wouldn't have had to borrow a trillion from China to finance it. The Iraq war cost money and lives and we got nothing for it. Health care reform saves lives. 18,000 people a year die from lack of health care. But where were all these fiscal conservatives who are so concerned about the cost of health care when the Iraq war was being waged? Not one person or reporter asked Bush where he was going to get the money to fund the Iraqi war. Not one. And he and Cheney were completely wrong about the war - about everything - from the lack of WMD's to being greeted as liberators to the cost of the war to how long we would be there. But no one held them accountable. And still the blank checks kept coming. But now, all those same people are asking ad nauseum, ad infinitum about the cost of health care reform. Even though health care is profit driven and helping to contain those profits will contain some future costs. All of these arguments against health care reform are red herrings to divert attention away from the real issue which is that profit driven health insurers will still be able to do what they have always done: 1) sell policies 2) collect premiums 3) deny as many claims as they can get away with 4) make obscene profits. Why would they want to change any of this?

As someone who changed doctors because my first was inexperienced, overfilled me and then blamed me for the problems that resulted, I agree with HH. Get a second opinion outside of this hospital network. Try to find one in a hospital of excellence. Get copies of all your test results, including disks of your upper GI's, and take them for a second opinion. Include your medical history when you were sick, too. Good luck.

From your band date I assume you have had no fills yet. You should also ask for a barium swallow. Sometimes the endoscopy doesn't show everything. And I agree with Headhunter. You need to get the care your deserve and if you don't - then make demands. Being dehydrated and having a kidney infection are serious conditions. Make sure you document everything that has happened to you before and after you came to the hospital. How often doctors saw you, what they said. If that is too much for you, have your husband document it. Ask for names, what kind of doctor they are, etc.. Document all tests and this is very important: GET COPIES OF ALL YOUR TEST RESULTS - this includes your operative report, and all pre surgical tests. Good luck to you. I hope you feel better.

I was banded in Sept. 08 and was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis (due to my anti-estrogen breast cancer meds) and I had my IV reclast infusion today. I wanted to avoid the stomach & esophageal problems associated with the osteoporosis pills. So far, so good. I will let you know if I have any serious side effects.

Years ago I had stubbon yeast infections for over a year and nothing worked. I had numerous tests, etc, and all the OTC stuff as well as prescription. Finally my gyn gave me a prescription for boric acid vaginal suppositories. The pharmacist has to make them. They worked and the infection went away very quickly.

I think that those whose reflux was improved with the lapband are in the minority. Somewhere on here is a poll that showed that about 80% of those banded developed reflux after the banding at some point.

I will agree with the comment that was made about the lapband and hunger. It was promoted to me as reducing hunger and appetite. That has always been my biggest problem. I was always hungry and it took a lot of food to satisfy me. I wasn't specific food oriented - i.e. I didn't need to eat big Macs or chocolate or ice cream, etc. If I could just eat enough cereal or toast to feel satisfied - that was great. So for me it was the feeling of satiety that was important. The band has never worked like that for me. My former doctor overfilled my 4cc band with 3cc and caused a lot of pain, reflux and heartburn. Even being that tight, I never felt satisfied with the small amount of food I could eat. I had a 1cc unfill and changed doctors. I am hungry a lot now and rely on willpower only plus a lot of exercising, including weight machines. I am not losing any significant weight at this point and don't want another fill until the damage from my overfill heals. So, the band has not worked the way that I thought it would for me. That is why it is so important to choose the procedure that addresses your issue with food. I have lost about 75 pounds but that was with my own dieting, the 6 month pre-op diet, the 2 week pre & post surgical liquid only diet and about 15 pounds since the banding (Sept. 08). So, at this point I feel like I'm on my own with my dieting. And yes, it is a diet with calorie counting, weighing and measuring. Something I thought I was going to avoid with the band. So, again make sure you are prepared for the type of surgery you choose and good luck.

Are you taking Ambien or any other prescription sleep aid? They are known to cause night time eating that you don't remember. Definitely talk to your doctor about it and all the meds your are taking. Good luck.

Be careful with taking all that tylenol. They have just come out with warnings. Tylenol can damage your liver if you take too much. They are saying that 1000 mg at one time (2 extra strength) or more than 4000 mg/day is too much. They are going to issue new box warnings. Maybe there is something safer the doctor can give you. Are you a caffeine drinker who is now off of it? That can cause headaches. I hope you feel better.

I agree. Say something that will put them in their place - like "And you don't look like my doctor so how would you know?" BTW queen - you have done amazingly well and look great. You look Irish. Are you? Just curious. My late husband was Irish and we visited Ireland years ago and many looked like you.

Paige: Any chance your doctor can prescribe a portable oxygen unit - one that you can easily carry that might help you walk a little more? You might try to get some light hand weights - maybe a pound each and sit in a chair and lift them. Maybe get the velcro kind and put them on your wrists and then your ankles and lift your legs while sitting in a chair. Try some breathing exercises to expand your lung capacity. Take deep breaths in and out. For dietary changes: look at each item you usually eat and replace it with a lower calorie version. Bread: switch to lite whole wheat Butter/Margarine: switch to I can't believe it's not butter spray (0 calories) Deli meats: lite turkey breast Mayo: Use mustard instead Veggies: Get those steamer bags and make them in the microwave and use the I cant believe on them Fruits: Get the no sugar added in the 1/2 cup servings Milk: Skim only Cereal: Something low in calories, fat, sugar - maybe Kashi Go Lean. Meats: Try chicken breasts grilled. Try some interesting grillmates seasonings. Snack: sugar free puddings. Stay away from fried foods, fast foods, soda and sweets and see how all this goes. Good luck to you. You can do it and it will be a long journey but you are taking the first step.

It came as no surprise to me today that my most recent bone density test showed that I had osteoporosis because two years ago I had osteopenia. Mostly this is due to my breast cancer meds which are anti-estrogen and hard on the bones. My weight loss hasn't helped either. Has anyone gone on Boniva, Fosomax or Actenol? And if so, are the pills hard to tolerate with the band? I don't have very tight restriction and haven't had any problems with pills. I just joined a gym and started weight bearing exercises to add to my aerobic exercising. Hope that will help. Thanks.

I agree with Enchanted and Foxxy - get to the ER right away. You are jeopardizing your health with all the vomiting and possible dehydration. And find another doctor - this one obviously does not provide good follow up care. That's why I found a new doctor 3 months ago. Your doctor should believe you when you call with symptoms. Good luck.

Because of the problems the pills for osteoporosis can cause with the stomach and esophagus I will be getting IV reclast as soon as my blood work comes back. I didn't want to jeopardize my band with the pills. My oncologist felt the IV reclast was the best choice for me. I have a friend who has taken it with no problems and she has problems with everything.

I suspect your friend knows exactly how much weight she has lost and what she looks like. She is just looking for someone to give her a small amount of support. No one suggested that you tell her how great she looks or make a big deal about her weight loss. Just a "keep up the good work" would suffice. As far as "you literally have to make her do everything in life" - it is her job, not yours, to make herself do what she has to do in life, including how she is going to be successful (or fail) with her WLS.

I buy the no sugar added fruits in those little containers that are already measured as 1/2 cup. Peaches, mandarin oranges and applesauce. My fresh fruits are 1/2 banana or 1/2 cup of blueberries or raspberries. I haven't had cantaloupe yet because it's too expensive but I think I would tolerate it. I eat fruit at every meal. I also eat veggies at lunch and dinner. So that is 5 servings a day of fruits & veggies and 5-9 servings/day is recommended.

I used to be on it for bone and joint pain that was a side effect of the med I was on for breast cancer. But I quit taking it as it caused gastritis. It is hard on the stomach. It didn't really work that well for me anyway.

I just love that all of you are using the word pop. I didn't think many other parts of the country but mine used that word (Andy Griffith did on his show in Mayberry NC) but most people use soda, don't they? Just found it interesting.

I am so glad to see someone actually acknowledge that we can be hungry and not call it head hunger. I am so tired of hearing all the "experts" on here dismiss any post about hunger as being in the head. I am 58 and I know the difference between head hunger, real hunger and thirst. Your doctor sounds like one of the smarter ones. Thanks for your post.

It would depend on where the doctor placed the band, the size of your stomach, any swelling after the fill as well as just individual variations.

His comment definitely needs to be discussed with the surgeon who did your surgery. You need to ask why this isn't stated at their "positive" seminars when they are recruiting patients. The surgeon may only be the mechanic but his/her attitude is important in follow up care. I don't think a lot of them are very knowledgable in how the lapband works or general nutrition/weight loss information. You need to be your own advocate and speak out if you think you are not getting the right information. Good luck.

Cammy; Regardless of your weight you have the right to be treated with respect. And anyone who would make any type of insulting remark about your weight is NOT your friend. Please don't consider them as such. You need to lose them along with the weight (after banding). Do not socialize with anyone who refers to you as a DUFF. When shopping in stores do NOT under any circumstances accept being treated rudely about your weight or anything. If you are looking at jewelry and a comment is made about not carrying your size, ask to speak to the manager. While you cannot control what strangers yell at you as you walk down the street, you can speak up for yourself when you are a paying customer. When perfect strangers approach you and ask what you are doing about your weight ask them what they are doing about their rude behavior and tell them Miss Manners has just come out with a new book that they might want to purchase. If you are doing your job at work you shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else. If you sense you are, talk to your boss in private. I guess the fact that I am 58 and have been through a lot in my life, I don't put up with any crap from anyone. I do not hesitate to confront. You're young yet, so I understand it is harder to be assertive. But try it. You'll get more confident each time. Good luck to you on your lapband journey. I think you will do well.