MarcyLoo

I've decided to start asking for a to-go box at the start and setting at least half aside. when I was out with my brother for a semi-fancy dinner last week (so portions were already on the smaller side) I noticed the waiter glancing at my still semi-full plate a bit too often. I don't mind sharing with people that I have a band, and educating, but I don't always want to explain or discuss it. Sometimes I just want to sit down and enjoy my meal. That was one of those times. My brother is aware of my band, and very politely never brought it up during the meal!!! He asked me if I wanted to try some of his Beans, and mentioned that they were "helthy" (my beans weren't so much). A few weeks back i took a pot of chili to my mother-in-laws where she and a family friend were adding cornbread & salad. Sitting down to supper, I was BOMBARDED with questions. It was super irritating. I just wanted to eat in peace!

Ok, I feel really stupid all of a sudden....so we're supposed to feel full for 4-5 hours? For some reason I thought it was 4. Sorry to get off topic a bit. I almost always stay full for 3 hours, sometimes 4. I happened to have scheduled a 3rd fill for next week so am glad now

Hi everyone!! I'm up 7 pounds!!! Yikes! Of course it's that TOM and my face and hands are so swollen. Still, I never noticed a drop after fill #2 even though portion size is down overall. BUT, I have been snacking and must stop. Lots of stress...my orientation ended at work and although I love what I do it's scary. My husband was laid off and isn;t qualifying for unemployment. My mom is in crisis. Ayway I'm afraid it's led to a lot of stress eating/snacking and I have to get it under control. I did just call for another fill appt, but am waiting till next week to let this swelling pass and I really want to get my mental eating in check before I go in, just as a personal goal of sorts. I'm starting to enjoy being a bit more active. Spring has sprung here in the Pacific Northwest and I'm starting to do some planting. I got some free trelisses (sp?) and want to plant some grapes, and am planning to use some old tires we have to do some raised beds for yellow squash & zucchini gardens! I've discovered how yummy produce is. I'm beginning to really enjoy flavors of healthy, whole foods. A NSV of sorts I'd say? Oh and I'm trying to talk my hubby into building a chicken coop so we can have some fresh eggs. Check in if you all can...I hope you're all doing well.

My story is so not even close, but my zoloft pill got stuck one night. I tried to get it to dissolve & pass with hot coffee and every tiny sip felt like a hot poker! I talked to a coworker (I was at work) who is banded and she said she's had it happen where the irritation can last 24+ hours. Huge hugs on the gallbladder...let us know what happens. My guess is they can unfill you, let you heal and all the while remove your gallbladder. I agree...I'd be devastated to lose my band.

Exactly what was said above.

Because the goal of the band is to keep you full for 4+ hours, and liquid goes right thru.

It's kind spendy, but if you have n Xbox 360 the new Kinect is GREAT! They have some games that are fun, and also personal training programs, dance programs. They can really get one sweating!! One thing I've started doing is the stairs at work, but I only work twice a week. When I started my job last August, there's 50 steps outside to get to the parking garage and I could barely make it. I'm "running" them now (upward). IT FEELS GREAT!! My knees are really creaky, so I'm hoping I'm not hurting them, but I may do a simple stair stepper for at home on rainy days since we have no stairs inside. But, if you have even porch steps you can go up/down those for a quick workout. I'm hoping to get on a bicycle later this summer and ride with my hubby & kids.

I take excellent care of myself in many respects. Being obese does not mean I do not take myself. It's a disease, and one that I am actively treating. (gee I guess that means I'm actually taking care of myself) I get my information from medical texts, journals, and health care professionals. Not Google quite so much, but thanks for the excellent suggestion.

You reminded me of when I started my first son on solids...he was probably about 6 months old and I was pregnant again & discovered I loved his Gerber leftovers! That peach cobbler is yummy!

Hmm. My own obesity has absolutely nothing to do with how I care for my patients. My "needing a lap band" has to do with me having a disease and an addiction. If you don't understand that, perhaps you don't belong on a lapband support board. I don't see where I was unkind. I was only asking some questions to try to better understand tsomeone and their beliefs. I didn't call anyone names; did you? (yes, you did) Oh, and being an RN for 16 years in no way means I need to "get out of it." I'm very good at what I do, love what I do, and most of my patients thank me for what I do. It's a good thing all-around.

The only problem I see with it is consistency; too soft to stay in the upper portion for long, which will lead to hunger. Would be great for post op mushies/softs, but long term too soft/thin. Congrats on your new baby!!!

I really don't think anyone here is "evil." The topic got diverted when someone made a claim that could be really detrimental to someone's health (or the health of anyone who ready the thread). Clarifying, IMO, and proper education, is warranted. As is finding out just what credentials people may have (or do not have) when it comes to advising/educating. Yes, the topic was related to homemade Protein shakes. Along with that, the topic started gave us some other information (like that her doctor is not prescribing a preop diet but she wants to do one anyway). So, you see, there's topics within the original question. This is a DISCUSSION forum, afterall.

I'be been an RN since I was barely-turned 20, but I am a bit of a prodigy. The only RN's I've worked with who have been an RN since they were younger than that were OLD OLD OLD school diploma nurses. ATHM, are you n RN, LPN? (just curious) What was your role in the OR exactly? Were you the surgeon, first assist, scrub, nurse anes, or circulating nurse? How are basing your liver and stomach measurements? I find it highly unlikely "everyone had the same size" since organ size varies from individual to individual naturally. I know from my own OR experience as a circulating nurse that it's very hard to visualize inside the abdomen unless you are directly patient-side and those positions are quickly taken up by the direct patient-care team and OR tables of instruments. _________ Topic Starter: Liver size can and often does increase with obesity and the pre-op diet does help reduce the size to make surgery easier and safer. I myself had surgical complications 5 1/2 yrs ago directly related to fatty liver (which is due to my obesity). The preop diet was very hard for me, but I'm glad I did it. I lost 12 pounds that week, had no liver-related complcations during surgery, and I truly do feel it helped prepare me emotionally for the dietary restrictions that followed surgery. I don't see any reason you shouldn't put yourself on a preop diet if you feel it's what you want to do.

My son had general anesthesia for dental work, but it was because he was only 2 years old. They had to bring an anesthesiologist in for the procedure. General is a huge risk compared to sedation, so not done often for dental work (even impacted wisdom teeth). It's pretty rare to need it for dental work (and in my son's case was only due to his age). They also have to intuabte nasally for dental or oral procedures. I myself had three impacted wisdom teeth removed, but it was done under IV sedation. I was asleep and did not wake up that I recall. I've also had nose surgery (also IV sedation) and was very lightly awake for the entire procedure. My 3 c-sections were under either epidurals (1) or spinals (2 and 3). I was "knocked out" at the end of my first, also with IV meds. I've had general anesthesia for my back surgery, my ovarian cyst, my gallbladder, tonsills, gallbladder, and lap band and have not ever awakened that I recall. one beauty about egneral anesthesia is some of the med syou're given have an amnesic affect so if someone does wake up it's very unlikely they will remmeber it.

wishing you tons of low BP number vibes!!!!

Cruise ships have a doctor and nurses. In an emergency any doctor or RN should be able to access the port to remove Fluid. However, I would not anticipate any problems. Especially since your vacation is a full week later. Or, ask to have the fill a few days sooner? Have a blast!!!!

I fully disagree that spanking is counter productive. studies have shown that children who are disciplined (not abused, but disciplined) INCLUDING spanking grow up to be very productive people compared to those who lacked discipline and boundaries. Cheri, one of my own children has been physically abused. As a Christian, though, I cannot agree that the offender should be put to death for it. That's a very broad statement when each situation varies greatly. Is it always the fault of the offender? (meaning did something happen to cause this? Is there an underlying issue that can perhaps be worked on to help the offender?) I absolutely hate that my child was abused, and I pray the offender never does it again and gets the help he needs. IMHO spanking/slapping is not abuse. Spanking with an object (ie wooden spoon, belt) is not abuse if it does not leave physical damage or marks that do not go away (bruises are longer lasting than just a "mark.") There's a big difference between a swat on the butt with a hand or wooden spoon and a beating. A light smack on the hand, cheek or top of the head, as long as it's not enough to actually physically harm, should also not be considered abuse. If that slap is hard enough to knock them down, or into a wall, or jar their head (and thus brain) of course it's abuse.

First, huge hugs to you. Have you considered the bypass or sleeve as an alternative to the band? I lov emy band and all, and am so glad I have it, but i can understand how you'd be scared after what's happened.

I think a key to this journey is realizing we will make bad choices/mistakes....but don't let it drag you down. Recognize that it was a choice and not in any way a bakcign otu of the journey. *** HUGS *** (none of us is perfect...my kids can tell you how much easter chocolate has disappeared)

I had my first fill last week (about a week and a half ago) and I felt it wasn't enough at first. I'm scheduled for another fill this Wednesday. I'm debating on doign it or not. I've been at a stand still loss wise for about a week, and was not staying full long enough and still felt portions were too high. Then about 2 days ago it started to change...portions are smaller, I get full quicker, and am lasting longer before I get hungry. all I've eaten today was my scrambled eggs, onion, and ham Breakfast and I started to get full before the end, a cup of tea, about 1/4 cup of Jello salad, and half a chocolate easter egg (which i know is bad but I decided to have a special treat). It's past dinnertime here and I'm still not hungry!! The only thing going on right now is a hormone flux as I'm mid cycle and ovulated. I've heard being on yoru period can cause tightness, but what about ovulation? I'm thinking I should go in and ask for the fill to be small...in hopes that this is some sort of hormonal swelling and that when it's over a half cc or so will keep me where I am at today?

Uhm...ok...this is a reallllly tacky question but I won't be able to sleep tonight unless I ask...was the tampon inserted?? I almost always get picked out for a special serch (not band related since I haven;t flown yet with it)...one time for an expired drivers license, and once for having large black boots on. They took my boots, after they went thru the conveyor belt Xray, wiped them down then tested the rag for explosives!!! I'm 5'2", near 300 pounds (267 now woot!), very white/American/European looking...I'm surprised I have never had my rollls searched!

I'm bout 6 weeks out...it gets easier. There's some meats that are harder for me to eat: dry chicken, tough steak. The hardest part of not drinking during your meal (or right after) for me is dealing with mouth burn from hot sauce. The rationale is to not dilute your food so it stays in the pouch longer to keep you full. I focus my drinking (almost exclusively tea, coffee & Water with the occasional 4 ounces of V8 fusion Light if I need a treat & Crystal Light packets added to water when I work) to right before my meals, starting maybe an hour beforehand. I can easily drink 20-40 ounces in a couple minutes at this point. There's some foods I miss at times, but will eat them again in moderation. Rice bothers me in the mornings, but in the afternoon or evenings I might be able to eat as much as 1/4 cup. Bread was out for me, including flour tortillas, which had me down...I was able to eat corn tortillas and cornbread though until my last fill. Now they are out too, unless I eat cornbread in chili. But other foods, like fast food I honestly am not missing at all. I'm really starting to enjoy healthier choices and tastes. Roasted zucchini, yellow squash, green Beans, and onion has become one of my new favorite foods and I was NEVER a veggie lover!!

This was my 6th or 7th time under general anesthesia. I recall the anesthesiologist telling me I'd feel funny soon...saw him start to push the IV meds in and about 3 seconds later while the mask was on my face (they also have you inhale some oxygen and goofy gas) I said "yeah that's the good stuff." They all laughed, I breathed deeply a few more times, then woke up in recovery. I also work in the operating room on occasion, and plese be assured they are well prepared for emergencies. You are hooke dup to a heart monitor, an oxygen sensor, an IV, plenty of meds to correct issues like blood pressure dips/peaks, there's a code cart (an extreme situation that requires the paddles etc). If anything bad were to happen, the OR is one of the best equipped places to be for help.