leatha_g

Bless your heart! You've done such a great job! I am truly sorry you've had to go through all this and I certainly do hope you can maintain this great loss! You certainly have a headstart with the help of the band. Now, maybe you can just continue to 'think' like you still have it and maintain. Please continue to post and let us support you in this journey. Your experience is also very valuable to those of us who may follow in your footsteps. Thank you for sharing. Good luck and God bless..

I eat pretty much whatever I want 3 years out. Early on, with restriction, you have to slow down and be more cautious. Hamburgers are few and far between and I usually do away with at least one side of the bun, if not both. Bread tends to get stuck in your band and it's simply not worth it. Not to mention, that's what got us here in the first place. lol

I think we all felt that way in the beginning. However, the reality was IF we could have done it, we would have done it by now, right? In my case, I knew that even if I lost, 15, 20 or 50 lbs, there was NO way in the world I could do it alone AND keep it off. The band has so far helped me to maintain that loss. Alone, I would have put it back on and more. So, it's a personal journey. If you don't have excessive amounts to lose, it may or may not be worth it to you to go through the surgery and the trials of having an implant inserted. It's a big decision and only one you can make. I wish you luck in whatever you decide!

Vanguards are notorious for taking several fills to get to that 'sweet spot', especially if your anatomy is such that it's not all that tight to start with. Don't give up! As long as he can pull back what is already in there, you know there is no leak. Then, if it's on flouro, that helps, but it just takes a few tries to get there. Good luck!

There are other alternatives as well. Some free-standing Radiology centers will do fills, even on bands that are not Inamed bands. It's worth a try to call and ask if they do fills for adjustable gastric bands. Please, please, please, get thee to a doctor. As said, that infection can travel along the port to the band itself and cause you a world of trouble. Please keep us updated. I hope you get this straightened out soon!

move over Poodles, you've got Jack admirer competition... lol

I think he's trying to divert the public's attention. We'll see. As to the son. Last thing I read was methadone, lexapro and zoloft. Methadone is used to replace heroin, if someone is addicted to heroin. If this is true, I could certainly see how this mixture could put him in respiratory distress or cardiac arrest. Sounds like there is more to this story than is being told. Being the sister of a heroin addict, I could certainly understand why. God bless this family, what a traumatic event to have to share in the eye of the public.

God bless you. I sure understand and have been there. I've struggled with clinical depression all of my adult life. With medication, I have learned to manage it pretty well. I still have days, sometimes weeks that I fear going back into that deep dark hole, but somehow I've learned to see those signs and force myself (eventually) to do little things to bring me back out of it. I've found (for me) that something as simple as bathing and putting my makeup on and doing my hair, changes how I feel. I sometimes have to force myself outside of my house as the house begins to close in on me and it's too easy to just stay there and feel worse, so I have to move. Exercise truly does help me as well. If I stop it, I feel the depression returning in no time, not to mention my body becomes softer and doesn't manage my metabolism as well. Sometimes, just getting in the car and taking a drive helps. I've made myself go to the mall to just window shop and see other people out and about. Most of these things I didn't feel like doing, but the depression scares me more than doing these things. I'll often allow myself a couple of days of 'feeling sorry for myself and my lot in life', then I have to force myself to get moving or I'll go under for sure. It's a terrible thing to deal with, but there really is hope. It really is possible to get to the other side, with the use of the medications available and the tools - exercise, self talk, etc. I truly hope you seek all help available. There is so much more out there for you. Try baby steps. It takes 30 days to create a habit. Keep us posted on how you're doing. We care..

I have never had one bit of change whatsoever. I never knew I had one, and I have never experienced anything to let me know it's gone. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

I collect money... please send your donations to PO Box.....

I felt like a new person by day 5. I stayed home 2 weeks because I travel for work and didn't want to lift 50lb suitcases too early. Everyone is different in their recoveries, however. As far as food, if you focus on getting enough Protein and hydration, you should do okay. I wish you luck!

awww.. garsh.. thanks.

Where do you live, Pam? I know that some free-standing, privately owned Radiology centers will do lapband fills, even for Swedish bands. You may make a few calls and see what the response might be. Good luck!

I have a bypass friend who was taking actigall and wound up in the ER out of town with stones and gangrene setting up in her gallbladder after losing over 100 lbs since last Christmas. Again - it's a crap shoot. You may or may not have to deal with gallbladder issues banded, bypassed, or not.

For what it's worth - S L O W weight loss doesn't necessarily mean No gallbladder issues. I 'only' lost 55 lbs my first year. I had a gallbladder removal exactly 15 months out. Large amounts of weight loss definitely contributes to gallbladder removal. Would it stop me from getting a band? Nope. Is it possible I'd have had to remove my gallbladder even if I weren't banded? Who can tell?

We are eating. Just because the other diets say 'eat something' does not mean it has to be alot. It's anything fuel the metabolism. So, with the band, some docs recommend 3 small meals a day - Protein first, veggies second, refined starches *IF* you still have room. Some say 5-6 smaller meals per day. This way you keep something going in pretty much consistently. This also fuels the metabolism but doesn't tend to overload the mechanisms which cause you have to the insulin peaks and valleys which tend to cause us to go hunting for more sugars. It's hard to get our heads around the fact that we all have plenty of reserves and that 4-8 bites of protein really IS okay. Only one period in my banding experience caused me to eat that little - more generally, I've been able to eat a small chicken breast with no problems along with a helping of green Beans or some other vegetable.

:bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2:

I met a lady in the fill office who had done just this. She got an unfill to go on a cruise. 4 weeks later, she returned and she had gained 22 whopping lbs! I don't know about you, but it's hard enough for me to lose the first time!

The shoulder pain will be there several days, sometimes weeks after surgery. It will get better, I promise! Please keep yourself hydrated. And no, 75 calories a day isn't a good idea. Try some warm broth, or popsicles. Are you supposed to be on Clear liquids, or can you move onto full liquids yet? I loved hot chai tea w high Protein milk. Protein really helps you heal and not feel so weak-ish. This too shall pass!! Good luck with your new life!

I eat lots of tuna lunch kits, chili, crabcakes, chicken, fish/tilapia/mahi mahi, cottage cheese, carnation instant breakfast, atkins shakes, boiled eggs (scrambled is a no-no) shredded or ground beef. To me, chicken is the easiest, with the most Protein. Better to use hard Proteins as much as you can, so they'll actually stay in the pouch awhile and keep you from feeling hungry. Never hurts to supplement with the shakes, but the docs and Inamed recommend not relying on them and trying to stick with real hard proteins.

Is there anyone here from the DFW/Plano area who has an endocronologist they just love?? I'm thinking it's time for me to have a cortisol workup and I've never seen an endocronologist. I'm also tired of doctors who think their degree somehow makes them a superior human being, so I'm looking for one who has empathy, humor and human-ness mixed in with his intellect. All suggestions appreciated!

Thank you Gonnabethin!

Thank you. I'll probably try to stay up farther north, but it doesn't hurt to have a name if someone truly thinks the doctor is noteworthy. OT, I saw your tag line: I loved Ann Richards, by the way. She's the only politician I have ever truly admired. May she rest in peace..

You can also use Karo syrup. She's absolutely gorgeous!! and so are mom and dad! Congratulations and welcome back!!

Sure hope all goes well and you get some resolution quick! Good luck and God bless!