leatha_g

That's so awesome! Way to go Carrie! I'm so proud of you!

I still think we need to get together some evening for dinner.. McKinney here.

Hmm.. lol. Okay.. So what does this mean?? "Contraindications The LAP-BAND System is not right for you if: You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn's disease. You have severe heart or lung disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. You have some other disease that makes you a poor candidate for surgery. You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (a dilated vein). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel). You have portal hypertension. Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance you might have a narrowed opening. You have/experienced an intra-operative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement. You have cirrhosis. You have chronic pancreatitis. You are pregnant. (If you become pregnant after the BioEnterics® LAP-BAND® System has been placed, the band may need to be deflated. The same is true if you need more nutrition for any other reason, such as becoming seriously ill. In rare cases, removal may be needed.) You are addicted to alcohol or drugs. You are under 18 years of age. You have an infection anywhere in your body or one that could contaminate the surgical area. You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment. You cannot or do not want to follow the dietary rules that come with this procedure. You might be allergic to materials in the device. You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device. You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. "

I went from a 7w, to a 6 or 6.5 medium.. but today i had to ask for a 5.5 and of course the woman says, '6.5 is the smallest I have'..

If you're getting your fills under flouro, this is the perfect way to check band position.

Hmm.. seems like if they want to call themselves FILL Centers, they should be equipped to handle easily accessible ports AND not so easily accessible ones. I'd complain about being charged full price and not getting a fill. The least they could do is have ultrasound to locate the port.

Great article! Thanks for posting it.

I think this thread is referring to Plastic surgery, is that correct?

Something that helped with me using a treadmill, was reading at the same time. Also, a recumbent bike is good to watch tv or read on. Personally, I just sold the bike cause it was taking up space in my house and I love the LA Fitness I bought a membership in cause i can do water aerobics which I LOVE. However, with small children, I don't know if I'd be committed enough to bundle them up each time I needed to go out and exercise.. knowing me, I'd procrastinate instead.

Not today.. but I'm praying ..

There is a bit of self responsibility here. I'm inclined to wonder too about this. I have sister-in-law who I begged to research, but she chose to go on what she has seen of my experience. Um... right. On on her 8th day after surgery, she's eating steak and wondering why it hurts so bad.... Sorry, but I think reading the literature is at LEAST imperative and I can't count the amount of times I've seen folks ask about why liquids? You mean no more carbonation? How often should I be eating? Why am I not losing weight?? Why can't I have potatoes, rice, bread and Pasta? LOL I still think, if you even spend an hour looking at this site alone, ALL those topics are gone over a multitude of times. So, it's my theory that people pick and choose what they WANT to know and either forget the rest or maybe they just don't want to take the time to read and they'd rather have someone else do the research for them... like my SIL.

Congratulations and a good surgery experience!! Sip, sip, sip constantly... walk, walk, walk.. You'll do great!

I weighed 124 at age 18 and suddenly 190 at age 19. Overnight almost, I went from a very petite vivacious thing to something very lethargic and depressed and self-loathing. Of course, I could take years to explain the trauma I had gone through at age 18. I do believe I've had some health considerations at play, but I believe pschycological issues had much to do with it also.

LMAOROFL... um, from someone who actually DOES have and has had professional MRI diagnosis of frontal lobe brain atrophy:sick . I would almost certainly be approved for this treatment:clap2: . Of course, since my once great insurance has now gone back to the 80's and I have to pay 20%, I'd have to figure how to sell my firstborn in order to actually take advantage.:faint: This is very funny, in a sick sorta way.. but sheesh. Even with my brain atrophy and obesity problem, I feel fortunate after looking at that poor sick insurance person... :)

I take 5 medications every night with no problem. In nearly 3 years being banded - only one period when I was over-filled, did I have to have liquids made up or open capsules, crush pills, etc. When I was getting my fills under flouro, I always stressed that I needed to make sure there was still room left for meds. You may find that for a few days after your surgery you have to improvise, or immediately following a fill, but as a general rule, you shouldn't be that completely closed off.. Good luck with your surgery!

Good luck to you Alex!! I'll be hoping your results are all good..

I'd give it a rest before I did something like get a fill. Give it a few days and see how it reacts to solids. If, after a couple of weeks you still don't have restriction, maybe consider the fill. Sorry you had to learn this lesson the hard way..

I have had an MRI and it's perfectly fine.

Well, it's actually Ya'll, as in you all.. :confused: I'm from Texas... I should know.. :confused:

I'm with Maudeispam. I was drinking by the time I was 12. By the time I was 16, I was drinking even more and smoking pot rather often until I was 19. I drank excessively quite often until I was 26 yrs old. But when I quit drinking/smoking pot at the age of 19, I immediately gained 76lbs in less than a year. My self-medicating moved to food and lack of exercise, ie, depression. My father and most of his family were abusive, excessive drinkers. My mother's family was pretty much the same. I've lost one brother to drugs/alcohol and currently have a baby sister who's been a heroin addict for the past 20 years. Those of us who are not 'addicted' know that we have the potential and by the grace of God have found help through programs like Al-Anon and through our faith and desire to 'break the chain' of destruction in our family. I definitely have the propensity to pick up where I left off with alchohol. I quit marijuana before I became a parent and later divorced my husband because he didn't find that necessary. Today, my tolerance for drugs is absolutely ZERO. I did smoke from the time I was 16, quit for good 8 months before my banding surgery and also quit each time I was pregnant. Food definitely took the place of alot of things in my life and I still find myself seeking to fill a hole that will probably never be filled with it. :eek: Progress, not perfection... I'm still alive..

I have systemic lupus. The first doc I consulted said an emphatic 'NO', the one who eventually banded me felt if I had had a more severe history it might have been a problem. Nearly 3 years out, I can only tell you my health is 100% better thanks to the band and the change in lifestyle. Can I wake up tomorrow with a severe flare of my autoimmune disorder? Yes. Could I have without the band? Yes. Would it have been worse with an additional 150lbs ? Most definately.

Ecclesiastes 3 A Time for Everything 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. And, a time to move on... I have been on this board since it's first days in 2003. I have stayed on this board because it is the one I felt most at home on. We've had some great times. We've also cried together, lost members to tragedy, loved one another unconditionally, had some great laughs and helped one another with our lapband journeys in the process. I know I've spent numerous hours here encouraging people and trying to share my experience, strength and hope as so many others have. I have also leaned on many to gather that strength, but it seems the time has come that tenure and experience in the process that this board was created for has past or there are new, more knowledgable people with new ideas and ways of conveying that. To those I've met in person. I am honored and I enjoyed every minute of it. To those I never met, I mostly wished I had. If there is one thing I've learned in my long battle with SELF, it's that living with and surrounding myself with unacceptable behavior is pretty much what got me where I was in the first place. Dysfunction doesn't just have to be in your family of origin but it can also infest the company you keep. Strong personalities who want to be the leaders trample over those who might be more thoughtful and often times more accurate. People who need attention SHOUT to be heard and all too often feel the need to force themselves on everyone within distance rather than taking a long look at why they need all this attention and seeing that it's really not a very attractive or even acceptable behavior. We all have the power to change our behaviors, be it with our food addictions or our immaturity. I'm hoping to continue my weight loss. I'm so very thankful to God that I was allowed the opportunity to have this band and a second chance at life, but even if that fails, I know that as a person, I have grown from this experience and hopefully become a better person in the process. I wish you all a peace in your heart that you can count on in all things and a faith that you can cling to in all times, good or bad.

Same here. The band is not really that restrictive that you'll lose weight uncontrollably. The weight loss is pretty slow and healthy. You're in charge of the calories you take in and the exercise you get, but luckily, if you see that you've lost all you want to lose, yet you still have enough restriction to be losing more, you can just have your fill adjusted to allow for more intake. I've yet to hear of anyone at goal to complain that they can't stop losing. :scared:

I'm with you girl! Just this morning, I have decided that me and my toxic lover Mexican food are going to have to part ways. I did so well, in the beginning, choosing chicken breasts, fish or some form of Protein, but the longer I am out, the more I find out I can eat all those old favorites too. I don't have burgers and fries, which used to be my fav, but I have regressed back to mexican foods. chips, salsa, chili con queso, :hungry: frito pie (texas thang). I know these things have been my downfall on finishing my weight loss. Funny, how I could not ever bring a bag of Cheetos (which used to be my favorite munchies) into my house since banding, but the Fritos seem to creep in all the time. What's up with that?? I'm fortunate in that I have been able to maintain within a 5lb range of my initial loss, but the truth is, I am sabatoging my own success! :help: I still will have ice cream, but for me, I know I cannot keep it in the house. If I want it, I have to make the effort of getting in the car and going out to get it. That at least keeps me from eating a whole half gallon in a week. If I have chocolate, it is a conscious decision. I buy it, I have it, I'm done for awhile. If I keep it at home, I'm going to eat every single piece of it and I KNOW it! And yes, it is a vicious cycle. If I'm focusing on protein and stop with the worthless carbs, my body begins not to crave them and I physically FEEL much better. :dance: As as has been said before. It's like a toxic relationship with a lover who abuses you:argue: , yet you make the choice to stay over and over and over again,thinking somehow something is going to change. So, change one thing. Wean yourself off the ice cream or at least make sure it's single serving sizes or fat free/sugar free. Walk 5 minutes today, then 10 tomorrow and work up. Don't buy more cigarettes, chew on a straw instead. (Yes, I quit smoking too, so I can comment.) Most importantly, remember this: Progress, not perfection and at least you're heading in the right direction..:scared:

lol, thank you very much ma'am... i've always loved a good fishing adventure. :confused: