leatha_g

Frank Veninga in Carrollton. Great guy, great staff!

Yes ma'am. That is a link to the PDF file for Inamed's Patient Handbook.

Here's my take on it. IF it's supposed to be 'healthier' for me, why would I encourage those who I love to continue eating the things that were 'bad' for me? So they look good today, what will they look like 20 yrs from now, if they continue? As parents, we do have some control over what sort of example we set for our children who have OUR genes. Hmm... As spouses, it's not okay for me to clog my arteries with cholesterol laden foods, but it's okay for my husband to? Hmm... Somehow, I'm thinking that because I got to the drastic point of needing weight loss surgery should be some sort of sign to those I love that maybe we should all take a look at what is better for our general health as a family unit. As with those banded, nothing is written in concrete, but making good choices MOST of the time can benefit everyone included.

Um... yes... Sometimes I wonder if this is really a lapband support forum or something else???

Yup. I weigh everyday, and like Alexandra, I don't beat myself up too much or get too excited, but it's a direct correlation to the choices I have made, good or bad. I have to be honest with myself and decide on a daily basis if that is okay with me or what I am willing to do to change it.

Sure hope your mom is feeling much better by now. She's sure had a tough time this past year or so. God blesses us with the strength we need for these times. I pray you feel his comfort and peace. Take care of you, so you can take care of her. :Banane40: Hugs, Leatha

First of all. 200-400g of Protein is downright dangerous to your kidneys. :faint: Nuff said. The band, when restricted properly and using HARD Proteins such as chicken, fish, eggs etc can and does dim the hunger very well. :clap2: Back to basics, people. Hard proteins first, veggies next, anything else IF you still have room. No liquid calories once you are past the 6 week initial healing stage. No potatoes, no Pasta, no bread, no rice. This does not mean FOREVER, this means 'as a rule'. If you follow these rules, encouraged by the makers of the lapband, the band will work as it is designed. Yes, you will feel hunger, compared to that constant fullness that we used to feel before banding because most of us never allowed ourselves to get to a hungry place then. (That's why we're here to begin with.) But, believe it or not, with the band, that does fade. After awhile, you actually enjoy the fact that you aren't consistently miserable from being overfilled anymore. Nothing makes me happier than to go to bed at night NOT feeling like a stuffed cow, which I did quite often before banding. Another point, just because we hear our stomach make noises does NOT mean we're really 'hungry'. Many times, it is our stomaches doing their jobs of digesting what is in there. Only difference now is that it's not so stuffed that you can actually HEAR it or feel it when before it was like an overfilled washing machine which could barely even wash properly because there was too much in it.. make sense? The HEAD is a strong thing and unfortunately, if we don't get ourselves wrapped around that part of this journey, that will most certainly either slow us (ME) down or completely wreck my (OUR) whole trip. :faint: Let's get what we came for, folks. But, please do it wisely. Sorry if this comes off harsh, but some of the things I see new people saying and doing is really scaring me and I DO CARE that we all are successful, yet still healthy and passing along GOOD information to those who are learning or contemplating this surgery. http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94829F_LB_Patient_Book.pdf

Yessir. I did know that. Silly man, he is. He also moved down here because he hunts here alot. The reason I have seen him so many times is because he would throw concerts on the ranches of friends who he was down hunting with in west Texas - specifically, Lytle Ranch near Abilene. He also bought a memorial stone at the White Buffalo sculpture in Snyder, Texas, which is my hometown. I just think he is a very talented, down to earth, neat guy. My daughter's first concert was the Damn Yankees when she was 10 and we got to go backstage with him, Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades. I thought my daughter would melt when Jack Blades came over and talked to her. Great memories!

Very good advise, Susan. Bravo. It's much harder, but more productive to work at working things out, rather than just throw a fit and sulk and just compound the hurt and resentments. I don't know the guy, but he clearly sounded very depressed/disappointed/possibly passively angry?? .. something was definitely wrong.

I told. That way I don't have to worry about tripping up somewhere or coming clean later. When people ask too much too often, I just shut them down after awhile, but mostly, I found myself educating people about the band. Most often, they were asking questions because they were curious and maybe needing it themselves.

Classic rock - Journey, Van Halen, Led Zep, Sabbath, Ted Nugent, Foghat, Heart, Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Nazareth, Styx (who I have tickets for next month:)).. then there is the newer stuff, Live, Seether, Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down, Thornley, Audioslave, many many more.. and especially a new band who I absolutely LOVE called Blue October... I dance country and like alot of country, however, I don't buy it much.. I also own a little Bocelli and some Mario Frangoulis. Any music as long as there is a meaning and a melody... no banging, no absurd screaming violent tantrums or obscenities.. YUK. Concerts I've been to.. Hmmm.. Black Sabbath/Van Halen Foreigner/Cheap Trick Nazareth Aerosmith/Jackyl Def Leppard Ted Nugent/Pat Travers Sammy Hagar/Joan Jett Loverboy Ted Nugent/Bad Company Damn Yankees Stevie Nicks Vertical Horizon/Five for Fighting Pat Benatar - twice Ted Nugent - (can you tell I like Ted Nugent?) Bush/Goo Goo Dolls/No Doubt Robert Plant Moody Blues Blue October Sister 7 Tori Amos/Howie Day Sarah McLachlan - awesome! Now it'll drive me nuts to remember who I've missed...:cry

I wouldn't. Unless you're already having issues with too much restriction.

I had one recently and the diagnosis was GERD, Esophagitis.. Results were normal, no erosion at this time. I have been banded for 3 yrs in May, however, I slipped and had a replacement put in in July, 2004, so this particular band has only been placed about 18 months.

Remember, with the band, you will not have that 'Thanksgiving' overfilled FULL feeling again. The 'full' feeling they represent is something that is much higher up in the digestive tract, say around your esophagus instead of a completely stuffed stomach area. This is definitely a HEAD thing and it does take some getting used to. You have to meet it halfway. He is correct in saying that once we have weight loss surgery, we have to find other things to FILL US UP, such as activity, classes we always wanted to take but never felt like it, exercise, new hobbies, new friends. Basically, a new lifestyle - so that the old one doesn't get us right back where we started. The mind is harder to talk into this than the body.. :cool: Good luck and congrats on your weight loss!! Keep up the good work!

:cry :flypig: :lalala: :lalala: :think :think :think

Congrats Rene!! I think we live close. If I can be of any help to you, please let me know!!

mango salsa is also very good on it. that's how they serve it in applebees, but yes, tilapia is my favorite fish these days... and to think; i never even heard the name Tilapia before 2003... is this a 'new' breed of fish or just a new name for an old fish??? hmm....

I had my gall bladder removed 6 wks after my second band surgery. I don't think he'll have to remove it, but as always, each doc does their own thing..

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I do it. It's your diaphragm, sort of a 'wretching' type spasm. Often, you'll notice it is immediately following eating or drinking. It's one of my signs. One big hiccup sort of thing... yep, that's your sign... :bananajump:

Haha Paula.. you so funny..

Okey dokey. If I recall, the serious case of Pleurisy that I had upon learning I had systemic lupus surely involved my chest/lung. Just trying to help.

It's very common to have chest/shoulder pain after surgery due to the stretching of the diaphragm. Not sure if that's what your referring to or not, but that's very much a post-op complaint for at least a week to 2 weeks.

I got on my first size 14 today.:whoo: :rockon: :cheer2: :bananapowerslide: :bananapartyhat: :youcandothis: :bananajump: :welldone2: