Vera

Swimming is so cool I live on a lake, even if its 32 in the water now.....Thats nothing to you in Jersey., No I hav'nt been in it lately, It just opened for boating this weekend.(we own a boat) It was closed for a year and 1/2 to bulid a bigger ramp. Yes in the summer, thats an other story.. I'm in it, I love to swim. Our city is builing an aquatic park and Olympic center, My DH is a top swimmer. Morgan Hill is bidding for Swim complex the 2012 Olympics..? I'v been on the bike cycle lately....40 min+ when the kid is napping and after dinner. At least I'll have nice legs:D I trully believe that exercise is a way of life, if nothing else.. Walk. 'That my motto and I'm sticking to it' Today I was jumping rope with my 6 YR DH and counted to 40 non-stop. Did it! I agree, Join a club, being around others that are motivated, its support and fun. :confused: Good deal on Babysitting:D The rate around here is $5- Keep up the good work. RAMPED:cool:

Your not suppose to. 2 weeks ago while haveing my fill I asked my doctor about carbonation. He states "research show that carbonation can stretch your stomach/poach even if its temporary, but not enough studies have been done to prove it" I don't want to take any chances, so I quit, I do miss it.

Teri:D Thanks for keeping us posted. Coke was hard for me to let go. I was drinking carbonated water up to about 3 weeks ago and gave it up too. WOW you quit smoking, Good for you! Cravings are natrual, Mine are usally based on vitamin defincencies. Have you weighed yourself latetly? When I was post-op about 4 days I had already dropped 5 lbs. Keep up the good work.:confused:

Congratulations Anne I'm soooo happy for you.:confused:

:confused: Megan So cool:cool: Just this morning I stepped on the scale...I'm at the same weight as last week, 42 lbs down. My sig-other says "you lost our son's total weight" I looked at him and smiled. Sounds like you have a new excersize routine. LOL I hope your next fill kicks in for you! Keep smiling:D

Julie I didn't read all of your journal, but will agree you are a terriffic writer. I so relate with: "Living is'nt just about breathing, it is much more...quality of life...relationships you have...the tears you shed. Thank you, I'm sure your journal will help others indeed.:confused:

Congratulations Teri You've got some work cut out for you. I know your cold sounds bad, but try and walk. It'll push thouse bubbles out of you, walking will make you feel better. Drink/sip your water, no caffine just yet. And of course if you smoke? quit. I don't want to sound harsh, just concern. This is the start of a loseing battle.. LOL Here's to pounds gone. Good Luck and welcome to Bandland:D :confused:

Your brilliant minds can help!! I went for a blind fill yesterday and this is how it went: Dr. numbed port area, inserted hebber needle. Went to withdraw old saline/fill, only got .5cc's out, previous fill 10 weeks ago was at 3.5cc's(I'm thinking I have big gremlins). He pulled that needle out and got a brand new needle and again nothing came out. So he put 2cc's in then tried to get that out...nothing. Pulled the needle out and tried again...nothing would come out, not even a drop(by this time I'm expecting blood) As were looking at each other they already have a Flouro scheduled with iodine solution to check for leaks. The questions start "when did you loose restriction, quick or slowly" Well I still have alittle restriction and it depends on what I eat. I was getting hungry between meals and was able to eat quite abit. Personally I was thinking of canceling the appt. but decided to have a check-up and alittle fill(at the cost of $75.00). He claims if it was quick loss of restriction the port could have broke off the tube, if its slow loss of restriction the tubing could have a leak or the band it self. There gos the $$$ I'm a self pay, what if its a matter of life and death? Then I drank/gulped water, not a problem. I decided to wait on flouro a few days, make some calls to Dr. Sanchez and see how I feel. So I have lunch, 5 bites of chicken and I feel it. I've got restriction that I've never felt, not bad just can feel the ball of food sitting there. The same thing at dinner. In the morning I'm not hungry, lately I have been, but not today. I have a protein shake, couple pints of water and a yogurt. Lunch 1/2 cup of chili was all I could take. So the better half has an idea "what if the tubing is kinked" The solution is forced in but can't come out. Now I'm imagining myself on the flouro table none of the old solution is coming out so they put in the iodine solution which closes me off completely and I'm in surgery. I'm still calling and expecting calls from every lapband associate I know. Wondering how long I should wait, possible to see if I loss restriction soon. Lost... but overall feeling pretty good. Any thoughts, advice...Thanks

3rd fill on 1/28/04 I'm at 4.7cc's Believe I'm at the sweet spot:D AMI swedish band. SAGB!!

:confused: Huter is home and fine!! We had to do alot of breathing treatments, with a 2 year old screeming...he was hog tied. Now hes jumping on the bed like a monkey. Thanks for all your concerns, we were very scared, with all the flu deaths of children, even our doctor was calling the hospital every 3 hours through out the night for checks and directions. Sarellano I had a response from a lady which states she has the same problem of not getting her old fill out till she stands up while getting her fill/unfill, an act of gravity she claims. I haven't tried this yet,. she sounds genuine. My question to you is "how long has it been since your last fill and how restricted do you feel" Also some of your saline will stay in the port or tubing, You can never get out exactly what was put in! I am monitoring my intake for levels of restriction. Chicken, beef, pork is very restricted unless thin sliced. Fish, vegis.. I can only take about 1/2 cup, get the hicups and/or feel the lump/ball in the stoma. Yogurt, cottage chesse..I can eat alot. This is my way of regulating my restriction, to see if there is any loss over time..and everyone will tell you every day (restriction)can be different. I believe I'll be watching this for weeks before I can make a discision to look under fluoroscopy to find out why my "old fill didn't come out". I'm glad to be home with my kids, They are #1. Alexandra hows the new photo album? Can you get outside? Sassaay I hope your in surgery's in the morning, I hav'nt kept up my reading, I hope things pulled through for you!! Good Luck everyone...Much weightloss for all:D

Thanks for your concern I'm just checking in, my 2 year son is in the hospital with namonia(spelling)? Can't breath, not asmatic. Anyway Talking with others I believe I have a kink, agian only Fluoro will tell. I can live with this untill I feel a change in restriction. I'm at the sweet spot! Sarelano I have an AMI Swedish ban. I know Barb is at 7ccs. I think I'm at about 4.7ccs. Its all about how tight the doc wraps the band during placement and the fat around your stomach. I will get back to you on this. Doing the night shift at the hospital Alexandra Hug your kids tight. xox

In San Jose, Check out Dr. McKeen. www.southbaybariatrics.com He will fill any band type. Blind fills are $75.00. Good Luck.

Hi I have an AMI swedish band. 1st fill at 6 weeks out at 1.75cc's. 2nd fill at 14 weeks, total at 3.5 cc's. Swedish bands are known to hold more solution.

What a nice get away , I love the water What a nice story and vacation:D Energy, Life, Sprit! Thanks for sharing :confused:

Terri Best of Luck. Your about to start a new journey. Congratulations:D Our thoughts are with you. Keep us posted

Babs That is so wonderful. What a good feeling, how fun and happy you sound. It seems like I've been in a funk lately, I think I'll go shopping and get outside. When I do I'll be thinking bout you. Lots of big smiles to you:D :confused:

Kathy Good realization, we are all different. Its so hard for me to comperhend that 5cc's equals 1 teaspoon. and .1cc is less than a drop, what a difference that makes? I'm glad for your decision to let some out. Good luck, keep us posted.

Mandigo Congratulations:D Get your water in!!! small sips, whatever it takes. Welcome to bandland.

Carmen Is he extra big...LOL If your moving in odd angles, let me put it this way. Once I reached for the emergency brake and I was straining to get it, I had a sharp pain and was sore around my port area the next day. Of course I'm one to recomend calling the doctor when in dought.. My Sweetie is laughing cause last night he asked me if he could play with my port. What ever blows his horn. He says its a turn on. :confused:

Michelle Sounds just like my diet. 10 lbs in a month is not bad, 120 a year... Diet and excersize seems the way to go with me tooooo I'v been at a stand still for 2 weeks, I'm starting to notice a pattern with my cycles. Good to hear your band has not slipped and all is fine. Hang in there.

Hooray! NSV Non-Scale-Victory:D

Sheila Did your doctor tell you why your on a pre-op diet? It could be to shrink your liver so your stomach is easy to get to. The doctor can easly tell by ultrasound. Some doctors put all there patients on pre-op diets. If you can hang on a liquid diet thats great, I wouldn't be able to! Have you been rescheduled for surgery?:guess Again GOOD LUCK!

Bright I'm laughing on the floor! I love it, sabotage, how fun. See what else you can get them to eat. How bout tuna and icecream topped with washabi. I'm sitting here thinking of the worst combinations of food. You LITTLE devil.

OK nlfolds this is weired .. who was your doctor? Curious minds want to know? I love the info-where the port is attached

Bright Thanks for posting such a wonderfull story. You Look Wonderfull! Most of us didn't have any Fill installed during surgery. You hav'nt had a fill yet, I like that concept, but 4cc's.... thats alot to me. I can tell youv'e struggle abit, but the results are great. Seaweed is very nutritonal and my mom-in-law claims it wires her up. The warm/hot tea, I'v been drinking more tea right before meals, its almost a craving for me. What a difference:D I can see it!!! Congratulations