waitingpatiently

I dont know where my original post went, but caffine is a laxative!! It will make you go to the bathroom, especially if you aren't eating much to begin with. Secondly....it will dehydrate you. It pulls the Water of of your cells (thats why it is a laxative) I have worked with a lot of doctors over the years....very few throw out rules for no reason. If you don't agree with a rule, I would suggest you call and talk to your doctor...he can explain the reasoning behind the rule....maybe he would say yes to the Vitamin.....But I wouldn't just decide not to listen to the doctor....if something were to go wrong, you will worry yourself to death thinking you messed something up.

You may want to try different brands of Protein as well...they all taste different.....also if you mix a little sf/ff pudding in with your shakes that might add a little something that you feel you are missing from using the skim milk.Plus there are a lot of sf syrups out there that can really enhance the flavors in a shake. I like to mix: 145cal/3 carbs/20 protein 1/2 oz sf carmel 1/2 oz sf vanilla 2-3 oz skim milk 3-4 oz favoite coffee (mine is the butter toffee by keurig) 1 scoop vanilla or unflavored Protein Powder blenderize with lots of ice Taste like the iced coffees from starbucks Another is: about 150 cal/ 6 net carbs/ 20 protein 1 oz SF vanilla syrup or SF pumpkin pie syrup 1/2 tsp rum extract 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice 2 oz canned pumpkin (not pie filling) 1 TBS SF/SF French Vanilla pudding 4- oz skim milk 1 scoop protein Blenderize with a little ice--if its too thick, thin with a little Water

No carbs?! We are suppose to embrace the high protein/low carb lifestyle...but NO carbs? Are you sure? I think I am very conservative with keeping my carbs to below 30. the average person keeps theirs at around 225 and diabetics can have up to 125. So none seems impossible for the long haul. You might want to double check and make sure

I know its not what you want to hear, but Im a firm believer in sticking to the rules...if you think you are ready to move to the next stage then I would wait until tomorrow and call the doctor office. They may let you move on. But don't just decide to break the rules....if you eat solid food and feel any twinges of pain or discomfort, you will worry yourself sick wondering if you have messed something up.

I say get a doctor!!! I'm not sure why you would go 18 months without being under a docotors care. And if you are under a doctors care, why would he not have referred you to another lad band surgeon to help with your case. Anyway, we have to be our own health care advocates.....if you are really this sick, please pick up the phone and call another sugeon and be seen.....then when you are healthy you can pursue any legal actions.

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I'll invite you judy....anyone else you can find me at the same username:waitingpatiently

I was banded 3/19 so I'm just about 4 weeks out. I had some other things done during surgery ( 2 hernias, a lot of adhessions removed) so I think I was a little more sore than most people that just have the band done. It took me an extra few days to bounce back. But the last two weeks have been great! I have been able to start adding exercise back into my schedule and between the 30 pounds lost (pre-op included), exercising, and eating the high protein low carbs....I feel 5 years younger!!! I'm not loosing the huge amounts like some people, but I still think its amazing that each morning I weigh less than the day before. I have set a goal that I would like to be at goal after 1 year. thats only an average of 1 pound a week from here out. That way I don't put a lot of pressure on myself to meet a unrealistic goal, and won't give up if I can't make it. All in all, this has ben the bst thing I have done for myself!! I wish I would have done it 2 years ago when I first thought about it.

I don't think any thing is abnormal (or wrong). These first 4-6 weeks our bodies are still healing (I was banded on 3/19). I have noticed some days my body is retainning Water....might be the sodium content and scale will bonce all over the place. As to restriction, if you havent had your first fill yet, I wouldn't expect you to feel any restriction. I know I don't. Hang in there.....when we get the first few fills, Im sure we will start to notice a difference.

Are you referring to weight watchers points? If you are, I think you need to just follow the doctors orders and not worry about points.

Question about the dreamfield pasta. I have a box sitting in my pantry but I was afraid to try it.....When I started the low carb thing i was told I could substract the Fiber from the carb total for a net carb total. Dreamfields list it as digestable carbs.------Whats That!? Do we realy only have to could the "other carbs"

Hi Debbie Welcome to our group!! There are a lot of great people on here. if you have any questions feel free to ask away.

I'm about 4 weeks out as well (banded 3/19). I think that 15 pounds in 4 weeks is still good. I'm about the same. It still comes to about a 1/2 pound very day. We are still healing and aren't able to fully exercise to the best of our ability. I have sceduled my first fill for the 26th and I hope to see the scale move a little quicker but if it doesn't thats ok too. aslong as I am loosing a couple pounds a week I'm good. we will get there. Plus I have heard that if you don't weigh as much, the weight is slower to come off.

That was a very sweet offer. I had been thinking the same thing....I had a lot of 18 that I was trying to give away to people.....I would much rather they go to other bansters that will be buying clothes every few months than giving them to goodwill............when a gatther another bunch together I will do the same thing. Thanks for the idea!

There are a lot of sf syrups that can add a lot of flavor. I mix sf carmal, sf vanilla and a little skim milk with my favorite coffee and bleanderize it with the protein and it is very smiliar to a starbucks iced coffee.

Just throw it out!! i have older children 17, 15, 13...i have always done something for the holiday...but this year i declared the easter bunny dead!! I gave each kid a movie ticket and a coupe bucks....I warned my in-laws that if they loaded the kids up with candy...it would be in trash before the end of the day. (BTW--2 of my children are struggling with weight issues....so no one really should be eating that crap anyways.

Im checking in at 206 this week.

I bought tylenol cold...............the only ingredient was tylenol

I have only been banded for a month so I may be off base...but are you chewing really well? I did have an episode where I ate something too quickly and didn't chew and had the same reaction....broke out in a sweat and my heart was racing....I could actually feel the food hit the band...and then grind itself open...it was awfull.---seems like votimting would be the next reaction. I know how easy it is for me to forget that I have to chew everything really well especially if I'm talking..haha Hang in there....don't let this bump in the road slow you down. Before you go through another surgery, make sure you have really done all you can do to make the band work for you. If it is a matter of recommitting to the life style, surround yourself with some supportive people and give it a try again. Plug back into this site and let everyone on hear cheer you on ...find a couple of people to help keep you accountable and just make sure that you want to give up what you fought so hard to get. Good luck..if you need a cheerleader on even someone to hold you accountable inbox me...I think you can do this

You don't have restriction yet so the ibuprofen wouldn't be sitting in the pouch so its ok.....it was your surgeon who told you to take it right? Ibuprophen is harsh for the normal persons system, so when a bandster taks it, its worse....it can sit in the pouch and irritate the linning....so most doctors what you to only take tylenol.

I'm about a month out and I still have dicomfort.....can't wear anything that lays accross that area....still doing the clothes with elastic.

If you have the bmi and the comorbidities, the most they can do is make you do the 6 month diet. High blood Pressure is definately a comorbidity ....don't think depressions is, but I could be wrong. Just jump through all the hoops and you will get there. Try not to get discouraged.

Hi LuLu, welcome to the group, bandsters have good days and bad days....If you are wanting the band for a "easy" way out...its not. You have got to be willing to work at it. You have got to be willing to change bad habits and be open to creating new healthy ones. The band will be as successful as you let it be.....if you are determined to eat those "bad" foods, then then you will find a way to get them down. If you aren't willing to committ to seeing your surgeon regularly in the begining,....you won't find restriction and will continue to eat too much. BUT if you are willing to follow a few rules, then success is in your future. I'm only about a month out, and It is already the best thing to happen to me in a long time.....I feel 5 years younger already!! So spend some time and educate yourself on the bandster's way of life......its not for everyone, but if you are willing to committ to it......you wont regrett it.

Which tricare? north?south? standard or prime. I have tricare north/standard I was able to sign up on line and was able to check on the status of my approval. It took a week. Is your Bmi 40 or 35 with co-morbidities?

I'm 3 weeks post-op. Feel great !! I would like to start doing more abdominal exercises but didn't think to ask the doctor when it would be ok to start. I had two hernias (one hyatial and one umbilical), and a lot of adhessions removed. I have been doing some very light abdominal exercises, with no problem and I think I'm ready to do a little more. How long did you guys wait? BTW-I called the office today, the Surgeon and the Nurse practioner are both gone to a conference untill the 17th.....so unless I call the on-call doctor (don't want to do that), no one can give me an answer untill then.