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I had a scare today, and it was the 3rd "episode" I've had in the last month - though this was the worst. My heart was just pounding and I got very dizzy and felt as if I was going to pass out. I was at work. I called my husband and he came and got me. We first went to a "doc in the box" and they sent me to the hospital. When I got there my blood pressure was 40/70 and my heart rate 190. They said I had "tachycardia" - which in laymans terms is irregular heartbeat. Of course I told them about my surgery (banded 3/2) - I figured it must be related to that, but they said no. My bloodwork came back fine, electrolytes and all are ok. They stablized me and sent me home, referring me to a cardiologist, who I have an appointment with next Wednesday. Searching online tonight about tachycardia I find a lot of references to thyroid problems (which is something the ER Dr. mentioned) It is the "why" that is the question. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Dizzy spells or palpatations? It seems like too much of a "quinky-dink" to be happening so soon after my surgery, but I have been very good about keeping up with vites, Protein (though I also read that too much soy products could mess with your thyroid-and I have been using a lot of soy to get my protein in) and I've been drinking my Water. And wouldn't it be a pisser if my thyroid had been at the root of all my weight problems for my whole life??!! I'm freaked out tonight - and a bit scared, and hoping that some of you may know something about this (?) And - Alex - I just read your post and PLEASE get yourself to the Dr!! I'll pitch in with Donali!!! Thanks!

Very Cool! Your family is adorable! Vera, you are beautiful!! Way to go girl! Thanks for the peek!

Kroger makes an adult chewable multi that I've been using. They don't taste too bad, kinda like "Starburst" chews. I took Alex' sugesstion a while back and am using the Viactiv chews for calcium - yes they are yummy, and a great deal at Costco. I've never heard we shouldn't take multi's with iron, but my understanding is it's an absorption problem with us and iron. I've read we should use ferrous fumerate, and to take on an empty stomach.

Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs Lisa: 5/5/04 -- 51 lbs Becky 6/03/04 - 53 lbs Denice: 8/12/04 -- 20 lbs Leatha 05/29/03 - 67 lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Marie 5/26/04 -- 39 lbs Donali 1/23/03 -- 102 lbs Kathy 5/21/04 -- 41 lbs Cindy 7/22/04 -- 40 lbs Teresa 5/8/04 -- 63 lbs Kelly 8/20/03 -- 65 lbs Kyleigh 9/23/03 -- 60 lbs Bright 10/28/03 -- 70 lbs Michelle 6/14/04 - 20 lbs Babs 6/23/03 -- 136 lbs Nancy 8/27/03 -- 55 lbs michelle - shellyj 8-18-03 - 130 pounds Vera 8/14/03 -- 64 lbs Jacky 4/5/04 - 40 lbs Chris S. 9/02/03 - 54 lbs Debra 7/19/04 -- 17 lbs. Janie 5/6/04 -- 41 lbs Denise 5/28/04--33 lbs. Kim 8/23/04 -- 28 lbs. Andrea 9/8/04-- 12lbs. Carol 12/2/9/03 -- 102 lbs. Maureen 3/17/04--49 lbs. Carolyn 2/27/04 -- 61lbs (-81 since 1-8-04) Greta 3/12/04---37 lbs. Anne 8/13/04 -- 20 lbs. Zoe 8/26/04 -- 16 lbs. Kim 9/15/04 -- 5 lbs Mary 3/2/04 -- 62 lbs

I've felt a bit in the dumps lately as I'd had a "goal" for myself to be pretty much back to "Normal" by the end of the summer - banded March 2nd- I know now that was unrealistist, but have felt I've lost slower than I'd expected. And now I've only lost 2 lbs. in the last 3 weeks. I'm trying to kick myself into high gear here, and feel the positive, a plateau is to be expected, isn't it? I've set a new goal - Christmas - that's not out of reach is it? I have lost 58 lbs - 45 more would be SO wonderful!! 58 lbs gone, I know that's good, but what are you other's experiences with the plateau's? The weight loss will kick back in, won't it??

Thank you all! I'd put myself on the "pity pot" and I really needed the strokes. I AM doing great. I was just on a "I want the world, and I want it NOW", but am feeling much better about things today. I have been at 219 now for a week - and really what's wrong with that? Under 220!! MUCH, much better than the 277 I was in March!! I've been wearing an old pair of jeans in the last week (that I hadn't gotten into for 4 years) that I'd thought were 18's, but I looked, with my glasses on, today at the label and they're 16's!! Woo Hoo, I really shouldn't be complaining about the way I'm losing, the main fact is I AM LOSING!!! I really appreciate all the support ~ Thank You All so much!

I was just sitting in a hard chair and leaned forward, and felt the bone in my butt go clunk!! I haven't felt that bone for years!! Woo Hoo...there is a bone under that fat ass!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I've had some drinks since my surgery. Like Leatha said, it is a trade off because of empty calories and carbs, but life does have to go on! The upside is it only takes a couple drinks to get tipsy! I haven't tried any bubbly stuff though, I stick to vodka and crystal lite.

I have only had 1 fill, and am feeling quite a bit of restriction, but I'm finding I'm now getting hungry a lot sooner than I was, even within an hour. I can't imagine being more restricted I can't eat too much now without feeling the tightness, or God forbid, it coming back up - but's what's with the hunger? Do I need another fill? Thanks

Thanks, I think it might be my food choices, I've gotten in the habit of only eating soft stuff, since I've had some bad experiences with PB'ing (yuck!) and have been afraid of eating anything too solid. I did eat 2 chicken nuggets today,and they did seem to keep me "full" longer. And the liquids - should it really be 1/2 hr. before eating and an hour after? I haven't been too good about that. I will try to be stricter with myself. The hunger has baffled me, since I really haven't felt hunger for 3 months, maybe my body is just adjusting to this new way of eating??

I am taking a lot of supplements, which I think I need as I know I don't get enough with the small amount of food I am now eating , but, my Dr recommends 3500 mg of calcium a day (I think that is an awful lot) I am finding that getting all that down to be tough. I'm using Isotonix - 750 mg in 2 capfuls, so I try to do it 4 times a day. Are all your Dr's having you take so much? Is there another product that would give me more per dose? Can I take it all at once? Some days just getting all the supplements down is a struggle. I am doing good about taking others, multi, C, iron but this calcium thing.........suggestions? Thanks Mary (down 54 lbs !!!!!!!! )

Thanks, Neicy, yes the one I am taking is balanced with magnesium, though I am thinking that the 3500 may be too much, I do eat dairy. It may be time to have my bloodwork done to make sure I'm all in balance. How often are you other's Dr's asking for bloodwork to be done for these tests?

Yes, Alex,I know info here is not medical advice. But getting info here from a lot of people that are living with bands I feel is very useful, to get different takes from people themselves, and also what other Dr's have to say. There is no medical reason my Dr says no dairy, and it's not just me, he tells all his patients the same. I think it is because he has done bypass surgerys for so long (25+ yrs. and as we know the band is new) My understanding is bypass people don't tolerate dairy, but that's not true for the band. I don't just totally disregard his instructions, but some of them I feel don't make sense. He says lapband patients should only eat 1 oz of food 3 times a day. No more than a shot glass full - which he handed out at his seminar I was required to go to before surgery. Even Dr Rumbaut said he thinks my local Dr is too strict on amount of food, though I can't eat much at a time, but I don't measure in a shot glass, like he suggests, but probably consume more than 3 oz in a day. The info I get from here I find very valuable, that's why I like this message board. Just because my fill Dr tells me this stuff I'm not going to take it as gospel, that's why I like to get all these other opinions.....and hearing from others about the calcium dose and not seeing that anyone else is required to take anywhere near the 3500 I was told makes me wonder... Thanks for the replys, and I will continue to use this board, and my common sense

Thanks for your inputs. My Dr says NO dairy, maybe that's why he says 3500 mg calcium, but I ignore that little "rule" I have my lattes' (he says no coffee either, there's another rule out the window!) and I also eat other dairy - yogurt, cottage cheese - so I think I will cut back on the supplement. All of our Dr's are so different with their recommandations, I think whatever works for your ownself is the way to go (?) Truthfully, I've gotten more info from this board than I have from the doc!! Thanks, guys

I'm a social menace. Doesn't surprise me Thanks, Shelly - that was fun!

Thank you, DeLara for the news. I came on here tonight specifiacally to see if there was some news about Donali. She has been on my mind. It is such a bummer that this had to happen to her. She has been such an inspiration to me, as I know she has been to others. Donali.....if you are here, you know that you are on so many of our minds, and we all are here to help you through this "rough spot" (and let's just call it that) I hope that we hear from you soon, Donali, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sorry I haven't gotten back to you all - I had a bad juju virus and it hosed my computer - I had to wipe the hard drive - bummer! I think I am back now up and running ok. (fingers crossed!) Thanks for all your info and input! Anyhoo - I went to the cardiologist yesterday, and it seems I do have some sort of cardiovascular disease - totally unrelated to my banding, and I hope this doesn't mess with my band in any way!! - I am scheduled for an angiogram on the 12th - that may lead right in to a angioplasty, apparently there is a blockage in one of my cardiac arteries. I am a little freaked about this, I feel that I am a bit young for this to be happening - I am 52 - but with family history I guess not off the scale. I know that medical science is amazing and they can do great things these days (our bands for one!!!) The Dr. didn't mention the "ablation" I think he wants to see what the problem is first, and the angiogram will show that. I'm ready for whatever it takes, I want to be on the road for being healthy again. He started me on a "beta blocker" which I took for the first time today, and I think I already feel better, plus the fact that my mind was eased yesterday by knowing that something can be done about this, and I'm not in any imminent danger, this needs to be treated, but it was a sign that I needed to get to a Dr. So for now, I will be waiting until the 12th,chill, and keep on keepin on!

Thanks Carmen The Dr I saw at the ER talked about my "electrical system" mis-firing. They did an EKG at the ER - but what they said they saw then was irregualr heart rhythms. But that their results weren't conclusive, that's why they referred me to the cardiologist. I would be fine with wearing a monitor - I just want to know what's going on with me - and get it fixed! It is a very scary thing, and as heart disease runs in my family it scares me even more. I've had a couple more episodes of light headiness - not as bad as last week, but will be very glad to get in to the specalist doc on Wednesday. I'm on the road to being healthy again with getting this weight off of me - I don't need something else to whack me out! I gained a pound over the weekend - but I'm not gonna stress over it - I NEEDED that soothing chocolate - and those potato chips, too!!

Thanks to you all for your support and advice. I'm not so freaked out abouth this as I was, but still experiencing some dizziness. For sure I will be keeping the appt. with cardiologist on Wednesday - I want to get this fixed! I'm not sure what all the blood work they did at hospital, the Dr only mentioned to me that my electrolytes were ok. I would like to have a complete blood workup to make sure all is ok. I have been taking multi vite and minerals - iron fumerate - calcium -C - extra B complex - I think I'm doing good with keeping up on them. Looking back on the days I had the worst "spells" I may not have gotten in enough water. I try to get a least a couple quarts in each day, but some days I know I don't. I'm working on that. Yes, my pressure was 70 over 40 - I have checked it again and it seems to be staying in a more normal range. I'll let you all know what the doc says. I can't get sick now - I'm not thin yet!!

I discovered something today for when you just NEED to have something to munch and crunch! They're the "finger foods" from Gerber (!) I tried the veggie puffs - sweet potato - YUMMY! They're crunchy, they go down fine - no sticking - and really satisfy the munchies. And at 150 calories for the whole container! (I could only eat half)

Hi Lill I emailed you earlier, and asked about your fill, and now I see you've posted about it. I'm so sorry you are not getting good restriction yet. From what I've heard that is very common until you get more fills. My Dr. had told me he likes to "sneak up" on the "sweet spot" - though I don't understand why. When I got my first (and only) fill he started with 2.5 cc's , and I couldn't even get a drink of water down, so he took out a bit, I still had a little trouble swallowing the water, but I didn't say anything to him about it - I wanted to be tight - and I am now! I'm at a little over 2 cc's in a 5 cc band. I read some other's posts that say you should wait a week or two to see if the fill "kicks in" - I don't understand that either, I would think it's either there or it's not (??) I don't think it would be too much to ask to have another fill. What size band do you have? I know we all want to get this journey going, and having a good fill is what it's all about! I am down 42 lbs since my surgery on March 2nd! Good Luck to you , Lill on getting a good fill, and please keep me posted! Mary

I've read (somewhere) that our bodies can only absorb 30 gms. of protein at a time. Does anyone else know about protein absorption? I'm 3 months out and trying to get my allotted 60 gms a day - and finding the protein powders are the easiest way for me to get it in. I bought some at GNC today and it is 40 gms per serving (per 3 scoops, I could knock that down if needed) I hate to waste it, if I'm not absorping it. What do ya'all know about this? Thanks :cool:

Thank you for your great info and advice! Glad to know I can get my protein in in just one shot! I never thought about mixing with the vites. As long as it doesn't taste nasty! I'm using the "Isotonix" multi vite now, but will switch to chewables when I run out - it's a little too spendy! What chewables do you recommend? Kids? And do you take more than 1 a day then? I know there are some things you shouldn't take with other's - iron for example, not to take with multi, but ok with calcium. Do you all take ferrous fumerate? How many mgs a day? It's hard to remember to take these all at different times, and I know I don't remember to take them everyday - I guess that's just normal, huh? I'm not screwing this up, am I?? Banded March 2nd - down 42 lbs - slower then I thought it would be, but not bad is it? Thanks again!! Mary

I was banded by Dr. Rumbaut on March 2nd. I absolutley Loved him! He was top notch. Very caring and warm man. He has had a band himself for 10 years.Surgery went off without a hitch. Hospital is beautiful and very modern - though the nurses don't speak english, but took good care of me. I have a local Dr to do fills. Down 42 lbs so far!!! I would recommend Dr. Rumbaut to anyone :cool:

I like the sweet potato one's the best :cool: