katschai

Hi Donna - I was also banded in April and really understand your situation. I know it can be frustrating. Your accomplishment is signficant. I have lost 30 and another 30 to go. I knew it would be slow but not this slow. I know I need to exercise a lot harder. I thought I was doing good with exercise but when I stepped it up for a few weeks by working out for an hour, I did lose a few pounds, so that's the goal for now. Good luck, Kathy

Hey GraceUtah - so does your 8 step method mean you are throwing up/pb'ing food frequently? .

I recently found NashuaNutrition.com - the hot cocoa is 90 calories and 15g of protien, choco-mint is great. Lots of great products. Nashua Nutrition

Hello Everyone! I totally fell off the planet even after I offered to host a get together! I spent my summer visiting colleges with my son - NY, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, SanDiego. I am up for a play date if someone wants to pitch an idea!

I probably have one of the most unusual jobs. I hire and train people (many are actors) to portray patients so that medical, nursing, pharmacy, etc students can practice interpersonal and clinical skills on people portraying an illness instead of practicing on people who are ill. They are called standardized patients. If anyone remembers Seinfeld, the episode when Kramer is an actor at a medical school and is assigned gonorrhea as his disease, well that is the TV version of this work. To get their license medical students must now pass an intensive standardized patient exam. They are evaluated on communication skills, history taking, physical exam, displaying caring and concern. This national exam just started 3 years ago. So if you ever saw a physician with terrible bedside manner, he/she probably did not do well on the SP encounters in med school. Med schools have been using SPs since the late 1960's. The most rewarding sessions are when students have to give bad news and they really learn from the SPs how patients truly feel when a physician, nurse, etc has to deliver bad news. We hope our students walk away enlighted, more thoughtful and better health care providers.

I was banded by Dr. Singh at St Agnes, they do a lot of procedures there and handled all the paperwork with ease. I agree, I work at Univ of MD Med Ctr and I don't have any health care where I work (When I lived in Calif and worked at USC I once had confidentiality betrayed by MD to my boss!!!!) Good Luck!

Hi - I tried to be a good forum user and searched to see if I could find a thread on this topic...if there was one, can you refer me to it? If not... I know it is common to have less restriction at night but this is ridiculous. I can barely eat in the morning, little bit at lunch. At night I get full easily but eating an hour later, then full, then an hour later, and so on Tips? advice? I wish I had a button I could push to increase my restriction after 8pm and then open it up in the morning. Thanks for any advice!

This is such a personal decision for people. Obviously everyone needs to do what makes sense in their life. Only a few people know - My husband knows, a couple of new friends I met via surgeon's office and 1 colleague from another state who I see 1 time a year at a conference. I told her because at the conference in June she told me she had bypass (which was obvious by dramatic weight loss). I am not telling anyone else. My weightloss is slow and it is just now about 25-30 lbs that people are actually commenting. I work out 5-6 times a week and keep calories low. I can honestly tell people who ask about my work out and change in eating and not feeling like I am lying. The band does not do the work, I do. Good Luck with your decision!

I have been drinking lightfull smoothies. I have no personal interest or relationship in the company I have just found them wonderful LightFull Foods -- Satiety Smoothie They bulk up in your stomach because of all the fiber. Unfortunately they are pricey but give it a whirl if you can find them in your area. Good Luck

Hi - well I think people are away and not online, not really getting replies to post. Perhaps best to wait until early fall when folks are back online. Kathy

Ok I am game, I agree two people are a party! Also I met another bandsters via this forum before my surgery and she and I have been getting together monthly. So Terisita if you have emails to contact people that would be great. Let's figure out a date that works and perhaps people would be more willing if they did not have to drive far we could find a place half way between Balt and the Southern MD. THANKS! Kathy

Hi - I would like to have a lap band forum users get together at my home in AA county. So if you are open to this idea hit the quick reply and let me know. I am thinking about a Sat or Sun in August.

Hi please read Maryland get together thread for possible date for a meet up at my home. Kathy

Hi - please read Maryland get together thread for a possible date for a meet up at my home. Kathy

Hi - look at the Maryland get together thread for a possible meet up date at my home. Kathy

Sorry I have been out of touch for a bit. We are visiting colleges with my son, this week in NY State and next week California. On Aug 5 I have to drive to Frostburg to bring my son to high school marching band camp. So now I am thinking, looking at the posts that after Aug 22 is better so everyone will be back. I am good for Aug 25 Sat after 2pm. That is right before school starts so hopefully everyone is in town. Let me know what you all think! Looking forward to getting a date set! Kathy

Hi - if you have suffered shoulder pain after your band procedure and wondering "what in the world?" Lots of people have addressed this but this website gives one of the nicest explanations I have read. It's an endometrosis center but abdominal surgery via lap has the basic things in common with any other lap ab surg. http://www.centerforendo.com/articles/afterthelap.htm

I told my husband and that is it, I have not even told my son (teenager). I saw my dad who lives out of state recently and had not seem him for 3 months. He noticed and commented about my weight loss. Of course when he got home my mother called and asked what i was doing. Exercising almost every day (true) using sparkpeople.com and trying to keep to 1000 kc day (true). I have not told one line, I just omitted a piece of information. I know for me this is the way is needs to be for my sanity.

I joined Workout Express a year ago and go 5 times a week. (like curves but a bit more intense workout). I was banded almost 3 months ago. The 30 min circuits are great for starters. If you are not accustomed to working out, 30 min circuits etc will help you begin the process. But be creative, if you can periodically run the circuit "outside the box" it will help so your body does not get in a rut. I add in some floor work like crunches etc to every workout. The following is a political statement, so stop reading if you dont want to read a link of politics to exercise. In case it matters to you, it does to me...Curves although franchised, the corporation is owned by someone whose political views are the polar opposite of mine, I am left of left so I looked for a place that worked for me. Good Luck with your exercise program!

Yes I use a straw. Began using one about 6 weeks post op. No problems.

Think thin bars 20g protein, but sweetened with mallitol so if you are sensitive that is a problem - trader joes or whole foods. I think they taste great.

Hi - welcome. I live in Anne Arundel Co. I was banded on April 20th. I had to do a 6 month preop diet exercise thing, it went by quickly. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Hi - Good Luck! I had my surgery on April 20th with Singh at St Ag. A few years ago I had a consult with mr "smallscar.com" but at that time it was a no go on my insurance. No reason why I did not go to Schweitzer this time, just that St Ag a bit more convenient. Schweitzer sure is a cutie! I have been happy overall w/ St Ag, the hospital was much like any other, surgery staff great, floor nurses Ugh! I have lost 20 lbs since surgery but I was a lower BMI to start. When I was 30 I lost a lot of weight and immediately got pregnant, my son is now 17. You are right about the motivator I knew I could not have a child if I was overweight. You are doing the right thing researching it. See what you think of each practice especially the staff and how much time the docs take with you on a consult. Keep in touch. I work in Baltimore and live in AA County.

I had my first fill today. Lying down he stuck the needle in and popped in the saline. I sat up, drank 1/2c of water and went home. I was concerned because honestly I ate solid food a bit too early and was worried about slip, snap, krackle, pop. My only concern is that as he was trying to insert the needed he said "hummmm..." So I said what is that about. The needle did not go in as smoothly as he thought it would but he was not at all concerned and injected the saline and I was out of there. So the next couple of days will tell if it took or not. :guess

Oh I am having a Dionne Warwick psychic connection to this thread....I was visiting someone this past weekend and sitting in a chair in their living room and I crossed my legs and they stayed in place. In the past I would have had to hold my leg up with my opposite hand to keep it in place, but not this time. And it was not uncomfortable. I was so excited I was actually going to start a thread on this topic and here it is! I am very short 4'11" and it is tough for shorties to cross their legs. I only kept it their a few minutes but it really felt like an accomplishment.