Penni60

Donali: You will succeed I am positive to maintain and to even continue to lose. Don't get discouraged if you see a weight gain in the first few months after the removal of your band. I am sure that will be normal but to acknowledge that and stay on track. The only that I might add to your wonderful list is to add a "fasting" day in there. Maybe do one day either a week or every two weeks of a juice fast with Protein Bars or Protein Drinks as supplements. I do that now and it jump starts my weight loss when I hit a wall. It also helps cleanse the system of all the abuse we sometimes throw into it. Keep up the positive attitude and all things are possible. We are all here for you.

Lisa and anyone taking medication without knowing what it is. SHAME ON YOU!!! Never ever take any prescribed pill without first asking what it is and how it works and what are the warning signs I should watch for. Occasional use should be ok. The typical reason it is prescribed is to keep down any swelling post op. He did not give me anything post op so maybe he changed his protocol after surgery. I got an IV for two days (not continuous - twice a day) that had the medication in it to keep swelling down.

I too have ordered the book. About pouch stretching: The thing to remember is to not overeat to the point of PBing. That is the most important thing. The next thing is when you fill the pouch to it's capacity it stretches no matter what. Once the food goes through the opening it resumes it's normal size. If you continually over fill the pouch then it can stretch larger but over time it will resume it's shape again if you cut down on the portions you are taking in. I try to envision a single hand full of food (this is what the normal stomach can hold) then cut that in half and eat till I feel restriction. The KEY is to watch how much you are eating and stop when you feel restriction. Lisa, the Al Roker thing is something I have not heard. I kinda doubt the lower portion of our stomachs will become flabby as they are still working. The food that passes through the opening is being digested by the lower part of our stomachs. SO it should never become flabby due to not being used. Al Roker had the gastric bypass procedure. He would not have the flabby stomach that was mentioned I would think. His entire system has been re-plumbed so to speak. His stomach MUSCLES might be flabby from all the weight loss if he is not doing exercises. But NOT his stomach. That is my personal opinion on that matter. Sassaay you are correct in your observations.

Thanks Donali

Lisa: I drop things deliberately just to see how easy it is now to pick things up. LOL!!! Poor baby has the dropsy. I don't have the heart either Donali.

Janie: I don't go by ounces. I try to envision eating no more than what one handful can hold. Then I cut that in half and eat till I feel restriction. Remember no drinking while eating.

Sultana: The pouch stretching is not exclusively caused by PB. If you eat and ingest more than can go through the opening easily but don't PB then you are still stretchng the pouch. It is a matter of keeping what and how much you eat in check at every meal, snack or whatever. You don't have to PB to stretch your pouch. Just wanted to clarify that.

Donali: Thanks for clarifying the stoma term. I sometimes forget that not everyone knows what those medical terms mean.

From Donali: I don't know much about bacteria living inside of the body, waiting for damage - would that have to be introduced from outside, like with the fill needle? Penni? Any insight into this phenomonen? Sorry for the delay in responding to this. I was distracted. LOL!! There are two ways for the bacteria to cause an infection internally. Either there was a leakage of bowel content WHICH I DOUBT or from a contaminated fill technique. Those are the only two ways I know of an infection brewing internally.

Lisa: Same thing happened to me with my incisions. I had to wear the dressings for along time. Just keep it covered and you will be fine.

"POUCH STRETCHING" The entire stomach is made up of cells that stretch easily. So when you eat the muscle wall of the stomach will stretch to meet what is placed inside of it. The top pouch that is made when we are banded can stretch over time to allow more food to be ingested or held in the pouch. This is a normal process and people that have NOT been banded can have a stretched stomach as well. IT is not a medical emergency to be treated. Over time and with less consumption the stomach will decrease in size. The stoma created from the banding will not change unless you have a fill or unfill. Does this all make sense? If you overfill your pouch it will result in PB. And this also can result in stretching the esophagus as well. So the importance of overeating to the point of PB is not a good thing over time. The esophagus pain when overfull is like an elephant sitting on your chest which is the same description that someone having a heart attack would say. Personally I have experienced this twice and realized the second time what I was doing. Follow the rules of being banded: Eat slow Chew Chew Chew Small bites Chew Chew Chew NO drinking during eating Chew Chew Chew Learn what does not go down easily with you. (me = NO BREADS) Chew Chew Chew Take your time and enjoy your meal Concentrate on the food and try to not talk while eating a meal (This is a personal observation that works for me) Chew Chew Chew OK Other bandsters did I forget anything? I probably did.

GOOD LUCK with your surgery. Come back to the boards as soon as possible and give us an update on how you are doing. Where and who is doing your surgery?

Jeanie: I was trying to remember the other fiber thingy and that was it. Benefiber. It can be dissovled in water or coffee or tea or stuff like that and leaves no after taste and is clear.

Acidipholus pills -- visit an GNC and you can get those pills either in capsule which you can open up and sprinkle the powder on the applesauce or you can dissovle it in Water or other liquid. I have to take them myself and just dissovle them in water. No taste actually. There is also a gel capsule that you can puncture with a pin and then squeeze the liquid out into or onto anything. I prefer the capsule that can be opened and sprinkled. I get mine from www.sanoviv.com store. Pretty inexpensive really. I take them because I drink way too much milk and it messes up my normal flora and the acidipholus pills keeps it in balance. The picture I am referring to is from the latest one of your incision where you had the port removed. I see a small leakage on the end of the incision. Looked just like my leakage from my incisions.

Lisa: I noticed that leakage on the pictures you posted. That is the same leakage that I experienced from all 5 of my incisions. You should put some neosporin cream on the entire incision and keep it covered. Do that twice a day till it stops leaking. That is what I did. It is called serous sanguanious fluid. Fancy term for fluid leaking out of incisions HUH?!! LOL!! Nothing to be alarmed about but is something to keep covered and put the neosporin cream on. I also noticed the redness from the bandages as well. That is from the adhesive on the tape NOT from latex as suggested earlier. I have the same allergic reaction to adhesive as well. Should have seen my belly after the incisions stopped leaking. I never developed any blisters but it came close. I used something called tegaderm dressings that kept my skin from getting all irritated. You can get it at WalGreens. WE used that dressing all the time in the hospital on dressings. It is a clear adhesive 3 x 5 covering that you will need to get some 4 x 4 gauze dressings to put the neosporin onto then place the gauze over the incision and then place the tegaderm to hold the gauze in place. I had to cut the gauze in half and then fold over length wise to cover the incision. They make larger tegaderm dressings as well if you need that size. The tegaderm breathes with the skin. If you are not clear on anything just let me know. Hope this helps.

Donali: My heart goes out to you. I have often thought what I would do if something like this happens. I have only been banded since April of this year. It is like someone has ripped your life saver out of your hands and you are in the deep end and drowning. Now you have to go back and tread Water again. Know that there are lots of support out there for you. I have only known you for a short time but I can feel your pain. I would be devastated to find out I had to have the band removed. Yes, you can be grateful for all those things you mention and more but it is hard to keep a cheery face when facing the removal of the band. I am wishing you well and sending you good thoughts.

WOW!! You look terrific. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to actually SEE a major difference like there is with you. My sweetie says he can see it in my face but I wanna see it everywhere ya know. LOL!! WOW!! Again I am so thrilled for you. IT makes me cry with excitement for you. Keep up the good work.

Karen: Here is a list of doctors that do banding in your area. Some of them might do fills for you. Hope this helps. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Ron Kaler , 1 Mercy Lane, Suite 506, , ,Hot Springs, AR 71913. Tel: (501)623-9581. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. James Campbell , 1900 Malvern Ave, Suite 201, ,Hot Springs, AR 71901. Tel: (501)321-1000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. James Wellborn , 1 Lile Ct Suite 103, , ,Little Rock, AR 72205. Tel: (501)663-9600. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Rachel Keilin , 1002 Texas Blve, , ,Texarkana, TX 75501. Tel: (903)791-8900. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Ron Hekier , 1002 Trexas Blvd., , ,Texarkana, TX 75501. Tel: (903)791-8900. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Gregory Laffoon , 101 Skyline Drive, , ,Russellville, AR 72801. Tel: (479)890-7143. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looking for Doctors now in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Will give you the info when I find it. Shouldn't be too long a wait.

Lisa: A fever post op is not surprising. IT is your bodies way of coping and getting back on track. But that said I would watch it closely and take some Tylenol. If it keeps rising then make a phone call. You are in my prayers.

HOORAY!! Glad that Lisa is doing great. I had NO doubt at all. Can't wait to hear from her personally. I am home and ready to get my life back on track. No pain, No redness, No tenderness. Start my exercise routine back again beginning tomorrow morning. I lost 1/2 lbs while I was gone these last couple of days. Nothing like stress to make you lose your appetite. LOL!!! Again glad to hear that Lisa is doing so well.

HI ya Pammie: We are practically neighbors. I live in Van Nuys, we should get together or at least chat on the phone. Email me and we can chat. Wanna go walking at Balboa park sometime?

Hey there: I already know some of you from the OUCH message board. I too married my high school sweetheart at the young age of 17. Had our first child at 18, second at 19, third at 23, and last at 27. I have 3 daughters 26, 25, 20(almost 21) and a son 16. After the son, we drifted apart and went our seperate ways. I went to school and became an RN to support the kids and I. He remarried and had another son. It took time but we are good friends now. We talk at great length sometimes about everything. We made a conscious decision to remain friends for the sake of our children. IT has worked thus far. He even lived with me for a time when he moved to the same city where I lived. Anyway, he is married now and doing fine. I am in a relationship now for going on 6 years. We are not married but I am hopeful. He, John, has never been married and has had some bad relationships. I am patient and can wait. We love each other desperately. The only pets I have are coi fish. Well you could count the 100's of stuffed animals if you want. They seem like family at times. LOL!! I collect them and have one from every state except Hawaii. I even have one from Jamaica. Ya Mon! I was banded by Dr. Lopez at Sanoviv Medical Institute www.sanoviv.com, in Rosarito, Mexico. The surgery was on April 6, 2004. To date I have lost 37 lbs and 21 inches. I weighed 296 at my heaviest pre band. I know weight 259. I was in a size 24W. I know wear an 18W. HOORAY!! NO FILLS yet. Still losing although I have hit a plateau but I am sure it will pick up again. I am not worried. Just had a scare with my port. Thought I was rejecting it but was just an irritation from exercising and losing fat around the port. It will reposition itself in a month according to Dr. Lopez; if it doesn't then it will have to be removed. Guess that is it. Oh yeah I have 3 step grandkids I call my own. (2 boys Justin 13 and Alex 12 and 1 girl Haley 10) and 1 grandson Eli 18 months from my second oldest daughter. I have 2 beautiful granddaughters from my oldest daughter, Talley Jane 4 and Ashlynne 2. I am 43 years young and loving life. I am a retired Bone Marrow Transplant Nurse of 8 years employment. Thinking of rejoining the working stiffs of the world to have my own spending money. LOL!! Did I forget anything?

Donali: THanks for setting my misinformation straight. The projected weight loss I was quoted came from the Doc mouth directly. The Protein shake statement was my own observation and a personal comment that I experienced at the beginning of my recovery. I find that I get enough protein now by just eating regular foods. Not sure if you are confusing where I went to get my lap band placed. I did not go to Oasis Hospital but went to Sanoviv Medical Institute in Rosarito. I am going to update my website by the end of June and will make some other comments but will stipulate that they are my own observations and what works for me might not work for everyone else. maybe we could collaborate on the dr. Lopez job. LOL!!!! You have way more experience than me in the long term aspect and I can contribute the Nursing end. Something to think about. I am so glad that Lisa is doing better. Can't wait to hear from her personally on this board.

Hey I got my picture loaded finally. I will have a better one soon. I will also have my website updated by the end of june for new pics. In the meantime please feel free to visit and give feedback. www.pennimerrick.com