JACKIEO85

I have 3 Tat's a butterfly on my left shoulder for my 40th, green vines with 3 red hearts intertwined for my 3 kids across my lower back and a heart on my right ankle with a B inside for my hubby or for B**CH depending on my mood I find it funny that people will make comments about "people with tattoos" like my previous bosses...oh I think it's terrible for women to have a tramp stamp. I smiled and laughed (he never knew) And my favorite was a boss that said people with tat's are "white trash" Imagine the Laugh out Loud moment when we found out that, that same bosses daughter got a tat....lmao It's very addictive..but I'm thinking about my next one all the time. I want a small feminine design on my wrist, and something added to my vines,but haven't found the right design yet......

Nope sorry question and answer period is over! ...Just kidding I used to say this to my kids because they used to constantly say : Mom I have a question,then not say anything else. All I can tell you is what my Nut used to tell me, think of the band as a funnel ( or inverted triangle) if something is stuck at the bottom and you add water,tea, whatever, where does it have to go ?but UP and OUT. I know it's tough when it happens and it's uncomfortable, extremely at times. Remember chicken is easily overcooked and dry, sometimes marinading it first or adding gravy, lemon, oil/vinegar mix anything to put moisture back is going to help. But unfortunately, this is one of those things that is a "learned" lesson. For most we do what we can to avoid it from happening. To reiterate previous posts remember to chew, chew, chew Good Luck, here's hoping things are going better for you.

Gwen if you could post a brief tutorial I think that would also help as Some members don't know how to accomplish this.. Thanks

Wow that greeting was sexist! ...hahah just teasing before the MEN do I provided a link to Meds that aren't supposed to be crushed, but I'd ask the Doc. The other advise is Great as well about size, some days a certain med will go down and other times it "might" give you a problem, and some I've heard we banders aren't supposed to take because it can sit in the pouch and cause problems sorry I can't think of anything besides NSAID's at the moment. https://www.ismp.org/tools/DoNotCrush.pdf

I use to drink Silk soy but it has too many carbs and sugar for banders, but if your trying to avoid MILK based products they also have Pea protein http://www.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/peatein-vanilla-protein-DFH450gr-p-designs-for-health.html?gclid=CPPQgYuOt7cCFSJlMgodfVoA8Q

awwww Gezzzzzz did we have to start talking about GAS pfftttt.... sorry you lost a Friend today..It's the price we banditto's pay keep your chin up maybe a new friend is just around the band,oops bend? I'd like to sing you a song before I go....me me me me... Beans, Beans, the magical Fruit! the more you eat, the more you OH you get the picture

OK I decided to start a FB group which will be Private meaning Only that you won't have to worry if you have another account and having other friends etc.. UPDATE: started a FB group just go and ask to join and WELCOME to Support!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lapbandsupportresearch/

YIPPEEEEEEEEE your Workin it !!! Keep up the good work

That is why Mis73 was asking about a 4cc or 10 cc band, part of the difference is that the 4cc presented with more complications, surgical procedures have improved and the Pars Flaccida technique was developed to reduce band slips. as far as 4cc,10cc,14cc that of course just means the Fluid capacity that it holds. CLICK on the link in my signature that says Lap Band Complications it will take you to a list of complications and it explains slips, symptoms etc.. KUSH1566 and Lisa99 how are you both doing?

my Sister has had it for years, $200 a year and I've used it trying to focus on Hubbies side of the family, Like mentioned it's very time consuming, you can contact others on it that might be related, but then have to wait.....for a response. I've found unless you know names and dates (DOB,Marriages etc..) it's not that easy to find things. Hopefully your name isn't SMITH Just glad I'm not the one paying for it

WOW Sorry your having to go through all of this... I have a few questions if you don't mind? How did your surgeon know that you had a kink in the tubing? If he replaced the port,and your new Doctor said that the tube was kinked, did he even do a Test? most times a test is necessary to establish the reason for the loss of saline to the band. Yes, putting fluid into the port and then not getting that same amount of fluid out deems it a problem, but it could be the port again? Normally Fluroscopy is done to see how the fluid travels from the port through the tubing etc... A CT Scan can view the band position,but that also doesn't show problems ie,, erosion, etc Endoscopy will show problems with the esophagus/ stomach. Perhaps you had some of these tests? But, I too would be upset and WANT answers , unfortunately...Too often the "professionals" don't know what the symptoms or problems are with a band. Again they only have what is reported (previous studies) and possible patient complaints. But their NOT shared routinely I understand the financial difficulties and the frustration trying to get a doctor to listen. Thank you for sharing!! I look forward to following your Blog

WHO sings that song? I WON'T BACK DOWN , I LOVE IT!!!

Protein content in tofu: One half-cup serving of raw firm tofu contains 10.1 grams of protein. The recommended daily intake is 56 grams for most men and 46 for most women. A half-cup of tofu is approximately 4 oz by weight, or just under 1/3 of the average sized 14 oz package of tofu. By comparison, 1/2 cup dairy milk contains 5.1 grams of protein, one 3 oz egg contains 6 grams and 4 oz ground beef contains about 26 grams of protein. Tofu is an excellent source of vegetarian protein. Calories in tofu: One half-cup serving of raw firm tofu contains 94 calories. By comparison, 4 oz ground beef contains 331 calories, 1/2 cup of 2% milk has 60 calories and 4 oz of cheese packs 320 calories. http://vegetarian.about.com/od/healthnutrition/p/tofunutrition.htm Any recipe you have or find can be converted to using Tofu, it's a Great Protein alternative and if it calls for rice try Quinoa, it's healthier than rice. Problem is Society is all about eating meat When a plant based diet is much healthier in general.

And unfortunately RUDENESS is always permitted,and FREEDOM OF SPEECH PREVAILS

I know everybody is very excited about Gov. Chris Christie’s new effort to lose weight. Christie has reportedly lost 40 pounds so far, but it is important to remember that maintaining that weight loss will have a lot to do with adopting the proper diet and lifestyle. We talked to Rebecca Soloman, clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, for the best diet tips to follow after lap-band surgery. Eat small portions In the weeks and months after surgery, it is essential for patients to focus on limiting their portion sizes. Lap-band surgery decreases the size of the stomach, making it very difficult, and even painful, to ingest large quantities of food. “Most patients are full after a quarter to a maximum of half a cup of food at one sitting,” Soloman said. Consuming more than that will cause discomfort and could lead to vomiting, Soloman noted. She recommends that patients eat slowly and chew food thoroughly to avoid discomfort. Focus on high Protein foods “We found, especially in bariatric weight-loss patients, that protein is the food group from which they derive their greatest sense of fullness or satiety,” Soloman said. In the first three to four weeks after surgery, Soloman recommends focusing on soft Proteins like Greek yogurt, pureed chicken, Soups or cottage cheese. This will also help patients avoid becoming protein deficient. After the first month, patients can begin experimenting with non-pureed foods, focusing on softer flaky fishes, the dark meat of chicken or lean ground beef. “We increase the texture but not necessarily the quantity,” Soloman noted. “We like to focus on the term ‘gentle satiety,’ you want to be mindful of not overeating.” Avoid drinking and eating at the same time One of the most important rules to follow after lap-band surgery: Avoid eating and drinking simultaneously. While staying hydrated is important, Soloman advises patients to stop drinking 10 minutes prior to eating, and then avoid drinking until 45 minutes after they’ve finished their meal. In the first few weeks after surgery, the stomach is so tiny that consuming a liquid and solid at the same time could cause vomiting. Furthermore, “just a few swigs of Water could push food out of the stomach, causing a premature sense of emptiness,” Soloman said. Limit Pasta, rice, bread While eating a little bit of Fiber is fine, most patients do not tolerate rice, pasta or bread very well. “They all expand when they absorb more fluids, like gastric juices,” Solman said. This can cause discomfort in patients, and they typically learn to avoid these types of foods, or eat them only in very limited qualities. Consume soft fruits and vegetables In the first weeks after surgery, all fruits and vegetables need to be pureed. “You could do a natural applesauce or make your own, pureed carrots, broccoli. You can use seasonings, herbs, spices to the extent that you tolerate them. Make it flavorable, so that it is enjoyable,” Soloman said. Later, patients can introduce whole fruits and vegetables, avoiding fruit skins (like apple skins) or stringier vegetables. Overall, it is important to remember that while lap-band surgery will help you lose weight, it will only work if you monitor your diet, too. “It’s a tool, not a solution in and of itself,” Soloman said. “It’s effectiveness is related to what you put in your mouth.” AMEN Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/07/what-to-eat-after-lap-band-surgery/#ixzz2UM8fuPce

Jan. 18, 2013 -- More than 200,000 weight loss surgeries are performed each year in the U.S. Several recent studies have questioned the effectiveness and safety of one type, gastric banding, which has led to a decline in its use as patients choose other surgical options. But the largest and longest study yet of the procedure found that patients followed for up to 15 years maintained significant weight loss -- an average of about 60 pounds. Study: Banding Effective for Weight Loss About half the patients in the study needed additional surgeries to adjust the bands or deal with other complications, but only about 1 in 20 patients opted to have the bands removed. Researcher Paul O’Brien, MD, of Melbourne, Australia’s Monash University, was a pioneer of the Lap-Band procedure, and his latest study was supported by Allergan Inc., which markets the gastric band system. He says gastric banding offers an effective, reversible, long-term solution for weight loss as long as patients get good follow-up care and are willing to carefully control the way they eat. The study is published in the January issue of the Annals of Surgery. “Placing the band is just the first step in the process,” he says. “Compliance and follow-up are critically important. There are plenty of people out there doing this surgery without a follow-up program for their patients, and they are setting them up for failure.” Banding, Bypass, and Sleeve Gastrectomy The Lap-Band procedure is one of several weight loss surgeries performed in the U.S. and the only one that is easily reversible. The band is an inflatable silicone ring that is wrapped around the upper part of thestomach to create a pouch the size of a golf ball, which limits the amount of food that can be eaten. The band can be tightened or loosened to increase or decrease the size of the opening to the lower stomach. The most commonly performed type of gastric bypass surgery also reduces the size of the stomach to that of a golf ball. The surgery also bypasses a section of the small intestine, which limits calorie absorption. The gastric sleeve procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the stomach to create a "sleeve" that connects to the small intestine. Just a few years ago, gastric banding was widely seen as less risky, less costly, and less invasive than either of the other surgical options, and about half of weight loss procedures in the U.S. involved banding. But that has changed as the long-term data comparing weight loss surgeries has come in, says Ronald H. Clements, MD, who directs the bariatric surgery program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Fewer Lap-Band Surgeries Performed Clements says just five of the 360 weight loss surgeries performed at Vanderbilt last year were Lap-Band procedures. “We have essentially stopped doing this operation,” he says. “The sleeve and the bypass are just better for helping people lose weight and keep it off. That’s what we are seeing in our patients and that’s what the data are telling us.” A 2011 study from Belgium found that the bands eroded in 1 in 3 patients, while 60% required additional surgeries. And a study published last year that compared banding to bypass surgery found that bypass patients lost more weight and kept it off over six years and had fewer complications. Four years ago, as many as 40% of weight loss surgeries performed at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York involved gastric banding, says Mitchell Roslin, MD, who is chief of obesity surgery. Today, the figure is closer to 3%. “Last year we took out 80 bands and converted them to other procedures,” he says. “Patients do well in the short term, but they tend to have problems later on.” Banding Good Option for Some American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery President Jaime Ponce, MD, confirms that fewer Lap-Band surgeries are being performed in the U.S. Allergan’s sales related to its Lap-Band system reportedly fell from close to $300 million in 2011 to about half that figure last year, and last fall the company announced that it was looking to sell its weight loss surgery division. But Ponce says the surgery is still a good option for some patients. “The band is a device that requires a lot of maintenance and multiple adjustments, and one problem is that our insurance system is not set up to pay for this,” he says. He says gastric banding is much more popular and widely performed than gastric bypass in Australia. “In Australia, aftercare is covered by national insurance, so patients don’t have to worry about paying for adjustments,” Ponce says. And there are plenty of gastric banding success stories here in America, including New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who lost more than 100 pounds after having the procedure in March of 2010. Ponce says patients who understand that gastric banding will require careful compliance and frequent follow-up visits to their doctor can achieve good results with the gastric banding surgery. “Patients need to be followed, preferably every month or so,” he says. “If your surgeon doesn’t offer this kind of follow up, you need to go somewhere else.” http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20130117/lap-band-shown-effective-long-term-weight-loss?page=2

ToTALLY TRUE!! I have a band, and am now having GB issues, I know numerous ppl that have also had GB removals that have issues with certain foods, some don't have any problems THANK GOD WERE ALL DIFFERENT

MsMaui : I am TRULY Sorry your going through such Pain with your lap Band, I have to agree about postings made to be informational, BUT instead ,are attacked as "bashing" If you presented here and said Don't get a Band!! you will have These complications..to me that is bashing..but again this is a public forum and you have that right, either way. I also find it amusing that support only comes in Cliques. If these "support groups" were truly for support/information then one would think that the "powers that be" would also post ALL new and relevant information regarding the WLS' on this site,not just the things that have a positive spin..But Why bite the hand that feeds you! Only TIME will give us the answers...I PRAY you find positive ones soon!!! ~~~~~~~~~REMEMBER KARMA IS A GOOD THING~~~~~~~

it varies greatly ... mine just said all liquids and ONE 300 calorie or less meal like Lean Cuisine Daily. Ck the pre-op diet in my signature line, that might help

I'm thinking that the original poster wanted to know IF when they reach goal and the port protrudes can they MOVE IT? not remove it? YES, people do have their Ports Moved sometimes due to pain(inconvienent placement) and because it protrudes due to weight loss,

I'd wait for the peer to peer and if that is denied then appeal, then a doctor to doctor review can be done, then if that fails do an appeal to the insurance commission in your state. hope this helps