lisacaron

There are many different modes to getting fills and it mostly goes by the surgeon's office. If you feel that you do not need the fill then hold off until you feel that you are hungry between meals and can't make it 3-4 hours between. If you are good, feeling "hunger" is important, as well as understanding the type of hunger you are experiencing. If it's head hunger or actual hunger and need to fuel the body. Talk to your doc when you see them next and come to a determination together.

It's more then likely your port that has flipped not the band, though I hope that it's not the case for either of them and they just had a difficult time finding the right spot to get it. I have had that happen a few times after I was first banded and the PA had to try a couple of times to get the location. Good luck and let us know what they find.

@@mias76 don't worry friend. You have just been banded and you are still healing. The body's first reaction to stress is always inflammation. When that happens we tend to weigh more and the numbers on the scale go up. Right now to your body you have just put it through HUGE amounts of stress. It probably thinks you are dying. You are not eating what you used to, you have had major surgery, and now you are moving and going to the gym like you haven't consistently before. All of this to the body's natural instinct means WE ARE IN TROUBLE CONSERVE EVERY THING SHE'S GOING TO NEED IT!! In reality you are doing it on purpose, but your instinctual body response does not know that. It will eventually catch up and the numbers will move in the other direction. Don't give up or lose hope, just keep doing what you are doing and following the Dr.'s orders. The truth is that 1 pound of fat and 1 pound of muscle both equal 1 pound. Muscle does not weigh more then fat. However fat takes up more room then muscle. Muscle is lean and fat is very dense but they weight the same amount. Keep up the good work and soon you will see movement in inches and numbers on the scale for your efforts! 1 pound of fat vs 1 pound of muscle.bmp

OMG I just watched this and it's so funny and so true. It's sad that we take someone who could be very affective and really create change in the world by using his celebrity and scyndicated show. I have people that I work with that follow him like he is a God among doctors even as they fail to go and see their own physicians! Dr. Oz said this and that on TV so it must be true and this and that pill can make me better and help me lose weight and cure my cancer or stop me from getting cancer. Soooo sad and even sadder that people who should know better and be smarter follow along like sheep rather then taking care of themselves and checking in with their Dr. for regular check ups.

@@monkeysnana Hi Wendy, I just want to offer you my support, understanding and best wishes for you and your family. You are going through so much and it really is never easy. Taking care of your health and being well while it won't cure your husband, I'm sure he will feel better knowing that you are taking care of yourself to be well. I know it seems selfish when someone we love is suffering to think of ourselves but I want to tell you that it is not a selfish thing you do in taking care of yourself. It is selfless, focus on doing it for him and your family to be strong and healthy and be there to help him and care for him both emotionally and physically. It is so easy for us to get all tied up in what our loved ones are going through and we ache so badly for them, we want to suffer for them and take away their pain. Yet we do not have the ability to do that, and that can make you feel so much worse. We can get into comparing how we are feeling emotionally to what they are experiencing physically, and we put ourselves through the wringer out of empathy for them. I have found going through similar circumstances with my loved ones, that shifting my focus to making sure that I was well enough and fit enough to physically and emotionally do all that I could to make them comfortable and happy was the very best that I could do. When I spent my days wrung out and stressed out and upset it didn't serve my loved ones much and I wasn't much good to them. Once I was able to make a full circle and refocus my efforts they were happier and I was able to do everything in my power to make sure that they stayed that way for as long as I could give them that. Don't get me wrong, there are moments and you will have them, more then you want to. Come here anytime day or night for support if you need it, or just need to vent or what ever that's what we are here for. All my best to you! You are one strong lady, I have no doubts about that.

@@Crystal76 Sorry you are having so much discomfort. When I was banded I was on liquids for 2 weeks. Everyone is different and even though the doc said it's ok to move on to mushy foods your probably still very swollen. Mashed potatoes is really not the best choice of food to start with, you want to find foods that have Protein in them and potatoes are all carbs. Give yourself a few days to allow the swelling to ease a bit more stick to the liquids for a day or two more. When you move to the mushy foods again think "blender". Get one if you don't have one, and put things in it for a beat or two until they are smooth and thin. Try to choose things like thick Soups blend up the chunks. A favorite of mine was chili thrown in the blender. Wendy's makes a great chili, pre-measured so your not having to make a huge pot of it but if you are go for Turkey meat. Throw that into the blender for a second or two you can get some fat free sour cream if you like and enjoy.

@@sexy_mamma1224 I think someone above may have touched on why the psych Dr. said this to you. Though the reason she gave you is not a good answer. It's not about your BMI, it's about your behaviors with food from her perspective. That said however, no matter what WLS you were to have you will need to be compliant. The band requires this right up front from you and you have to invest the time and self control to follow it through. Some of the other surgeries "enforce" a behavior change immediately upon surgery that you can not get around. They force you into compliance but where psych go wrong is that they recommend these surgeries that force the compliance and that does not help you with the behavior changes. So once you are in a "comfort" zone 6 months to a year out if those behaviors have not changed then you are in a position to gain weight back. That was why I chose the band. It has forced me to make changes in my behavior and how I relate to food and the food choices that I make and it gave me room and time to make my mistakes along the way and learn from them. Now I can be in the green zone and know how to eat and what to choose to eat for my health and well being and it is now a way of life for me. I don't feel "robbed" or deprived the way I might have if I was forced to stop eating sweets or when and what I wanted to. I was able to make the changes and integrate them into my life style in a way that was not abrasive to me. Not everyone works that way, and you have to find what works for you and your life style. So as others have said do some research, speak to people who are living with different WLS tools and see how they are doing and see if their experience matches the one you want you have. There are some live local Bariatric Pal support groups starting up around the country, and that is a great place to go and meet people and ask questions to those who are living with these tools. Then you can follow up with the Dr. and surgeons and get the "medical" info on the different surgeries and decide what will be best for you. I wish you all the best of luck!

I'm sorry that you have had to be subjected to such unprofessional behavior and I am very happy to see that you stood up for yourself and your rights by taking action and sending a notice to the doctor. I have had similar experience in dealing with certain staff members in doctor's offices. The fact that they work there does not in fact give them the right to speak with you about your personal medical issues and especially not to make you uncomfortable. For my experience it was nothing this invasive it was rather a neglect to perform their jobs sufficiently to have the doctor notified and follow up calls returned, they would have people standing at the desk 3 deep to discuss medical referrals medications billing issues and other personal things that I did not need to hear nor did anyone else. Some older patients that could barely stand were left waiting while lots of chit chat went on. Needless to say when I made the Dr. and the healthcare team the Dr. and the office associate with the issues were remedied and rectified. I work in an office for a living..chit chat is part of office banter and that's great but it's not appropriate at a desk in a medical office with patient waiting for service and phones ringing off the hook. OK that was my rant now back to you... A good Dr. and office would have known the reason for your visit and asked for your records, MRI and X-ray's or a peer review letter to substantiate your visit and request for the placard. I don't know what the rules are in Texas but the local DMV would be able to let you know what the qualifications are for permanent disability privileges. You might want to do a little research before you have to deal with them again Good luck and cheers for speaking up!

OK what is it...share share share

Almost everything we do revolves around food. Celebrations...food, sickness...food...depression...food...death food. It's a human thing, and it's probably one of those primal things left over from millions of years ago where food was so scarce that having it around during "special" times was the only time you had any. Today that is not the case. We don't need to have an event to have a bag of M&M's we just need to walk to the nearest vending machine drop in our money sell our soul so some chocolate covered sugary relief to what ever ails you. That is unless of course you are overweight or obese and food is the very thing that not only ails you but plagues your every thought. My office also has all that food and then more and more and more food. We have a morning meeting we have food, muchkins and donuts and Cookies OH MY!!! I really try to focus my life not around food, though I can't help it...I do have to think about food and eating. I try to focus on what I am eating or what I am going to eat rather then what is available to me. When I am in the morning meeting with Dunkin Donuts...I bring my Protein bar and my coffee made at home in a thermos. I don't feel left out, I am having something yummy and chocolatey and it fills me up and it's good for me. My coffee is just as yummy and is made with sugar free flavored creamer so I don't regret not having that 1000 calorie mocha something coffee. When we have food brought in, I try to find out from where and think about how I can make that food work for me. I take the meat off the bread, I take an extra serving of vegies and I bring some Mio or flavor for my Water bottle. They usually have the cake and cookies etc but they always have fruit and if they have fruit I can make that work. I'll buy some fat free cool whip to leave in the freezer and add that to my fruit and I am happy happy happy. We have a full cafe here and if you can believe this..they are having a raffle for a nice new 10 speed bike! I would love that...but guess what you have to buy a bag of chips and a Pepsi product to qualify for the raffle. Really? I don't think so, I'll pass and ride the bike I have (which is in excellent shape, but who can pass up a raffel?!) Me that's who! I don't need the chips and soda, I'll pass and save my calories for some popcorn at the movies with my hubby tonight

Now that's amazing! No scars...what did you have done so we can mark that down and make sure we request the same! Of course shout out to your Doctor as well, even if we don't live in the same area...always good to know of good doctors!

@@mm1315 I have had issues not from travel but days where my band is tighter then others. I think that is something that is "normal" for me anyway. I have days where I am retaining Water and my hands can be swollen and then others when my rings are flying off my fingers, and it seems my band like my wedding band seems to be the same way. I have never had a point where I could not keep down water though, I make sure it's a comfortable level enough to allow for those "bloated" days that seem to come out of no where. I find it has a lot to do with the weather for me. I must be made of wood or something I have been monitoring what makes my band tighter, to find that optimal level for me that works without making me too tight or too loose. So many things affect it, not just the weather but what I eat and drink, what type of exercise I do and if I take certain medications. I think things like Advil though it's supposed to be anti- inflammatory actually irritate the stomach a bit and make it swell so the band is tighter. If I have salt obviously that makes the rest of me bloated though doesn't affect my band as much as lettuce and roughage do. If I lift weights my band is good if I do lots of aerobic activity dancing, zumba etc. my band is tighter. Flying hasn't proven to be an impact on my band but I have yet to fly international or for longer then 6 hours

TMF and Bandarella, at this point the reason why she is vomiting has become a secondary issue. The fact that she is having to vomit 98% of the time and now vomiting up black colored something first thing in the mornings before eating anything can be very serious. As WLS patients we have remain compliant with our tools, and vomiting for any extended time is not normal. Yes it happens and it's our job as patients to figure out why it is happening sooner rather then later because later can be too late. I am hoping she has not responded because she is busy calling the doctor and getting in to see them today! Once she has some solid understanding of why this is happening and what that black stuff is...and all is well with her health and her band, if the vomiting continues with no diagnosed "physical" reason, it is then time to delve deeper into a mental/emotional reason and seek help for a possible eating disorder.

@@RN4Band I agree with what TMF said above. Give yourself a few days to see how things are shaping up for you now that you are back from a nice weekend get away. I know when I am out of town, and/or stressed I tend to let my guard down and eat past my signals. Sometimes to the point of discomfort and then I think to myself "ding" you should have stopped 3 forkfuls ago. I over stuff myself and feel like I had Thanksgiving dinner for an hour or more. I'll go to the gym and then wonder why at the end of the week I'm not losing any weight Take a few days to assess how your feeling if your hungry between meals and if so consider the fill. If not...continue on and just watch the portions and choices and you'll probably be right back on track again.

@@ivyh As you can see from the posts above it is not good to be vomiting up black anything. It could be that something inside your esophagus and/or stomach is bleeding. If you are having to spit up food 98% of the time the chances that the acid from your stomach which is not meant to leave your stomach could have caused an ulceration to your esophagus and or an ulcer in the stomach. Both of these things are bad enough, and could affect your band. If the band erodes you could lose it permanently. So don't wait any longer, make that call. There is no excuse of needing to work and not able to get help sooner. If you were having a heart attack you would go to the hospital, and if you leave this unchecked until August you may be making a trip to the O.R. instead of just to the Dr.'s office. Call the Dr. take the day off and take care of yourself! Vomiting for any percentage of time is not normal banded or otherwise.Primary focus is not to worry about bulimia it's to worry that you might have done some very serious damage that needs medical attention now! Let us know what your doctor says cause I know your making that call today....right?!

@@anewbec You can do this if you want to. Do you want to? Are you ready to make the commitment to yourself again? When you become a mother, the YOU learns to take a back seat to the children, to the family to what's right for them and the future. I know I have been there and I have done and often I still find myself doing that even though my children are now grown ups. It's not a bad characteristic, your a nurse and dedicated to helping others and making others feel safe and secure and well. You now need to take all that you just learned in becoming an RN and apply it to YOU. Make yourself a patient who needs some TLC, and who needs some health care. Take care of your needs the way you would want to take care of your patients and make sure they have all that they need to be well and happy. If you can start with that mind set, your more then half way there! Go back to band basics for a bit. Stick to it for a few weeks. Eating tiny bites, taking 20 minutes to eat your meals. Eating in a "food" designated area. All those things we don't do everyday that help us cheat ourselves out of the life we want to live. Reset and if your having a bad day...cause stress can do that to you far too often. See if you can find a spot that is all about you and reset. Take a breath shake it off and move forward again from that reset spot. Sometimes for me that place is in my car, outside for a moment and even in the ladies room if that is the only place I can find a second alone. We are not failures and every moment provides us with the another chance to make it the way we want it. Ready....? Deep breath...reset and move forward.

Hey lady you look amazing, and you know what... I see Tracy in all those photo's! Same smile same glint in your eyes and even a bit of sass! Just lovin' it!!!

Loved reading about the great weekend everyone had! Dating and going out on the town what fun!!!

Beautiful photos. Congratulations happy anniversary!!! Looks like a great time!!! Keep smiling.

Hi all. Lost the thread for a bit just reading and catching up again:) everyone is doing awesome and looking marvelous!! Bandista I am going to be doing a 5k this July! Just got my registration# today! It feels good to finally be able to do it. Every year I have to decline for one health reason or another. Last year it was for Lapband surgery! This year I am fit and healthy and we are gonna cross those finish lines!!! Take a photo as you do and let's share our victory!!! GW love the small sizes and you look great. I hate shopping and so far that has not changed clothes and food shopping so not my forte. Off to beddy bye early early as I head to NJ tomorrow at 5am for safety training. I totally deserve a FAT raise!

Best advice is to call your Dr. and find out what his protocall is for eating before a fill. My Dr. does not have one since there is no swallow or x-ray prior to the fill. I have eaten before going in as early as 45 minutes before my fill nothing bad, and nothing good to report about it If you have radiology with a fill though that changes things so call and find out how your Doc will fill and what he requires then enjoy some time with kiddies no matter what

@@ljones4521 OK I understand what your meaning is a bit better now. I will often go back to band basics when I have a stall or fall off the wagon for a bit and let my eating get the best of me. I usually do this when I have a fill put in my band as well. I will go back to liquids then mushy then soft then solids and yes that will encapsulate shakes for the first few days. You can surely go back to the basics and get a "reset" or jumpstart not a bad idea at all. My Nut suggests 60-80 grams per day of Protein, 64+ oz of Water. Calorie range between 800-1000. If you want to burn 1200-1400 can be a bit high depending on your metabolism and your output. So if you are not working out burning 500-700 calories a day I would tend to make 1200 my MAX for the day. Sounds like you have a plan of action!!!

So some of these things...tomato basil soup...could have been too hot - could be too acidic and bothering your tummy (I know for me even spaghetti sauce/ pizza sauce can irritate my belly). Taco...taking you too long to eat and a the hard shell or soft shell can totally get stuck when moist they swell up. Try taking the inside out of the taco and eating just that. The pork chop is a good choice but it can also be a tough meat and/or dry. Try cooking it in fat free broth to keep it moist and/or using some brown gravy or bbq sauce with it. Cut it up to small baby bites the size of a pencil eraser as if you were feeding a toddler. There is one thing my NUT (nutritionist) says that I like and totally agree with. If you are eating for longer then 20 minutes you are eating your next meal. So if your not done eating in 20 minutes stop eating until the next meal.