lisacaron

I'd love to see us have a WLS conference some day where we can get members from all over the world together, and perhaps move it around like they do the Olympics and have different chapters host them....hey I love to travel and I would totally stop by and check out a group, in another state, or another country!!

OMG your killing me with this one! Love it and so darn true! Hubs and I are practicing our harmonies!!! hahahaha Toot one on the down beat tummy growl for 3...toot toot too

What shocks and amazes me about this, is that EVERYONE on here is a former fatty. We are all WLS patients, we have all been overweight, obese and/or morbidly obese. No matter what arena we have thrown our hat into be it bypass, sleeve, gastric band we should all be able to relate to each other on some level. None of these surgeries were easy, none of them are the magic bullet they all take different levels of commitment and dedication to making a life style change. Those who are against the band, are you trying to change the world one comment at a time? The gastric band is a surgical option it's out there it works for many, if not for you. If you have suffered because of it I am truly sorry, but you are OK because your here and your commenting so you survived your affair with the band. There are those who have had WLS and can not say the same they died. There are those who did not have a choice of which surgery to get, and could not afford to get any surgery and they died from their conditions. We are a group that is here to support and advocate for people like ourselves, people who should be of like mind having been where we have been and gone through much of what we have gone through no matter what surgery modality we ended up with, no matter our starting or ending weights. I could go on and on about sleeve patients and bypass patients that I know personally who have failed, and gotten gravely sick and have died, but you don't see me doing that or bashing those who have had these surgeries. I would gladly share what I know from those close family and friends to help anyone, but I would never bash someone or the idea of an intervention such as WLS that can literally save lives, and not just on a physiological level but on a mental and emotional one as well. So be bariatric PALS and remember that you too are here and have a voice because of your journey, and rather then tearing another down, try being a support. Share your ideas and opinions but do so productively in a way that helps rather then in a way that discriminates, degrades or demoralizes and you might just change the world one comment at a time.

Here is a good video of what gastric plication is. What it is basically doing is folding the stomach in on itself without cutting or removing any bit of it as in the gastric sleeve. This reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold without causing the malabsorbtive issues that come with the removal or re-routing of the stomach contents as it does with the sleeve and/or gastric bypass.

What Do You Think about BariatricPal Local Chapters? LOVE THE IDEA! Would you be interested in attending regular local chapter meetings in person?Yes! Would you be interested in being a leader (or co-leader)?Yes, most definitely! Would you like BariatricPal to provide agendas for meetings?Yes, but I think that it would help for them to be a more of a guideline that the leaders and co-coordinators of the groups can follow but gear their groups more toward the dynamic of that given group. What additional support could BariatricPal provide to encourage your participation and/or leadership?I love the idea of offering education to the members interesting in taking on the leadership of a group, and that should be something that is updated as more information learned to stay current with what is going on in the medical field and be able to share that information with their members. Should there be limits on the minimum and maximum numbers of members that each Local Chapter can have?I don’t think there should be limits on the number of members but I do think that there should be a council of people who run the group kind of in the vein of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer etc. to help run charters that are over 50 members. I also think it may serve to have a person from each type of weight loss surgery modality have a role in a combined group for an area. As well as people in all different phases of the journey. What other ideas do you have?I would be great to have an international charter that we can all belong to and perhaps hold an WLS conference annually or bi-annually where members from other countries and states might be able to get together for a fun filled healthy weekend that might include seminars and/or presentations on nutrition, exercise, exercise equipment, meditation, etc. as well as some entertainment.

Count me in!

The type of weight loss is not necessarily determined merely by the amount of weight a person has to or chooses to lose. Those who have said they are shocked that he chose the lapband to lose his weight I would question why you would be so shocked? Many of us that chose the lapband did so to avoid the re-routing of our guts, and the life long malabsorptive issues that come along with many of the alternative WLS. The lapband can be and is a very effective tool for weight loss and in my opinion a greater tool for life long weight maintenance over the other surgeries. There are many today who are being banded on top of their gastric bypass because they have gained weight a year or more after their surgery and need further assistance. The same can be said for those who have the sleeve, and have a regain of weight over time. The lapband is the only adjustable WLS that while it is made for life long implantation it may also be removed, reversed or revised to another surgery. While it is true that weight loss is faster with the other surgeries, it may not be what the doctor ordered for Mr. Christie or others. He's done an amazing job with his weight loss as far as I am concerned, and everything else (about the man or his political position) is irrelevant in this forum.

My only advise would be not to guzzle the Water when your eating or right after a bite as that will cause you some discomfort. When I need something to drink I will take a sip during my meal especially if the food is a bit dry or tough. Sometimes you just need some water, and I do feel that I am fuller with less during the meal if I allow that sip here and there.

Yes it is amazing. PT if you have the information on making such a donation please post it and share it with the forum.

Come on now girl was that DQ 3200 calories? I can't imagine you gained any weight! Enjoy the good grade, don't spoil it for yourself or your daughter. Though next time, (and I hope there are many more next times!!) maybe something other then a food reward, simply because it's a path that's not good for her or you anymore. For me it has been hard to break that habit of using food as a reward or comfort, I wish it had never started to begin with...but I grew up in a big Italian family all they did was feed you for everything, and when I was a kid I was skinny skinny so they tried to feed me extra! GOAL GOAL GOAL chanting for you and the USA Hockey team today!!!

My advice is never to go straight for meds, it would always be to go and see your doctor, so I'm glad your doing that. You have tried to self medicate and it didn't work out so the best thing is to check in with your doctor so they can find out what's going on. A slight unfill might be what the Dr. orders but who knows...either way though while your waiting to get to your Dr. I would go back to band basics and eat lightly maybe just have a Protein shake and steer clear of fruits vegetables and acid producing things like coffee and tea. I would eat soft Proteins and things of that nature until you are able to get to the Dr. Let us know how your doing and feel better soon!!

I will tell you something that my nutritionist said to at a group meeting once and it stuck with me. It should take you no more then 20 minutes to eat your meal. If you are eating anything after that 20 minutes you are eating into your next meal. We should be eating only 3 meals a day and possibly a snack if hungry. So if you feel hungry all the time, and it's not head hunger it may be that you need a tweak to your fill level, or you might want to do what Cheryl suggested and break up your meals to 6 mini meals a day. Which does not mean eat 6 whole meals a day, it means break your 3 down to 6 smaller meals. So your eating half a meal every few hours rather then a whole meal 3 times a day. Keep tabs on your hunger level and thirst. Sometimes hunger is really thirst and having a beverage will satisfy you. If not, then you should ask yourself where is the hunger coming from...is it above the shoulders or below? If it is below you need to eat something, if it's not...and it's head hunger find something else to do to distract yourself and the feeling will subside. Check in with your doc though and make sure your band is at the optimal level for you that would be my first step.

Indigestion could also be caused by the hormone changes going on in your body. Eat things that are soothing for you right now. Go back to early band basics and try to consume things that are light on your tummy but still nutritious. Tea is a wonderful thing and very helpful with breast feeding as well, so have some warm tea (decaf) Have some ice pops, make some sugar free pudding and use whole milk for that little bit of fat you need right now for the baby. Give your body a break it's been through a lot! Your not on the bandwagon right now to lose weight you are back to healing phase again. So eat what you need to for the baby but keep it easy on your band and your tummy for digestion. Go back to mushy foods for a bit, put things in the blender and see how your feeling in a few days when you get to your Dr. appointment, let us know how your doing and what the doc says. Feel better soon!

Well I'm gonna earn some easy money then!! We named the team Smallsville, out of the three of us I am still the largest one with the most to lose but it's a motivator and it's been fun coming up with names and logo's and a theme...and even a super spreadsheet they can keep track of their calories in vs. out and steps taken per day to share and keep on track. I bet that works for 1 whole day but it was fun putting it together Lets see if I hear any grumbles from other contestants along the way...

I would let the Dr. know what is going on as well and see if they can work with you to get the care you need from them. After all they did the surgery and they should have some kind of follow up care available to you as part of the surgery that has already been paid for through insurance. Also most times if there is a fee, I hear there is a "cash" fee and an insurance fee...so see what they can do for you....I thought under this Obama care it was mandatory for everyone to have healthcare coverage...so how do you lose coverage? I have been hearing that a lot from people all over that they lost coverage...just curious.

There are also Protein shots you can take they are low in carbs and high in protein, you can also look for soy protein and tofu. You want to find things that are going to help your band work and more solid protein. How about fish?

Good call Bandista! That is definitely true, and Equal does it to me, too much of it and I have a headache!

OK so I'm gong to join with a couple of my co-workers they all go my back and I theirs! Now we need a team name....any ideas?

Ah my hubby and I benefited together. We both were banded at the same time. Our family dynamic has changed in that we eat more home cooked meals. Often times my husband will cook if I am at work and he is home or if I am home early or on a weekend we will cook something up together. It's a win win win in my book!

Unlike other WLS the lapband does not have a malabsorbtion issue. You will be able to digest anything you swallow fully. As some stated above larger pill may pose an issue in swallowing depending on several factors after surgery. I personally have never had any issues with swallowing any medications even larger Vitamin pills. The best advice is to see the surgeon and ask them how they would suggest for you to continue your meds as you are most likely on a cocktail that needs to be consistent for stability. It should not be an issue even when you are in the hospital and after banding, but they can guide you and help you to take your meds after surgery in a way that will work best for you, your band and your medical condition.

There is probably NO refrigeration other then the cold outside air and a cooler that will soon be out of ice. Protein bars are a great start! Cans of tuna another great one if you are OK with no mayo and eating out of the can. Soups can be eaten the same way if they have a fire you can always warm a can of soup up that way. There is also Tuna that comes in bags and often flavored and you can just open and eat that way or with some crackers. The same can be said for salmon and a few other fish and chicken products you can find right near the tuna. There is beef Jerky that stays dry and does not need anything done to it. A jar of Peanut Butter works bring a spoon you can clean and re-use. I would steer clear of cheeses and all other dairy since there is no where to keep them cool and using the mechanical toilet does not sound lovely. Have fun on the trip, and most of all stay warm and dry!

The weather is a big factor for me also with the changes in pressure bringing on cluster headaches. I have no trouble swallowing pills so I will take Advil or Extra strength Tylenol as needed. If you can't swallow them, they are available in liquid forms and they do not taste badly at all. When I get a fill since I am going back to liquids and mushy for a few days my body will sometimes fight back and I get a headache. So it could be a bit of a combination of things going on for you, but you should defiantly check it out with the doctor on your visit. Always better to seek medical advice then be sorry you didn't later is my way of thinking. I hope your feeling great again soon!

I echo all the sentiments above. Feel better and try to relax, when your tense it makes breathing more difficult. Just try to find a peaceful place, try to be as comfortable as possible and breathe slow deep and easy. The body is an amazing thing, I hope your feeling better quickly.