isabellesma

Have an ultra sound done on your gall bladder. I just had mine removed about 3 weeks ago. Same symptoms as you, but lots of pain from front to back in the sternum area. I hope you feel better soon!

The best thing you can use for hair loss is Nioxen. I am a hair stylist and this stuff is amazing. I am losing hair big time as well, but I usually do after surgeries and after about 3 months of using the Nioxen my hair starts to come back. It is pretty pricey, but so worth it. You need to use the cleanser (shampoo), the scalp therapy (conditioner) and treatment. Yes I am still losing gobs fo hair, but I also have a ton of new growth. You have to be careful of using too much protein on your hair because it dries it out. You are better off ingesiting the protein. Nioxen does make a great supplement called Recharging complex this makes your hair grow really fast. It's kinda big so it will need to be cut up to take it. I have a hard enough time swallowing pills so I'm not taking it right now. Hope this helps!

Hi all! Just wanted to check in with you. Sorry I haven't read the previous posts. I am recovering from gallbladder sugery and the meds have me pretty loopy. Last week starting on Sunday I starting feeling very sick. Couldn't eat anything and could barely keep down my protein shakes. I kept having this horrible pain right through my sternum to my back. I felt like someone was sticking a hot poker throgh me. I couldn't get comfortable in any positon. I was really constipated and figured all that back up was causing the pain so I took that milk of magnesia and drank some of that dieters tea it didn't take my pain away but then I had diareha and throwing up. At this point I was sure my band had slipped. Wednesday about 4 am I woke up my hubby in tears begging him to take me the the ER. I couldn't breathe. So we get to the ER and I was so dehydrated they couldn't get an IV in or take blood. They had aobut 5 people try. (Needless to say I am covered with bruises) Finally they had the flight nurse come down from the helicoptor and got a line in. They called my baratric surgeon and he said do an ultra sound of my stomach. Sure enough my gallbladder was inflamed, full of stones and sludge. I had to be on IV antiboitics for 24 before he could even do anything. He was afraid if any of the fluid got on the band it would erode. So finally about 8:00 Thursday night they had me in the OR. What should have been a simple 45 minute procedure took 2 hours. He said it was the worst gallbladder he had every seem and the hardest surgery he had ever done. GREAT!! They kept me in the hospital for 6 days. The last 2 I couldn't keep the IV's in my body kept rejecting them so they were giving everyhing in shots in my hips OUCH!!! I am glad to be back home, but I'm still in lots of pain and very weak. I want to quit taking the pain meds they are making me so lethargic. Worst of all I've gained 5 lbs!:faint: Thanks for listening. If you have bad pain don't wait 4 days to go to the DR!!! I hope you are all doing well and I will go back and read posts after my nap! Take care of yourselves! Trina

Hey Ya'll! I got an email from lbtalk today saying I haven't posted in a while. Sorry. Summer has been so busy. I try to pop in and read the threads and check in on everyone. I am finally under 200! I went to Kohl's yesterday and bought some new tops and rewarded myself with some new workout shoes. I'm glad I saved all my size 18 shorts! I've purged all my 20/22's yeah!!! I'm having a hard time eating. It hurts and I'm sliming a lot. I got a fill about 3 weeks ago and all of a sudden it feels tighter. Gotta love those protein shakes and bariatric advantage vitamins. My hair is falling out like crazy. I'm going to try to be better about chatting! Everyone is doing so great! Trina

My husband just told me we may be moving to Richardson, TX. Anyone near there? What's it like, more importantly is there a good fill Dr. near?? Thanks for all your input!

Medge, That is awesome! Way to go! Keep up the good work!:target:

Hi all! It's been a while since I posted. You all are doing great! I'm having a hard time getting all my water in. I still feel some restriction, but I can eat almost anything. I got a little ahead of myself on Sunday and ate some peanuts. HUGE mistake, about an hour after wards I was in horrible pain. It felt like something was crushing me from my stomach to my back. I couldn't breathe and passed out from the pain. I was sure my band slipped. I had my hubby take me to the ER. They finally got the pain to stop after 4 doses of pain meds. They did a CT scan and said every thing was fine. No blockage. I talked to my MIL who is a nurse and said my intestines were probably blocked and I should be having at least one BM a day.I have really had a problem going to the bathroom. I've been taking Miralax, Laci Lebeau dieters tea and drinking apple cider vinegar (YUCK). I was at my wits end! My stomach still hurts so bad. I've been back on liquids trying to clear this. I'm seriously considering having colonics. (Anyone done this?) I have only lost 20 Lbs so far. I need to exercise, but that's hard to do when you are in pain! I did go from a 20/22 to size 18 Yeah!!! I need to go down to my crawl space and see if I have any 18's left. I did treat myself and bought 1 new pair of capris. I just can't wait until I can buy "regular" size clothes and not from Lane Bryant (they are sooooo expensive!) Thanks for listening!!! You all are fabulous!!!! :clap2: Trina

I went to the ER last night with horrible stomach pain. I was sure my band had slipped. The pain was so bad I actually passed out. They gave me pain meds, something for nausea and IV fluids. They did a CT scan (had to drink 20 oz of barium). They couldn't find anything wrong. The band was just fine. Praise the Lord! I talked to my MIL today who is a nurse and said I am probably backed up. She suggested Laci LeBeau dieters tea it comes in lots of flavors. She said they have it at most Wal-marts and some grocery stores. I sent my hubby out to find some. I was using that Miralax. It is now available without a prescription. I took it for 7 days about 2 weeks after surgery and it finally worked, but my friend who had cancer said it was a life saver for her. You just mix it with 4 to 8 ozs of water. It tastes kinda soapy, but doesn't get thick like some of the others. I'm hoping one of these things will help you too! Trina

I drink the Bariatric Advantage ready to shake shakes. The chocolate and strawberry are really yummy. The vanilla is pretty good, but I find it's missing something. There are 15 grams of protein in each shake. They come in a bottle with the powder and then you just add water to it. I order them from www.bariatricadvantage.com I also take the BA chewable vitamins. They sell a sampler pack of there products (protein and vitamins). It's a good way to see what you like. Good luck!

Hi all! My name is Trina. I had the lap band procedure on 3/29/07 with Dr. Chae. I was going to post yesterday, but I was in a bad mood and thinking what have I done. I feel better today and I am happy with my decision. My insisions hurt like crazy, but I'm trying to stay away from the pain meds. (we'll see how that goes). I'm a little nervous about the insicison sites. They look like gaping holes. I don't see how they will close into little lines. They used dermabond to hold them. I'm off to lurk. Hope to meet you soon! Trina:wave:

Hey Mal, I am feeling really good! I haven't lost anymore weight yet. I need to exercise more. I am in the soft food stage. No problems so far! Are you getting excited? Trina

Hey Mal, The shakes are from www.BariatricAdvantage.com Does Dr. K have a support group? Dr. Chae's patients (and some other drs) meet at Sky Ridge hospital the 2nd Thursday of the month. I went last night. It was great to talk to other people in the same boat face to face.

My nutritionist told me no caffeine until you can drink 64 ounces of water. Don't want to get dehydrated! I miss my coffee too, but I was a Starbucks Junkie! I'm not a real coffee drinker :cup: I only drank that froo-froo coffee. Again my nutritionist told me no calorie containing beverages. I want this to work so I'm being good. But man is it hard especially because I'm so tired!

Hey Mal! I saw you got your surgery scheduled.:clap2: I'm so excited for you. I think you will do great! I wish I would have found these boards before I had my surgery. I am feeling a lot better now. Still tired. I think the hardest part has been being so tired! I had my first appointment today. I met with Dr. Chae and Kelly Elliot my nutritionist. He said my incisions looked fine and they would close soon. I don't go back until May 11th for a fill. It seems so far away! I still feel restricted with no fill. Kelly has a great nutrition class it was 5 hours long and $150, but so worth it. I learned all of the good eating habits from that class and haven't had any problems. I am following the book to a tee. She has a website it's http://www.bnrllc.com/ I am drinking the Baratric Advantage shakes and taking their vitamins. I ordered a sample pack from BA so I could try all of the different products. The Ready to Shake shakes are yummy and very filling. I work at the Fantastic Sam's on Quebec and Lincoln. I noticed we live close. I'm in Highlands Ranch.

I was requried to do 4 visits through Aetna. It was pretty easy. All I paid was the copay, but the doc charged Aetna $300 per visit. I used the doc in my Bariatric surgeons office.

Thanks DrewsLou. How long did it take you until you weren't tired anymore? I am so tired! I guess that's not to bad of a problem to have, but man I can't make it through one day without a nap! Mal- How was your appointment??

Anyone else really tired? I just can't make it through the day without a nap! I just want to sleep all the time! I'm drinking the Bariatric Advantage protien shakes and taking all the vitamins. I guess I am only 11 days out, but man I thought I would be good to go after a week. I've been off the pain meds for 6 days so that's not it. Are you all feeling better???:bored

Hey Mal! How was your appointment today? I hope everything went well. I'm doing pretty good. I am mainly super tired!!!

Hi all! I tried to read everyones posts, but I think I only made it to page 5. I'm happy to be a member! I was banded on 3/29. I get full pretty easy on the liquid diet, but I think I'm going to far in between because when I finally eat I'm starving. I would love to chew something at this point! Maybe just one small reeses peanut butter cup!!! I've been so tempted! I made myself a choc. soy milk, protein powder and 1 tsp of peanut butter shake, but it just wasn't the same! I was a big time binge eater so I don't even dare take one bite of anything I'm tempted by. I am so tired of liquds!! I did blend up some mac and cheese, but that was just gross! Congrats to you all for starting this new journey in your life! :clap2: Trina

I was banded 3/29 as well. I am on pureed foods until the 29th. I feel so full when I eat, but I'm hungry and hour or 2 later. My post op is on the 12th. Reading all of these posts all doctors give such different instructions. It's hard to say what is right for everyone.

Thanks for the welcome! Great info on here. I can't belive all the different things from everyone regarding diets. I guess we are all different. Can't wait to hear from you!

I live in Highlands Ranch. I was banded on March 29th, 2007 by Dr. Frank Chae. I'm new to all this! Trina