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PamRN
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Julie, I am also a 7p-7a nurse. I take lean dinners, Soups, and the new flavored tuna's to work with me, the starkist herb and garlic is my favorite. I'm normally not a tuna eater, but this stuff is pretty good. It's low in fat, high in Protein and I eat it right out of the pouch. Some of the girls at work are now eating it too, they like it with crackers, but I can't eat those, they stick after a couple. Beef Jerky is good, though high in salt. I have a pedometer that I use at work from time to time. In my 12+ hour shift I log between 6000 and 8000 steps. On extra busy nights it can be more. The trouble I have at work is finding decent things to eat from take out, because my girls are always ordering in and there aren't many choices at 2am when we finally get a chance to start breaks.... If I only I could always just say NO! Instead I give in, buy something I hope is close to healthy and edible, eat a fourth of it, then toss the rest out while thinking what a waste of money...
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Experience with Dr Huacuz or the Molding Clinic in Tijuana?
PamRN replied to a topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
Leo is right. I also have the french midband. I was shown 3 bands pre-surgery, the inamed lapband, the johnson & johnson swedish band, and the french midband. I chose the french for myself after doing much research, and finding it to have fewer slippage/erosion problems percentage wise in the studies I found. USA aftercare is a problem though to consider with the midband. Inamed is most accepted in the US because it's the only one FDA approved here. Do your own research, and decide for yourself what you need. Most reputable surgeons will give you a choice, but no pressure to pick one over the other. After surgery you should be given the box that your band came in, and all the accompanying paperwork with the band reference numbers on it. Good Luck! -
I was seriously considering RNY to the point of making a consult appointment with the surgeon. While doing research on it in the interim, I found out more about the RNY, as well as more clarity regarding the band. Several places degraded the band with statements like; "it's like tying a rope around a growing tree, eventually the stomach grows over it". That was one of the dumbest comments I heard. After telling them they were talking to a nurse, I politely suggested that I'd be more comfortable with a more knowledgeable facility. As I searched, I found information suggesting current statistics for the RNY complication death rate is wrong, and that its suggested 1 death in 100 is more like 1 in 50. Seemed like pretty scary & high odds to me. With my sweet tooth I realized that the 2 year window of weight loss would close and I'd probably go right back to where I started. I hated the idea of intestinal rerouting, dumping syndrome, and the cost, even with insurance, my out of pocket fees cost more than getting banded. The more I read of banding, the more comfortable it felt. I knew in just a couple of days after joining here and reading the stories of those who'd tread before me that I could do this, and though I too feared I'd be the one it wouldn't work for, it does work for me. I don't have a single regret about getting banded, except one, like so many of us will tell you, I wish I'd done it sooner. Biased? You bet I am. I'm a Medical/Surgical hospital nurse, I see people with all kinds of issues, including colostomies, colon resections, intestinal cancers, and even people who have had RNY. Abdominal issue patients are generally the sickest/weakest of all the patients I see. The shape of those RNY folks is all over the spectrum. Some truly successful, some truly failed. All of those failed are seriously depressed. I can understand. For them there will be no fill adjustments to restrict more, no additional RNY surgery. Some of them can be banded though. I tell them my story if they want to know. Those who hear it wish they'd known more about the band to begin with. RNY can be helpful, but you have to be able to do what you obviously (along with the rest of us) have not been able to do on your own, moderate and change your diet. Much of the same can be said for the band, except there's no permanent anatomy rearrangement, just a physical tool that can be adjusted (and readjusted) for the life of your band, and complete reversability. Good Luck in your Journey, I hope whatever you decide in the end, that it is a success.
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I still have trouble drinking all the water I should. I'm still tight from my initial fill at surgery, and if I drink too much at a time it overfills me. That's uncomfortable. I find that if I drink from a straw it prevents too big a drink at one time, which is helpful. I drink clear water alone, in tea, in crystal light, in coffee, soup, and any other way I can think of too add it, but don't rely soley on clear water for my intake, I'd never make it. I do try to get in at least a few cups of plain water though, it just feels better. good luck and hang in there.
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One port, two ports, three ports, four....
PamRN replied to DeLarla's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Lisa, I'm glad it wasn't rejection, and I'm sending you my most sincere wishes for a quick recovery. Thank god and Penni for Dr. Billy. He sounds like my kind of doc! Maybe you girls can convince him to set up a website. That way those of us too far away can take at peek at his... uh... 'credentials' -
One-on-one holiday exercise challenge, anyone?
PamRN replied to Zoe's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I started to be involved and then fell off the site for a while. I'm not even sure what I weighed in at when we started this. I did ok, I didn't gain over the holidays, but I'm sure if I hadn't been into all the christmas goodies I'd have lost more. I'm at 237 this week, and seem to be at another plateau. We'll see now that all the merry-making is over. So who did win? -
Now THAT'S a purple bra! How did I miss it the first time around? God love ya Lisa, your posts make my day! btw I'm glad your port site is improving.
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I was banded in Mexico, and didn't have a preop diet either. I had a great last supper the night before surgery, and my surgery went great. I don't know about The Molding clinic so I'm no help there. Good Luck!
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I took a cashiers check. I used american dollars for all my purchases. I was picked up at the airport and driven across the border by my surgeon's driver in their clinic van, we didn't have to stop going in. They apparently have a commuter's pass. On the way home we were stopped, the driver told them I'd had surgery and couldn't walk, so I didn't have to get out of the car. I showed them my prescriptions. They asked if I had anything to declare, and what I was bringing back, I told them blankets and tshirts. They had my mother take our luggage in to be xrayed, and sent us on our way. I thing being is truthful is best.
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Melissa, the peeling stuff looks like it could be the adhesive they use to close the wound, but it could also be dead skin peeling away, that alone doesn't look like a symptom or problem. However there is definitely something pushing against and irritating your incision, and I agree with the others that you should have that seen by a doc experienced with the band right away. good luck I hope it turns out to be no big deal.
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Thank you all for the kind recognitions. Babies really are the best there is in life. I've already been spoiling him rotten, before he even got here. With the discounts I've been finding on ebay, I've nearly filled his nursery already. He's definitely a keeper, bless his sweet-smelling lil self. I'm attempting to upload a small pic of him. I have more on a regular camera that I'm going to get developed this week.
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will have band placed 12/2/04
PamRN replied to lapbanfran's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
Welcome to band land! Best Wishes for a speedy recovery Fran! I am in central Illinois, about an hour from the U of I / Champaign. About 4 hours south of Chicago I had surgery in Tijuana, and have never regretted it. I'm down 24# in 9 weeks. I'm ok with that! I haven't had a fill since surgery, but got one at surgery, so I'm not needing one. That may change sometime, but so far I'm averaging a 1 to 2 pound per week loss, (sometimes it's a gain of 2 or 3, and some times a loss of 2 or 3). -
My daughter loves the idea and has decided to make it a co-ed tree trimming baby shower, since she was waiting until the baby was born to have a shower anyway. She thinks it will be a perfect time for everyone to come at once to see the baby, have a christmas party, (I'm definitely spiking the egg nog!) and get her decorating done! Every christmas I play a tape, and we've had the same tape since my daughters were little, she's asked that I bring that to play. Her favorite is "It's the most wonderful time of the year". I think this year it will be for all of our family.
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That's a an AWESOME idea Penni! My oldest daughter loves christmas, and christmas music, but hasn't had a chance to decorate as she's been very pregnant and just delivered her first baby day before yesterday. She's been complaining to me that she wants to decorate so bad. She and her husband just bought a new house, and now that they've had their baby, I think I'll share your tree trimming party idea with them! That would be a great way to get their house decorated for the holidays. My son-in-law is a construction worker, and fell off a roof a month ago crushing both heels, so he's off his feet (wheelchair) for a couple of months, and now the new baby... Your idea would generate a lot of support and holiday cheer for them!
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Hi I know just what you mean, I felt like that too. Almost like it just wasn't working for me. I lost a few pounds initially, then after week 2 I didn't lose any weight for 2.5 weeks. When I got back on regular food I even gained 3 back. Then after a no scale movement spell, I finally dropped a couple, and now I average 1-2 pounds a week. I find that I lose the most regularly when I drink lots of Water. I'm 8 weeks out and I've lost 22 pounds, I lost 12 pounds the first 3 weeks, then nearly nothing for a few weeks. Be patient, your body is adjusting. You're probably retaining water because of the trauma related to the surgery, and subsequent intake reduction. So your body is in starvation mode, it's holding on to everything. It will eventually adjust, and if you're eating the right kinds of foods you'll start losing again. Remember Protein first, then veggies, then if you have room, carbs or a bite of dessert. Those who stress drinking lots of water aren't just playing lipservice, I found out the hard way that they are absolutely right. When I go through the drive ups, no more cokes for me, I ask for ice water, when I'm home, it's harder for some reason to get the water in, but I'm making the effort and it's paying off. I buy bottled water, a case is much cheaper than pop, and keep it in the fridge, that seems to help. good luck, and hang in there. You're headed in the right direction.
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Hi Ginger, and welcome. You look great, & your success is an inspiration to those of us just beginning our journey. How are you doing now? Are you still losing regularly, or getting fills? How is your diet now? Nosey bit aren't I? Sorry, I guess I'm just trying to be prepared for what's to come. Congratulations on your success so far!
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Welcome Stephanie, congrats on the weight loss so far. How has your journey been? Read through the many posts here and you'll find the stories of most of us. I think you might find there aren't any taboo subjects, we discuss anything and everything here, and it's not always lapband related. Good Luck for continued success.
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I agree with Zoe, if they offer a group meeting, go, it's likely to be just like this board, with an added bonus of being close enough to see each other face to face. Congratulations on your decision to get on with it. The down time is such a small window of incapacity in the much bigger picture of renewed chance for living. The sooner you start, the sooner you get better, and the sooner you feel more like playing... REALLY playing, with your very lucky children. Good Luck to you, and get busy... you've got a preparation list to get on with, November 30th is right around the corner!
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Band Erosion/Having it removed after only one year
PamRN replied to catfanlover's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems Chrissy, and truly hope that it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. I would be devastated too if it were to happen to me. Please keep us updated on your journey whether banded or not. You're in my prayers. -
:banana Wow you're doing great!! :banana Just think... how sad... you'll never find them again... shall we have a moment of silence for all those we've lost? {silence} Ok enough of that... onward and downward!! :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana
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Any One Up For an Exercise Challenge?
PamRN replied to live2canoe's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
LMAO at cheek chillers! It's November, those'll be some rosey cheeks!! Good lord Greg... however am I going to get rid of this image of you in powder blue?? I seriously need some exercise... does laughing til your sides hurt count? -
One-on-one holiday exercise challenge, anyone?
PamRN replied to Zoe's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
Hey I'll play... I need some serious motivation to stick with exercising. Sick with a cold right now but should be improved enough monday to start. I saw an ad for curves and am really leaning toward joining them because I'm just not motivated on my own enough to get my big though shrinking behind moving. I'd be happy to add a gift to the winners list as well. I know... I'll send a gift to the second place person! -
Yayyy Teresa, I'm glad things went well for you too! You're doing amazing so far, I hope it continues.
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Welcome home Ryan. I'm so glad everything went well for you. You deserve this to be great and I hope it gives you everything you've hoped for. FYI: I'm a night nurse, but one of a rare few who refuse to wake a patient up to give him/her a sleeping pill... here's hoping the shape of my head stays round...
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Awww, That news gave me a big smile, I'm very happy for you and your father. Congratulations! What a blessing to add to your count list. Now you really have good reason for giving thanks!