NancySmiles

OMG Christina!!! I haven't been on in so long and just got on tonight and saw this!!! I JUST spoke to you what seems like only weeks ago and you were fine!!! I am so happy that you are ok now....It's horrible to go through!!! I only know this because......on the day of the BIG BLACKOUT, August 14, 2003, I walked up 2 flights of stairs since the elevators were out, got to the top and could not feel my left side!!! I had a stroke too.....which was the final straw and deciding factor to have the lap-band surgery. Luckily it was a "tiny" one.....and I completely recovered with no deficits. It was, just as for you, the scariest day of my life!!! I am truly glad that you are well again and I apologize for not seeing this sooner....call me anytime......I am here for you!!! Hugs, Nancy*

Please add to this list the website links for your surgeon's, hospital's, lap band support group, lap band groups, post-op info, resources, food, etc. There are so many out there and we can get an ongoing list started which would help us all tremendously! Help keep the list growing. TIA!!! www.macombbariatrics.com (St. John Hospital - Office in St. Clair Shores, MI)

I have been asked several times lately by our Lap-Band Support Group "regulars" about HOW to get the others or even the other regulars, to come to the meetings. There should be over 150 patients at the meetings and last week we had 8 - EIGHT - 8 - EIGHT!!! Is it due to the vacation season??? Not sure.... If anyone has ANY ideas on how to drum up interest in the meetings, make them more interesting, get more people to participate, etc. If your group has done something to motivate more attendance....PLEASE let me know!!! thanks!! NANCY

I Have been going through EXACTLY the same thing!!! I now have 1.25cc in and when I had been filled with 1.50 cc it was too tight. When I had 1.5 cc it was too tight. I have restriction...but only for certain things ...just as you do! All of a sudden....today....I have been able to eat way more than I used to. Not sure if something got jiggled around or what happened....but I am ready for a fill now!!! My wight is at a standstill and has been for almost a year!! Someone had mentioned that if they got MORE than they were used to and that worked. So I should be asking for MORE than 1.25 cc at a time and see what happens??? Nancy

I will always remember Ryan as someone with a unique way of looking at things....at life. He will always be remembered for this......may he rest in peace......and in his dreams forever.

Thank you for the update Greg.....he will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers.... N*

I have searched for this answer forever and cannot seem to find the rationale!!! Why do CRUNCHY and CRISPY foods go down so much easier than ANY other foods.....ie: it's easier to eat pretzels, crackers, tortilla chips, etc than fruits, veggies, meat, etc??? Has there been any research on this? Any websites that have posted the answers? Only reason I can think of is that since it's rougher it makes it through and doesn't get hung up. Nancy

This has got me thinking!!! There are sooooooo many different reasons why someone is coughing all the time. When I was on Zestril years ago, I could not stop coughing either....the doc had me on inhalers and other meds too!!! Finally he realized that it was the Zestril (since it's a beta blocker) and stopped it and miraculously it went away!!! A friend of mine has been coughing for almost a year and her doc now says it might be her Accupril.....see the pattern? I warned my husband who has just started taking Lisinopril.....that if he gets a cough, it might be related. But this reflux-induced asthma I had never heard of before!!! I am looking it up now and reading up on it. I have been coughing relentlessly for at least the last 2 months....was on a Z-Pack for 5 days....have cough medicine with Codeine. I stopped taking it cuz it made me nauteous and started coughing again. All I want to do is get some sleep!!! It's crazy! PCP says it's allergies, which I had never had before....The Allegra-D does not help at all....and I just want an answer!!!! Argggggghhhhh! GI doc said that since I have been on the Aciphex (for reflux) for the past 3 years with no problem....then it has to be something other than being caused by reflux. Yet, my friend's doc says that you can DEVELOP an allergy to a medication. She has been taking the Accupril for 7 years!!! Who's right???? Help!! Nancy

Hi there ! It's Nancy from Warren!! Dr. Hawasli at Eastside Surgical Specialists did my surgery. He is AWESOME and caring and taes great care of all of us! Dr. Meguid is the other surgeon and he's AWESOME too!!! You will not find a better pair of surgeons anywhere!!! They are on www.macombbariatrics.com and the office is in St. Clair Shores. Seminars are every third Monday at 6:00 pm at St. John Hospital on Moross in Detroit. The next one is tomorrow, July 17th, Lower Level Conference Center. Come and hear what it's all about!!! Nancy

Reading your post was like reading one I would have written myself!!! I thought I was the ONLY person living in this coughing hell!!! It's EXACTLY the way you say! I wake up so tired from coughing all night that it's tough to stay awake at work! I DO have GERD; but thought that this would have stopped once I had my gallbladder out last October; but it's even worse!! I wake up with a sore throat too. I've tried not eating anything in the evening after dinner but it doesn't matter at all...it still happens! It's like a coughing spasm!!! Once you start you can't stop! Anyone ask their doc about this? It really concerns me because I have heard so much about esophagitis and esophageal cancer and all. I sometimes think the acid has burned my tongue so much I will lose my sense of taste. I had my surgery a month after yours....and I have been able to have no more 1.25cc fill. When I had 1.5 everything got stuck!!! To the point of needing a scope! What's up with this???? I am also at a standstill after losing 83 pounds....but I consider myself lucky because I have not GAINED it back!!! I still have another 60-80 pounds to lose but cannot budge! Any ideas on this? Nancy

Makes sense to me Jesse! But you should probably make sure the doctor agrees. I always worry about slippage or increasing the size of the pouch...and it seems that all this air and the pressure might just do that!....I would probably make sure this is NOT the case. But thanks!!! At least it's a temporary fix to a painful problem! Nancy

I have the same problem with Crab, Shrimp, Lobster...what's up with that???

Hi All: I have been reading this thread for awhile, and I am coming to the realization that I MUST be EATING WAY TOO MUCH!!! It's no wonder my weight loss is at a standstill !!! I read them again just now and want to know if this is (seriously) ALL that you eat every day? I am not being sarcastic or critical or a smart aleck...I am totally serious...!!! I am the leader/coordinator of our support group and everyone says how much they eat....I have been researching and racking my brain to find out EXACTLY how much we should eat and it's all different! Most say 3 ounces at a meal and a small snack in between. Then you read something different everywhere! Is it me or just wishful thinking? I have also discovered the thread on the ObesityHelp website - WHAT R U EATING TODAY? under the Lap-Band messageboard and Lisa on there posted Dr. Fox's Plateau Busting Diet!!! I have forwarded it to my group and will follow it myself. My system needs to be cleansed....back to the basics! Back on track! I have been at a plateau since last summer and I am totally frustrated...!!! Now I see why I am not losing! The writing is in your thread! And I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the pit of my stomach! Hugs, Nancy ObesityHelp Support Group Leader Lap-Band Suport Group Leader/Coordinator:help:

Just wondered if the Cookbook is still a plan in the works? Let me know! Looking for some awesome recipes for our 2nd Annual Lap-Band Reunion in May. Nancy :help:

NancySmiles: "322 pounds, 12 months, 5%, 120 minutes, 2 fills, no diet drugs, Caucasian, 82 pounds lost". "We'll be looking at the first 12 months you were banded, or some number of months between 6 and 12 if you have not been banded for a full 12 months. If you would like to participate, and have been banded for at least six months, then respond to this thread with: 1. Weight when banded (in pounds, if you'd rather not disclose then reply via private email to me) 2. Study duration (between 6 and 12 months) 3. Percentage of meals where you drank during the meal or within 1 hour after the meal 4. Average minutes per week you exercised during the study period 5. Number of fills you received during the study period 6. Regularly used diet drugs during your study period (yes/no)? 7. Race (race showed as a significant success factor in the initial FDA trials for lap-band surgery, leave blank if you object to testing this factor) 8. Weight loss during the study period (in pounds)"

Protein shake - Peanut Butter 1 scoop whey Protein Powder (vanilla or chocolate) 1 cup Skim Milk 5-6 Ice Cubes 1 TBSP Peanut Butter (or any nut butter) 1 tsp cocoa powder 1 tsp instant coffee 1 tsp vanilla 1 pkt Splenda Mix in Blender 30-45 seconds or until smooth. SMOOTHIE: Omit peanut butter , coffee and cocoa and add 1/2 cup fresh or frozen fruit. Can also substitute 6 oz fat-free yogurt for milk and use vanilla whey protein powder instead of chocolate. Makes two 10 oz. servings. :clap2:

Just went through my first experience with STUCK food since my surgery on 9/24/04 - had an EGD (scope) on Friday because the chicken I ate on Monday didn't go through. Wednesday night, about 3 am, I woke up with violent chills and shaking....and a Temp of 102....the doc said it was probably the virus I was fighting at the same time. Saw the doc on Thursday and he removed my Fluid - which is only about 1cc - and I drank fkuids to try to push it through. Didn't work - so he did a scope on Friday. For the rest of Friday and Saturday I had diarrhea and loys of bloating and gas. Am I crazy? Or could I have had food poisoning??? Had all the symptoms and it makes sense since the food is sitting there for days....Has anyone gone through this? Nancy

Just went through my first experience with STUCK food since my surgery on 9/24/04 - had an EGD (scope) on Friday because the chicken I ate on Monday didn't go through. Wednesday night, about 3 am, I woke up with violent chills and shaking....and a Temp of 102....the doc said it was probably the virus I was fighting at the same time. Saw the doc on Thursday and he removed my Fluid - which is only about 1cc - and I drank fkuids to try to push it through. Didn't work - so he did a scope on Friday. For the rest of Friday and Saturday I had diarrhea and loys of bloating and gas. Am I crazy? Or could I have had food poisoning??? Had all the symptoms and it makes sense since the food is sitting there for days....Has anyone gone through this? Nancy

How many of you have hit a plateau and been stuck there for what seems like forever??? My weight loss has come to a complete HALT!!! I've STOPPED losing...and I can't get the scale to budge again! Need your suggestions & ideas to help get past this!!! HELP!! Nancy :help:

Haven't been around in a long time!!! Even had one of those special messages at the top of the Welcome screen!!! YIKES!!! Has it been that long??? Love the easy fonts and colors and stuff.....WAY TO GO!!! Nancy :clap2:

awwwwwwww I am so sorry for your loss. Pets are like family...and they love so unconditionally......they have only us and will always remember how we took care of them...........hugs.......

I had my surgery by the BEST LAP-BAND SURGEON IN MICHIGAN!!! DR. HAWASLI is the BEST Surgeon; he's the Director of Laparo-endoscopic Surgery and also the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit. The next Seminar is tomorrow, Monday 12/5/05 at 6:30 PM - Call 1-888-757-5463 to register. It's held in the Lower Level Conference Center at St. John Hospital at the corner of Mack and Moross in Detroit. Website for Dr. Hawasli is www.macombbariatrics.com - and you can also talk to Kurt at Inamed who works very closely with Dr. Hawasli and his partner Dr. Meguid. Please join us at the seminar tomorrow night. They are held every 3 weeks at the hospital. Good Luck to you, no matter who you choose!!! Nancy

My Dad passed away 6/30/05, and his funeral was delayed in honor of the Fourth of July holiday. I know he was very proud to have left this world on the very holiday we Celebrate our Independence, the independence he fought to preserve. Stephen, my Dad, was a proud member of the United States Marine Corps and served in Guam, Iwo Jima, Korea, Bogenville... I have never felt more proud than I did on the day of his funeral, when two Marines, in their dress blues, escorted his coffin into the chapel, and very reverently folded the American flag to present to us, his family. And the most touching part of the ceremony was when they played "Taps" on the bugle...saluting a man who was proud to be a Marine...and proud to be an American....and I am proud to be his daughter.......... I salute you Dad.....and all those you represent.........

Check this thread often for Updates pertaining to Eastside Surgical Specialists - St. Clair Shores Lap-Band Support Group Meetings AND Lap-Band Seminars at St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit. For further info, contact nancysmiles@gmail.com or call the office at 586.774-8811. Thank you, Nancy

I was banded on 9/24/04 .....after all this....how is averyone else doing? It will be my 1 yr Bandiversary on 9/24!!! Anyone have any "re-focusing and re-motivation" tips to share????