aubrie

My surgeon mentioned the tummy tuck thing in passing during one of my two consultations. I was told that some need it, some don't depending on the amount of weight that is lost, age, type of skin, etc. I didn't think to much of it. At 49 I doubted I would ever wear a bikini again, so I didn't pay much attention. That's about all he answered. Well, the reality is, my stomach could use a little lift, but I still have some weight to lose, and it doesn't seem that bad. I can live with it. I am very distressed though at my sagging breasts and the mud flaps on my upper arms!!! while I can buy good bras that place everything in the right place and make it look good, wearing a sleeveless top in the hot south Texas summer looks grim for me. My arms are way worse than I ever dreamed. I asked my surgeon about it, and he said that arm surgery tends to not be as successful as tummy, butt, neck and boob surgery, and that the scars are difficult to hide. My heart sank a bit. I saw a woman in the grocery store that had matching scars down the back of both arms that were wavy, lumpy and about the width of my thumb. If that's the best I can expect, NO THANK YOU!!! So I'm a bit depressed about the arm thing.

Ditto of Jachut! I use the St. Ives Firming lotion. It doesn't really do that much, but it smells wonderful and I like the silk like feel of my skin afterward. To be honest, I've recently tried some extra vigin coconut oil on my boobs, face and neck. I tried it for a red, bumpy, sandpaper like rash on my face. The rash is disappearing very quickly, but to my pleasant surprise, it is actually smoothing out the fine lines around my eyes and mouth, and also that puckery look of my breast skin from losing weight. My rough elbows are gone. I don't know what's in it, and it did great on my rash, but the added bonus is fine with me!!!

If you have a health food store near by, check out the little boxes of organic cream soups. It's exactly two servings in a soft box. The flavors I found were AWESOME. Cream of brocolli, tomato or mushroom. Butternut squash, carrot cashew ginger, (my favorite), tomato and roasted red peppers. I actually looked forward to eating!! egg drop soup mix cream of wheat vanilla slim fast (I used it to make my cream of wheat, and also put it in my coffee in the moring for extra protein and vitamins) chicken broth with the herb and roasted garlic flavor. (Regular is to bland. I cooked my veggies in it and then put the whole mess in a blender. Not bad. Poached fish in it too, once I got to the mushie stage.)

8 months out and I'm still gassey. It's gotten to be a joke now. My huband just laughs and says stuff like: "Is that toad back again????" or "Uh oh.... You stepped on the duck?" I tell him "It wasn't me!" We both look around the corner and laugh...... In my case it didn't go away. I now also burp like a sailor. I may LOOK more lady like now, but I certainly don't burp like one!!!! LOL On certain occasions, the gas is so bad it hurts and I can't seem to pass it. My doctor said that some people just naturally swallow more air when eating or talking. If I get a big gas build up from certain foods, I have to take GasX to be comfortable again. It works like a miracle in those instances.

the original poster used the general and non-specific term, "ghetto". She/he did NOT refer to any one person, race or gender in particular. She did not single any one person out, or insult them personally. However, we had one poster who called him/her classless for the use of the term, and DID INDEED attack him/her personally and specifically. In my opinion, that in and of itself was "classless". Far more so than anything the original poster wrote.

I cooked the whole time. Pre, Post-op, mushie stage. It didn't really bother me much. My husband was supportive, he bought me a little blender, and while I was doing the last minute stuff for a meal, he was tossing stuff in the blender and blending it for me. He even made some cream soups for me home made. If I had trouble watching my family eat, I just ate in the living room at the coffee table. I found a line of cream soups at the health food store that were wonderful. If I served sweet potato, I had sweet potato soup. If I served brocolli or butternut squash, I had cream of brocolli or butternut. They were delicious and I didn't feel cheated. Now, the one thing that WOULD piss me off, is when my husband INSISTED that we go out to eat, when he knew that would be difficult for me. Or when he would invite me to go to Sonic with him so he could order a banana split. When we got home I would just hit the S.F. popsicles. It was better than fighting about it. I survived. He will still occasionally flop down on the couch next to me with a bag of kettle chips (my favorite, and my one and only trigger). He doesn't even realize it, until he hears me crunching and realizes what he's done and moves away. He's still adjusting as much as I am. But he's THRILLED with the new me. Is very proud of me and never fails to tell me so.

I've been banded 8 months. Up until recently I've had oodles of energy. The new exercise regimine really made a difference. I'm not sure why I'm tired lately, but my hair is falling out too. Something is off, I'm just not sure what. I'm not sleeping very well either. Maybe 4 good hours a night. I'm thinking my thyroid medication needs to be adjusted.

My band is fickle. sometimes I can only eat about 1/3 cup. Others I can chow down on two cups with no problem. Not very often thought. I'd have to say on average I usually eat about 1 cup. It just depends. Everyday is a new journey. I just have to roll with the punches.

I have to agree with pta2007. that is an awfully large fill for one after the intial fill. Yikes. I'm SURE you're way to tight. The most common fill amount is indeed 1 cc in a larger band. .5 or less in a smaller band. Hope your doctor can remedy this for you right away!!

I have no problem what so ever with sushi and I'm 8 months out. I LOVE it. I thought the sticky rice would trip me up, but if I chew really well, it's fine. I tend to like avocado in my rolls, so that keeps it slippery so it goes down a bit easier I guess. After banding, you will have to try ALL foods a few times before you can determine if anything will affect you personally. Everyone is different, and different times of day are different, your time of the month can affect it. It just a day to day experience.

Do your seizures cause any kind of esophogeal or stomach spasms? That would be my first question. Falling in and of itself wouldn't really be a problem. I bit the dirt last weekend tripping over a wheelbarrow and was shocked that there was not even any soreness of the port or band area. In your case I would be more worried about spasms. I don't know enough about epilepsy to say, but ask your doctor.

That's the beauty of the band. We can still be normal. I got the band for quality of life. If I had to stop living normally, it woulnd't have been a choice for me. You can eat what everyone else is eating. If it's not a good choice, limit it to one bite. If it's healthy and a smart choice, eat what you are able to with your restriction. You did this to make your life better, not worse!!!

My card also serves as a medical alert card in case of emergency. My doctor provided it. It says that my stomach is restricted not to intubate, etc. I carry it in my wallet along with my driver's license, just in case I'm in an accident and can't speak for myself. The other side explains that I can't medically eat a normal portion of food, and describes the size of my stomach capacity. I've never used it in a restaurant, but I've been tempted to try.

I was scared to try a salad after banding because I had read so many people had trouble with it. I guess I finally tried at 6 - 8 weeks out. I did fine with it. But I have discovered that if I eat crunchier lettuce, like romaine, I do better. Can't say why, but it's just easier to get down. REALLY chew the tomato skins. Other than that, I eat them all the time.

A high protein, low carb diet will put you in ketosis. It's where your body is burning the actual fat instead of food energy. Just eat some carbs and it will go away. You will then be burning food energy.

8 months out. White meat chicken gives me a little trouble. Not every time, but most the time, unless I puts some kind of sauce or gravey on it. It's to dry. Dense bread. NO WAY!! Popcorn. OUch. Overcooked rubbery shrimp. If it's cooked properly it's okay.

I agree with Jachut. Wine can be good for your heart. Just don't overdo it!! My surgeon allows a glass of wine. "A" glass of wine. Not the whole bottle. The alcohol will affect you a little differently now that you're banded. I'm not sure why, but you'll be a cheap date. It goes straight to your head if you drink to much. One glass does me just fine these days.....

This is PRECISELY why I tell NO ONE I had WLS. I just smile sweetly and say portion control! It's not lying, just not the entire truth, which is none of their damned business anyway!!!! Yeah right..... Like Oprah has room to judge me? Like she hasn't yo-yo'd up and down for YEARS!!!!! And thank you Laurinda!!! Point well taken.... What I couldn't do if I could afford a team of personal trainers, a weight room in my home, a private dietician and a live in cook!!! And she still hasn't remained entirely successful.......

When my family pulls this kind of crap on me, I can usually handle it. On the occasions that I can't, I go for a walk, sit on the back patio and read, or make myself something nice and eat when they eat. For example, banana splits at Sonic are a routine thing...... If it's torturing me at that moment, I have a sugar free popsicle. It's not the same, but it definatley takes the edge off of that emotional burst. I have to remind myself that I'm the one making the change.... Not them.

I found this letter from a parent on line, regarding this subject. I had never heard of this angle before and thought I would share it. By the way, there were also many parents who reported their very young children (age 6, 7, and 8) going through early puberty. When tested, their hormone levels were off the pediatric charts, and well outside the normal range, even for an adult. This apparently stops or greatly slows the growth process, so their doctors were putting them on homorne suppressing medications so their growth wouldn't be stunted and they would grow to a normal adult height. It appears that there are many factors at work here, and our bodies are very sensitive and fragile. "My daughter began developing pubic hair at age 7. After many sleepless nights, I badgered my pediatrician into talking to a pediatric endocrinologist. The pediatric endocrinologist stated what has already been written above: earlier onset of puberty is common, obesity is a factor, etc. My daughter eats a very healthy diet, is extremely physically active and is thin, tall for her age, and physically fit. However, since the acceptable beginning of puberty is considered to be age 8, and my daughter was 7, they would run some blood tests. The blood tests came back with endocrine levels that were off the charts. The blood tests were repeated, with the same results. She was eventually diagnosed with Non-classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, also called Non-classical CAH. It is absolutely astounding to me that after numerous doctor visits, many doctors are unfamiliar with this disorder. This disorder, from what I have learned & researched, is often misdiagnosed as precocious puberty or never diagnosed. My daughter is now regularly monitored by a pediatric endocrinologist and is on a daily dosage of steroids to treat her disorder. It is believed that the steroid treatment is correcting a failure of her endocrine system to produce cortisol; she is now 9 years old and her blood levels have stabilized. I would recommend to any parent whose child is showing signs of "precocious puberty" to look up Non-classical CAH online, and the best resource available is the CARES Foundation-it was started by a mom whose daughter was diagnosed with Non-classical CAH. After my daughter's diagnosis, I was in a state of turmoil and I did not know what to do or where to turn. The CARES Foundation is an excellent resource. Non-classical CAH is an inherited genetic disorder, both my husband & I eventually tested positive as carriers. It is one of the most common inherited genetic disorders. Please look up Non-classical CAH if your son or daughter is showing signs of early puberty. "

I got the RNY crap from my support group as well. They were almost militant about it. I told my doctor about it, and he said to KEEP GOING and prove them wrong. That's exactly what I did. Until my recent plateau, I've lost almost as fast as an RNY patient. Their jaws would drop when I told them what I lost. When malabsorption issues were discussed, I got to smugly say, "I don't have an opinion on that since I don't have to SUFFER with that". B-12 shots? "I don't have an opinion on that since I don't have to SUFFER with that". Dumping syndrome? "I don't have an opinion on that since I don't have to SUFFER with that". hair loss? "I don't have an opinion on that since I don't have to SUFFER with that". trembling and low blood sugar? "I don't have an opinion on that since I don't have to SUFFER with that". After about 3 months, they shut up and never say a word anymore. TOUCHE!!!

CRABMEAT!!! It's an excellent Protein, it goes down easy and it's delicious. My doctor even recommended it. I make crab salad, crab cakes...... I don't think it's been added to the list. Lamb chops. It's not as dense a meat as beef, and is not as high in fat. I grill mine. I love it. You can also make lentil stew with the left overs, which is also high in protein.

Since fried chicken is out, I now bake it after rolling it in corn flake crumbs. I get the crunchy, but not the fat. If I pull the skin off, it also keeps it a little more moist. Dry chicken will get me stuck in a heartbeat. I also bake my crab cakes and salmon croquettes. Just spray your cookie sheet with PAM spray and plop the patties on the sheet. They taste just as good to me.

If I don't have my morning coffe, there is not a snowball's chance in hell of me having a BM. That is already an issue for me, and if you take my coffee away, I'll be in ICU with an impaction!!! LOL My doctor says in moderation. So I have two cups every morning with a splash of vanilla slim fast in it. Tastes good and I get a few extra grams of protein, not to mention extra nutrients. I just bump up my water intake since coffe can be dehydrating. Although I've never noticed that it does that to me.......

My delayed reaction is usually about two weeks after a fill. No warning. Just happens. Then I'm good until my next fill is needed. Usually about 2 months. I thinks it's relatively normal, although I have no idea why.....