dialit

Abso-frickin'-lutely!

I know of at least one other cause of "drop foot", it is called peripheral neuropathy. There are two types: The most common is diabetic peripheral neuropathy, so if you have diabetes, this could be part of the progression of the disease. The second is non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This disease has the same progression - loss of neural signals to the voluntary muscles, usually to legs first from the bottom up. My dad has had this for over 25 years (though he was diagnosed only a little over 10 years ago), he is 80 now, and just beginning to have more severe effects - difficulty walking unassisted (has gone to using a cane) due to loss of sensation and "auto" control of his feet and lower legs, etc. For years and years, we just thought he was clumsy! He was diagnosed when he started developing drop foot. The early symptoms include restless leg syndrome, unexplained clumsiness (tripping, etc). I am sure there are probably other causes, such as specific nerve damage, etc. and some may be only temporary.

I gotta tell ya, this is my favorite thread! I have laughed so hard I thought I would cry, learned some things, and enjoyed everyone's honesty. So, I have another question to add to this discussion. I have noticed that since being banded 5/9/07 I have had an INCREDIBLE increase in libido and fantasy. My poor husband is ready to swat me like a fly! Anyone else find that the motor started revving at high RPMs within a couple weeks of surgery? It's not like I have some new 20 yr old body! It is still the same me, only a little smaller so far, and, OK, a little more "bendy".

My list keeps growing. It started with... walk without knee or foot pain sleep without a gas mask (my CPAP) get off my 4...that's right, 4, blood pressure meds (down to 1.5 now) have more energy eat less (a LOT less it turns out) without feeling deprived Amazingly, those things seemed to come about in no time. So I have added things as I go along... snow skiing belly-dancing (I see that's on quite a few people's lists) hiking (up hills, not just on flat terrain) bike riding (longer distances) wrestling with my kids being "on top" without having my knees & hip joints screaming for relief long before the rest of me is screaming! Sorry if too graphic, but 15 years of activities limited by the limitations that AREN'T considered co-morbidities, and you start to feel like you're 20 again after -25 lbs! PS - updated info below...down to 245 at 6.5 weeks out. I can't get my ticker updated!

The good news is, for many of us, we get to kiss our CPAPs goodbye once the weight starts coming off! It didn't even take long for me...as it turns out, the first place you tend to lose weight is in your neck/chin, and that is often the pressure that causes the sleep apnea. I was off my machine in 2 - 3 weeks!

The good news is, for many of us, we get to kiss our CPAPs goodbye once the weight starts coming off! It didn't even take long for me...as it turns out, the first place you tend to lose weight is in your neck/chin, and that is often the pressure that causes the sleep apnea. I was off my machine in 2 - 3 weeks!

Posting here because it looks like the gall bladder thread doesn't get much response, and I am hoping for quick replies. OK, I need to know if I should be worried about a possible gall bladder problem. I was banded 5 weeks ago. In that 5 weeks I have lost 24 of my excess 100 lbs (YEAH!). I have also started working out 5 days a week (3 cardio and 2 strength training). About a week to 10 days ago, I started noticing severe epigastral pain (right under my ribs on both sides leading toward the sternum, and at the same time, moderate pain in my mid-back. It literally feels like I am impaled on a telephone pole. The pain comes and goes, but sometimes lasts for more than 8 hrs at a time. I don't think it is a pouch overfill situation, because I can be pain free, eat, feel fine, and then 2-3 hours later the pain comes back suddenly and acutely. Heating pad alternating on the chest and back seems to help, but I have noticed that if I lie down while the pain is occuring I get nauseous (sp?) At first I thought it was just either the transition from mushees to solids, although I have had "attacks" after eating VERY low fat foods as much as moderate fat foods, or muscle spasms because I am SOOOO out of shape, and am working on my strength training days with a personal trainer who is pretty rigorous, but it doesn't seem to directly correlate to my workout times either. What do you all think?

OK, I need to know if I should be worried about a possible gall bladder problem. I was banded 5 weeks ago. In that 5 weeks I have lost 24 of my excess 100 lbs (YEAH!). I have also started working out 5 days a week (3 cardio and 2 strength training). About a week to 10 days ago, I started noticing severe epigastral pain (right under my ribs on both sides leading toward the sternum, and at the same time, moderate pain in my mid-back. It literally feels like I am impaled on a telephone pole. The pain comes and goes, but sometimes lasts for more than 8 hrs at a time. I don't think it is a pouch overfill situation, because I can be pain free, eat, feel fine, and then 2-3 hours later the pain comes back suddenly and acutely. Heating pad alternating on the chest and back seems to help, but I have noticed that if I lie down while the pain is occuring I get nauseous (sp?) At first I thought it was just either the transition from mushees to solids, although I have had "attacks" after eating VERY low fat foods as much as moderate fat foods, or muscle spasms because I am SOOOO out of shape, and am working on my strength training days with a personal trainer who is pretty rigorous, but it doesn't seem to directly correlate to my workout times either. What do you all think?

Actually, a "short" is the smallest Starbucks size. They don't have it on the menu board...you have to ask for it, but it is an 8 oz serving...just right post-band. I was a long term "Venti" vanilla latte drinker (that's the 20 oz size), and since being banded I have started ordering a "short" and it find it is more than enough...usually enjoyed over an hour or so.

I too was told (on my very last visit 2 days before surgery) that I would need to do Heparin injections at home for 10 days after surgery. They started the shots in the hospital immediately after surgery. The injection point for the second shot wouldn't stop bleeding for over 24 hours (the entire left side of my bed was covered in blood) and the bruise is a good 6 inches across. After that 2nd injection went so poorly and they saw that I was up and about, they discontinued the rest. Diane

wadew...have you considered going to some counseling before banding with a focus on developing new alternatives for emotional eating? My thought is this...the band is a tool to help you control intake, but there are "ways around it"...grazing, high fat foods (nothing sooths a weary soul like chocolate!). Its probably going to be pretty important for you to have a plan, alternatives, and for you to have already started using these before your surgery. In fact, how you plan to handle your emotional eating will probably be a large part of your psych interview (certainly was in mine), and already having a strategy in place and being practiced will show your commitment to the lifestyle changes we all have to make, along with our band, to succeed.

I am in Redmond, but on the Kirkland side, and I am looking for some "face to face" friends in the lap band community! Do you know of any local live support groups? I heard there was one that meets at Evergreen, but haven't yet checked them out. I am new to the band lifestyle, was just banded last Wednesday. So far everything is going great...recovery is going well overall, and I am not yet hungry! I am up for coffee etc anytime! Diane Litts

I tried the "mini" gas mask looking things and the nasal pillows, but I got claustrophobia and spent most of my night ripping my mask off as well. I finally went with the Nasal AireII. The Nasal AireII looks basically like and oversized O2 tube. It has 2 individual "tubes" that seal into each nostril with a main line under the nose that wraps around the ears. Here is a link to a supplier with a photo http://www.cpap.com/productpage.php?PNum=1828&PAID=297. I modified the "head band" into a single strap that goes from behind one ear to behind the other around the back of my head. (I also had a problem with "that headgear feel". My provider fought me pretty hard on this because he states he has a LOT of patients who have a very difficult time using the Nasal Aire products because the nasal canulas "fall out" during the night. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. If I hadn't found this system, I would be off my CPAP by now because I was THAT frustrated. I have had that "gasp" reflex before, and it usually happens when I open my mouth while sleeping. I HATE chin straps, but that may be something you could try. I found that sleeping with my dental night guard solved the problem for me. Good Luck! I agree that if you can tough it out to find the mask that is right for you, you will really feel the difference! Diane

I too was banded on the 9th, and am also experiencing the same symptoms. Like you, no shoulder pain, but "fist in the gut" feeling pretty much from the top incision down, for me mostly to the left and a tight feeling to the skin/muscles. I agree that moving around helps, even just standing up. If I sit too long my stomach muscles kind of cramp up, but I find it loosens up after a bit after I stand up. Not that GETTING to the standing up position is easy...but...I have also found that a heating pad is great! and also children's ibuprofin liquid seems to help a lot without giving me the "knocked out" feeling of my rx pain meds. This is my first post, I am a 43 year old mother of 2, in WA state, and I am excited to continue this journey! It has taken so long to get here!