peaches9

Yes it is strange to have our new little friend with us at all times. I kept touching mine, as if to make sure it was still there. (Weird) But I had wanted the lapband for so long that I just don't worry about touching it. Yup I can feel it under the skin and I jsut remind myself how much healthier it will make me feel in the long run.

Julie, you should be so proud of yourself.... doing your own drainage! Just think of the education you have gained about your own body over the past year. WOW.

We met today at the Hospital, we were sitting right next to one another. I was the one with the binder, purse, coat, coffee mug trying to juggle it all LOL Its certainly nice to place faces with names.... dah! I just realized that you can 'see' my face here all the time...

If this restriction holds (today's with Dr. Yau) then I'm o.k. if it starts to leak out again and I loose restriction then I'll have to have surgery to replace the whole band/port. So I should know within a week or two I think.

I can totally sympathize with the agony of HIVES. I once had it for over a year, went to a dermatologist who said I was allergic to Nickle...(?) he was dud Then finally I went to an allergist, who took 100 scratch tests ruled out a lot of things but finally I had a skin biopsy done of a hive and it was an allergic reaction to a medication that I had been taking for years!! Changed Rx and in about 2 wks saw steady improvement... Best of luck, some things that helped me with itchy symptoms were... Aveeno Oatmeal baths(tepid water, not hot) patting your skin dry, do not rub with towels. Avoid perfumed anything!! and Double rinse your laundry, hang to dry and avoid scented dryer softner sheets.

YOu would have to inject something right into the tubing that would contrast against the SALINE in order to see anything different on xray and I am allergic to IODINE so he couldn't use that.

Xray with Barium Swallow Just got home from Scarborough Grace.. I just thought I'd let folks know that the barium swallow test is not that bad at all. About 1/4c of white stuff that I likened to "Thinned out Toothpaste" (I always imagine things worse than they turn out to be) 1) I swallowed, no restriction 2) Dr. Yau withdrew Saline and it was "all clear" but not very much in my band... 3) He refilled me with saline and then made me drink barium again under xray and it went thru but burpeyish... oh yeah, restriction my old friend. 4) nancy said to go out and drink my cup of water and wait... it went down so I came home. Now having a protein drink slowly 5) Now if THIS fill leaks out then I have to go an have surgery to get the whole band replaced like new.

Just got home from Scarborough Grace.. I just thought I'd let folks know that the barium swallow test is not that bad at all. About 1/4c of white stuff that I likened to "Thinned out Toothpaste" (I always imagine things worse than they turn out to be) 1) I swallowed, no restriction 2) Dr. Yau withdrew Saline and it was "all clear" but not very much in my band... 3) He refilled me with saline and then made me drink barium again under xray and it went thru but burpeyish... oh yeah, restriction my old friend. 4) nancy said to go out and drink my cup of water and wait... it went down so I came home. Now having a protein drink slowly 5) Now if THIS fill leaks out then I have to go an have surgery to get the whole band replaced like new.

Be patient, because you have a larger band it will take more fills to get you to the "Sweet Spot" of restriction. It usually goes something like this.... 1st fill 4 or 5 cc's( in the bigger band varieties) + 2 cc's 2 wks later( if needed) + 1 cc 2 wks later (if needed) and so on... they keep 1/2ing the fill amount so that as you get closer to restriction a smaller adj. is needed.

Ya I know this is confusing but a cc and am ml are the same measurement.

Oh Ruby, I read your posts and I am so sorry you've had to endure this much struggle with your P/S. I can't imagine what it would have been like to have breasts different sizes, even if it was only for a short time. BUT your surgeon sounds awesome, aren't you lucky there will be no charge for the fix. I am sending you a big (((hug))) Janet; You are always so strong for all of us. Its your turn to receive some tender words of encouragement from the rest of this gang. You are right when you say that "no one understands a fat person like another fat person." !!! Until you've walked a mile in our shoes with our sore knees you just don't get it!! That being said, Do you suppose you are worrying about getting to goal because without the band(prior diets I mean) we never could get to goal? I know I have a fear of being thin. I know that sounds completely retarded and stupid... but I think for me that this is true. Although I want to be slim and fit and healthy and for ALL the right reasons... I have always (in the past) found some way of sabotaging myself. I diet for 2 wks, 2 months and one time even for over a year... and then what? Was I uncomfortable with all the possitive attention that I got when I was thin? Did I not know how to 'deal' with the opposite sex? I know I still have a lot a sh ! t to mentally deal with and its going to take me a while for my head to catch up to my body. I quess what I am saying Janet is its o.k. to freak out every once in a while.. we all have some pretty irrational fears but together on this board we can disclose them and over come. I just know it!!! (((hugs)))) Peaches

Definetly go skiing... Your fill should not affect your life with the exception of only eating FULL Fluids for the remainder of fill day. Keep up your protien with shakes and you should be fine.

100cc's ??? That seems like a lot for a 1st fill. What size and brand is your Lapband? I have a 10 cc band and my fills went like 5, 2.5, 1cc, 3/4 cc until I had restriction. It usually takes 2-4 fills before you feel restriction. So it is also not uncommon for some folks to need 5 or 6 especially if its a larger band. Good luck!

I've been following along girl for the past month or so. I too am very grateful that you have shared so much personal information and photos... You rock! I LOVE the idea of Pay-it-forward thread once you are at goal... super idea. It is true that we will allneed new goals. Well done!

Olive Oil in a frying pan, just a drizzle and spray with PAM. Then I crush 2 cloves of fresh GARLIC into the oil. Sprinkile in some crushed fresh Rosemary leaves.... YUM,, and then saute my Salmon fillet in the pan... just a few minutes on each side until it'll flake with a fork.. and its done.. I serve it with steamed veggies and YUM, YUM, YUM lots of Omega 3's in there!!!

Ha,ha,ha Janet..... I go for my Xray Monday 7th Jan... I'll know more then. Do you think you might need a tiny fill? When was your last one?

Giselle; YOu are not a bother. The more informed you are about this decision the better. You should NEVER enter into any surgery lightly. Regarding the sleeve, I do like the sounds of it vs. the Gastric bypass as they don't cut any intestines and do any rerouting. They only cut off part of your stomach & discard. But with LAPBAND, if ever for some health related reason (pregnancy or fighting Cancer) where you needed more nutrition, it could be unfilled and then refilled afterwards. I actually met a lady at TLBC in the reception area who had just had her baby and was coming back to get her top=up fill... She lost 100 lbs pre baby, got preggers, unfilled, delivered healthy baby, and know wanted to get her baby weight back off..and continue it was great meeting her. TLBC will give your family doctor a CD which details how he/she can do the fills for you in your OWN home town. That might solve your travel problems... I understand you not wanting to travel as much as I've had to do. But then again I'm 2 hours from the clinic not 18hrs. by car. Call Nancy RN the fill nurse and she can tell you more about the CD

DrWatson, a question for you.... Hello Dr.Watson; I have a question regarding a leaking band. At least this is what is suspected.... I have had 7 fills, the last fill the RN decided to pull out all the Fluid in band to see how much was there... should have been 9.75cc's but only 4 cc's were present. I am booked for a Fluro Barium Xray on Jan 7th/2008 My question is this, what contrast material is used in the Barium swallow? The reason I am curious/concerned is that I am severly allergic to I.V.P. dye which contained Iodine. Back in 1975 I had to have a bladder/kidney xray and they put IVP dye into my vein and I went into cardiac arrest from anaphylactic shock..(sorry about the spelling) Can you give me any insights? Thanks in advance, Peaches

<p> </p> <p> </p> <p>CALORIESCARBSFATPROTEINBeef, top sirloin, 6 oz34301452</p> <p> </p> <p>If I am burping, its because I'm full... I'd stop there.</p> <p> </p> <p>6oz. does sound like a lot at one meal....JMHO</p> oops that's 343 cals for the 6oz of steak

O.k. Janet, you've inspired me to get off-a-my-butt. I have been feeling sorry for myself, but tonight I went out for a nice refreshing walk. -10 degrees Celcius here... I had on my belaclava, hood, thermal leggings under my slacks, mitts & coat & boots. It actually felt good. My Dear Doggy wanted to come but it was too cold for them, even with their doggy coats!!!! I am going to do 'something' everyday...

Your welcome, just Peachy:girl_hug:

Wow Donna, what a story. I have been feeling bad for myself as they suspect that I have a port leak. But what you have been through is incredable. How did you keep yourself bouyed up between VGB failure and Lapbanding success? I am having A fluro (Barium swallow) xray on Monday in Toronto, then I will know what I am dealing with. Havn't had any reasonable amt of restriction since fill#4 and I've had 7... tight for a couple of days and then nothing...(dribles out I quess)

what about "red-breasted Nuthatch"

they must have revised their prices then as when I was 'shopping around' for a band surgeon in June they were more expensive than TLBC. I hear good reports on both clinics

Oh Phyl; look back into your geneology, you are probably Canadian:D