mbanja

I had no problem. My DD was 10months old at the time and I could carry her in an infant car seat with no problems. I did use my baby sling alot but that was just to help keep her up on my hip when I was carrying her. As a matter of fact I still use my ring sling alot to hold her if we are shopping or walking and she is now 16months old. I just love the slings.

I believe Inamed has a program that teaches Nurses or qualified people how to do fills and you get a certification from them. I know that me fill person is a geriatric nurse and she commutes to my area to do fills on the weekends in a special office that has a fluroscope or whatever you call the machine. She is afiliated with fillcenters usa. I hope Wassabubblebutt responds she is very knowledgable on the topic. Contacting the manufacturer of the band is probably going to be your best bet. I think if it were me, I'd probably start with Inamed. As a midwife are you certified to give people IV's and to draw blood? I'd think that they would probably require you to at least be able to do those things and know you way around a needle. Good luck!

Dont feel foolish at all. At least is wasn't for porn or sex toys. (Not that there is a problem with that and at least most places have the decency to disguise the name) Hell she is a woman she buys panties and bras too! It is good that you are on top of you credit. You should be proud that you monitor it so closely! That helps majorly reduce fraud!!!! Fredricks isn't kinky or bad, it is just like victoria secrets! Hell that is better than me cuz I get my stuff at walmart. It sucks having to have a teenage boy scanning your granny panies!!! Thank god for self checkout!! One day I will get the courage to go to fredricks or victoria secrets. HOPEFULLY SOON! I mean I don't actually wear grannies, but I have to get some kinda underware that wont disappear under my apron of bellyfat! HA there you go you can laugh at that. Every time I walk past victoria secrets and see those cute undies on the mannequins I think to myself "dang I bet if I put those on they would immediately be swollowed up." LOL, its good to laugh at yourself sometimes!

I hope all went well post us on how it did go. I am totally with you on getting the hebies when having to have a serious conversation with my pcp. I think it is because I totally respect her and she is a very good pcp. My problem was not with weightloss but depression. For weight loss I knew I had no comorbidities and my BMI was just shy of hitting 40 so I didn't even go thru her, I self payed and went to mexico. Before and after banding I had had trouble with depression due to a bad case of post pardum. Before and after the band my pcp had me on several antidepressant that were just not working. So, on the side I did research into my situation and condition and self diagnosed myself with anxiety. So I scheduled an appointment to see the pcp to discuss the anxiety..........boy was I ever anxious about that visit. I didn't want my pcp to think that I was just wanted drugs. Well, the visit went great and my pcp was ever so supportive and very proud of me for doing my research on the different medication options and we worked and are still working together to get my meds straight. The point I am going around the bush to make is that I personally think that a pcp especially if they have been your pcp for a while, will be more supportive if they know that you have done your research and are not jumping into anything blind. I personally think that they respect you more knowing that you are taking a serious and active roll in trying to solve you problem. I hope it went well and that your pcp was like mine and realized you were actively trying to become knowledgable and get the ball rolling to becomming a healthier person!

Ok after several months of being too tight, my band has finally loosened up enough to where I can eat a good balanced meal. But now, I am having acid reflux issues. It only happened on occasion when I was extremely tight, but why now? What is going on? I have scheduled an appointment for a slight unfill after being so fed up with being too tight. Now I just have discovered I can eat good again and all the sudden bam acid reflux. I think I am going to keep my app for the slight unfill because I think with all the reflux and throwing up acid I need to let my stomach rest, but uuugggghhhh....I just don't understand it!

I'd say take your best and most trusted friend shopping and try the skirts on for her and then let her pick out what she thinks is the cutest and buy it. Every time I clothes shop I do the same exact thing, chicken out before I pay. I took my friend with me last time and let her pick out the clothes and tried them on for her and let her decide. Then I just paid for them no questions no rethinking no putting back. Her style is a little louder than mine but I did have an amazing time in the outfit she picked for me. It is not always best for us to choose our own outfits because our self image devil is on our shoulder corrupting what we see in the mirror. Have a fun day make a date with your girl friend and let her decide. If she is a true friend she will not put you in something horrible and she will give you the courage to actually purchase the item.

I am eating the same times really every day and the acid reflux is....well all day long it just gets bad at night because I am laying down and it is running up. I haven't really changed what I am eating I can just eat it with little to no stuck or pb. The only thing I have really changed is I started drinking iced tea again. Can iced tea really cause it. I am smoking, but I have been smoking for about 6months now. Well, I have an app for saturday for an unfill and I am going to follow thru with it even though I fear it. I think my stomach and esophogus need the break. I am also cutting out the tea and going to get back on welburtrin to stop smoking. I do notice that it really flares when I take my meds. I have no problem swallowing pills, they are the only thing that doesn't get stuck and I don't even have to break them up. I think possibley what is going on is all the meds I take are sitting in my little pouch and disolving and in term irritating my little stomach and causing the reflux....who knows there are just so many veriables. I'll deff talk with the doc and report on her theory when I know something.

I don't know about Chantix but I took welburtrin to help stop smoking and it worked within 3 weeks and I didn't gain any weight. Everyone is different though. I started smoking again after being banded due to referred addiction but I think I am going to go back on the welbutrin cuz I am so tired of smoking. I was thinking about trying the new chantix but decided since I had a good experience with the welbutrin I'd just do that again since I already know how I respond to it. Good luck quitting, It is a blessing having these new medicines to help stop smoking because they really work!! Believe me, I was really skeptical but they do!

I am glad someone could finally give first hand input of the medfast diet. I would totally hate to be the one to persuade someone into getting it just to find out it is nasty too. I was considering the medfast too, but since I had such a horrible experience with nutrisystem I was kinda shying away from it. Thanks Ang for letting us know!

I do agree with Jena about trying the lean cusine meals, plus they are way better taste wise than anything nutrisystem could produce. The only good thing about the nutrisystem is they put huge amounts of protien in all of their selections which is good if you can get the food down. If you are still thinking about nutrisystem try a practice run with the lean cuisines for a week. But I for one am here to tell you I'd much rather spend my money on the lean cuisines than the nutrisystem crap. Ugggg it was horrible!!!!! Most of the dinners looked like vomit and nothing like what you see on the comercials. Please don't get me wrong I am totally not trying to discourage you in anyway from trying a diet you think might work, I just hate to see someone be out all that money and find that the food is nasty.

I am very very tight and have been avoiding it for fear of getting stuck. Two nights ago my family wanted to try a new sushi/chinese restaurant and I just couldn't resist. I have problems with past and rice getting stuck so I do avoid them but the sushi (shrimp tempura roll) went down fine. I cut it into very small bites and chewed the heck out of it. Man was it wonderful!!!! I had really been missing it. I enjoyed it so much I went back the next day and got it for take out!

I have heard that it is possible, but the whole "getting back to basics" (as far as restarting the liquid/mushie/solid stages) in my opinion is really about getting your mind back into the concept of being banded. You say you drink tea with meals, is it sweet tea? Or is it sweetened with artificial sugar? Sweet tea is what really halts my weight loss. You really need to pay attention to the liquid "empty" calories you consume on a daily basis. I know this is hard as I am a sweet tea addict...well reformed sweet tea addict. I have finally gotten used to splenda in my tea. If you do decide to go back to the basics and start on the liquids phase again watch out for soups. They have huge amounts of sodium that will make you retain water. Plus creamy soups have high fat contents as well. Have you thought about trying Weight Watcher. I used to cringe when people would suggest that to me preband days because I was always hungry and never lost weight to my satisfaction. Now post band I find that weight watchers is soooo much easier for me because it doesn't take larger amounts to fill me up anymore. If you are not comfortable going to meetings you could always do it online, however the meetings may help you since there is alot of moral support there and people who you can talk to about your weight loss struggles. Hope everything works out for you!!

I have been super tight and avoiding sushi ever since getting banded for fear that it would get stuck. Well, I finally braved it last night and it was sooooooo good and I didn't have any problems getting it down. Mind you I had to cut it up into small bites but ohhhh it was sooooo good!

I have trouble with all fast food except Wendy's chili and taco bells beans sometimes I can get a hard taco down (soft tacos get stuck) but I usually stick to the beans. I just wanted you to know that I am super tight right now, but I just braved my fear of being stuck and ate sushi- it went down just fine. Oh man was it wonderful too! Just make sure to cut it up in really small bites. I know cutting it up is crazy and people give you looks, but hey it was something I was really missing and I am glad to know I can eat it. Plus to top it off it is healthy! Yeah!!!!

Ooohh be careful PMS and your monthly can make you tighter. I often schedule my fills the second week after my monthly. If you start to become too tight and can't get water down you might want to get a slight unfill!

Snowbird, Peanut butter is not that bad for you, I mean you could be eating ice cream. I on occasion like a spoonfull here and there but I have to be in the mood for it. I also get migraines and pb is a bad trigger for them. I doubt you could over do it, but then again I don't really know you or how much of it you comsume at a time. I really think that it is a great alternative than other fat filled options. Plus we do need some types of fats in our diet for our hair and skin! Try buying the single serve peanut butters or the smaller jar. I have also heard on here of peanut butter powder that you mix up yourself, I seem to remember that it was really good and had really good nutrition in it. I'll do a search and see if I can find it for you.

I totally believe in signs! I think that most of the time we just ignore them because our lives are so busy, but I still think there is a higher power out there working for us!

I did nutrisystem before the band, didn't loose any weight and the food is just awful!!! Nasty nasty nasty stuff! Before you go and spend the money you might want to get on ebay and try some of the stuff out first. I have a lot left over because I didn't cancel my subscription in time, if you want to try it I'd be more than happy to sell you what I have. I live in Ga so I don't know how much shipping would be, but let me know....I need to get on the ball and sell this stuff before it goes out of date! I am just trying to warn you though it really does taste awful. Oh yeah, plus if you watch the commercial there is a disclaimer that says "results not typical" when people say how much weight they have lost. You might want to also look into the medfast diet, my friend started that and she says the food is tolerable. Like I said, I'll sell you my stuff if you are intrested but I want you to know that it tastes horrible. Pretty much any diet you can think of that sells food you can find it on ebay so you can try it before you buy into the whole program. Medfast is the same. I stress to try the stuff before you spend the whole $250 on the program just to make sure you can handle the taste of the stuff!

I never had the full sign either. With proper restriction you will get you full faster but if you don't feel it you will have to watch for your body's signals...hiccups, runny nose, sigh...etc. For me before I got proper restriction I went by the amount we are supposed to be able to eat. 1/4 to 1/2 a cup. I ate that ammount and then waited 30mins, if I was still hungry I'd eat a little more. For me I can say that my band being at restriction has given me that full sign, everyone is different though. You will have to start paying attention to your body a little more, but once you get the hang of it, it is not a big deal.

I guess you can say that I made a hasty decision. I mean I did my research on all types of WLS but the total time I had to take to make the decision and the surgery day was like 3weeks. It just happened that way because the place I had inquired with for the band was planning a trip and she told me I could still get in on it. At that time in my life, I had been very depressed because of my weight and I was even doing the nutrisystem diet and it just wasn't comming off, so I had the money and decided to fly to MX and just do it. The only thing I can tell you is from my research and my decision. The factors that helped me decide on the band was #1 it is adjustable. #2 I am not done having kids so I know that after birth I can just get a fill and start loosing weight again. One thing that scared me about GB is Carnie Wilson had it done and now after her pregnancy she is fighting tooth and nail to loose all the weight she has gained back. I also knew some people I worked with that had GB and while 3 are doing good and keeping weight off, 1 has lost maybe 30lbs out of a 120lb goal and is now gaining back. Now I am sure she is not eating properly, but clearly this has failed for her. I know my body and if there was any chance for GB to fail I would be one of those statistics. I know that the fast weight loss with RNY or GB is sooooo appealing but what you do have to consider is down the road. Do you want to have kids, do you think you will struggle with pregnancy weight,....etc. Personally, while I am loosing very very slowly, I am still loosing and it is not creaping back up. Just be sure to do the research and make the decision based on what YOU think is best for you and what YOU think you can deal with! Good luck.

I deff don't get my money's worth. I do still go cuz my fam like to but I hate paying for it!

I would think that sagging breast would cause back pain. That is medical necessity isn't it?

I went to TJ, MX and was banded by Dr. Huacuz. He was great. I did my research before I got the band so I knew what I was getting into. Dr. H and the patient facilitator (Melissa) were very informative and .wonderful! I was there with another woman and Dr. H took time with both of us together and alone to answer all our questions. He wanted us to feel completely comfortable and informed about what was about to happen. I'd say he probably spent about an hour with me and then I saw his psychologist, she was great also. She probably spent an hour with me as well and made sure that my expectations were correct. If you are still not comfortable with the whole process the only thing I can suggest is calling the doctor directly. Please do your own research on this as well so you know what you can expect.

Avacado sounds really good plus it is a good fat that we need. I don't really like cottage cheese it always reminds me of the saying "blowing chunks" we used when I was a kid and someone threw up. I use ranch dressing to disguise the taste. I am sure blue cheese would be good too if you like blue cheese.

I bought the centrum liquid and could not gag it down. I totally don't suggest any for of liquid multivitamin! I couldn't even disguise the taste of it in oj or a protien shake I had to throw away the whole bottle witch was about $9. Now I take sam's club gummie vitamins. I got sick of the chewable taste. The gummy vitamins are so good it is like eating gummy bears. You will have to take 2-4 of the to get the right amount for an adult serving, just read the bottle though.