Leena

Wow, I watched the video. My psych eval was nothing like that. I wasn't given a 500 question quiz. I guess things have changed. My psych eval was an hour and a half discussion about my life, history, day to day activities, expectations after surgery, what I was expecting the surgery to do, how I thought my life would change afterwards. My psychiatrist had a bypass 8 years before I saw her, so she had personal experience in WLS. Very interesting video.

Try putting a heating pad on your stomach, see if it helps relax things a bit, ie no sliming. And then have warm tea. If that doesn't work I'd say it's time to call the doctor. Most people are looser in the evening anyway. Try to take a deep breath and relax a bit. Either way you're stomach is going to be fine either the tea & heating pad or the doctor. I know when I get stressed my band instantly responds. Good in a way because it makes me take a step back and see what I can do.

I can't do the spice like I used to. Indian food for me now has to be mild and served with yogurt on the side. I find that fresh ginger is one spicy thing I can still tolerate. But all hot peppers are not on the main menu anymore. Tomatoes are also too acidic for me as well.

My surgeon told me I could chew the gum- but not to swallow it. In the last 6 years I haven't swallowed a piece of it yet. If your surgeon says no gum, then no gum. Mine was pretty good about things- he even said coffee was ok. But no to soda and carbonated beverages.

When I was banded this was a common thing. To test the size of your pouch you eat low-fat cottage cheese until you feel the soft stop point. The amount you ate is roughly the size of your pouch. The caveat is don't eat it too quickly or slowly. Too quickly and well, you'll get sick and too slowly your pouch will begin to empty. It's a good way to make sure you haven't stretched out your pouch. Also, if you can feel it going through your pouch quickly you're probably in need of a fill. It also works for gastric bypass people. And it does work with ricotta cheese as well but it has a faster drain rate. So it works for size but not fills as well.

I coughed in the hospital- and yes it hurts, as does sneezing. The first case of the hiccups I had were horrible. Trust me as you heal it won't hurt when you cough. Post-op I had a spirometer that I had to breath into to make sure I didn't develop pneumonia. When was your surgery? If you're really close to your surgery date you may want to call your dr, if you don't have a followup soon.

I couldn't agree with you more. The further out I've gotten the more lax I got about those check ups. Then I got into trouble with a slip a few years ago. Got to green again and got lax. Now I'm back on schedule with things. Something my new fill dr told me was to do the cottage cheese pouch test once a month just to test my levels. I never really thought about doing it on a regular basis as I've only done it when I thought I needed one. And then, well sometimes it's overdue. I feel for you in that waiting for an overdue fill. I find it best to exercise, chew sugar free gum and keep as busy as possible. Working out actually naturally tightens my band a little- it wears off quickly, but helps in the short term hour area.

After the band I've had problems with rice, Pasta, bread, anything of the fluffy consistency as well as anything fried or spicy. It's healthier for me anyway I know before my pre-op diet I did a farewell to food pre-pre-op. One meal a day of a favorite dish and the other meals Protein shakes.

Fit4Me if you watch her facebook video- she herself shows her husband in a photo in uniform. She brought that out in her video- no one researched that. It was not research at all. It is all there. Also- posting such contests/polls/etc is against rule 11 of Lap Band Talk's site. Sorry when things don't add up, they just don't. And facebook wanting to collect further information and access my friend's profiles if I votes wasn't on the up and up either. So that's why I asked the questions I did. And for the first time since I joined this site in 2007 I've had to actually block a person from sending me harassing messages.

Heating pads help with bloating too. I bruise sometimes from fills. It depends upon if the needle went in straight or had to be angled after inserted. If the dr. misses the port filling area and hits the side you'll hear a clicking sound. My port is situated on an angle so it can be tricky to fill. This last fill I had I didn't hear the pop, but most definitely got a fill. And had a bruise from it. No idea why you're bloated though- sorry. You may want to ask your dr. about that one.

Amanda- please stop sending me private messages it's completely out of line.

Amanda- please stop sending me private messages. It is completely out of line.

I hope the barium tasted good;) Lol, I hate the taste of it. I believe in the annual check ups. I went in for mine recently and found out that I was missing some fluid, so It's a good thing to do. And it also lets that dr. know you're still on track. Congrats!

I responded to her other thread but will post it here as well. Amanda- you may want to read the fine print of the contest rules, as well as what is and isn't covered. For example: an overnight hospital stay isn't covered. I know some people who've had lap abnd as a same day procedure and others who have stayed overnight. Given all of your other medical issues going on the likelyhood of having to stay over night increases. Also- complications aren't covered by the contest. Will your insurance cover complications? Why won't your insurance cover the procedure? I watched your video and your husband was in uniform. I personally know 3 military wives who have had bariatric surgery of one sort or another. And another one who had a breast reduction that was medically needed- and her husband's insurance covered it. When I had surgery a few years ago it was private insurance and I didn't meet their requirements as it was you had to be over a BMI of 35 for 5 years and I had only been over that for 4 years. I wasn't willing to wait yet another year and have my BMI creep up even further. Your video also doesn't say how much you weigh, how tall you are, your BMI, etc So, this seems a little shady. Upon some further research on your FB page you're linked to yourself: https://www.facebook...gins.5832/about And it looks like your avatar here. While the FB video you made doesn't. If you're really just looking for a free surgery and people to vote for you who don't even know you, well good luck with that. People here have had surgery, or are having it, worked hard to get here and have needed it. Getting off my soapbox now.

Amanda- you may want to read the fine print of the contest rules, as well as what is and isn't covered. For example: an overnight hospital stay isn't covered. I know some people who've had lap abnd as a same day procedure and others who have stayed overnight. Given all of your other medical issues going on the likelyhood of having to stay over night increases. Also- complications aren't covered by the contest. Will your insurance cover complications? Why won't your insurance cover the procedure? I watched your video and your husband was in uniform. I personally know 3 military wives who have had bariatric surgery of one sort or another. And another one who had a breast reduction that was medically needed- and her husband's insurance covered it. When I had surgery a few years ago it was private insurance and I didn't meet their requirements as it was you had to be over a BMI of 35 for 5 years and I had only been over that for 4 years. I wasn't willing to wait yet another year and have my BMI creep up even further. Your video also doesn't say how much you weigh, how tall you are, your BMI, etc So, this seems a little shady. Upon some further research on your FB page you're linked to yourself: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.wiggins.5832/about And it looks like your avatar here. While the FB video you made doesn't. If you're really just looking for a free surgery and people to vote for you who don't even know you, well good luck with that. People here have had surgery, or are having it, worked hard to get here and have needed it. Getting off my soapbox now.

You're doing great Janiece. The closer you get to goal the slower the weight comes off. I've been down there once before complications and am slowly headed back to goal again. The best thing I discovered was changing my workouts up helps a lot. Right now I'm unable to because I herniated a disc in my back lifting chicken feed (wishing the bag was the size of a cinder block So it's slow going on the workout front. 33 lbs in 16 months is a good thing. Think about it by spring you should be at goal

I'm on juicer #2 since surgery. Right now I have a Breville. I did have a Hamilton Beach one, but it wore out (motor burnt) and didn't juice as well. Plus my left over scraps are much drier with the Breville and it does a better job on leafy greens.

Ask you doctor. But generally walking is ok. Just an FYI- work out on an empty stomach as your band may feel tighter during and after exercise.

Have you tried juicing? That's the only way I get in enough veggies. Green juice is really good. 4 stalks of celery 2 handfulls of spinach 1 carrot 1/2 green apple a thumb of fresh ginger The ginger really gives it a nice zing. My kids even like it. And all the scraps from it can get composted or go to chickens if you have them.

I had a slip before- albeit minor and had a complete unfill to correct it. Thankfully it did and surgery wasn't required. Did you try an unfill? Have you had an endoscopy to check for ulcers? Are you on an acid blocker? These are all things that can help with your situation. Your insurance should cover a repositioning, now under obamacare pre-existing conditions are covered by default. Conversions to other procedures are more difficult to get covered, a lot depends upon your insurance as well as your doctor's input. Insurance companies like to see difficulties documented over time (yeah it sucks but it's the reality of it). Do you have any check ups at your primary you could use as documentation? Things like that help.

The chewable gas-x really works wonders for gas pains, as does walking (even if it's just around your house). I find that Protein powder in my coffee works well. Although I do have to use the blender to get it to not clump together. Once you get to full liquids I find that egg drop Soup is a great Breakfast and quick to make.

Yes, vomiting in general can cause a slip. I had a slip with full on stomach flu projectile vomiting a few years ago. The kids brought home the bug from school. So I had a house full of germs. Are you supposed to be on soups? I was on clear liquids for a while (weeks) after surgery. Even after each fill I'm on clear liquids for a few days before full liquids then mushies. Post-op it's important to follow the rules: little sips of liquids. And warm liquids (broth, tea, etc) are ideal if you're really swollen.

I have a 4cc band, from 2007. It's my understanding that it can be in filled beyond 4cc. I've never had it filled higher than it is right now at 3.1. I do remember people being over 4cc in their 4cc band.

If your erosion was due at all to acid reflx or gerd I wouldn't go with the sleeve. I have 4 friends who've gotten the sleeve in the last year. All 4 have horrible problems with acid reflux now, 1 has required hospitalization for it. And from what I've read it seems more common in that surgery than the other options. Have you considered a bypass? I have the old 4cc band- love that thing. In spite of having it slip once, and currently loosing some Fluid. I know if I had to do it and couldn't have the 4cc band again I'd go for the bypass. It was something I had to seriously consider when I had a slip.

Glad you're better Terry and that warm liquids helped.