bandster_1007

..by the way.. my absolute favorite breakfast is the slim fast Protein chocolate bar. i eat it every morning. (i am almost to a point where i cannot finish a whole one). it has 190 calories and 15 grams of protein..and it is conveniently packages so that i can eat it about 9 a.m. (that is the earliest that i can eat)...have to have coffee first.

-imo--i think you are doing great for the stage that you are at. that is a lot of calories for a shake HOWEVER....you are in a stage where you can afford those calories..now when you start eating solids..that will be different :rolleyes2: my doc's rule is that once we start eating solids...no more protein drinks, but everyone is different. for right now..though..your shake is great..wish i would have thought of that post op. do remember though that our bodies can only absorb so much protein per sitting.

how many calories...how much do they cost...and where do you get them?

i guess you could call it a "complication". i read about constipation before i had the band. well, i have been going what i would consider pretty regularly---daily. i have had a couple of moments where i thought that going to the bathroom resembled labor to the extent of making it productive, but it was productive. ok, i woke up this saturday with a sharp pain on my left side. i almost went to er, but i have had something like this happen before and after all the poking and prodding, i had a bowel impaction. so..i didn't go to er. instead, i stayed home, drank lots of Water, and took a lot of ex lax. then on Monday morning- i looked 8 months pregnant. i am not exaggerating, when i went out someone actually asked me when i was due. yes, i am heavy, and my abdomen has been somewhat distended since surgery, BUT, i did not look pregnant like i did monday. and i didn't look pregnant at all prior to surgery. so i go to my doctor, and i have a freakin' bowel blockage. one that is so bad the gas in my belly cannot get through and was building up in my belly. my doc wanted to do x-rays, etc., but i talked her out of it and came home and drank magnesium citrate and did an enema. i'm 25 years old, i don't think this is normal. i thought last night that i was finished "cleaning out", but my belly was still sticking out. so, i planned to go to work this morning. i could still feel the pain in my left side, so i just thought that i would work on that the next week or two with miralax. well, over night i HURT SO BAD. i felt like i did post op. rolling around in the bed and moaning. then, when i get up this morning, the "cleaning out" just began. i'm stuck at home sitting on the porcelain god every 5 minutes. at least my belly is going down and my pain is going away. has anyone else had this problem? if they venture to share. if you haven't watch out. it hurts like hell when it gets blocked. i know this is gross and costipation is an issue with banders, but what should i do to prevent this from happening again? my doc suggests that i go sit and "try" for 15 minutes after i eat every meal. what? who does that 3 times a day!! besides that, she is not my band doctor and she doesn't understand that my food intake is less. any thoughts would be appreciated.

can we please have the new posts link back? that was the easiest way to keep up with what is going on!! i miss it terribly. also, is there a way to make my view not so BIG...the text is huge to me?

yeah..dr wellborn has been doing it longer than dr lutrell (i think)....i know he had done way more than dr. lutrell. i think dr wellborn has done 1100 now and he has had one death, and one slippage (the slippage was not his patient, but he still claims it..he did not "install" the band). so..imho he has had 0 slippage. he is very understanding..i love him..i wish he did all of my fills... he has a cute young resident too...he's good..just started..don't like him doing my fills though because i don't like him looking at my gut hanging over my pants..lol...

bbk...when did you start exercising hard. did you actually start out at 1 1/2 hours per day. i have only lost 2 lbs. and doc says after you lose some weight you want to exercise more becuase you have more energy. did this happen to you? congrats by the way, that is awesome..i can't see your pictures, but i used to look at your old profile all the time. i need to hear stories like yours.

where did you grow up in arkansas? yeah..my baby is a miracle baby..not so much anymore..HE IS 7 TODAY!!! I'm kind of glad i got pregnant by accident because i don't know that i would have one otherwise.

woo pig sooie!! haha..i don't really follow football, but i always wear my razorback shirt on game day..dumb i know..lol.. yes, i have been following my doctor's rules, but he says i'm smaller than most of his patients, so it is taking more time for the band to tighten around my stomach. after my first fill i could eat 4 pieces of pizza, some cheese sticks, and a drink. so..i didn't even believe that i was banded. he said that i had barely any fat around my stomach (the fat pad)..i have a good hip waist ratio..if you use my natural waist...lol. i'm starting to lose now that i have restriction....so..hopefully it will keep up.

it seems like wellborn said that bcbs federal paid also, but they are out of network, so after your year of fills, it's $100 a fill.

oh, i forgot to mention also, that i was recently diagnosed with insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol (a year ago on the blood pressure and cholesterol).

ok, reading through all of these threads has been a REAL eye opener for me. let me give you guys a little bit of history and you all can see if i am correct in thinking i may have pcos: -i am 25 -at 14 i was diagnosed with endometrioses, i have had some cysts removed from my uterus and ovaries, and i have had 3 lap surgeries for endometrioses. -at 15 i suffered from amenhorrea (no period) due to eating disorder -at 17 i suffered from amenhorrea again for a year, for no apparant reason -at 18, i magically got pregnant even though i did not have a period and doctors were saying that i would likely not be able to get pregnant. -after my son was born, i started my periods immediately, despite nursing, and they were very irregular, by the time my son was 1 1/2, i was having a period every 9 days, or every time i had sex, whichever came first -at 21 changed birth control, got more regular and gained 60 lbs in 2 months. got acne for the first time in my life. absolutely could not lose weight. kept gaining. had leep on my cervix for stage 1 cancer cells (not hpv). -25, i am now 100 lbs overweight, have acne terribly, cramp like crazy, pass clots a lot, have hair growing everywhere. i already have a mustache and lots of chin hairs, and the hair on my arms is getting thicker..and i hate hair. the hair on my scalp is thinning and i have terrible dandruff. and now i have gone three months without a period. i have had my thyroid checked every single time i go to the doctor, it seems. i suffer from terrible migraines, mood swings, (i'm a total bitch a lot), and i'm tired all the time. i know a lot of this is weight related, but here is the kicker. i was banded in october, and i have lost a total of 2 lbs. i think i have PCOS!!!!!!

becky..you are so sweet, and thank you so much for checking on me. i had gained 2 lbs, then after my 2nd fill i lost 2. so that makes a total of 2 since surgery. i lost about 10 inches on my waist, but it is still bigger than it was prior to surgery...so..... (it got A LOT bigger after surgery). the only other place i have lost is my face and neck...every one keeps telling me that i look like i'm losing weight..so at least their saying that now..lol...

i just wanted to let everyone know that i'm negative. so my body is totally whacked up. lol...

just wanted to mention also, that i track my food when i have restriction, it's when i don't have restriction that i have a hard time. and consistently when i track my food i lose.

ok, i feel different than a lot of people i see on here. i am exactly 3 months out today, and i have lost 2 lbs, and i just lost that 2 lbs, in the last 2 weeks. however, i had lost about 10 after my 2nd fill and then gained back 8 in the next week ---didn't think that was possible, but i'm having major fluctuations. so, i have good restriction right now, but it loosens up in a week or so. i do not want sweets or treats or anything really when i am tight. i am perfectly satisfied with some meat and veggies. it is just keeping that restriction that is the problem. i'm scheduled for a 4th fill already in 2 weeks. i have felt true restriction and i know that it helps with my cravings, my problem is keeping it there. (i have around 7 cc's in my ap small band). i need to exercise.. and let me just say about the food tracking, that i think we should all track our food even at restriction. my doc really stresses this. it is the only way to tell if you are getting adequate protien and it is a definate way to tell if you need a fill. you will see a pattern of more eating and can schedule a fill before you gain weight from it. also, my doctor says as a general rule, if you can eat more than 1/2 of a sandwich with bread then you need a fill. you should only be able to take about 10 bites. i'm not quite there yet, and i'm not stopping until i am. i'm a slow loser, and i need all the help i can get. funny thing is i drop the lbs fast. 4 weeks after surgery down 12 lbs, 6 weeks after surgery down 4 lbs (gained 9), 10 weeks after surgery 2 lbs over presurgery weight (gained 6), 12 weeks down 2 lbs (but i had lost 10 the first week..so igained back 8)...wth?

i was told too that we cannot absord more than 20 or 30 grams of Protein at a time. also, my doctor, and again each one is different, says absolutely NO Protein drinks after you are on solid foods. which if you look at protien content, your much better off to eat some skinless chicken, and it will keep you full much longer. and when you are in the liquid phase, it's not too bad when you puree up some chicken. the rotisserie style is really good. i HATE protein drinks, but when i get a fill, i drink the slim-fast low carb diet drinks. It has 190 calories and 20 grams of protein, which is a perfect ratio, and it only has 6 carbs, with 4 grams of dietary Fiber, only 1 sugar carb. make sure you get that protein though. i haven't been, and i'm starting to get a little widow's peak. your hair will fall out if you do not eat enough protein (at least that is what my doctor keeps telling me).

one more thing regarding the diet comment. if you do not want to gain weight back that you may have already lost, it is absolutely important that you diet until you have restriction. i did not diet, i cannot diet, i am very weak minded, when i diet, i end up eating 10 more times the crap food. so i gained back the 12 lbs that i lost right after surgery and then 2 more. now, that i have restriction, i do not need to diet, i just really don't care what i eat, so it's easier to eat healthier stuff. it is truly amazing when you get restriction. at least it has been for me. for instance, this morning i cooked pancakes and sausage for Breakfast before work (son's b-day)..i didn't even care that i couldn't have it (i'm on liquids)..my first fill that would have killed me. and the same with the birthday cake that i baked.

when i was really loose, the 100 calorie packs were life savers. honestly, now that i am tighter, i don't really want them. weird, but good. i did have a craving for rolls last week (before my 3rd fill). i ate 2 of them like a dummy, and they went down fine, but when i went to take a drink 30 minutes later (instead of an hour), all the liquid came back up and it was extremely uncomfortable. (i have a harder time keeping liquids down than food, i pb drinks a lot, but i have never pb'd food). anyways, i could eat bread, too. my doctor believes that bread should only be eaten if you find that you are really hungry between meals, and you are eating dense foods. then you can eat some bread, as it will act like a sponge and expand and keep you full. however, for some, it is definately a trigger food. and when i was loose, i found that i could not eat 1 100 calorie pack (of the carrot cake), i always had 2. now, i think i would choke on 2..lol. so, it is really an individual thing. as is with all food and the band. except don't eat sugar. and make sure if you are eating bread that it is whole grain.

thanks, sorry that i didn't see that before.

010308-- one more thing that i wanted to say. i too have thought about sitting him down and letting him read some things on here, but dh would be seriously offended if he knew that i was telling these things. i guess that makes it bad that i am, but i need to get it out. i don't want to tell my friends, because that is a little too personal. he knows i talk about things, and once he even saw a post regarding our fight. he blew up. then he realized that i was serious, and he surprised me by cleaning up and doing some x-mas decor. so i guess it was a benefit, but the blow up was bad, i was glad i had somewhere to be.

010308- just let me say that i have to agree with you 190% on everything that you say. i feel like you are me talking. crazy. and the thing is..my hubby does "try" to help out around the house, some..but not often. and in his case, he works about 60 hours a week, so it is my job. well..damn it..by the time you add up the freakin' laundry and other stuff i do, i work about 80. so..i've quit. the house is a mess..we walk over our laundry, i was my son and my clothes the night before, and it is driving both of us mad. eventually, hopefully, i will not be so stubborn and we can have our clean home back, but for now..it is not my job. i did not sign that agreement. he has been trying to cook more lately though, and he should, he gets off at 3 and i get off at 5, it just makes sense. you cook it, i clean it. that turns me on..when he cooks. however..the painful sex thing. when i read your story about after the birth of your child, i relate completely. except for me..it is always painful. always. and the reason is, i cannot handle rough, fast, deep sex, unless i have had a significant amount of fourplay before hand. well, that is the only way he can finish, and once we start going fast, i will not climax. i have an orgasm maybe twice a year (unless i do it to myself, i can do that in about 30 seconds..no penetration). that of course, makes me not really want to do it anymore. he tries to slow down, or hold it for a minute to see if that pain will go away. but it doesn't, and i don't always tell him, because i want him to enjoy it. so..it sets up this awful cycle. recently in the last few months, i have just been very blunt with him.."no i don't want to have sex, because there is no foreplay for me, and it is all about you". after several arguments that way, (and him telling me that he needs me to do things for him too ...i have to give him head..ALL THE TIME..and i get sick of it..that does not turn me on. me bobbing my head, getting a cramp in my neck, and then getting banged to death while it hurts. wtf?? not fun. i need some cunnilingus..lol..some passion..some rubbing..some kissing. then..i'll be ready. he's figuring that out slowly. the other night..he really surprised me.

i'm 5'2" and i can't really remember how much i weigh right now. it fluctuates sooo much, and it isn't going down much, so i'll say it is now 222. :tt1: I wear either a 16 W or an 18 W and an XL/L top. (Mostly 16W and XL). my goal weight is to be around 120. After i had my son, i weighed 130 and i looked good, felt good, etc. So, i would like to be there again. i am really wide though, even at 130 i wore a size 9. so...doubt i'll be getting into a 2. (i'm also a very muscular person, but right now i have HUGE thighs)

that it isn't uncommon. i'm getting more than used to that question. my doctor hasn't really seemed concerned. he says the weight loss will happen when i find restriction. The 2 lbs that i lost were from my last fill. so..maybe i'm getting there. Also, i had lost 12 lbs, before moving to solids, then i missed one of my fills, so it all came back, then i gained 2 one week. so my overall loss is 2 lbs. i try not to stress about it. i'm eating less. now i just need to exercise. i don't know what is up with my body.

i just went and had a blood test drawn today. i will find out tomorrow. i wouldn't say that i am trying to get pregnant. i was taking birth control until i had no period (i continued after i had the 4 hour period). then, i haven't started taking it again. i don't think i will either. i think i feel better not being on it. but..who knows. however, i do secretly want to get pregnant, but just some day, not right now. we already have a 6 year old. so, i don't know if i want it bad enough for the head games. nonetheless, i have had a blood test done, and i have scheduled a gyno appointment. :tt1: ...so is the nipple tingly thing a symptom...or is it just something weird. i haven't noticed darkening areola's.