shoegirlia

I am having this problem now. Persistent hacking cough that my family doctor can't correct with antibiotics and cough medicene. I am starting to think it is band related. What was your outcome?

I am having this problem right now. I thought it was a summer cold so I went to my family doctor but now I am wondering if it is something band related. I have this terrible hacking that has been going on for three weeks. What was your outcome??

I keep these and a 1/4 cup measuring cup in my purse!!!

My doctor gave me a card that he wrote on that says I have a medical reason for needing to order kids meals. I show that at restaurants when they give me crap for ordering off the kids menu

HA HA!! THis is very funny to me because I work with all men and they had an intervention with me because they thought I had an eating disorder:thumbup:

I am confused and looking for details. Had a fill today because I have been stuck at the same weight for 2 months. I have been getting sick periodicially (about once a week) but I thought that was due to me not chewing well enough. I learned during my barium drink today that my pouch has increased in size about 20% since my last visit. I am very frustrated because I have been following the rules. I keep a freaking measuring cup in my purse in case I go out to eat... So is my pouch being bigger considered slippage?? Because if so, they filled me today.. Should I be concerned and ask them to unfill me to correct it? I am really confused...

If the tea has caffeine, then yes you are drying yourself out.

WAY TO GO!!! I am at the 6 month mark and am over halfway to my goal with 80 lbs of me left in the dust. I flew on an airplane last week and I could not believe how much of the seatbelt strap I had to tighten. Before- I would just pray that it would click so I wouldn't have to ask for an extender :thumbup: It was awesome!!!

:help:I got my period this morning for the first time (Day 16 for me) and I was absolutely miserable for 3 hours this morning. Normally I am just bloated and crampy and I haven't been on the pill for over a year so that is my norm. Today, I had unstoppable bowel movements and kept trying to vomit- hadn't eaten yet so not productive. I was sweating profusely everywhere and I was sweating so much on my face that my fiance thought I had put Water on it. I was in a lot of pain and was extremely dizzy. I crushed up a bunch of midol after my calling my doc (who didn't seem concerned) and feel much better after taking them. Has anyone else had this or I am just weird?

(Sorry but reading this and a couple other postings makes me want to give a reality check )You are asking someone to cut you open and install a foreign object around one of your major organs. Call me crazy but this is major surgery!!!! People have died from having a lap band put in. Why would you want to do anything to risk a bad outcome? You should follow whatever your doctor tells you to do to the T. No excuses. My doctor scared me enough for me to respect the procedure and his requests. The only thing cheating does is increase your risk of complications. They don't give you restrictions just to be evil- they want you to have a good outcome. Yes every doctor is different but follow what YOUR doctor says as s/he is the one cutting you open. If you can't/don't want to follow instructions, you should postpone the surgery and re-evaluate why you wanted to get it done in the first place. I have been on only liquids for a month and just switched to mush foods a couple days ago and I can honestly say I haven't cheated once even with the holidays. Yes- it sucks and that doesn't make me perfect, it makes me dedicated to doing my part to ensure I limit my risk for complications as much as possible.

My doctor sat me down, like he does every patient before surgery and made me tell him why I was getting this done, beyond just loosing weight. What will weighing less allow you to accomplish? What would make me want to make such a drastic choice? It was a very emotional conversation as I gave him my reasons and he said now everytime you are faced with an urge to make a bad choice, remember the reasons you just said and ask yourself how that choice will help get you there. I know some it is psychological BS but I have found it really works There isn't a magic potient- you have to make the right choices on a daily (hourly or minute by minute) basis to make this thing you had installed inside you work. Everytime you want a cheeseburger- think of what made you get the band and ask yourself how a cheeseburger is going to help make that goal happen? No one's perfect but keep your eye on the prize, whatever that is to you, and the choices will get easier!

Hang in there!! It gets better. I agree with the walking recommendation. Walking, heating pag and gas-x mostly did it for me... I did have to re-visit the pain meds on day 4 when the gas pain became unbearable but it does go away. Mine morphed into more annoying levels of pain in my back and shoulder after day 4. But it never reached the doubling over in tears level it did on my fourth day.

I was on full liquids for two weeks prior to surgery. My fill liquids restricted milk products. I could drink propel, protein shakes (40g per day), gatorade, chicken broth and restricted amounts of jello (1/2c per day) and no sugar added fruit juice (1c/day). the goal was to make my liver smaller, not to loose weight.

My nutritionist also sd it is impossible to get all the protein that you need a day just from food. I drink one each night with milk right now. I get 22 grams of protein from one scoop which I mix with 1/2c skim milk. it is chocolate flavored and actually tastes pretty good. 116 Calories from the powder with 3g carb. It is called Maximum Protein and I get it GNC.

I have used Neutrogena scar patches before and they worked well for me. I plan to use them this time as well. I haven't started them yet but plan too soon- mostly concerned about the port scar.

GREAT JOB!! That is fantastic progress I was just banded on 12/20 and started in 22/24's so I hope to join you in "normal" sizes next summer!

I had more annoyance, not major, level pain for a couple days once I took off my steri strips on day 13. It went away though now and only it bothered when it gets bumped. If it is really bothering you, I would call your doc. I have read about people's port sites getting flipped or infected- Neither of which is a good!!

No cathetar here.. I bought a Rubbermaid 64oz Sipper bottle at Target that I carry with my everywhere. I found that helpful b/c it holds a lot but also gets you in sipping mode which is good for post op.

OH and I did stay overnight- I think that different surgeons just want different things. I had the things on the legs- they aren't bad and actually I thought felt kind of good- like a massage And I couldn't drink until the next morning-no ice chips, no wet swabs, no wet washclothes- Nothing Ask for mouth balm if they have it. That really helped. It is like lip balm but you put it in your mouth so it doesn't get so dry.

I didn't have pain at all in recovery. I did have nauseau though pretty bad. Kept trying to throw up even though there was nothing to vomit. I have had anesthesia before and never had a reaction so they weren't sure what caused it. I was in recovery for 3 hours until they got the nausea under control. They put a patch behind my ear that kept me from feeling sick for the next three days. It was great for the ride home. The worst part was getting out of bed. I had a morphine drip I could control myself and that helped. But I was up and walking 5 hours after surgery. I was dilligent about getting my butt out of bed, even though it did hurt, and pacing the halls as much as they would let me. I credit that with why I had such a quick recovery. The worst day for me was day 4 when I had lots of gas pain but other than that it wasn't bad at all. I only took my percacet for two days and then switched to tylenol. I am at two weeks out today and haven't been in pain since day 4. I have just started eating mush foods as I had to do two weeks liquids per dr's orders and I feel great. I hope yours goes as smoothly as mine did

My Doctor says a minimum of 30 grams of protein. Having protein will help your body heal and you will feel better faster. I drink a bottle of Isopure each day. You can get it at a GNC store or online. It is already pre-mixed so it is easier to drink than a mix, at least in my opinion. I was banded on the 20th and was told focus on hydration and protein for the first few days. So I am alternating between gatorade and my protein drink. I will probably add a little chicken broth tomorrow.

I completely agree! Isopure tastes like kool-aid. You can order at GNC.com and have it delivered right to your door. I am supposed to drink one of these bottles every day- Gives me 40g protein. There are many different flavors so I haven't been bored yet. I am also on 4 weeks clear liquids!

BODYBUGG :: HOW IT WORKS It is a device you can use that tracks calories in and calories out. I don't have one yet but it looks like it would be another great tool to have on this journey to goal weight.

I am doing pretty well actually. Minimal pain except for getting up and down- Sitting on the toilet is the worst but even that is getting better. I have been walking quite a bit (400 steps 4 times a day is my current goal). Right after surgery, I kept trying to throw up but they gave me lots of anti-nausea and then put a patch on my ear for when I came home. Haven't had problems since even during my hour and half car ride home. My doc said gas-x wouldnt help either but oh my gosh it makes you feel so much better!! I also tried the pepermint tea someone recommened on here and that helped too. Mostly I am extremely bloated. If found sitting up makes me feel better and it is easier to get up and down than when you are laying completely flat. I will post more tomorrow. This isn't anywhere near as bad for recovery as I expected it to be!!!

:clap2:had surgery thursday.. Got to see the band this morning as they did contrast x-rays before they would let me drink anything...It was very different to see that wrapped around my stomach. I am uncomfortable and getting up and down isn't much fun but other than that I am doing oK. But then again I am sure the morphine they were pumping into me helped out quite a bit. I have gas-x and peppermint tea to help out with the pressure.. My shoulder hurts but from reading on here- it is just gas. WIsh me luck ladies and I will catch up later this week when I am little better.