Poodles

I go for my fill tomorrow. Went to Bennigans and ate 1/4 of a monte cristo sandwich and potato soup. It was YUMMY! But yeah, I know it was not the best choice in the world. Figure with my fill tomorrow and liquids for 24-48 hours after that I deserved a little treat. I was stuffed with that, so I am wondering just how much of a fill I need. Will find out tomorrow under floro. Hope all is going well with all of you. Will let you know what fill level I am at tomorrow!

Ok here is my update regarding http://www.smokymountainminerals.com/ It is inexpensive and it works. I bought the 7 piece sample pack and love it. It has kind of a matte finish to it, but the mineral veil helps that. I use the bronzer as eye makeup. Have had no breakouts, and actually love how I look now. Since I have not worn makeup in forever, it makes me feel pretty. For under $25.00 it was worth a shot.

I love reading these articles. My favorite quote so far: "Therefore, we believe that LAGB should be considered the initial approach since it is safer than RYGB and is very effective at achieving weight loss." -Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: ends justify the means? Thank you Dr. C for the information!

Hey, I have been searching around and it seems that I have first bite syndrome. You guys may want to search for that too if you notice PBing first thing... just an FYI

Another full blown PB attack. Well Hell. I had another one. This time on ground turkey. First thing I ate this morning. I think I am too tight in the AM, because in the evening I am fine. Guess I am on mushies/liquids again today. Even though liquids and mushies go down easily at least they are "safe". I really don't think I need a fill now. Just need to figure out what solid foods I can eat. Take it easy guys/gals. Don't rush to solids too fast. They fight back!

You need to sip so things can go thru smoothly. First thing, you will have alot of swelling. Then as things settle down you will crave/want more. The first week, I honestly could not do more than sip. Guess they want you to take it easy, so you don't throw up a bunch of water/jello/whatever. I have also read that it is like a funnel, and you don't want to over fill the funnel. Drink 4 oz, wait 10 minutes, drink 4 oz more. Then see how you feel. At a month out I can drink 16 oz no problem, but I still try not to gulp. I drink it ice cold, and can FEEL it pool on top of my band and flow thru. Creepy but neat. I have asked if you can stretch your pouch on liquids and mushies, and have been told it is highly unlikely. Put myself back on liquids/mushies today after my first PB. Feeling better tonight. :confused:

I have also read about "hybrid" surgeries. Those with failed bypass going in and getting the band on top of that. So you end up restricted with all the other complications. Personally, I will take my chances with the band. I worked at a bariatric clinic one summer, and saw all the "behind the scenes" things with bypass. Trust me it is not pretty, and I want no part of that. If the band allows me to lose 50% of my excess weight, that is more than I can do on my own.

You have the cutest toes ever... AND the best number on that scale. I can't wait to see that number one of these days! Keep up the great work!

I told my OBGYN first and asked his opinion since he has been my doctor for the longest time. He had several patients that have it and totally recommended it for me since I have been large for so long. Then I went to my PCP and asked him his opinion on it. Told him I had been doing some research on the subject, and brought him the name/number/resume of the doctor I chose. Turned out that he went to the same school as Dr. B. He said that it really depends on how you work the band, and if you are prone to cheat that it would not work... however, he said it was worth a try since I have so many co-morbidities. You should feel comfortable with your doctors. You ask them about everything else, so why not the band? Just approach it like this: "Hey, I have been doing some research on the lap-band. Do you have any opinions on it? Do you recommend it? Would you recommend it for me?" And then go from there. It took me 8 months from first appointment to surgery. Good luck!

Yep it was a rotisierie chicken from Walmart that got me. I felt horrible. I have been drinking liquids since. Sucks that the first two bites I took today put me on liquids the rest of the day, but oh well. Chicken is the enemy!

IMHO... Number 1 will get the guy vote. Number 3 would get my comfy vote. Do you do heels at all? 4 1/2 inch spiked heels with the #1 outfit would get my hubby to drool... Or, you could wear # 1 top with black capris and what ever shoes. Heck, just bring out one of you Scarbourogh Faire outfits and wench it up! Another thought, since it is a Video Game thing... can you pick one and go with the "theme". Example: For a war game the cammo/boots, etc. Your SF outfits would go with Mario. (Damn I am out of touch with the Video Game world.)

Ok... I was brave today and tried chicken. After two bites I felt miserable and I actually had my first PB. Hurt badly, so don't think I'll be doing that again soon. Really wondering if I need a fill, if I go to solids, I should be restricted. Everything else is going well. My port side is feeling better, and my hernia surgery is feeling better, so I should be 100% soon! Glad to see everyone is doing well. Yeah June Bandsters!

If I don't drink my Isopure shake in the morning, I am hungry all day. Guess that will be my mainstay for a while. Since I start the day off with that, I do better. Still only down 12 lbs, but have not gained. I have my first fill on the 11th, if they can get it precertified.... stupid people. (I won't even get started on that... have had the appointment for over a month and they just sent the paperwork in today.) Anyway, I am ready for my fill! Sure my portions will be smaller after that. I did eat a South Beach Diet Bar today, and could not get the whole thing down. Was really full. Guess that is good! Have a great day all!

Ok, so I was banded yesterday. Last night and this morning my tummy is growling. Dr. B put me on broth and Water and gatorade for two days, yesterday and today. I am sip sip sipping broth right now to try and calm the rummblie in my tummy, but don't know what else to do. Is the growling normal? Do I need to worry? Is it as bad as getting sick? I am just worried that the "movement" will make my band slip or something.

I think it is because when you chew them they turn to mush. Chips work too... but uhhhmmm, we are not supposed to eat them.

Banded June 5th, on Soft Foods now. Wanting to stay low carb, but it is really hard. Have been eating canned Soups, Jello pudding (sugar free), SF ice cream, mashed potatoes, etc... eggs do not work. I have not lost any weight in the past two weeks. Today I made tuna with mayo. Ate three bites and felt "restricted" so I stopped. Tonight I ate a can of Soup and got the whole can of Progresso down with no problem. My guess is I am restricted if I eat the hard foods and skip the liquids. Really tempted to do the tuna/chicken salad for a few days to see if I am restricted, but want to know quantities. So basically, 1/2 cup or under? If I am restricted, what is the limit on soups and stuff? I can literally eat a ton of soup/ice cream with no restricted feeling at all. I know that is wrong, :help:

This is what my doctor includes as soft diet: STAGE III – SOFT DIET *Soft fruit (banana, melon, strawberries) *Cooked vegetables and fresh green vegetables *Soft Pasta (well chewed) *eggs *Toast or crackers That is on top of the mushies, cottage cheese, grits, mashed potatoes and such...

Regarding Water. I have read that you need to take your weight and divide it by 2.2 and that is how many ounces of water you need to drink a day. I would need to drink a gallon of water a day for my weight. I have actually tried it, and feel absolutely wonderful when I can get that much down, but as a teacher that is impractical for me. I can only go potty before school, at lunch, and after school so that is way too much water for me. Now that it is summer time, I have been trying to get in at least 64 ounces of pure water. There is some debate on water vs. other drinks. My doctor says only WATER counts as WATER no crystal light or other things. If the kidneys have to filter things out of the liquid it does not count. If the WATER washes things out of the kidneys it counts. I can understand that. As for constipation, I use the powder Super Colon Cleanse. It works well, and does not taste too bad. Just use a little bit every day though, because it WORKS and quickly.

Uhmm, post band right after surgery, I loved the shaved ice snow cone things. Too much sugar, I know, but the ice felt soooo goooood on my tummy.

I think I am restricted and have just been doing things wrong. Today I drank a Protein shake for Breakfast and got the whole thing down (16 oz). Drank 20 oz Water bottle, waited 30 minutes and then sat down to eat Wendy's Chili. Ate very slowly and was full with only half of the serving. I am really anxious about the ease of things going thru the band. If I am "restricted" and can still get so much down, I am in trouble.

My port area still hurts. I think it is normal. From what I have read that is the area that takes the longest to heal. If it is sticking out I would ask the doctor. It may just be swelling, but it does not hurt to ask. Hope your pain meds/ Tylenol help. :love:

I put a thread on here about the tummy growling. Everyone says it is normal and to get used to it. Our tummy thinks it needs more, because we have been giving it more for years. For nausea, I have been using phenagren when it gets really bad. I drink milk to settle an empty tummy. The port pain is normal. We have a device in there that our body is not used to. It will take more time to heal on that side since we have it stitched in and such. Most people say it will take 3+ weeks. Mine still hurts and I am almost a month out. So that is normal. Don't worry June Bugs! We are all "normal". Too bad our definition of normal is: Sore, starving, and waiting for a fill! :love:

Did I count that right???? 81 New June Bandsters???!!!! Yeah! We rock!!!

Right after my surgery I would get ONE hiccup and then it would stop. Read somewhere it is because they stitch things to the diaphram so it starts to spasm when we eat. Mine went away about 3 weeks post op.

Leila: That is so true. I still wonder how I will know if I need a fill on the 11th? I am not suppose to eat solids until after that. They are going to do it under floro so they can tell that I guess. Fills should be a huge topic for July! Can not wait for mine. Hoping that it will feel kind of like what it did when I was swollen. I couldn't eat much then... even liquids.