PhotoNut

Happy Bandiversary and Grats on such a successful (even tho stressfu) year. How about some pictures now? *grins*

Yay! Noise and a party!!! *boogies down*

Hey Hope, I read this yesterday and decided to give it some thought before responding. So, here I am today. I hope your spirits are lifted somewhat and I hope we can band together to help lift them even more. Being over-filled can be very uncomfortable and can cause a lot of issues, as you have seen. The goal for your band should be to achieve enough restriction to comfortably eat about a cup of food, three times a day, and not be hungry between meals. You should also be able to eat a good selection of hard Proteins along with some fresh veggies and fruits. Oftentimes, when the restriction is too tight, people will begin to rely on softer foods which slow the weightloss. Softer foods tend to be higher in sugars and fats and they slip through the band easier so the volume of intake increases. Carbs are easily burned by the body, so you find yourself hungry again even though you have just eaten far more than you normally would. The big mistake at this point is when folks assume that because they can eat so much, they -must- need more fill! So off they go, telling the Dr that they can eat far too much and are hungry all the time, and then they return home with even more problems... such as getting stuck on even soft mushed up avacado. My Dr recently removed all of my fill after my complaints of pressure behind my breastplate, and of pains in my stomach and around my port. When he said he was going to take it out I just about panicked. I had heard stories of people regaining 20 pounds in a month after a complete unfill. However, he explained that he didnt want to play a guessing game with the fill - you know, take out .5cc, then maybe a bit more, nope that was too much, put some back in. He said he wanted to give things time to get over the irritation from being too tight and he wanted me to get back on hard proteins and get my body used to eating the right foods again before attempting more restriction. Ya know what? I'm still losing weight. I am now eating roast beef, steak, chicken, and fish. I ate a plum yesterday with the skin on! I don't get stuck on broccoli anymore. My weightloss has resumed it's normal 2 pounds per week and I'm not constantly in the kitchen eating cottage cheese out of the conatiner because I am always hungry, but not losing weight. So, I think that this has been the overall problem with your band. I can certainly see why it's been a frustration and why you'd be upset at even getting banded. However, there is hope, Hope! Take a few steps back. Get unfilled completely. Allow yourself a few days for the irritation to go down. Then slowly introduce moist meats into your daily diet. Serve your meals in very small containers. Glad makes disposable containers that are perfect for this. Put your cooked veggies in the container first, then lay your 4oz of meat on top. Eat all of the meat before eating the veggies. Then, give yourself about an hour after eating before you drink any fluids. Drinking after meals will break down the food and wash it through the band, leaving you with that hungry feeling again. After you have adjusted your diet to eat like this, then and only then, will you be able to judge if you need more restriction. If you are hungry between meals. If you are having to force yourself to stick to one cup of food at meal times, then you probably do need a fill. Have your Dr start out slowly, say .5cc. Then give yourself another couple of weeks to see how that really sits in. Sometimes, right after a fill, I swear I could eat more than before the fill. But after a few days, it seems as if the fill really "kicks in". So giving it time is important. Also, be sure to stay on liquids the first couple of days after a fill. Then carefully introduce your hard proteins back into your diet. You should be eating a minimum of 60 grams of Protein per day. And, you should have no problem achieving this with your hard proteins. If you'd like more specific suggestions on that, let me know. Anyway, I think if you try this you'll be pleasantly surprised at the results and much happier about your decision to get the band. Now, I know you said you are self pay, and approaching fills this way might cost you more, but keep in mind that you paid a LOT for that band and making it work correctly for you, so you can see the success you hoped for.. well, that is worth a few well planned trips to the fill Dr. Right? I hope this helped. I'll be thinking about ya and please let us know how you're doing. Sincerely :Banane59:

Hey Pinky, guess what I saw on that scale this morning? You guessed it! *laughs* Why oh why am I slacking off now when I'm so stinking close to 100 pounds gone and Onederland?? This is nuts! I'm the one cracking the whip over everyone else's head. The unforgiving, no excuses, queen of stick-to-it! *yawn* I feel so lazy about it all of a sudden. Someone light a fire under my arse! *laughs* And where's Funny? What about Telly? I'm having withdrawals ladies! Tricia K?? Yoohoo! Why's it so quiet around here?

C 220 (-87lbs total, -2 this week) :Cry:waaaah! I saw 218 last Friday, I swear I did! Where'd it go?? waaaah!:Cry:

Tickers are not LBT features. Those are created at sites such as www.tickerfactory.com and the code is just pasted into the signature lines here. There is a detailed post about how to create tickers for your signatures using tickerfactory. It is located in the Frequently Asked Questions Forum, but if you click on the link below.. that thread will open for you. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16218

I see ya, Mystjin. Sounds like you have a busy life going on, and true to my image of you.. there you are, being a sweetheart and brightening other people's days. You rock.. even if I haven't heard 'that voice'. *grins* I wound up on the couch taking a glorious 3 hour nap this evening. What better way to get through a hot August night. Ok, there are plenty of better ways but these meds I'm taking for hives knock me out after dinner. So what's everyone doing tonight then? Anyone still up for a hello and a hug? I've got plenty of each!

I said it on another thread today.. any excuse to buy new clothes! I've been taking mega doses of two different kinds of antihistimine and while I'm not broken out (at the moment) and not itching, I have been an agitated, hyper, frustrated, on edge, tense bitch all day. And now, I'm about ready to pass out on the couch for an hour. I hate the way these pills are affecting me, but a day without the hives is just about worth it. Speaking of.. its time for the next dose. Stand back everyone, this could get ugly. *snickers*

Ahh.. well, the day's winding down. I got Dawg to the dentist this afternoon. He gets to go in on Friday and be put under so they can remove four wisdom teeth. This guy's got roots like an oak tree apparently, so its night night for him while they remove those puppies. I enjoyed eating chicken and coleslaw while I leisurely read what everyone else was doing. It was great. Bottling your own wine, working in high rise buildings (yea, well anything over 3 stories is high rise in my book), going back to college, working out, planning vacations, celebrating anniversaries. *smiles* Life really is good, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing the day with me. It really felt nice to be just that much closer to ya. *hugs*

Copy and paste the text into Word or NotePad to save it. Then click in the siggy edit box and type Ctrl + A to select all, then hit delete and save changes. See if there is still a space. If not, retype the text you want in your siggy. Don't copy and paste, incase there are hidden formatting codes which aren't giving up the ghost. When in doubt, wipe it out and start all over again. hehe

60 grams should be the minimum amount of Protein you are getting right now and there are a couple of reasons why. First of all, you will be losing weight at a rapid pace because of the reduction of calorie intake. Muscle, or protein, is easier to burn for fuel than fat therefore your body will begin to burn your existing muscle mass unless you provide it with enough protein in the form of a suppliment. This is the same reason that body builders come straight home from a hard workout and down a Protein Shake. Also, protein is important for healing of torn, or cut, muscles and tissue. It also helps fight infection. Both of these will be very important for a quick and easy recovery after surgery. There are Proteins that are very low in quality and aren't absorbed well by the body. Be sure to use only whey proteins and avoid Soy proteins. If you are interested in reading more about proteins, check out this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14199

This thread started today. In fact, not too very long ago. *waves Hallooo to Vegas and Wheetsin* :wave: Happy Anniversary, Mr and Mrs Tommy O! I hope you two get to do something very special together today.

Without question I would do it again. This band has been my saving grace.

My friend LindaV had something similar. The antibiotics cleared it up. Have you been swimming or taking baths? Could be that the incision is just slow in healing due to something like that. Take the antibiotics and keep a close eye on it. If it doesnt start clearing up soon, get your arse down to see that Dr. A 4.5 hr drive is well worth prevention of a port infection! I'll be thinking about ya. Let us know how things progress, ok?

I suggest you have a peek at the following threads. Clicking on the links will open the threads in a new window. Best wishes in your journey. Keep us posted on how things are going for you. *hugs* Questions to ask prior to surgery: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595 Things to have on hand for post surgery: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14814 A very informative video which includes an actual lapband surgery (about an hour long): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3190472028990485080&q=lap+band

I was going to suggest Protein drinks as well. When you get home from the gym, you should down a good shake that's loaded with protein and good calories. It will keep you from losing muscle mass. Here's one I drank right after surgery: 1 Cup Skim milk (90 cal, 8g prot) 1 scoop strawberry whey Protein Suppliment (120 cal, 23g prot) 1/2 banana (50 cal) 1 can Slim Fast vanilla shake (180 cal, 10g prot) 1 tsp Splenda ---------------------------- total 440 cal, 41g protein So many variations can be made to these shakes. P-nut butter is a great addition, sf puddings can thicken and add great flavor. Get creative

Oh geeze hon! What the hell's wrong with that Dr? I dont know what that "fundoplication" is but I'm going to research it. Did you end up with the band? No? Oh I'd be so upset if I were in your shoes. I'm so sorry your hurting, but just keep focused on the fact that you will heal and the pain won't be there forever. Bless your heart. *hugs*

Aww Barb, I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. Raise a glass in Hilton Head to your friend. She'll be there with ya. *smiles* Heather *laughs* any excuse to buy new clothes!

Blj.. this is a wonderful place for support and friendship isnt it? I learned so much here before surgery just by staying glued to the computer and soaking up every word I could find here! Sally, I'd like to have gone on the cruise. So many of my dearest friends here are going. Money is limited tho, and an opportunity came up for a cruise in Feb that I just cant turn down. I'll be dying that week y'all are together, but you can take lots of pics .. and you can all talk about me since I wont be there. *winks*

Hey Mindy, I dont know if you've seen this list a bunch of us chipped in to put together for new folks.. if you haven't, be sure to print it out and take it with you. (click on the link below) These are questions you'll want answers to.. PRIOR to surgery. Best of luck to you. You've found a great place for support and friendship! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15595

Morning Lisa I hope you have a really nice dinner with your friend. Maudie.. doesnt that sound make you wish you were out there on a road trip? I dont think I'd pick Sturgis, but I'd sure be happy to be in Montana or Yellowstone today Ive been so home sick for real mountains. Terista, I love your smiling attituge hon. Even with PMS you radiate this loving heart right through the text. *hugs* Aaamom, have a wonderful week with your family. If you take any pics, share them when you get back. I'd love to see that part of the country. I've been/lived everwhere else in the continental US but never made it up to the NE.

Thanks for the sympathy ladies. It is much appreciated. And Reeizbooje I'm still looking for that thread. I'm open to any possibilities. These meds are making me sleep too much and I still look like I have some sort of disease. (Just found that thread. Not what I have at all. Bummer) Wow, Mo.. you are jogging?? I'm amazed and thrilled to hear that! I mean absolutely thrilled, woman!! *big hugs* Heather ma'girl, you are doing so great!! And.. Enjoy that concert Gurly! *sings* Let your love flow, like a mountain stream and let your love grow with the smallest of dreams, just let your love show and you'll know what I mean.. its the season!

A very happy birthday to each and everyone of you! Thpethially you NJChica

Cashley? You rock :scared: That said, damnit.. you put your trust in your Dr for your surgery. Stick with the faith. Who cares if you have a Dr who is strict on the post op diet? Just suck it up and do it! You'll have a hell of a weight loss to report after the month is over! *laughs* (yes Ive been drinking again.. so sue me )

Hey dang it! I'm in, I'm in!!