kjillcarr

Janet, I just got my first fill this morning--it was 1.75 cc. Is that about the normal for a first fill. I am supposed to stay on liquids for two days so I don't know about any restriction as of yet. This fill was not a problem even though I did have to have two sticks. The pain is very minimal. Jill

Hi Janet and everyone-- I get my first fill on Friday and looking forward to it. I have lost nearly 18 lbs since June 10th and hope that once I get a fill the weight will come off a little faster. I have been exercising 3 times a week--just moderate but to me it is hard. I seem to have some restriction now but I am thinking it may be that I am not chewing my food enough and it just seems like I am full. I have not thrown up at all but do have a lot of internal burping. I use www.dailyplate.com each day and just got a congratualtory notice for using it for 30 consecutive days. It is a very big help in educating me on the calories of something and to help monitor what I am eating and helping me understand better choices. Everyone should use it or one similar. Two more days and then my fill!!! Thanks for all your encouragement!!

Why is my name the nly one in red?

Glad to hear your surgery went so well--on you way home by 10:30 WOW!! Hopefully you are planning on attending the exercise program at St. Mary's. It is a great program and you get a very personal training process. You can attend for 6 weeks as part of the lapband program and then decide if you wish to stay on or go somewhere else. I can tell you that I would never be walking as far or as fast as I am on the treadmill if I didn't have someone monitoring me like they do. It is like having your own personal trainer. maybe I will see you there one day.

Forget to mentioned--down another 1.8 lbs.

Hi Janet, Went to my family doctor for a routine check-up with bloodwork to decide it my medicine needs to be changed. My diabetes medicine has been cut in half. My B/P is very good but he is still keeping me on the meds for a while longer. I did have an issue with the kidney function tests. Two were very bad and they never have been before. He is thinking that because I had the two doses of IV drugs within two weeks (one surgery was post-poned at the very last minute) and all the diet changes, as well as, the stress of surgery may have played a role in the test results. He told me to drink a lot of Water and scheduled me for more blood tests in two months. Did you or anyone on the forum have any kidney issues after surgery?

I forgot to say that I have been exercising. The lapband program here includes 6 weeks of a personal trainer through the cadiac rehab facility. After the first six weeks you can continue for a nominal fee and it is a very good deal. I have gone since 1 week after surgery and I am amazed at how far I have progressed. I started out at 15 minutes on a treadmill and then 15 on a bike. I am in my third week and I am up to 40 minutes on a treadmill at 2.7 mph and 30 minutes on a bike and then 1/2 hour of free weights. This may not seem like a lot to some of you but if you knew how much I did not like to exercise you would be shocked to see me sweating. Exercising via this venue is making me more accountable. The trainer monitors you and takes BP and heart rate, etc. I am not saying that I love it even now but hopefully I will grow to really enjoy it. I think if I was at a gym or YMCA by myself I would have quit after a few minutes and never made it to 40 minutes This is the perfect opportunity for me to help myself be successful.

Hello everyone, Glad to hear everyone had a nice holiday--so did I. I got to start on a regular diet on yesterday. I thought I was looking forward to it for the variety but I am still turning to the food I have been having--like oatmeal and Protein shakes. I need to eat more bulky foods. I don't know if it is just fear or worry that I will gain weight after losing on the mushies. Anyone been in the same situation when real food was ok?

Hi all you Louisvillians, As I said before, I had Dr. Schuster (very young looking--I think someone said he is 32) and my surgery was June 10th. I cannot be more pleased with the entire process. I had been scheduled for May 27th and it was postponed for two weeks. I was ready to go into surgery and Dr. Schuster was not happy with the barium swallow results. He was not the one who checked the test results the week prior to surgery. He and the anesthesiologist thought it was best to have a couple more tests before the surgery took place. I had a catscan and an EGD (a light down my throat/esophagus) and found out a bronchial tube was sticking into my esophagus. I was then scheduled for surgery two weeks later. I just felt that Dr. Schuster had my best interests at heart and instead of just rushing me through the surgery he did the right thing to make sure my surgery was successful. I had surgery at 8:30 am and was home at 1:30 pm. I had medium to servere pain for 4-5 days but pain medicine and resting took care of most of it. Most of my pain was on my left side and in my chest (gas pains). I have not had any problems with eating and have kept entirely on the diet plan. It has not been difficult at all. Tomorrow I get to eat a regular diet and I am looking forward to more of a variety. I do have some restriction and I can certainly tell when I have had enough to eat. My biggest problem is not chewing enough but I am learning quite quickly as it is painful if it is not chewed enough. I have not vomited at all but had internal burps which I thought could lead to vomiting. Drinking when you eat is also a habit hard to break. My motto is "one day at a time". I am very glad I had the surgery and was very happy with the entire process at St Mary and Elizabeth and the Louisville Surgical Associates. I recommend them highly.

Hi, My surgery was June 10th with Dr. Schuster. He is great and I am doing great and so glad I had it done. Best of luck with yours.

I was scheduled for yesterday, May 27th, and was just about to go into the operating room when the surgeon told me he was not comfortable with something on the barium swallow test. It was a vascular compression on the esophagus. Two doctors had viewed the test results and no one had mentioned anything. My surgeon had not viewed the tests prior to the day of surgery. I was totally expecting to have the surgery but after discussion with the doctor and the anethesiologist and my daughter who is a RN we decided to have a couple more tests to determine just what was pressing on my esophagus--it is a bronchial tube--and seems to be nothing to worry about. I am so glad my surgeon was so careful with my life. I am now scheduled to have the surgery on June 10th. The excitement begins again. My doctor is Bryce Schuster, Louisville, Ky I have Insurance approval.

I had been thinking about lapband for a while as a couple of co-workers have had it done and were doing well. I spoke with my family doctor and he advised me to go to a seminar. I did and filled out the paperwork and got approved. A requirement is to watch a video explaining all about the lapband. My husband knew about what I was doing but didn't say much. What is funny is that my husband saw a report on TV about the lapband and being able to get off a lot of medicine if you have the surgery and told me about it. I mentioned that I wanted him to view the video and he did. Afterwards he said to me, "are you sure you want to give up so much?". I tolld him that I wanted his support and that my mind was made up. He didn't go to the hospital with me--I asked my daughter who is a nurse to go--he seemed relieved when I told him that she was going with me. He is obsessed with his job so he was glad he didn't have to ask off. I actually stayed at my daughters house for two nights. He did call the first night to see how I was but not the second night. It has been three weeks now and he has asked a couple of questions but doesn't seem too interested. It has been difficult to finally do something for me and not to care what he or others think about the process. I am so glad I had it done and I look forward to my new life with or without him playing a part in it.

I was talking with a personal trainer a couple of weeks ago and he said that you should consume 1200 calories a day in order for your body to not go into a slowdown. He said anything much below that point causes your metabolism to start slowing down. I have been recording my calories on dailyplate.com and using 1200 as a goal and my weight is gradually dropping. It has been three weeks and I have lost 14 lbs. I am exercising an hour twice a week and walking on some of the other days for a mile or so. Not real strenuous but at least something to begin the process with. I was not a big exerciser prior to lapband. I hope to do better each day now that I at least have the two day process going on. I find that using dailyplate is a terrific way for me to monitor my eating and exercise goals. Give it a try.

For a wonderful treat go to Taco Bell and get their Pintos and Cheese. They are 160 calories and a lot of protein. I put a little fat free sour cream and top and thought I was in 'food heaven". They are really helping me in that third and fourth week of semi-mushie food. I also have made tuna salad and baked some catfish. Watermelon is also very good right now.

I have told my husband and children and grandchildren but not any other family members. I have also told some at work as there are three others that have had lapband. The "news" spread quite fast at work and now a lot of them know but I only have one person the asks me every day how much I have lost. I need to come up with some cute thing to say to her that will stop her from asking each day. Now I know how the other guys felt when I asked them how much they had lost. Why do we do that?????

A lumbar puncture is the next step if the doctor thinks he needs to. I had a vision test and a MRI of my neck also and they were ok. I have an appointment in July and he told me he will do another MRI of my brain to see if there are any changes. I think my age is one reason he is reluctant to say it is MS as I am 62. Most cases I have heard of are diagnosed much earlier--it is all so confusing.

Like I said earlier, I haven't been officially diagnosed with MS but I did have an MRI and there were a bunch of "white spots" all over my brain. My other symptons are fatigue and I have a terrible time getting to sleep as my arms and legs just won't relax and I seem to have to keep moving them. sometime for hours and hours. I also have a hard time putting one leg in front of the other. I feel like I need to have someone push me along when I walk. This doesn't happen all the time but often. I also have recently not dealt with hot weather very well and I always used to say "I love hot weather"--now I really don't like it as much. I sure hope I don't have MS but I don't know if the alternative is much better. I just had my lapband on June 10th and have lost 12 lbs--the MS/stroke possiblity was the deciding factor for me to want to have the lapband. Plus I do have diabetes and high blood pressure and take way too much medicine. Thanks to everyone who has responded. I have really learned a lot.

Hi Janet, Double congratulations!! On the 100 lbs and on being asked for the Advisory Board. You need to be really proud of yourself!!! I know I am proud of you and also very glad that you are my mentor. I am working on the exercise criteria. I went for a walk with my daughter last night and I was quite surprised I was soooo out of shape. She made excuses for me saying "you are ok, you just had surgery, you will gain more stamina as you heal". I know she is partly right but I was kind of ashamed that I was really tired after a 1 mile walk (with a few hilly areas). I am doing good on my diet and using dailyplate.com every day. Thank you for the catfish ideas for being so prompt in answeringing our concerns and questions. Have a great time at the Winn--it is a beautiful casino. I was there a little over a year ago. And by the way I am a 62 year old mother of 3 daughters and grandmother of 5. Four GSs 14, 9, 8 and 8 and one GD who is 13. I work full time as the Manager, Customer Service for the USPS and also serve as a National VP of the National Association of Postal Supervisors. I am a busy individual and am looking forward to more eneregy and looking 10 years (at least) younger!!:biggrin2:

I was told that you lose hair because you don't eat enough good fats. My doctor agreed. I haven't lost any hair as of yet.

I have the pain on the left side (surgery was June 10). My doctor said it is from the doctors having to go through muscle with instruments, etc. and it will take time to heal. Most patients complain of it.

I haven't been offically diagnosed with MS--my doctor is saying it is MS or small strokes--both scare me. He won't rule out MS and I have had a bunch of tests. I will have another MRI of my brain in July. What symptoms did you have?

Hi Janet, Went for my first post-surgery checkup today and doctor was very happy with my 12 pound loss. He also located my port for me and told me my "restless" legs/arms situation is totally unrelated to the lapband. Since I have been exercising it could just be muscle related. He said to mention it to my family doctor it if continued. I also got scheduled for my first fill which is July 25. I noticed on your menu list that you eat a lot of catfish--how do you prepare it--is it fresh or frozen--do you spice it up??

Janet, It's two week today and all is pretty good. I am having two issues I wanted to ask you about. One is I cannot figure out where my port is but if I turn a certain way or bend a certain way I do get a sharp pain in the area I think it is. Would the sharp pain be normal? Also, I seem to be having a hard time getting to sleep. I thought it was because I was exercising and my muscles were rebelling but Sunday night it happened again and I didn't do any exercising. It seems my arms and legs just won't relax and all I do is constantly move around. I haven't gotten to sleep until 4-5 in the morning. I go to the doctor tomorrow and I am going to mention it but is this something that you have heard of before? I am not in pain or have any gas.

Janet, My doctor gave me a list of what food I can eat and when I can eat certain things but he didn't say anything about a specific number of Protein grams (two Protein shakes a day) or carbs or calories, etc. During the first four weeks of liquid, mushie and soft food is there a certain amount of protein I should get each day? Or any day for that matter? I read a lot in this forum that if you are tired you probably need more protein, etc. Is this something I need to monitor a little more?

I went to the hospital to start my exercise program yesterday and I have lost 10 lbs!!!!!! I did 15 minutes on a recumbant bike and another 15 minutes of some type of machine for arms. I am proud of myself. It is not much but it is a beginning. I go again on Friday. I was able to tolerate the oatmeal, eggs and cottage cheese quite well. I like the Campbells Soup at Hand , especially the chicken and Stars and the Cream of Chicken. You just heat and sip. All is going good so far.:drool: