barbara9460

Anybody know of a group that meets more than just once a month? I'm finding that I would like people to talk to more often. I'm doing a lot of traveling to go to groups all around. I live in the Clearwater/Safety Harbor area and would really like to find a group close by. If there are enough of us who would commit, maybe we can start our own group. Best! Barbara

For some reason the site wouldn't let me on... could be the server at work. Another good bariatric vitamin is at www.bariatricadvantage.com. Lots of variations and different vites. Barbara

Hi Banded Butterfly! I had my surgery done by Dr. Krish at FOSA. Maybe I'll meet you tonight at the support group meeting? I sure hope so. Same goes to you Alice150. I hope to meet both of you. We need to support each other. Alice, I know it's hard with the long distance thing, so whenever you need a friend, just PM me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Happy Days! Barbara

Hi Jennifer. You know, I understand what you're going through, though I haven't had my band long enough to get a fill yet. I can't wait because I am hungry all the time. Bandster hell is right. I noticed the above statement in your post. That statement is part of the problem we all have... "what I would normally eat" is not normal for us anymore - and let's face it - it wasn't normal before surgery either! We didn't get fat eating normally! If you can do the exercise then do it. At least walk. I'm having a hard time with exercise because of a brace on my leg and asthma that's currently kicking my butt, but I bought a set of bike pedals from Walmart online that I can use for my legs and my arms so that I can do at least some cardio exercise inside the house. If you do cardio and weights, then your metabolism will pick up. Muscle causes higher metabolism. It's not a good thing to lose too fast. It's expected that we will lose 1 to 2 pounds per week with some weeks not losing at all. I would also say to take a look at what you're eating. I just basically decided that pizza is not something that I will ever eat again, because that's why I got the band - to help me learn to eat right. I hope that things turn around for you, but please don't rush yourself! Eat healthy and exercise and soon we'll see less of you! :confused: Barbara

:thumbup:I'm having the same problem, but let me tell you MY story... I was on 15 days of Optifast and Clear Liquids BEFORE surgery. Afterwards, 10 days of clear liquids; Now, just starting my second of THREE weeks of full liquids. Then, finally, I can have mushies. It's called Bandster Hell for a reason. This is a very hard time. I will tell you that if you do eat, especially this soon after your surgery, you could cause your band to slip and could have vomiting and other problems. DO NOT EAT!!!! Go to a support meeting, go for a walk, do something to keep yourselves from eating. Everybody here is very supportive because we've all been through it. Just keep up the good work and don't eat. Call your doctor if you need to for advice. And drink as much liquids as you can. You need at least 64 ounces a day of non-caffienated drinks. Best of Luck! Barbara

I have redness and it's been three weeks tomorrow. It's not like infection red - just "I've been cut and am scabbed" redness. It's just along the edges of the incision. If your redness expands or grows outward- CALL THE DOCTOR! Those can be signs of infections - along with red streaks. Best of luck, Barbara

Don't know if it's a help or not, but when you're under 800 calories your body goes into starvation mode and you don't lose weight after a time. I lost weight on Clear liquids right after surgery, but that will stop after a while. Also, when you move on to full liquids you might actually gain a pound or two temporarily. Most docs tell you to stick between 800 and 1000 cals per day to maximize weight loss. Slimm2be, can you send me your sample menus also? Thanks! Barbara

I just finished my 10 days of post-op Clear Liquids. I started full liquids yesterday. I'm still hungry too, but I'm not willing to possibly hurt myself. It takes several weeks for full healing to take place. Of course, some docs are not as strict and let their pts. have full liquids after surgery for a few days and then on to mushies, but perhaps they have a different outcome? I think it's a good idea to do exactly what the doc says to do. You can do this! Really, you can! I know what you mean, but hang in anyway. It will all be worth it later! Barbara

Just a word on the b-12 deficiency. This takes a blood test to determine. If you're diabetic, and if you were on glucophage (metformin), you might have a deficiency. There are some people who actually need shots once a month to get the b-12 that they need. My mom needs the shots and my sister should be on them, but she has a stupid welfare doc who prefers to give her supplements - BUT they don't work at all. Also, those dry spots/cracking at the corners of your mouth might be from dehydration. ARe you getting at least 64 ounces of non-caffinated beverages a day? Best of luck. Ask your doc to run a B-12/Folic Acid/Ferratin test. Barbara

You're right, I did mean to say the right side... I'm having one of those kinds of days....

I had my surgery on 5/9 and now have pain on my left side, right around where the gallbladder used to be. I had that removed 17 years ago. It's intermittant pain, but it also seems to radiate to my back. Is this just my liver detoxing or gas, or what?

Also, many people have this sensation when they have eaten enough. More than this could cause PBing.

Everybody is different. I had surgery on 5/9 and afterwards was told that my pain options were tylenol with codeine or just plain tylenol. I didn't take the codeine because I'm allergic. I only asked for it once anyway due to extremely bad headache. That was caffeine withdrawal and anesthesia related. I've had pain of one sort or another my whole life, so I have to say that this was pretty darn easy! But everyone is different. If you haven't had much pain or any surgeries, then you don't know what it would feel like. I would say though, that 8 days on Vicoden is pretty extreme. I didn't even get that much when I had my two back surgeries or my hysterectomy! Personally, I think you should try to wean off it and start using things like ice packs and heating pads. These will be more useful to you later. Pain around the port is the most common. Mine is still very sensitive too. You're doing fine! Happy Day! Barbara

Peter, I am so very sorry for your loss. I recognize Denyell's screen name. I know how difficult this must be for your family. That you took the time to let us know what happened is amazing. You radiate a quiet strength that many wouldn't have in similar circumstances. Know that many, many people are sending prayers for your family. Thank you for sharing Denyell's story with us. I hope that you will have the answers to your questions soon. In deepest sympathy, Barbara Anderson

Atallen06, you should be glad to be where you are! Seriously! I've had the "liquids in/liquids out" problem for the last 7 days. I'm soooooo over it! What kind of diet are you on since surgery? The bloating will be helped if you take gas x - either strips or chewables. It takes a couple of weeks for the body to absorb all the gas they put into us. I hope all is well for you and that you remember - you will lose the weight! Things like gaining right now are normal! Barbara

You know, I have to say a couple of things here... I was banded on 5/9. I've been on clear liquids since then - sf jello, broth, sf popcicles, tea and crystal lite. Prior to surgery I was on Optifast liquid diet - all the above plus the Optifast. I keep seeing posts of people saying they feel deprived. That's what I call "stinky thinking" because the truth is that we are NOT deprived. We are finally learning to eat healthy. Part of the recovery is the liquid diet and then the mushies. This is something you signed up for when you got the band. Yes, it's hard and feels like s**t sometimes, but then you have to decide whether or not you're doing this to become healthy and strong. The band is a tool. If a tool isn't used right it can hurt you. You have to go into this knowing that you WILL NOT CHEAT... cheating and self abuse is how we all got fat in the first place. I'm having a hard time of it too, but I'm going to my support meetings, I'm going inside myself to review my reasons for having this surgery, I'm calling friends on the phone. For me, it's really easy... my body is hungry, but my body is not my friend right now... my brain and my heart are my friends - I love myself enough - finally and for the first time in my life - to do exactly what my doc says to do. If you ate a little bit off your list, or choose high-cal vs. low cal, you must forgive yourself for that and move on, determined to do better next time. I wish us all the best of luck! We should all be proud of the decisions we've made to take control of our lives - even when we have strayed a bit. Consider yourselves hugged! Barbara

Hi Caligirl! Don't worry so much. A lot depends on so many factors. What kind of post-op diet are you on? If you're on full liquids right from the start, then maybe you're drinking too much or the wrong type of thing. Or you may be retaining water which will make you heavier. Most of us will gain a pound or two - some even more - when we're allowed to eat again. Just remember, this is all normal and is part of the process. YOU WILL LOSE! Really! I had surgery on 5/9 and have been on clear liquids since then. I'm starving, but right now it's like a funnel - liquids run right through. That's the point - so that our tummies aren't working to grind food up. I'm worried about gaining also, because tomorrow I start full liquids. So I'll be going from approx 100 cals a day to between 800 and 1000 (per the doc). So I'll expect to gain a few in the first couple of weeks. You're going to do fine and all of this is normal. Keep up the good work and the walking! Barbara

I'm trying to approach it as if it were life and death. That's how I finally quit smoking. I've only had my band for 9 days, and I feel like I'm starving because I'm still on Clear liquids, but I just keep telling myself that if I eat anything more than I'm supposed to I'll die. I also try to keep myself busy. You should get in to a support group as soon as possible. When you think you might have to eat more than you're supposed to, get on the boards and maybe that will help too. best of luck! Barbara

Glad, glad, glad that you got this fixed and that it was as simple as removing your fill. However, you should give up the gum. There have been lots of cases that were serious enough to have to have endoscopy to retreive the gum. It's on the list of things that you CAN'T (or at least shouldn't) do anymore. Be careful, because we don't want you to be hurt!

These are the vites that my registered dietician recommends. I am very particular about what's in my meds and food and these are certified pure. Many vites haven't been checked by anyone, much less multiple groups. These are the best you can get. Also, just in case the obstetrician on the board didn't know this... B12 deficiency is something that many diabetics have due to the meds they take. And it really is difficult to get the quanitity of vites and nutrition in the amount of food we are now able to eat. I've been Iron deficient my whole life and will possibly have to have b12 shots as well. All of the women in my family are on meds for this. Also, back to vites... if you're taking a Calcium supplement, try to find one that has a calcium citrate formulation instead of the calcium carbonate that most have. Vites like calcium and magnesium with a carbonate formulation will cause constipation. Hope this helps!

Irene, I don't want to sound rude, but I have to say that based on what you said, you aren't ready for a band! :leaving: You need to do more research!!! The band is a tool. The idea behind it is that if you eat three meals per day, between 800 and 1000 calories total, the band would help you feel full and you'd be less inclined to eat between meals. If the band make us thin and healthy, then the whole damn country - fat and thin alike - would have a band. This is work! You have to count your calories and figure out what you're going to eat and drink. You have to make healthy choices. It's not dieting - it's learning to eat properly. If you've been dieting your whole life then you know that for example, the right portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards - but if you're like most of us, before banding, you ate the whole damn chicken, not just a little thing that's three or four bites! You must change your thinking in order to succeed. If not, then even with the band you will ultimately fail and could even end up with severe medical problems! Please, do more research and a lot of soul searching and be sure you're doing this for the right reasons. Wishing you the best of luck! Barbara

:thumbup:The hunger is normal. I feel like I'm starving. I had my surgery on 5/9 and have been on Clear Liquids since. I start blenderized soups and yogurt on Tuesday. CAN'T WAIT!!!! As the swelling in the stomach heals and as the fat surrounding it diminshes, you will feel more hungry. Remember that it takes quite a while for full healing to take place. Also, the band is a tool. You will feel hungry until you've reached your sweet spot on fills and have learned to count your calories and get between 800 and 1000 per day. THIS IS WORK! Any thing worth having is worth working for!!!! Yippie for us!!!!

:leaving: I had my surgery on Friday 5/9 and returned to work on Tuesday,5/13. I was tired, but did okay. Mine is an office job too. Walk as much as you can and take gas-x strips or chewables. You could still have the gas as much as a couple of weeks after surgery, but you'll do fine. If you think you have to pass gas, GO TO THE RESTROOM! Not kidding on this one... many of us have explosive diarreaha after a day or two. That's the body getting rid of the toxins and fats. Also, many docs require a week to 10 days of Clear Liquids to allow for healing and to flush out those toxins and fats. You'll do fine. Congrats! Barbara

You need to reduce fluid if you are having difficulty swallowing, discomfort while eating, heartburn, reflux, vomiting, spitting up, regurgitations, soft calories, or poor weight loss. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I read a lot of stories here about people concerned that the band is not working. We really need to work with our band. I know it is hard. I have not had any fills and I am still thinking about food a lot. I am trying hard to be conscience of what I am eating to think with every bit. <o:p></o:p> <I worry so much when I read stories of people not wanting to reduce fluid because they are worried about gaining weight. I am so scared that they will have a much scarier outcome – at the very least lose the band or have bigger health issues. You can’t lose sight of the bigger whole health issue. > I just came from a support meeting (I'm new, so maybe I misunderstood), but they told us that we need AT LEAST 64 oz of water or other fluids a day to prevent dehydration and to flush out the fat and toxins. So, I'm confused about why you'd be saying to reduce fluids. Can you help me clear this up? Thanks, Barbara

I had this too. It will go away in time. It can take up to two weeks for the gas to abate. Feel better soon! Barbara