minidriver

Wow, that isn't much food. That whole chewing and concentrating thing is tough. I'm so used to eating at my desk while working, etc. (what a horrible habit) and I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Not that I've been tight enough for it to really be an issue, but still . . .

That's a rough one. I think I could probably pound down milk shakes all day long. Why is it that the bad stuff is sooooo easy to eat?

Hi Bella. Dr. K. was really adamant with me about crushing all my meds, but I accidently took 2 tylenol one day without thinking about it and it seemed fine. I just don't know what to do. None of my meds are available as a liquid and my rheumatologist will skin me alive if I don't take my meds.

Welcome! Glad to see you're posting!! I'm glad the posts have been helpful. We're a chatty chatty bunch, but we're all pretty darned nice if I do say so myself. Let us know if you have any specific questions or concerns. I'm a relative newby, but there are some very wise people on this board.

Oh, you mean as far as needing to crush it? Or???? I just had a long chat with my pharmacist because ALL of the proton pump inhibitors are not supposed to be crushed, and neither is the anti-inflammatory that I have to take. I am going to try splitting each pill in four pieces. I don't know what else to do. I have to be able to take my meds and if crushing them all the time affects their efficacy then I have to try something else.

You two are SO close. It must be tough to be stuck. Maybe you do need to eat a little more, or at least more Protein or something. The guy I saw today gives people phentermine if they need it to get through that last little bit. I took fen/phen back when it was still available and it was fabulous. He assured me that the phentermine is not dangerous and that his patients do great with it. We'll see when I get to that point. Right now I'll just plug along with my 2 lbs a week. Hotmomma, that's so great that you're going to do romantic pics. Good for you. That will make you feel really good.

I use fitday and keep track of every bite I eat. Before my first fill I was at about 1100 per day as well and was losing about a lb a week too. After my fill I was able to keep between 800-900 and started losing 2 lbs per week. I would like to lose more but I know it's not really healthy to lose any faster than that at my BMI and I would have to eat pretty much nothing to make it happen. If I can consistently lose 2 lbs a week I'll be pretty happy.

Well, he said that the vagus nerve becomes irritated after a fill and both food and cold liquids can cause it to spasm, which can cause a lot of swelling and tightness. I was really swollen after my first fill, so I think I'll try the 48 hours of warm liquids and see how it works. It's so weird how different each doc is with stuff.

Yeah, he was on kind of a tangent about snacking and grazing, having fluids with food, eating soft foods, etc. Nothing too earth shatteringly new.

Okay. Dr. Muse is the guy I saw today through fill centers. I went to Dr. Cottam's informational seminar and he seemed pretty good, but way more money than Dr. K. Let me know who you go through and how you like them.

Hi Marie. I talked to South Valley when I was first investigating the surgery, and I didn't really like them on the phone so I never followed up. Who did you find for 150? Is that with fluoro?

Yeah, I didn't feel so good on day 3, particularly. I'm so glad you had some soup though. That has to help. Are you having gas pain?

Okay, I'm back from my fill. It was . . . interesting. The doc was WAAAYYY behind and so he was really kind of wound up by the time he came to see me. He told me lots of stuff I already know (how to eat with the band, problems with eating around the band) and some stuff I didn't know (hunger hormones, some interesting stuff about genetics, why you should be on 48 hours of warm liquids after a fill). He did fluoroscopy and it was really cool to actually see my band. I had basically no restriction, so he gave me another full cc, and said I'll probably want another in a month but that the third or fourth one usually ends up lasting awhile. I guess some of the fluid goes back into the tube between the port and the band (that makes sense) so even if you have 3cc's injected or whatever, there isn't actually that much in your band. After the injection he had me do the barium and it took about 10 seconds for it to pass through. So, not super slow but it didn't run right through either. Then I drank water and it took two little burps for it to go down. He said that was good. Here was a confusing thing - he asked me what size band I had and I said 10cc. He asked if I meant 10cm? I said I thought it was a band that holds 10cc. He said that would be a pretty big band for me . . . . so now I need to find my paper work cuz I'm confused. Overall, an okay experience. I didn't really like him as much as I like Dr. K., but he is a bariatrics doc and knows a lot about weight loss, so that's a good thing. So I think I'll keep seeing him even though it's pretty expensive. I just don't have the time to go to Denver for fills and hopefully I won't need too terribly many.

I'm sorry, Marie. I know how frustrated you must be. You're losing at about the exact same rate that I am and I know that I sure wish it could be faster. I just keep telling myself that at least I haven't gained!

Thanks, Marcy! I will give that a try. I hate the yucky rash. I don't know about you, but it's stinky too! Wow, can't believe I'm actually discussing this on the internet, but I guess if anybody might be able to relate it would be people here!

I'm kind of in the same spot. I have a fill scheduled for tomorrow, but some of the time I'm still feeling like I have good restriction. Weird. I hope I don't end up regretting the fill tomorrow . . .

So glad that there are super duty bras available, yes? I figure with enough steel, struts, straps, etc. I can keep them up where they belong for a bit longer. Since you can fly, you should come for a visit!! :tt2::wink::smile2:

yummy yummy steel cut oats. Sometimes that's what I eat for dinner. Soooo good.

:tt2::laugh::smile2::laugh::thumbup::laugh::smile2::laugh: That was too funny. Sorry, not trying to laugh at the state of your tummy, but that was really funny.

Careful there!!! I don't want to be responsible for someone's untimely demise!

If I don't get something done with the girls I'll be able to tuck them into my underwear soon. I swear. Brandy, your description of your tummy cracked me up. Mine looks like a big white slab of fish or something. It's just gross. TMI- I have to use the hairdryer and dry the underneath side or I get a disgusting rash. Hopefully that will help convince my insurance to pay to have it removed though.

It's so nice that you already have someone that you know is good. I think I'll try a local guy here who does LOTS of wls patients. His work looks really good. I'm sure I'll only be able to do TT and the girls too, but that will be so great. I HATE my tummy flap.

Hey, Denver, are you still feeling okay today? Pop in when you can and let us know.

Okay, I am behind on the challenge list but I'll get it caught up tomorrow. Now that classes are in session again I don't have time to play on my computer all day. Dammit. I really like playing on my computer all day. Brandy it's so frickin' exciting that you're 10 lbs from plastic surgery consult. I dream of the day, let me tell you. If all goes well, I hope I'll be there by sometime next summer so that I can have it done before the start of fall semester. Jaime, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Select by the hospital in Parker. It was swell. I tried to get a package, but it actually ended up cheaper booking separately and using the medical discount.

oooo, that's so cool! I can't wait to have my fluoroscopy Friday and see mine!! so did he think everything looked good?