DonnaB

This is truly, truly funny! And just wrong! http://us.video.aol.com/video.full.adp?mode=0&pmmsid=1634438&referer=http%3A//television.aol.com/franchise/top5.adp

On the peanut butter added to the protein drink: Try using the reduced fat peanut butter. It tastes exactly the same as regular peanut butter (I promise) but the texture is slightly less oily, almost like it's more dry - if peanut butter can ever be considered dry! lol It saves a lot of fat grams without any change of taste! I'm not a big fan of low fat, low cal, substitutes, in my opinion they don't taste like the real thing so I'd rather not have them at all. I was pleasantly surprised that the reduced fat peanut butter is an exception to that problem.

Congratulations on your new car. Oh ya . . . AND ON YOUR AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, INSPIRING, LIFE CHANGING WEIGHT LOSS! I'm so envious! How about GROUPIE for your vanity plate? OK, I know you really wouldn't want that on your car but it certainly let's people know you're "with the band". LOL - I got the idea from Mikey's avator.

Congratulations on your new car. Oh ya . . . AND

Is instant mail available or possible in LapBandTalk? Maybe a moderator can help me out here. I see the person who's been trying to reach me all day but I can't figure out how to contact her. Help please.

LOL - I don't really know. I only know it as instant message. I'll try the pager though - it sounds promising! Thanks!

That just sends a private message post. I'm trying to contact someone via instant message. Thanks.

Going to the chat room now.

Your post sounds very familiar. If you look through this message board you'll see LOTS of similar posts from others. You can probably call your doc and request a fill sooner than the usual 6 weeks. This happens a lot so you shouldn't be too worried about it. I'd be more concerned with your doctor not being able to hit your port! Is he using a flueroscope?

LOL Yoda! That's what I always say when people tell me I don't look 44!

Hey nerdpunk, I am 6 weeks post op and have to eat very slowly and chew, chew, chew or I get that golfball in the chest feeling I'm sure you've read about. I know some people feel very little restriction before their first fill but that's not the case for some of us. Eat slow and chew, chew, chew is my advise.

Does anyone know how to "invite" someone to the chatroom? I know it can be done, I just don't know how.

That's awesome! Can't wait to have PhotoNut do my one year side-by-sides! LOL Congratulations Tammy.

Hi ddillon, I'm in the DFW area too. I've spoken with one doctor but I'm still not sure about him. Where in Hurst is Dr. Snow? Will he see Mexican surgery patients? Can you post or PM his phone number? Thanks.

I had my surgery on 4/7/06 and I'm still having discomfort in my port area. It's not horrible but it's still there. It feels like surface pain - in other words if I run my fingers between my port incision site and my bellybutton it hurts. The area is not swollen or red or hot or cold or oozing or anything that looks other than completely fine! It's healing very well and the scar is starting to fade. I'm not really sure what the story is. Sorry I'm not much help, other than to say "I feel your pain" and "I'm having it too". Why did your doctor give you antibiotics? Does he think you've got an infection? How does the site look? Can you SEE anything amiss? I worry about port infection more than just about anything else. I'm scheduled for my first fill on the 24th and I'm terrified I'll get infected from it.

I think you would be happier to have the apron removed after weight loss. If you have PS now, you may have to (or want to) have it again. I think I'd be patient and do it when you are close to your goal weight. I just read something - on another board - about losing down below goal weight so that the surgery would be really tight after coming back up to goal weight! I don't think that's the way to go either! 2 cents: wait for weight loss before spending the money.

I agree with PhotoNut about the Bean with Bacon soup - doesn't sound all that great but it really does taste good and is very filling. About your protein intake, you might want to try the Isopure protein drink. It's clear liquid and very light - not thick at all. Make sure you get the carb-free version - I think the blue one tastes the best. Don't get me wrong, none of them taste GREAT, but the blue one has the least protein-y aftertaste! Best of all, each 20 oz bottle has 40 grams of protein so there's less dreading of yet another protein drink. Yack. When you get to full liquids you might try a Vanilla flavored protein powder (I like Body Fortress at Wal-Mart for about $16 for a big tub of it). Mix two scoops - equals 40 grams of protein - in 1 1/2 cups of fat free milk with 3 tablespoons of sugar free, fat free chocolate pudding, and a tablespoon of reduced fat creamy peanut butter. It tastes like drinking a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! Mmmmmmm. I actually look forward to this drink but because it is higher in carbs and calories, I alternate between this and the blue Isopure. It's been working like a charm. I'm 6 weeks post op tomorrow and have lost 22 pounds so far! Welcome to the LapBand club! I'm sure your energy level will rise quickly with the full liquid and then the mushie diet.

Yay! Congratulations on your surgery date. Here's my one piece of post op advise: If you have post op gas pain, you may get a little bit of relief if you stand next to your bed, bend forward from waist and put your forearms on the bed resting your forehead between them. If it's more comfortable, bend your knees a little. You can also rest your whole chest between your forearms to give your feet a rest. This was the most comfortable position for gas pain relief for me. It looks a little crazy but it worked for me and for the other 3 ladies who were banded on the same day as I was. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, we'll see you back here on LBT before you know it!

I was so freaking out that when I couldn't get on the website for HOURS I emailed LapBandTalk's web hosting company. When I logged onto the internet today I immediately saw two things. 1) LBT was back online! Whew, what a relief. 2) I got a response from Alex about LBT. The following is the entire email answer I received from him: I was (and am still) on vacation. The database server LBT is using was moved and I didn't tell my techs that LBT needed to be modified with the updated database location :-(. They're aware of LBT now and we shouldn't have this problem again. Best Regards, Alex =========================== Now we know who to roust out of bed if/when LBT disappears! Don't they know we're all (to use DeLarla's word) 'crackheads' who can't get along without our LBT fix anytime 24/7? LOL

Hi Dana, I think the length of time you have to be on the liquid diet is determined by your BMI. Mine was 40 and my doctor said I didn't need to do a liquid diet at all. I've had laparoscopic surgery before and I knew that I'd have an easier recovery if I did a liquid diet so I did it for 5 days pre-op and lost about 8 pounds. But I was very strict in those 5 days. I recovered from surgery very quickly and with very little gas pain which I attribute to the liquid diet. My suggestion is that you be very strict with yourself over the next 36 hours, if only so you'll have an easier time with recovery. I also suggest that you discuss your diet very frankly with your doctor before you are prep'd for surgery. If he's at all nervous about going forward, you want him to stop the surgery before you have been opened up. You don't want to undergo anesthesia and surgery only to wake up without a band. It's not likely that he'll cancel the surgery - you've lost 8 pounds - but better safe than sorry. Having said all that, if you read through threads on this board about pre op liquid diets, you'll see that LOTS of people didn't have to do it at all. You'll also see lots of different versions and durations of a liquid diet. It'll be OK.

I'm 6 weeks post op and have been using Maderma on my scars since the scabs fell off. I've got 5 scars: One is center front, sits just under my bra-line and is approximately 1/4" wide. It's smooth and virtually invisible. There are two scars, right and left and about 3 inches higher than my bellybutton. They are also about 1/4" wide. They're completely smooth but are a fairly deep pink color - the one on the left more visible than the one on the right. I have one in my bellybutton which is a verticle slit and looks to be about 1/2" in length. It's hard to really tell because it disappears down into my bellybutton. My doctor says this one will completely disappear in the little folds that surround the bellybutton. I can only see this scar if I'm standing in front of a mirror and pull up and back on the flesh at the top of the belly button. It's color is about the same as the previous two. My port scar is slightly lower than and about 5 inches to the left of my belly button and is approximately 1 1/8" wide. It is completely smooth and slightly lighter than the other scars. I'm pleased with the progress so far and plan on continuing with the Maderma. My doctor used an sub-dermal stitch like a plastic surgeon and tells me that these scars will fade to faint white lines over the next couple of years. As it stands right now, looking in the mirror you can only see 3 of the 5 scars. I think he did an amazing job! :-)

My surgery cost $10,600 in Mexico with Dr. Roberto Rumbaut. That money covers EVERYTHING but airfare and food while you're in Monterrey. It even includes all aftercare including fills and band removal if for some reason you can't tolerate the band. If you're self pay, (even if you're not) I highly recommend him. For more info go to www.gastricband.com Dr. Rumbaut is world renowned with excellent results and statistics so check him out. In the U.S. (I'm in Texas) the best rate I found was around $20,000. Some people have said they refinanced their house and used the equity to pay for their surgery. Some people get bank loans. There are bariatric centers that will do financing as well. Good luck on your weight loss journey. If you want to chat further you can PM me anytime.

Hi everyone! Happy Easter! wannabelean. . . the last three days I have slimed and PB'd all over Orange County... CA. We will figure this out.... I AM SURE OF IT!!!! Good attitude! Even sliming and PBing all over Orange County you've got a good attitude! Amazing! ___________________________________________ JanetC . . . I find fitday PC better then the web version. It takes a little getting used to, but I love it, heh. Some of us might be a weeeeee bit addicted to it. I don't know WHAT you mean. :guess ______________________________________________ JanetC It sounds like you've got a good Easter plan going. In my opinion, lol, a planned cheat is not a cheat! Enjoy it for me! I'll be gritting my teeth & wiring my mouth shut for Tammy! I'm PMSing & Mexican is a trigger food. Plus, I've found that nachos go down REALLY easily. (I SOOO did NOT need to know that!) I was beyond angry on Wed... and used the nachos to cheer me up, lol. Sad. I woke up with my stomach growling... which doesn't bode well for the day! I wish my monthly would just GET HERE already & quit putting me through this!! Thank goodness we get another fill Tuesday! Cannot wait! I may have made a joke about naked scuba diving but I'm impressed that you two have made this pact between yourselves. It certainly can't hurt, right? Janet, nachos don't cheer you up! They anesthetise you so you don't have to feel. At least that's how my problem with food feels. I still don't know what I'm avoiding - it will probably cost a fortune in therapy to figure out - but I totally understand the anesthesia that food can bring. I hope you'll forgive me if I'm being presumptuous. I'm getting my first fill next Monday in Mexico - I'm terrified. I know everyone says it's no big deal but my port area still doesn't feel right and I'm scared to death of getting a port infection. _______________________________________________ Jerseytammy I am turning 40 next week, could I possible be pre-menopausal? I had my tubes tied after the birth of my last child 13 years ago this Aug and I think I heard that tubules can cause early menopausal. UGHHHHH I am going to stop my “pity party”, what ever it is it is and I have to learned to deal with it without numbing the feeling with food now! …he turned to me, smiled and said…wow you belly sure has gotten smaller since your first fill. If I wasn’t already married I might have asked him to marry me at that direct moment! . . . my therapist actually encouraged me to take up a hobby, preferable one that uses my hands. She told me that eating is very much a habit for me and I would need to find something to do to replace it. So far it has been coming here and talking to you guys, but I am not always able to do that or sometimes really I feel like I am being a pain. Donna- I am joining the fitday.com fan club. I like the one line version but am going for the download this weekend. I know how you feel girl - I'm 44 and it takes me by surprise almost every day. If that's not enough to send you to the fridge for some anesthesia, NOTHING is! I used to work for an OBGyn but I don't remember hearing anything about tubal ligation bringing on early menopause. Unless the ovaries were removed - doubtful - they wouldn't have needed to cut the tubes if they took the ovaries. Curious. I understand the sentiment and the heat-of-the-moment, knee-jerk reaction but you REALLY don't want to be married to a doctor. I have had several friends who married the doctor and it's never what it's cracked up to be! Funny, LBT has taken me away from my hobbies! I only have hands for LBT now! LOL Well, that and FitDay! If you liked the online version you'll love the download version. It keeps all of your custom stuff including the portions which the online version doesn't seem to do. It's a little bit of a pain though because you have to start over adding your custom foods in. It's worth it. At least it has been for me. I do all the available stuff like what meal the food was eaten at, with whom, where, and why - I think it'll be worth it down the line so I can figure out my eating trends. I also do the mood log, weight log and diary. It makes it easier for me to stay compliant when I'm able to see it in black and white (or pink!). ______________________________________________ JanetC (I LOVE the music, heh, so I dance too much!) You can NEVER dance too much! ______________________________________________ skbishop78I am going to try to stay off the chocolate...but I tell ya I am addicted to Mcdonalds ice cream cones. I have heard they are low fat and so I have had 2 this week. I have gotta stop...but they are so dang good. Aaaaaaahhhhhh! Run away! When has McDonalds EVER had anything low fat? LOL - salads don't count! I think even their salads are high fat - I'm not sure how they do that - some kind of biochemical engineering or something I'm sure! They must add it at the same time they add the addictive component that makes it imperative that you go in every day or lie awake at night dreaming of it! _______________________________________________ Dancer Just got back from my fill. Everything went great. I could see the screen and it was so cool! I got 1.6. The Dr. said I have the 10 band. That's 10 cm's right? So how much does that hold? Oh the questions I should have asked! I am on liquids for 48 hours now. I really think so much of what is going on with me is head hungries....they have been bad lately. I keep saying "Oh, come on! You can eat more than that!" Like more is better! Hello....no it isn't! Ok, we must unite to stop these HEAD HUNGRIES! They are mean and evil beasts! I don't want to see the screen - I'm afraid I'll freak out! Your 10cc band will hold - wait for it - 10cc's! LOL In reality it will hold up to 11cc's but I understand 10cc is the max fill for the band. Head Hugries are from the DEVIL. EVIL. EVIL. Let's hunt it down with pitchforks and burning torches and kill it! *Sigh* If only I knew how. I'd be a very rich woman. _______________________________________________ Sunta. . . The scale is not budging at all. I have been going up and down the same two pounds for about five weeks now. It's soooo frustrating! I am very angry that despite watching my calories and going to the gym, I'm just not seeing any movement on the scale. It's so annoying! I don't understand why I'm not losing if I'm counting calories and exercising. Maybe I need to drop to 1,000 calories a day Sigh. It seems like I have weight loss on the days following my higher caloric intake. I'll go at 1200 - 1400 for a week and then jump up to 1800 for a day and then *poof* a day or two later I'll drop a pound or even two - one time almost 3 pounds! What's up with that? I'm with you on the frustration because I know if I ate 1800 calories every day I won't lose either. _______________________________________________ Happy2 . . . Hello All, I got my first fill Monday. It was for 1.7 c.c. and as of this morning I've dropped 8 pounds. 8 pounds! OMG. I changed my mind. I'm not one bit scared of the fill, why can't it be later today? Wait, does this mean you're not hungry or that you can't eat? Two VERY different things! Not hungry - good. Just can't eat - very very bad. _______________________________________________ Julie* . . .I use the regular fitday but was wondering if there is an advantage to buying the one for $20? Can you use that on more than one computer like you can the on-line one or is it something you download? I have just read all of the chocolate posts and have vowed to NOT have another piece. We even went really easy this year and then our neighbors came over with more chocolate for my kids than you need for a year. Have a good week everyone. I am committed to exercising every single day this week. The downloadable FitDay has more options and provides you with more personalized information through more reports. It also stores all your custom information which the online version doesn't seem to do very well. Online won't spit back the same portion size you plugged in to custom foods so you have to keep a list of your portions handy - what a pain in the hoo haa! Unfortunately you can't access the downloadable version from any computer other than the one you downloaded to. At least that's my understanding, but check with JanetC - she's a pretty savvy computer gal and can probably tell you how to get around this one. See, THAT's why we've built a 10 foot stockade around our house and posted warning signs on the corners where the Bazooka's are mounted. Well, that and it tends to keep the Girl Scouts away from our door. :-) Thank you for your well wishes, I am committed to not being committed this week. _______________________________________________ WOW! This way of posting takes a really, really long time. I'm not sure I'll do it again! There has to be a faster way to quote everyone. Hmmmm.

Hi Miki, I have to agree with Chameleon about FitDay.com - it's worth the time it takes every day. There is a free version so it won't cost you anything but if you can afford $20 (one time) I recommend buying the download. It works better and has many more options than the free version. The free version will help you to see if you think you'll use it and if it's useful to you. Unfortunately the free version won't store your custom food portions, so you have to keep a paper list with portions on it - kind of a pain. The $20 downloadable version (discounted to $20 if you sign up for the free version - will save you about $6) stores EVERYTHING - your custom foods, portions, custom activities, goals, and all kinds of reports etc. I've never tried to keep track of my food intake before because I thought it would be a big pain in the hoo hoo but FitDay makes it easy and has actually caused me to think about my choices logically for the first time in my life. Even better, it has allowed me to see my progress in a very real, tangible way. I rely on FitDay as much as I do on LapBandTalk. Speaking of LapBandTalk, this place has been the absolute best way to distract myself AND be encouraged at the same time. The people here REALLY, REALLY want us all to succeed. I've never felt so much support or seen such passionate committment in my life. Come here and visit more often, it really helps. With regard to the Water consumption, make sure you get enough so your kidneys work efficiently and so your liver doesn't have to work so hard - with the additional benefit of keeping you feeling full. Just remember to stop drinking 1/2 hour before you eat and not begin drinking again for an hour after you've eaten. If you eat or drink inside this time frame the water is washing the food out of your pouch and not letting you benefit from that feeling of being full for the longest amount of time. We're all here for you. Step back from the edge, take a deep breath, and move forward without beating yourself up. You're going to do just fine.

Whew! I thought I was the only one going through Withdrawal! I must have checked back here 2 dozen times yesterday, the last time around midnight! No joy. I even sent in the error report to the web hosting company - got an email overnight that they fixed the problem - LOL. By the time I got their email I ALREADY KNEW LapBandTalk was back online! I'm so relieved - I can face the day (and the rest of my life) if I can check in with LBT. FitDay was a short term fix but you can only check your food log stats so many times without getting a little crazy! LOL - what's a little more melodrama between friends.