ellendeette

I love this thread! What a great idea. I loved reading all of your great ideas. I would have to say my three picks would be: 1) Ride a horse (once again) 2) Wear boots that go past my calf 3) Very sexy bathing suit I know I can ride a horse now but with more weight gone in the future, I can get up and enjoy it more (plus I haven't done it in years because of my weight and I felt sorry for the horse having to carry so much weight). I grew up in Michigan and could only get boots that would fit up to my ankles (and not much farther because of my large calfs). I found the ULTIMATE raspberry colored bathing suit at the Tommy Bahama store. I wear a size 16 now and they have a size 16. Why should I wait until I am less than a size 16. I could get it now but have to wait until its warmer here because if I buy it in a size 16, it may be too big by summer. I recently went to a beautiful hotel and I could never wear the hotel robes in the past because I was too big. I would have a gap between but I did this time! I could actually wrap it around me and tie it! I also went on airplane in January and did not have to ask for an extender strap for my seat belt.

Great idea. I will ask the nutritionist that is in my bariatric surgeon's office. I was also thinking that why would I need this drink since I've already had the lapband procedure. I did not know about the price either. Thank you for your response.

I know its been a long time since you posted but did anyone ever response to you about the Acai Berry juice? I have a friend who uses it and raves about it and I'm thinking of using it but just wondered how it would benefit someone who has had the lapband procedure. I had my done in May 2008.

Even a little bit of an "unfill" helps. I had to have it done. I had the stomach flu and it really traumatized my band (my doctor's words). I had some fluid taken out and it made all the difference. I was having trouble getting water and even a protein drink down. You can always get a fill later when your weight goes down and you need another adjustment.

Yes, it did go away. Thank goodness. It came out the day after surgery when I got home. It was absolutely horrible. It was so painful. I recall getting into the shower just to have the Water pound on the blisters that were filled with Fluid. I even called my internist to find out if I should go to the emergency room. He discouraged me to go to the emergency. I went to see my dermatologist the following day and I saw her for weeks. She gave me a spray to put on the rash along with medication (stronger than Benadryl). Don't full around with it. If its the same thing I had. A very close friend has a friend who is a doctor and she suspected that the rash was because my body was reacting to the lapband. I saw my internist, bariatric surgeon and my dermatologist and that was the only thing that seemed to fit (reaction to the lapband). I get rashes for almost the smallest of things so I guess that could be it. Since that first harsh reaction, I have had it two more times. Much more subtle but the same area (on my chest) and small blisters filled with clear liquid. When did your rash come out and where is it? Have you seen a doctor yet? When did you have the lapband procedure?

I was told by my bariatric surgeon's office not to use them prior to surgery because air is in the straw when you start sucking and that extra air is not good for the lapband (they also tell the same thing to bypass patients). Even though they told me not to use them, like usual I had to experiment and found that I had no problems with using a straw. I enjoy using a staw and sometimes will use the coffee stirrer that also can be used like a straw. Its thinner so maybe less air comes in? Who knows. I guess its like everything else about the lapband that some things they tell you work and some things don't. I've found its an individual journey to make the adjustments to what fits you.

I hate when that happens. It has happened to me numerous times. You are right to cross that food off your list. I cannot eat rice, many type of bread, chewy steak, certain dry chicken or fish, etc. I just figure it out and not eat them again. But then there are times I get surprised about things I have eaten and had no problem and suddenly I have a problem. For example, I usually eat almonds in small amounts for some time since my surgery. Last night, I was stressed out and guess what the almonds did not stay down. Awful! That is my latest learning experience with the band - that I cannot eat when I am stressed or around certain people who stress me out. I could never figure out that jerky Protein thing I've seen posted. Jerky is difficult to chew. How can it possibly work with digesting in your band? I could think of many other things that are sources of protein that would work and probably taste better. Doesn't it have alot of salt in it? Different things work for different people I guess and its up to us what works for us and what doesn't work for us. Stay away from that jerky from now on. Take care.

My doctor tells me that to eat protein shakes for a meal and not along with a meal. If you are drinking it with your meal than you are not using the band's tool. I was told not to drink with meals. I drink liquid about 45 minutes before or after a meal but not with a meal. If I drink I protein drink, I drink it with some fruit and milk and its my meal.

I went through this and waited too long for a unfill. I had the stomach flu but it was going on too long. I got dehydrated and was weak. Even a little bit out can help. A few weeks later I had another fill but not as much. I nice that we can "tweak" the fills in our band so that we can eat and drink enough but just enough with restricting us with too much food. We just have to find that balance. Good luck to you!

I am married and have my step-daughter living with us so I eat what I make for them for meals only smaller amounts. For example, I just went to the store so I have meals to make chili, beef strew, all kinds of things to make into salads, cottage cheese, eggs, Peanut Butter, tuna fish, etc. Sometimes I only eat a couple of tablespoons of cottage cheese or peanut butter with something for a meal. For me it is the amount of food I eat and the amount of Protein that I pay attention to. I stress lots of protein in my diet, i.e., 40 to 60 grams per day. I also eat vegetables and fruit along with lots of Water (up to 48 ounces a day). I also struggle with what to eat. My doctor's office says to eat 1/2 cup of food along with a salad and some Soup (1/2 cup). I think the fills keep your honest with the amount you eat because you just cannot eat the quantity because of the band and the fills.

I really don't know but I'm guessing that perhaps its because that area gets a bit irritated with the added restriction with the added Fluid into the band. I usually go on liquids the first day and I'm back to regular eating but smaller amounts the next day (depending on the amount of fill). I know when I had my bad un-filled by 1 cc I could drink and eat more right away.

Excellent. The same thing happened to me. I had to have an unfill and then a refill last Friday. Glad to hear that you are getting better.

I'm sorry it was for the person in the previous post.

Thank you for sharing. I know it is gross but maybe this is something that everyone that has the lapband procedure should know about just in case they have this side effect. This also reminds me that if I have this symptom in the future that I should seek medical advice ASAP.

So sorry to hear that you are going through this. It sounds like you are on top of it with your doctor. I went through that throwing up for over 10 days. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I had to have 1 cc taken out of my band because my band was so traumatized by the throwing up and was swollen. I feel I am back on track now. I had .5 cc put back into the band last Friday and have some restriction but with no throwing up. Please keep me posted on how you are doing.

I'm not sure who you are replying to but I did not get the sleeve. I had the lapband procedure in May 2008.

Hi Maggie (and others who responded) to this thread. I have had a similar problem this past few weeks. I had the stomach flu for one week. I knew it was the stomach flu because two other employees at work had it. The other two people stopped vomiting after 3 or 4 days. Mine went to 10 days. I knew something was wrong but not sure if was for my band doctor or my internist doctor. I went to my bariatric surgeon and she said that I probably "traumatized my band" from having the stomach flu and they took out 1 cc from my band. Right after I had the "unfill" I felt immediate relief when I drank a tall glass of Water. It actually went down. That same morning I was having problems swallowing water. I couldn't even take my Vitamins that day. Since last Monday, I still do not have an appetite (a blessing for me) but most importantly I don't have that awful restriction of eating and drinking and then throwing it all up. I read in my book (Mohammad Ali's daughter's book) that vomiting is NOT part of having a lapband and it needs to be adjusted. Return to the doctor and find out what is wrong (gallbladder, readjustment, unfill, etc). Don't be uncomfortable. Get to the bottom of it.

Yes, I have had that problem since my last fill on Halloween, October 31, 2008. I saw my doctor last Friday and she said she wants me to see her again in two weeks to see if I need another fill. I have been having problems keeping food down despite the fact that I eat slow, chew, chew and chew and eat very small amounts. Hopefully, with a few more pounds gone, I will be ready for a fill when I see her next week. I have heard some people need to be "un-filled." Maybe you need to consider that? I have been considering that but I lost 7 pounds in 5 weeks and having a tighter fill makes that possible. Its a fine line between being tight and loose. Its called the "sweet spot." I guess that is where we want to be able to lose weight and still be able to eat.

The Second San Fernando Valley Lapband meeting will be held this Tuesday, December 9, at 7 p.m. at the home of Marissa San Martin. The first meeting was held at Laura's home and was attended by Laura and me. Marissa lives at 503 S. Adams Street, #205, Glendale. Closest intersection is Colorado and Adams, and near the 5, the 2 and the 134 freeways. Marissa's telephone number is (210) 767-6614 and my cell number is (818) 512-7474. Hope to see you there!

I'm feeling much better today. I hope you can make it to the meeting. Feeling hungry is the pits! Eating/drinking Protein really helps. I've been told to eat between 50 to 70 grams of protein. I eat mostly protein and I supplement the extra protein with a Protein shake. On top of that, its suggested that you have to drink 48 ounces of Water. Could it be emotional hunger you are going through (aka "Head Hunger")? If so, you have to figure out what is stressing you out and de-stress. My therapist has given me some mediation techniques that really help me get into a better space when I see myself stressing out.

As I mentioned in my previous post, there will be the first meeting of the San Fernando Valley Lapbanders at Laura Georges home next Tuesday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. Laura's home address is 10961 Peoria Street, Sun Valley. Her telephone number is (949) 939-4084. Please bring any books with you that have been beneficial to you during your lapband experience that you would like to share with others at the time of the meeting. My cell number is (818) 512-7474, if you have any questions. Ellen

I just realized I did not respond to your post. Sorry about that. There is a meeting tonight, November 19, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The speaker is someone who had bypass surgery over four years ago. There is no fee and there is a minimal fee for parking. The meeting is held upstairs right above the main lobby of the hospital. I have had problems with food/drink coming up since my last fill. It has not been fun but I know this will help me restrict my food and help me lose more weight. I have also come in touch with the fact that I have to really notice what foods I am taking in that are friendly to my band and which ones are not, the amount of food and liquid I am taking in and whether I am stressed or not. When I'm in social settings sometimes I forget that I had the lapband procedure and start eating fast and too much food. I do really well when I am by myself for Breakfast or lunch with my co-worker (she is very calm). dinner is a problem. I need to delay eating until I am calm and not stressed. Its all a learning process. I also found out that this all another reason that our fills are given gradually and we are not given restriction at all once. Being stressed out when I am eating also makes it worse and so the food does not go down correctly and it usually has to come out (disgusting). I read somewhere that you can take unsweetened pineapple juice when food gets stuck. I haven't tried that yet. The Trader Joes' papaya enzyme tablets don't do a thing for me.

:thumbup:Attention all San Fernando Valley Lapbanders: One of our fellow lapbanders has been generous enough to offer their home for our first San Fernando Lapband meeting. We are proposing next Tuesday, November 25, at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by calling me either on my cell phone at (818) 512-8894 or e-mail here or on my personal e-mail address at e.tippit@yahoo.com

I agree. I need a support group too. Does anyone on this thread in the San Fernando Valley want to meet tomorrow night even its just on an informal basis like in a restaurant for coffee (or some kind of drink) in the Burbank area (I live in North Hollywood)? If you do, please write here or write on my personal e-mail at e.tippit@yahoo.com Even if we meet for an hour, I think it would be good just to get this group started. I can do it tomorrow night, Thursday, November 13.

Thank you so much for your generous offer to open your home for a meeting of a few lapbanders. That is excellent news! When you are feeling better and more recovered from your surgery, please let me and others know on this thread when would be a good day, time and your address of your home and we'll be there so we can share our experiences and get support from each other. My personal e-mail address is: e.tippit@yahoo.com How are you doing? How are you adjusting to life after surgery and the band?