RestlessMonkey

Agreed...he did say this. Show us the man behind the curtain, hmmm? Shine some light on the black ops? If the rules are applied fairly, no need to have a privileged type of attitude about the deliberations etc.

I started the HH/avitar thing. Ask Pool Girl. I did it for the reason's you've read. I did it because I read Susan's snarky post about being followers (and going blink blink I didn't mean it bad won't fly) Don't paint us with your own brush. As many of us have said over and over (I guess we should give up because it doesn't seem to be sinking in) this WHOLE THING has been handled unfairly and improperly. I READ the post Glouc made that Susan pulled. There was nothing wrong with it. Where on earth is THAT type of thing an acceptable action for a mod? There are ads up the wazoo on this site. If the problem is volunteer mods, PAY some, for God's sake. While I personally would like to see Susan go, I feel the problem is much deeper than just her. There's a culture of favoritism and "dark ops" that is just, as I've said, puerile. In reaction (sardonic reaction) to that, I instituted the "Support HH" lines under the avis. And having "Daddy" step in at this late date is too much. This place is unbelievable. And for the record: I DO think HH probably should've been banned although not for 2 months, or "forever", but so should his sparring partner. To ban him and not her was at best ill advised. In her limited way she gave back as good as she got (or tried to) and often instigated/initiated the bouts. That wasn't favoritism? Maybe if she'd been smacked too things would've gone down a little more easily.

Actually how you sound to me is conflicted. If it was cut and dried, if you were sure, you'd be gone. I think maybe YOU need some counseling. First, although I know people can find true love any where at any age etc, you were VERY young when you married. Secondly, losing a lot of weight is life changing. Very likely you are different, he is not. Some therapy to help you see what you want, why, how, etc can only be a good thing. You may find out that what he "has", his attributes, are what you want. You may find out you are not the same woman you were, and that love has changed or gone. But it is only prudent after that many years to give yourself some time and room to think it over and decide. I am NOT a believer in staying together because you "should". But because in your post you sound like you aren't sure what you want, give yourself time to figure it out. There are no guarantees in this old world and you may stay and hate it, or you may go and hate it (or vice versa for both) but a good therapist can help you discover and understand the new "you"; and that new "you" can help you figure out what you want.

Furthermore, when obviously concerned intelligent site users feel that favoritism is being employed, to call them "followers" rather than to address their concerns is, well, puerile. Plain did attempt to address issues with me, at least, but often his info was pocked with "Private Mod information" and an implication that as a 54 year old adult I didn't need to be privy to the machinations of the mods. Plain was ever polite, kind, and tried to be helpful, and I'm not disrepecting him. But good grief, this is a public site, is it not? If there is an appearance of favoritism, and the appearance of personal vendettas, something is wrong. And are the rules not so straightforward that interpretation doesn't need to be performed behind a cyber smoke screen of some sort? Can they not say "he did this, we had to do this. Period". If it's a problem, we didn't cause it, and repeatedly asking us all to shut up about it doesn't seem to be working now, does it. Maybe we're all obsessed and immature. OR maybe this was handled wrong from the start.

Docs don 't HAVE to put it any one place so I'm sure he'll find a good spot for it! :biggrin:

I'm not going to say 100% you WONT have a drainage tube because surgeons are an odd breed, but you don't really have any need for one, for this surgery. I didn't have one and most that I've ever read about/heard of don't. If you had your gall bladder the "old way", not laparoscopic, that would explain the drainage tube. The new Lap way, there's no need for one. Much better, huh? You'll be amazed.

I can only guess that your WLS surgeon is more geared to problems/post op complications as related to obesity and is being very thorough? Also depending on how you were "recovered" post your knee surgery, clots may not have been as likely. As to when to stop/start pre and post op, ask your surgeon. As to when to quit altogether; I think that would be up to you with input from your gynecologist!

Wrongo. It is dangerous. Ask your doc. An isolated incident may not be, but if it is a pattern, if it is consistent, it can cause issues with the band and with your esophagus. Having your chest "kill you all day" isn't normal either. Optimism is great, and not being an alarmist is great, but your symptoms aren't minor.

There was a poster on here who had a good handle on band vs bypass because he had each done, but he no longer posts here. He would've been a great resource for you. However I know he'd tell you that WLS isn't a buffet line and you can just go pick whichever you want, but that it is smartest to read, research, and pick in the end which best fits you, your eating patterns, your personality, your needs. :biggrin: Good luck!

I love my band.

Congrats and good luck! :biggrin:

As Mimi said, it's the hormone/clot issue. Hot flashes are a pain but better than clots.

I didn't even have to have the test. YAY It's not an uncommon comorbidity of obesity, though.

The only way I know is research. My surgeon's seminar covered RNY Bypass, the band, the sleeve, the BPD/DS (very successful but you pay in altered lifestyle) and gave statistics, "target client base" and so on for each. There are also great books (like WLS for dummies) out there that compare and contrast them. Google probably could also produce some data.

It depends on your diet, actually. I go daily still but I'm cognizant of getting adequate fiber in each day (females generally need about 28 g daily and it's HARD to get that much in!) As to the Water, no issues whatsoever. Although you most likely will be given some restrictions about beverages with your meals (and after) otherwise liquid SHOULD go through the band fine; you may hear gurgling but otherwise it should process like it used to. In fact if you get so tight (band filled so much) that liquids don't go through, or go through too slowly, you need to get an "unfill" (have some saline removed)

Oddly my sister, too, had this problem after her hysterectomy (she was a year or two older than you, I think). Hers was her diet. I don't remember her numbers and don't mean to be glib about your situation but just hope it is something that is easily and quickly put right for you! And once they get the numbers back up you'll most likely feel a lot better! So this is frustrating beyond words I'm sure but it's a good thing they found it. :biggrin:

I thought it wasn't necessarily uncommon for pre-menopausal women to be anemic (if that's what you mean) My gyn always checked us for it at our annual physical. Hopefully with you it's something easily corrected! Good luck!

My surgeon told me that now that I'm healed, etc...if I want to drink a carbonated beverage or two occasionally, and IT DOESN"T HURT, I can. I was really happy about this; fortunately I'm not a soda drinker, or at least not a committed one, but I do really enjoy an occasional beer (like 2 6-packs a year, spread out?) It's nice to know I "can" have it, even if I don't really want it much! :biggrin:

I really appreciate all the input, all the different "guidelines" from docs. In all honesty, I've tried doing what I was told (no drinking 15 min before) and/or longer, and drinking my Water (or unsweet iced tea) literally up until I take my first bite, and don't notice any difference in how much I can eat, and how long I stay full. WHAT I eat impacts that, but not if I have water up until right before a meal. Of course one person isn't really a good scientific sample! I wonder if 1. this rule is a holdover from the early days? 2. a rule that generally applies to other forms of WLS and has been carried over without any research (?) or 3. maybe one of those things that impacts some people but not others?

Yep I'm boring. I like steak (grilled, well done) ground beef, round steak, roast, chicken (baked, boiled, roasted, fried, bbq'd) Pork (chops, ham, bacon) fish (well, kind of) shrimp, lobster and dairy (aka cheese)

Occasionally it won't hurt you. However we need a good balanced diet, including adequate Protein (too much and your body won't use it, just like excess fat and carbs get stored or dumped). It's best to try to eat good balanced meals each day, and take a good multi. :biggrin: When you lose your body will pull energy from fat (yay that's the point!) but it also pulls from muscle. Adequate protein intake (besides what Niterun said) can help minimize that muscle loss (although it won't prevent it)

pain in left shoulder is referred pain from the diaphragm, which presses on the phrenic nerve. It's not gas. Pain meds, massage, heating pad, changing position (lying on side, holding arm up over head) all seem to help some people (DH rubbing my neck and shoulders did it for me) It will get better over time as your internal organs settle back down again!

If you mods think you've taken the high road in all this, you're wrong. There's plenty blame to go around. And for the record, if one of you did actually refer to HH's friends as "followers" shame on you. Keep pretending it isn't personal why don't you. I'm tired of the immaturity. On both sides.

It isn't hard for everyone to eat chicken. I can eat chicken (dry, moist, white meat, dark meat, fried, baked, boiled, roasted, stir fried) just fine.

Ok. My doc is/was conservative too. NOT quite as conservative as yours, but conservative. I asked him about it. (I am curious, I was a nursing student, and the man has the patience of a saint) He said that in his opinion slower fills give the patient time to adjust slowly to the change in eating styles. In his opinion, research indicates faster more aggressive fills can cause problems and mean a less satisfactory band experience. (I cannot quote his research but want to share what he told me, ok?) In his practice, slower fills generally mean more long-term success for his patients, with less complications down the road. Now, speaking for ME only, I am 13 months out. I can eat about 1 cup of ANY food. ANY. I can eat white bread. I can eat Pasta, dry chicken, well done beef. I do NOT have acid reflux. I can take ALL my pills without crushing them. (and I take some big ones) and I am losing weight well. It took me from 8/29 to May 7 of the next year to reach my "sweet spot" but when I compare how I can eat to other bandsters, when I compare my experience, I am not so unhappy with my doc. Not at all. I don't mean to imply that everyone who has an issue has it because of a bad doc, fast fills, etc. I am not trying to be judgmental or pissy about anyone. I am just saying what happened to me, with my conservative doc. I didn't expect speedy weight loss with the band. Regardless of what I've read on here, my doc said an average of 1-2 pounds a week for up to 3 years or so. I'm right on schedule. Please ask your surgeon why he wants to fill you so slowly. Maybe you could go in every 6 weeks instead of every 8? But just realize that old saying "slow and steady wins the race" can be true, especially in "lap band world". :biggrin: