Kat817

Most places have soup...or if you go say mexican---refreid beans work well, chinese you have egg drop soup....there are usually mashed potatoes...it will be a bit of a challenge, but just think how awesome next years birthday will be!!! It will all be worth it!! It seems like no matter when you get banded, there is always a holiday or family get together of some sort. I have been seeing all kinds of Thanksgiving questions!!! Hang in there...you're on mushies, you have almost made it through the hard part!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Welcome to Bandland and LBT, we are glad to have you here!! Kat

There are several threads for long timers, as well as those who have lost over 100 pounds etc. Not sure what I would suggest to use as a search on the time line tho. Just cruise through the site, you will find all sorts of good info! I hear very good things about Dr. Rumbault, congrats on getting a date!!! Welcome to LBT!!! Kat

The only one who can answer your Thanksgiving question is your Doctor. There is a very valid reason for the pre-op diet, and some have said that their Dr. has actually stopped the operation in progress, because the liver was not shrunk properly. Your Dr. would know how important that diet is to your particular case. I would buy up as many quick cook meals as possible to make preparation easier. During these next weeks, with the pre op as well as the post op diet, finding ways to keep family harmony while adhering to your diet is going to be very challenging. The post op diet is VERY important to follow as well, you cannot eat anything, it will not allow you to heal properly. The weight in the stomach as it passes through can pull on the new stitches, and allow the stomach to drop, then the band is not held in place. As for the families meals...if there are things they might like that would not be your favorite, now would be the time to fix them!!! It is just my DH and I, and he was so understanding, he lived on frozen foods it seemed, and never complained!!! Love that man! If your family will eat the TV dinners, buy some up...and let them know that this is a very serious issue, and they may have to do some of their own preparing of meals for the next 6 weeks or so. I don't know the ages of your kids, or whether or not your DH would be ok with helping more than usual, but it would sure help you out!! If not, make an advance menu of VERY SIMPLE meals, and stick to it. When you are not eating, you don't care if spaghetti sounds good or not, it's what's for dinner!!! As you recover and go onto liquids, you can have soup and sandwiches, and you can eat the soup. You can plan them meals that you can puree and eat, let them have beef stew, you can blend it to eat it as well. You just have to drag up on all the willpower you have and put it to use...these hard times will pass, and you will be on your way!!! Welcome to LBT---and congrats on having a surgery date!! Kat

Maybe a few well placed "weight discrimintation" pamphlets, and a phone call to return to her attorney!! I am sorry your fiance is going through this, it is all too common place. I know where she is, being unsure of what can or would be done, it may just make it worse for her. I am glad for her she has someone to support her as you seem to be doing. Now...the man/woman thing. There is a chance, that just being able to tell you and get it off her chest is all she needed. That is the woman way of handling things. In steps you the man and wants to "fix" it. Which is perfectly normal, and understandable, which is the mans way of handling things. My DH and I have had these issues for years. He felt like if I talked to him about it, I wanted him to do something about it....I didn't. I may have wished things were different, but I just needed his love and support, not him to step up and fix it for me. I know this is a HUGE generalization. It just felt very familiar to me!! On the bright side, as frustrating as it is all around, his attitude made me feel very loved and cherished, and I am sure your fiance feels the same. Hang in there, and listen all you can, and you both can come here to vent. I would suggest she ask around to any other students of size and see if they have had any issues they feel are related to that size. There may be more than she realizes, and if so her case just changed!!! Good Luck to both of you!! Kat

I am very open about my surgery. I have told complete strangers!!! I had taken my parents to the eye Dr. the other day, and a lap band commercial come on the TV in the waiting room, and this very heavy girl a few chairs down says to her Mom, "that's what I need". I told her "I had that surgery done 6 months ago" They scooted down and the questions began!!! Before long another woman ask me if they did it for men...no one could believe I had lost 70 pounds in 6 months and did not look malnourished. I did my best to explain it, but it was a free for all!!! They all groaned when my folks come out ready to go! My DH's secretary's Mom just had it done. Everyone at his work knows, and has been super supportive. My family all knows....I think the local cashier at the grocery store knows!!! It is my view that if they are thin, and have never battled weight issues, they will likely not understand any of it anyway. And if they are heavy, they will either accept it and be curious, or think I took the easy way out, and they will likely stay fat a lot longer than I will, and when they are ready to talk about it, I'll still be here!!! I was given a lap band not a magic pill---I have had to work on controlling what I eat, andhow much exercise I get...and I have worked at it! If they are foolish enough to think that I got it and had to do nothing, they are not likely to listen to me anyway!!! But I continue to tell anyone who will listen!! Kat

If you aren't getting a strong signal of fullness...as in pain...you likely still are not real restricted. I would make myself take a bite and wait, slow down and realize you can always go back later, but just continue to cut down some. Personally my nose runs and I need to stop, if I don't here come the hiccups!!! Sounds like you have done great!! Welcome to LBT!! If you have any questions be sure to ask!!! Kat

I too read a lot!!! I read different things, and it is not unusual for me to have 2 or more books going at once. In fact I always have one left in the car, so when I am stuck, I have my book!! I have a few authors I read as they put their new books out...well actually I wait til they hit paperback, so I can take them with me easier. I read all of Jonathon Kellerman, I especially like his Alex Delaware series. I also read all of Janet Evanovich, and feel the same with the Stephanie Plum series. I read a lot of Anne Rule, Nora Roberts, Susan Wiggs, Stephen White, Lee Childs.....I could go on, and on and on!!! My reading time has been diminished with my new found energy, and I spend time on here....but I can now read as I walk on the treadmill!!! I am anxiously awaiting a box of books from Penni---wooohooo an early Christmas present!!! Kat

Any possibilityof re-financing the house and paying down some fo the debt? I ended up self paying as well, but had an accident prior and used my settlement to pay for it. There have been times I wished I had the cash settlement back, to pay bills. My DH has been off for several months with heart surgery and complications, so bills have piled up. But like you I don't regret it. We had some savings we used...and stuck it out. Talk to your creditors, even if they do try to be ugly, if they are rude ask to speak with someone else, and explain you have hit hard times, and need to make payment arrangements. Having been on the business end of that, I know they would rather have you make a small payment and make it regularly than not make any! Plus you need to figure out if selling and then renting will actually save you money. It is not a great market right now to sell I have heard...so look over all your options. Possibly a consolidation loan...put everything together and lower your month to month output. As you get back on your feet, you could increase the payment amount. Maybe even some credit counseling...that keeps creditors happy if they know you are attempting to do something. My niece used one, and it kept her out of bankruptcy. Good Luck to you...come back for support!!! We are not all independently wealthy---we can relate!!! Kat

Hi, I just saw something on another thread...maybe I missed it here, and maybe she just isn't bragging it up....but our Cindy is down 75 pounds now...and I wanna see pictures!!! I have 3 more pounds to go, and I will share 75 pound pics with you Cindy...but my scale hasn't moved in over a week...it bounces the same pound up and down....I would act all confident and say plateau, BUT...I know what I have been eating!!! If I would quit, I could join cindy!!! CINDY---I am so proud of you!!! Losing while all this goes on at work and home... You rock!!! Kat

Hi Georgia--alex explained it much better than I could have!! As far as going out of the US for surgery...many Dr.s (ok, their staff!!) will help you locate a more local Dr. to handle your adjustments, and follow up care. My surgeon had a difficult time locating a Dr. very near to me, the closest is still 6 hours away. So he arranged for him to do my adjustments, (after I met with him, and thought he would be fine), but he also spoke with a local surgeon for emergency purposes. I have never had to see the emergency surgeon thank goodness, but I do feel a little better knowing he has some idea of what has gone on with me. With the amount of advertising they are doing for the lap band around here, it is going to be a big issue around here! Anyway, you are right, I have a year of free fills, but once again, to fly out of our rural area, the cost is prohibitive...but most will work with you to get you set up. Good Luck, do lots of research, and ask any questions you have--lots of helpful people around here!!! Kat

I'm not sure of the site. Try a simple www.lapband.com The allargan site it all connected, I just don't remember how I navigated it....been awhile!! I have slept since then!!! I think it will have a pretty good reference base for you. You can also just enter lap band into a search engine, and get tons of hits to search through. I just looked at everything possible. I have a project going right now, or I would go hunt up some sites for you. If you can't find anything let me know, and I can go get the laptop and see what I can find for you. Sorry--I'm not much help tonight! Kat

Good Luck finding a Dr. Did you use Dr. Aceves? It could be that the surgeons office could help you locate a local Dr. for your adjustments and follow up care. Hope you get your medical problems worked out!! Welcome to LBT---if you have any questions ask away....everyone here is very helpful, it is a great site!! Kat

The port is attached to the band by a tube, and when saline is added by a needle going through your skin on your abdomen into the port, it fills the band, thereby restricting it further. Ideally yes you would have both the band and the port for life. There are web sites, with pictures, that would make it easier to understand. Try the Inamed website, they are one of the big makers of the bands. Good Luck in your research! Kat

Hi everyone-- Eileen, I understand fully the card issue!!! If you want to send your address I will send it to the others, and if some of us want to send you one anyway....we can, if not, don't worry over it. Just make sure you keep in touch! ALWAYS!!! I would love to have had a way to keep up with Donna....it jut worries me! And with it being her birthday...I saw that, and just said a quick prayer for her and her families safety. Stupid witchy woman in Walgreens told me today I was regaining the weight I had lost....really put a drag in my previously happy day. She does not like me, and I know she is always witchy to me...I should not worry over it! I called the 800# on my receipt and complained about her! She fawns all over DH and the guys he works with. I told him, and he was pissed!! Anyway....I worked out double hard due to it, so maybe it was a good thing!!! Let's see, for Thanksgiving...I am making most of it!!! The girls will come here and help cook, and my Mom will bring some. But...my inlaws are going to Denver I guess, and my SIL and I are each going to just do our small families, and all get together for Christmas. I am riding to Colorado with her Monday so she can get another fill...we will decide for sure then. I hope so!!! A holiday with just our kids, sounds great!! I would be happy if both sets of parents could be here...but, not the HUGE gathering of family will be kinda special. Especially since Christmas is so close behind, and we will all be together then. Well I am going to go surf for awhile...catch you all laters....good to see you back Eileen!!! Kat

Wow!! No wonder you are so excited!! Soon you will be an official bandster!!! It's good to have you here Gabby, if you have any questions, ask away, there are really nice people here, and they are full of support! I hope you are as thrilled with your band as I am with mine, I know it is the best thing I ever did for ME! Welcome---and congrats on the upcoming banding!!! Kat

I can't think of anything else right off the bat, but want to remind you to pack lightly. You will be hauling that suitcase all over with you, and on the return trip, you do not want any excess weight to have to deal with. They have new chewable Tylenol, that disolve into very fine powder, they might be lighter than the liquid, and easier to transport. Being in chewable form, you could get them through the carry-on restrictions as well. I did not take a heating pad, they told me they had them at the hospital if I needed one, and I didn't figure I could plug it in on the plane!!! Personally I just took too much...too many clothes, I was in a hospital gown most of the time! I should have lightened my load as much as possible! I hope you have a safe trip, and that your surgery goes well. Check in with us when you get back and let us know how it went. It sounds like you are well prepared!!! Soon you will be a full fledged bandster!!! Kat

Nerves are to be expected, but don't let them get you too wound up!!! It will all be over soon, and you will be an official bandster! If you have any questions before the surgery be sure to ask away. And check in with us afterwards and let us know how it went and how you are doing. This is an awesome site for help, and support. Welcome.... Kat

I lucked out Eve and found it during my research into the band, and have been addicted ever since!!! Welcome to bandland by the way!!! The people here are very nice and very helpful, if you have any questions, be sure to ask! Look around the site, and you will learn all kinds of things...even about some things you might not have wanted to know about!! Welcome! Kat

I have seen several refer to it. My suggestion would to be either start a thread with PCOS or PCOD as the thread name, and also to do a search under those 2 . I have heard it referred to as both. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and also Disease. I had it but had a hysterectomy several years prior to being banded, so cannot give you any input personally. Good Luck, it will be an interesting thread to follow! Kat

Good Luck Ashlee!!! Most of us have had it done and survived to tell about it!! My first one was more difficult, I ended up being poked more times than I wanted, it was not done under fluoro...but he found it, and the 2nd was easier. Have not needed a 3rd yet...and all is well. I believe even with the multiple pokes, the anticipation was the worst of it!!! You will be fine...come back and let us know how it went!!! You are on your way!!! Kat

No I am not malnourished, I believe Telly hit the nail on the head in her earlier post. My body is in shock I believe from one of, or a combination of the surgery with anesthesia and all that, as well as a weight loss, and a change in diet. I had a food diary I kept to track calories for awhile, and my Dr. was impressed by the quality of my diet. Hey wait a minute, I KNOW why my body went into shock and my hair began falling out....exercise, I never exercised before!!! I lost it before, with chemo, and with weight loss...and it will come back, this will NOT stop me!!! Might depress me, but not stop me!! Kat

Being past the age and ability to have babies, I am just flying blind here!!! I have read of women who go with things as they are until they get to a point of feeling too restricted. Have you searched for the other pregnant bandster posts? That might be the best place to start. If you can't find them let me know, I may have a suggestion! and BTW---CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! A baby--how very very special!!! Lucky you!!! Kat

I'm not sure, about which numbers they use for their statistics. I would suggest you read around in here, and you will find lots of people who have blown that stat out of the water!! But for everyone of the ones who really work hard at helping the band--are the ones, who just don't change their habits. There are a lot of people who have reached their goal weight--it IS possible to lose more than the quoted 50-60%. You just have to work with it. You may be a slow loser...but losing is the key!!! It isn't a race, and while we are all interested in all the statistics, the one you need to concentrate on is your own. The Dr. can tell me I am only going to lose 50-60%, but I intend on proving him wrong!!! Maybe we can up those numbers!!! Good Luck--maybe some of the more experienced bandsters can answer your actual question!!! Kat

While I cannot explain the workings of your innards, I can sympathize!! With my banding I didn't have any gas issues, but when I had my hysterectomy I did! Walking helped me, but I needed to change positions often! If I sat or walked a lot the gas did what it does naturally and rose to the top...up around my shoulders and lungs, and heart, and breathing hurt!!! I found when it got bad, if I would lay down, allow it to move, it helped a lot. Walking does help it dissipate, I understand it is absorbed into your organs and is dispersed that way. But a change of position when you are really hurting might help you. Others have head relief from a heating pad as well. Hope you feel better soon!!! Kat

Hi Katina, If you go to the food threads, you will find some excellent food suggestions, for each stage. Look for the Food Heading on the main page. Meanwhile, I know you will hate hearing this...but...since you had pain with the Chinese food yesterday, you really do need to continue liquids for another full day. You may have caused swelling due to the Chinese food, and if you did, it will seem as if ALL food is causing problems, when that will not likely be the cause. I would begin with some smooth yogurt, or pudding, and then move on from there. Check the food threads, you should find lots of ideas! And don't forget to use your blender to make your own versions of things! Good Luck, hope you feel better soon! Kat