Elisabethsew

How much depends on what you're able to tolerate. I had 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese for breakfast (140 cals) and 4 oz chicken salad for lunch on 2 Wasa crackers (200 cals) and a protein shake (90 cals). For dinner, I am having 6 oz flounder (300 cals) with some soft veggies (100 cals) and 4 oz mashed potatos (100 cals). For dessert later tonight, I'm having a sugar-free pop (130 cals). Does that help?

Take two ex-lax and drink, drink, drink. In addition, get up and walk around to move things along. Fiber without tons of water will only result in more constipation. Did I mention, DRINK LIKE A FISH? LOL. I hope you get releif soon... it's a painful problem.

It sounds like you're on a soft diet and it appears you're not taking in enough calories. You need at least 60 grams of protein and 800-1200 calories a day. Good protein sources are lite ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, mashed meat balls, tuna and chicken salad, flounder, etc. In addition, make sure you drink the protein shakes and get in enough water.

You both look healthy and happy and you definitely look like a new woman. Congratulations!

I just had a 1 cc fill for the first time last Thursday and start back on a regular diet tomorrow. So far, I really don't feel any difference but am waiting to see if that changes in the next 1-2 weeks. I have another appointment scheduled with my surgeon in 6 weeks so I do hope I feel some restriction soon.

Penni simply posted the rules and made a kind request for peace on the board. It's Memorial Day weekend people. Let's give it a rest and stop REHASHING the same old stuff. Can't we call for a day of peace to honor all of those who gave their life for the freedom we enjoy in America today? Pretty please? I declare Monday (Memorial Day) a day of peace. Anyone want to join me?

Congratulations on a great NSV and being able to shop for a normal size.

Looks like this thread is headed for lock-up as well. I wish all the bickering would end and the focus would go back to support.

Looks like this thread is headed for lock-up as well. I wish all the bickering would end and the focus would go back to support.

It takes 20-30 minutes before your brain knows you're full so here's a few tips I find useful in beating the urge to binge: 1. Drink 2 glasses of water or crystal lite (16 oz) over 10 minutes (called water loading). 2. Keep fresh fruit salad in the fridge at all times so that when I am "on the prowl" there is something ready for me to eat. I don't care that it costs more for me to buy the fruit already cut-up. I'm worth it. 3. I keep 100 calorie treats on hand for when I need to crunch something. 4. I try and determine if I'm looking for food because I am bored. If so, I get my arse in gear and go outside and work in the garden or go for a drive or go to Barnes and Noble and read. 5. I have identified foods that I cannot control and have eliminated them from the house. I'm sure others will offer their "fixes" for beating the binge monster.

At one point I lost a lot of weight (200+ pounds). Most people noticed at the 100 pound lost mark and simply told me I looked good. As more weight came off, those who wanted to know how I did it seemed genuine. I lost it then through diet and exercise. I kept 100 pounds off so people have not yet noticed that I'm back in the losing game. When they do start asking, my answer will be the same... sensible diet and mild exercise and that will be truthful. This time around I merely have a tool assisting me and that is private.

I'm an RN and NOT an MD but a fresh post-op incision that is draining pus is NOT something to fool around with. You SHOULD be on an antibiotic. Furthermore, your surgeon should have seen you RIGHT away and cultured the drainage so he knew what bacteria he/she was treating. See an MD TODAY!

C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure) consists of a mask that is attached to a machine. The machine has the ability to deliver air or oxygen or air and oxygen at the same time and has settings that determine the flow of the air into the body that are individualized to the patient. Apnea (no breathing for 6 seconds or longer) is prevented by the pressure of the continuous flow of pressure into the airway.

It might be a good idea to make an appointment for your husband to see a pulmonologist. They specialize in this area and would refer your husband to a sleep center for proper evaluation. Home tests are NOT reliable.

I think you look better in the black outfit and the 20# gain really does NOT show. I would post the 298 picture on your fridge because there is a BIG difference in where you were then and where you are now. You look great... stay ON the band-wagon.

I am an RN and work full-time as a critical care educator in a large university hospital teaching RNs to work in ICUs. I am adjunct faculty to several colleges and universities and mentor 8 graduate students a year. To cap it off, I'm in a full-time PhD program with a specialization in adult education. I completed stages one and two and am now a doctoral candidate and move onto the dissertation. I need more hours in the day. LOL.

You've certainly had a lot of health problems and it's good you found this problem before having lapband surgery. That surgery is not for everyone so it might be a good idea to get all the other problems dealt with before opting for an elective procedure. I certainly hope all goes well with the carotid endarderectomies.

The xyphoid process is the pointy end of the breast bone and the mid-clavicular line is the middle of your shoulder bone. Sometimes medical people use terminology common in our field and foreign to others. LOL.

MANY people live without their spleens and do just fine. Tonsils are another organ that aid in fighting off infection and tons of people live fine without them. I doubt you would have any problems moving forward with the lapband surgery but it has to be your decision. Good luck.

You didn't mention how old you are. The older you are the less resiliant your skin is. A plastic surgeon friend of mine said the body could "handle" a 2 lb weight loss a week without significant skin sagging. Since the band promotes a 1-2 pound weight loss a week, you should be fine. For me, my health comes second to saggy skin.

Donna makes a good point about eating types. My surgeon thought this would be a good surgery for me because I am not a junk food eater. I am a volume eater. Carbohydrates begins to digest in your mouth (If you leave a cookie in your mouth it will dissolve to a liquidy state and easily pass through the band). If I were a candy, cake, cookie, ice-cream, etc. kind of eater, he would have suggested RNY. Also, comparing yourself to your husband's rate of weight loss will always result in disappointment. Men have a higher percentage of muscle to fat and most have faster metabolisms so they tend to always lose faster than women do. Since he's not obese and you are and have "tried everything and failed", you're metabolism is apt to be slow. Fully investigate the surgery before you decide and call your insurance company to find out if they will pay.

I'm very sorry you had such a horrible experience. It sounds like you developed sepsis post-op and that is a life threatening condition. I could afford to self-pay and have the operation in Mexico but I have some other medical conditions that eliminated that option for me. I stuck it out and did everything the insurance company wanted and FINALLY got them to pay. Thankfully, I had no complications from my surgery but I have to admit it gives me piece of mind knowing the surgeon is just 10 minutes away if I need him. Clearly, you're lucky to be alive and I hope your health has improved.

I am an RN and I work in a hospital where many gastric bypasses (RNY) are performed. The reasons I chose lapband were: 1. It's a relatively quick and safe operation. 2. Weight loss is not through malabsorption so there's no need to take supplements. 3. The operation is reversible. 4. The recovery is not bad (went back to work in a week). 5. The band is adjustable so you can make it tighter/looser as needed. 6. It's a tool that has been proven to augment weight loss. I am only 8 weeks post-op and just had my first band adjustment. The surgeon tightened the band by instilling 1 cc of saline. I have a male friend who was banded in July of 2005 and he's down 125 pounds. I do not regret my decision to have the surgery at all. Weight loss is the one thing in my life I have never been successful with. Prior to this operation, I lost a little over 200 pounds via diet and exercise but put back 100 pounds. I NEED the band to help me get to my goal weight but realize that diet and exercise complete the trilogy. Does that help you a bit more?

Lite ricotta cheese, flounder and tuna salad worked to fill me up when I was on the soft phase of the post-op diet. Congratulations on having the surgery and I hope your recovery is uneventful.

My port is placed about 4" below the bra line slightly more to the left of center and I have not experienced any problems with it. It seems having it placed lower in the abdomen results in soreness and discomfort for some people.