Elisabethsew

I think it's time you called your surgeon and had a barium swallow and/or an endoscopy to see what exactly is going on. Call and let him/her know the antacids, etc., are not working and demand to be seen.

Yup, there was a realy nasty period of time not too long ago and I think she needed a break from all the BS.

You won't do any damage and you might not feel any restriction. The band was meant to accomodate a regular diet so move onto the solids. Your MD will not give you a fill if you can't tell him/her how you're tolerating a regular diet.

Way to go! I hope business continues to boom for you.

You can DEFINITELY notice a difference and you look wonderful. Congratulations on reaping the rewards of all your hard work losing weight.

You've done great! Don't dwell on the one bad day... they are bound to happen. You're back on track and will continue to lose.

I have no restrictions on drinking before meals... makes no sense.

You're going to do great. It's natural to be nervous. Good luck and update us when you get home.

You're going to GREAT and your worries are normal. I was very close to your weight (351 pounds, 5' 2") when I went into surgery but I also have a heart condition and I did fine. ALL surgeries have risks but you're running a risk daily by NOT doing something about your weight. Explain to your son that he's going to have to help you stay active by making you play games with him and take him to sporting and school events, etc. Before you know it, you'll be PARTICIPATING and no longer just be a spectator. Good luck with the surgery and update us when you get home.

Hi Gracie, What you describes sounds perfectly normal at this stage of the recovery. The port is sewn to the abdominal wall which is a muscle. As healing occurs (and it takes 6-8 weeks), it's natural to feel some discomfort or pulling/twitching. Check with your surgeon just to be sure.

Welcome! Do searches on here for topics that interest you. There's a wealth of information here.

When I had my GB surgery, the only restriction I had was no heavy lifting (> 25 pounds) for six weeks. This was the same restriction I had for the banding and it was provided by 2 different surgeons. Since both are abdominal surgery, it makes sense. Call your surgeon, I'm sure he/she will be fine with the rides. HAVE FUN!!!

The answer to this question is in the color of your urine. The stronger or deeper the color of the urine, the more you need to drink. Urine should be a pale yellow color and THAT determines how much water you need to drink.

Sugar alcohols have 7 calories per gram whereas fat has 9 so you do get a little less calories in the SF Russell Stovers. Mannitol and Sorbitol are the sweetners they use. They are laxatives! LOL.

The band is surgically placed and left unflated in most people. At 4-8 weeks, healing is complete and that's when the surgeon can start to make the band tighter by injecting saline into the port (placed in the abdomen). I pay a $35 co-pay for fills and they're not painful at all.

I'm 2 pounds away from kissing the 300's bye-bye and hope to join you all by the end of next week in twoterville. You're all doing wonderfully.

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Congratulations on a FANTASTIC achievement. What are you going to do to celebrate?

When my weight loss stalls I eliminate the snacks and softer foods. It takes me longer to eat a piece of fresh fruit or a salad with chicken or tuna in it than to have soup or cheese. It also keeps me fuller longer. Way to go Eathansgrandma... both you and your hubby! How's everyone doing? I'm 2 pounds away from getting out of the 300's and hope to kiss them good-bye sometime next week.

Hi Roadrunner, The most frustrating thing for me concerning the band was the time it took to get restriction. My surgeon does not give a first fill for a full 8 weeks and that fill resulted in no restriction. If you can be patient during the fill process while they find your proper level of restriction, I think you'll find the band quite helpful. I was in the hospital overnight and had an uncomplicated recovery. Feel free to ask lots of questions. I found a wealth of information here.

In addition to being a full-time RN, I'm also a full-time PhD student (shoot me now). LOL. I mentor 8 graduate students a semester and I really am shocked when I read the poor quality of the formal writing they submit in the forms of research papers. It makes me wonder how they got into graduate school. Worse, it seems to devalue higher education. OK, time to get off the soap box now. LOL.

This is really a question best answered by your MDs. Radiation and chemo are the hallmarks of treatment for breast CA so research thoroughly before you opt out of chemo treatments. There are many new anti-emetic drugs that you can take. One of the newer ones is Zofran sub-lingual, 4 mg. You put the pill under your tongue and it dissolves and the taste is not bad at all. I'll keep you in my prayers for a total and swift recovery from the CA.

I have bad knee arthritis and need a total knee replacement. This might sound strange but I measure my walking progress via telephone poles. LOL. They are spaced apart evenly so I try to add one more pole each week. Another trick is to drive your car exactly 1/4 or 1/2 a mile so that you know how far to walk. Since you have to come back home, 1/4 mile becomes 1/2 and 1/2 becomes a whole mile. Sometimes I listen to music or a book on tape when I walk but more often I enjoy the quiet.

I'm in Long Island and was banded at Syosset Hosp. by Dr. Geiss. My friend was banded by Dr. Ren 13 months ago and has lost well over 125 pounds and reached his goal weight of 180 pounds. Congratulations on getting the band and I hope your recovery is smooth.

While I have not experienced what you described, Alexandra, I do believe there is a strong mind/body connection. I also have found that stress can be a causative factor. I have a heart condition that results in life-threatening arrhythmias. Several times I have had to call an ambulance. It seems once I am in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, the arrhythmia subsides to a degree that I am still uncomfortable but not fearing I will die. Interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing.

It's sad that so many of those workers are living under a cloud of uncertainly wondering if they'll have a job a month from now. While the booklet was insensitive, it makes a good point... try and save where you can because you never know when life as you know it will change. As a single person, I force myself to live within my means as much as possible and have a forced saving plan (403b) in case of emergencies and for retirement. I read a few months ago that for the average American, the difference between being homeless and having a home is 2-4 paychecks. Scary!