DaMomb

Does your doctor say Ibuprofen is okay to take? Mine is adement about NO ibuprofen. I found out Monday when I went in for a fill that he thinks mine is leaking too. The last two fills I have had he has put in 9cc's and when I go back he always checks and there has only been 7ccs in my band. I go in next Monday for a port a gram. He said if it is in the port then just have to have the port replaced but if it isn't in the port then I may have to have the entire band replaced.. Bummer

I found Dr. G after wasting 2 months at Dr. Holsaeter's office. They could not get my insurance approval after 2 months, and it was approved after about 12 days with dr. G's office. Dr. Gornichec is extremely thorough. He makes sure you are completely prepared for this. And he has a great bed side manner. Another thing, that doesn't affect his ability to do lapband surgery, but I thought I would add, is that he is very handsome. I am so glad that I had the surgery and would do it all over again, and have been completely satisfied with every aspect of this journey. Would highly recommend Dr G to anyone considering this surgery. (And Babtist Hospital as well. Everyone there is awesome).

Just wondered if anyone knows anything about the natural remedy for depression called Sam-E. Was wondering because it says that it can be hard on the stomach and I know that we are not supposed to used NSAIDS because of how hard they are on the stomach. Any info would be great. Googled but found nothing. Thanks

Keep getting fills til you feel restriction. This isn't an easy way, but it can work. You just have to persevere. I have horrible allergies and have had to have my band adjusted repeatedly, but it is worth it. Haven't updated my profile info in a while, but I have lost 50 pounds and have kept it off for a year and a half. I have never done that before. Would like to lose 20 or so pounds more, but still so happy to have lost what I have lost and been able to keep it up. Don't give up! That is the most important thing! Keep going back til it is working.

So today I have been thinking about how badly I ate yesterday. I had a pampered chef party and of course the food is NOT conducive to weight loss. I had a protein shake before hand hoping that it might help me not overeat at the party. Yeah right! Loaded baked potato chowder, strawberry cake with whipped cream, turtle bar cookies...*sigh*. This morning I got up and had my normal bowl of bran flakes, but was feeling guilty because I still had that "I ate too much" feeling from yesterday. Sometimes these feelings just go round and round in my head and I beat myself up and I am not even really aware of it. Today, however, I was aware of it. A rule that I try to live by is "Tomorrow is a new day". No matter what I do today, as long as I wake up tomorrow morning, I get to start all over. No... there are not any "Do Overs". If I screwed up yesterday... I screwed up yesterday. Can't take it back or undo it. But I can let it go. It is in the past. Move on. One of the main things I want to do when I beat myself up, is comfort myself with food. My emotional appetite can be ravenous. Something sounds good, and I think I will feel better if I eat it, but lo and behold, it does not make me feel better at all. So I try something else. Eventually, I only end up feeling horrible and the emotional thing is still there. If I can ever truly get a handle on that, there is no telling how much my life would change. I am human... I screw up.... Move on!! So... today... My mind starting doing that... man.. you ate way to much.... you still have a lot of weight to lose, and at this rate, you are NEVER going to lose it all. I HATE THESE THOUGHTS! *Sheesh* Get me off this freakin mental merry go round! :thumbup: So today, I will do better than yesterday. I will forgive myself for screwing up (again) and I choose to move on. My life is better today then it was 9 months ago and I am determined it is going to keep getting better. After all... what have I got to lose???? :crying:

So today I have been thinking about how badly I ate yesterday. I had a pampered chef party and of course the food is NOT conducive to weight loss. I had a protein shake before hand hoping that it might help me not overeat at the party. Yeah right! Loaded baked potato chowder, strawberry cake with whipped cream, turtle bar cookies...*sigh*. This morning I got up and had my normal bowl of bran flakes, but was feeling guilty because I still had that "I ate too much" feeling from yesterday. Sometimes these feelings just go round and round in my head and I beat myself up and I am not even really aware of it. Today, however, I was aware of it. A rule that I try to live by is "Tomorrow is a new day". No matter what I do today, as long as I wake up tomorrow morning, I get to start all over. No... there are not any "Do Overs". If I screwed up yesterday... I screwed up yesterday. Can't take it back or undo it. But I can let it go. It is in the past. Move on. One of the main things I want to do when I beat myself up, is comfort myself with food. My emotional appetite can be ravenous. Something sounds good, and I think I will feel better if I eat it, but lo and behold, it does not make me feel better at all. So I try something else. Eventually, I only end up feeling horrible and the emotional thing is still there. If I can ever truly get a handle on that, there is no telling how much my life would change. I am human... I screw up.... Move on!! So... today... My mind starting doing that... man.. you ate way to much.... you still have a lot of weight to lose, and at this rate, you are NEVER going to lose it all. I HATE THESE THOUGHTS! *Sheesh* Get me off this freakin mental merry go round! :tt1: So today, I will do better than yesterday. I will forgive myself for screwing up (again) and I choose to move on. My life is better today then it was 9 months ago and I am determined it is going to keep getting better. After all... what have I got to lose????

As a veteran of the US Army, I too have had military training, and they did not teach me to be rude. You have more issues that the RNY is going to fix. And I do, in fact, wish you luck. You are 309 pounds for heavens sake! I hope whatever you choose works! And btw.. I have lost 42 pounds in 9 months.... and I consider that a great success!!

You asked a question about lapband vs RNY, and got mad when someone answered you with their opinion. If you only wanted opinions that were pro-RNY, you should have said that. However, with that said, I still wish you luck on your journey.

Congratulations Catherine! You are doing great. Keep up the good work. I wanted to share one of my NSV's. For years I have gone with my sisters (who are a size 3/4 and a size 8/10) to Victoria's Secret and watched them shop while I looked at lip gloss and shimmer body powder. I finally got down to a size that I could order a bra and panties. And the bra was actually to big and I had to return it. The panties fit perfectly! WOOHOO! I returned the bra and using my new pretty pink angel credit card (LOL) I ordered several more pair of panties and 3 new bras! Oh yeah... and two tubes of lip gloss... hehehhehe

Chele, I hate that your band has been so ineffective for you. Truthfully, you are exactly right about the band and the discipline that is necessary to lose weight. It is not the magic bullet that many of us hoped it would be. The truth of the matter is, I think it might help you to change your goal from weight loss to just being healthier. That has been my goal, and although I have not lost weight quickly, I have consistently lost weight, and I have changed my lifestyle extensively. The band didn't do that.... I did. Some of my changes have been to eliminate bread (I don't miss it nearly as much as I thought that I would). I have exchanged turkey meat for hamburger in about 95% of my recipes and uses. (Most of the time you really can't tell the difference except that it is very mushy when raw *yuck*). I use soy milk for my smoothies and Cereal and to add to my hot tea (much healthier, and I can't tell the difference, but I couldn't just drink it straight, its kinda brown... also *yuck*). I have learned to like yogurt... (I started with the yoplait whips.. they are really good, and now I can eat any yogurt... and I LOVE IT!! I NEVER thought I would say that). I DO NOT buy any kind of chips or junk that I have a problem with. Sometimes I buy something for my family, (like recently it was cheddar jalapeno chips) and found that I was obsessed with them until the entire bag was gone, so I now know that I cannot have that in the house again. My family is very understanding about it. I know, for me, what I thought was going to happen with the band is that I was just going to have this wonderful full feeling all the time, and that would encourage me to eat less. That is not really what has happened for me. With my third fill I do enjoy a full feeling, and have to make myself eat which is awesome. Many times in the morning I can't even eat anything solid, so I eat yogurt, oatmeal, or cream of wheat. I like those things and they are healthy. but if I am eating later in the afternoon, or evening, I find that I can eat much more than the recommended 1/2 - 1 cup, so that is when I have to exercise my discipline. And it is really hard, especially if it is something I really like. I use a small plate and that helps, but it is still very hard. I also try to make sure that my foods are healthier so that if I am not as disciplined as I should be, at least it is not as bad as the things I made prior to my band. Have you tried having a cup of warm tea or coffee before you eat chicken or turkey? That seems to help me relax my band. Anything cold will usually tighten that band right up. Also, have you told your doctor that you are having a problem with those foods? Every time I go to the dr, I have to fill out a form and that is one of the questions on the form. I never have had a problem so I am not sure what it means if you are having a problem, but it is evidently something that is common or I don't think it would be on the questionnaire. You really need to develop a better relationship with your surgeon and if he is not working with you then I would suggest finding another bariatric doctor. And the suggestion to walk is the most important in my book. Our bodies were created to move and that doesn't mean walking to the car and then from the car to our job, or the store, or whatever. And you don't have to power walk. Just move. I usually walk my dog for about 40 minutes a day and you will be surprised how much better you feel (and my dog is soooooo happy!). Like I said, for me this has been about being healthier. The changes I have made are changes that I feel like I can live with for the rest of my life. Eating straw and hay and working out like a madman is not something that I would ever be able to keep up... but that is just me. Having a goal of being healthy does not overwhelm me like a goal of being skinny does. With 100 or more pounds to lose that is a little overwhelming to me. Find what works for you. And the one thing to remember is this... whether it has been 2 days... 2 months... or 2 years.... tomorrow is a brand new day, and you get to start all over just as if you were banded yesterday. Call your doctor, get rid of the cheetos and steak and good luck. I hope that you can find the will and the desire to restart this process, because it is definitely worth it. I have not lost my weight quickly, but I am 42 pounds less than when I started, and I am okay with that. Oh yeah... the gas...... Are you married??? For me it is finally payback for my hubby who has gassed me out for the last 25 years :thumbdown:. But it is often quite uncomfortable for me as well. But it is a fair trade off for me. Hope to hear that you have been able to get back on the "band" wagon. Best of Luck and I will look forward to hearing from you on how you are doing! (sorry it is such a long reply)

Miss Bandy, I didn't think the reply was nasty at all. While many people are very successful with the RNY, it has a lot of complications. I know of two women that died from complications associated with the gastric bypass. I also personally know several people that had it done several years ago, and wish that they had done the lapband instead, but it was not available at the time. Problems like severe vitamin deficiency, and chronic diarrhea, are the most common. According to information available, it is much safer now than it was even 10 years ago. Most people will lose all the weight that they are going to lose within the first 18 months with the RNY. That was my determining factor for the lapband was that whether it is 18 months or 18 years I can always go back and have it tightened to help with weight loss if I gain anything back. Good Luck Haku with your decision and your weight loss. No matter what you decide I hope that you are successful.

You are absolutely not being dumb. I remember before surgery, every time I would eat hot bread at my favorite italian restaurant, I would think... I will never be able to eat this again. And it was almost a panicky feeling. And many other foods I was afraid that I would not be able to eat as well. Well, I am 6 months post op and can usually eat most everything. I try to eat slowly and take small bites, and if something gives me a problem, it is usually bread. Funny thing is, (pre-surgery) we used to go through about a loaf of bread/week here at home, but I have had a loaf of bread in my freezer forever and we finally took it out and now it has sat on the cabinet so long it is hard and needs to be thrown away. And honestly... I haven't missed it one bit. I am losing my weight much more slowly than many in the lapbandtalk community, but I am very happy with my weightloss this far. I feel so much better, and I have gone from a size 22-24W to a 16W and xl clothes and that has been awesome. My desire from the beginning has been to learn some healthier habits. I have found that I now love yogurt, turkey meats, vegys and fruits. Granola is my best friend when I get the munchies at night instead of something that comes out of a box made by the miniature chef named Debbie. It is all just a process. Hang in there. You will be fine, and hopefully you will find that anything you have to give up will be replaced with things that are much more significant. Good luck and God bless!

That is not true. The normal amount that you should lose with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. 9 months = 36 weeks. So you are on the low end of normal. Don't get discouraged. Just keep on keepin on. In two years at this rate, you will have lost 104 pounds! What do you think your weight would be in two years without the surgery? I am not losing weight as fast as I would like to either, but I am losing. I have to be very careful not to compare myself to others. Plus, I have read what some of the other ppl are doing... exercising 1, 2 or 3 hours a day. Eating only liquids mon-fri... :thumbup: That is not how I want the band to work for me. I am eating similar to the way I always have, but less, and finding healthier things to eat. I never feel like I am being deprived, and I feel so much better now that I am 29 pounds lighter than I did before. Like any weight loss, this is a life style change. Make sure you are exercising. I walk about 30-40 minutes a day. I take my dog out. It isn't something I dread. I am building my stamina and my dog is absolutely ecstatic! And you might need a fill. Getting the band to the right place is the hardest thing about this tool. Good luck to you.

I think you should definitely see another doctor. Bypass is much faster for weight loss, but after about 18 months they bypass is not as effective a tool for them, and inability to get enough nutrition is a big problem. With the band, it will always be a tool. You always have the option for fill or unfill. It can take some time to get used to and some time to get restriction and good weight loss, but I feel it is worth it. Don't get discouraged. It is worth it in the end. Good luck to you on your journey.

I am not sure what is going on with my band. I had my second fill 3/3 and had amazing restriction at first. Now I find that I either get stuck or I am able to eat a more than I should and I don't get full, which leads to me grazing. In the morning, oatmeal, cream of wheat, mushies are all fine, but other things... stuck. Later in the day, the band tends to loosen up a lot and I can eat whatever. This is very frustrating because I am able to eat when I shouldn't be eating as much. In the evening I feel like I need another fill, but in the morning/early afternoon, I feel like I need a little taken out... Anyone else have this, and if so, what did you do for it??

I will definitely try that! Thanks for the advice! :crying:

yep...amen sister!

Thank you so much for your reply. I agree. It is miserable getting stuck constantly. If a little unfill is going to make all the diff, then I definitely want it. I am a little impatient (well... maybe a lot impatient) and my slow weight loss progress has me a little discouraged. I guess being desperate enough to have surgery makes the living with being stuck seem like its just part of the package, and I know it isn't. I have had two very large fills, so I probably do need a slight unfill. Again, thank you so much for your reply.

I definitely may need an unfill, but I am afraid that I will lose what restriction I do have:sad:. Waiting for restriction is a bummer and then to finally have it but with the stuck issue... it is frustrating. I will be honest with my doc when I go in (but will probably just wait til the 20th) and if he feels I need a little unfill, that will be fine. It isn't like I am not eating anything, but I am not eating like I feel I should be eating. Too much mushies in the daytime and then able to eat too much in the evening. Thanks for your reply crzytchr :smile2:

I guess this is rather common. I can't get another fill appt til 4/20, so I guess by then I will have a better idea what is going on. I wonder if I was a little tighter if it would keep it from going through and maybe it wouldn't get stuck. This morning actually was the first time I could actually feel my coffee stopping at the band, and then going on through. So for whatever reason, I am really tight today. Irish 76, I understand the frustration. I lost 17 pounds before my surgery... 3 more pounds 3 weeks after surgery, and nothing else for the next 5 weeks. I thought I was finally to restriction, and now.... *sigh* Now I am eating no where near my caloric daily intake because of the getting stuck issue, which has caused the weight loss to skid to a stop too... :smile2: Hopefully someone will reply who has had this and had something done that took care of it. Or has some suggestions. I always have a cup of coffee in the morning, but still only mushies will go down. And seems like if I get stuck, then I can't eat anything after that except more mushies...

This sounds amazing. I can't wait to try it. So here is one of my own. Most of the time I have no problem at all eating this salad. It is delicious and I use a very small amount of ranch but it has so much flavor it doesn't take much. Magnolia Salad Chicken Breast, cooked, cut into bite size pieces (I brown breasts in evoo and sprinkle with a New Orleans Cajun spice) Spinach/Lettuce mixture chopped well dried cranberries mandarin oranges roasted walnuts chopped Tomato slices olives Croutons This is from a little cafe near where I work, and it is absolutely awesome. I make sure and eat the chicken pieces first, but I could eat this once/twice a week, easy...

I have had two fills and I am at good restriction. I have had no problems eating salad usually. Once you get restriction, some days may be better than others. Something I read on a post earlier is that if you take a bite and it gets that little stuck feeling, wait about 5 minutes and it is usually okay. (I am anxious to try this). Until restriction, you may find that you can eat just about anything, and that is really hard. That is how it was for me. I could eat anything, so I had to rely on my willpower. No weight loss at all during that time, but was able to keep the 20 pounds I had already lost off. Glad to finally have restriction tho for sure! The most important thing to remember is... chew... chew.... chew. Redundant I know, but I have heard it a million times and still find that I forget, and swallow to soon.... and.... ... stuck. And stuck... sucks! Good luck!

It makes me wonder if the poster may have gotten angry with dr or hospital in tiajuana and felt that fear would accomplish more than ranting. Who knows, but the anonymous post does cause one to wonder.... With that said, Mexico is very dangerous, and Americans are definitely targets.... so I would be very careful... Another opinion of one of our customers at the shop who is from Mexico is that in Mexico they hear these same kind of stories about places like Chicago and New York City...

I am 11 weeks post op, and still have some pain on the left side. My port is on the right side, and I don't have much problem with that anymore, but what is on the right side where the next larger incision is? It is still sore

Thank you JoannMarie. That is so sweet. That's what is so great about this forum... hopefully we can each inspire one another, and we definitely see that we are not alone. Most anything we will go through, someone else has been there, and that is so helpful. We really are all in this together