54Shirley

Take your time when you eat, and chew, chew, chew... Sometimes I feel like a cow chewing it to mush,,,, but that's what works. O yeagh small pieces when you cut it up. Shirley.

I was banded at Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, and Chief Surgeon. We were taught that we had new plumbing in there, that's why we burp! It keeps the opening from the stomach to the pouch open. That's a very good thing. On occasion you will get stuck! so we will give you a recipe for the Lap Banders DRANO for being stuck.... Take a shot glass or a little bigger, add ADOLPH'S meat TENDERISER in the glass, and mix with some Water. Swallow it, and leave it sit there. It will eat the clog. If you are stuck for 1/2 hr or longer, go to a Hospital, and they can get it out. That's the only info. I have ever had on this. I have never tried to do this, I drank water, and puked it up. JUST REMEMBER TO CHEW !!!!!, and you really won't have this problem. As far as coke unplugging the clog,,, I believe it.... It's also used to eat the rust of of cars when repair is needed. Here is a example: take a piece of beef, and put a thumb print into the meat so it's like a hole or pocket. Now fill the pocket with coke. Do this before you go to bed, and take a look at it in the morning. I did round steak, and it ate a whole clean through it. So all you banders, don't drink COKE or DIET COKE. Not good for that empty stomach at all.

Has to be different then what I had. But now you understand the way he put my band in place permanently. Shirley.

You go Band Sister.... I went to the Dr. today, no biggy, but got weighed. I am down 19lbs. in just over 2 weeks. 3 weeks this Thursday. I see my surgeon in a month ! Will see what it is by then. Good Health, Shirley.

Better late then never ! ! ! Yep you too will do fine. It really is not that big of a deal,, I know that it is a big change, but it's easy for them. So try to relax. Let me know when your back. Shirley.

Have not yet had that experience. Been in the red zone though, and that is not fun at all. I like mine snug, then there is no appetite issues. If I have to do fluids for a few days, I can handle that. We all can handle that. So knock on wood *** I hope that doesn't happen in the near future,

I have a 4cc band too, mine is the old one, but it's one day at a time, and if you are not tight enough everything will get hung up. To tight, it will get stuck. Good advice,,, there talking about (THE RED ZONE). Cant swallow saliva, you don't want to go there trust me....... Just make sure you can drink water at the Dr.'s office. Then liquids for 3 days. I have 2.5cc in my band, and I am not really hungry. Maybe every 5 hrs. That's what they told me is ideal, and it's working. So Good Health To You, Shirley.

Let me give you some strait upright advice. I have 2 artificial knees, a old version of the Lap Band , (4cc) and I had some problems with a surgeon for 3 years I couldn't get it fixed. Well I got Ins., and the truth was that there was no problem at all, and I am glad to be starting all over again. I was 306, today at my PCF, I was 287 after a couple of weeks. I'll take that for starts..... Get a good surgeon, and one that is good in follow up care, that's very important. I was filled a little snug, but that's o.k. (NOT IN THE RED ZONE) so I have no appetite driving me crazy, and 4 oz. rite to the T and I am full. My knee Doc told me, when you lose 100 lbs. then come see me. He never thought I would do it. Now this spring,, I will be out doing some walking. Can't go to far, Don't want to where these knees out. But I still will walk. Your friend is wright, they won't touch her unless she loses weight. ..... So you should tell her to jump on the band wagon. That's the Lap Band Wagon. Take Care, Shirley.

I said it before, and I'll say it again water is water ! Now if you want to get into bottled water, spring water, well water, galvanized pipe water, copper, plastic ,or city Even in this, there are differences. Whether it's high in Iron, or Lead. It's still your choice, of what you want. The same thing happens with sun tea. That's a couple of tea bags thrown in a gallon jar, (NOT A CUP) and let it sit in the sun. It has a unique taste. Lemon 0 calories. per slice for a glass, Lyme's the same. If you get a couple of calories out of coffee???????? I don't know, because I don't drink it. But black, I'm sure is no big deal. Were not talking about pop, or Kool-Aid. Every one has different stuff to work with. I have natural spring water. Now if you tell me "THAT HAS CALORIES ! ! !" O well,,, that's life, I can't change the world. You shouldn't try to either.

It would be more like a solid waiste band, with the band going threw it, and then snapped in place. Thus the band can't slip. When the band is snapped in place, extra tissue is pulled over the band, and the tissue is then stitched together, becoming almost impossible to slip. You would have to rip all that stitching loose to slip. Henry Ford Bariatric Center in Detroit, takes the Canadian Ins. Dr Jeffrey Genaw Chief Surgeon. Thats who did mine, There are more Canadians there then Americans. So if you want to give them a call, and enquire about this type of surgery, I'm sure they will tell you. I didn't even know that he did this untill he told me my band wouldn't slip he fixed it that way. That's the best I can say...

Go to youtube if you are interested, and you csn see this. Not sure if this wae done to me.

Well I'll be...... That's what I had done, he just never told me the name of it. This band is stitched in place do to a fold or flap, and it prevents slippage wright? If I'm wright, I had this for 5 years, and it never slipped. You can feel the pressure on the upper part of the stomach, but you get use to it as it heals, or breaks in. It is a good thing. Your band won't slip at all. I think they should all be done like this. Get back to me after your surgery. I want to see what you think of it, keep in touch O.K... Shirley.

Prayer is headed your way ! Don't worry it's not that big of a thing, you will do just GREAT !

Go on ebay and type in MUSCLE MILK. Light will also come up. There is a lot of distributors with a variety to choose from. I just bought my MML from a lady for $5.99 a Jug you only add Water 8 0z/2 scoops. A jug goes a long way. Shipping was $10.00 that is cheap ! So I bought 2 strawberry Milkshakes, and 1 Peanut Butter, chocolate shake. She figured out the shipping, and it was well worth it. MUSCLE MILK IS HIGH IN Protein, LOW IN CALORIES, AND IF YOUR LACTOSE INTOLERANT, YOU GOT IT MADE. Where I had my surgery, we where all told to drink MM. I drink both regular, and light. Hope this Helps.... Good health to you, Shirley.

I had a Hernia in the GUT the size of a fist, and both Lymph nodes in the GROIN where removed, he thought cancer, but nope. Then he did my band. I spent 3hs. on the table. My husband said he was beat! He did the band in 30 minutes. But he dug out the Hernia, and closed it with a red hot rod, like searing meat. So he burned the flesh together, and it held. Was I sore! In the Groin.

Hi I'm Shirley 56 yrs. young. Hope the age difference doesn't bother you. I been banded almost 5 yrs. this year. Do to a Dr.'s paperwork screw up I had to find a new surgeon, well, to cut it short someone did take me on and fill me, and there was nothing wrong all along... So I am starting from square 1 all over again. So been there done it ya know ! I''m around. So message me if you want, or will just talk if I see your posts. That's up to you. But be in touch if you want. Shirley.

Believe it or not if your not full enough, everything can get hung up. I'm tighter now then I ever been, so no appetite, and as long as I eat slow, and chew it up everything is going down. Before that everything was getting hung up. So yeagh,,, How full are you?

To the person with the port leak... I just went through the whole thing of being worried sick, and what would they do..... I have a 4cc band (older one) They put 2cc of saline in there, and 1/2cc acrylic. So if there was a leak anywhere,, it would seal it. I'm fine....... It was that easy. They did it under fluoroscopy (PAINLESS) and watched for any type of leak or break. Nothing... So yep I know how you feel, and more. It took me 3 years to get it fixed, had to find a new surgeon (MINE WOULDN"T TOUCH ME) so I regained around 100lbs.... But you to when you get yours fixed, you will be off and running again. Good Health to you, Shirley.

I was thinking,,, when I was first weighed 338lbs, my surgeon asked me what size did I want to get down to with the band. I told him I'm not ever gonna be bikini material, he chuckled. I said I'm over 50, so I don't have to be a size 2 wright? He agreed, and told me a size 2 is a unrealistic goal. I'm not interested in that. Your Not???? NO ! Well what size would you like? I said if I could get down to a 14 that would be great. Good enough for my age. I asked is that possible. He said O,,,, absolutely ! Really yep the time will come when we will get you down. Well I am starting from scratch, and now that everything is o.k.. I will meet that goal. I know it because I got down to a 16, and was in between sizes, when this goofed up. So now that it's in good shape, and i seen the band for myself under fluoroscopy, also great restriction... I know my reach is not out of sight. Just stay focused on what you really want. (REALISTICALLY) I know I have the same battle as you, but this is one day at a time, and I have cloths that are cute, and I have never took the tags of. Because I new I would get this strait, and get a chance to hit my goal. So stay in touch with reality.

I had to Waite 12 months,,, The only thing I can tell you is stay focused, look forward to Dr.'s appointments for getting weighed, and for what ever your there for "could be a lot of different reasons" and stick to your goal. If they tell you to back of, because you have lost to much weight, and could be disqualified. Then believe that's true, and do what they suggest. Good Health to you. Shirley.

Amen to what she said,,,, especially about keeping it of. I'm not going to get into details. You can see my turtle isn't moving at all yet ! but it will ! My story by now is on page 2 or 3. It was entitled something like I WANT THIS DAMN PIECE OF JUNK TAKEN OUT looking for a surgeon in Saint Helen, Michigan. Go ahead and read the whole thing. I lost weight too, but do to problems that were totally dumb. I went without being filled for 3 yrs.. Finally got Ins., and it was taken care of. I haven't felt this good in a long time. So go ahead and read my story. I will be seeing this new surgeon on 04/13/2006. I know what I way know, and I will see what I way then. You can bet this Turtle will move ! ! ! Shirley.

No ! ! They weren't ! Seems some people go in the wrong direction, or are stuck on calories a little to tightly, to even get off point.

By the way, you mentioned all the skin... Chances are that if you have Ins. it doesn't cover PLASTIC SURGERY. When your Dr. says it is MEDICALLY NECESSARY ! Chances are you should be covered. You will have to check with your Ins. Co.. See if that is so, if it is? Do you have any out of pocket expenses, besides deductible, and co pays. Hope it's all good, Shirley.

At least you found away to eliminate them from you with there B.S.......

Well that souns better... I'm sure you can do it ! Shirley.