54Shirley

Same as above. I was in Agony. Every month after that, they got a little better.

Go to fill center USA. It will call for a zip code, then might give you a location. If not click on a state close to you, and fill centers will pop up in that state if there are any. Also try a fill center CANADA it can't hurt. There is one in TROY, Michigan Good Luck.

I do Gardening when necessary like planting, weeding, scratching up the ground, harvesting, ripping everything out, or cutting it down, then clean up my beds for the spring. Then I help with lawn work, shovel snow, snowmobile. I walk 3-4 times a week. Hope that gives a idea. Shirley.

I chose Bariatric Surgery because I was Dieing. I saw a specialist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at The University of Michigan. He told me I was drowning in my own fluids, and Death could come at anytime now, But you already know this, of course you do. I said Yes, so what do we do...... I couldn't lay down to sleep. because the Fluid was coming up. So I would choke, and cough, then run to the Bathroom. If I ran enough that night, I met get lucky enough to sleep in bed. I still knew there was a chance that my Husband would find me the next day dead in bed... At least it would be a quiet way to go. Then it kicked in for me ! I want to live, and I will fight to live. That's the Disease talking because your so tired. So I started sleeping in the Recliner. but Water was still coming on.. When he weighed me I was 356lbs. I understood why I felt so bad. He told me to go to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit ,and see their Chief of Bariatrics, they have the Monopoly on this stuff. I said Your the U of M ? Don't you do this surgery ? Well we use to, but we were not successful on the last patient. "BUT WE WILL BE BACK ON TOP AGAIN ! ! ! " So I met with the surgeon who told me that I suffered from a incurable disease that has no Medical name yet, because they don't know what to call it, they just call it Pockets. You have seen the man where the belly hangs to the knees "YES" he said that's what I have but in different areas of the body, and if I do nothing about it I would die. Bariatric Surgery was the only cure. He put me on a 1200 calorie daily diet with a shake, and I started my weight loss in 2005. He found out that Ins said Medically supervised diet for 1 year. So he took away my steroids for my knees, planned all my visits out, and said I will see you in about 8 months. Well my Heart about sank. If I lived, I could have surgery to alter my life, and if I died, it would be do to Ins., top it off he took away my meds for these very bad knees. Now that I am off the meds it has been 3 days, and they are killing me, I noticed for some reason I have to go to the Bathroom more, and more. So for 30 days I urinated night and Day some times 3 times one after the other. This was Terrible ! I lost 30lbs. in 30 days ! My family Dr. put me on Water pills. which I still take to this day. When I jumped through the Hoops, and my day for surgery had come. I had lost over 120lbs.. The Girls asked me why am I doing this. Well,,, Blackmail for my Orthopedic Surgeon so I wouldn't gain weight again, after he would replace my knee. So now I had 2 reasons for Surgery. He talked to me about the Different types of Surgery, and he was leaning twords RNY, that did not interest me. I asked if the Band would have the same effect for me since I had a medical problem. He hesitated but said YES .. I said good, because I want the Band. He tried to convince me to go his way, but I would not budge. So he said O.K. but I tried to tell you !!! When we were going to surgery he said LET ME DO THE BY-PASS PLEASE! I stuck to NO ! I want the Band. The Girls said are you ready for a new life ? It clicked L I F E that's what I need. I said YES. This Halloween I will be Banded for 5 yrs., and I'm still kickin... Even though I had a Glitch in it where he deflated me, and I regained weight. I have a Surgeon that was trained under him, but does not have his bold attitude. So were working well together. So a BIG Booooo ! ! ! TO YOU, from this October 2006, Bandster. Shirley.

Hometown ! But,,, check him out, and anyone else in your area or neighboring County. You need good aftercare, and that is vital with the band. No ifs, ands or buts about that. I'm glad you chose Hometown, and I'm sure they will be good to you. Good Luck, Shirley.

As long as you get your Protein in DAILY, there is not a problem. ( More so with RNY patients. Because they have this malabsorption problem.) 60-80 G of protein a Day, and a good chewable Multivitamin. (and some take calcium, some drink milk That's up to you !) Eat Healthy, and enjoy life. That's all you need to do, and you should not have problems with hair loss. Shirley.

Exactly right ! If this would have been around when I was 18. I would still have my original Knees, not TITANIUM, I would have loved to been called by my regular name, not here comes Fat Shirley... That stuff gets to you after a while, and I am sure you have your own tale to tell. But, it, is,,, O So Worth It ! Would do this again ! The pain is not all that bad, and they give you Medicine for the Pain. (I really didn't even feel that sore !!! ) Gas, again you do walking, and if you have it, it goes away, and some people use these Gas Strips that you can buy. hair Loss: That really doesn't happen, unless you let your Protein get low, and you will be drinking shakes that are loaded with protein, plus you add up the protein, and calories in your Daily Logging. As long as you stay between 60-80Grams of protein a day, your fine. This is a piece of Cake ! Once you learn that a little bit of food fills you up compared to a lot of Food before.... You will go far! Shirley. Also check out myfitnesspal.com that is one of a lot of sites where you can do your logging at, and view other peoples Diary like what they ate today ! That will give you some ideas. It's free to join and a lot of us are there. I am Losingintime on that site.

I've been drinking this for 5 yrs. So I have a idea on the stuff. It is 195 calories per 8 oz. shake, and 25 G of protein. There are a lot of flavors to choose from, and if you wanted to add protein to it, I don't see why you couldn't. Shirley.

We aii have second thoughts, and get Nervous about this surgery, and that's understandable. But I have had Dental Work that was more Painful. I had all 4 quadrants of my mouth recontoured, then filled with a packing. I'll tell you what that hurt like HLLLLL ! But,,, it needed to be done. I could have waited, but it was best to have this done asap. So I had 1 after the other done.. This was do to medication prescribed by a specialist. It caused a lot of surgery for me. This is much easier, and Anesthesia has this down to a Patton. Yes it is life changing, but that's the point. It takes time to learn all the things you need to know, that's what were here for to. Some of the Veterans Know what to do for a problem, and of course if it's major ... Well you need to call your Dr.... You mentioned that you are a Nurse. Well this is one thing that you rely on your surgeons help, and care. If it were RNY ! You would be told "I Did the surgery, now your on your own ! " That's the way it was explained to me by my surgeon. So you will always need someone in your life, and I hear Nurses make the worst Patients... Yes problems can occur, thats where you need your surgeon to get you back on Track. I hope this answers a few questions. Because I am very glad to be Banded. Click on my name, and my profile should come up on that screen go to Topics, and click on it. Now scroll Down, and you will be able to read my journal of what I have went through. That is more information. Shirley.

I went to fill center USA, and you have a location in Cincinnati, and Troy, Michigan. Check it out for yourself..

A lot of Physical Therapy places are opening up there Gym's to the public for a small fee. Down State I pd. $100.00 for a 3 month membership and you have use of everything. I inquired in my Town that I now live in,, at The Physical Therapy Office, and yes, for $30.00 a month you have use of it all. That's all the equipment that you can think of, and the pool. That's for as long, and often that you want. So if I were you,, I would check a physical Therapy place in your area, even in a small Hospital, (THAT"S WHERE I FIRST WENT) It's worth the phone calls, and for sure worth the money. Shirley.

Good Health to you on your journey. Shirley.

Just let the jobs keep going overseas, and in a year I hope when I take off the most of this,,,, well,,,, I won't even know where to start to find cloths or sizes..... But SPOILTMOM: A big time Congrats thrown your way... You been through a lot, and you earned it. So again CONGRATS ! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Congrats. Your on your way to a new life, both of you... Welcome to the other side of the Tracks. Shirley. Also (for the other post) some people say GAS X strips help. So,,, it's a thought. Glad to hear it's staying down, and it gets better.....

For the Local Diner I would ask about a cold plate or Tuna, chicken, or egg salad. Wendy's a small Chili, Salad but stay lo cal or fat free on the dressing. The rest of those places, I don't eat at. But, you can always go on line, and look at their Menu, and start writing down some possibilities ! Hope that helps, Shirley.

Thank You Mimi... But if you ever see me, (and I know you do.) I try to comment on anything I know of. ONLY ! If I don't know,, then I don't say a thing about it. Shirley.

I just had a slight un fill, and it helped me out a lot. If you are to fight, and can only do fluids, and mushie......... That's NO WAY to do this. You are suppose to be able to eat, but don't over eat ! You should be comfterable or content. I went almost a month, and finally I couldn't stand the not eating, and the frothing at the mouth. So I went in. I still don't get Hungry as fast, but I can eat food again, and you should be able to eat too. It's your call, but I hope you feel better.

Yep ! You can thin in out, and still the same amount of protein goes in you. Just take it easy... Because if you start swelling up from overload, and throw up. Then you have to start counting that 3 day fast all over again. You don't want to do that . Trust me,, I been there.. Shirley

Yep what she said. Sip some Warm tea s l o w l e y ! once it stays down don't drink anything else to overload it, because you are probably swollen from the un-fill. That means fluids for 3 days. But be Gentle on yourself, and just sip every now and then. Don't worry about the protein, or water, as long as your getting some in you will be good for a few days. When it straitens out then you can resume your fluid intake. If you can't sip Tea or soup,,, call your Doctor.

Congrats ! You are going to love coming over to the other side of the Tracks. Get a Heating Pad, Pill Splitter/Crusher combo (ebay sells them), Gas X strips, sleep in a Recliner for a while. It's easier to get up. chicken broth, Soup in a box ;look in the specialty Isles like Organic food Red Pepper Soup is excellent, Popsicles, sugar free pudding, Jello, anything sugar Free that is liquid. If it's to thick, thin in out with more Water. So go in the stores, and shop with your eyes, and see what you find, and would like. Hope this helps, Shirley.

Yep I can't stand the cold I love the Heat. I went for a slight unfill in the beginning of the week, and they take my temp. o.k. it's trying to calculate, comes up 92 ! Tries again gets 94.......The PA comes in and says did they take your temp ? Yes she said thats weird, lets try again. So she goes and talks to the tech. she is saying yes I took it and that's what I'm getting. So they check each other 98.6. So they bring it back in, and get 96 Now mind you I am FREEZING, and the air is on.... So a different tech to the PA says you want me to get another Temp. Gauge from up front ? Yes Please. She comes back, and settles for 97. That's do to the Thyroid tho. My specialist asked me if I get cold, does it take for ever to worm up "YES", and if you get overheated does it take forever for the temp to come down ? "Yea" That's the Thyroid Gland doing that. It takes time because it's sluggish, and weight loss can be the same. Just thought you might want to know about this.

I don't think so ! But this is your call if your self pay.

I got rid of mine a long time ago.... When I go to the Dr.,, that's when I get weighed, and it is a surprise every time. Then I log it in my purse calendar, and check out what I weighed the last time I seen him. My whole house is carpeted, so the scale wouldn't work rite anyway, and I learned from my first time around, that it drives you crazy. So my surgeon suggested just get weighed here, and you watch your cloths sizes go down, and you will know your losing weight. So that's what I been doing, and it works. So I'm sticking to what makes me feel better, not drive me up the wall. Same as a person who is a clock watcher, bad habit, and you drive your own self up the wall.

Welcome to BandLand ! :welldoneclap:

The Muscle Milk Ligt is some very good stuff isn't it !