Cindy C

I go to a Center of Excellence. My doctor's theory is "You know your body better than I do." He even asks me how much I want him to put in. He might question me and sometimes we compromise, but ultimately, it's my decision.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Congrats on taking the first one!

If it helps, when your stomach growls it means that your body has run our of calories to burn and starts burning fat for energy. Its called being in catabolic mode. It's a good thing! It just takes some getting used to. Personally, I love it when (as Winnie the Pooh would say) there's a rumbly in my tumbly!

My doctor requires no pre-op diet. My BMI was 48. When I asked him if I should at least try to lose a couple pounds beforehand he said it really didn't matter to him. He never had a problem working around a liver. He's done this surgery over 2000 times and, as far as I know, he has never knicked a liver.

If it helps, I went back to work six days after surgery with a 25 pound lifting restriction. You should be fine.

I had endrometrial ablation which is also very easy and insurance covered. They burn the walls of the uterus so even if an egg fertilized it would have nowhere to attach. It also stopped my periods! I was back to work the next day.

People are eventually going to know. If you don't tell those that are closest to you it could cost you relationships. I had a friend who had it done several years ago (before I did). Not only did she not tell anyone, she lied to us when asked. We would have all been very supportive of her. In fact, one time I asked her if she would do it with me so we could support each other. She said "Oh, I would NEVER do anything like that!" Then she went and did it. We found out when another friend went to a seminar and, lo and behold, who was there speaking as a former patient? Unfortunately, it cost her alot of friends.

Good job, Melissa!

No idea. I just ignore them. I figure if Alex needs to put them there to help pay the expenses of running the site I don't mind. They are kinda silly though. Most of them are for bariatric surgery which none of need since most of us have had it already.

Try refried beans. They are very high in protein and go down pretty easily even when your band is a little tight.

My doctor has 2 offices. His regular practice and the lapband center which is inside the hospital. All fills are done at the hospital office but no x-ray or flouro. Just him, me and the needle. In an emergency he will see lapband patients at the other office but that's rare since he's at the hospital 2 1/2 days a week and his partner is there the other 2 1/2.

I've had fill as close together as 2 weeks. I think you should get it now. You really don't want to do it right before your cruise.

I agree, Larry. Monday is a bad day to weigh. BTW, you still have that extra 100 subtracted! 179.2 here!

Mine was $100.

SOUP!

I would have started working out sooner. I didn't join the gym until 10 months after surgery.

http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/the_first_weeks/patient_id_card/

Good job, Molly. Way to go!

Stool softener isn't go to make you go. Get some Benefiber and throw a teaspoon in everything you drink. It's flavorless and dissolves completely. You don't even know its there. You can also take 2 Tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia but make sure to drink at least 8-12 ounces of water with it or or it wont work.

I drink the Carnation for the taste and Vitamins. The extra protein is a bonus.

Inches lost are much more important than pounds. As Lilium said, muscle weighs more than fat. Keep losing the inches and eventually the scale will catch up.

Was it a premixed one? I found that those are pretty nasty. I buy protein powder and mix it with skim milk along with a pkg of Carnation Instant Breakfast. That way it not only tastes better it also has alot of vitamins and another 5g of protein.

Oops...my bad. It is lapband.com

Allergan.com

Capsules can generally be broken open and just the contents taken. Powders usually taste horrible. If its time released its the little balls inside not the capsule itself. The Capsule dissolves immediately upon touching the stomach acid.