Band_Groupie

Great job on the WL! Just a note on the adhesive allergy for the future...I do best with the Nexcare brand-can tolerate those for a short time.

194.5 Down 2.5 of the 4 pounds I gained...sigh. I'm off to Columbus for the LD weekend...my Mom's cooking...MUST NOT BE TEMPTED! Have a great weekend all!

You're building muscle girl...weighs more. Inches count! Good for you! -BG

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again! School started today and finally…I’m home alone! DS2 went off to 8th grade, DS1 is safely tucked in at college and is having a blast, DD and DH went off to work. I don’t know what to do with myself! Sure, there’s the pile of supplies and stuff we brought back from DS1’s college move and the pile of stuff from our week at the beach that all needs to be put away. My white tiled kitchen floor (I must have been in a coma the day we picked white tile for a kitchen floor…one suggestion…DON'T) looks more like my lawn right now. The laundry is done only because DS2 made me do all his clothes yesterday because he needed everything to select from for his first day of school (I’m guessing all those girls who were texting him day and night last year are going to be a big distraction this year LOL). I have a pile of mail to catch up on and the bathrooms all need cleaning…but what to do?! I’m making it a fun first day alone. I think I’ll start with painting the lights I want to make for my god-daughter (I’ll post my catch-up blog from two weeks ago on DS1’s and her move to college tomorrow, which will explain the lights). Then I’m going to bake some cookies to include with small gifts we bought DS1 on vacation. I’ll mail both their college care packages off tomorrow. But right now…excuse me while I run naked through the house…weee....

Like others have said, we all need to do what works for us. I'm no longer on a 'diet' (yep, I've been thin many times...been up and down that yo-yo for too many years) and there is no food or drink that is off limits for me. I'm glad I was able to find a doc with the same philosophy (straws, carbonation-he says the 'stretching the pouch' thing is a bunch of bunk, alcohol, caffeine all are allowed after healing). Everything in moderation. If I had a bunch of off-limit foods/drink then I know I'd be feeling deprived and feeling like I was on yet another diet that I couldn't do forever. I don't feel deprived...sure I some weeks lose more slowly than others, like when I drank lots of alcohol on vacation last week, but it's a lifestyle I can live with forever and I'm still losing. So, like others with not many rules, the only one I break sometimes is drinking with eating or too soon before/after meals, but even that doesn't usually effect how much I eat or how hungry I get. Best wishes all!

Good for you!!! Two new life changing events...on to a new life! -BG

Yes, this needs to be treated or you can end up damaging your pouch or worse. My doc prescribed Nexium (antacid) and although I've only had to take it a few times since banding I've read some here who are on something daily. Reflux can also be a sign that you are too tight so discuss your symptoms and diet/restriction with your doc. Good luck! -BG

Call your doc or go to the ER now. I had the same problem 5 days post op and it hurt a lot to breath. My doc sent me to the ER to check the lung for a clot (can be life-threatening). It's a few simple scans/tests to check it. Mine wasn't a clot, but better safe...

Why do you need your band so tight you can only drink your protein? If it's been 2 weeks and you're still that tight it sounds like you need a small unfill if you can't eat solid proteins. Good luck to you! -BG

Softer proteins...refried beans, greek yogurt (I love the SF preserves ontop), cottage cheese, oatmeal or another hot cereal with some soy protein mixed in (I have this most mornings...about 20g of protein with 2T of the soy p.), thick bean soups, meat stews, chili. Some have problems with eggs actually as they are rubbery and don't break up anymore than you chew them in the pouch so chew. Stick to the things you know you can eat the first few weeks back at school and you'll do fine. Even as much as chewing sometimes it's how fast you eat, so take it slow.

Erin- Sounds to me like you're swollen. I just had an escalating week of problems (5 mo. out) and got to the point like others here that I was PBing anything solid. As someone said, it feels like a bubble in the back of your throat or a big burp you can't let out. My stoma hurt even to drink. I went to liquids for 2 days and that helped. Slowing down the eating helps too. If popsicles work...then eat a ton of them to get hydrated again. Dehydration causes your stoma to tighten even more. Try some softer proteins for awhile until things calm down (but it sounds like the meatloaf stayed down alright?). I wouldn't worry as much about 'solid' proteins right now as you're still healing...if liquid proteins stay down better use them for now. PBing can be a vicious cycle that escalates quickly and takes awhile to calm down. If you're feeling any burning like you say you are then you should ask the doc for an antacid prescription (it can't hurt and may help a lot). My doc gave me Nexium and I've only had to use it for a few days post-op and then with this recent PB event, but it helped a lot. Good luck to you and keep asking questions...that's the whole premise of LBT...answers, sharing, and support. I just sent my 19 yr. old (boy) off to college, so I know you've got enough worries with Sr. HS and this must be a difficult time for you without all the LB stuff...you're a wise girl to do all this now. Best wishes. -BG

elcee- Thanks for the link. It was interesting...mine had a wide goal with a range of 20 lbs. It was funny that when I changed my 'current' weight down to the high end of my goal the 'people's choice' gave me the exact low end of my goal...interesting. It reinforced that my 10lb. range should work out pretty well...but I'm not stuck on a specific no.

I was 160 about 7 years ago and I wasn't stick thin then (I'm 5'8.75"). I'm aiming to be somewhere in that normal/healthy BMI (even 10 lbs. overweight increases health problem, so I figure if I'm doing all this to be healthy then I need to go for a healthy BMI). I gave myself a goal 'range' of 148-158 (148 is a 22 BMI for me)...I figure I'll know it when I get there.

Details of Part 1 of my vacation 5:15pm Monday- I'm sitting pool-side on vacation right now...all I need is a drink with a little umbrella, but they don't have them at this pool. I know, I know…no sympathy…YOU'RE ON VACATION! …but I WANT my umbrella drink! We've had a busy week….got up around 4am on Friday to take DS1 to PSU (college) for his big move in day (but I'll save the details as I wrote a blog for that one, but didn't get the pics loaded yet, nor did I have time to finish it). We got back home around 5pm (about a 4 hour drive from his college) and started loading the van again (and this time the car top carrier too) for our vacation (didn't I JUST load this van?). Saturday we were up early again and on the road for about 12 hours drive down to here (Seabrook Island, SC). The in-laws own a place here so we vacation here sometimes. Sunday was DD's 22nd Birthday and we spent the day on the beach and then out to dinner for her birthday. The waves were as big as I've seen them here because of the hurricane going up the East coast. I made DS2 (age 14) wear a life jacket, after many protests, because there were rip-tide warnings in effect and there are no lifeguards here (surprisingly the beach patrol was sitting and watching the area, which is the first time I've seen them do that here…no lifeguard, so I'm not sure what a gal in clothing would have done if someone was in trouble)…luckily this is a mostly retirement age group now as most areas have started school because if there had been any other teen kids on the beach DS2 would have stayed out of the water vs. wearing the life jacket. Today we went swimming early and then into Charleston for lunch and shopping. *Pic attached DS2 and I at the Charleston Market (don't know the other dude). 6:30pm Monday- OK, that's as far as I made it in my blog when my in-laws came out of the Community house (the only place around here with internet access *end note-we never got back there, so no internet) to sit with me (DH and they were checking emails on their computers sitting inside in the AC). My ancient laptop battery died while we were chatting so I didn't get to post anything. I'm back at the place now and we're heating up chili we made at home for dinner tonight. It will be interesting to see how much weight I gain this week. I'm not eating huge amounts, but just not the better choices I usually make. MIL made waffles for breakfast (I thought I was eating OK, but had to run to their bathroom 2 steps away to PB) and I ate an appetizer for the lunch in Charleston…two small crab cakes on a tomato and corn chutney…not a lot, but VERY rich. No internet here, so who knows when I'll be able to post this. Anyway, I now have my glass of wine in hand so things are good. In-laws are here (we're staying just down the road as their place is a 2BR)…GTG 12:00 Tuesday- DD went for a horse ride on the beach this morning. She's done that a few times here and always enjoys it…they walk the horses on a trail to the beach and then gallop up and down the beach and in and out of the surf (just a little way in). We were at the pool again (the close one next to us- no internet building) and now the kids are fishing and crabbing with DH on the dock…these places are on the marsh side of the island with a view across the marsh and toward the inlet where the shrimp boats go in and out every day…it's a beautiful view. *Pic attached: Horses way down the beach in the am. 10:51 am Wednesday- Just got back from watching the gang play tennis…a few sun showers, but they cooled everyone off. 3:21pm Wednesday- More crab cake appetizer for lunch at the ocean club here. I've had a relaxing afternoon just lazing around. 9pm Thursday- We took my in-laws out to a nice place for dinner last night (The Sanctuary, at Kiawha Island). I had the Shrimp and Grits. The chef sent over some steak tartar appetizers and I had a few of those while others ate the wonderful breads with flavored butters. DD wanted to switch plates with me, so that worked well …although the ½ bottle of wine didn't help. This morning we went to the Magnolia Gardens Plantation early. This was DD's one request here as she remembered the gardens there…except in August not much is blooming. We took the tram tour and then walked the gardens. *Pics attached: Alligator in the old plantation rice fields, Butterfly & Live Oak Tree.

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

beatriz- Have your PCP do a full blood work up and check your BP. I had a history of being 'close' with the high BP, and then at the start of my 6 mo. I had high BP at my first visit so they put me on meds. (I'm sure part of it was that I was so nervous about this initial visit). I've seen many here who didn't even know they had a comorbidity until their doc looked for them. Mine needed to be one of the 'big 5' to count for insurance (most insurance is the same, but not all): high BP, high cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, sleep Apnea, or obesity related heart disease. The other things I have (osteoarthritis, stress incontinence, adult onset asthma) don't get you approved, but will help your case. I was just at 35BMI when I first started looking into this and gained a few pounds before my first weigh-in (have about 100 to lose total and I'm down 55 now). No one knows about the LB (except DH) and I tell them "I'm no longer dieting...I now eat anything, just with portion control." It's easy for them to accept as everyone has seen me lose big amounts of weight many times over. This time I'M KEEPING IT OFF! Best wishes all!

You should know if your doc put a 'primer' fill (enough to just fill the port and tubing) in at surgery (many do). Everyone has different 'tightness' after surgery because most of it is due to the stomach tissue swelling from the trauma of the surgery. Some here ate mushies the same day and others had a hard time getting enough liquids in (me). I'm guessing you don't feel too tight as there was no way I could sip more than a cup in an hour right after surgery. I would only take 2-4oz at a time and sip it slowly. Hot things usually go down more easily. Even if you can, you shouldn't eat/drink any faster because you have stitches now in your stomach and you don't want to overload your pouch and hurt them. It takes a good 6 weeks to completely heal...so the focus of this time is healing, not weight loss. Best wishes! -BG

Wow...I was shocked at your doc's 4oz. goal...seems really low to me as I'd have a hard time getting in all the nutrition goals (not just protein, but the veggies and fruit too) with only 4oz. at each meal. I'll be interested to see how this works. Does your doc allow snacks too? Keep up the great work, you're doing really well! Best wishes! -BG

Awesome job!!! How weird for us to be happy to be 'Overweight' isn't it LOL?!!! Obese is such a harsh word...and don't get me started on the 'Morbidly'! Keep it up! -BG

I didn't have any pre-op diet...my doc said he's never had a problem with anyone's liver and he takes on some of the largest people in our area. That said, I did cut back on things and I think anything you can do to lose weight and prepare for the changes will be a benefit to you. I'd at least ask my doc if he's ever had a problem or had to cancel a surgery because of an enlarged liver.

Best wishes to you...hoping for good news soon! -BG

Wow...the 34 inches is the most amazing part...awesome job! You'll start believing you're the skinny girl...you're eating like a skinny girl, so now you just need to believe it! Great job!!! -BG

Nope...everyones stoma tissue is a different size. Some docs spend the time to cut away all the fat around where they place the band, and some leave it and it disappears with weight loss. How 'tight' you like to be is also a big variable. Some like to only be drinking their protein and some like it looser so there is no food they can't eat. It's not that the band is whacky, it's just that there are so many variables. The basic question for me for a fill is...can I eat about a cup of food and NOT be hungry until my next meal...if the answer is no, then I need a fill. I'm finding that even the vomiting is a variable...many times it's just 'operator error' and not the band being too tight. If you're hungry between meals you need a fill. Good luck! -BG

I love that you keep such detail on your fill experiences...very helpful. This one will do it!!!