Band_Groupie

K-Glad I'm not the only one who feels old LOL. PD- He insists on the old versions of everything; Dylan, Cochrane, Nicks, etc. He nixed the Cooper though...some of us are 'foodies', he's a 'musicee' or is it 'audiophile'...picky, picky...that's what I get for asking for his opinion LOL. -BG

Good luck tomorrow! Let us know how you're doing. -BG

I would call your doc immediately and make sure they understand that you can't keep any SOLIDS down (I'm also thinking you need an unfill). You're over a week out now and my you should be back on solids at every meal by a week. The 'litmus test' for my doc is actually being able to drink cold water after a fill. If things are getting stuck you're probably aggrivating the issue and they may want you to go on liquids for a few days (and probably at least a partial unfill). It must be hard to get all your liquids in on just soup...hope you're better soon! -BG

So glad to hear you're doing better! I've been thinking about you.

I never had/have to drink protein shakes, but have chosen to post-op and post-fills. I like both the Atkins and EAS low carb pre-made chocolate flavors and both are available at WalMart. Don't forget chapstick for the hospital. -BG

I thought I'd repost today's blog here in case any music lovers have some ideas for me... 6/8/09 Name That Tune DS1 decided to have his graduation party next month (they go on all summer here). I’m making a DVD slide show set to music that plays music clips in the background. We set it up to play continuously where the food tables are so people can watch some/all as they arrive. I’m putting together the elements of it now; about 10 pics from each year of his life set sequentially and about 10-11 song clips; about 2 min. each. I have to finish soon as I send the scanned pics and music to an expert who makes it all look pretty. I did the same thing as a surprise for DD’s graduation party 4 years ago, so this time DS1 knows its coming and has been helping me screen some songs. DD is like me and likes a little bit of everything so it was easy to pick music for hers (and there were several daughter/girl songs). I ended up with a lot of country just because the lyrics worked well with little kid pictures. DS1’s a rocker and doesn't like country...so we found lots more rocker/current ones that he’ll pick 2-3 from for his High School years. I need mostly songs that are appropriate for little kid pics and the growing up years as that’s most of the pics/show. If you have any suggestions, or opinions, let me know! Vitamin C - “Name” Goo Goo Dolls - “The Climb” Miley Cyrus - “My Generation” The Who - “This is Your Life” Switchfoot - “Best Days” Graham Coulton - “I Will Remember You” Ryan Cabrera - "Here In This Diary" Ataris - "But A Breath" The Wedding - “No such thing” John Mayer - “Please Remember” Leanne Rimes - “Graduation Song” Amy Diamond - “High School” The Friday Night Boys *Noticably missing are "Unwritten" - Natasha B. and "I will Remember You"- Sarah M. (he nixed)

Glad to hear he's unfilling you. My doc puts 0 in at surgery. He says that some of his patients never need a fill...the band itself creates the pouch and gives some restriction. Keep us posted and I hope this helps. I was getting about 400 calories for about 3 weeks with the post-op diet I was on. I was very tired and weak. Keep us posted and best wishes. -BG

Check with your doc, but this certainly doesn't sound normal to me. By 6 weeks post-op you should be healed and able to eat at least a cup of food at a time. Did your doc put a fill in at surgery perhaps? How many calories are your getting in from solid foods per day (it should be about 1000 by now)?

Happy Bandiversary DB! You're doing great! It sure is a learning process isn't it. -BG

There are different lengths of tubing for the APS? I thought they came premade. Yeah, I wondered why I got 0 fill at surgery.

Every docs rules are different. Mine says carbonation is fine after 12 weeks post-op, but that you probably won't want it as burping can hurt as you get restricted. He also says that carbonation stretching the pouch is a myth...but who knows. I don't drink pop anyway.

Amen. 'Medically necessary to know'...how does your doc know you won't be traveling to some other city and have a problem. No way was I leaving my first fill without knowing. You have a legal right to review your own medical files.

I'm not one to judge others without knowing them/all the facts, but this one burned me!!! I watched the announcements of the Octuplets being born, and thought; well it must have happened due to follicle stimulation because no Dr. would do invitro with 8 or more embryos. Yesterday I watched as the experts gave their opinions with the same conclusion I came to. There was no way any of them would have done invitro with that many eggs and they would turn someone away who wanted that, so they also felt it must have been egg stimulation that caused this. Now this morning I learn that the mother, who is currently living at home with her mother, already has six children (we know nothing about the father)!!!! And here's the kicker...it WAS invitro!!!! Holy Cow!!! I get that there are crazy people out there, so I'm writing the mom off as nuts, but what the heck happened to regulating and having rules about ethics for this for the Drs.??!! What's next...cloning? Know that I have family members and friends that have been helped by fertility specialists, so I know the benefit in using one, but this guy crossed the line. Just MO.

Go now, but make sure that there are at least 3-5 days that your doc will be available after and make a back-up plan with him in cas you tighten up while he's gone.

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the other side! -BG

Hang in there...we'll be out of 'Bandster Hell' and into our sweet spot eventually. Try to follow your docs rules; solid lean protein first then solid fruits and veggies. I've only had one fill...I'm just trying not to gain. -BG

Oh man tig, so sorry to hear that...but you've got a great attitude, it's a good thing that you found out now and then you'll get good restriction. I wish I remembered what it's called, not sure if it's barium or fluro or something else, but anyway, they can inject something into your port and then look at it on a scan and it will show up where the leak is. I'd certainly ask about that as there was someone here recently (self-pay) that paid for a port revision only to find out it was a defective band. I've also heard of docs putting a blue die into the saline so when they draw it back out they know they're in the port and not just pulling fluid from your tissues...doesn't sound like that would help though if he's not getting anything out of the port at all. Well, at least it sounds like a short easy procedure. Good luck next week and keep us posted! -BG

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

I've officially joined the 'Boys Club' at my house (well, that's what I called it before DD moved back home recently). There's no required secret handshake, just gas explosions needed from either end to enter. Yes, you heard right. I'm not one of those gals who has a sense of humor about farts or belches (or the Three Stooges), so I'm going to have a hard time discussing this, but here goes ('goes'…hee-hee-hee). I've never been a loud farter…even post-op with all that gas coming out, but ('butt' hee-hee-hee) I think I had 'lift-off' at one point. I'm more the 'silent but deadly' type. I can make it through days, weeks even, never noticing whether I ever farted. I know I do, everyone does. Now, onto everything you always wanted to know about farts, but were afraid to ask. Did you know: - The average person farts (depending on who's statistics you believe) 7-25 times per day (WebMD says at least 14), producing about 45 ml of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and 45 ml of CH4 (Methane). - Methane has 21 times the Global Warming Potential as Carbon Dioxide and the average person produces 12.7 Liters of it a year. A tree would only have to spend only 17 days per year 'sniffing' the greenhouse gases in your farts to carbon neutralize it. - Farting gas is created by bacteria in the large intestines. - Farting volume and composition is directly linked to your diet and changes day by day. If you consume a high-fiber diet, which is healthier, you produce more gases that actually do damage the environment. Methane production in a fart is often hereditary so not all people create methane, but the average figures above compensates for this. The only way to eliminate your own greenhouse gas emissions is to eat almost no fiber, but then you probably die much younger than you should so forget about it. - Steer clear of artificial sweeteners. Sorbitol and xylitol, found in many sugar-free gums and candies, have a reputation for causing flatulence. Avoid gas-producing foods and beverages. Foods that are high in complex carbohydrates (some vegetable and legumes as well as high-fiber foods like prunes) are the most likely to cause flatulence. I'm thinking I'm doing my part for the environment, because I'm not getting enough fiber…and, of course, I just know I'm not one of those 'Methane producers' (you know who you are!). Now, onto belches. I could hardly conjure up a burp before even when guzzling a pop (soda for you non-Midwesterners). Post-band I can't stop burping…every single time I eat or drink! - Less than 10% of the total greenhouse gas emissions from livestock are produced by animal flatulence; most emissions are produced by animal burping. Belches and, to a far lesser degree, farts from sheep, cows and other farm animals account for around 20% of all global methane emissions. - Livestock in New Zealand account for 60% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. There is a global scientific effort to keep lifestock from belching (Silence of the Lambs). Some think there will new legislation to control or tax lifestock emissions (belches and farts) in the future. Cow farts/burps are a source of greenhouse gases, while kangaroo farts are methane free thanks to a particular bacteria in their stomachs. An average cow is thought to emit between 542 litres (if located in a barn) and 600 litres (if in a field) of methane per day through burping and exhalation, making commercially farmed cattle a major contributor to the greenhouse effect. 95% of this gas is emitted through belching. - In some animals, a failure to burp successfully can be fatal (I hope that's not true of humans! What's going to happen when they tighten my band?!!!). This is particularly common among domesticated ruminants that are allowed to gorge themselves on very rich spring clover or alfalfa. The condition, known as bloat is basically a high pressure build up of gastric gasses and requires immediate veterinary treatment, usually the insertion of a flexible rubber hose down the esophagus or in extreme cases the lancing of the animal's side with a scalpel to expel the build up of gas. So if you're feeling bloated, be careful! -The average person belches about 15 times per day, slightly more than they fart. Belching from people is mainly swallowed air from the stomach and esophagus so it's mainly Nitrogen and Oxygen, or CO2 from the carbonated beverages themselves. We don't have the same kind of digestive track and double stomachs like cattle, so the Methane doesn't come up, just down. The sound of burping is caused by the vibration of the upper esophageal sphincter as the gas passes through it. The current Guinness world record for the loudest burp is 107.1 dB, set by Paul Hunn in 2008. (This would be noticeably louder than a chainsaw at a distance of 1 metre.). So, no greenhouse gases from my belches! Better 'up and out'! Good to know! Now, stand back…BEEEEEEELCH! Burp trapping backpack- The methane collecting tanks were utilized by Argentina's National Institute for Agricultural Technology as part of a a study to determine the atmospheric impact of methane released by cows. The findings were startling, as researcher Guillermo Berro estimated that "30% of Argentina's total greenhouse gases could be generated by cattle."

Congratulations! Keep ahead with the pain meds and feel better soon! -BG

Congratulations! That must feel great! -BG

Hello BANDER!!! Welcome to Bandlandia! Rest up and feel better soon (each day will get a little easier). I'm glad everything went so well and all your planning certainly paid off. YAY! -BG