Jaffa

You should talk to your FAA medical examiner....because it partially depends on them, and partially on the area FAA medical department. Here is a link that may help you. I have a First Class Medical and I work as a professional pilot. I was told I really only need to submit a follow up report from my surgeon with my next medical. Go to page 4 of this document. It really just say's it is ok if it doesn't effect your doing your job. And frankly it doesn't, unless you had some kind of complications. http://aviationmedicine.com/resources/files/3Q08%20VFS%20Aeromedical%20Newsletter.pdf

"The truth of the matter is in the forum in every answer to every question." Well maybe, but the truth is, not all posts are true. It does seem a bit odd to me that someone who hasn't even been banded is intentionally judgemental? I just don't get where your coming from? I have wondered just like another poster if maybe people who are self pay tend to be more successful. But, I certainly wouldn't think a poll like this would really give me any real insight to the answer. It just doesn't work that way. Why even do the pole, why didn't you just post your idea? The poll proves nothing and if you don't know why, you need to go to a forum on errors induced by pollsters. :cursing:

I make chocolate Souffle ahead of time. They will keep for the week if I make them on Sunday. I do substitute sugar free dark chocolate for regular I substitute splenda for sugar. It is much easier to make then people seem to think, and it is like having dessert every morning. It goes down easy and has a lot of Protein.

Just a personal opinion. And I only say this because your talking about reducing your calories even more if your not losing enough. I think 3lbs a week is too much. I think it is pretty well documented that long term the most a body can lose per week is 1-2lbs. Anything more then that and your body is likely to go into a starvation mode and start slowing your metabolism down to try and prevent the loss. Now what will help and overcome the slowing metabolism is excercise. But it won't necessarily stop the slow down if you don't get enough calories either. Emphasize the protein that has low fat content and that will prevent your body from using muscle and causing your metabolism to slow. You can do this, I'm sure of it. Your having trouble now, but with close evaluation and the right changes, it will happen. Your doctor can tell you what your intake should be for your current condition, but if they are saying more per week is better, that isn't really true.

It depends. Some doctors use stitches and steri strips on the outer layer. Others don't?? You should just call your doctors office and ask them. At my post op appointment, the nurse took all but the big one off. But, I have internal stitches so that may be why?

I would ask your doctor. My guess is that if your dieting and your low carbing, then it probably doesn't much matter except for the day before, when you are on clear liquid only. But I also believe that the more you shrink your liver the less gas they tend to use, in order to be able to move things around and access your stomach, which means less gas pain. I know my doctor even said, he used very little gas on me, because my liver was shrunk up so nice. And I did have almost no gas pain post op.

Get the patch and you won't have to take that pill either!!!! Of course you could practice abstinence, but what fun would that be??

I realized the other day, that I have for the first time since I was a little kid felt a kind of piece. The lack of being hungry all of the time and not being so hungry before a meal is somehow making me feel so much more at peice. I sit down for every meal and worry at first that this will be the time that I eat and don't get full on very little, or that I'm still hungry after I'm done with my portion. But when it doesn't happen, it is such a relief to feel in control, that it seems to make everything better. I hope this continues, but still fear it may end at each meal. I never imagined an actual change in my mental state because of my ability to control my eating, but it is definitely there, I hope it stays.

No, I haven't had a fill yet, but I have restriction. I think everyone is so different because of what I found out about the band not having the same amounts to start, and some surgeons empty anything that is in there to start. My didn't so, I probably already have 3cc and with the swelling associated with first getting the band, it has been working really good. I can feel it getting looser each day though, and I'm sure I will want the fill pretty bad by 4 weeks. Don't worry you will get there.

I think I will take my Atkins peanut butter bar with me. Usually I eat resus peanut butter cups....but I know they are just mostly sugar. At least this way I won't be tempted and I can get 20grams of protein at the same time.

I think I will take my Atkins peanut butter bar with me. Usually I eat resus peanut butter cups....but I know they are just mostly sugar. At least this way I won't be tempted and I can get 20grams of protein at the same time.

I just had 8 shrimp and one tablespoon of coctail sauce. The total calories were about 300, and I got about 40grams of protein. I hope I continue eating shrimp when I get more restriction....it seems like a great way to get my protein and have low fat and calories. Heck, 42 grams of protein via New Whey bullet is 190 calories. It's funny my new style of eating is more of a strategy of how much protein can I get with the lowest amount of calories and fat. The rest just seems to take care of itself, if I'm trying to get my protein in and I'm watching the calories and fat. I'm lucky....I haven't had a fill yet and 8 shrimp do fill me up.

I just had 8 shrimp and one tablespoon of coctail sauce. The total calories were about 300, and I got about 40grams of protein. I hope I continue eating shrimp when I get more restriction....it seems like a great way to get my protein and have low fat and calories. Heck, 42 grams of protein via New Whey bullet is 190 calories. It's funny my new style of eating is more of a strategy of how much protein can I get with the lowest amount of calories and fat. The rest just seems to take care of itself, if I'm trying to get my protein in and I'm watching the calories and fat. I'm lucky....I haven't had a fill yet and 8 shrimp do fill me up.

I realized the other day, that I have for the first time since I was a little kid felt a kind of piece. The lack of being hungry all of the time and not being so hungry before a meal is somehow making me feel so much more at peice. I sit down for every meal and worry at first that this will be the time that I eat and don't get full on very little, or that I'm still hungry after I'm done with my portion. But when it doesn't happen, it is such a relief to feel in control, that it seems to make everything better. I hope this continues, but still fear it may end at each meal. I never imagined an actual change in my mental state because of my ability to control my eating, but it is definitely there, I hope it stays.

As a matter of fact a fat cell used is never destroyed. You can shrink it and deplete it but that actual cell membrane is always there......well unless you have it removed via surgery. So basically, your right, fat cells themselves never go away and are anxiously awaiting excess to replenish themselves. I got the band, because, I haven't been thin since 3rd grade. I won't be thin because of the lapband, but I will weigh significantly less, and it will be easier to control how much I eat. I will still have the responsibility to make the right decisions on what to eat.

Well had my first post op follow up visit today, and they told me that the AP lapband comes with some fluid in it. It is so inconsistant that they don't try to say how much it starts with. Instead on Feb. 17, I will get my first fill and they will start by taking out whatever is in there to see what I have. The final goal will be to have 4cc total after my first fill and still have a good result on the flouroscope. I think this explains the real reason so many people feel so different before the first fill. It is basically because on top of the differences in people, the band itself doesn't have the same exact start point? I am now on mushies, but I still like my soups. I can eat about 6 cups of food a day now. It has been one day short of a week and I'm feeling almost completely normal otherwise. I do get tired a little easier then normal, and my back has been a little achey, but I'm feelling great otherwise. I really like my fill nurse. She is a great lady and everyone at the place where I go for follow up care is really nice. They will also do fills and aftercare for people who did not get surgery from them. I think that is a sign of a great facility. I can't believe some of these places won't.

Well had my first post op follow up visit today, and they told me that the AP lapband comes with some fluid in it. It is so inconsistant that they don't try to say how much it starts with. Instead on Feb. 17, I will get my first fill and they will start by taking out whatever is in there to see what I have. The final goal will be to have 4cc total after my first fill and still have a good result on the flouroscope. I think this explains the real reason so many people feel so different before the first fill. It is basically because on top of the differences in people, the band itself doesn't have the same exact start point? I am now on mushies, but I still like my soups. I can eat about 6 cups of food a day now. It has been one day short of a week and I'm feeling almost completely normal otherwise. I do get tired a little easier then normal, and my back has been a little achey, but I'm feelling great otherwise. I really like my fill nurse. She is a great lady and everyone at the place where I go for follow up care is really nice. They will also do fills and aftercare for people who did not get surgery from them. I think that is a sign of a great facility. I can't believe some of these places won't.

Well tomorrow I have my post op follow up visit. Then I move on to the thick liquids stage. Next week will be mushies, and then solids. I'm down to 228, which is good. I have been trying to get up to 1000 calories and 60grams of protein a day, but have only been able to do half of that so far. I'm still tired, but went back to work today.

I will try that....thanks.

Well tomorrow I have my post op follow up visit. Then I move on to the thick liquids stage. Next week will be mushies, and then solids. I'm down to 228, which is good. I have been trying to get up to 1000 calories and 60grams of protein a day, but have only been able to do half of that so far. I'm still tired, but went back to work today.

How about a heating pad on the outside of your stomach? Is there a steam sauna near by? Anything to raise the core temperature may make it pass.

A couple of times I had the dry heaves the day after my surgery. They say it isn't a problem. I am just worried about it making my band slip or my stomach moving up through the band. Am I worried about nothing? I will be doing a barium swallow next week....will it show if there is a problem?

Thanks everyone.

Im not having any problem at this point and I'm able to eat chicken broth and jello.

It happened twice the night after my sugery. I called the surgeons office and they weren't concerned since they had stopped and I'm doing just fine now. I guess they aren't concerned unless it continues.... I go on tuesday for my follow up and they will be doing a barium swallow to check everything. I have never been sick after a surgery before, so it really worried me. It came and went so fast, that I don't think there is much to do, but worry about what might have happened because of it, I just wonder when I will know it is still ok and in place? I'm self pay, so I'm very paranoid about anything going wrong.