Eartha

Mirlax, generic prescription so it's free for me. This is way far the best med to take. My doctor swears by it.

I had my first beer after being 6 months out, and I didn't have any trouble. I wanted the 2nd one, but was a good girl and stopped with the one. Soda really causes me problems though. I used to drink a 12 pack of soda a day, and have only tried a sip or two since March 5, 2009 (surgery date). My doctor said a "treat" once in a long time is okay. She doesn't expect me to be a prefect lapband client. It's just not human, in our society to not treat ourselves with food/drink once in a while.

:biggrin:HI, I am checking in also. March 5th was my surgery. I have lost a total of 60 lbs since my Jan. 14th consult. That would be 45 lbs since surgery. I have had only one fill, I am on Medicare and they will pay only every 91 days, and will get another fill on July 23rd. I have 2 cc's now. I decided that going slow on the fills was okay so I can use my lapband tool and work-out. I go to "Curves" 3 times a week, just started last week. I was having trouble getting enough exercise in. I didn't like exercising by myself, so this is helping. I am now half way to my goal. But, I know the weight lose is slower at 1 to 2 lbs a week. Yes, tell us how they did the revision on your post disconnection? Melda

I am here, just waiting for the Summer Solstice Going to be spending time at the Water and doing a little magik too. I am thinking this solstice will be a good one. I believe a lot of "stuff" will be changing in this place of Mother Earth this year. She is reclaiming herself and healing a lot of her wounds, with the help of "earth friendly" people working really hard. How is your lapband? Have you had it done yet? I am over 3 months out and am down 60 lbs. Going for my second fill on July 23rd. Happy solstice!! Eartha

Is there anyone here from the Hutch area? I get banded on March 5, 2009 and am looking for people in my area. I know 2 people from this area, but need to find others. I am getting my band by Dr. Brenstein at TallGrass in Topkea, KS. Eartha

I know about driving. I have to go to Topeka. And that's 3 hours. I would not like 7 hours either. I will keep you posted on the group in Hutch. I have a former boss and thearpist, both, that have the band. Both are about 2 or 2 1/2 yrs out and have lost all the weight now, they are looking and feeling fine!! Eartha

Thanks for responding to my post. I, also, just found in the Hutch Newspaper a listing for "Gastric bypas surgery or laparoscopic gastric banding" support group. They meet at 6:30 pm on the 4th Thursday of each month at the Hutch Hosptial (Promise Regional Hospital, that is now). So, I will go there on the 18th of June to check it out. I have, so far since Jan. 14th, lost 59.5 lbs and am really happy with this. I am only 1/2 lb from my half-way mark. It had been a full month of being on a plateau and I was being to worry. I can only get fills every 91 days if I want Medicare to pay and I live 3 hours from the doctor, so I only have 2cc's in now. I will go again on July 23rd. How long ago was your surgery, I notice you use the terms of Obese on more? Where is 45 min away from Hutch anyways? Eartha

Congrats! That is awesome weight loss. So, in your case, to break the plateau you ate more? I get anywhere from 700 to 1100 calories a day, depending of a lot of factors. I am still losing, banded March 5, 2009, but am afraid of going into starvation mode. Guess I need to make an appointment with a nut or dietitian. I was never required to do so, but I think I shall. I started at 265 on surgery date and weight 228 today. First consult date, Jan. 14, I weighed 280.:thumbdown: Again, Congrats!

I got my first fill on April 22nd. I have the Realize Band and got 2cc's. I have lost 37 lbs as of today, since surgery. A total of 52 since Jan. 14th consult date. I really can only eat about 1 cup of food, even before the first fill. If, I lived closer than 3 hours away, the doctor would have put a little more in, but we decided that being aggressive is not my main concern. Losing on a consist basics is my best bet. I would have hated to drive 3 hours back if I had had any problems with the first fill. I am happy with the weight loss that I have achieved so far and will continue with my meal plans and exercise. I need to exercise more, now that the weather is better, I hope to get more walking in. I have experienced a few times of Pb's, so I have to slow down, chew, and take smaller bites. Attentive eating is a hard thing to remember each and every meal. I liked the idea, that someone posted, to eat only when you are hungry and not at set meal times. Which is easy for me, I have not husband or kids. Great work all of us March Bandsters! What name did we finally go with? Eartha

Hi, I am a varily new bandster, but I need to correct something. The band will leak saline over time, it does not evaporte. It is just like a helium ballonn. Over time, the balloon leaks air out. Your band is made of silicone and will leak very small portions of saline over time harmlessly. That is why long time bandsters will go in for a "tune up" about once a year.

My therapist, who is banded, says she drinks water to get that full feeling and is also something to do. Get a bottle of water and hold it, don't set is aside, just hold it and sip, sip and more sipping. Taking a walk, reading, exercise, to get your mind off of food helps me. Maybe it will help you as well? Good Luck

You can also go to a health food store and look at the vegan dinners. I buy Boca brand some. Plus, there are other brands and most, if not all of them, are wheat noodles, pasta, etc.

I am down 40 lbs from my maxed out weight. I am down 30 lbs since a week before surgery, and down 20 lbs since surgery on 3/5/09. I need to up my exercise, but I don't want to mess anything up until I see the doctor again on April 22nd for my first fill and 6 week post-op appointment. Right now, I am only released to to walking and I get at the very least, 20 minutes of walking a day. That doesn't sound like very much, it's the best I can do right now. So, with 40 lbs down since Jan. 14th, that makes me 1/3 of the way to my goal. I realize that the weight coming off is slowing down, and I hope it will maintain at 1 to 2 lbs a week once I get my first fill. I know, sometimes you need 3 to 4 or more fills to find the 'sweet spot', but I am hoping anyways.

I have a friend who had lapband about 1 1/2 years ago. She want the tummy tuck, I suggested she wait until she has the baby she wants, then do it. She is a lot younger than me, I got my lapband March 5, 2009 and I already have the flabby upper arms, so I will start resistance training after I get released to do more exercise other than walking. I am down 40 lbs since Jan. 14, 2009. That was my consult date with a weigh-in. I get my first "fill" on April 22, 2009 and that will also be 6 weeks post-op, so I can start more exercises.

Go to Bararitictv.com and watch theri episode about being cold. It is common and normal. I was banded on 3/5/09, down 40lbs and feel cold a lot also. But, I guess it's a price to pay. Blankets and sweaters are worth the change to health. :thumbdown:

Thanks for letting me know your surgery date. You will do fine. I had mine on March 5th and have lost (from Jan. 14th to now) 35 lbs. I feel so much better now. Just start practicing the 'band' rules and it will be so much more natural once you have your band in place. Blessed Be, Eartha

Hello, I am replying to your post. I got baned on March 5th. I am 16 days out and doing well. Happy Osteria, for yesterday! When is your sugery? I will be around so we can support each other. Eartha:rolleyes2:

Hi, I just got banded on March 5th. I went in on the 13th for the post-op visit. I am down 20 lbs from pre-op diet and one week with no fill in my band. I found out, since I am on Medicare, that Medicare will only pay for doctor visits, for fills, every 91 days. (So, if I have problems in between, I will be paying out of pocket.) I talked to my boss, banded 1 1/2 yrs, and she goes in for fills every 6 weeks. But, she has a different insurance. I was reading on this forum about someone telling another person they need a new doctor if the doctor is not aggressive enough with fills between times. I am not in control or have the priviledge to get fills any faster than 91 days apart. That may have been good advice for someone, but I just want to let everyone to know, that sometimes we have to wait for our insurance to allow us more progress. I look at this way, I will be more attentive to my food intake and exerise while I wait the 91 days between fills. This will force me to be vigilant until my next fill. Eartha

Does anyone use Botin or Flax seed oil to help support the problem of hair loss? I know getting enought protein helps.

I was banded on Thurs (3-5-09) and I had the same full feeling for the first 5 days. I just keep drinking water and the broths. My doctor did not put saline water in my band, she said I need to heal and will be evaluated for fill on April 22nd. I still feel full just drinking water. I found out, if you feel hungry, you can drink more water until it is time for a meal or snack and this helps with hunger between meals. I would encourge you to drink, drink, drink the water or other low cal drinks. Eartha

I had my surgery on the 5th. It was a late surgary, 5 PM, so the doctor had me stay overnight in the hospital which has a small unit for gastric patients. I got up and walked a lot to ease my gas pains. Yesterday and today, I have liquid running off of the bowls, how gross is that to talk about? But, I guess some people do get this. I was on clear liquids for one day and now full liquids and I see my doctor on the 13th. Hoping to get mushies then? I still have a bit of pain around the port, so I am still using the liquid Lortab. I seem weak and sleep a lot, but I do get up and around for 4 or 5 hours at a time and walk some of that time. I was glad I had a pillow for the 3 hour ride home. I want to thank all who wished me luck. Eartha

Hi, I am just 2 days out from being banded. I had clear liquids one day and the 2nd day I am having full liquids. I found cream of chicken and mushroom. It is so yummy. Of course anything would taste good after being on the pre-op diet I had. I seem to be able to take larger drinks of water than some people are posting. I called in and the nurse said that is good. I am not sure what that means, is it good that I can take larger drinks? Anyway, I am measuring out 1/2 cup and using a baby spoon and fill full with this amount. Since I am still on liquids, I am feeling hungry about 2 hours later. I see the doctor March 13th and hope to get on mushies then. I am on liquid Lortab, which does take the pain away. The only pain I feel are the incisions. Eartha:thumbup:

Once I got my surgery date, I started looking for good protein mixes, got baby spoons and plates, bought a kitchen scale and new small bowls to put my smaller portions in. I drank the protein mixes and tried eating very slowly with my baby spoon. I had a pork chop that took over 30 minutes to eat. Cut it up in pencil tip sizes and really tasted and enjoyed the act of eating and chewing and chewing until it had a lot of liquid and went down. Start walking more helps so when you are banded you can move and get that gas moving out of you also. Start getting your mindset about why you eat. You should be thinking that you eat to live, not live to eat. I am sure there are other suggestions, but these are a good start. Eartha

My surgery is March 5th at 5PM. I am so ready for this. On my pre-op diet, I have lost 20 lbs. So, I am assumming that the post-op diet will have me down a bit more too. I will be offline as of today, cause my surgery location is 3 hours away and I am going up a day early so I can ensure I am rested up for surgery. My doctor will have me stay in the hospital overnight since my surgery is so late in the day. I should be home sometime on March 6h, but I am not sure how soon I will get online again. Eartha

Hi fellow pre-opsters, I am in my 3rd day and feel hungry too. I cannot have any real food. I can do 1/2 cup of cottage cheese up to no more than 3 time/day. I get the no sugar added fudgsicles, sugar free popsicles and jello. I can have real jello at 1/2 cup a time, again 3x day. I have been drinking UnJury Chicken Soup protein drinks and Nectar Sweets with skim milk. I made sugar free pudding today and had it twice. I am daydreaming of a ribeye steak or even a real piece of any kind of meat. I can have juices and broths, but broth is just plain stupid, the protein chicken soup is somewhat feeling, but broth sucks. I do the pre-op hospital tests today at 1PM and see the surgeon one more time before surgery on March 5th. I have been literally sitting on my hands to keep from going insane with picking up food I cannot eat. Well, today will just have to be a better day. Eartha