singingintherain

Anyone know if Shaws , Whole Foods Market or CVS carries Papaya Enzyme?

Banding has me doing something I have Never done before..scrutinize labels like a hawk...especially the # of servings per container! Good luck on your race. Will you run if it rains?

Hi Viv and iBelieve! Isn't a it a relief to have it done? Thinking...your date will be here before you know it. I had a surgery during the hot summer a few years ago and it was horrible with the perspiration and the incisions. So you will be heading into the cooler weather perhaps and will not have to trouble yourself about infection from sweat. Hang in there. Fills. I have a follow up in early July, and am hoping to have a first fill then. Perhaps it is too early..it will be 6-7 weeks post op...I don;t know. He didn't actually come out and say the visit was for a fill. Incisions are healing up nicely but still a bit sore on the wasteband line. As for eating...I am on my last mushy day. I have (a few times) forgotten to chew chew chew and swallowed too soon...eating at the computer does that...and the food just sat like a baseball in my chest. I wondered how something so small could feel so gargantuan in my chest! It was a good reminder each time to do what the seasoned Bandsters at the Support Group called 'Listen to you Band'. It does send out warnings to me, even without a fill..."Stop! You've had Enough", "Slow Down and Chew", "No! Resist the urge to sip after swallowing that bite that feels stuck". Weight has been slowly going down..not much, but headed in the right direction. I find that it is the sodium in the broths..even low sodium..which will cause water retention weight gain in me. The only thing I can kvetch about is the fatigue which I hear is normal til about 6 weeks after surgery. A trip to the market does me in as does a few minutes of slow walking on the treadmill. So I continue the protein. Good to hear from you all.

Hi Spidey! So it IS normal..a few more weeks to go to kick this lethargy. You are fortunate to have a dr at your support meetings. Somehow I knew upping the Protein was going to be strongly recommended. Thanks for reporting back with the tip, Spidey! Had salt last pm in some canned broth and woke up 2 lbs heavier! Water weight. Cursed salt. As for the caffeine in the above post..the pre-op diet broke and liberated me from my very strong caffeine habit which made me so so hungry all the time..it was a viscious circle. coffee,eat,coffee, eat. I wouldn't go back to caffeine addiction for anything. I couldn't control it and my gut acted up big time..like IBS, but it was the caffeine all along because I don;t have the symptoms any more.

I too am interested in what the group has to say, Spidey.

We've given up caffeine, sugar, carbs...all the stuff that created 'spurts' of energy. Perhaps that is the cause. I want to pump myself with protein, and am eating a lot of fish and chicken. But as for the protein shakes, I don't want to load myself with calories.

I was banded on May 28th and I am struggling with that same problem. I have been eating potatoes to try and boost my potassium level and also drink plenty of fluids and eat my protein and supplements, but still fatigued. It is after climbing a flight of stairs or going to the supermarket to pick up a few items. I know I am not a spring chicken, but 3 weeks ago I could run around like crazy without feeling wiped!

Here is a good thread on PB-ing. scroll down to post #8, and down. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/slime-pbing-question-94081/

After I had been on mushies, I thought I'd try eggbeaters again since they were so good the day before. Nausea big time. Several days later I tried them again(glutton for punishment) and they were delicious and no nausea whatsoever. Must be a normal phase.

I had some bad hair breakage and hair loss during a past surgical procedure..non Band related. It was from my having a perm,color and anesthesia. I thought I was going to have to go out and buy some hair! I found a product called Viviscal extra strength tabs..a fish supplement and it DOES work. It is pricey and can be found on sites like Amazon and ebay(cheaper). To see any results, one has to take it for at least 3 months..But after those 3 months, my hair grew stronger and healthier than ever before. Now..post Banding, I am continuing to take it a s a precaution along with Biotin from the drugstore. Here is the site I get my Viviscal from(pink package). The stuff DOES work, but it is expensive: OH YEH...you are going to have the best nails you have ever had, too! And no, I do not work for the company. VIVISCAL WOMAN

I haven't had a fill yet, but I KNOW when I have had enough or if I eat too fast..it feels like there is something BIG stuck in my chest! I have begun to use phrases such as : "Listening to my Band" "My Band is telling me to slow down or stop" AND I DO...cause I have a fear of vomiting with the band...or PB'ing in public or making mad dashes, or pulling plastic bags out of my purse to PB....not very ladylike at all. "Listen to your band!"

I have a suspicion it may be potassium(although I have been eating potato every day since the mushies began.) I am used to drinking OJ every morning and am not doing that...stopped because of the acidity. Today I am going to the Mall to shop for Fathers' Day and will get some OJ if my legs feel weak when I am out for a while. Those statins are BAD BAD BAD! I am glad I am off and my cholesterol is under control now.

Walking. I am supposed to be walking. But my legs feel SO weak after climbing up a flight of 14 stairs in my house that I have to flop on the couch. Before my procedure 2 1/2 weeks ago I was lively and active. Did you fellow 60 + members also find yourself with weak legs and muscles after your procedure.?

That is WONDERFUL! When I went to my first info meeting There was a presentation by the professionals and also some slides of a few LB wl losers. But I was especially impressed by the last stage of the meeting when 1/2 hour was given to 3 of the patients who lost a good amount of weight and answered questions and told about their LB journey. You will help many.

Fickle! Ugh! For the past few mornings I have been having a delicious breakfast of EggBeaters. This a.m. I took a few bites, tastily seasoned, and after about 10 minutes I felt very nauseous and not wanting to even look at the plate. Went for a few teaspoons of applesauce to 'cleanse the palate' and get a sweet taste in my mouth and it all passed. What's up with that? Do you have bouts when you love a food and your band does too,and the next day your Band doesn't want to deal with it?

I spent a couple of years on the phone meetings, but never encountered one with a WL surgery focus. One thng I know, before I had any thought of getting banded, the f2f groups were kind of mean to those who had any surgery. I was hoping things had improved and warmed in that area since w/l surgery is being chosen by the obese community now.

I stayed overnight and had no problem with gas in the hospital. I brought a book along, but never got to crack the cover because with the pain meds(more sore than in pain) I slept most of the time and watched tv the rest. It's only an overnight stay and will go quickly. I had to make use of Gas x extra strength strips about 5 days after coming home when the gas began to act up big time. It worked its way out from the upper body down through and 'out'..no pain..just very annoying. No need to take anything except a comb(I didnt get one in my pack and was glad I had one in my bag and a fresh set of underwear for the trip home...EVERYTHING else is provided.

I had some deli turkey diced up for lunch and I forgot I was supposed to take itty bitty bites and it felt like a baseball was stuck in my chest! It was awful. And it hurt a lot. Eventually it went through the band, but it was a strong reminder! One reason I weigh a lot is because I hate eating cold food..so I eat fast. And more. Now, I have to remember to eat slowly and make several trips to the microwave rather than trying to eat all my food before it gets cold. CHANGES!

Getting ready to go in tomorrow. Cleaning the house, stocking up on liquids, etc. Gotta be there at 5:30 a.m. I would love to know if there are any on the forum getting ready to be Banded tomorrow morning Thurs May 28th. ....How are you preparing? RU Ready? Give a shout out!

Hello! I am now officially Banded...had my procedure on the 28th of May and am down 18 lbs..a small amount for those here who are seasoned Bandsters, but a HUGE leap for me who lost and regained the same 5 lbs over and over month after month! I am excited. I am excited not only because I have been Banded successfully and am looking towards my first fill, but also because I TURN 60 in 9 days and feel WONDERFUL! Blood pressure is down, cholesterol is way down and weight is on its way in that direction too.(unfortunately I feel gravity pulling everything else down too LOL) I think it is great to find more 60+ Bandsters around!

I was banded 2 weeks ago. I am Roman Catholic and would like to take Holy Communion. Have any of you on the May 09 forum taken the Communion wafer yet? and how soon after being banded? (some of them aren't thin)

Things are going well. I came off the all liquids yesterday and am now in the mushies stage. I have only lost 18 lbs since my effort beginning 2 weeks before my band until now, but I am pleased. I have NEVER before been able to lose weight like that..above 5 lbs and then regaining them. My age has a lot to do with it too, though..I will be 60 in a few days.

I had those eggs this a.m. I poured 1/2 cup which was supposed to be the equiv of 2 eggs. I did feel them in my upper chest even though I was eating slowly with smallish bites. (I added a little turkey breast to make an omelet). I 'listened to my Band' and immediately put the fork down for a while and the feeling went away. However, last p.m. I had turkey and 1/2 cup of potato and it went down with no feeling of fullness in the chest. I heard said at support meetings that some seasoned Bandsters discovered that their Bands were more restrictive in the a.m. and I find that, even though I am pre-first fill) it is so with me and my Band.

Aaaahhh! That is so good to hear, carrie. It occurred to me also that I could always ask the EEM for a portion too, but I didn't want to bring attention to myself by stalling the line. I will give it a try and take your example as encouragement. Are you looking forwrd to getting your first fill?

I am a horrible cook. Probably the main reason for my obesity...eating out and eating processed foods. I definitely would have a ball if tasted your home cooking, munger! The sound of the casserole made me drool. I imagine that my cooking will improve considerably while I count calories, grams of Protein and do all I can to make a meal tastey yet according to my Band's promptings. I find that already I am eating to nurture my body and being more health conscious rather than getting full and happy as before Banding. My way of thinking is changing. I used to be in OA 12 step and was not health conscious,but more aware of not overeating. I miss the group meetings, but I find that the online posts and exchange here with fellow Bandsters, especially May Bandsters, has been more beneficial than months of OA . I would love , however, to see a WL surgery branch of OA. But...that is for another forum, I guess. Just my ramblings.