marfar7

I was never told not to and I always drink with a straw. I think the premise is that you get too much air in your band with a straw. To me (don't quote me cuz I got a C in college physics!) drinking with a straw tends to diminish air. Thats why people get drunk faster drinking with a straw ( a fact). Anyway, I've never been told not to. It's no where in my band manual either. Maybe you want to ask your nurse? Marci

My stepson did the Spartan Race last year. He was head to toe mud. No clue if he trained, but he's in pretty good shape. Said it was fun. No advice for ya, just wanted to say "have fun"! Marci

I'm 3 1/2 yrs out and can eat almost anything (cept pancakes, pizza crust and pineapple chunks) - including the taboo items like bread, Pasta, and rice. For breakfast I usually have 1 egg and 1 pc bacon or sausage. lunch is usually 1/2 sandwich (either tuna or chicken salad or turkey). dinner is maybe 1/3 of a chicken breast, baked Beans, broccoli. Snacks are whatever is in the house (sometimes ice cream or a cookie). I eat different foods everyday, so it's hard to speculate what I eat. I go to the gym 3x a week (walk at 3.8mph on the treadmill for 45 minutes and then I do about 20 minutes of the weight machines). I really should bump it up to 4x a week, but my M/W/F schedule is so convenient. Good luck with your surgery. I wouldn't worry about what you can't eat yet. Most people can tolerate most things, you just have to play around with it to see what you can tolerate. Your first stuck episode on say, a piece of bread will make you not want to eat bread again. Not me tho! I always pushed the rules and tried it again. Like I said above, I can't eat those 3 things - I've tried many, many times to eat pancakes but everytime I'm in the bathroom afterwars. It's just not worth it anymore! I sure miss them tho! Marci

Wow, You are lucky. I was on liquids only for 4 weeks. I personally added mashed potatoes at week 3 cuz I thought I would literally starve to death. Have fun eating those purees! Marci

About a year ago, I went in for a fill. I usually see the PA and he's really good at it. This time I saw the dr. He poked me about 12 times before announcing "I think your port is flipped". Great. What do they do about that? Went into xray and they verified that it wasn't flipped. He just aiming really badly. Finally the PA came in and got it on the first poke. Let me tell you the next couple days I was sore and bruised. While I like the dr very much, his fill skills need some improvement. Marci

I wish plication had been offered to me in 2009, but I don't think it was even an option. One nice thing about it is that it prevents MOST slips (I said most, they CAN still happen). And living with a slipped band right now, I wish I had something like that. Even if I need a revision, I can't get plication cuz Medicare apparently doesn't pay for it (still too new). Bummer. If it were me, I would do it. Or you can just follow all the rules and prevents slips the old fashioned way! You only have 72 lbs to lose? Good luck with your decision... Marci

I think (IMHO) that the pain is worth prescription pain meds. I was on my liquid Vicodin for a week (I even got a refill). The pain isn't intolerable (I've had many surgeries before and this was by far the easiest), but I would have been very miserable with just Tylenol. I would definitely talk to him. Is this for all of his patients or just you? Marci

I still don't understand why going without fluids BEFORE makes a difference. The food isn't in there yet, it'll go right thru. This is what my dr explained, at least. I understand the concept AFTER eating, but before? Marci

I drink right up till I eat (it goes right thru so I don't understand why you have to wait 30 minutes) then I can feel when I can drink afterwards (I've had my band for 3 1/2 yrs, you will learn to feel it soon), usually 30-45 minutes later. I CAN'T drink while eating - it'll all come right back up. I guess that good. No wanting to drink while eating! Marci

You can also buy Nioxin (a shampoo) at any beauty supply store or salon. It helps strengthen your hair and make it seem thicker. I didn't lose any hair, but about 6 yrs ago, I lost 30 lbs in 3 months. Lost alot then. My hairbrush looked like a chemo patient everytime I brushed my hair. Marci

You're lucky. I was on liquids for 4 weeks. It was so hard. Thought I was gunna starve to death... Marci

If I had a job (I don't), I would've taken off a week for a sitting job, maybe 2 weeks for a more active one. My brother in law stayed with me the first week (comes in handy to have someone else there) and I took my liquid Vicodin as directed. I don't remember the gas pain very much. I think lapband surgery is like having a baby - you don't really remember the pain 3 1/2 yrs later! Some people don't need narcotics at all - Tylenol works fine. I wasn't one of those people, however. I even gota refill on my liquid Vicodin. I had a treadmill and starting maybe day 3, I started walking really slowly several times a day. Believe it or not, I gave away my $1200 treadmill cuz I never used it. Since I pay for the gym, it motivates me more to go! It sure came in handy when I couldn't sleep tho at 2 am! Good luck with your surgery! Marci

My biggest piece of advice for newbies : HAVE PATIENCE! For the first 4 mths and 2 fills, I ate as I had previously - cuz I could. Didn't lose 1 lb. After my 3rd (the magic one) fill, it started happening. The lbs started melting off. Continue with your band portions, eating slowly, not drinking with meals, etc. You're doing really well. Wish I had that little tidbit of advice when I was going thru it - I didn't follow the rules at all and now I'm paying for it (a slipped band). Congrats on your success! Marci

Hey all, I've had my band now for 3 1/2 yrs and have been very successful. Lost 104 lbs in 2 yrs and was 9 lbs from my goal of 135 last year. Then 10 mths ago, I had a minor slip. One that an unfill relieved my severe reflux, but also leaving me with less (much less) restriction. I still have 6cc in my 14 cc band. 1 more cc and it causes reflux. So my drs leaving me alone since I no longer have reflux. I've been going back and forth with: 1. I live with the less-than-optimal restriction, watch calories, diet (which I swore I'd never do after getting the lapband) and do it the old fashioned way. Leaving it alone. Living with a contraption inside of me that works about 75%. 2. Demand my dr fix it. I can either have it replaced, replaced with plication, or convert to a sleeve My ?: Medicare paid for my surgery, as my BMI was 42 and I had hypertension. Do they cover a 2nd surgery because of a complication even tho my BMI is now 27.5. Do they go by what my original BMI was or current? Will they cover adding the plication or just go for what it originally was? Not sure that I want to start fresh again, with surgery, 4 weeks of liquids, and many trips (6 hr roundtrip) to get my adjustments until they are good. So, does Medicare cover revision of my band only or can I add plication too? Thanks! Marci

Thanks everyone. Don't think I'll gain weight till I hit a 35 BMI, than you. Not sure what to do. I really don't want it removed. If I have surgery, I want it replaced. As it is, I have to travel 6 hrs roundtrip for Medicare to pay for it (we have a bariatric center right in my town but they won't cover it). And actually, I had no problems with them paying when I started this. Within 2 weeks of submitting the paperwork, I had a surgery date. Great. Just great... Marci

Its not like Im asking for a new band. Im asking for a correction of the 1st one, in addition id like to add plication. Aren't complications covered? Marci

I would avoid taking pills (the RX ones are dangerous and the OTC ones aren't regulated by FDA - so you have no clue what's in the. I did the whole Phen-Fen craze in the 90's - would bake a cake and clean my house at 3 am after sleeping maybe an hour in a 2 day period. Phen-Fen was banned in the US after causing many heart problems in users. Maybe you need a fill? If you were satisfied on a little and now it takes more to fill you, I would ask if I could get a fill. You haven't filled out your profile, so I have no clue when your sugery was done, how much you weight, how much you've lost, etc... Marci

I've never measured or weighed my food or counted calories. It's why I had the surgery in the first place, so I'd never have to diet again. After my 3rd fill (the magic one), after just a few bites of food, I'd start to feel uncomfortable, like if I ate 1 more bite, I'd vomit. After a few months of feeling like that, I noticed I could eat more. So I had another fill. Worked like a charm. Didn't even see my dr for 18 mths following. As of last year, I had lost 104 lbs (in 2 yrs). Last year, I had a minor slip (from frequent vomiting) and I had some Fluid taken out (no surgery required) and my symptoms (severe reflux) ceased. So, now I don't have the great restriction that I once had and notice myself counting calories a little more, since I'm obviously able to eat more. I've gained 21 lbs in the past year (and I was 9 lbs from my goal of 135 last year) and I'm working on portion control. I wish I felt that same "1 more bite and I'll bust" feeling. Actually, I feel my band until about 6pm, when I could eat the side of a barn! I say do whatever works for you. I believe in "restriction" that some people don't - it's what's kept me from eating more than 1 pc of bacon in the past 3 yrs! And the feeling isn't "full" like Thanksgiving Full. It's more like a feeling of "if I eat 1 more bite, I will vomit" feeling. I don't think I've felt my pre band fullness in 3 1/2 yrs. Oh, u asked how much can I eat if I wanted to? For Breakfast, I usually eat 1 egg and 1 pc of bacon. And I'm satsified. For lunch, it's usually 1/2 sandwich (haven't been able to eat a whole 1 since getting restriction) and maybe a small handful of grapes. dinner is usually 1/3 chicken breast, small spponfull of Pasta, and some broccoli. It's my nightime snacking thats gotten out of control since my slip. I'm making 1/2 pb and banana sandwiches at 10 pm. Or eating a Lean Cuisine at 9pm. Or even a can of Soup at 10 pm. I'm thankful that I can at least feel my band for part of the day! Marci

While I've had complications (a minor slip), I would do it again 100%! I used to have severe hypertension (on 4 different bp meds) and thought I would die early (my dad had his first heart attack at 32 and died at 43), but I'm off all but 1 of my bp meds. My bp is totally normal. And I'm only 45. I've had hypertension since I was 25. Off all but 1/2 of an antidepressant (used to take 3 of those too), and lowered my pain medication dose alot. It's definately not east, but it's doable. And I'd do it over again (except maybe I'd add plication, which wasn't available in 2009) Marci

I ate 1 pc (extra thin crust, can't do thick), and 1 cinnamon stick dipped in icing. Yummy. Why didn't I find pizza Hut cinnamon sticks pre band, so I could've eaten the whole box??? lol

Uh oh!!!! I ordered from pizza Hut a couple weeks ago... guess thats why! I guess this is a confession.... Marci

It also has 1 carb. And when you're trying to stay <20 gms a day, it's hard. All the sweetners have a carb tho. But thanks God for Torani sf syrups. Most of them have 0 carbs and sweeten my coffee perfectly! Marci

Sounds like me. 10 mths ago, I started incessant coughing at night and before long, the reflux started. I slept on 3 pillows on my back only. I took RX Prilosec, OTC Zantac, and chewed Tums like they were candy. I still woke up nightly with stomach acid on my pillow, vomiting up acid, and a sore throat. My husband talked me into seeing my dr. I had a minor slip. After almost a year of unfills/fills/tweaks, I no longer have reflux but I also no longer have decen5 restriction. I've gained 21 lbs in the past year. Debating whether to demand my dr fix it or just die i hate diteting and thats why i got the band. So I'd never have tondiet again. I really don't want to do the 4 wk liquid diet and get fills 6 hrs away until my green zone. Maybe ill just suffer with a less than optimal band and just watch what I eat. What a concept Marci

You might be too tight. Last year, it was the first symptom I had of a minor slip (a persistent nightime cough) that finally turned into severe reflux at night. I would call your dr if it persists. Marci

Egg salad is one of my most fav foods, actually. I use real mayo tho (only Best Foods!), not the lite stuff. And yes, it's on the mushy list, along with tuna and chicken salad. Marci