marfar7

I have a minor slip right now and am comtemplating a revision. I think I'm going to talk to my dr about getting the plication with it this time (unavailable in 2009) so I don't have to worry about slips in the future. At least, that what I hear - that it cuts down on slips. Not sure if you lose more weight with it or not, don't know much about it, actually. Good luck tho in finding info! Marci

I think that medication shouldn't have carbs in them to begin with! I was on Atkins during Feb and I had to count the carbs in Tums (and I chew them every single nite). Made less that I could eat. A shot of Nyquil has 19 in it! Wow! Marci

Luv me some stuffed mushrooms. And you found a recipe without breadcrumbs? Even my carb-phobe husband might eat these! I find the frozen ones from Trader Joes really yummy. And only 80 calories each, but they're button mushrooms (the small ones). I've got to try these. Never woulda thought about using ketchup or dijon mustard in them. Marci

The only thing Asian I've ever ventured out to cook would be stir fry! I'm a cooking novice and can make a mean casserole or cheesecake (or pasta), I've never attempted to make Chinese food. I just buy the bottled stir fry sauce and stir fry veggies (bean sprouts, broccoli, green peppers, onions, carrots, celery, and zucchini) in a little olive oil and add diced up chicken or beef. I don't like my veggies crunchy, otherwise I would cook the chicken and then add the veggies, but I like them well cooked. I use Minute Rice for the base. See my mad cooking skills??!! Told you, nothing fancy but it's yummy! With leftovers for days! If you come across someone with a great recipe for egg-foo-yung, let me know. Luv the stuff! Marci

Since I live 3 hrs from my clinic, I only went in for fills (4 of them the first year). The first 3 were 6 weeks apart in the first few months, the 4th was close to a year out. I think I've been there more in the past year (I'm 3 1/2 yrs post op) than in all 3 yrs put together (working ona minor slip). Hope that helps! Marci

You are quite welcome! I hope you do well after your next fill. Some people (very few) don't need any fills, some need 1-2, I think most need 3-4. Like I said, before my 3rd fill, I ate just as I had previously (a whole lg Quiznos sandwich, and a bowl of broccoli cheese Soup. Now I can eat maybe 6 bites of a small Quiznos sandwich and about 1/2 cup of the same soup. I'm not recommending that you eat like I did, however. If I had to do it over again, I would've abided by the rules a little more (like no soda, counting calories, sticking to a cup of food), but thats why I got the band in the first place - I'm not a very good "rule" following or dieter. Here's another little bit of advice for you: Slow down your eating. for the first 2 1/2 yrs, I vomited about 50% of my meals cuz I couldn't manage to slow down my eating. It caused a minor slip last year that I'm still working on. Now, I take the full 20 minutes to eat my meal and I've only vomited maybe twice. Good luck to you. Hope your next fill is the "magic" one for you! Marci

When I first started working out (about 6 mths post op), I bought a BodyBugg from ebay for $200. Loved it - at first. It's what the contestants on The Biggest Loser used to wear. It's really hard to keep track of all the data. They give you a 45 minutes phone consultation with a personal trainer and 6 mths of website (where you download your info from the BB and track your intake), but after that it's like $12 a mth. Ended up using it for like a month and then giving it to my sister - which she in turn gave me back about 2 yrs ago. It's still in the box on my bookshelf. In the future, if I'm looking for something similar, I will definately look for an easier one to use, read, and bring up data. Good luck! Marci

I guess what I meant by "it's a fad" is that there are billboards all over southern California freeways, along with the new Carls Jrs burger, and car sales. I didn't mean that it wasn't a way of life. I guess I worded that incorrectly. Actually, I think it's kind of tacky to advertise medical stuff on freeway billboards. But thats just me! Marci

My gurgling helps lull my husband to sleep at nite! And I'm 3 1/2 yrs post op (I used to gurgle alot more than now tho). I also burp alot. I try to keep them quiet when I'm around anyone (besides my husband. I let them roll out with him!). When I take a sip of his soda (yes, I know, bad bad me) I burp for like 5 straight minutes. I only take maybe 2 sips a month of his soda (for all those who are going to reprimand me). Haven't noticed gas from the lower end increasing at all. You're totally normal! Good luck! Marci

My first word of advice for newbies: HAVE PATIENCE. Restriction doesn't happen overnight. for me, it was the 3rd fill, 4 mths post op. I didn't lose a lb those first 4 mths (probly cuz I was eating just as I had pre op - felt this was yet another failure of mine). Like a dummy, I didn't heed my drs recomendations of sticking to liquids for 24 hrs post fill. Had my first meal the the hotel coffee shop about 6 hrs post fill. I was able to eat about 4 bites of chicken, 3 bites of a baked potato, and a couple bites of green Beans. Didn't even attempt the dinner roll. That dinner was my "magic dinner". I felt restriction immediately, didn't have to wait a week. It also provided me with about 4 more meals! Since then (about 3 1/2 yrs post op), I've had many fills/unfills/slips/tweaks with my band. I don't have the greatest restriction I once had, but there's no way I could eat like I did pre op. I've never been able to eat more than 1 egg and 1 pc of bacon for Breakfast, 1/2 sandwich for lunch, or 1/3 of a chicken breast for dinner. When we go out, I always bring home enuf for at least 2-3 more meals (I get sick of them by the next day tho and they usually get trashed). Like I said, it wasn't till my 3rd fill where I felt I was in control of my portions (actually, my band is in control, because my eyes are ALWAYS bigger than my tummy, still!). I don't think there's been a meal in the last 3 yrs that I've finished 100% - and that feels great! Have patience! It WILL happen for you! Good luck! Marci

Last year at my wedding, I was 144 lbs - about 9 lbs from my 135 goal. I still had to wear a shawl with my sleeveless dress cuz of my back fat. Ugly. Don't know what to do about it. I've lost about 100 lbs and have minimal saggy skin but still have the backfat. Wonder how much it costs fo lipo on just my back?? Marci

Congrats! Welcome to the "family"!!! Hope it all goes smoothly for you... Marci

I think I've seen their billboards around Southern Ca (my husband parents live in Glendora). They're like every couple of miles! I think the Lapband is definately the new "fad". Congrats! Welcome to the "family"! Good luck with your surgery...Next year at this time you'll be reporting a huge loss! Marci

About 4 mths ago, I also tried the 5 day pouch test. For some reason, it didn't work for me. I've also gained 24 lbs since getting married last year, btw! My husband has gained 20 also. Blames me for "force feeding him carbs"! I hear that most people gain weight the first year of a new marriage. I guess we're so blissful that we forget to eat right! I've lost about 12 of those 24 lbs over the past couple months (on Atkins, something I swore I'd never do). Good luck with the pouch test. I don't think I have an enlarged pouch, I have a minor slip tho so it doesn't really help for that! LOL. Congrats on your marriage also! Didn't leave much advice! Just wanted you to know that you're not alone! Marci

Good luck with your surgery. My word of advice (having had the band for 3 1/2 yrs) is to HAVE PATIENCE! You didn't gain the weight overnight and you're not gunna lose it overnight. After having 2 fills and 3 months after surgery, I felt like I had no band at all. I could eat the portions I had previously, and did. Then came the magical 3rd fill (4 mths into it) and BAMM! I started. Congrats on your decision. You will question that decision several times before May, but I recommend that you stick with the facts, not listening to everyones input. It works for most of the people who actually work it (it's like the AA slogan "It works if you work it") Marci

Your pants story made me think of my first Christmas (2010) with my new inlaws. We were visiting my husband parents (granted this was the first time I had ever met them) and I was wearing a skirt that was too big. I put a belt on it, however the skirt didn't have belt loops, so it was draped over the skirt. Apparently, when I used the bathroom, I neglected to tighten the belt enuf over the skirt. As I was standing in the living room in front of the Christmas tree, my skirt was on the floor. Thank God I had tights on! No one even noticed. There must've been 10 people in the room, busy in their conversations with each other. My husband is the one who noticed it first, even before me. That skirt went to another bander. Size 14. I was in a 14 for about 5 minutes. Marci

I've had the band for 3 1/2 yrs now and I've been hungry everyday since day 1. A very small portion of food fills me now, since getting restriction at my 3rd fill, but I'm hungry soon afterwards. I guess thats not so true, it's about 4-5 hrs before I'm truly hungry again. I snack. I have 1/2 banana with PB, a cup of Soup, a small bowl of popcorn, etc. My dr recommends 3 meals with no Snacks, but I've found it helps me eat less at mealtime. So, yes, it's normal to be hungry. The band is sposed to help you to eat less food, not make you less hungry. At least, I was told it was.... Good luck! Marci

So, last night I went to my first lapband support group (after 3 1/2 yrs). Thought it might be good for me. There were 3 of us. Just the nitht before, the sleeve support group met (same program director for both meetings) was standing room only. What's going on with all the banders? The program director (not my surgeons office, its 3 hrs away) said they hardly ever do band surgery anymore. People complain about complications and maintenance. Im so afraid we're gunna be dinasours, only referenced in medical journals as bariatric failures. Has anyone else noticed this? And amongst the 3 of us, I was the most successful. One lady has been banded for 4 yrs and has only lost 40 lbs. The other for 2 yrs and lost about 50. Made me feel good. And I was starting to feel like a failure. Marci

It's been 3 1/2 yrs for me and I can eat pretty much whatever I want (cept thick pizza crust, pineapple chunks, and pancakes) just in really small quantities. But you asked if we ever miss eating something: YES! I miss eating at buffets! We go to hometown Buffet about once a month now (my husband is a low carber and can get his fill of meat and veggies there), and I fill my plate (everytime, mind you). I eat about 1/3 of it. I look around and see all these people eating 4-5 plates of food. While I don't miss eating the volume, I wish I could have tasted some of the other stuff on my plate before being finished. I'm such a waste of money ona buffet. I tried using my Lapband Meal Card there, hoping for the $4.99 childrens price - nope, they no longer accept them. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I miss eating a variet of foods at the buffet. I wish I could taste all of them - but alas, I can't. Thats a good thing, really! Marci

For the last 6 weeks, I've been trying my darndest to lose the last bit of weight I have left. Then the Easter candy came out. Those Cadbury eggs are my biggest downfall. I think over the last couple weeks, I've eaten about a lb of them. I've got to sit down and write letter to Cadbury, explaining myself and my struggles. Maybe then they'll take them off the shelves. Do you think that will work? I didn't think so... Looking forward to the week after Easter (not the day after, when all the Easter candy will be 50% off!) Marci

I'm sure this is a typo. If not, honey you need to eat a burger! 115!!!lol .Congrats on the weightloss! Marci

I misread my post-op diet instructions, thinking they said "Clear Liquids + Protein shakes for 4 weeks" and almost starved. I added tomato soup to the mix after the first week cuz I was so weak. After 4 weeks, I started mashed potatoes (totally yummy at the time), yogurt, scrambled eggs, and refried Beans with melted cheese. 6 mths later, I reread my instructions. They said "Full liquids for 4 weeks, including yogurt, creamed soups, puddings. The whole time I thought I was cheating! Couldn't look at tomato soup for a couple of years after spending 4 weeks eating it 4x a day. I was literally starving and only lost maybe 4 lbs during that 4 weeks. You can do this tho. Most people don't spend 4 weeks on it like i did. I( have a very conservative doctor. I had no pre-op doet, however. Good luck to you! Marci

Too funny!

I have Diastolic Hypertension (meaning the top number was usually near normal but my bottom number was too high - usually about 140/95-100). This is totally hereditary. My dad had his first heart attack at 32 and died from his 2nd at 43. Here I was 42 and on 4 different bp meds. Had to be admitted once for my bp at 150/120. Dr told me that while my bp would go down tremendously if I lost weight, that it was hereditary and I'd be on bp meds forever. 1 year after my band I went down to 1 pill a day! Now, 3 1/2 yrs later, I don't take anything for my bp. All one. Bp is totally normal. And on the day of my surgery, my bp was well over what your is. I don't even think your top number is high at all. Relax and know that you'll soon be off that nasty pill! Good luck! Marci

You're only eating twice a day? That could be it. For 4 weeks after surgery, my dr told me to drink 1 oz Protein shake every waking hour (sometimes I actually forgot) + my soup 4x a day. Mentally I was starving, unlike you! I say drink more Protein shakes and more soup. Get that growling tummy under control! Marcxi