ParrotheadCathy

Give Bean-o a shot. It's supposed to stop digestive tract gas before it forms. I've never used it myself, but have heard others who rely on it.

My friend who had the surgery and I both had stitches inside the incisions and glue on the surface.

You might visit another gym or two. For eample, I wouldn't go in Gold's on a bet .... too many body builders. If you are going to a gym where there is a wide range of clients, there will be others there who are in your situation ... in need of imrpovement instead of just a bunch who are maintaining their looks and condition.

Heidi, let me suggest that you track every little bit you put in your mouth and what time of day. First, it will be in black and white what you're eating and when. That's an eye-opener, for sure. You may realize that you are falling to temptation more at a certain time of day, for example. And that particular problem could be overcome by changing what you do during that time of day, what time you eat your meal, or something else just as simple! Second, you will have a list of what things you seem to have no willpower to resist. You will probably need to just not have those items in the house, at least for a little while. Again, it may be a surprise to find that you are consistently eating a particular food more than others, all that you should be avoiding. And, just at GrReytz says, go to your doctor. You may think you don't need a fill, but it doesn't mean you don't need to be accountable for what you're doing. Talk it out with the doctor or physician's assistant. You may find you do need a small fill, who knows? And ask to meet with the nutritionist while you're there. Take your journal with you. The nutritionist may be able to help you deal with some of those food issues by suggesting replacements, different eating strategies, etc.

Quick note .... tofu doesn't have much taste of its own. It's firm, soy Protein, smooth texture...and it tastes like whatever you cook it in. My fave Mexican restaurant offers beef, chicken and tofu .... and the tofu is marinated and cooked with Mexican spices and it tastes like, you guessed it! Mexican food. I've had tofu with vegetables from Chinese and it tastes like the sauce.

There are LOTS of bandsters who run. I'm up to "wogging"...lol, walking with little spurts of jogging. I say, call your doctor to discuss what's happening. It could be nothing more than a stomach bug...or something else. Best to know. And, it's not good to be throwing up, so it's time to check in the professionals and figure out what's going on! Good luck!

It IS harder in the first, say, 3 weeks when you're still transitioning all the way back to a fully normal diet. What are you allowed now? Are you eating mushy food? Are you already to "real" food? Mushy food, let's see....I had egg drop soup. I just really chewed up the mushrooms and stuff that was in mine. Real food....Let's face it, pizza can be a little daunting. I only eat THIN crust and have no problems with that. A slice or maybe 2 at the most, though. Remember, Erin, the band is not not meant as punishment. You should be able to eat almost anything. The key is take small bites (about the size of a nickel) and chew well. Then just use good judgment when you make your choices ... like grilled instead of fried, etc.

My surgeon doesn't have you stay overnight unless there are problems. I was happier at home in my own bed, for sure. My surgeon also anchors the band in place with sutures to prevent slipping. I don't think all doctors do this, but I'm really not sure.

I agree with DanBar .... you desperately need to go to the doctor. Among other issues, you more than likely need a fill, and a fill would help you do better. Cost of food. Yeah, I know, it's not cheap. I support a family of 3. There are ways to cut your expenses. Want good quality Protein? go to www.angelfoodministries.com I don't know if it is in your state (I believe it is in 34 states). It is church operated, but is a co-op basically. You can buy foods for what is approaching wholesale cost. You do not have to qualify financially, anybody can take advantage of this because it increases their buying power. They have what they call a "signature box", assorted specialty meats boxes and a really good fruit and vegetable box. Check it out. Steak, chops, chicken, quite an assortment. Then, follow Plain's advice....cook several meals at once. When I cook on my grill, especially, I will cook ahead....then it only has to be re-heated. Jachut mentions whole oatmeal...here in the States, look for packages that say "steel cut". These are whole oats. Time for exercise? Again, Plain made a good suggestion ... park at the far end of the parking lot, on the top level of the parking deck, use the stairs instead of the elevator. It adds up. Get a bicycle and RIDE THE BIKE to school if you can. And, JOURNAL what you eat...every bite. Only you are going to see your journal so please be honest with yourself. Track what you eat and at what time you eat it. You will see a pattern emerge. Are you snacking while you're studying? Then study at the library. Are you eating crap for Breakfast? Then plan a healthy breakfast. I have Greek yogurt with honey and an ounce of low fat cheese. Every bit as easy as fast food but a heck of a lot healthier. There are free online food journaling options that can help you because they will also track calories for you. Lastly, keep some healthy Snacks ready to eat. Boiled eggs are pretty much all protein. Low fat cheese. Low fat cottage cheese. Fresh fruit. The list goes on and on. Good luck, and let us know how you're doing!!

The things that are working for me (I was a bit too tight for a couple of months and realized I was eating slider stuff more than regular food because, of course, sliders don't get stuck. I got a slight unfill and feel MUCH better .... 1. JOURNAL everything you put in your mouth. There are some online journals that are free that help you track calories. Aim for 1,000-1,200 per day. 2. EAT Protein first. Get in at least 20 grams of protein in a meal. 3. Don't snack. If that means throwing away some Reese cups, then do it. It's a small sacrifice. 4. If you are really hungry, DO YOU NEED A FILL? You should be able to go 4 hours or so comfortably between meals without getting hungry. 5. Get back on track with exercise. Walking after you have dinner might help prevent night-time eating? Or walking as soon as you get home and THEN prepare dinner which would postpone eating perhaps long enough to keep you from snacking later? Sometimes, it's as much WHAT you eat as WHEN you eat it that contributes to reflux. And Libby is right .... have some "ready to eat" acceptable Snacks on hand....boiled eggs, snack-sized zip bags with carrot sticks or whatever raw vegetable you like (i know somebody who likes raw turnips, LOL). When you put your lunch together to take to work, take a small afternoon snack so that do not arrive home hungry, which will keep you from grazing as you prepare dinner. A hard boiled egg would work well since it's high in protein, easy and could be eaten at your desk as you finish your day's work.

Dang, did you have a leg cut off? Just teasing. I was out a total of three days (including the day of surgery. We all heal differently, but I was fine on the 4th day to be at work. On the 3rd day, I did some grocery shopping (just didn't carry them in the house), took a pretty good walk (a couple of miles), and sat around the house, no naps. You have to listen to your body. Go back to work if you feel up to it. Go back for a couple of half days in case you get too tired. Just remember to think positively, follow doctor's orders ... and listen to your body.

Nothing to confess. My insurance has a written exclusion for any weight loss surgery. When you have that, there is no way in hell to get them to cover it, period. I knew before I ever even talked to my PCP about lap band that it was out of my pocket.

I was told to aim for a minimum of 60 grams of protein per day. A meal should consist of about 3 oz of lean protein and a vegetable serving. If, after eating that, I was still hungry, I was told I could have a serving of whole grain carb. I was NOT told that anything was forbidden specifically. Like 123crod, I was told to EAT my protein rather than drink it. That is simply because it takes longer for solid food to digest than liquid, which passes right through your band while solids stay in your pouch and can keep you feeling that much sought after satiety that liquids simply cannot provide.

I gave up soda completely because it's bad for you. Getting the surgery was motivation enough to give up that bad habit. Beer, hum...... I went to Belize a couple of months back and I freely admit that I love Belikin beer (national beer of Belize) so of course I ordered one. Took 30 minutes to drink about half of it and that left me belching like I never would have imagined possible. So I didn't finish it and I haven't had any more beer.

Sabertooth, they call it "Lap Band Hell" for a reason, LOL. Protein will keep you feeling full longer than bread, by the way. Puree some Soup that has chicken or beef in it, like vegetable beef. Just, please, don't eat things that don't meet your doc's specification of mushy consistency because there truly is a reason for that limitation. Your stomach has not fully adjusted to having that belt put around it, cinching it up. solid food requires your stomach to "churn" as it breaks it down and that can lead to band slippage. The simple fact is that while the band, with no saline added, does provide a little restriction, you really shouldn't expect your band to truly be able to do its job until you get a couple of fills (at least). Again, they call it "Lap Band Hell" for a reason.

ParrotheadCathy .... well, I'm a Jimmy Buffett fan. But, of course, I've taken it to a higher level. I am a member of the Atlanta Parrot Head Club (Atlanta PHC is the very first ever official parrot head club, founded in 1989), a past board member, and I am a Regional Coordinator for the SE Region of Parrot Heads in Paradise, which is the "parent organization". Yes, we do know how to party ... but we also "party with a purpose" .... For example, last year (2008) Parrot Head Clubs raised over $3.1 Million and volunteered 175,000 Volunteer Hours. Obviously, I am proud of our efforts! Cathy, well, that part's easy ... my name is Catherine but absolutely NOBODY calls me that. My Dad never even called me "Cathy" but always called me "Katy".

Barbara, on the home page for LBT, there is a comparison posted by Alex of Lap Band vs. Gastric Bypass. That's a good basic start. The percentage of problems is a good question. For me, personally, the fact that I did not want the intestinal bypass part of the gastric bypss carried more weight than the potential problems. I'm 6 months out and not a problem other than just having a .2cc unfill because I finally admitted to myself last week that I was just a little too tight. Other than that, not one problem. None. What does the future hold? Heck, I may get hit by a bus or fall off the cruise ship on one of my annual cruises. Who knows? For me, I was willing to "roll the dice". TALK to your surgeon. Ask every question you possibly can think of. For example, does he stitch the band in place to prevent slippage? how many patients have had problems such as erosion (not just his patients, but overall)? You may find that they things you fear have very small percentage rates of occurrence.

Spec, my gallbladder/right side area NEVER hurt me. Not even when it started to exhibit gangrene! My pain was midchest, and radiated up and eventually got so bad it hurt in my jaw. Often the pain is not where you think it would be. Gallbladder pain in usually chest pain and many people only discover they have a gallbladder problem after they go to the emergency room because they think they are having heart attacks.

Jules, my first question would be, did your doctor do a fill at surgery? I ask because you sound like you're too tight. You could still have swelling post-op, but some docs do a fill when the place the band and for a lot of those patients, there is a problem with the combination of some fill and swellilng making them too tight. These are questions for your doc.....I say, don't wait until Wednesday. Call today and ask.

Warner1030 is so right! Just because you could eat a foot long Subway and a bag of chips doesn't mean you should! There are plenty of times when we could keep on eating with the only result being the effect on our weight loss. No PB, no stuck, nothing. You still have to follow your eating plan and work with your doc and nutritionist to reach your goals.

Shahsosweet, I suggest you call your insurance company now. There should be a customer service number on your card. Ask the following questions: 1. Does my policy cover lap band? 2. What are your requirements to cover the surgery? 3. Do I need to have a minimum BMI? Do I need to have doctors' records to show I have been at that BMI for a specific period of time? 4. Do I need to have doctor's records to show I have attempted to lose weight in the past? 5. What bariatric surgeons are on my insurance plan? 6. I know that a surgeon can operate in more than one location, so are there restrictions on what hospitals or surgical centers? 7. What testing do you require to approve me for surgery? (the doctor may have other requirements, so just know what you have to do for your insurance company) 8. Do you require a supervised weight loss before approving for surgery? 9. If so, can my surgeon's office provide the supervision? Get the person's name that you talk to. Write down all the information you get. Once you have all this information, go to the seminar. The staff people will help you with more information about the surgery itself, and they will also verify coverage with your insurance company. I feel, though, that it is best to know for yourself. A knowledgable poster, Restless Monkey, pointed out that the surgeon can remove the carbon dioxide that they pump into your abdomen when he does the surgery. Not all surgeons do. Ask if this surgeon will...it can mean you will feel a lot better after surgery. I'm sure others will have additional suggestions.

The band isn't the cause of your problems! Anesthesia can and does cause the symptoms you describe. Keep doing the breathing exercises, Walk as much as you can, rest when you need to and remember that just because I was up and running the next day, and somebody else was down for 2 weeks means only one thing .... you're gonna end up somewhere in the middle!

I agree with RM!! And, Jodi, I too was Type II Diabetic .... and i've been off my meds since the day of surgery! My hba1c 5 months after surgery had dropped to 7.0. As my doc pointed out, he would certainly not call me diabetic anymore and with more weight to lose, I am likely to fall well within the 6.X range very quickly. Yes, bypass can accomplish the same thing. Remember, fat cells are insulin resistant and NEITHER procedure (and nothing other that lipo) can get rid of the fat cells, but LP and GB both reduce the size of your fat cells. You are the one who has to live with your choice. As RM says, do your research, don't take anybody's word regarding of the letters after their name. If you get conflicting information, seek a second opinion. You are, after all, a consumer.

Losing4life, often hiccups is a full signal. A lot of people experience that when it is time to put the fork down and walk away from the food. You might try stopping as soon as you hiccup and see if you are full at that point.

Most doctors have a chart that shows the red zone, the green zone and the yellow zone. The green zone is what you're aiming for. In the yellow zone, you don't have enough restriction so you can eat more than you should. In the red zone, you often can't eat many things and thus do not eat enough. And, just like Goldilocks, the green zone is "just right." You should be able to eat around 3/4 cup of food and not get hungry for 4 hours. If you're waiting for some magic sensation to stop, it may not be there...unless getting stuck and PBing because there isn't room for anymore food counts. For me, I could just keep eating well past what I need. But if I eat on plan (3 oz of lean Protein and a vegetable, and the occasional whole grain carb serving), I can go 4 hours or even more before I am hungry again. It confuses me totally to hear someone say "what does restriction feel like" because what you are actually hoping to feel is SATIETY. The feeling of satisfaction that you have eaten enough to not be hungry. Notice I didn't say "enough to feel like you just ate Thanksgiving dinner".