mbprn

Stephanie- congratulations on your weight loss -you're doing great. I posted on this thread for encouragement and it's great to see other's doing well. Health1st-I am so totally there with you. I can tell the band is really making me more aware of how much I am eating and made me also realize how much food I actually consumed pre-band. I am not/was not looking for a magic carpet nor do I want to be a pilot or mechanic-I am a registered nurse and a heavy person for most of my life. I know (as most overweight person) about every diet, I know carb counts, high fat, low fat, I've eaten cabbage and grapefruit, I've taken phen-fen, I have read extensive medical studies on thyroid conditions, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cushings disease, diabetes, fibromyalgia etc, etc... I can even build a pyramid out of different types of food. None of these worked for me and evidently many others because we wouldn't all be banded if it were just a matter of will power and listening to a doctor or nutritionist. All of this is a process and not a single event.I researched this surgery for a year before I committed to it. As I stated above I know the band is a tool-I don't think anyone on this thread stated they expected miracles-they really just wanted some kind words from those who have been there. I'm still very early in this process and dealing with alot of emotions I hadn't thought were there (naive me).To hear that I'm not alone in these feelings is priceless to me. Tiredoldman-just curious -when you were first banded did you go through any grieving? Did you ever have times when you didn't loose as expected and felt down? I see that you were banded 4 years ago-are you at goal yet? Would you do it again? Thanks for all of your input.

Brenda-A "pb" is a productive burp-I've never experienced one but from what I gather it's when you don't tolerate some kind of food (either because of not chewing or your pouch doesn't like it) and when you burp the actual food comes with it. A golf ball is the feeling like you've swallowed a golf ball-I've only had this a couple of times-once with meds and once with food-I think it's caused by muscle spasm, swelling (my doc calls this "pouchitis") or gas. Whatever the cause there are several different remedies to help-most people recommend warms sips of something. Check on the main site and there is a thread with all the definitions of these acronyms and many other good tidbits. I've only lost 15lbs since surgery so as you can read from my above post I've been discouraged as well. I also realize I'm mourning my love of food (cue violins please) and I had hoped that this would be offset by bigger wt losses but no such luck. (i've told this story before but it's very illustrative of my feelings): I was crying one day feeling very frustrated while I was cooking dinner for all the kids-I desperately wanted to eat spagetti (mmmm) I should point out at this point that my husband is an engineer who has never had a wt problem-but anyway he was attempting to comfort me (notice the word attempt) I told him that I felt like an alcoholic bartender while I was cooking and he looked at me and said "But I thought this is what you wanted" Nooooooooooooooo-I don't want to be hungry-I want to be skinny.Uh I meant to say healthy, yeah healthy. No really I want to be able to shop something other than the "Beautiful Woman" section. Plus size? Plus what? Hi Brenda-nice to meet another mom of many!

Susan I can really relate. I've geen banded for 3 wks. I am still fighting the head hunger vs real hunger thing. Even though I haven't had a fill yet I have noticed some things-I, too, am a sweetaholic. I lovvve cake and icing (sad to say once I bought an entire birthday cake when it was no one's birthday-at least at my house) Now though I am starting to realize how much I was actually eating. I look at a whole plate of food or burger and fries and I realize there is no way I could eat that now. Don't get me wrong I still want to-this was a huge epiphany for me. My stomach is full but I still want to keep stuffing things in my mouth (I guess this explains the whole why I'm fat thing) So I really have to sit there and have a conversation with myself and say "your stomach is full-you are trying to feed something else" I have one comment about willpower-God help me I love Dr Phil (now his weight loss books didn't work for me -probably because I didn't follow the program but I digress...)I like what he has to day about will power: Don't rely on willpower -- it simply doesn't work. Willpower is driven by emotions, which can be fickle. Emotions landed you into a weight problem, but they won't get you out of it. Instead, program yourself for success and stick to the program. For me the band is my "tool"(I'm sick of that word by the way) to help me stick with the program. It's the help I need. As an aside -I also heard someone say that everybody has issues of some kind-but fat people wear theirs on the outside where everyone can see them and judge them.

Thanks for the support...I think I'm so afraid of this not working-like every other diet i've been on. I am hoping it will give me the little push I need. okay not really an push more like a kick with a steel toed boot (kicking and screaming) I am looking forward to changing my life. Baby steps I guess.

Hey guys -I was wondering (oh no a dreaded newbie question) I was banded 3 wks ago and I have a little restriction -he said first fills usually after 6 wks but I wanted to know if you can tell a real difference now after your first fill? I am still battling head vs real hunger- My brain and my stomach are not communicating and I feel like a total failure because I still want to eat. I've had no pb's or vomiting. A few episodes of "golf ball" but otherwise okay. I know the pouch is a tool but I would like my tool to be working well to help me. (Patience is not one of my greatest virtues) I thought that I wouldn't feel as hungry but I'm not really there yet. Am I expecting too much too soon? I would love any input and/or chastising

Avilla, I have one more thought-have you been tested for sleep apnea? Before I was treated I would often wake up with a very sore throat-especially during allergy season-stuffy nose and snoring makes for alot of mouth breathing. Mo has a good point about allergies-the only thing I would add is that the "D" in alot of allergy meds is pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) but it is also a stimulant and can keep some people up at night. One alternative if it does affect you that way is to use a nasal spray like flonase or rhinocort at night and the decongestant/allergy med during the day. Hope this helps.

If you're in the US you might qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act. I don't know all the details but I think it allows you to miss work while caring for a family member without risk of being fired. Check with the human resources dept. Hope this helps. Ps-from a nursing perspective there are some great elder care facilities that are trained to deal with all of these issues and it sometimes seems to help for people to meet others in the same boat. They have crafts, music, exercise for every level of skill, and of course emotional support not to mention the obvious medical care. Hope this helps

We have patients put pillows between the mattress and box springs at home. Are you currently taking a anti-reflux med? If you are it doesn't sound like it's working-You may need to up the dosage or change.I had to switch to Nexium while I was pregnant and it made a huge difference. My doc warned me about esophogeal erosions and ulcers if it remained untreated. Hope you're better soon.

I 'm a newbie too. I was really nauseated in the hospital and they kept giving me phenergan which was making me sleepy. The coordinator from my doctor's office came into my room and chastised me for sleeping! I told her they had just given me about my hundredth dose of phenergan and she patronizingly told me that I just needed to fight the fatigue! uh what? I felt awful...But I got better each day. I'm 3 wks out now and have mostly forgetten the pain but I wanted to say that if your "blues" don't go away don't suffer. Ask for an anti-depressant -there are some great ones out there that can get you through the toughest part. If you're anything like me I am mourning food. I was trying to explain this to my effortlessly thin husband and he said "but I thought this is what you wanted?"no no no. I want to be skinny-not hungry!!!!Everyone here understands-keep coming back here for support-it will be your saving grace. ps-thanks for letting me vent

Cream of wheat-filled me up for hours. I have also been carrying around sugar-free hard candies in my purse. When the growling starts (especially in the store) I pop one of those in and it gives my mouth something to do and they taste great. I like Werther's sugar-free caramel hard candy the best.

Arrggh! My doctor wouldn't let me have tomato soup during liquids phase b/c of the acidity and because if I was having some bleeding complications they didn't want me drinking anything red. But (like a true fat girl) I'm craving it now. I suppose you could make it with tomato sauce which I think only has about 8 carbs per serving and just add stuff to your liking-maybe?? Michelle

Just wanted to lend a shoulder and encouragement. They are out there-good ones even...I met my husband (an engineer)when I was overweight (220lbs) at the time I had just ended a 2yr relationship with a very nice ,intelligent man (a physicist) and before that I dated a physician for about 6 months. I was a single mom with 2 kids and not thin at all and I had no problems meeting sucessfull, intelligent men. When I found the right one he called me when he said he would, showed up when he was supposed to and actually when he was sick he called me for advice! (of course I am a nurse but you get my point) We have been married for 6 years and have 2 kids of our own.(Yes I have 4 children and a nervous twitch) I trust him with my life and that foundation started during dating. I have NO doubt you will find Mr. Right. Stay busy as everyone said-go to singles groups, volunteer and tell anyone who will listen that you are looking. People will remember this when they meet someone and think "He's such a nice guy -who would be good for him?" Meeee, pick me. Of course you can say all of this in a much more tactful, articulate way than I did. Last but not least a joke-I finally found Mr. Right but I didn't know his first name was always. (Rita Rudner) Much luck, Michelle

Susie, It's a very good sign that she's not running a fever and that the area isn't warm. Hopefully it's just a pocket of fluid and he can drain it an she'll feel better. You might consider asking him to run a CBC (complete blood count) with a sedimentation rate. This will tell if there is any infectious process and/or inflammation going on and how much. This is a very basic blood test that can even be run in some doctor's offices, so again if the surgeon doesn't want to call her regular doctor and tell him your just kind of worried and would like it run and hopefully they'll do it for her. This test should be able to put your mind at ease if you don't feel better after her post-op visit tomorrow. Good luck.

Susie this sounds like a possible infection to me (I'm an infectious disease nurse) Is she running a fever? I had surgery the same day and all of my incisions are healed-a little pink but that's expected. In my humble opinion any complication like that needs to be checked asap. I'm not sure what he means about "fluid coagulating"-blood coagulates and she should not be bleeding at all. If there is fluid there the body is having some kind of inflamatory reaction either infectious or allergic. Please have her checked. Do not take no for an answer from the office-show up there or go to her primary care provider and have them check it if they won't see you. I am not sore or swollen at all. I hope this helps and give her a big hug!!

Hello, I'm sitting here wondering if everyone else goes through this feeling this soon-it started last night (I'm still on liquids) I thought my pepcid was stuck-lots of pressure and felt like something was in there. Followed with lots of gas-took 4 chewable maalox (with anti-gas) some relief but felt that way until bed. I was able to drink but it hurt. I woke up this am and felt better but the feeling came back as soon as I drank something. I sipped slowly but the feeling has creeped back. I have yet to throw up so I guess thats good. Is this normal?:guess How do you handle it?:phanvan How soon will I quit lusting after everyone else's food (I have 4 kids):hungry: ? I feel like an alcoholic as a bartender at dinner time.:violin: Thanks for listening...