TopTier

Wow! Great job!:smile:

Maybe try actually upping your daily calorie intake by 100-200 calories every other day for a bit to see if that doesn't trigger something.

I LOVE some of these answers to you! IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE (To which I would add: DELETE, DELETE, DELETE) ". . . you don't look like my Dr." ". . . looks like you don't have any tact." Too funny! But imagine carrying around three 10-lb bowling balls! That's how much you shed! That's totally awesome! I lost just under 30 pounds since my banding, and nobody has said anything yet, except the woman at the Korean restaurant we go to. As I was leaving, she ran up to me and grabbed me by the shoulders, "You lose weight? You lose much weight?! You look awesome!" I almost shed a few tears! People who don't see you often will notice. Even if they don't, be proud! Be VERY proud! :wink2:

I don't know how long ago it was that you stopped taking it, but it's my understanding that medicines such as those need to be weaned off. They take a few weeks to begin working (to build a level up in the body), and will take a few weeks to be completely out of the system. But it's best to check with your doctor regarding that AND the proper way to stop taking an anti-depressant. Good luck to you!

I will have to agree that my palate has changed. It's not that I crave different things, it's that some of the foods I used to eat don't taste the same anymore. I find some of the ones that contain high fructose corn syrup taste funny and feel funny on my tongue. I only know this because I snuck a bite of a hostess chocolate donut. It was really nasty. Too sweet and felt like it coated the roof of my mouth and my tongue. But I think that has more to do with my after-surgery complications (ulcer erupted) and the meds I'm now on for it. But whatever it is, it's enough to keep me away from all my old "weaknesses"!

My daughter tells me that sometimes high levels or extended use of antibiotics can cause bouts of lactose intolerance. I never really researched it, but she said her doctor told her that is what caused hers (she was taking antibiotics for an acne problem). EDITED TO ADD: Okay I did a quick google and this is what I found re: antibiotics and lactose intolerance: Medications. Certain antibiotics can trigger temporary lactose intolerance by interfering with the intestine's ability to produce the lactase enzyme. http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/lactose_intolerance.html

Well, I was going to suggest grabbing a low cal popsicle or sugar free fudgesicle until I read through the post again. It's good you plan to see your doctor. I also like the comment that you may want to investigate what some of the side affects of your anti-depressant is. Also, on a side note, and it probably doesn't apply, but here goes, you may be craving carbs, and your daily calorie intake (before bedtime) may be too low. So you many want to down a 100-calorie carb snack once or twice during the day. Good luck to you. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for you!

It's really hard to know without knowing your eating history. How many calories a day do you consume? How many do you expend (through exercise of any kind)? Do you drink fluids (Soup is a liquid, so is chili) with your meals and/or an hour to hour-and-a-half after? Do you drink additional calories? There are any number of reasons, but the key is the fewer calories in (@1,200, give or take 100 either way), combined with moderate exercise will (should) give you the 1 to 2 pounds a week you were expecting. I would start with a daily food log of any and everything I put into my mouth (include portion size). Then after a week, it should be pretty easy to see where your diet needs to be adjusted. And remember: no fluids/liquids with and after meals. Good luck to you.

Well, we knew I had a minor hiatal hernia and acid reflux. But my history just never showed or was consistent with an ulcer to begin with. I always just presumed it was my hiatal hernia acting up. The bloating and distension of the stomach caused the ulcer to s-t-r-e-t-c-h out and inflame and go hyperactive. So the diabetic stomach actually triggered the ulcer to get really hairy on me. They did a biopsy for h. pylorii and it came back negative. They also did a second biopsy of something else while they were there, but I won't get the results back from that til next week. Here's the thing, since it's not the bacteria, I won't need to go on any 2- or 3-step antibiotic treatment to attempt to eradicate h. pylorii. That's a good thing. And I'm pretty sure I know how it developed. This is really bad and I really really hate admitting it, but I most likely brought this on myself. I have had daily aches when I get up in the morning for the last 10 or so years. About 8 years ago I discovered that if I take 2 Extra Strength (500 mg each) Bayer Aspirin - with stomach coating - when I first get up, I can manage throughout the day much easier and with less pain. So that's what I did. Every morning. On an empty stomach, 1000 mg of Bayer Aspirin. I didn't intend for it to be a daily regime, it just turned out that way. I convinced myself (what is it they say about 'denial'??) that because it had STOMACH COATING that I would be fine, no harm, no foul. Apparently I was wrong. And this is most certainly NOT something I EVER told any of my doctors. Another No-No. I've been very bad!

HH: Please trust me when I say that I don't take disagreements and such online personally. With very few exceptions, most people on line don't know me (nor I them), and so all they can base an opinion about me is on snippets of text (minus any additional non-verbal cues). I completely understand that they may form opinions of me based on that, but I also understand that it's like describing an elephant after only looking at its trunk! I truly respect everyone I encounter, even though I may not agree with them from time to time and even though I may be somewhat blunt when stating my opinion. I appreciate your comments and that you can understand how difficult the last 3 weeks has been! They did not do a scope prior to the surgery because I didn't realize I had an ulcer, nor did I have typical ulcer symptoms. They DID do a series of upper GI scans and xrays, including one with some like pop rocks like stuff you swallow, which, I was told, theoretically "flattens" the inside lining of the stomach to try to "catch" indications of ulcers. Apparently this one is is an odd place, not sure what is "odd" about it. Oh well. I am very much trying to stay on track with both the lap band diet and the ulcer friendly one. I just didn't want them to say, "Well, you have an ulcer, gotta take it out!" Noooooo!!!!

As many of you may already know, I was banded on June 24 and was doing fine until that weekend. My stomach started bloating, became distended and filled with gas. I was also in a great deal of pain and was admitted into the hospital that Monday after surgery. After various bariatric tests, and about 4 days in the hospital, the doctors declared: Diabetic stomach. This is where the nerve endings in the stomach aren't working properly and the stomach can't release its gas or other contents easily. They gave me some meds to help do that and sent me home. Four days later I was back in the hospital, still with an even larger distended stomach and now non-stop pain behind my breastplate, similar to a heart attack. A nose tube shoved down into my stomach to help empty the contents (why did they not do that the week before?!), didn't give much improvement. Morphine every 2 hours. . . ugh. Finally they did an upper GI scope to peek around in my gut. What did they find? Ulcer. Ugly Mutha, too. Looks like someone stubbed a cigar out in my stomach. Finally got the right meds and am home and mostly pain-free right now. The problem? I just noticed looking through my materials that lap bands are NOT recommended for people with ulcers! oy. I'm not going to get it removed unless they absolutely positively tell me I have no other choice. I've already lost just under 30 pounds (the hard way!), but even as this is healing, I'm still not in the "hunger" stage (or as others call it 'bandster hell'). I never ever ever feel hungry at all and have to set alarms to tell me when to eat. Even then I have to eat an "ulcer friendly" meal. So, has anyone else had to deal with ulcers, either before or after lap band surgery? If so, any tips? :wub:

Absolutely incredible, and very inspiring. I have issues with Proteins as well. I have some pre-kidney disease issues going on and proteins aren't very well tolerated. So it's tough to tread that fine line on limiting my proteins, but getting enough to be healthy!

2Fly, you are an inspiration!