Dreamer

WOW!!! Hugs Lianna and way to go girl!!

Happy Halloween to all of you, too!

Pantyhose and bra's had to be a form of torture to women invented by some deranged male species! lol They both cause friction when they come in contact with certain things.....which is shocking (literally)!!!! The subject here is serious, but omg, you ladies made me laugh out loud! I love it! You all have such keen senses of humor, which sometimes is all we have to help us keep going.

Kmoorhead......PB means "productive burping"....or what has gone down is fixin' to come back up....it's not pretty! lol Listen to your body signals and you will not experience it often! Good luck hun!

Hiccups ,for me, is my "Here's Your Sign"......not another bite! Unique as we are, our body blesses us with these red flags....it's our responsibility to listen, obey or suffer the consequenses. I also gurgle when I sip water or any liquid too fast....

Jack, welcome to Lapbandtalk. You'll meet so many terrific people here who are always glad to share their experiences with you. I cannot tell you how much I admire you for making this concious effort to take control of your life...not just for yourself...but for your wife. I can say this because I am a widow. May God guide you and give you courage to strengthen you to make the right choices. Good luck hun! Dreamer

I took off two weeks total. My job is strenuous and alot of bending and lifting. That is all I could afford to miss...my co-workers assisted me as much as possible which really helped. I am a widow, so I "had" to go back to work as soon as possible.

Hello Kathleen and welcome! You will get alot of support and helpful info here! Good luck on your journey hun! Dreamer

I have experienced hair loss to the point of great concern. My hair is fine but I always had plenty of it. I am six months post-op...and although I love my long hair....I'd rather be healthy and thin as have long, curly locks of hair. I try to take my vitamins and as an extra incentive I add a biotin tab, but I really can't tell it helps that much. I think as unique individuals we all experience things differently and hair loss (from stress, post surgery, or heredity) is just one of them.

Let's face it gang...we are all creatures of habit!! lol Liquids go with meals, except for bandsters. My doctor says drink sips of water as often as I can...even right up to a meal. But no liquids for about 30 minutes afterwards. I have to ask my waitress to not bring me anything to drink...because out of habit....I get to talking and automatically reach for a glass of liquid. If it's not there, I don't miss it ( that's not strictly true, I do miss it... but am trying to adapt and break the habit because it's what is best for me). Same thing with chewing.....( 3 meals a day with no in between snacks is not for me...I have to eat my tiny meals about every three hours or I find that I eat too fast..and suffer the consequences...yuk!!) When eating and talking....I forget to slow down and chew, chew, chew! Habit is to just shovel it in and reach for a hot buttered roll!!! lol I am slowly but surely recognizing that I paid a hell of a lot of money for this procedure, and it is just a tool for me to use, the rest is up to me!

Mindy....I agree that each Dr is different, just like their patients. What works for some works differently for others! I think this Dr. is being a little conservative, but I do know the body needs time to adjust to change. My fill Dr. says liquids for 48 hours after a fill....but I try to keep in mind that it must be an awesome responsibility for a Dr to know that they have the potential to close off the esophagus of a patient. I have been banded since April....and this is my story! I listen to my Dr's suggestions, but I have elected to take my own health into my own hands....No one cares about my overall good health more than I.....I do what is right for me based on my physicians recomendations, so far it's working pretty darn good! Dreamer

Lafosse....the VG Band is a larger band in that it will hold more fill ( @ 10 cc's Maximum). I understand that it is flexible...somewhat like an accordian. The standard Inamed band holds 4cc of saline solution maximum.

I'd highly suggest that you not try popcorn in your diet at this early stage. It smells so good in the movie theatre, and is so very inticing! You probably have no fill in your band at this time....so any restriction you have is from the surgery and swelling in the abdomen area. Give that tummy time to heal before trying popcorn hun, it hurts when it comes up on ya ..and could damage what you've done been through. It's just not worth taking the chance now, is it? The easiest part is behind you, the hard part will begin when you try to get the proper fill adjustment for you! We are all different...in that repect. Good luck and God's guidance in your journey...Dreamer

Hi Kimmiechelle, I am in Southeastern Oklahoma and my daughter and I both use Red River Radiology in Paris, Texas. They are very cordial and use floroscopy to access fill. If you would like more information just e-mail me and I will get you the phone number and help any way I can....Good luck, Dreamer

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum, and say congrats on becoming a bandster! You will find this a wonderful way to meet others who have, or may be currently experiencing the sam ethings you are. Feel free to ask questions, but remember that everyone is different. As far as fills.....the surgery was a piece of cake, the FILLS RULE!!! Take charge of your health and I highly recommend floroscopy during the fill procedure. Once the doctor locates your port....they inject a saline solution into the band. The amount depends on the degree of restriction that you experience, as seen on the floroscopy. Do you have a 10cc band or a 4cc band? It is a good idea to keep a log book of how much fill you get each time. I had my 3rd fill before I felt restriction...about time was my sigh of relief. lol Good luck on your journey and keep us posted on your results......:clap2: Dreamer

I'm a gurgler too! I seem to notice it when I take a drink too soon after eating. Finally, after 3 fills, I have restriction...so I don't mind the sounds.

Rita Ann, My job is a quality assurance inspector for a major corp. I am from one end of the plant to the other all day long. I bend from the waist to inspect product (the guys shoot my hiney with rubber bands..until I threaten them with there job and their lives...lol)...I squat and sometimes I am even on my knees and all you can see is a$$ and elbows. lol I walk more than 10,000 steps a day on a normal work day. It is a physically and emotionally demanding job.... I do take a chewable multiple Vitamin...no other supplements! (with the exception of biotin)...ya' know Rita Ann, I'm thinkin' that stress maybe the culprit or a large contributing factor in my problem. What do you think?

Sounds easy enough Sunta.....thank you for sharing! Dreamer

I have a very active job, I'm on my feet all day, bending, squatting, walking all day. I can not maintain this activity without a snack at breaktime. And I find that if I don't eat a snack..I am so hungry by the time I get my dinner prepared, that I eat too fast...yuck!!! I have tried to drink a good 8-ozs of Water when I feel the need for something to eat, but it doesn't satisfy and I began to feel tired and sluggish before my work day is over. I try to find things that stay with me longer...for instance, for Breakfast I find oatmeal (original...not instant) will keep me satisfied for @ 4 hrs. I make enough to last 2-3 days and take out what I need, add milk (I use HOOD reduced fat milk...which I love), butter and Splenda....and heat in the microwave. I make it thin enough that I can sip it from a coffee mug on my way to work. I too...feel a little tight in the mornings, and something warm helps me with my Vitamin (even though it is chewable), my Biotin, and my prescription meds. After I get clocked in at work and settled at my work station I am able to sip an 8-oz cup of coffee....which I seldom have time to finish. For lunch....since I only get 30 minutes...I take a rolled up turkey or chicken breast...which I have to chew, chew, chew....an individual cup of applesauce..and a slice of American cheese. For dinner...I am usually so tired that I fix a quick bite of anything. salad or steamed veggies (and any leftovers) I take for lunch the next day. I drink at least 3 bottles of water while at work and usually two more at home. That Indian food sounds good....care to share the recipes? Always love to try new things. Good luck to you all on your journey! Dreamer

I have lost enough hair that you can see my scalp. I take Centrum Chewable vitamins, 1000mg of biotin, I eat plenty of protein and am on my feet all day very active. I have only lost 6# since April when I was banded. I've all but exhausted my resources for flying to fill doctors....very sad that this is not working better for me! I do not take a calcium supplement.

My hair loss did not start until about 3 months post op. I had been taking biotin, getting lots of protein and only shampoo every other day. Nothing seems to help. Curious about the protein spray....what is the name and where can you purchase it? I personally think stress is a key factor too ladies! I am very upset because after 5 months, I've only lost 6 pounds. I had hoped for more and with the the excessive hair loss...I'm at my wits end. Any suggestions??

This sounds really interesting, and fast to prepare on these hot, hot Oklahoma days! I'm all for fast and easy and tasteful...lol Thanks for sharing...Dreamer

I have taken Biotin religiously before and after my lapband surgery. You can chew the tablet up, it has a sweet taste...anything to help in keeping the cost of things down. I have long hair and it is shedding alot:think ...even with the bioten. I want my hair...all of it, the only thing I wanted to lose was WEIGHT! lol Going to try Nioxin....:clap2: Dreamer

Hello and welcome Idahobeauty... I wish you could catch my daughter on here. She is close to your age and was banded also (both my daughter's and I were banded on the same day in April). Chelley is a diabetic.....but ya' know what? Since she was banded, she is off her insulin completely. She's a RN by the way! Do your research hun, and make sure this is right for you, my younger daughter has lost 50#'s and looks terrific. My BMI was 34...so my loss of 18# seems slow....but that's good because I know I'm not making more wrinkles! lol God bless and direct you in all things! Dreamer

I was banded in April, 2006...I had my first fill in June (1.5cc)...and my second fill in July (.05cc). So far I have lost 18#. I feel like some Dr.'s are too conservative on the fills...perhaps because they want the $350.00 for a half a cc of saline and a 15 minute office call. Anyway, if I could control my eating, then I wouldn't have elected to have the surgery...lol I need the constriction to signal my body that I've had enough! If you can eat anything you want...then it's time for that fill bd. The difference is amazing! My advice to you would be in this order: #1 Don't allow yourself to get "too" hungry. If you do, you'll eat too fast and this is a major no-no-no!!! #2 Chew your food good, and then chew it some more!!! No kidding!!! #3 Do not drink when you eat (solid food will stay in your tummy longer and keep you feeling satisfied). #4 I find that when I eat and talk...I eat too fast, because I'm used to taking larger bites and not chewing my food enough. You really have to retrain yourself to the new life style that's going to get you thinner and healthier! #5 Don't be discouraged if your weight loss slows down. My BMI was low and I don't have that much weight to lose. But my two daughter's had the surgery the same day as I...and one has lost 50# and the other about 23#. Good luck with your first fill....it seems to me that you are well on your way in your journey! God bless and keep me posted on how you are progressing! Dreamer