Mickey527

Today I went to Mc'D's with my son and grandson. I didn't want a salad or chicken wrap so I decided to get a Filet of fish. Well those buns are steamed and turn into mush. I shouldn't have swallowed it but I had chewed and didn't want to spit it out. Of course it got stuck and I had my first major PB. Yuck, right in the restaraunt. Well my son won't stop singing that fish on the wall song. "give me back my Filet of Fish, give me back my fish." someone remind me again why we have children?

Trader Joe's calcium chews. YUMMMMM, like eating a chocolate candy.

I had "sludge" before my band and the surgeon that I saw for my mastectomy didn't want to remove the gallbladder. I had the band in Sept and have lost quite alot of weight and now my "sludge" has turned to stones and the pain is intense. the gas pain I had was nothing compared to gallbladder pain and I had percocet for that pain. Nothing helps gallbladder pain when you are having an episode, believe me, I took 2 Percocet the other day and the pain lasted for 2 hours. I was dizzy and tired but the pain was so strong that I couldn't sleep. I am having my gallbladder removed on March 2 and can't wait. I had another episode last night and if someone was here with me I would have gone to the ER. I knew I couldnt' drive but was not going to call an ambulance for gallbladder.

I took my neice and nephew to their favorite restaurant for lunch the other day (IKEA, hey they are 7 and 9) and didnt' think about what the place had to drink when I paid for the glass. I took one sip of diet Pepsi and thought I was going to vomit. The pain was intense and wow, it was not nausea but worse, I just wanted to get that stuff out of my throat. I wound up getting some water and felt better after I burped about 6 times. I used to love coke but haven't had an urge since early August when I was prepping for the band. My one problem will be long distance driving. I drive to FL about once a year to stay with my sister. I drink Mountain Dew red and it helps me stay awake, and alert on the drive. I won't be drinking that anymore but can't take the jolt that those caffeine shots give. I sip the mountain dew over a 2 hour period so it wasn't a jolt. guess now I might have to stop and take a nap somewhere.

Unfortunately I do know how you feel. I have had problems with constipation all my life. My normal BM's are about very 4-5 days. I take a colace pill every day along with a dose of benefiber. Neither seem to work well. I also have to drink a bottle of citrate of magnesium about once a month just to clear myself. I also eat a bowl of frosted mini wheats every morning. Sometimes I try oatmeal but that doesn't work for me. A few years ago when I was on chemo (which causes constipation worse than anyone could imagine) I had a problem once where I used all the above, then took MOM, then used an enema and still nothing. I then drank a bottle of citrate of magnesium and still nothing. Went to the ER for help and sat (well tried to sit) for 2 hours before I finally went to the bathroom and just pushed till I couldnt' anymore. Finally had some results and left the ER. They had the nerve to send me a bill for $280 for leaving against medical advice because I didn't wait to see a DR. I can't tell you what to do, but if you can get your Dr to approve it try the citrate of magnesium, but get the cherry kind from CVS (their brand) and hold your nose as you drink. then wash it down with some strong flavored stuff. I used an envelope of crystal light in 4 oz of water to clear the terrible taste.

I don't have to worry about the "jiggle" since they cut my stomach and rebuilt my breast with it so I got a belly for a breast and a tummy tuck when I had the cancer and mastectomy. but I have a huge scar across the bikini like from hip to hip that is UGLY. I also have 5 scars from the band and 2 scars from the port they put in my shoulder for the port. Not to mention the scars on the other breast when I had it reduced to match the "new" breast. I look like a roadmap, never going to see a two piece on me no matter how thin I get. I am mainly angry that they didn't do this during the banding. the first surgeon didn't think ti was necessary and my lap band surgeon never thought to do a HIDA scan and see how bad the gallbladder really was. The thing I am most upset with is that they are going to bloat my stomach with gas again and do the surgery then I will have another 4-6 days of that horrible shoulder and chest pain. Oh and the worst, the surgery is scheduled for 2:45 pm. that means nothing to eat or drink from midnight the night before and I have to wait till almost 3 pm. I have shogren's syndrome, lack of saliva, and don't know how I will get through that time without sips of water.

Does anyone know of any place where I could buy powder or liquid protein to mix with my own crystal light or maybe jello etc to make my own protein shots. What do they use to make Isopure or the shots? I am on a tight budget but need to increase protein. I am so tired of shakes and the powder mixes. I like the protein shots but they are so expensive, I would need at least 1 a day and even with the ones posted at BOGO, I would need to spend over $30 to get that amount. $30 a month in addition to what I have to spend on meats to get my protein is just not going to happen. Now I know how I got so heavy, pasta and carbs are so much cheaper than protein. I am on disability but make too much for food stamps so I am having a hard time making ends meet.

I made this tonight for my son's and grandson and they all loved it. I changed the recipe a bit too, I thought I had beef broth but it was beef gravy so I added that. I also browned the onions and some chopped garlic and added that. I doubled the recipe and the next time I will drain the liquid from one can of the tomatoes, it was a little too much sauce. But it was delicious and everyone (except me of course) had seconds. I have always had problems with peppers, I avoid them because if I eat them I burp the pepper taste for two days. I am not sure if the band won't allow me to burp up but I ate it all and not a problem. I love the taste of peppers but have avoided them for so many years, now I can finally eat them again. My baby (26) is on leave from the Marines and I made his favorite dessert for after dinner, monkey bread pudding. I don't know why it is called this, but it used to be served at Rainforest Cafe Restaraunts. It has bread, coconut, dried apricots, raisins and the custard is made of cream of coconut, milk, vanilla and eggs. And yes, I had a small piece of it and it went down way too easy. Now that is the way banders should eat bread...

Being tired could be from so many things. You need to call the Dr and have some bloodwork done. I know since I have upped my protein I have more energy than I did in the past. It might also be having lost weight, but I had energy even when I was just doing the 4 protein shakes a day. You could have thyroid, low blood counts, or maybe pregnant??? Call the Dr tomorrow and ask him to order some bloodwork then go see him to review everything. I wouldn't drink too much coffee though, it does give you a quick caffeine kick but it wears out quickly too and makes you feel worse, just like a chocolate kick would.

Might sound like a dumb question but I have no idea. I am not a bean eater, other than maybe a can of pork and beans with a hot dog in the summer, and I do always eat the beans they have at the Mexico pavillion in Epcot at Disney World. They use black beans and I think they just reheat them but they are tasty. I need protein and my Dr recommended this. I read quite a few people eat them here but they never told how they make them. I would want to use canned beans since I don't have the patience to cook them from scrath. But they have to be tasty, as I said before, I don't eat beans often. I did a search and almost every recipe says pinto beans, soak in water overnight, etc... I want fast.

Thanks everyone. I know it sounded dumb, but I thought there might be some "different" way to cook them. I had the Taco Bell beans and cheese yesterday and they were so good. and only $.99. I have to look up the calorie and protein and see if they would work as a quick food. Tonight I heated a can of refried and put chili seasoning in them then some cheese on top and then salsa. Was good straight up and my son had them with chips. They were filling but I think I like the solid beans better than the mushy stuff. Might follow one of the recipes and try my own from scrath since I do like them and never really liked beans.

I had my surgery on Sept 18 and I am still also losing hair. It has gotten to the point that I don't wash my hair as often because I am so tired of pulling the hair out of the drain after each shower. I lose enough in the shower that it clogs the drain. I also hate to brush my hair since I get a handful in each brush. My hair won't hold a curl any longer either. Not sure why, but I used to dry it then put curlers in it for about an hour and the curl would hold for two days. Now I take the curlers out and the hair goes stick straight within minutes. I eat alot of protein in each meal and either drink a 35 gm shake or a 49 gm protein shot every day so my protein intake is sometimes more than 100 gms a day. I asked my surgeon and all he says is "take more protein" and "it will grow back". I had chemo and know it is not a death sentence to be bald, but this is not what I expected. I am finally thinner but people are not noticing, all they say is "what did you do to your hair?"

I have to try with my photo but I also have to photo shop in some scars. I have scars from my mastectomy and the reconstruction (they used my stomach to rebuild my breast so I had a free tummy tuck), I have scars under my breasts and under my arms from the lymph node surgeries, plus the scars from my band. Wish they had the models in regular bathing suits, I will never wear a bikini with all my scars.

This sounds like somethng I could make for my non dieting sons and keep them happy too. I will have to double it shough, they never eat one portion. But I am always counting my proteins, can you post the protein count in a serving.

LollyMOe, I did the same thing, I had a tag sale over the summer and probably made $20 on the skinny clothes I thought I would never wear again pre band. I buy most of my clothes now at Kohls in the clearance section. I am not buying the "good" clothes until I get to my goal. I have clothes ranging from size 18 to my now size 8-10. I even have a size 6 pair of jeans that fit, but they were cut wrong since they fit like a size 10 pair does. How do you all decide when it is time to get rid of your old "fat clothes" I have them in boxes with a label that says "Toss on 9/2011. I figure if I haven't gotten back to those sizes by then I will never wear them again. I just want to give myself some time before I toss them all.

Melinco, how do you know this??? are you self filling??? "Um, didn't you know that the turkey baster is for home insemination of SPERM!!! not for fills for LAP-BAND®? Wrong thing to fill! lol" I am a retired nurse and would never think of self filling. I turn my head and close my eyes and wince when they stick me, I hate needles! I can't imagine closing my eyes and wincing when I had a needle in my hand. Heck, I used to do that when I was sticking a needle into someone else. And those two joke posts were hilarious. I think we all need some levity once in a while. keep them coming.

I haven't joined a gym but they won't let me anyhow. I have this strange problem with static, I build up alot when on treadmills etc and when I touch the panel I blow out the machine. I know, sounds funny but the gym I used to belong to gave me all my money back and asked me not to return... I shock myself and family daily, they try and avoid touching me in the winter. I couldnt' do the gym right now however due to my disabilities. I did the WII sport fitness last week once.. I hurt for 4 days. I only got through about 15 minutes of the 30 minute cycle before my legs gave out. I will probably try it again this week, hoping the hurt will only be 2 days this time. Other than that I walk up and down my stairs a few times a day, sometimes up to 10. I used to have my bedroom down in the dining room because I couldn't climb the stairs, but my boys moved it back upstairs when I lost some weight. I am disabled due to chemo after effects and my legs go numb at times and I fall. That has lessened since losing some weight so I plan on trying to walk around the block when it warms up a bit. I do have a cane and walker but hate to use them since I am only 55.

I know how you feel about the support because my son and grandson live with me and my son doesn't support my surgery at all. He says I could have lost the weight on my6 own if I had only tried. He doesn't think about the 33 years he has lived with me when I was on every diet imaginable and angry all the time. I saw my GYN Dr the other day and she told me over and over about how I was "sparkling" and she had never seen me smile so much. I think about that now when we are having dinner and I eat so much less than my son and he says I can't enjoy food the way I did in the past since I can't eat certain things I used to love. As to exercise: Can you make a calendar and do weights every other day and jog on the others? Most gyms do say not to do the same thing ever day, you should do cardio one day and strength training the others. I have to say, I haven't exercised at all since my band, my physical disabilities do prevent it, but I am looking forward to the spring when I can get out and walk around the block. I hate the cold. I have watched every piece of food that goes into my mouth and even though I am not exercising per se I am able to walk up and down the stairs now and doing that 4-10 times a day has been my exercise. My son bought me the WII Sprot fitness and I used it once and hurt for 4 days. Might try it again this week though. Right now I am at a stand still, haven't lost a lb in over a month. And I just finished a Valentine cookie that I baked with my grandson, frosting and sprinkles and all. And I don't feel any guilt at all.

I don't know how many of you remember Rosanne RosannaDanna but that was one of her favorite sayings and all I could think to say last night. I thought I was gonna die. I had my lap band "installed" on Sept. 18. I had a history of gall bladder attacks but my Dr wouldn't remove it unless I had 3 that were bad enough to go to the ER. I only had 2. I had a HIDA scan before the band and it showed sludge but no stones so they didn't touch the gall bladder. I have had achyness on the right side but no really bad pain, but I tolerate pain well, had all 3 kids with no anesthesia. My surgeon has scheduled another HIDA scan for this coming Monday. Last night I had one of my best meatloafs ever, it was so tasty I had 2nds. A little greasy but I put cheddar cheese in it and oh it was so good. At about 10 pm the pain started, and by 12 I had taken 2 percocets and got no relief. I knew if I went to the ER they couldn't do anything since i had taken the Percocets so I stuck it out at home. I finally fell asleep at around 4 am but woke at 8 with less but still some pain. So, I probably will get the gall baldder out within the next week. I never want to feel that pain again. Has anyone else had it out after the band, and will I still have pain after? I read that some people still get pain after surgery if they eat fatty foods.

just to clarify, this pain was in my lower right side, and spread to my back, and my right shoulder. all the classic gallbladder pains. I felt like I had to vomit but couldn't not sure if the food had already passed low and couldn't come up or if the band prevented it from coming up. The next day I had terrible muscle pain from the dry heaves. I had a few stuck episodes and that pain was between my breasts, not low like gallbladder. I have spoken to the surgeon who did the band and he is going to remove the gallbladder. I went to another surgeon prior to the band and he said that the sludge in my gallbladder was not enough to remove it back before the band. I also couldnt' walk due to the pain, and it took almost 2 hours for the pain to subside. I have eaten meatloaf and burgers before without problem, this one was just to fatty with the ground pork and cheese I added. But it was so delicious, one of my best ever. My grandson's favorite food is meatloaf so I make it alot.

I have had a few episodes in the past few days with PBing and getting food stuck. I haven't had a fill for over a month and this just started last week. I had a small salad and brought it up, I had some chicken and it got stuck and the pain was horrible, I had a small very tender steak and PB'd to the max. Las tnight my grandson begged me to make pizza fritta and of course I can't turn him down. I sat with him and had 5 pieces. Of course they are small, about the size of one of his hot wheel car. but I put sauce and cheese on them and cut them up and they were delicious. I could taste the greasey oil on them... Going to see the Dr tomorrow, don't want a fill because of the past episodes but why can I eat the junk but not the good? Up until now I haven't had problems with my protein but this week has been very difficult.

I apologize in advance for the contents of this post. My Dr recommends Benefiber and I have tried that and Miralax since being banded. I have also used colace, and almost every other laxative on the market at one time or the other. I have a history of constipation way back to when I was a baby. I can still remember the molasses enemas my mom used to have to give me when I was young, around 3-5 I think. I buy citrate of magnesium and drink about 1/4 bottle once a week and that helps alot. Most people would be in the bathroom for hours after that, but I just get a normal BM instead of 3 tiny rocks that I normally get. It is the worst tasting stuff ever invented and my stomach knots just writing this but it is what I have to do. PS, I drink at least 64 oz of water with crystal light every day (I hate plain water it makes me want to vomit) and eat a high fiber cereal every morning.

I don't have the sketchers but I did get a pair of the Curves leg toning sneakers from Avon and I love them. I don't feel much "toning" but I do feel less of the neuropathy pain that I had prior to wearing them. I also have fibromyalgia and my legs sometimes go numb when I least expect it. I do feel they numb less when I am wearing these. Unfortunately I don't get much exercise due to these two conditions so I can't tell you what they will do if you walk alot in them but I have read reviews from other people on another board I read regularly and those people love them for long walks. I also bought a pair of "Fit Flops" that use the same technology as the toning sneakers. I did have to sew a piece of elastic on them because I can't wear backless shoes die to the neuropathy. If they don't have a strap they fall off when my legs go numb.

I doubt it was the Long Island Ice Tea. I have heard that with the band alcohol hits you faster but I haven't had that happen to me. I don't drink much, my drink of choice is one of those flavored malt beverages and I average one or two a week but they hit me the same as previous, not falling down drunk like people have said. It sounds like you have a stomach bug. I would stick to clear liquids, for a few days, then go to shakes then soft. But as an ex nurse I can tell you that you shouldn't drink anything for at least 4 hours after vomiting then sips, no more than 1 cc every 15 minutes. Kind of like what they had me do in the hospital after surgery, 1 cc every 15 min. Why did they bring me that tray with a cup of broth, a 30 oz bottle of Isopure and sherbert? I got the broth down in about 2 hours and they took the tray away.

I don't think I will ever wear a bikini again anyhow so all the scars will always be covered for me. At 55 my main concern was feeling a little healthier since being overweight had brought on so many health issues for me. I am wearing size 10 now and have some size 8's that I picked up on clearance at Kohls just waiting. I haven't looked at bathing suits yet but I know my size 18 won't fit me this year. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction on the right breast and then reduction of the left so it would match the mastectomy surgery. I have scars on both breasts, under both arms, and across my stomach from those surgeries. the 5 little scars on my stomach are nothing. My problem now is that I am losing my hair in globs for the past 2 months. But I have been bald before (during chemo) so even this will pass eventually. Think of your scars as a private badge for what you have done to make yourself healthier.