MaineJackie

Hemoglobin and carboxy-hemoglobin are two totally different things.....your carboxy will be off if you are a smoker. I had to do the urine test for my health insurance. I have never smoked so it wasn't an issue for me. Good luck.

I don't know that I would have been ready for camping (even urban camping) on my first post op day. Even if you feel good, the focus should be on resting and recovering. Can you go for part of the day but go home to rest?

Well, after almost 6 months with the band, I had my first full blown stuck episode. I can now say, with this one episode, that I have done it all.....slimed, pb'd, vomited.....and boy does it suck. And sliming is so perfectly descriptive!!! This episode lasted over 2 hours.....I will now go on liquids and call the doctor in the morning. I got a fill back on the 11th and it may be too much. I may need to have a little bit taken out. So....now when I read posts about getting stuck....I can truly relate.....

Call your doctor. Just to make sure you are okay. Jackie

It sounds like you may have been stuck. Some with the band can't eat ground beef. You may want to go back to mushies/liquids for a day or two while the irritation from the stuck episode gets better. Jackie

Well, I bought a few of a new flavor of greek yogurt.....lemon. And it was way to sweet for me for Breakfast and I really didn't like it. That is until I got the idea of whisking in a few teaspoons of lite cool whip! It made the yogurt into a lemony mousse and it was delicious. The cool whip added minimal calories and the yogurt keeps it high in Protein. When we have fresh strawberries, I plan on slicing some and layering it with this mixture...... Jackie

Hi, A few weeks ago, I was at the Bariatric center and asked them to look at this "rash" in the fold in my abdomen. They said it looked like yeast and told me to go see my PCP. Well, I saw my PCP today and it isn't yeast. My PCP said it looks like the skin is tearing. I know when I am upright without any pants on, I can feel it pulling. It is long....about 10-12 inches across. She said it looks like it is bleeding a little.... Told me to put bacitracin on it for a few days and then switch to lotion to soften the skin to keep it pliable. Not sure if this will help me get a medically indicated panniculectomy or not......but it has me thinking I will need one any way.

Same here....no caffeine initially because it can irritate the stomach and you want the stomach to heal...... No carbonation after banding. This was tough for me as I was addicted to seltzer Water. I haven't had anything with carbonation since my banding 6 months ago and so far, it hasn't been an issue. As far as beer.......the need to avoid carbonation has forced me to aquire a taste for vodka....

Hi, It all depends on what those portions consist of for me..... If I have primarily dense Protein, I have that satisfied feeling for a longer time. If I have more veggies etc, then I get hungry sooner. I will be honest, I don't measure my portions. I use a small plate and eyeball a 4 oz serving of protein and then add the veggies. I am now in my green zone....aka "sweet spot". I can go at least 5 to 6 hours after eating a protein dense meal. I still have head hunger...but it is easier to control it when you are not physically hungry. Jackie

So, I purchased two of the "walk away the pounds" exercise DVDs. I plan on using them every morning and evening.....I watched one of them (to see what to expect) and they seem very reasonable. I know they are not the be-all end-all of exercise, but I need to do something to move more! I find it very difficult to the to the gym (working 3 jobs.....) so this is easy to do, at home, in the privacy of my bed room. I figure I can add some hand weights as well..... I am just excited to have something to get me moving! Jackie

I am reading some of the recent posts where some of you have mentioned the "goal weight" set by the surgeon. My surgeon never mentioned a goal weight for me....but did talk about the "average" weight loss post lapband. Does the surgeon usually have specific goals for patients? Also, I won't see my surgeon again as all care now is managed by the bariatric center (midlevels, nurses, dieticians, social workers). I don't want to ask my PCP....as I am not sure she will have a realistic goal. I don't have a goal for myself other than having a weight that starts with the number 1...............when I get there, then I will see how i feel, how I look and where I want to end up. I am tall (5'9") and in order to get into a normal BMI I would need to be around 167 lbs. My goal on my ticker in my signature is 100 lb loss which will put me at 188 lbs. I see that goal as very attainable right now....and see no issue in reaching that before my one year bandiversary in October. I think I will shoot for my 100 lb loss as a goal.....and when I get there, see how I feel. Jackie

Hi, I am not a supporter of weight loss meds....just my opinion, but I don't think they are worth it.... I know now that I am at a fill level that I think is giving me good restriction....I truly feel full and don't NEED to eat more..... I do need to ramp up the exercise. I know I am not going to lose all the weight that I want unless I increase my exericise. If the weight loss meds help you regain a sense of control....then maybe short term they would be worth it.....I would be afraid of them causing health issues. Good luck Jackie