shelley1057

Vickie- I have bookmarked the site you recommended. Great recipes and loads and loads of ideas. Thanks for the tip!

My Dr. likewise has prescribed the High Protein- Low Carb Diet for post surgery weight loss. From the list his office gave me it looks more like the Atkins type diet. After my heart attack the cardiologist recommended the South Beach type diet which he felt was healthier. It just basically substitutes heart healthier fats such as avocados, olive oil etc. And I'm with Betsy in that legumes can be very beneficial in the diet for protein and fiber. Just need to factor in the carbs and go easy on them. Certain nuts are really beneficial and low carb.

I'm on my 13th day post-op. Don't really understand why you can't sleep. I must have had some sleep apnea issues. I'm breathing a whole lot better since surgery, have lost 22 lbs and sleeping much better at night. Are you still have discomfort or pain at night? Possibly some tylenol before bed? I would definitely ask the Dr. what's up with that! I wouldn't worry about anorexia unless you really have a fear of food. In which case your Dr. needs to know this too and maybe get you a nutritional consult.

Sounds like esophagitis to me. Do any of you take or been prescribed GERD medication?

Congratulations on your band! Great birthday present huh? It gets better each day. I think you'll find some helpful advice and lots of support here. Good Luck!

Welcome to LBT and you're in the right place! Lots of advice and support here. I joined a few months before I got my band so by the time I got it June 29th and pretty much had all my questions answered and my fears put to rest. Good Luck to you!

Thanks so much! Appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me! And I will check out that site.:confused:

I'm am really a computer dummy. Can anyone tell me how to post a pic from my Facebook photos to my profile? Thanks.:confused:

Congratulations on your new number! Great feeling!

Lots of people out there think this is a crazy idea to do your own fills but it really does make sense. Hospitals now train pts. and their families to do feeding tubes, tracheostomy care and suctioning, bladder catherizations, peritoneal dialysis, ostomy care, insulin pumps and god knows all kinds of wound care so why couldn't someone be trained to inject their own saline through a port? The huber needle could be placed by a health care professional and left in place and dressed just like they do now with folks that have ports. Think how much money the insurance companies would save. No emergency room visits when someone gets stuck or can't keep anything down. After you achieve your "sweet spot" the needle could be removed. But then the Drs and the bariatric industry would lose out on all that money wouldn't they!

Hey LaShonda- You're from my old stomping ground, Flint, Michigan! My daughter used to work at Hurley when she went through nursing school so I know all about their Bariatric program. She tried to get me to have the gastric bypass as many of her co-workers went through it at the time. I know they are one of the original and best programs in the area. I just got banded June 29th and it took me a year and a half to get this approved. I've tried everything and I really believe this is gonna work. It does require a certain amount of lifestyle changes but you'll have alot of support along the way.Good Luck!

Yeah I was tired as heck the first week. A little sore but nothing I couldn't handle. The gas does cause some pain in the stomach area for a while. The big incision is where the port is. It is probably more tender then the others. I would use ice on any swelling you have and it will relieve some discomfort too.

My Dr. told me I could go into the pool when I got home, just don't submerge the incisions. The steri-strips are gone and it's healing nicely.

Stacie- I wanted to post and clarify a misconception about heart attacks and chest pain. I had a heart attack at age 47 and the placement of 4 cardiac stents. In women MIs don't always present with crushing chest pain or pressure like they ususally do with men. It isn't something you can describe but I can tell you it's a whole different kind of pain and I knew what was happening. However I was a cardiac nurse for 15 yrs. also. It can resemble heartburn but it will be "different". I kept telling them it was a crescendo type pain and it felt very deep and squeezing. Sounds weird I know but like I said it's hard to describe. Women will generally complain of epigastric pain,sort of like what you get when you're stuck I guess. Nausea,vomiting, sweating and shortness of breath or dizziness. Anytime you have something like this and it doesn't go away in a few minutes call 911. Never waste time trying to drive to the ER. Also to Denise- What's wrong with eating at Subway? Well after patrolling around this website the last few months I was under the distinct impression that most bandsters don't tolerate bread, tortilla or bread products without getting "stuck". Also I thought a high protein, low carb diet was normally prescribed after banding.I see alot of people are on these high protein, low carb diets pre-operatively. My surgeon will have me on the high protein, no carb diet for the rest of my life.He tells me the weight will come off faster and my blood lipids will improve dramatically. Subway to me is just another fast food joint and I wasn't aware they have "band friendly" items on their menu. So to those that still get to eat carbs and fast foods should have a little more empathy for those that have been taken off of it and are finding it so hard. You haven't had to change your eating habits as much. These folks are struggling with these drastic changes and looking for support...not a justification for falling off their diets as Bob suggests. This suck it up and put on your big girl panties attitude isn't very kind or motivating to most folks. However I see that like everywhere else there is a little "clique" that exists and some of you enjoy Bob's "pep talks". You're welcome to them. I for one will try and continue to help these folks out with kindness and encouragement!

You know... I kinda have to agree it might be beneficial to have people do their own fills. But then the Drs. and fill centers would lose out on all that money! Firstly I am a RN and ports are some of the easiest things to work with. It's a small metal disc with a small rubber center smack dab in the middle. If you can feel the port you can find the middle of it. A huber needle is just a small bent needle. When you stick it in it will hit the back of the disc which is metal so I highly doubt anyone could "nick" the line unless you're way off base! I have inserted them and drawn blood off of them (the ones connected to vessels). We train pts. and their families how to do all kinds of invasive procedures whether they want to or not. Many are very scared and resistant. But if people learned to do their own it might cut down on emergency room visits. As far as infection aseptic techniquie can be taught as well. It's just Betadine on the skin and sterile needles. All in all it might cut down on the cost of LapBands and maybe the insurance companies would be more willing to approve them in the first place!

Looks like excellent progress to me!

You peoople are right. B. trieger is rude! This coming from a guy who still eats at Subway once a week! I too had to do 2 weeks Optifast and now on 2 weeks clear liquids post-op. And it is HARD! If I was a guy the lbs would be melting offfaster than I could say fat! Guys just lose weight faster and easier. Doesn't give him the right to call sown someone who is having a hard time. What was your pre-op diet Bob? We are here to support each other, not to make a person feel bad for a misstep! Your headache sweetie could have been from dehydration or low blood sugar. Oh, and as for the capslock, some folks don't see very well (think macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy) and maybe this helps them see what they are typing.

Being as you had hiatal hernia repair I can see your insurance paying for this. $3900 sounds reasonable. but they are definitely inflating their prices! Hospitals will charge unreasonable fees to make up for the pts. that don't have insurance and don't pay. If you ever look at an itemized bill and see $5.00 charged for a small box of tissues or $15.00 for an aspirin then you get the idea. You are entitled to an itemized statement of every single thing used and charged to your acct. Demand to see it and then scrutinize it and argue every single fee you disagree with.

Hi Pickles- Thank you for that delicious looking recipe. Can't wait until I can try it! Sounds like you're having some motivation issues due to all your set backs. I imagine it's easy to get discouraged when things don't go as planned. Some folks have this LapBand with the idea that they'll still be able to eat all the wrong foods, just not as much. I think we have to remember when we undertook this decision that it was a TOOL to use with changes in our eating to achieve healthier bodies and lose weight. But with the kind of set backs you have been having you're still having to rely mostly on your willpower which makes the job harder. Time to psych yourself back up! I don't know what works for you but just know that falling off the wagon or losing our motivation is not failure... just a misstep in the process. And you also know there are a lot of people on this site that hope and pray for your success! Good Luck!

I too was band the 29th. Not much pain and gas pains were tolerable. Still on clear liquids and will be until tues. next week and then full liquids. I do get hungry but fluids will fill me up and if I take it too fast I burp! Keep walking and take that Gas-X!

Angel- When you had your band done they should have given you a packet from LapBand. In it is a temporary card and you go online to LapBand.com and register your band and they will send you a card in 4- 6 weeks. I registered for mine yesterday.

I was banded last Tues. the 29th and sent home with strict dietary guidelines per my Dr. The first 2 weeks is strictly clear liquids, no milk,protein etc. I'm already dying here! The next 2 weeks will be full liquids with addition of creamed and blended soups and sugarfree puddings, custards and Optifast protein drinks. Then we get to the protein diet which will be eggs, cheese (all kinds), meats which includes any type of deli meat and green, leafy vegetables. Absolutely no bread, rice, pasta, wraps oatmeal,ceral, yogurt, fruit of any kind, potatoes, TOMATOES?,BEANS? or sugar free puddings or custards or dairy. WTF??? Anyone else find this a little extreme? After my heart attack my cardiologist preferred me on a South Beach type diet instead of Atkins as he felt it was more heart friendly.

My Dr's. instructions say if you're having hunger or experiencing weight gain to call his office. It may be time for a fill (early).

Where about are you located here in Florida? You need a Dr. here to follow you and there are plenty of them. sound like too much restriction to me.

Let your surgeon know this. You will most likely be kept overnight and then most hospitals have arrangements such as taxi service or vans that take pts. home after a stay.