monkeymama

This is kind of long... I suffer from autoimmune disease and have heard that the band can be good or bad for it. Some docs won't touch you if you have it. The only article I can find linking it to autoimmune disease in a quick search is the one below http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/sites/entrez We report 2 patients who developed sarcoidosis after the implantation of adjustable silicone gastric banding (GB) in Germany. Before implantation, no pulmonary diseases were evident in the medical history of either patient. The 1st patient suffered sarcoidosis 12 months after GB. He has been treated at a hospital specialising in pulmonary diseases. Because of the treatment with corticoids, the patient has regained weight after the initial weight reduction. The 2nd patient developed signs of pulmonary infection on the 7th postoperative day (after GB). Pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed 4 months later after consultation with a pulmonologist. On the other hand- this article states that it helps: Bariatric Surgery Improves Asthma, Autoimmune Disease WASHINGTON, D.C., June 2008 — Obese people with asthma, osteoarthritis or autoimmune diseases who undergo bariatric surgery may be able to say sayonara to their steroids and/or the other immunosuppressing drugs they use to treat these diseases within about 18 months of their surgery. This is according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic amd Bariatric Surgery. And that's a good thing, as long-term use of these drugs can have harmful effects on health. Precisely how bariatric surgery can help resolve or improve these diseases is not fully understood, but losing weight may decrease certain inflammatory markers that are known to be elevated in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, according to study author Elizabeth A. Dovec, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, a teaching hospital of Temple University School of Medicine in Pittsburgh. The new study comprised 49 morbidly obese people who were taking steroids or other immunosuppressive medications to treat co-existing chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), myasthenia graves (a neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles) and lupus, or inflammatory diseases like asthma. In autoimmune diseases, the body engages in friendly fire against its own organs or systems. More than 50 percent of the study patients were able to discontinue or significantly reduce the use of oral steroids and immunosuppressive agents within 18 months. Specifically, 89 percent of people with asthma who underwent bariatric surgery were able to discontinue their steroids. What's more, 33 percent of patients with the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis and 25 percent of those with myasthenia graves were able to stop taking their medication. In addition to improvements in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, the study participants lost 65.2 percent of their excess weight, and 80 percent of the study participants showed improvements or resolution of many of their other obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure. "Patients with compromised immune systems [such as occur with autoimmune disease] or taking steroids for chronic inflammatory disease [like asthma] may have been excluded from bariatric surgery because they are at higher risk for complications related to their disease or immunosuppressant medications," said another study author, Daniel J, Gagné, MD, director of bariatric surgery and laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery at the hospital. "However, this study shows not only that these patients can safely have bariatric surgery, but they can achieve significant improvements or elimination of many diseases." — Denise Mann

How many carbs are you eating a day? Also, are you counting total carbs or net carbs?

The last post it correct- low carb to me does not mean no carbs. It means making better carb choices. I could never live without veggies....

Luna- I was banded in April also. I lost well in the beginning and then was kind of stuck for two months- I started exercising- still stuck but losing inches- then last week the pounds starting coming off again. To get through it I told myself that as long as I am following the rules (most of the time) then the weight will have to follow eventually. I know it can be depressing to see the crazy numbers that some people post on here... but I just keep reminding myself when was the last time I lost this much weight? Even if it takes me two years to get to goal that's better than giving up.

salad definitely a slider for me. I can pretty much eat all the salad I want. Like the previous poster mentioned tomatoes can be troublesome if there is too much skin and I don't chew- but otherwise I can eat a lot of it. I haven't eaten much pasta- its a bad food for me, triggers my carb binging- but when I had chicken noodle Soup the noodles slid right down. When I had mac n cheese I didn't get stuck but it did not slide either. That's the only Pasta I can remember eating. I imagine if I had it in red sauce it would go down easy. That's kind of where my band is at- dry bad, moist good, wet slide-

Wow I was banded a week before you and only lost 1/2 the amount! What are you eating? Exercising?

I went about two months losing mostly inches- down two clothing sizes actually- but not much on the scale.. This past week I have lost almost a pound a day but no inches so who knows how it works LOL

This is a controversial issue for sure. My doc said they were fine (in moderation of course) I have taken Alleve and Extra Strength ibuprofen at one time or another... Just dont make it a habit- there truly are times when Tylenol doesnt cut it.

You are definitely not alone... I went almost a month without losing but dropped a whole size and had people finally noticing my loss...

I bought the unflavored protein powder at GNC and then mixed it in Gatorade G2 Low Calorie or with crystal light or other powder sugar free mix... lots of flavors to choose from and not to sweet or milky

The new trend for sleep studies now is doing them at home- we have numerous companies that come to the office and talk to the ENT docs about the home machines.... you wear it at home, its records and then you return it and the report is made- kind of like a holter monitor- IMO this is soooo much better than the sleep lab- I HATED my sleep study

There is a five calorie canned lemonade in a silver can I saw, also vitamin water zero has a yummy lemonade

I totally understand where you are coming from I follow the rules 90% of the time and exercise 110% more than I used to and have only lost less than 50lbs since April.... its tough to see the huge numbers some are posting and to know that you are far behind- but as long as the scale is coming down then it and you are headed in the right direction! At my office there are two people who were banded several years ago a month apart- the slow loser (took 2 years) has kept the weight off- the fast loser is gaining it back....

I used to not exercise at all. I challenge myself now to increase my exercise by just 5 minutes a week. It's nice to have a goal. Even if you start with 30 minutes for the week- it's a start. You can sneak a 10 minute walk on your lunch break, a 15 minute yoga routine in the morning, walking/jogging/jumping jacks/sit ups while watching a tv program. Feel free to join me on my exercise thread it helps keep me accountable. What I have found as others have mentioned that the more I exercise the less "lazy" I am... I keep my house cleaner, do chores quicker etc.... I just have more energy. I do take a B multi, fish oil and Calcium D. They help with energy and mood

Starting a new thread again.... This thread is to motivate us to exercise and get ideas from others. It has been so good for me in getting me off my butt!!! My goal for this week is 185 minutes. Monday: 15 strength training in AM Tuesday: 15 strength training in AM, 35 elliptical in PM 65/185

OK I must keep this thread going cause it works for me! Crazy week with school starting so I haven't been online much Tuesday & Wednesday 15 mins each strength training Today 50 minutes on the track- over 90 degrees I was SWEATING! 110/200

i'm in!!! FYI....I have seen that the stores are selling single serving containers now- no risk of eating extra! Also a coworker (who is banded) told me this neat trick- get the whipped yogurt and freeze it- its thicker like frozen yogurt.

Jachut- You are an inspiration to me and I am sure other newbie bandsters... I hope everything works out and will keep you in my prayers!

My sides were first to go... weird eh? I love having curves again though instead of just a big fat blob... Then I would say my lower legs.... just starting to notice it in my face now..

I have gone back and forth with this... Now that I am almost at my sweet spot it is a lot easier to do low carb because I cannot tolerate bread and Pasta - it just hurts too much to eat them. Last week I did very low carb and lost 4 lbs (ignore my ticker its not accurate).... the weeks before that I have been losing 1-2lbs... From what I have seen if you want to lose it quick go low carb... The best advice I was given (and didn't follow)- stick to liquids as long as you can then stick to as little carbs as possible as long as you can. Advice I do follow.... hold out for the day as long as you can without carbs because once you start eating them for the day you will crave them the rest of the day.

I agree if they are steri strips (probably the pink ones) leave them on. The gauze take off- 5 day old gauze is not going you any good!!

vlp- 4 lbs away! That is awesome--- you are truly an inspiration :thumbup: Froggie- That is amazing that you lost so much during vacation! Glad to have you back. Going in to work late today.... did 30 mins cardio max this morning- feels good to be able to do a strenuous workout again- it was actually harder than I remember I guess two weeks of lighter exercise really has an effect- hopefully I will get back to where I was soon though. My goal for this week- 200 minutes!! Going to skip right over the 195... 30/200

Lots of people cannot tolerate codeine... I personally find all narcotic drugs to make me feel like crap the day after... for that matter even Benadryl. Most bandsters are fine without the heavy duty pain meds a few day out so stick with the Tylenol.... As far as the headaches they could also be from carb withdrawal if you didnt go through it preop.... as far as weight gain- yes probably from water retention....

Not sure how to count this one.... went tubing and that is quite an arm workout! Was in the water 2 1/2 hours give or take... I think it is fair to give myself at least 45 minutes of arms... I am dreading the soreness tomorrow!!!

So glad to find this thread- you guys are exercise demons :biggrin: Working on my goal of 190 minutes for the week (Mon-Sun) Did 15 minutes of torso and arms this am- 45 minutes walking around the track. I can't run yet- but I do a brisk walk.