LisaA

ok i'm at the airport, here i go, tomorrow's my day, i feel scared and nervous.

I have read that on the OCC forum that they have on their site I go sunday. some folks have mentioned deciding to stay there at the occ and that it was a good bonding experience with other people who were recently banded. but I don't know. I know some stay at the hotel after surgery

Hey I wonder how Brian LA is doing, I feel like he was our only guy, but I miss so many posts he probably posts every day, Hope you're recovering well Brian, and everyone else of course, I love seeing all the different recoveries, I too am 40 so hopefully I'll be laughing like you all are. hope all goes well with the scale, too, I got frustrated, I stopped losing weight when I weaned my daughter, I don't know if it cause I'm not letting the same fluid out or what. but I'm on strike from the scale, I don't even feel hungery where I used to feel revenous, so that's good. sick of shakes, I'm gonna miss making shakes with ice in the blender, I hear that is awful post band, is this true, I love the shake like texture. Made the most gross shake today, some premixed vanilla and some diet orange pop, dont know what I was thinking, not a fan of orange pop even with sugar. Oh gotta go make the kids a snack, happy equinox and full moon

I want to!!!! i need this so bad.

jayden, I'm on the same day as you, horah, there are so many pages in the thread, with tons of people who have been banded, it's great reading, very time consuming. good luck, and sounds like expect pain in the shoulder, gas, and no hunger the first few days post op. Pooky, sending you support, I fear losing my comfort crutch too, foods always been there, maybe for now we can help with comfort, and I like the walk idea. Cathy, onto onederland, wow!!!!

Maxi2010 One thing I can say is that my doc requires a week of clear fluids only, no think protien shakes, popsicles, isopure, watery juice, gatorade, water, broth, that's it, maybe it's too soon for you butterfly2010 super great news.

Younghippiechick- OMG why, what causes the need to be rebanded so soon, that is scarey, call right away with the fever, don't hesitate, could be an infection. I'm sending you good thoughts girl. okie- darn it! well at least we'll both be being banded. Monterey sounds a lot nicer then Tijuana for sure. does rodriguez have a forum of his patients? I"ve talked to OCC people there, and on this forum. It will be fine. are you taking a method of being on the internet. to log onto the forum. Lisa

ok so wow Zen down 44 lbs already is that for real, I can't believe it, you are great. Chriper, why the quitting fish oil, is that something specific? I've never heard that. Maria_r, I am the 27th too, yeah! Congrats all on the finally sleeping on tummies, I loved that after birth recovery, although the chiropractor is very against sleeping on tummies I know it can feel like prison not being able to. Also Gracerev that is awesome, the blood pressure thing is a big worry of mine so I love those stories too. I am still stuck at 8lbs lost, maybe I"m getting to 9, my scale varies a bit. I think I'm retaining water from the weaning, but also this is my pattern, just stop losing weight, I hope the surgery makes a difference. Also, i"m still asking about target sodium, like say for a bowl of soup, what is reasonable. Lisa

Ok so I copied this off of another board in case it's helpful. Unjury https://www.unjury.com/ssl/purchasing.php Samples $1.75 each Chike http://www.chikenutrition.com/half-samples.html Sample all 5 flavors for only $3 shipping Netrition Protein Sampler Pack http://www4.netrition.com/netrition_protein_sampler_pack.htm l Includes samples of 14 different Proteins, including a New whey 42 g protein bullet and Champion Nutrition Pure Whey Stack. 17.99. Nectar Syntrax You can get a box of all 11 nectar protein flavors directly from Syntrax for $4.99 plus $5.99 for shipping. Contact Rick Davis Medical Sales Manager nectar@si03.com1-866-333-7403 ext. 803 Vitalady http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&keywords=protsamp&SortK ey=sku&SortOrder=ascending Tons of samples of lots of different protein products Smart Forme Early Phase Bariatric Surgery Nutrition Starter Kit https://www.smartforme.net/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p =6 One carton each of chocolate and vanilla Ready-to-Drink shakes, chicken Bouillon Soup, Cream of Tomato Soup, Wildberry Cold Drink, Peach Mango Cold Drink, Orange Cold Drink, Hot Chocolate, Cappuccino, Chocolate Pudding/Shake, Vanilla Pudding/Shake and Apple Cinnamon oatmeal. $19.99.

Good morning, ah Monday. I'm starting to fear the dreaded shoulder pain. i feel for you all. Welcome Newbies. I can't remember everyone's name with all the reading I had to do, but Neenee717 this is a good place for information and support. sorry your family isn't still being supportive. My husband and I seem to be arguing, I don't know if it's all the changes or what. My weight loss has stood still at 8lbs, very frustrating, I think I'll switch to all liquids for this last week. The weaning seemed to cause some Water retention, but now it's like my metabolism has adapted to the lack of food. This is my fear after the band too. My body always seems to slow down to match my food intake.

O man Realtor, I am going to Mexico and being banded on the 9/27 too. I am going to Ortiz at the obesity control center. Are you from Cali, or are you flying in? Is your doc in Tijuana, and are you staying at the Mariott. I don't know how the different Docs work. I fly on Sunday the 26 and my surgery is on Monday the 27. Maybe somehow we will see each other. I am bringing a netbook so I will be on the forum I'm sure too. good to meet another mexico gal for the same day. I still haven't found that yet. Lisa

thought i'd share this t is Not about Restriction Terry Simpson, MD The Lap-band® is NOT about Restriction. When talking about the band, some patients talk about restriction. Let's first be clear about one thing: the purpose of the band is not restriction; the purpose of the band is to lose weight by suppressing the appetite. When band professionals talk about restriction we are talking about something totally different than "restricting what a person eats." In fact, many band surgeons avoid talking about restriction so as to not confuse patients. The band works by dimming the appetite, and this provides a conscious control and decision made by the patient, it does not work by "making" a person do something, or keep them from eating too much. The Lap-band® works by suppressing your appetite. As a result, you are less interested in food between meals, making it easier to resist temptation. The analogy is when you are near a vending machine when you are hungry-- what do you do? Probably find yourself with some junk food that is not a part of your plan. But, when you pass a vending machine when you are full, it may not even catch your eye. Having the appetite dimmed makes you less tempted by the many food choices modern living throws at you - -this is what the band does, by suppressing appetite you become less interested in food. What you should not feel, with the band, is the sensation of being "stuffed." When you eat Thanksgiving dinner, you can feel stuffed. Contrast that with the sensation two hours after you eat your big meal, at that point your appetite is suppressed. It is the subtle dimming of the appetite that the band should provide. Being stuffed after a large meal is a complicated sensation of the abdominal wall stretching and a lot of gas in the bowel, in addition to feeling a diminution of appetite. You will not, and should not, feel the abdominal wall stretch with the band. You should not feel the "near nausea" and you should not feel bloated. Key point: You should NEVER eat until you feel full. It is best to stop eating before you "feel full." If you do eat until you feel full you will most likely be overstuffed. This leads to the universal key to success -- patients who eat a small volume of food (which, if you measure, is consistent) will be successful with the band. If you want to succeed, you need to know how much you are eating, and then stop eating -- it is in your control, but the band will help you -- not by stopping you, but by allowing you to feel satisfied after the small volume. Early on, most Lap-band® patients do have a sense of "restriction", particularly, after the first fill. When we place the band on a patient the stomach above the band typically will hold one to two ounces (by volume, not by weight). The stomach has a lot of muscle fibers, and the wall of the stomach is fairly thick. When food is consumed, it arrives in the pouch, and meets some resistance, first against the newly adjusted band, and then against the stomach which does not stretch easily. People love this feeling! It is a sense of control over food -- a leash. But it is not permanent. It makes it difficult to eat more, because the top part of the stomach and the band will resist it. If you over eat you will feel uncomfortable. This is the honeymoon phase, you feel full with less, no appetite, and if you try to eat more it doesn't work. They eat a small amount of food, they feel satisfied, and they are losing weight. For patients who rely on this sensation, they will find it will take ever increasing volumes of food to obtain this sensation. The initial response is to have their band adjusted so that they can "feel full again." Against a tighter band, the upper stomach stretches a bit (and if they eat fast it stretches more)and they again have the sensation of "feeling full." This becomes a cycle, a tighter band, the stomach stretches more-- and then instead of going back to its original size, the stomach stretches more and more, to where it takes more to fill it. The person, who continues to eat until they have this sensation, will find that it takes more and more food to obtain this feeling. Two things happen -- first the stomach stretches to where it accommodates more food, and to stretch it means you have to eat more. The second is that to "feel full" it takes the brain time to register this sensation -- this is not the sensation registered by the hypothalamus, but registered in the conscious cortex. So your stomach can be full, but your brain won't register it for a while, and if you keep eating you can overeat. As a result, the pouch dilates. Similar to a balloon, when you first start to blow up the balloon it takes a bit of force. As you continue to fill the balloon, the wall of the balloon stretches (thins out), it is easier to blow it up -- the same is true with the upper pouch. Early on, before the pouch is stretched, it takes a little bit of food to cause it to stretch, but with chronic over-eating the pouch will accommodate more and more food. The stomach wall is thinner, it is easier to stretch, and to get that sensation it takes more food than at first. Often patients will complain that they "don't feel restriction," and wish to have the band made tighter. There are two potential results to this: one is the patient will passively stretch the stomach and esophagus and not be eating a small amount of food. These patients simply do not lose the weight that the surgeon expects. The other is that the band will be forced down the stomach, the band will slip, which generally requires operative intervention to reposition it. For those patients who are rigorous about the volume of food they eat, and do not let the stomach to tell them when to stop eating - they do very well. This is one of the keys of successful patients: only eat a certain portion of food - period. If the band is properly adjusted, the appetite will be dimmed for several hours. Once your brain realizes that a small amount of food keeps you satisfied your eyes will adjust to the amount you eat. Some describe a "soft stop." Where before a sense of fullness occurs, there is a signal from your body -- this can be a runny nose, a sigh, or a subtle ache in the left shoulder. Patients who find this "soft stop," do very well with the band. The other advantage of eating small portions is it becomes a lifestyle change -- you will have the ability to gauge the amount of food you can comfortably eat, knowing it will keep you satisfied for several hours. You can always -- always, always, always, -- eat more food, because, contrary to what we believed for a long time-- food passes by the band within a minute and then into your stomach. But the key to successful patients is not how much they can eat, but how little they can eat to suppress hunger. The band goes around your stomach, not around your brain, or your lips. This simple concept, of eating a specific volume of food -- eating it slowly, and then walking away, is the key to successful eating habits of patients. This means that the band works with effort from you -- not by it doing everything for you. You have to make the decision to eat a small volume of food, and let the band work with you. The sensation that we would want the band to produce is the "soft stop." The soft stop is when you eat a small portion of food and walk away. Sometimes this is difficult, like most things, practice makes perfect. To set yourself up for success -- we recommend you use smaller plates, along with smaller utensils. If you go out to eat, ask for the to-go bag immediately, and remove the excess food from your plate. You can physically always eat more food, but the advantage about practicing small portions and walking away, is ultimately your eyes will get use to what the stomach is telling it, and it will be much easier to eat smaller portions as time goes on. It isn't uncommon for patients to want an adjustment because they say they can eat more. The first question we ask is, "Why are you eating more?" The typical answer is, "Because I can." The typical response, "Just because you can does not mean you should." Since the band's job is not to restrict the amount of food you eat, do not leave that to chance -- that is your job. Part of personal accountability is to account for, to measure, to know how much you are eating at a time. The band is empowering; if you eat an appropriate amount and make appropriate food choices, you will be satisfied for several hours. This results in either weight loss, or weight maintenance (if you are at your goal). The purpose of the band is to assist you to lose weight -- and this occurs only with active participation by you: you chose what to eat, you choose how much to eat, and you practice walking away after eating that amount. The band is a tool to allow you to eat less and have your appetite dimmed resulting in weight loss, or maintenance. It is a tool to help you adopt a healthy lifestyle -- you still have the choices to make, but the band allows you to be satisfied with those choices. "If I could eat less and walk away, what would I need this band for?" -- a common question we are asked. Without the band, if you eat a small amount of food and walk away your appetite would rise within a couple of hours -- you would find yourself hungry and wanting more food, possibly leading to unwanted snacking. You would also find, if you willed yourself to withstand the hunger, your weight loss gradually decreases. The band fools your brain into thinking you ate more. Think of it another way -- the hypothalamus does not have eyes -- it doesn't know how much you ate, it doesn't know if there is a lot of food around and you are not eating it, or if there is a band on your stomach. The hypothalamus reacts very simply to the stimulation provided by the upper part of your stomach. Stretch that thermostat, it thinks you are eating a lot -- do that consistently over time, and it behaves as if you are eating a lot all the time and will allow your body to release fat stores and not cause your body to go into a metabolic slow-down. Conversely -- if you go on a diet, without the band --and that part of the stomach is not stretched, your hypothalamus thinks you are in a famine -- it doesn't know that there is a lot of food around you. The purpose of banding is weight loss. Patients who are successful do not "feel tight," or "feel restricted." Instead, successful patients report that they rarely have an issue with the band; they do not "feel restriction." Successful patients come for adjustments when they notice that their appetite is returning between meals -- patients who are not successful rely upon the band to tell them when to stop eating. The band, in successful patients, is empowering. While, on occasions, the band is "fickle" the proper way for the band to work is for it to allow you to eat less and not be moved by an appetite. There is another group of Lap-band® patients who do not like any sensation of restriction -- a group we call volume eaters. They want to eat a lot, when they want to eat, and they do not like the sensation of a "hard stop." Nor does this group want to eat a small volume and walk away and allow their appetite to be suppressed. One patient even asked for pills for nausea, because she could not eat "a quart of chili." Yes, this person thought a quart was a normal serving size -- not a cup, a quart! Sometimes these patients come in for an adjustment, then come back thinking that the band is too tight, because when they overeat they become acutely uncomfortable, or feel as if they are "obstructed." Often these patients will come in for a fill, then an unfill, then another fill. It does take a bit of work to change a person's perspective about the volume of food they eat. For some there is a feeling of deprivation, a period of mourning, but ultimately the band can become a tool to overcome this sensation, and allow the patient to eat. Remember, if you want to be a 125 pound person, you have to eat like one. The band allows your body to re-set the thermostat to the amount of food that it takes to keep you satisfied between meals. To be more specific - food does not stay in the pouch above the band for a long period of time. Typically it travels through this area fairly quickly, usually less than a couple of minutes. The effect of the band is NOT to have food stay above the stomach in that small pouch - the effect of the band is on your appetite after a small amount of food stimulates that. Does this mean you can eat more -- yes, you can. That is always in your control.

hi all i'm going a week from tomorrow, wow. i hve a question about sodium, what s the right level not to go above. kmommy, hi , i too have told no one and plan not to. my husband knows, i just can't. my family struggles with wieght and they are like3 hours away, i will probably end up telling them- but i fear failure and negative commnts at this point. this is my support besides my husband has cathyy from tx been on latelet, haven't seen much of her, but i' m sure i miss stuff good luck everyone

hi KA Haldeman, i am getting banded on 27 and going alone, Ill let you know how it goes.. i think on the occ forum there might be others that can talk about going alone.

yeah unfortunately Ortiz only does the install in Tijuana. I won't be doing any tourissty stuff there. Although a lot of people seem to go shopping, I just am not a shopper and I'm sure a shopping mall in tijuana is not that different then one in san diego (well except for cheaper) I am taking a lap top and got my cell phone all set too for Mexico, I hope to meet other banders there, and probably spend a lot of time walking around the Mariott to move the gas. and of course I'll post here too. I think it might be possible to get filled in Cancun, from Ohio flying to cancun is almost as cheap as San diego, and really more interesting.

Yes it is getting close, I can't believe it. I am going alone because my husband is staying with the kids. It will be strange to be on my own for 4 days. I'm trying to get ready. I believe Ortiz usually uses an 11cc band unless you weigh like above 400 or something. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what to pack, I want to do it light so that I don't have to deal with checking my bag. Do you have any favorite lap band books?

All I can say is wow everyone, great info, and thanks. Also good luck to everyone that is getting banded soon. I remember that a while back, maybe Cathy (CS in Texas) but maybe not- the longer I"m on this preop the worse my memory seems to be. Anyway someone was talking about a variety pack of protien shakes that could be gotten somewhere online. Can anyone help me with this, finding it. thanks Lisa

wow I thought I read all this yesterday and now there are like 3 pages of new stuff. It's incredible to read all the stuff people are going through/ learning/ teaching me. Thank you all. I am fighting my desire to go eat some apple pie someone brought to work- ugg, I feel twice as hungry. I had a yearly check up yesterday and spoke about the band and some problems I am having with muscles in my abdomen, I was thinking it was related to an umbilical hernia. Could be but my doc thinks it might be adhesion that have formed since my cesarean a couple years ago. Anyway it doesn't look like it's a problem for the surgery and could be fixed during surgery, I"m going to call my lap band surgeon to find out what he thinks. with laprocopic surgery he will definately be able to see if indeed i have them, and he could even disconect them if he was willing/ able. but they may grow back- if I even have them. ..... About the tightness, I hope things are going ok. Look forward to hearing what is going on with that. I've felt that with my cesarean and it was so scary. I know this is different but in the end a few trips to a trusted massage therapist that focused on my diaphragm helped. Really sending you good thoughts. Husbands and cooking etc. very difficult. My husband has no food addicitons, it's maddening, He loves food, but also can take it or leave it and really it's more about nutrition then comfort. I wish I was that way. He also polices me, in ways that on the one had I know he is probably right about but on the other he's a bit over bearing. I've had him read some of these posts too- like in a ha ha this is a funny string of posts. who knows, I like the lines that were given as loving ways of saying I need some space from your policing. It's like one thing if you are eating a grilled cheese sandwich, another if you are drinking some crystal light. How to get them to understand this thing that doesn't seem all that subtle to me....hmm My 6 year old now anytime anyone in the house eats he has made himself the eating too fast police of us all. Even my 2 year old who doesn't like being ordered around by him. and my husband who is a painfully slow eater- Lucas will chime in tsk tsk, don't ear fast daddy it's not good for you. I am a terrible fast eater, besides comfort with food this is my other big problem and I hope I can keep it under control without having to get stuck etc. Well anyway just a bit of a rant really. Good luck all thanks for all the info etc.

OMG Jackson? I'm in athens washington co area. which holzer? do you know how many procedures he's done, funny they dont advertise that. is your insurance paying? do you know how much they are? do the do fills. I have been calling all over for fills. Last question, do they do flouro fills. I can't believe holzer does the procedure, that is wild. my family is from Jackson, have you found any support groups in the area. Maybe we should form one, I know the parkersburg library has a bariatric support group. Wow is all i can say, I've been wondering where the se ohio people are

oh I forgot to say thanks danide for the encouragement, you are right. and good luck everyone preparing for surgery this week

brian LA Ｉａｍ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｅｎｊｏｙｉｎｇ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｏｏｋ　ｃａｌｌｅｄ　ａｎ　ｅｎｄ　ｔｏ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｔａｌｋｓ　ａ　ｌｏｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｆｏｏｄ　ａｄｄｉｃｔｉｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉｔ　ｃｏｍｅｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｎｄ　ｒｅｐｒｏｇｒａｍｍｉｎｇ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｇｏｏｄ．　Amazon.com: The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite (9781605297859): David Kessler: Books Ｉ’ｍ　ｎｏｔ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｗｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｆｏｎｔ．　Ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｆｅｅｌ　ｙａ，　ｉｔ’ｓ　ｈａｒｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｉｖｅ　ｕｐ　ｏｌｄ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ａｎｄ　ｏｌｄ　ｄｅｆｅｎｓｅ　ｍｅｃｈａｎｉｓｍｓ，　ｅｖｅｎ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈｅｙ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｍａｋｅ　ｓｅｎｓｅ　ａｎｙｍｏｒｅ．　ｆｏｒ　ｍｅ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｔｙｐｅ　ｏｆ　ｕｎｄｅｒｓｔａｎｄｉｎｇ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｐａｔｔｅｒｎ　ｃｏｍｅｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｈｅｌｐｓ　ｍｙ　ｒａｔｉｏｎａｌ　ｍｉｎｄ　ｗｉｎ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐａｒｔ．　Ｉ　ｅｎｊｏｙ　ｉｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｏｏｋ，　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｍｉｇｈｔ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｙｏｕ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｆｅｅｌｉｎｇ　ｓｔｉｒ　ｃｒａｚｙ．get out walk, the void of the old pattern will be replaced by a new thing. You should start to dream/ visualize what you hope that might look like, be specific, write down this vision and put it away in the under wear drawer. It will be an interesting read in a couple years. Ｈｉｌｏｊａｃｋ，　Ｉ　ｃｈｏｓｅ　Ｍｅｘｉｃｏ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｄｒ　ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ａｒｅａ　（ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｏｎｅ　ｗｉｔｈｉｎ　３　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｄｏｅｓ　ｌａｐ　ｂａｎｄｓ）　ｃｏｓｔ　１８０００　－　ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｅｌｆ　ｐａｙ，　ａｓ　ｍｙ　ｉｎｓｕｒａｎｃｅ　ｄｏｅｓｎ’ｔ　ｃｏｖｅｒ　ｉｔ．　Ｄｒ　Ｏｒｔｉｚ，　ｗｈｏ　ｈａｓ　ｄｏｎｅ　ｔｈｏｕｓａｎｄｓ　ｏｆ　ｐｒｏｃｅｄｕｒｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｎ　ｔｒａｉｎｅｄ　ｍａｎｙ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｄｒｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｓ　ａ　ｓｔａｔｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ａｒｔ　ｆａｃｉｌｉｔｙ　ｉｓ　６０００　ｐｌｕｓ　３６０　ｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｒｉｐ　ａｉｒ　ｆａｒｅ．　Ｉ’’ｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｏ　Ｍｅｘｉｃｏ　ｓｅｖｅｒａｌ　ｔｉｍｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｓｅｅｍｅｄ　ｗｏｒｔｈ　ｉｔ．　Ｉ　ｋｎｏｗ　Ｉcould go to detroit for 12000 but that's about 8 hours driving for me, so anyway it's about money. well today is day one for weaning my babe, talk about addicted to comfort. At least we arent shrieking and stamping our feet in the cheese cake isle. Lisa

Yeah S.O.Zen- that is great, you rock. I can't imagine the 250's it's been at least that long for me. a couple weeks is worth it if the docs or you think it's best. man - maybe though you'll be less likely to get an infection? but the gas from being stopped up, have you tried fiber. My preop diet has me going less as I'm eating less but the nutritionist has me on fiber pills twice a day also. I don't know about livers but I like milk thistle tincture or tea for helping cleanse the liver. Maybe consider some acidophiles too cause of all the antibiotics etc, maybe it will get your colon flora back to normal. anyway it will happen, no worries.