kab1278

I am so sorry you are feeling poorly. I have suffered from Depression for a long time, long before my Band. Unfortunately, that is an entirely seperate medical issue for me. I would call your surgeon and ask if the experience with everything you just went through in getting your Band could bring on a bout of Depression. You just made a big choice and went through with it, so I'd say the importance of it all might just be catching up with you. However, the surgeon might have some medical insight to share. Be proud of yourself for making a great choice and losing the weight! That is an awesome goal and you are actually accomplishing it! Praying you feel better soon! Kelley

I just found this recipe at food choices are getting so stale after only 6 months and very little initial help from my dietitian that I am looking for different things to try. Hope you (and I) like. Be blessed! Kelley Cilantro-Lime Cod Recipe submitted by DaVita dietitian Debbie from Maryland. Portions: 4 Serving size: one 3-ounce fillet Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 2 tablespoon lime juice 1 pound cod fillets nonstick cooking spray Preparation In medium bowl combine mayonnaise, cilantro and lime juice. Transfer 1/4 cup to a small bowl and set aside to serve as sauce with fish. Brush fish with remaining mayonnaise mixture. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add cod fillets and cook turning once, for 8 minutes or until fish is firm but moist. Serve with cilantro-lime sauce. Nutrients per serving Calories: 292 Protein: 20 g Carbohydrate: 1 g Fat: 23 g Cholesterol: 57 mg Sodium: 228 mg Potassium: 237 mg Phosphorus: 128 mg Calcium: 14 mg Fiber: 0 g

I don't think ANYONE is ready for how life changing this surgery is. We can read, ask questions and research for months and never be prepared. I know that once I had surgery, I realized there were so many things I didn't know beforehand, but couldn't have known until I actually had the surgery. And I will never believe that any one has been able to stick perfectly to our post-op diet, whether it be a matter of eating things we shouldn't, adding an extra ounce of food to our plate or sitting on our butts when we know we should be exercising. If we had perfect control of our "focus", the majority of us wouldn't have needed this surgery in the first place. I gained most of my weight from medications (have the paperwork from a 4 month hospital stay to prove it) but I can't say I never had something to eat that I knew would have been better left alone. And since you are here and had over 200lbs to lose Manningfan, I have to assume you also lost "focus" a number of times in your life. We are here to support, get suggestions and a boost when we need it. We aren't here to question others about their decisions or readiness.

I have read people's posts on here who swear by Biotin and people's posts who say they took/take it religiously but have had no luck with it. I have read that rapid weight loss in and of itself can cause hairloss (and I think anesthesia too) but my doctor and internet research says the hair loss should curb over a few months. I know I have lost a bunch. My poor husband has watched in horror as a comb through my hair after a shower, and I have a clump on hair in my hand. He does love his redheaded wife! Good luck to everyone in finding something that works!

I just clicked on your link because I thought the idea of building your own foods is awesome! When the page came up, it was all in an Asian language...Chinese I am guessing! I thought to myself, "Awesome! This lady can read Chinese!" And then I typed your link in Yahoo and found that it is http://youbars.com/, with an "S". LOL Off to look around the site! Thanks for the info. and the giggle! Kelley

Way to get back on track!!!

Is it okay that I giggled a little? I felt your pain and had to smile because it is not fun! I had the same problem for two weeks after surgery, I believe. No one told me that the pain medicine tends to constipate you let alone the anesthesia. When I called my doctor's office, they recommended Colace, but that didn't do a thing. I then tried the stool softener/laxative pills with no success. I was drinking Water, taking Fiber...doing everything I could, but nothing worked. And unfortunately, doctors seem to not take this problem as seriously as we suffers think they should. I ended up using a suppository (my first EVER!) and that handled everything, thank the Lord. I had to use it another time or two, and then things were fine. If I had known what to expect, I would have taken a stool softener the night before surgery like I did the gas medicine. I am all about preventing pain when possible! So glad you found something that worked...even if a bit too well. Good luck!!! Kelley

OMG! You have noticed that too? The "let me out-do the doctors with my vast knowledge" attitude?! I once asked a question about feeling stuck and how bathroom use eased the feeling. Another person responded that one had nothing to do with another because it wasn't as though you have a PVC pipe running from your mouth to your rear. I thanked him for the anatomy lesson, explaining I thought I was made of copper on the inside. I know the comment itself isn't mean in and of itself, but his entire post was a bit uppity. I asked my husband his opinion what he thought and he agreed. We all have stories that are the same and different all at the same time and sharing with each other is very helpful. But no one has better answers than our doctors, and we are friends here to share, support and give opinions . Oh well. What are you going to do. I hope you don't leave Baishma (I hope I remembered your screen name correctly!). Good luck everyone! Kelley

I still haven't tried it but hope to soon! Good luck to everyone!

Hello again everyone!!! It seems that in the few days I missed checking into LBT, everyone has been snowed or iced in, or lost power because of the gas shortages associated with Texas! Wow! Well...anyhoo...I was glad to rediscover this thread as it took me about a half an hour. I haven't been on the site much lately nor since they changed things. So if I seem confused about things...I am! Ok...how to start...well, I became depressed and anxious as a teen and started Prozac which served me well for 2 years. When its effectiveness began to fade, as Rxs often can, I started taking Effexor XR. I started gaining weight very slowly even though I was on my school's and a community softball team, and running around like most teens do. A number of years later, my depression developed into Bipolar II Depressive (meaning I can get really, really depressed but my hypo-manic periods do not cause me to put reality aside in order to partake in high-risk activities. When I am hypo-manic, I am super fun and bubbly, ready to organize and clean my house from top to bottom.) So my psychiatrist moved me from Effexor XR to a different class of medication for Bipolar, and my weight gain stopped. I didn't lose any weight, but it finally stabilized. It wasn't until a few years after stopping the Effexor XR that my Mom asked if I had started my weight gain when I began taking the Effexor XR. We had found our answer. When I started gaining weight, I didn't let anyone help me because I was SO embarrassed. I had always been very happy with the way I looked...nothing special...but I was happy and that was all that mattered to me. And then gaining that weight; seeing family I hadn't seen in years; running into old classmates and dealing with being Bipolar and having Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Dx'd as a teen), I ran away from all help and probably made things worse without knowing it by not watching my food intake. Ok...last and (LOL)...last January, I went to the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD for a medicine protocol, which went well, but two of the meds they put me on after the protocol to go home on had a high propensity to make patients gain weight. In a month and a half, while eating a nutritionist planned diet, I gained 25 more pounds! I was inpatient for 4 months with the hospital keeping track of weight and food intake, and up until I started the new meds, I had gained 3 pounds over those 4 months. It was yet another blow. As I began to feel better psychologically on my new medications, I decided I was going to research the LapBand to get the aid I needed to lose 100lbs. I researched and researched, and researched, and decided it was my time to do something to help myself. I have been banded since 8/24/10 and have lost 28lbs! Currently I am in a depressive state which is why it took me so long to get back on here, but it seems to be lifting a bit with the sun we've had the past few days. I usually log my eating although other than Protein and calorie intake, I have no idea how to use the information because my surgeon hasn't been very helpful in that, but I have slacked off on logging for the past month and a half due to my depression. I spent 3 days in bed 2 weeks ago so logging wasn't much a priority. Same with exercise. I did order and get the Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred" and like it. It is pretty old school, so it isn't hard to keep up with...well, physically it is, but the moves aren't. I wish I had someone to go to a Zumba class with, but with this anxiety of mine, that is a tough thing to do alone. But I am staying positive that February will be my back on track month, and I will start losing again (been stuck at same weight for 3 weeks). I am trying not to beat myself up because I have many issues to deal with, and I knew going in I would have to work doubly hard. I try to give myself a short period to feel badly and then say, "Ok. Now we get to start again." I think my "book" covered what you were kinda asking for. Feel free to ask questions or give advice. The only thing I ask is that if I ask a question about my digestive track, you don't answer me back that "it isn't like you have a piece of PVC pipe from your esophagus to your bowel". Yea...some guy actually told me that. I thanked him for the physiology lesson. LOL Still makes me giggle. Hope it makes you giggle too! Keep warm. Please pray that Spring starts...oh...tomorrow! And be Blessed!

Hi there! My name is Kelley, and I was banded 8/24/10. I made the decision to be banded for myself because it was time to put me first in my life. I also suffer from Depression, which my surgeon knows, and have been going through a tough time getting help from my support group (family, friends, doctor). So I decided to come to the best place to find someone to nudge me once in awhile...The LapBandTalk site! I am struggling with motivation to exercise, and head hunger...both of which have gotten worse since I got the band. I think it is the constant considerations and thoughts about the band that are doing it. I am 31 and have been married to my high school sweetheart for 5 years, although we dated for 9 years before that. :huggie: I am a house wife hoping for children in the next year or so in order to take full advantage of the Band. I started off at 245 pounds, 5'6", and hope to lose around 100 pounds. I have lost 30 and hope to pick it up a notch as I get my butt in gear! I bleed Blue & Gold as I am from the great state of West Virginia, and I cannot wait for Spring so I can go walking in the woods again. Thanks for your help and consideration!!! Be blessed! Kelley

Oh goodness Ladies! I need a bunch like you in my life. I have beenfeeling so alone and so unsupported by my husband and family because they haven't much cared to learnhow to support me. Obviously if I am invited to my parents for dinner and they have forgotten I can't eat friend chicken, I have a problem. And my husband brings into the house half gallons of ice cream. Boy...everyday life can be harder when you are banded! Thank you for being the positive thread I needed to happen across. It was so nice to read about people just like me and know that we are here to support each other. Take care and God Bless! Kelley

I recently got stuck the other evening when it ran through my mind how a stomach virus will play out, Anyone has any experience? Is it painfull? Thanks, Kelley

What great replies! Thank you all for the information. As for the Phenergan Suppositories, are those Rx only? This was never addressed in the doctor's office, so I am wondering if I can get some just to be prepared. Also, I have already told my husband that unless we want to pay for a new band, get me to the ER if I get a virus and start throwing up. You can just never be too careful. Thanks again for sharing. It is so nice to talk to others who have the same fears so we can figure them out together.

Hope you feel better! Rest and relax, I say. Warm liquids always are the best for me when I have been sick. Lipton Soup is good and has tiny noodles that do not cause me any trouble because it has no chunks. Good luck!

I have been banded for a little over a month, and I still get get and discomfort in my left shoulder. I usually have to use a heating pad and stretch it out. Anyone else experience the same?

I am realizing my food isn't quite "solid" enough (thanks to another poster on here...thanks Melissa!) and this is after being banded for over 2 months. Oy! So...I am off to revamp my menu. I see that many other people here really like to eat chili as Beans and meat have loads of Protein...but wouldn't chili be a slider, along with broth based Soups? I am thinking I would get lots of protein but little hunger satisfaction. Lord knows I can get pretty hungry. :rolleyes2: Hello boiled chicken breast...here I come!!! LOL Thanks everyone!!!

Thanks for the great response!!!

I had my second fill to 4cc's a week and a half ago. Since that time, I can feel most every bite I take in an uncomfortable way. I have had to hold off on meat such as chicken and fish, eating instead hearty Soups like turkery chili and peaches & cottage cheese. My now tighter band still hasn't helped me feel satisified when I eat. I am usually still hungry, and I have to stop eating just because I assume I should. (And I am not looking for a full sensation...just comfortable and satisfied.) So my first question is: 1-Why am I feeling every bite work its way down when one would think I would be feeling it once it hit/pass through the band...not before? 2-How do you know how much to shave off of your eating as each fill happens when you don't really experience a comfortable, satisfied physical feeling? I am telling you, I researched this band, going to seminars and consultations but until you have it, you really have no idea what questions to ask and what information you need. :frown: Thanks for the help!!!

I received my second fill this past Wednesday the 27. Since then, my band has become a bit tighter. I have been drinking hot tea ever since(which in and of itself gives me the feeling of being a bit stuck for a few seconds) because I even has trouble with soupy, hot Coco Wheats. Well, here is the question... I had to use the bathroom tonight, and I would say I am emptied out. As I was using the BR, I heard and felt bubbles and gurgling start in my lower abdomen and go right up my tummy and tube. Now I am thinking I had so much trouble eating today is because I was full on the other end. Has anyone else experienced this? I was told that I may have to have some testing done that includes my read and a tube, and since this operation is expensive enough and a tube is a lot to handle, I wanted to know you know. Thanks bandsters!!

Thanks guys!!! :eek:

I am currently walking in regular cotton pants and usually wear a cotton jacket. When is drizzles or rains, I can't walk because I be so weighed down and feel miserable that it isn't worth it. So I am asking for suggestions on decent outdoor walking pants and jacket that do not cost a fortune. Anyone have any ideas? And what about indoor clothes for a gym? I hate wearing a t-shirt but what optios does a big girl have? I have been to all the big dept. sites and everything is not my size or $70 for pants. Yikes!!!

:hi: Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks!!!

I love Cream of Wheats and Cocoa Wheats too! But I crave texture, so I understand your boredom. Here are a few things I eat: One of my favorites is an egg white (the real thing) and cheese deli flat. 2 egg whites=34 cal. 7.2g Protein 1 slice Kraft 2% American cheese=45 cal. 4g protein 1/2 Pepperidge Farm Deli flat, 7 grains= 50 cal. 3 g protein -I use 1/2 of the deli flat because 2 was a bit more bread to eat than was comfortable. I do toast the deli flat well just to make eating all that easier. Tomatoes, spinach, turkey sausage or a Morning Star patty would be a great addition. Oh...and I usually pair the sandwich with 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese and 1/4 cup lite peaches. Also, I LOVE Kashi Go Lean Crunch (9 grams of protein per cup, I believe) and Krogers Carb yogurt (not sure of the numbers at the moment). Any brand yogurt that fits our band diet needs would do. Just add the amount of each food for the texture you want. I prefer more Cereal. Lots of texture! Hope you like them!