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Hernias can be anywhere from really painful to zero pain. The only way to know for sure is to be checked out. Most likely you have just strained something, so don't panic. If you develop screaming, debilitating pain... 10 out if 10.. go to the ER.

I know what you are saying...I have gone from an 18 to 10 (sometimes 8) and was trying on some 70% off shorts yesterday. They had very limited sizes..I thought I put on XL and they fit just a tad snug. When I got home and tried the stuff on again...much to my surprise I saw that the shorts were a small!!! I would never have tried them on in the first place had I seen the size. Who knew??? Now I know why they were a little snug...I thought the XL were cut small. What a trip to know that I fit into a SMALL.

I used to spend $20-$30 a day on food. Now it's more like $5-$10. I used to take 7 medications, now I take 2. So for me, it's paying for itself!

Has anyone else tried Kay's Naturals Protein Chips? I tried the chili nacho cheese and the lemon herb and they are great. I need crunch sometimes and these fit the bill. One serving of the chili ones have 3.5 g fat, 14 grams carb, 10 grams protein, and 110 calories. I called the company and order their samplers today. They also have parmesean cheese chips, cheddar cheese chips, honey mustard pretzels, cinnamon toast pretzels, etc. They come in small bags. I am going to take them on my motorcycle trip so when everybody else is eating junk food I can have healthy junk food. I will let you know how the other flavors taste when they get here.

The first 10 days were liquid only and then onto pureed foods. At 30 days I started on soft foods which lasts until 12 weeks out. I'm nearly 8 weeks out now and still can't manage most meats and canned fish (fresh fish is ok).

This is a total guess... so as always you're doctors advice is going to be the best. That said... it seems like at 10 days out, as long as you are listening to your body you should be able to do the stuff you are describing. I wouldnt push anything... once it starts to feel like a strain I would stop. This is not time to push through the pain. I think that being carful about lifting is a big deal because you don't want a hernia. I saw a great post on here and I wish I could remember who to credit.... but they said that your incision sites are a very good indicator of your staple line. If your incisions are looking strong.... like they could handle some pulling and twisting.... that's a good indicator of whats going on inside your body in terms of healing. Hope that helps Stacey

ok so i went in for my consultation ...mind u i am self pay so i paid 250.00for the stupid thing and the whole time i was there all they talked about was how the lapband fails ... i was told that i would only lose about 30 pds if was lucky !!!!! and that they have patients that have only like lost 10 in 2 yrs ... very negative feeling after leaving there ,,,then they kept pushing the bypass and sleeve ..... well when i told the nurse pract that i wanted lapband she's like fine but u know there r so many problems and then i just want u to succeed ... i mentioned that i knew 2 ppl mind u that have lost more than 100 pds on the band she said ohhh they must be 1 in a milliom and bla bla bla ..... so now it's like where do i start again .. i researched this surgeon for like the longest time and heard only good things about him but it must have been about the bypass instead .... can anyone tell me what surgeon u've used or heard of or anything in florida aside from dr jawad and dr kim cuz dr kim is like 16500 for self pay which is like 4500 more than dr jawad and i'm trying to find someone no more than a couple hours drive i'm in orlando ...... i'm afraid if i don't find anyone i'll be forced to just go back and have it done by dr jawad i mean does it really matter with where they place the band and what ur outcome is ? or is it all the same and then u just go home and lose to whatever amount of work u put into it? thanks for reading. I had already recieved a surgery date of 7/7 from dr jawad now i'm back to square one :w00t:

it seems like forever, and yet so quick that i've come to this point. I made the decision to look into Bariartric Surgery last march, had my informative meeting in May, began classes in July..... got accepted to the Prep Study (more intense weekly visits with a diet coach assigned to me) in August. Did all the testing i needed then some. I have a personal family doctor that is so supportive and proactive in my care. Turned into the Insurance for approval on February 11th,...... heard that i was approved February 16th and scheduled the day on February 19...... I am having Surgery on March 19th at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh Pa with Doctor Anital Corcoulas.... i was in no hurry.... learned so much... lost about 15 pounds from last FEb to Jul and lost about another 25 lbs since August...... I didn't have a date in mind.......and if it would have taken another few months to get my date.......then i figured that God wanted me to wait..... I am so scared and so excited all at once..... and i am going to make a big effort in not experiencing the "last supper syndrome"....... wow its almost here

i start my 10 day pre-op on the 24 too. i am doing the same thing, like almost in a panic, omg--what shoud i eat now that i wont be able to? i keep thinking i am doing horrible, but i havent gained any so it must not be. tonight my dh and i are going out with his brother and his wife to dinner and to the haunted houses. kinda like my last hoorah before monday. my bil and sil have NO idea that i am doing this though, they just think we are going out for a night w/ no kids. i am looking forward to it. we live in a small rural town and we going into the "city" in the neighboring state, so i get to eat at my favorite GOOD place...now i just have to decide which one that is!!! best of luck on your diet. i am excited to start, it just makes it all real, ya know?

I have read your post a few times and I am not sure where to begin. I am the same height as you, 10 years older, 40DD, and started about 30 lbs heavier. My experience is going to be different from others and likely from yours but I thought I would tell you some of my observations. What I have observed from reading publications and postings is that women around my size, height, 30s ad 40s, over a year's time seem to lose about 10 lbs per month on average. Looks like the average first month is about 30 lbs including the liver reduction diet. My example - 53 lbs in 7 weeks. hair loss: Seems to be a crap shoot. If you do not keep your Protein up, it will be very difficult to avoid. It does seem like those with thicker hair do have an advantage if they lose their hair or have breakage. I have seen many posters remark that the hair had issues around months 2 to 3 and filled back around Months 9 and 10. My example - no hair loss...yet. Breast size - At the outset, I lost weight off my top before my bottom. Still the same cup size but hooking the bra at the last hook and its pretty loose. I was always busty. I am not noticing sag. Saying that, I have seen some women who have experienced a great deal of sag. I do work out with a personal trainer and I am hoping that will reduce sag but keeping me tone. Probably works more with my arms than my bust though! A wise, wise friend of mine once said "Worry about no problem before its time". I used that to get me through to where I am. There are so many positives to this surgery especially if you are concerned about your weight and its current or potential effect on your health, lifestyle, etc. At your age, I think that you would have a very good chance of avoiding plastics. I should mention that the weight does not fall off like it was put on. I was expecting where my weight went on most recently would be where it came off first. It does not work that way with me. Everyone is different. While there are certainly no guarantees, and there is a bit of a leap of faith with respect to the possibility of plastic surgery, this surgery has been a complete game changer for me. Best of luck where your journey leads you...

Tomorrow is the initial appointment at the doctor's office. I am both excited and nervous. Tomorrow is the day they decide if I am a candidate I have filled out all the paperwork, but they still ask me to be there a half hour early. I wonder how long it will be? I do know that I will not be meeting with the surgeon, but the PA, not sure who else I will be seen by. I will go to my first support meeting next monday. The group requires a 10% weight loss and 2 support group meetings before your surgery can be scheduled. The PA will be the one I actually see the most based on the orientation meeting. The PA would be the one doing the fill after the surgery. The group is a group of excellence. I think I will need an ambien to sleep tonight.

LOL....I gurgle every day. Sometimes, so loud people can hear it...haha and I am 19 months post op

I am one week postop. I was sleeved in Tijuana Mexico on Monday, June 15. I went through bariatric pal and my surgeon was dr. Jesus Lopez Dominquez. I want to add that though I was confident in my decision to go to Mexico I will admit that I was skeptical the entire time. When I set foot in the airport at San Diego to go home I knew that I had not been mislead in any way. My husband and I arrived in San Diego airport on Sunday, June 14. We had about a 10 minute wait before we were picked up. The young man who picked us up lived in San Diego and spoke english and was a very polite and friendly young man. He drove us the 20-30 minutes to the recovery house. We drove straight across the border in the medical pass lane with no waiting. The recovery house is a 2 bedroom apartment (it was a nice apartment). The BariatricPal staff worked out of the neighboring apartment. You will not be in the apartment alone. It is set up for two patients and their traveling companions. At this time, if they have overflow patients, they house them at the Hilton which is about a 10 min walk from the apartment. The difference between being housed at the apartment and the hotel is that at the apartment, you get constant and immediate assistance from the BP staff. If you want to go somewhere, they take you and have someone with you that will translate. if you need broth or other items from the store they will either have it delivered or they will go get it for you. The Hilton will not send someone down the road to buy you a Gatorade if you need one. If you are the type that would rather be left alone, the Hilton is for you. As for us, we enjoyed the staff and their company. We arrived in Sunday for a Monday morning surgery so my Surgeon came to the apartment on Sunday afternoon and gave me a complete description of what was going to happen and answered any questions or concerns I might have. On Monday morning a driver came to the apartment and picked myself and my husband up and drove us to the hospital. We were immediately taken to a room and given the usual gown and surgical hose to change into. My nurse, Karen, (who is amazing BTW) started my IV and took blood. The blood was tested there at the hospital. I was then seen my Dr. Trasvino who was the internal medicine doctor and he did the EKG and gave me the results of my blood test. He was very thorough and discussed any concerns he had about my general health. I was then visited by the Anesthesiologist. I don't remember her name but she was absolutely gorgeous and very kind and funny. They then walked me into the surgery room where there were 3 doctors, the anesthesiologist and two nurses. I was given a shot through my IV and that is the last I knew until I woke up in my recovery room. My husband had me up and walking as soon as I could get my legs under me and quite frankly I don't remember anything before 7 pm and my surgery was around noon. They did have a bed in the room available for my husband if he wanted to stay. I am kind of funny about that and we decided he would sleep at the recovery house because I really don't like being stared at while I sleep. It gave me peace of mind knowing he was resting well. While away from try hospital my husband always had someone with him that spoke english and showed him around. He even got to go to the beach which he enjoyed. I had around the clock care by nurses and doctors. The hospital I stayed in was small but was big on expertise and ability. The big thing that I noticed is that in America you have your doctor and you are his patient and no other doctors see you. In Mexico, every doctor there would stop in and check on me and make sure I was ok. I stayed two nights in the hospital and upon release on Wednesday we were picked up by a young lady who drove us to the radiology place and they performed a second leak test then she drove us back to the recovery house where we spent one more night While at the recovery house, my surgeon came to check on me and talk to me about the results of my leak test and also post-op care and answer any questions. I also saw the internal medicine doctor and the nutritionist came to the apartment and went over my post-op diet in detail. Thursday morning we were pickup and driven back to the airport a few hours before our flight. It took us about an hour to get back across the border. It was a much shorter line because it for medical vehicles. You do not need a passport but you will need either your passport or a picture ID and a certified copy of your birth certificate. I was never in pain. I was sore but not in pain. I never had any nausea and never threw up. I didn't have any difficulty swallowing. If I got the gas pain in my stomach or throat, I simply got up and walked. I never got the severe shoulder and chest pain I read so much about on the forum. My doctor didn't allow anything for 24 hours after surgery. No ice chips. No Popsicle. Nothing. Then 24 hours after I was given a Popsicle to eat slowly. They would bring me a Popsicle or ice chips anytime I wanted some. But that is all I was allowed until I was released on Wednesday. After I got back to the apartment, the staff had broth delivered to me from a local restaurant. It was the best broth I have ever eaten! Things I didn't know, that you might like to know: 1. You will be sharing the apartment with other people. 2. You can eat the day before surgery even if you are on a liquid diet. Just nothing 10-12 hours before surgery. However, you can't have cokes or too much bread product. When we went to eat on Sunday the BP staff with us was knowledgable to let me know what I could and could not eat. 3. You do pay for your own food. As patients we won't be eating much but your traveling companion will. Any broth delivered is our responsibility to buy but is very cheap. 4. Be prepared to walk. Everything is within walking distance of the apartment and you will be walking. If you want to take a taxi, you pay for it. And again that was not expensive. If you do take taxis a BP staff will go with you to translate. BP provides transportation to and from the airport and to and from the hospital. Anything else you either walk or take a taxi. But you won't be alone unless you choose to stay at the Hilton. 5. Pack sterile bandages for your incisions because they are not provided when you leave the hospital and you can't find them in Tijuana. 6. The comment "we own 2 luxury condominiums" in the initial package is misleading. They are nice apartments and one is occupied by staff. By American standards the apartments are middle of the line but clean. Absolutely not "luxury condominiums". 7. The comment "We pick you up in person at the airport not curbside like most other companies." We were picked up curbside after a 10 min wait. If I choose to have plastic surgery in a year, I will schedule it with BariatricPal. I have complete confidence in them.

I just found another similar thread. I suppose to be banded 12/19. I guess it because all the diets I failed in the past, I start to second guess myself with the Lapband. Especially after gaining 3 pounds. I know is not alot BUT this is far far the heaviest I have ever been!

Congratulations! Your starting weight was very close to mine (252). I lost 10 pounds on the 6 month diet my insurance required, and was put on a liquid pre-op diet that lasted 3 weeks because I caught a cold and my surgery was moved, but only by a week, not enough time to stop and start up again so I stayed on it an extra week. I found I do boring really well (the liquid diet is boring). Lost 25 on that. The rest is post-op. I don't think I ever would have been able to do this on my own. The band helped curtail portion size, and I did the rest. I always knew what to eat; I just ate too much of it (plus the pizza, subs, etc.) Now I eat healthy and the band is there to remind me if I am eating too much. I am really glad I did it. My surgeon is pretty happy with my results too.:sad_smile:

Wait, did I write this post?? I do the same thing. I buy clothes at Thrift City every time I lose a size. The other day they had 75% off and I bought like 50 items all in sizes down to 10. I am 14 now. I know I am addicted but I keep cleaning out bigger stuff. I am not spending a whole lot so I don't feel too bad about it. Hopefully once I get to a size 8 or 6 I won't need an additional closet

Hi Lilbit, I am 38 and just was banded on 10/13/08. I was scheduled for RNY on 8/4 and changed my mind on 7/31. I just could not do it. Too many complications. Not sure if this makes sense or not but I could never see myself after that surgery. It just never felt right to me. I happen to read a story from a lady who had RNY like 15 years ago and regreated every moment of it. The comment that just clicked and brought it all home for me was " I did this to be healthy but I didn't realize I was healthy just fat". My niece had RNY on 7/16 and has lost 104 lbs to date. She looks horrible. Her hair is falling out in clumps, she is pale as a ghost. She can not eat any meat at all. She is only 31. I worry about her every day.

Hi ... I'm craving some ink and was wondering when it's ok to get a tattoo? I have like 10 of them ... I guess it's a good way to relieve my stress being that I'm not eating or smoking any more .. THANKS IN ADVANCE It will be on my foot ***

Doctors and nurses told me 7-10 days was best, and longer if I could do it. The first few days the CO2 and anesthesia are getting out of your system, as well as any pain meds from the hospital or at home. Then it's more about your abdomen since you actually use some of those muscles to control your legs. You may have delayed reaction times or just end up hurting yourself if you have to brake hard or drive stick.

hi, not sure if the Schwan Company has a truck that visit's your state or area...you can order online. I found a yummy treat too. Trim Creations chocolate Fudge Sticks serv size: 1 Calories: 50 Total Fat: 0 Cholestrol: 0 Sodium: 45 mg Tot Carbs: 14 g Dietary Fiber: 5 g Sugars: 4 g Sorbitol: 2g Protein: 3g Calcium: 10% They are a creamy chocolate, they come in a box of 24 for $9.99. Made with nonfat milk. They are also a good size about the size of frozen fruit bars. :smile2:

There are lots of ways to help with the munchies! I probably would avoid smoking while you're healing just because you don't want to put your stomach through anything crazy in case you DO overeat. I tend to look go for easy to make, filling, low call foods when I have the munchies. Most of the time you just want flavor in your mouth or something to much on, it doesn't have to be doritos lol! I actually like making one of the recipes from my pre-op surgery (with a small twist) which was a chicken broth Soup. 1 Bullion cube, spices of your choice (I use all natural adobo, paprika, a pinch of salt, a dot of olive oil, boil and stir). It's barely any calories (maybe 10-15 cal?), and when you are high it tastes like it came from a restaurant. Another thing I like to do is baby carrots or celery with hummus or some Peanut Butter, just make sure to portion out while still sober I also like taking frozen fruits and throwing into my blender to make gelato The #1 thing is to make sure you make smart choices before you smoke and if you're with friends explain your situation, and ask them to help you out if they catch you over eating. I've also written letters to my high self while sober As long as you're responsible before hand, you should be fine

I am 10 days away from plication. I just found out today that I was supposed to be taking an antibiotic and acid medicine 2 weeks before surgery. Oops! Nobody told me this. They said 10 days will be fine. Anyone else take an antibiotoc and prevacid prior to surgery?

Even a jump rope at home is bette than nothing. I work out alone, but I jam out while working out. I feel great afterwards. Slowly adding exercise in your daily routine even for 10-20 minutes will have you feeling better.

Hello All, 16 years ago at the tender age of 19, I had the, now disgraced, Vertical Banded Gastroplasty procedure. Although I lost weight, I started throwing up 3-5 days a week for hours on end within two months of the surgery and have been that way ever since. 16 years later, I have all fake teeth (natural teeth can't stand that level of acid), am on huge doses of Nexium, and have serious esophageal problems, which could lead to cancer in the future. Also, it is REALLY terrible to throw up that often, and it really effects my quality of life. I also didn't maintain the weight loss, although I have been on Weight Watchers for a few months now, and have lost 45 pounds the old fashioned way. I got to the point where this started to make me mad! They say that often change doesn't happen until to actually get MAD! My parents and I started doing research and found out that the VBG can be revised into the gastric bypass. Does anyone have experience with this, especially with the insurance end? It took me 16 years to stop blaming myself and be willing to take action. Any help, hope, or encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Chelsea