Search the Community

I had mine yesterday. I went in and talked with the Dr. first. He was very impressed with himself and his knowledge and spent 55 minutes out of an hour talking about how great he was. When I left, I was a little dissappointed because I felt I knew more about him than he did me. Then I had to sit in a room and answer questions about my personality as to if they were very true, somewhat true, mainly true, or false. The Dr. said It's not really a pass or fail thing as long as you are not addicted to drugs or alcohol or they see something outrageously odd in your personality profile.Hope that helps some.

<br /><br /><br /> I agree with Heather, there are times that I respond with a reality check. Normally this is in regards to people expressing behaviors that are likely to cause them physical harm. Some examples: I ate a Big Mac two days after surgery (not making that up), It's been 3 days since surgery and I'm starving so I ate nachos and chicken wings now I'm sick!. Not long ago there were several discussions about drinking alcohol after banding. Personaly I find that to be counter productive to dieting. I have never been a drinker so my responses were regarding calorie content. Some posters however made it into a morality discussion.

I don't like beer due to the carbonation and how filling it is. Wine is a different story. I drink it & my nutritionist is fine with it at this point in my journey. One fear is transfer addiction - meaning trading one addiction (food) for another (alcohol). alcohol goes down easy & is not filling - so just be careful how much you allow yourself. A glass in the evening is fine ... A couple glasses with friends is fine ... Overdo it? Not so fine. Besides wine ... most mixed drinks go down fine. Margaritas are high sugar, but one or two on vacation is perfectly acceptable. You can also try Screw Drivers, Rum and Coke (hardly any fizz is noticed when it's mixed like that), etc. Enjoy your vacation. Congratulations on your 2 years. Please feel free to stop by sometime and let us know what life is life for you at 2 years. How are you maintaining? Any "secrets of your success" for the rest of us?

I will fully admit that I am new to this. I have never blogged before. I'm fairly new to weight loss surgery. But one of the ways that I think I can help hold myself accountable for my weight loss is through this blog. If people read, great. If not, that's fine too. At least it's a spot for me to journal what I'm going through. So here I go... Lap Band. I've got one. I'd thought about getting one in the past as my weight continued to balloon out of control. But I was always so nervous about it. I didn't want to be one of those people that couldn't lose the weight on my own. So I would diet. I would exercise. I'd lose weight -- 20 pounds here, 50 pounds there -- but it would always come back. However much I lost and then some. So I finally decided I needed to do something to save my life. I set up an appointment with Dr. Hung to discuss having a lap band. I hadn't been on a scale in a couple years. Even at my annual physicals, the physician stopped weighing me. I think they knew I was big. Real big. And they didn't do much more than that. So I stepped on the scale at the doctors and there it was. The number I was dreading to see. 345.7 pounds. I immediately thought -- I have no idea how I got this big. But that's a lie. I knew exactly how I got that big. Mindless eating, fast food, eating way more than one person should, drinking alcohol to the point of excess, late night food, not exercising. There was a list that went on and on. And I could have stopped right then and there. But the nurse that weighed me knew what I was feeling and knew what to say, "Okay, that's the last time you're ever going to see that number." So fast forward through the doctors appointments, through the pulmonary specialists, the psychiatrists, the physicians, the pre-op diet, the actual surgery to six months later. Here I am. I have lost weight ... quite a bit of weight ... and I'm happy with that. But not happy enough. Today I weigh 287.8. I've lost 57.9 pounds since that first day at the doctors. And I'm ecstatic about that. I feel better. I look better. People have commented how well I'm doing. But it's not enough. I have officially stalled. I weighed 286.6 before Christmas. Since then I've fluctuated between 283 and 290. That was seven weeks ago. In almost two months I haven't lost anything. Fortunately, I'm not completely upset with that to the point of quitting. I try to be positive about it. It was the holiday season. It's not an excuse. It's an inevitability. And looking at the last how many years of my life, I've never continually lost. It's always been an increase in weight. But I'm not settling for 60 pounds. I want another 60 gone, and then some. I was a self-pay patient for this surgery, so my wallet has lost $16,000. I don't want that to be for nothing. I know all the tools. I know what I need to do. I know the band isn't a cure-all. It's a tool to use in order to help you lose weight. So I'm getting back to basics. I'm journaling all my food and drinks. All day every day. Not just during the week and then letting things slide during the weekend. I'm not going to sneak food off of my family and friends plates like I have been lately. I'm going to start exercising again. I'm going to make this work for me. I have to. Sure 60 pounds is great. But I'm still obese. 287 pounds isn't where I want to spend my life. I want to be able to feel more comfortable with myself. So here we go, band. Let's get this journey going again. The six month honeymoon period is officially over. Now the real work begins. And I want it to. I want to be successful and hold myself accountable. Which is why I've started this blog. Time to be accountable for my actions. February 9, 2011 ... 287.8. Let's see how it goes for the next six months!!

I have a little thing I do that really has worked for me. I usually don't get stuck often. Has happened twice with Eva since we've been here. Gabbing, one extra bite and it might hit. I put my fists into my armpits and pump like I am doing the chicken dance. Granted, you might not want to do this in the middle of a restaurant...head to ladies room or outside. It most always works for me and no food popping back up. Sorry for your mom's continuted troubles. Hugs. Apples, I got a great visual on that. Would pay $ to see that. Wish I were with you and Eva and Janet and Phyll. West Coast reunion. Hope you all can make it to the Midwest reunion. Laura, I've not had any Tramadol now for two days. Didn't like the fact that I kept waking up at night. Very relaxed from muscle relaxer but figured something was in the Tramadol just like Vicodin. Plus, it wasn't working that well on my pain. Supplemented my regular anti-inflammatory with arthritis strength acetiminophen and got more relief. I've also been hanging from my inversion table which has been slowly stretching out the spine and surrounding muscles and relieving the pain in my neck, lower back and hip. So, no trouble getting off the Tramadol. Been on liquids for two days. Protein drinks and SF pudding. Love the new Jello chocolate SF Mousse. They have choc. mint, too. Unfortunately, SF means sugar alcohols which means lots of gas. Amazing how the weight is melting off. Hopefully, with soft Proteins tomorrow and then the harder proteins I hope the carb cravings are gone. When I think about what I went through before and after the surgery because I was so determined to get the band and shrink my liver enough to get the 1 incision surgery. I gritted my way through liquid diets and then gradual reintroduction of food, then Bandster Hell while I hung on by my fingernails until I could get to my first fill, which wasn't enough, and then the second fill and adjusting to that. Then getting to goal and beyond. Reached one year of having the weight off last month. A year ago I had my feet knocked out from under me and had all kinds of body pain and limited movement while I healed. Stuck to my food plan. Didn't gain and eventually lost more. Back up to where I was last January but I'll be dipped if I'll go any higher and I'm determined to get back down and stay there. I don't want my clothes to not fit. I don't want to buy a bigger size. I like being in size 10 pants. I like wearing a large in tops and some mediums. I want to be able to walk all over Europe on my tour and sing my heart out and totally enjoy myself. I don't want to go back on blood pressure meds or increase my cholesterol and pain meds. I want my eighth grade students to continue to think that I'm a "beast" in my leggings. I want to be able to play with my grandkids. I want to be able to dance with my husband. I wanted to be able to look down and see my feet. All the reasons for losing weight are still valid as reasons for keeping it off. I think all of us need to list the reasons we went through the torture of getting the band and why we wanted to lose the weight. Some of us are at our ultimate goal and some of us have settled for major improvements. And that's OK. But if don't want to end up back where we started we have to stay hungry, not for food, but for a healthier, more manageable life. For many of us, this time of year is the hardest. We don't see the sun, we can't get outside, it's hard to get to where we can enjoy exercising. So this is the time to remember how far we've come and why we've come this far. Cheri

Ah thanks for the link, interesting read. I *hope* that my cholesterol is so low only because this last week I've had a cold and haven't been exercising or drinking alcohol. I was just curious if anyone else here has seen the same thing happen?

We just had a health screening at my job and I just got told that my LDL cholesterol count is extremely low. Has anyone else seen this post-op? I guess it's not exactly dangerous for it to be this low, although it does bolster my risk for depression and anxiety. I was told that I need to exercise more and drink more alcohol, two things that I currently feel I'm doing a lot of! LOL

Almost every tax question can be answered with ... it depends. It does not matter if you paid out of the country for medical care. What does matter is your diagnosis and is the expense a medical necessity? The following is straight from the IRS website. The colored portions deal with weight loss (which was not always on the medical expense list). Topic 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses If you itemize your deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A, you may be able to deduct expenses you paid that year for medical care (including dental) for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, contains additional information on who will qualify as a dependent. You may deduct only the amount by which your total medical care expenses for the year exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You do this calculation on Form 1040, Schedule A in computing the amount deductible. A deduction is allowed only for expenses primarily paid for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness. Medical care expenses include payments for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or treatment affecting any structure or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by any medical practitioner and the cost of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices used for medical care purposes. Medical expenses include insurance premiums paid for medical care or qualified long-term care insurance. The deduction for a qualified long-term care insurance policy's premium is limited. If you are self-employed and have a net profit for the year, you may be able to deduct (as an adjustment to income) amounts paid for medical insurance for yourself and your spouse and dependents. You cannot take this deduction for any month in which you eligible to participate in any subsidized health plan maintained by your employer or your spouse's employer. If you do not claim 100 percent of you self-employed health insurance deduction, you can include the remaining premiums with your other medical expenses as an itemized deduction on Form 1040, Schedule A. You may not deduct insurance premiums paid by an employer-sponsored health insurance plan (cafeteria plan) unless the premiums are included in Box 1 of your Form W-2. Medical expenses may include: Fees paid to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and Christian Science practitioners for medical care expenses Payments for hospital services, qualified long-term care services, nursing services, and laboratory fees including the incidental cost of meals and lodging charged by a hospital or similar institution if your principal reason for being there is to receive medical care Payments for acupuncture treatments or inpatient treatment at a center for alcohol or drug addiction are also deductible medical expenses. You may include amounts you paid for participating in a smoking-cessation program and for drugs prescribed to alleviate nicotine withdrawal The cost of participating in a weight-loss program for a specific disease or diseases, including obesity, diagnosed by a physician. In general, you may not deduct the cost of purchasing diet food items or the cost of health club dues The cost of drugs is deductible only for drugs that require a prescription, except for insulin Admission and transportation to a medical conference relating to the chronic disease of yourself, your spouse, or your dependent (if the costs are primarily for and essential to the medical care). However, you may not deduct the costs for meals and lodging while attending the medical conference The cost of items such as false teeth, prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, laser eye surgery, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs for the blind or deaf, and Transportation costs primarily for and essential to medical care that qualify as medical expenses. The actual fare for a taxi, bus, train, or ambulance can be deducted. If you use your car for medical transportation, you can deduct actual out-of-pocket expenses such as gas and oil, or you can deduct the standard mileage rate for medical expenses. With either method you may include tolls and parking fees You may not deduct funeral or burial expenses, over-the-counter medicines, toothpaste, toiletries, cosmetics, a trip or program for the general improvement of your health, or most cosmetic surgery. You may not deduct amounts paid for nicotine gum and nicotine Patches, which do not require a prescription You can only include the medical expenses you paid during the year. Your total medical expenses for the year must be reduced by any reimbursement. It makes no difference if you receive the reimbursement or if it is paid directly to the doctor or hospital. See Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, for additional information. Weight-Loss Program [/url]You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of a weight-loss program if the purpose of the weight loss is the improvement of appearance, general health, or sense of well-being. You cannot include amounts you pay to lose weight unless the weight loss is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). If the weight-loss treatment is not for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician, you cannot include either the fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group or fees for attendance at periodic meetings. Also, you cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa. You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and beverages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs.

Food addictions are quite real. Calling it overeating addictions is the same thing. We crave food the way an alcoholic craves a drink. It gives us our comfort. Our getaway. It's our way of dealing with life's stresses. The difference is, we have to eat. We can't "quit" like an alcoholic or a smoker. Our addiction is necessary to our survival. So we must approach our addiction differently. We must learn to control it rather than avoid it. I doubt there's anyone here who hasn't backslid at some point. And there are those like me who completely lost control and are struggling to regain it. I read a post on here advising another who had lost control. It said "you don't want to go the rest of your life being a failure at this". It slapped me across the face like nothing I've heard. it's a struggle we all deal with and there are some fine people here who offer their advice and encouragement. But ultimately it is ourselves who must make the right choices. We CAN do this. We must! Our very lives are at stake! Allow yourself a treat now and then. eat something decadent. or give in to your craving, but in moderation. Don't beat yourself up too badly while waiting to get back to your sweet spot. However, remember all you've gone through to lose all that weight. Do you really want to sabotage yourself and put it all back? Dig down and find that inner strength. Find something to take your mind off food. Boredom is the enemy. Good luck.

I drank on New Years Eve and I had my surgery on the 11th with NO PROBLEMS! As long as you don't drink everyday. They have to lift your Liver to get the the stomach that is why you do the liquid diet and no alcohol. You should be fine! GOOD LUCK!!!

Okay so I am 9 days pre op and have just begun the liquid diet (so hard!) and I was just re reading through my materials. I see that it says that you should have no alcohol two weeks prior to the surgery, but I just celebrated my 30th on Sunday and totally drank. Is this terrible???? I'm wondering if anyone else drank close to their surgery date?

I started seeing a therapist because I too am a binge eater, food is my best friend - or was! Now my band is! Lol I was worried that I'd literally eat right through my band or change my food addiction to another addiction. I know two people who got gastric by pass only to then become alcoholics! They have both started gaining weight into their second and third years post op. My therapist asks hard questions like, why aren't u worthy? And points out ways in which my binge eating is a testimony to how I feel I am not worthy of happiness. I'm only 5 days post op but have lost 15 lbs in 17 days due to the liquid diet I'm prescribed. I never thought I could do this for 14 days much less 17!!! I want real food, but really feel like I can eat without binging now. I am worthy and this tool (aka my best friend) is a reminder. Get a good therapist! GOOD LUCK TO U, U CAN DO THIS! Food is not making u feel good and its time to realize u were not born hungry! U were born beautiful and healthy!!! Throw out those old ways of thinking!

Need some moral support and feedback from some of the older slivers:-). I'm 18 months out and have put on five lbs (coming out of the holidays). Trying to get my head back in the game; however this is bribing up old junk!!! How many calories a day are folks eating and what is the Quality of food? Alcohol? Just need some reality checks so I can refocus...Thanks

Hello all, So I have heard a lot of conflicting things about alcohol after surgery. I am almost two years out now and doing great, but I've alwasy had the lingering question about drinking... I am not a drinker at all. I never drink in my day to day live. I am on vacation right now though in europe and am supposed to go to Brussels in a few days. Naturally I want to try the beer there (I have never had beer) BUT it's carbonated so is it a no no? I used to drink soda all the time and was told after surgery we cant deal with the bubbles so I gave it up and haven't touched it since. Please let me know if I should just stay away or if it would be ok... Random, but what drinks are good in general? that you can handle after surgery? It might be kindof hard to order specialized drinks here....ideas? Thanks.

Hi ATL girl! You could be right about the differences in surgercial outcomes. I know first hand of a few differences as it relates to health. I have experieced cultural issues as it relates to my own healthcare. If I wear my hair too short I suffer from Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (hair bumps and scars that occur mostly in African Americans). There are varying degrees despite the hype alcohol and OTC products don't always work. I got really frustrated after seeing 3 dermatologists and none of them could help me with any creams or pills they gave me. All of them were awesome Dr's who had great bedside manner, but they were all Cacasian. Finally I felt I needed to travel out ot the area. I went to the National Medical Association's website to see if I could find an African American Dermatologist. There was one about 60 miles away. I went to him and immediately he recognized the condition which he said is common in African Americans and Hispanics because of the curl pattern we tend to have in our hair. He wrote a script that I had to take to a small phramacy because it had to be mixed by hand. I told him about my issue he said all of the Dr's I went to were great physicans, but most were probably trained trained in an area where there was a disproportionate number of African Americans, one he knew for certain came from Iowa. He also explained a few other skin differences. He told me that skin cancer is vey rare in African Americans because of our melanin. However when we get it our survival rate is very slim compared to Caucasians because if we get it it is a rare and much more aggressive form. When I was in undergrad I completed an internship at the National Institiutes of Health. I found out that transplant recipients who are African American in most cases have to receive a slightly higher dosage of anti-rejection drugs because our bodies respond differently. We can still learn allot from each other despite our background. I joined Vertical Sleeve Talk last week, everyone is so resourceful and I have seen so much I never knew much about. I am in the beginning stage of all of this I went to a seminar recently wanting a lapband and came out wanting the Vertical Sleeve. I have a consult with my surgeon on 2/14. I do know my insurance company covers the switch, bypass, lap band, and sleeve. The coordiator has already got the ball rolling on that, wish me well.

Sometimes I get really bad reflux around bedtime - maybe 2-3 times a month? I don't take my Nexium anymore. I'll just pop an antacid and it goes away in a few minutes. Some ways to minimize your odds of getting reflux at night: 1) avoid eating right before bed, especially fattening or spicy foods 2) avoid coffee and alcohol in the evening 3) prop yourself up on pillows - or, alternatively, put some books under your bed legs at the head end so your bed is propped up. I've heard this also helps with puffy eyes in the am!

Hi I was also banded in June of 09. We are band buddies. Yes, we all need support. Keep blogging that is one way to stay in touch with others that have what we have. It can be a struggle and if the choices in food and beverages are not the best it can be a harder struggle. I eat real food not too much, mostly plants with good quality proteins first. I do not drink while eating. I also limit alcohol it has too many calories and is harder to burn off. I will have an occasional Iced Milk Shake as a splurge. Iced Cream has too much fat and does not agree with my band. I have also had a few issues with chocolate even though I think it is medicine. It takes time to figure it all out, it is more or less trial and operator error at least that is how I see it. I have lost 110 pounds and have stayed at the same weight now for five months. That is a first in my lifetime. I am happy and all my clothes fit. I just need to keep reminding myself to keep making the best choices for me and my band everyday. If you need help I may be able to offer it. I am a June band buddy. Wishing you all the Best imaluckydog

I think loosening it for an overseas trip, where care may not be available is a valid option, but not one you should be doing thinking that you can eat heaps on the trip and really enjoy yourself - that is the kind of dysfunctional thinking that made us fat in the first place. You can actually indulge in unusual or out of the ordinary foods on holidays without loosening your band, and you can enjoy it thoroughly. I think yo'[d find most doctors are willing to unfill for travel becuase it ensures band safety. To think you can unfill for one special occasion, that's not a very healthy way of thinking of life with the band. You need to be committed to a lifestyle change and that means your life no longer revolves around food - the whole point of a holiday or a wedding is not how much you can eat. And with a properly adjusted band, you can eat sensibly and enjoy special meals anyway- if you cant, you're too tight. When you get to goal, you can unfill. I never did, I stayed the same weight for years with the same fill, but recently, I had to be completely unfilled for cancer treatment. Amazingly it has not caused weight gain, over time on maintenance, you do learn to eat your caloric needs one way or another - and in hindsight, I was doing a fair bit of eating around my band - sweet treats, alcohol, Snacks, they made up the gap between the caloric values of the size meals I was able to eat and what my body needed, and they were the "extras' that I wasnt eating during the losing phase. When I was unfilled, i got straight onto tracking calories and have moved onto a three meals but bigger meals and healthier foods (all the fruit, vegies and salad I couldnt eat in real quantity while restricted) and I've actually lost about 20lb more (that I really didnt need to lose). I'm finding my balance over time, but am amazed that I need well over 2000 calories a day to maintain my 135lb - so my metabolism, given all the running and circuit training I do, is definitely not shot, its actually very healthy. But I exercised vigorously all the way through my loss and never dipped below 1500 calories, I think very low calorie diets are going to set you up for having quite a deal of trouble in the longer term maintaining your weight loss. Like the poster above me, I monitor my weight, and adjust if it goes up a little - had a big weekend away with a once in a lifetime gourmet dinner with wines matched to each course for our 20th anniversary. Ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in restaurants and cafes - yeah, got home with 3 extra pounds. So its back to 1400 calroies a day and right back on the exercise regime for the next week or so to shift it. If you remain aware, know what you're eating and are sensible, it is indeed possible to live unfilld once you've lost.

Even though this is 100% not recommened. .Getting a huber needle, a bottle of saline, a 1cc syringe, alcohol and a pair of gloves seems way cheeper than the $175-$300.00 these people are paying... oh and don't forget the bandaid...........thats about less than $10.00,,,but going septic is about $150,000.00 per treatment.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Congrats on the size 8 - way to go! It feels so great, doesn't it? Now to your question of how to stop losing weight - well, just eat whatever you want, which is what I do. No low fat or diet foods in my house anymore. I drink sodas, alcohol, eat sweets, cheeses, chips, etc. and never gain a pound. Of course, I eat my "good foods" first and get my Protein in, but I don't make any type of effort anymore to watch calories or fat grams. I don't eat those high calorie items all day every day - I don't even WANT them but every now and then. Everyone is different, so I'm not advocating anyone "do as I do", I'm just telling it straight as to how I keep at goal weight. I guess it's been very easy for me - I don't even think about my weight anymore. I've even got a new favorite fast food - the McDonald's Angus Wrap. It's like getting to eat a burger, but no bun to deal with. You can hold the mayo and cheese if you want, add extra pickles and lettuce and get a nice tasting burger patty. I get them a couple of times a month and they curb that little nagging fast food demon we all have. It took me a year to get to this point, but I'm enjoying it now.

Ewww...really? I can't stand licorice either and I have never noticed this aftertaste with the brand that I use. It's very clean tasting, kind of reminds me of sweet n low. I use the Nu Naturals Alcohol Free Stevia. There is a vanilla flavored one that looks almost exactly the same, but I prefer the clean taste. If I want vanilla, I'll add it myself. I get it at the health food store (can be very hard to find) and it costs about $8 a bottle. At first I thought that was a little pricey for such a little bottle, but I've had the same bottle for two months, and am only about halfway through it. Here's a link. Be sure to check out the reviews. A lot of people mention the lack of aftertaste. http://www.iherb.com...59-ml/4460?at=0

There are some really great HEALTHY sweetners! Stevia also comes in flavors so experiment a little before you write it off. You get used to it. Besides Stevia, there is: Lo Han or Liu Han (inulin) Feeds good bacteria in intestines (somewhat expensive but I've recently tried Dr. Mercola's New whey chocolate Protein bars and they were pretty damn tasty!) Yacon – Peruvian Tuber (FOS) Syrup: Amazing therapeutic properties. The body is not able to break it down as sugar and it passes through and then promotes the good bacteria in the intestines. Tastes like a cross between honey and molasses – a good, inexpensive brand is Amazon Therapeutic (brown glass jar and red label) sells for $16 for 16 oz jar (can probably find it cheaper on-line). I use this stuff a lot and I love it! I'm not a fan of honey or molasses but this stuff has a fantastic rich, sweet, taste. I use just a drop in my oatmeal and it tastes fantastic! Xylitol – Has antibacterial properties. You should always carry mints (look for Spry mints) or gum sweetened with this if you can’t brush after a meal. It’s being used more and more in foods and toothpastes and such! Very healthy and affordable! Erithratol (sp) is also antibacterial. This is a sugar alcohol so it can cause digestive upset if you eat too much. It tastes more like 'real' sugar than Splenda or any of the other artificial sweetners. You will have to do a little research to find which ones of these have high glycemic index. I know Erithratol is low but not sure about the others....

I use alcohol free, liquid stevia drops and I've never had that problem. If I didn't use the drops, I'd let my tea and lemon water sit there until it got gross, and then toss it. Just those couple of drops of stevia make it so tasty to me and then I drink all day long.

1. How long have you had your band? August 13,2010 2. How much weight have you lost? 32lb 3. How many fills and unfills did you get until you found the "sweet spot"? 8 I think 10 CC's 4. If you stick to a particular diet (ie weight watchers, low carb, atkins, etc) which on works for you? I follow the 90/10 rule. Eat healthy most of the time and special occasions like someone birthday I can have cake. I make sure to get 3 Oz of protein at each meal. 5. How often do you exercise? Seven days a week. One hour of Lap Swimming, water proof MP3 players are the best invention ever! 6. Does anyone do Yoga and how long did you wait until you started practicing again? No 7. Do you ever drink alcohol? No 8. What foods give you a problem? Not really. The only thing that has given me issues is baby carrots when I them to fast. 9. Does your port stick out? No. In fact it is really deep and the nurse really needs to look for it. 10. How much water do you get in each day? Probably 80 oz. I do drink a lot of decaf coffee being as the North East has turned into a frozen tundra. 11. Any tips that will help on the journey? Really think about what your food triggers are. You may need to cut them out of your life. I used to have all kinds of crackers, cookies, Baked potato chips, cereal. I would either sit down and eat half a box of cereal or snack on it all day. Now I only get to have crackers if I’m at a party and eat 2-3. Also start concentrating and thinking about what you’re eating. The more you savor each bite the more you’ll enjoy it.

I have 5 incisions and 1 drain. They ran 1 IV in my left arm before I went to sleep, and I woke up with another IV in my right arm and a foley catheter. They pulled the catheter the day after surgery (one of THE most uncomfortable things for a man) and they never did use the second IV spot once I woke up. One time before I was discharged, they had to draw blood for a final test, and wouldn't get it from either IV site, so they stuck me 3 times (the nurse blew it twice on the back of my right hand) and finally went in and got it in that big vein on my right inside elbow. A week after surgery, I went back and they pulled the drain. Sorry to make it sound like a needlefest, but you may as well know the truth. I have a full blow PHOBIA when it comes to needles (totally irrational fear, even to the point where I get antsy when I smell rubbing alcohol) , but I the needles weren't all that bad. I kept telling myself that just a little bit of pain for a brief time will make a world of difference ... and it does. Oh, I forgot, when they discharged me, they have me taking 2 shots a day (small bore needles, almost no pain at all) in the stomach for a blood thinner. I'll be on this for 30 days.