How is weight loss for people over 50?

[crabcake 0]

Help!

I haven't had one bit of trouble with my band until now. I guess the fill I got last week got tighter - too tight!

While on my way on an out of town business trip today, I started throwing up about every 15-20 minutes. Keep in mind that I haven't vomited in 40 years so this has been particularly unnerving! Anyway, half way to my destination, my doc called in a prescription for Phenergan. They are pills and I can't keep them down either. At this point even a "sip" of Water causes pain and the cycle starts again!!

Has anyone been in similar situations? How long did it last? Any ideas on how to keep the meds down?

I have a full week of work activities planned and probably should just cancel, go back home and get an unfill. If I can just stop the throwing up, I would be a happy camper!

My doc said to call tomorrow if no better and maybe he could arrange an "unfill" here in Houston.

Wish me relief....

LadyHR, it sounds like you definitely need an unfill! My band was too tight at one point and I had to have some taken out, but it wasn't near as bad as this. Throwing up can cause your band to slip - I say this not to scare you, but to encourage you to seek help.

As for keeping the meds down (and this is just a thought, I have no idea if it would even work), what about crushing the pills up in some water and holding a little in your mouth and swallowing a tiny bit at a time?

Is someone there with you? I hate to think you're going through this by yourself.

Keep us posted.

[southerngal_07 0]

Crabcake, I know this is not a fun thing to do but if your M.D. would prescribe Phenergan suppositories ratjer than the pill form, you can get relief. The phenergan really makes me sleepy though. Good luck to you.

[southerngal_07 0]

Sorry Crabcake, I meant Lady HR. Anyway, hope you do well.

Brenda

[DynamoMini 1]

LadyHR - it does sound like you need an little unfill. I am surprised how sensitive we are to even .1 too much fill. A little out will ease things, you are doing a great job losing, so don't sweat it. You have to be able to drink Water, etc.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

LadyHR, I just noticed the time of your post. I hope you can get some taken out soon. I was never so miserable in my life trying to sleep when I was too tight. There is nothing worse than being overfilled.

[phyllser 3]

Phyl - When you get here you will have your Water exercise which will be fun & good for you.. I have a girlfriend who teachs this at some of the clubs around the Desert - AnnMarie - I don't know if she teaches at your place or not..[/quote]

OH, YES!! I can hardly wait to get back to those nice warm pools and spas and my water aerobics!! We don't have a "teacher", we use an hour long tape.. Billy Jo or something like that and her "Wet and Wild"??? It will be so good to get some exercise. I am really trying to walk more. And I'm looking for an orthopedic surgeon so when we get back I can hopefully get the left knee fixed.

I had my 2nd fill today. Weird. I don't know how anyone can do this without using fluoroscopy because he seems to still have trouble finding the exact right spot even using it! Then he told me last time he put in 3cc. But when he withdrew it today, there was only 2cc. His explanation for that was, air bubbles. It still doesn't make sense to me. Anyway, he put the 2cc back in plus 1cc more. And since we're leaving Nov. 1st, he had me set up an appointment for 3 weeks from today to have one more fill before we leave. If I need one over the winter I guess I'll have to fly or drive back up here for a few days.

While we were in the clinic today we both got flu shots. My DH is such a baby! He's been whining ever since that he doesn't feel good! Men!! Last winter he got so sick with the flu while we were in CA that he was out of commission for 10 days. He didn't go to the pool or anything for over a week. I don't think I've ever seen him that sick. He will NEVER get a flu shot, but after that I made him get one this year. So now he's going to whine to punish me.

[JKR 0]

Hi, I'm new to this site! I had my lap band done Jan. 31st, 2007 and of two weeks ago when I weighed in at the Dr. I have lost 74 pounds and I'm 58 years old as of July 24th. Just started walking daily four weeks ago, up until then maybe 3 times a week if it wasn't to hot, or if I didn't have something better to do! (NOT) Excuses I still have those!

JKR

[IndioGirl55 32]

HR Lady - Yes unfill - aren't the docs from Big Medicine in Houston, you could go to them to get unfilled... My best to you:girl_hug: - I hate not being 100% at home but to be out on the road :omg:

Phyl - Men are big babies... Even 16 yr GS when sick - It must be a gene that they have

JKR - Welcome - Congrats on your weight loss - it's GREAT :clap2::clap2:

[green 6]

LadyHR, it strikes me that you better get a defill ASAP. And the recommendation for the anti-nauseant meds to be in the form of suppositories is an excellent one. I know that I have mentioned this before but in France certain prescription meds do come in the form of suppositories and this makes sense - so much easier on the digestive tract, eh?

Indio, it strikes me that you are making wonderful headway with your weight loss and the band. Congratulations. And thank you for being so supportive of and interested in the rest of us.

As for you ladies who are suffering from ruined lower joints, etc, I think that it is fantastic that you have hopped aboard the bandwagon and that you are investigating water-based exercises.

I had an overweight friend who had initially ruined her knee in a workplace accident. You know how these things go: the more immobilized you are from your initial injury the more you gain weight and this immobilizes you still further and so you gain even more weight. Because of her relatively young age the specialists did not think that she was ripe for a knee replacement. She did discover something called aquabics which appears to be aerobic exercises performed in Water. Working out in water removes all of the intolerable stresses which gravity normally provides from those damaged joints. This means that these joints are not only protected from further damage but that, generally speaking, the body gets a good work-out.

[phyllser 3]

Is this the thread where we were discussing pills and how to get them down?? I had my 2nd fill yesterday and this morning, I was fine after a very small bowl of cream of wheat, and then I took my pills! I think I'd be okay with just my prescription meds, but those vitamins!! I have a Multivitamin, Vitamin b complex, cranberry capsule and the worst... fish oil capsule. No more fish oil capsules! Since I took the Vitamins I'm feeling sick to my stomach. It seemed like it was all caught up in my throat for a while. That has eased some now, but still feeling sickish! Yesterday I bought Centrum Silver chewables. I think I'll go back to those so I can eliminate that other multivitamin. I DO eat a lot of fish so if I can't find a liquid fish oil capsule I'm going to forget about that one! It's just too big.

I was surprised to see I had a little over 1100 calories yesterday on mostly liquids. It seemed like I was hungry all day and had very little to eat. But the calorie count says I shouldn't have been hungry. I did lose 1/2 lb. since yesterday though!

Hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!

[IndioGirl55 32]

Indio, it strikes me that you are making wonderful headway with your weight loss and the band. Congratulations. And thank you for being so supportive of and interested in the rest of us.

Green - Thank you !!! I am working very hard at this - and right now harder than the band is (i need my 2nd fill)... I understand the concept of addictions (have alot of it in my family drugs/alcohal) but a part of me feels that it is a weakness and an excuse - we are powerless yes - but we are powerfull too. Just say no - and if you fall - pick yourself up and keep on trucking.. I am tried of being fat - it's only my fault that i am - no one elses. I accept responsiblity as I don't have any medical or phyical reasons for being fat - just a mental one - bored - time filler - looking for love in all the wrong places etc... I needed the help of the band both phyically and mentally to get me to this place of self awareness. This board and all of you who where here before me, helped me get to where I am now and I THANK YOU.... We might not know each other in person, but we know each other from here and we have become friends and friends help each other, friends don't let each other down. I am the kind of friend who will tell you - What the heck - get off your pitty party and do something cuz only you can do it and you can do it if you put your mind to it.. You guys have been my support - pre-band - biopsy - post band - exercising etc. This is my fav thread... I think that's cuz we are all older and have our life experiences to reflect upon - we are grown ups (well for the most part :0) We understand so much more about life than when we were 30... For some of us we don't have DH's etc to give us our pat on the back - and even if you do - they aren't always aware of our feelings and need for reinforcement of our accomplishments and little pick me ups when we fall. (and if you do i am jealouse i want one of those )

We have all been FAT we understand how that feel.

Yes, I care!!! I want all of us to have a good & healthy lives for the years ahead of us.... I want us all to succeed at this and we can - with a little help from our freinds - Love Joe Cocker ;o)

Is this the thread where we were discussing pills and how to get them down?? I had my 2nd fill yesterday and this morning, I was fine after a very small bowl of cream of wheat, and then I took my pills! I think I'd be okay with just my prescription meds, but those vitamins!! I have a multivitamin, Vitamin b complex, cranberry capsule and the worst... fish oil capsule. No more fish oil capsules! Since I took the Vitamins I'm feeling sick to my stomach. It seemed like it was all caught up in my throat for a while. That has eased some now, but still feeling sickish! Yesterday I bought Centrum Silver chewables. I think I'll go back to those so I can eliminate that other multivitamin. I DO eat a lot of fish so if I can't find a liquid fish oil capsule I'm going to forget about that one! It's just too big.

I was surprised to see I had a little over 1100 calories yesterday on mostly liquids. It seemed like I was hungry all day and had very little to eat. But the calorie count says I shouldn't have been hungry. I did lose 1/2 lb. since yesterday though!

Hope everyone is having a GREAT DAY!!

Phyl - My doc has me on chewable flinstone w/Iron twice a day a.m. & p.m. & chewable Calcium too not the viactive ones - caltra (sp) ones cuz your body absorbs them better. I have sublingual vit b complex (got it at target) they said that you had to have the sublingual kind.

As far as your calories - heck liquids just don't stick with you no matter if it is zero or 1000 imho - I have to be on full liq for a week ... Also you might want to break up your med and get them down with pudding or yogurt - What are cranberry pills for??? I hate taking pills - so i only take the ones i MUST take...

Well, just called in for my jury duty - gotta report at 12:30 p.m. - so talk to ya'll later..

[momlambert 77]

Phyl, I found a good fish oil that I order from drugstore.com. It's call coromega and is a liquid or gel--I guess something inbetween those two. Maybe a paste? Anyway, it's orange flavored and I don't mind the taste at all--no fish taste, for sure. The instructions say that some people prefer to refrigerate it before eating it but I like it just out of the little individual packets. Anyway, just a suggestion. I also use Centrum Silver chewables and I buy a chewable Calcium, also from drugstore.com. FYI!

[phyllser 3]

Thanks, you two, for your pill suggestions. I tried a local health store... like GNC or something, for liquid fish oil but they didn't have it. I'll look for that stuff you mentioned, momlambert. I didn't know about sublingual Vit. B. I have a Target a block away so I'll head over on my scooter & check it out. In fact, I think I'll go RIGHT NOW!

(My DH is already shopping for a lighter weight scooter for when I've lost some more weight... easier for him to lift in to the car. I'M shopping for an ortho who can fix my knee!!)

[green 6]

SOUTHERNGIRL

There is a plastic surgery thread. I'm looking for a good PS surgeon in Mexico. When I lose the weight and stablize myself I hopefully will tighten up the face wrinkles and get rid of any turkey neck that may appear.

I need to get the info now because I will have to save the money for the surgery.

I thought I would give you all an update on my major facial surgery. As I believe I have already mentioned, since my surgery (which took place 2 Mondays ago) my life has been one filled with suffering, humiliation, and regret. But now I am at the point where I don't have to rely on the major pain meds anywhere near as much as I used to and much of the swelling and bruising has diminished. My head is now in the land of normoloid.

My eyes still do give me the allure of a grrl who has Down's Syndrome. This comment is certainly not meant to be construed as an insult to anyone. Those individuals who do have Down's Syndrome do tend to be much nicer and happier folk than that the nasty, sour, cynical, and cranky Green. I also have bruising around the neck; in fact I do look like I survived a strangulation attempt. Indeed my neck and head have been covered with bruises, swellings, a grotesque array of spectacular shunts and drains.

What is the effect of all of this? Well I chose a team which is top of the line and yet I will confess that I found myself sinking into a state of near panic (good drugs will never allow a grrl to skid into straight into Panic City).

The surgery was awful. The first few days of my recovery were a nightmare. I was near blind, thanks to the blepharoplasty, and I hurt so awful bad. On the plus side was that the surgeon and his team were on my case. They were monitoring me daily. This was stressful when I was feeling my worst: I wanted to be left the hell alone.

I am now on my way to recovery. I seem to have lips, something which was not available on either my maternal nor my paternal side of the family. This is cool. I did ask for a set of lips. It also seems that I might just end up with cheekbones, something which has never been part of the genetic deck of Green ancestors on either side.

I am still oh so sore and I am certainly not ready to leave the house except in Muslim drag but today I did show up at the clinic in order to have my final stitches removed. I've been looking forward to this. I can't wash my hair all that easily and I sure as hell am tired of sleeping in the pharoah position. My head hardware, a mix of staples and basteing thread, has been driving me nuts for some days now. I have even been picking at scabs and this is absolutely verboten. It seems that messing about with scabs can lead to scars. This is where Green confesses that she has always been a fiddle-fingers and that she used to claw at her chicken poxies.

Anyhow, it seems that I am now doing a fine job of recovering from this truly horrible surgical experience. My post-op nurse has declared that she is truly pleased with my progress. I have told her that she has been a fine and sensitive companion throughout the trauma that one experiences when one choses to lose one's face in order to find oneself plunged into New Youth & Cuteness. This can only happen once one leaves the Land of Pain, Personal Humiliation, and Fear.

So it seems that the swelling is going down and the bruising is disappearing. "You're doing good,' says Nurse Lori. "You're doing real good."

"Aw, gosh, thanks!" says me. I like to feel that I am a star pupil. And then I ask her, "hey, it seems that I have cheek bones now. Do ya think they are going to stick?

"Ya know, my family was actually quite attractive but both sides were entirely difficient in both cheek bones and lips. It sure would be fun to have cheekbones and lips, wouldn't it?" :eek:

[phyllser 3]

What are cranberry pills for??? I hate taking pills - so i only take the ones i MUST take.....

:omg: Well, all my typing just went away! That makes me mad!

Anyway, the cranberry pill wards against bladder infections, one of my specialties! I just want to get rid of some of these pills and supplements! Two BP pills, two cholesterol pills, one reflux, one thyroid, one bladder pill, one synthetic hormone replacement. Enough, already!!