The Redhead

This is all pretty interesting! I got a lap band in April 2008. This year I was having trouble with my gall bladder and hiatus hernia and my lap band ending up slipping. I had to have it removed. Since May I've put back on 40 lbs. When I contacted the OCC about getting a new lap band they suggested I might want to try a sleeve instead. At first I said no, but now I'm wondering if it's the way to go. Hmmmm....? I'll be reading more about this (and saving my pennies for another surgery). Thanks for the info.

I would DEFINITELY do it again, but I'd do it earlier in my life. I wish I had known about this when I was 19 or 20. My weight has held me back from a lot of things in my life. I haven't lost much in the 10 months I have had my band but I know without it I would be well over 215 lbs again. I hate my band at times but I know it's my own stupidity that gets me in the PB episodes to make me hate it. I'm learning, and loving the new me.

Don't worry Christy. It's just fluid retention from surgery. I gained 7 lbs from the day I left to when I returned home and I was on fluids for 3 of those days. It will come off (and more) in just a few days. Congratulations of getting your band. Denise

Hi Kate, Sometimes it takes a week or two for your restriction to kick in after a fill. Also, for most people, it takes a couple of fills or more to hit your sweet spot. Good luck, Denise

I went through horrible shoulder pain for almost 2 months after surgery (still get pain every once in a while). I talked to my doctor about it and she said that the pain was not actually in your shoulder, but that was just where your nerve endings were. The pain is called referral pain and it is from the gas trapped in your diaphragm. She described it like getting a backache when you have menstrual cramps. I used the phazyme a lot and that seemed to help but walking was the best thing. I found if I walked up a couple flights of stairs it could usually bring up a good burp. The pain always seem to lessen when I was able to release the trapped gas. I know it hurts now, but it will get better soon. :lb4:

I have found that I can't drink anymore while eating, so, although it was always one of my habits pre-band, I'm no longer physically able to do it. If I try to take a sip while eating I feel instant pain at my band.

Congratulations! I'm sure this is just the first of many to come. :lb24: :lb24: :lb24:

1. Name: Denise 2. Location: British Columbia 3. Age: 48 4. Band Date: April 10, 2008 5. Married: not anymore (ya hoo) Just got engaged on Christmas day to the most wonderful man in the world. 6. Children of the human or furry kind: Both. Girl 19, Boy 17, 2 cats, 1 dog, a hedgehog (not really furry), and who knows what else is hidden in my daughters room 7. Hobby(ies): gardening, computers, antiques, auction hunting 8. Work: Occupational Abilities Coordinator for major Corp 9. What was the deciding factor(s) on getting banded: I couldn't stop gaining weight. It was coming on fast and furious. Nothing could make me lose it. 10. Interesting factoid: I have two of the greatest kids in the world and I basically raised them all on my own. Also, I electrocuted myself twice in a matter of minutes when I was 5 years old. I clearly remember doing it and why I did. I have permenant blisters on a couple of my fingers. > > >

I'm in the same boat. I'm selling on ebay too to try and make ends meet. What's your ebay name? Mine is Gentlerain_Boutique

Hi Mona, Can you rely on food to clear out crystals??? I thought you had to clear them out with flushing (sometimes by a vet sqeezing their bladder to make them pee) or else the crystals would block the uretha, causing the bladder to erupt, killing the cat. ...at least that was what my vet told me. A while ago, just after the ex and I split, I was a single mom with NO money and two kids and a BILLION bills to pay. There was no money for food for us, let alone vet bills. Our male ginger cat Tommy, got crystals so bad that he would lay on the floor and blood would seep out. I took him to the vet and they told me that it would be about $600 - $1000 (up front) to 'see if' they could save him. I did not have $60, let alone $600. The cat belongs to my daughter and I told the vet that I would have to take him home and think about and talk to my daughter. I also told her I would call her back later that afternoon and tell her what I was going to do. When I got him home my daughter wasn't home. I immediately called a lady I knew who works at another vet. Within 10 minutes of me arriving home the SPCA showed up at my door. They told me they were there to take a cat from me that was in distress. I was SHOCKED. Tommy then came out to greet the company, like he always does and walked up to the man. The man was very surprised because he was still walking and definitely wasn't in too much pain. The SPCA guy said that he 'thought the vet may have over-reacted'. I told him I was just on the phone trying to get another vet to look at him and told him where I was taking him. I took him to that vet and they kept him for a few days until the crystals were cleared up. They charged me $250, which they let me pay over time. They also gave me a free 'sample' bag of Royal Canin. If that wasn't bizarre enough... Tommy's brother, Oliver, lived across the street. Oliver also got crystals at the same time. My neighbors took Oliver to a different vet. They quoted about the same for medical bills ($600+). The neighbors are ex-farmers. They believe an animal is just an animal. They took Oliver home and let him die. The SPCA wasn't called on him! The whole incident was crazy from start to finish. I was dealing with a lot of personal issues that were consuming me (separation, money, etc.) so I never investigated it further. To this day though I wonder what the heck happened with the vet and why she called the SPCA. ..by the way... the SPCA checked up on me to make sure I brought Tommy to the vet that I said I was taking him to. They also stopped in to check on him there. The neighbor... NOTHING! I know that the vet I saw worked at several other vets as well. I'm wondering if she got Tommy and Oliver mixed up. Maybe she should have sent the SPCA to pick up Oliver.

Hi Darlene, Just thought I'd add my 2 cents here too. I have two male cats and one used to spray all the time. That smell is HORRIBLE. I used something called 'Natures Miracle Stain and Odour Remover'. I bought it at the Vets. It was the only thing that worked. Also, my cats don't spray anymore. I think they will keep spraying if that smell is still around. We used a black light to find all the spots. Once ALL the spots were cleaned, he stopped. My other male cat gets crystals. I have kept them both on Royal Canin, Urinary SO. It's pretty expensive but a LOT cheaper than the vet bills. He hasn't had crystals in 2 years now, so I think this food is doing the trick. Denise

Cathy... WOW!!! You look FANTASTIC! WOWWWWWWWW

WOW!! You look great! And that dress is gorgeous. ...love the color. Congrats on your awesome weight loss!

Glad to hear the kitten is ok. How are your battle wounds doing after the incident? ...healing ok?