sufina

Re dental implants, I want to thank each of you for your thoughtfulness in responding to my questions about dental implants. I feel more informed after hearing from you all and I really appreciate the input. I will check out your husband's dentist in Vancouver, Stormy and from the Canadian dentist, thanks for the heads up on being cautious about who to go to and materials etc. I had no idea...thanks again, Sufina

Hi Snowbird: Can you tell me how to get in touch with your dentist who did implants? Thanks, Sufina My personal email is: bdy@spiritone.com

Hi, I just received an estimate of $8,500 for 2 dental implants (includes everything as well as bone grafting to supplement bone loss in one molar). I told my periodontist, "I'm looking for a 3rd world country to have this done for half the price"! I need info. for a very reliable dental specialist in this area. Any/ all help very much appreciated. Sufina

Hi everyone! I would love to meet you all for lunch. Count me in! Sufina

Julie, I will watch for your new thread as another one of us (Audrey) in Hillsboro and I have been in touch; she just got her 1st fill in TJ so any local "get-together" would be nice to look forward to. Good to know we have this forum as a connection of info and support. take care. ps, I finaally didn't PB tonite; just a little stuffed to the gills you might say but on not very much! Yeah, we'll loose this weight in spite of ourselves! Sufina

Well, it is day 6 after my 1st fill; today is the first day I didn't PB my way thru the day and it is cuz I fianally am getting that 1. I must chew more and 2. I must serve smaller portions, I do not experience a pleasant "full" feeling telling me I've had enuff; instead, I eat until I feel like another bite and I'm gonna puke! And that's after such a small amount of food, So, for me this is a a new "learning" experience that, once I've had enuff practice at eating small, it will become a habit and I'll know what I can eat that won't get stuck and how much. Like I tested myself tonite. I fixed some organic chilie with tofu, grated cheese, a dollop of sour cream, dollop of salsa. This was a sort to taco without the tortilla which I figured would get stuck. It was good. then I had a small chocolate bar (sorry, I'm still addicted to sugar but getting better). hmmm, it melted and was divine. Then I waited a bit, felt fine, but daydreaming of all the food and made a piece of whole grain toast with jam. not good. it wanted to be stuck awhile, leaving me feel slightly nauseaus. Well, that's part of my digestion system for tonite. stay tuned for more exciting reports of progress. Any feedback is welcome. thanks, sufina

For all you Oregonians/Portlanders: I found Dr Kelly Fitzpatrick to be awesome! No, she does not use fleuroscopy but my understanding is unless there is a problem, the fill is pretty simple and she is highly experienced at doing them. I'm pretty restricted but can still get food down and as much fluids as I want but I really am finding this experience is calling for a serious reorganization in how I perceive food, prepare it and especially, how I eat it. I have not yet trained myself to chew enuff, nor to make small portions. I thought of buying doll dishes! This is a challenge. My eyes are bigger than my stoma is an understatement! I suppose with practice this will become more routine but so far I'm evidently eating too much cuz I keep PB-ing and that is getting real old. I can't really say I am aware of feeling "full" cuz I never stopped eating when I was full; it's more like I must stop because it hurts! Julie, since you are as new to this as me, you probably can relate to what I'm talking about. Like my imagination wants to shovel it in but I can"t. weird experience. all new since after banding, I had very little restriction, Sufina

I feel like my port sticks out like a dresser drawer knob! It was sort of tender at first but now, 7 weeks post-surgery, it doesn't hurt; just feels hard. My fill doc said I had some keloid scar tissue around it but nothing to worry about., I will probably opt to surgically bury it more once I've lost all my weight and don't need regular fills but that's just cosmetic desires. Sufina

I went thru something similar; began to find I could eat anything and as much as I could consume after banding, before 1st fill- anxious to get my fill, while secretly enjoying the indulgences I was doing. Then when I got my fill last Fri, I am now experiencing what it is like to eat so much less. Oh, is that what restriction feels like? Gee, that's not as much fun as just piggin out like I had been doing. Then came the remorse, shame and all the rest. You ain't alone here girl! warmly, Sufina

I have been using Stevia as a sweetner for my tea and plain yogurt. It is a very healthy natural herb; I like the concentrated version; others have maltodextrin added to bulk it. I still also eat sweets tho with straight sugar which is a very addictive substance. Read "Sugar Blues", the number one addiction. It is so hard to get away from. My naturopath who did my first fill describes the imbalance people have with sugar imbalances as being susceptable to alcohol and or sugar addictions. One person I met told me the difference between nutrasweet and sweet n low is one causes cancer and the other, alzeimers. So, we have a tough battle girls, anyway we look at it in trying to get slim and stay healthy. I've always believed that the less processed food is and eaten in it's most natural state, the healthier it is. The additives and preservatives are not good, adding free radicals etc. That being said, Hey, I love a Big Mac too! lol thanks for listening, Sufina

Michelle, thanks for the tip on microwaving taking out the moisture. I had no idea so that is good to know. Since I just got my first fill, I'm PBing on about everything I eat- most likely cuz I have not yet got into the practice of small size and chewing behavior. any particular foods you reccomend to rely on or a resource for food ideas? I tend to find a few basic things I like and repeat them but the ones I'm repeating are from my "old life" eating style and I need to update...thanks, sufina

Hi Julie and all, I just got my first fill Fri also, only here in Portland by Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick who was referred to me by Dr. Ortiz. She was great! Gave me a 1.7 fill with instructions to call her on her cell phone any time I felt too much restriction like you are describing Julie and pointed out it is dangerous and not to tell myself to just work thru it. She was really emphatic about that! Soooo, I did the liquid 1st day, soft next day then 3rd day, 3 regular meals followed by ice cream cones, cookies etc and I thought, oh this is just not working for me! But the next day was a whole different story! I have not been able to eat like I used to ever since. I get the small portion that we are told we are supposed to eat and then I push it and start PB-ing. I have had to PB after every meal but it is because I'm trying to get more in than I'm supposed to and not used to limiting myself. Between meals, I am able to get liquids down. Not in gulps like I use to but reasonable sips. If I PB, I dare not try and follow it with liquid; it just all backs up. In the morning and eves, I sip on hot mint green tea and it is very soothing. I used to be a die hard coffee person and hardly drink it much at all; I've fallen in love with mint green tea totally and chill the leftover, spritz it with lemon or lime, sweeten with stevia and either add 1/2 juice or plain with ice and sip it thru the day instead of plain water as it is much more delicious. Well, I'm trying to learn what foods, how much I can eat that feel satisfying and don't get stuck or cause me to PB. Any suggestions are welcome; Oh, Dr. Kelly did say "and no ice cream diets" (I did think of that lol) your lap band buddy, Sufina

Hi Julie! I'm from Portland also and was banded June 5. We must have crossed paths. Did you stay at the Lucerna? Hmmm. Where are you going for your fills? Sufina (Bev)

Hi to Julie from Portland, I'm in Portland too and got banded June 5. When are you getting your first fill and from whom? Liquids suck huh? Sufina