bubs

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You give me the strength to stick to it and keep trying. You are an inspiration.

Pam

Thank you for this post. If I had to count calories for another year I think I will shoot myself. I've had five fills and have been stuck at the same weight for 4 months. I am going to try your plan and I think it will work for me. 3 diet meals a day isn't working and neither is Weight Watchers. I need to shake things up and I think you are right about all the low fat, sugar free stuff. I gave up butter and cheese, sugars, and almost everything else I love and I'm suck around 250 pounds on diet foods and lean cuisine. Dieting is expensive...doesn't make sense does it? Thank you again and I will let you know if it works for me.

Pam

Is there a website for his practice?

WWW.THEBANDMD.COM

thanks for the info! Can you tell us if he uses flour for this price or is it a blind fill?

thanks

Hi, It is a blind fill but they hit it first time each time. They suck the fluid back out into the needle and measure it before putting back in and adding more. They do over a thousand a year I was told and are very good at it. I am grateful to have such a great back up to Dr O after reading some horror stories about fills on this site. A lot of Drs won't touch you if you didn't get banded there so I am doubly thankful.

Pam

If your cabbie does not know where the clinic is, remember OCC is in Dr Mendez's eye clinic, and that it is just a block from Costco. I usually tell them it's a block beyond Costco and have no trouble getting there. However, my daughter's cabbie did get lost and dumped her on the street once. Luckily the Mexican pay phones take US quarters, so have the address AND the phone number with you. (By the way, OCC sent someone to pick her up.)

Thank you, good info to know in case the cabbie doesn't know where to go. I will take everyone's advice and walk over the border and take a cab. even though hubby would rather drive. On the way back we just have the cab take us to the border and do the whole thing in reverse? I know itn takes a lot longer to get back into the USA than it does to get into TJ.

If we want to go shopping from the clinic on Revolution is a cab the best bet? I know we took some kind of bus from the hotel when I was banded. Any ideas?

Pam

Hi Pam!

Everything is dollars and it helps a lot to have exact. We bring lots of one's and five's. Everyone really speaks English, if not broken English. What we did was show the taxi driver OCC's business card and he knew where to go with no problem.

Walking over the and taking a cab is definitely another alternative for sure. I wouldn't advise driving in TJ ~ to hectic and congested and lots of construction going on. They have several roads blocked and if you don't know where you are going, it is NOT going to be a easy ride.

My hubby and I are going on Sat, Dec 20 for my 2nd fill and thinking this time to park even closer and park on the street near by a Jack in the Box, and walk the bridge over and then take a taxi to OCC, which they have a constant line of taxis ready for any takers.

Thank you again...this sounds like a more workable idea. My husband is not a big fan of bus rides and at 71 he is not about to change. Only your second fill and you've lost so much already. This will be #4 for me and I was banded on 7/21. I've only lost about 25 since then not including my pre op diet. Tou've done awesome!

Pam

Hi ~ I live in San Diego, 20 minutes from the border. We don't drive IN Tj at all. We find it is MUCH easier time-wise to drive to the border's Park and Ride parking lot and take the red Mexicoach bus ($6 roundtrip ticket, per person) to the bus station and from there take the taxi ($5 one way, for both hubby and I) to OCC.

NOTE: At this point, the taxi driver gave us his business card and he said he would come and get us to take us back to the bus station, which we did! AWESOME idea!).

After the fill, we called the taxi driver and he was there at OCC within a few minutes and took us to the bus station. We tipped him as he was very respondent. Waited just a few minutes more for the Mexicoach bus to board and off we went to back to the border, dropped us off at the door to Customs to be cleared (used our Passports for quicker service). In the meantime, the Mexicoach cleared through the border and met us on the other side of Customs (US side) and took us back to the Park and Ride parking lot, which we paid $8 for 4 hours (went shopping as well).

Hope this helps you!

Thanks you so very much! To ride the mexicoach bus do we need exact fare and in dollars or pessos? What about the taxi? Is not speaking any Spanish a problem? We have driven in Mexico before. We drove to Ensenada so I don't mind driving there. OCC has a secure parking garage I know. Have you ever done that. What about walking over the border and taking a cab? I'm trying to figure out all my options.

Pam (bubs)

Has anyone driven over the border to the clinic? If it cost to much we may have to that for my fill on the 16th. What do I need to know and do? Any other ideas? I don't have much time to decide.

Bubs

Hi Bubs,

I was also banded on July 21st...does this Dr. use Fluoro? I've had 2 fills in TJ but the price just went from $130 to $199 so...I guess it's time to evaluate the cost of flying to San Diego & the price of fills Vs. flying to L.A.?? If they use fluoro the price seems good. Can you post a phone number?

Hi, I'm sorry I didn't answer this sooner. For some reason my reply notices went to spam file...not sure why. Here is the info for Dr Billy.

Dr.Helmuth T.Billy

3200 Telegraph Road

Ventura,CA. 93003

Office(805)676-9100 ext.109

Fax (805) 676-9110 fax

I highly recomend them as the next best choice to TJ and Dr O. I will be going to see Dr O for my 4th fill since I will be vacioning in So Cal the week of the 14th. A week in a beach front condo was our xmas gift from my daughter. 45 mins north of San Diego so TJ here I come.

Good luck

Hi, it's been awhile since I posted and my surgery with Dr O was 7/21. I just wanted to let anyone in CA know there is a great option for a fill in CA if you can't make it to TJ like me. In Ventura there is a Dr H. Billy who is also a trainer/proctor for the lab band companies. His office does about 1000 fills a year and they are all very very nice people. He spends a lot of time talking with you and did my fill so fast and painless I was totally and very pleasantly surprised. He charges $300 and that covers your first 2 fills. After that if you need more they are $150 each. If you need one in less than 30 days it is free. He also is reachable 24 hours a day like Dr O. I have had 2 fills and both were a piece of cake and the second one seems to be working. There is a nutritionist on staff also as part of their service.

This was the best choice for me since the drive was 1 3/4 hours instead of 7+ each way. I didn't need to get a hotel room or rent a car since my 1992 isn't my first choice for a drive that long. My budget just can't take the extra cost of TJ trip since I used our savings for the surgery.

I hope this helps someone as good fill drs are scarce.

Something else I stole from the gastric bypass board, some good tips here from MANY different people... Hopefully something will spark with everyone that reads this, and if you have a great tip please feel free to share it!!

We all have little hints and tips that give us strength and allow us to slowly change our life for the better and healthier on a permanent basis.

If we make HUGE changes it disrupts our life and we gravitate towards old behaviors... even if its only in our subconscious we cant wait to go back to the old food or old ways. If we make slow permanent changes that we actually LIKE we are more likely to stick to it.

I personally believe that the doctors and professionals are not strong enough in their warnings to us because they cannot personally relate to the destructive behaviors that lead us to Morbid Obesity... so they send us off after surgery to live with a few printed sheets of guidelines and a 'have a nice life', when some of us need Brain Surgery to make corrections to our stinkin' thinkin'. We cant wait to run up to that line in the sand and JUMP RIGHT ON IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. We cant wait to stand in front of a Wendy's menu board to see what we can 'tolerate'... cant wait to see if a burger will stay down! Arrrrrgggghhhhh... it drives me insane.

We have to form our own methods to change the madness of our old ways. We have to start off fresh, and slowly grab hold of the reins and take control. This time though we have a superb tool to help us so we have to have the mindset that it isnt a temporary fix its a permanent solution if we use the surgical tool we have just had major surgery to implant.

Something that I do which I find is a great help to making permanent changes in my life is to negotiate with myself over food. When I have foods in front of me that I would like to eat that are not necessarily the best choice, I negotiate with myself that IF I eat my protein first, a few bites of healthy carb vegetables, THEN I can have a bite or two of the potato or a bite of the mac and cheese IF I want to.

By giving myself permission, BUT with qualifiers, I dont feel that sting of 'YOU CANT HAVE THAT' and the urge to do the opposite. We all that that tendency to rebel against what we are told we cant do, or cant have. However, once I eat my fish or steak protein, and a little healthy nutrition from vegetables... I no longer even want the food that contains the empty carbs, fat, and calories. So even though I 'allow' myself to have these foods that will not take me towards my goals, the reality is that I dont eat them. I never have any intention of eating them, I just play with my mind over it.

ALWAYS know the night before I go to bed EXACTLY what and how much I will eat the following day. I write it down, after making sure I have what I planned on eating. (sometimes family members get hungry and eat leftovers I might have been planning on, so I do a quick check) Then I post it in the side of my fridge, physically checking off as I go the following day. I always plan for one portable meal or snack, be it a shaker full of protein powder, a bar, or just a packet of peanut butter in case my day changes and I am eating on the go. If at bedtime the following day, I have not eaten everything on list, I stay up till I have done so, but my meals are well planned out, and I try to eat pretty much at the same time each day, its not often that it happens. Making sure I eat everything I need keeps me from feeling 'empty' or 'low energy' the following day which could lead me to crave the wrong foods!

Here are a few of my favorite things.

I NEVER eat out of a regular plate or bowl at home, only if I dine out.

I need to keep my portions right so I spent a lot of time looking for dishes that serve that purpose.

In the picture below I put eggs in everything so you can see the porportion.

The white round bowl and square plate is from Pier 1, the colored plate and bowl I found at TJ Max, I believe they are intended for sushi and wasabi, I use them to eat off of and put my veggie or sauce in the bowl.

The oval was a gift from a man in a small restaurant near us, I asked for his supply house so I could get some, they are so perfect and he made me a gift of 6 of them, don't you know I frequent his place now. This morning I modified Susan Maria's poached egg (I used pre-made salsa 1/3 cup, poached the egg and put some con queso 1.5 ounce over to get it melty)it fills this oval bowl nicely.

The spoon is all I eat with at home, my daughter overnigted them to me the day I had my surgery, I did not want to use the baby spoons that are colored on the end, she found these and Bed, Bath and Beyond, they are espresso spoons and they come 8 to a pack.

I also use Gerber baby bowls to carry lunch to work in (crustless quiche, or the pizza one for instance)perfect size, about the same as the round white bowl.

I use ice cube trays to freeze one and two ounce servings so they are ready to pop out and take along or throw in the micro wave.

I just found silicone cupcake things, like the papers only reusable, I will start putting my quiche and whatever in them to bake so they are already portioned. I do a lot of cooking ahead and then dividing, this will just save a step.

I also try to have protein every 3 hours, eat from smaller dishes and I plan all my meals and snacks on Sunday, go to the store and get anything I'm running low on, and cook for the next week. I also took Ken's advice and posted pre-op photos of me all over my house, especially previous mindless-eating zones. There's one next to my computer screen, on my refrigerator, I even have one taped to the TV remote. I only cook and eat large meals when I'll be eating it with the rest of my family as witnesses. The rest of the time I eat my pre-measured meals from the refrigerator, drink protein shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese, deli rollups, etc.

One thing that really made a difference for me was to decide that food could go to WASTE rather than go to WAIST.

So now I have absolutely no regrets when I toss out half an order from a restaurant! Although, any more, Ron and I tend to only order a combination plate of some sort. We ate at Outback the other day, and ordered prime rib, and told the server we would be sharing it. They brought that one order on two plates, and it looked like two complete orders. We saved food, money, and the server got a nice tip!

Before surgery I could not stand to throw food away, and I knew if it made it to the fridge, it would not get eaten. So I became "mikie." I ate everything. Not anymore! If I can't freeze portions, it just gets tossed or the dog gets it. The starving kids in podunksville will have to forage elsewhere!

Yes, for me too planning is very important. During the week, being on my work schedule is easier than on the weekend, when my usual eating plan doesn't fit because I'm running around doing chores/having fun. I have to pay attention a little more and try to get in a good chunk of protein early. Also when I travel I have to watch and plan a bit more. I always have some supplemental protein with me, altho I try to eat normal food first. Most of the time that works, but sometimes it doesn't so I pull out a protein bar or jerky.

a lot of it for me is mental too. I divide food into "my" food, which is the healthy, bariatric friendly protein food, plus healthy vegetables and fruit, and then the "sometimes" food, which is food I can eat sometimes, like a bit of bread or pasta, and then the absolutely "never" food, which is sugar food. sometimes i end up eating/drinking some sugar by mistake, so I know that I can tolerate it but I choose to make it a firm no. Most of the time the "sometimes" food is in the "never" category.

I am very strict with myself and that is fine. I was lenient all those years and look where it got me...being MO and miserable. I don't want to blow this opportunity by eating stupid food...maybe I look down on food now...it is not the comfort it was but "just nutrition". I try not to think of it as something enjoyable and pleasurable like before. I will find my pleasure elsewhere and treat food as nutrition to live.

My normal schedule is 3 meals a day, protein first. I don't count calories or carbs. Life is too short for that and as long as I am within my maintenance weight range, then I just eat to my plan. If I do creep up, I will count my calories for a day or two to see where the extra calories are coming from, because the only way you can gain weight is taking in more calories than you burn, so cutting calories would then work.

I have found that when I get lax in two areas of my life, my overall general eating gets lax as well.

1. unplanned, mindless snacking. one bite leads to three bites which leads to an all day eat fest. It surprised me to find that even when I only consume protein rich or high fiber snacks when done in a mindless and unplanned manner it has nearly ALWAYS led me to binges of low protein, high carb, no fiber unhealthy eating. I've bumped myself of the wagon multiple times this way, and then it becomes a vicious cycle. Example- I'm a substitute teacher and picked up a job yesterday, it was the first day of school and there were lots of goodies in the teacher's lounge and when I saw the homemade chocolate chip cookies I did what Ellen did and said to myself " I know what that tastes like, no reason to tempt myself my trying some." Then I walked on and didn't give it another thought!

2. exercise. when I exercise regularly (even when I don't want to do it!), I find that I treat my body nutritionally better, too... I really focus on making healthy choices so that what I consume is top rate 'fuel' that keeps my furnace stoked. I honestly fear being out on a run (and I don't go far, trust me!) and bonking.

One of the most difficult challenges I have is resisting goodies that people bring to the office to share. Best way to stop myself dead in my tracks is to log the goodie into fitday.com BEFORE I give in to the temptation. Usually all it takes is for me to see in black and white how many calories one of those goodies contains and how much I'll have to give up for the rest of the day to keep myself from exceeding my allotment for the day.

I bring all of my food for the day to work with me, but those treats can sabotage my plans if I'm not careful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. What great ideas. I am going hunting for some fun small dishes to use. I have been so bad this last week I can't stand myself. Your post helped me get hold of myself and get back on track. The only exception is my dog is also on a diet. LOL.

Ok in light of some recent events let's have some fun......

The game will be called the ABC's of your advice for lap bad. Your post has to start with the next letter of the alphabet then the previous poster and should be a few words, short, sweet and fun. Once we get through the alphabet we can start over again.

Example

A- always learn from your mistakes

K- Kick old habits like drinking with your meals.

As I am writing this I am sitting in my living room crying, I don't think ia can do this. I am 10 days post op and can't take it anymore. We went to applebees for dinner I got spaghetti ( I know I am not supposed to eat) I had about 3 noodles and a shrimp. i feel like sh*t I have pain in my chest 9under the left side of my rib cage) and feel like I want to throw up. I guess i feel this way because I get no support here all my husband does is b*tch he never has anythign nice to say. Honestly I cna't stand the sound of his voice right now but then I am pissy becasue he spends no time with us. I really don't know what to do, I know I will ruin my band and have been trying to behave but something keeps telling me that I will fail at this too so why not just give up.

BTW how do you know if your band slips?

Don't beat yourself up. We all make mistakes. You did it and it's done and in the past. Today is a new day and just try again to be better. I also didn't make it three weeks on liquids and was beating myself up till I read your post and realized that the advice I am giving you applies to me, too. Why is it always easier to forgive others their mistakes than ourselves? Helping you is helping me...tomorrow is a new start for both of us. I also called and made an appointment for a fill since my old appetite has returned in full force. Hopefully 8/29 will be my fill day and until then I will work on my willpower.

There are so many good people on the forum who will help you get back on track. Just remember to err is human and to forgive is divine. Forgive yourself and just think how great you will look and feel if you just hang in there.

Pam

I was banded on Tuesday. Today I got home and stepped on the scale and I've gained 7 pounds since I was weighed at the OCC! How can that be? I've done nothing but pee for the last 48 hours! I am a bit bloated, but seriously! Did this happen to anyone else?

Only 7? I gained 8 after 4 days...went to the bathroom, weighed again and gained 2 more. I was sending out SOS's to the forum...it's normal for a lot of people but still quite a shock! It is 10 days since being banded and I'm down to 8 pounbds less than the day I was banded. Hang in there..it will go away plus some. My highest weight was 297, before pre op diet...283, at banding 273 and now 265. It is worth every red cent I paid out of our savings. Even my husband has done a 180 and is now behind me all the way.

Pam

For about 7 years now my sister has been taking care of my mother. Well sorta -My mom gets $1260.00 a month SSD/SSI benefits. But she never has any money. My sister has been using the money to pay her bills. Recently my sister has been calling me to tell me that my mom is out of her medication and that she would like me to pay for it. I want to help my mom so of course I will help. But I have to put in my two cents. Where is the money that she gets every month? Recently my sister called me again to ask me for the money for her pills. I again brought up where is the money and she threw it in my face that "I was selfish because all I care about is my Mexico trip, I dont care about my mother" I am so depressed. I am taking out two loans for this trip and I am going to be strapped. No more am I going to be able to just jump up and buy my mothers medication. Her meds are $166.00 per week. My mother lives in a trailer in my sister yard, no water, no sewer. What is she using the $1260.00 on, I think it should be for her meds and her care. But all I see is my sister taking it and using it for her debt. Should I feel guilty for living my life? I do owe my mother I think about $2500.00 so that is why I dont care about the money that I have spent, but this is stupid. I sometimes feel like in order to have a normal life, I need to get away from them. Hense maybe where the weight gain came from. I have done really well, financially I am stable. I am working on my weight issue and I feel like I have a semi normal life, except when it comes to them. Now here they are, invading my life once again to tell me how selfish I am. Ok maybe I am, I have worked hard to get this planned and I really have to not care. I am doing this for me and my family. My husband and my son. My sister is very heavy and I am sorry that she has this problem. I'm sorry I just needed to vent. Did anyone in their family make them feel guilty for doing this? For taking care of themselves?

Does your mom have part D medicare? If she doesn't she should. That should pay for a lot of her medications. Also a lot of drug companies have plans where she can get it for free if she qualifies. Check at the nearest senior center or the front of the phonebook for elder help numbers to get your mom the help she needs.

Just remember you have to take care of yourself to help your mom. You are no good to anyone if you don't.

Pam

I have received a few PM's about this so I am actually going to post this as a topic so others can post their before and after pictures or images of whatever they want INSIDE of a post like this one.

The first thing to know is that you cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, e.g. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. If you want to use pictures from your PC or digital camera you first have to upload them to a website that offers image hosting, the most popular are ImageShack & PhotoBucket I use myspace. Once you register for free with them, those photos hosts allow you to upload images from your computer to them then give you the links to post safely in your forums entries. They even give you links wrapped with bbCode tags so that you have only to copy & paste into your posts.

If you want to find the link for an image already published on the web it takes and extra step. Let's use the OCC Image/Logo from the top right corner of this page as an example, it looks like this:

To get the address of this image right-click on the Logo.. A box will pop up the very LAST option will be PROPERTIES click that and in the box that will popup it will have the ADDRESS of the link for the Logo that you'll have to copy, in the OCC logo example, the link would say this:

http://www.lapbandforum.com/style_images/7_logo_new.jpg

Once you have copied the link open a new post or reply to a post and you can just add the tags icon (it is on the bottom row and is the 2nd button to the right of the smiley face button). This will give you a pop up box where you will paste the address using "Ctrl + v" then click OK and it will automatically be put into your message. I always suggest clicking PREVIEW POST to make sure it shows up before submitting a new topic!!

I hope that's not too confusing... Feel free to use this thread to practice posting pics of whatever you'd like you can use the OCC image above or whatever!!

You are awesome! I've learned to post ticker and pix from you. Now how do I get it under my profile. Hopefully when I get thin people will be able to tell that is my oldest daughter because we look a little alike.

Pam

I apologize if I'm asking a redundant question, but I looked all through the threads and the OCC main site, and I can't find out how long one needs to be on the pre-op and post-op diet. I am set to go to a conference with my husband for a week on September 14th and I am wondering how much time I need to be able to be on full diet by this time. If I can get into OCC to be banded, do I have enough time to do all of the weeks they require?

Also, I can't seem to find out anywhere a straight answer on exactly which weeks are clear liquid, full liquid, etc. I read somewhere that someone had written that they went out the night before surgery and had a Mexican meal, but I thought that was against everything I've ever heard about surgery.

When I went to my consult here in my town about having surgery here, the doctor at the center said that he doesn't require a pre-op diet except that only clear liquids 24 hours before surgery. Since I am going to go to OCC, I want to find out what their requirements are.

Oh, and lastly, I never have heard anyone say anything about baby food. I know this is probably funny but I know someone who did an entire diet with baby food. lol

Thanks guys!

Hi again, The pre op diet length varies, they would like you to lose 5% of your body weight. I did it for almost 3 weeks others do it for one. I did two shakes a day and a lean cusine for dinner. Post op is the same for all...3 weeks liquids. When you email OCC they will send you all this information. Clear is a minimum of 3-7 days, then you get to add liquid yogurt, then protein drinks and cream soups. It's not easy but with the support from the forum and friends and family it is done every day.

Pam

Hey guys,

I was just told by the doctors at the OCC that chili was not a good choice for eating, since it's not a solid protien. I was told if you really wanted to eat something like that you should first eat a little solid protien as the 'first layer' so to speak.

Thought'd I'd pass this message along.

Peace,

Maggie

What is solid protein?

I can barely believe that I am writing this because I have only been here less than 2 weeks, but I feel as if I have friends here who have gone through similar situations and I feel comfortable here. I am prepared for several "strong" messages telling me that I am wrong and that I need to do things differently. I'm not sure how I will take everything, but I am asking for advice since I can't ask anyone else...so here goes...

My life is seriously miserable. I hate myself for getting to the weight I am and I have so much fear and worry about so much in my life that involves my weight. I have talked to my husband in the past about having the lapband surgery, but he had a friend whose wife was banded and all the guy talked about was how much she "puked up everything she ate" and how gross it was. Now, after being here for the time I have, I know now that the woman was obviously NOT following the diet that she was given, so I'm not at all worried about that. But, my husband is also a huge "penny pincher" and would never in a million years agree to my using our savings for my lapband surgery. I know that I can't just sit down and talk to my husband because we would never be able to get through the conversation without him blowing up and freaking out. Now, don't get me wrong...I love my husband and he loves me...but sometimes I don't think that he loves me enough if he won't agree to let me do something that I know with every ounce of my being that I HAVE to do in order to live life. And, the fact that I want to go to MEXICO to have the surgery is absolutely unthinkable! He won't even leave the United States for vacation to a place like The Bahamas because it is not in the USA!

So, this is the way I am going to propose my surgery to my husband:

I am going to sit down and write him a long note about how much I need the surgery and how much it will make a difference in my life. I am going to tell him that I've made up my mind and that I'd love to have not only his permission, but for him to accompany me to the OCC, but that if he doesn't, I will go alone and I will be successful in doing so. I will use 1/2 of the payment out of our savings and I will get a personal loan for the other 1/2.

And now the worst part of it:

I am willing and prepared to have him leave me if he feels I have somehow betrayed him by making this decisioin on my own. (Our marriage is based on us always making large decisions together, and this is a decision I've made on my own). I don't want a divorce, and it will kill me if I have to get one, but I have to choose my life over my marriage and that is what I am prepared to do.

I can't give him my letter until after next Friday when his son goes home from his summer visit because I don't want to do this while he is still visiting. So, I hope that I can do this...and please...wish me luck...

I read your post and it was like I had written it. I have friends who had gastric bypass and they were a mess afterwards. Hubby said no way. I told him I wasn't asking for permission and the savings were both of ours and if I didn't do it I would be using a walker in two more years. That he didn't live with my pain day in and day out. I also pointed out that at 71 he wasn't going to be able to keep working part time forever and I could only go back to full time if I was healthier.

I asked if he wanted to go...he said no so I asked my daughter who did go with me. He is no good where people have accents, he gets frustrated and mad when he doesn't understand what they say.. I then started to show him all the stats on Dr Ortiz, his qualifications. Every day I would tell him more and he came around. I pointed out the differences between it and the bypass surgery. I read him post and soon he was telling people what I was going to do. Just keep feeding him info in small doses Show him the testimonals Carolyn will email you...they swayed my husband a lot. That and the fact that Dr Ortiz is the best in the field and the clinic was not a public hospital.

I wish you well, I was banded on Monday and my husband has been great since I got back. Even when I was sick as a dog on Thursday. Stick by your guns, it's your body and life. No one can live it for yoiu and no one knows what you need better than you.

Pam

Hi Pam!

Glad to hear your coping

I'm going to start the liquid yogurt tomorrow. Do that 2 days hopefully, and then start the creamy soup stage.

I think my mental hunger kicks in sometimes, when I'm cooking dinner for my bf, and im looking through the fridge or the cupboards... and when I get bored, or am trying to procrastinate against doing something I'm supposed to (online course work )

It really was a habit. Watch a movie -- gotta have popcorn... friday night's - go out for dinner... sunday night is usually steak night?

I really love to cook, and find it's even hard to do that without "tasting" for proper seasoning. This band is asking for some definite lifestyle adjustments

Funny thing is - I don't really have a problem watching the Food Network. (I love that channel) -

ps.. My tummy has been making growly noises / gurgling lately too. But, I feed it a popsicle, and it seems happier then.

take care,

Hi shannon, not as bad today as yesterday...I think the protein shake helped a lot. I've been cooking for hubby since I got home and have company for dinner tonight. It is really hard to cook without tasting, really hard. I also love to cook and entertain friends and family. It's hard to watch hubby pick fruit off our trees and eat it...even though I did squeeze and strain a couple of our oranges and drank that mixed with my peach yogurt...fuzzy navel minus the alcohol, very good.

I have a friend I meet every week for dinner so we went to see Mama Mia today instead. I loved it all...even Pierce's singing.

I start cream soups tomorrow. We will make it and be eating our own cooking again soon...just less of it.

Pam

Glad you got the protein drinks. My stomach started growling on day 2 really loudly and constantly. the funny thing was at that time I didn't "feel" hungry. My stomach seemed full. So I just let it growl. I also then had the growls and started to be so hungry I wanted to eat a horse and chase the rider, but of course didn't. I then just focused on keeping the liquids going. This phase is for healing, not weight loss, so one thing I did was take my protein shakes and freeze them, or blend them with ice to have a "shake". I also added benefiber to most my liquids to help keep me full.

You will get through this. Just focus on the goal and try not to eat what you shouldn't have too soon. The guilt is not worth it. I tried thinned mashed potatoes on the creamy soup phase, it was really just milk and mashed potatoes so thin I could have used a straw so I thought that was ok at that time.

Hi, I have chewable fiber I can try...I forgot about that...thanks for the reminder. I don't want to get to cocky...right now I haven't had a problem with either the yogurt or the protein drink which I did a no no and added skim milk to because I am not a big chocolate fan. Costco only had one flavor. No problem with the milk, either. I start cream soups tomorrow so that will help. Have you tried blending regular soup and drinking it? Is that considered OK?

Regarding your other post...they sell non prescription things for mood swings caused by PMS. I would try them first. I find some quiet me time always helped. Don't beat yourself up...your body has been through a lot in the last few months. Just tell yourself what I used to when I was dealing with 8 teenagers (mine & hubby's) this too shall pass....and it did. Now they have teenagers and I laugh alot! LOL

Pam

I have received a few PM's about this so I am actually going to post this as a topic so others can post their before and after pictures or images of whatever they want INSIDE of a post like this one.

The first thing to know is that you cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, e.g. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. If you want to use pictures from your PC or digital camera you first have to upload them to a website that offers image hosting, the most popular are ImageShack & PhotoBucket I use myspace. Once you register for free with them, those photos hosts allow you to upload images from your computer to them then give you the links to post safely in your forums entries. They even give you links wrapped with bbCode tags so that you have only to copy & paste into your posts.

If you want to find the link for an image already published on the web it takes and extra step. Let's use the OCC Image/Logo from the top right corner of this page as an example, it looks like this:

To get the address of this image right-click on the Logo.. A box will pop up the very LAST option will be PROPERTIES click that and in the box that will popup it will have the ADDRESS of the link for the Logo that you'll have to copy, in the OCC logo example, the link would say this:

http://www.lapbandforum.com/style_images/7_logo_new.jpg

Once you have copied the link open a new post or reply to a post and you can just add the tags icon (it is on the bottom row and is the 2nd button to the right of the smiley face button). This will give you a pop up box where you will paste the address using "Ctrl + v" then click OK and it will automatically be put into your message. I always suggest clicking PREVIEW POST to make sure it shows up before submitting a new topic!!

I hope that's not too confusing... Feel free to use this thread to practice posting pics of whatever you'd like you can use the OCC image above or whatever!!

The directions for the ticker I was able to do but I've been trying to add my pix for over an hour with no luck. I have it on photo bucket and copied and pasted into add photo section with no luck. I've had computers since the 80s and been selling on ebay since 97 but can't add a pix to a forum. What am I doing wrong?

Pam

The tubing from the band to the port coiled up on itself and entwined around and stuck to the omentum tissue (around her stomach) but they were able to fix it while keeping the lap band in. So, she is fine and may even get to come home tonight. The Doctor said this was highly unusual and not at all common, so no need for anyone to worry about that as a complication. She did have to get several more little incisions though but thats ok. On the bright side, we can play connect the dots on her stomach now! HAHAHHAHAHA

THanks for the prayers all!!

What a relief for both of you. I am so glad all is well now....what wonderful news.

Pam

I am day 3 post op also on a liquid diet - does that mean i can have 2 spoonfull of hummus if i needed it... i lovvveee hummus??

Im able to keep yoghurt down and they both seem to have the same consistency....

Hi, Let me know if it gives you a problem. I also love the stuff but they told us if you can't drink it don't do it for 3 weeks. I don't think it will go through a straw. LOL.

Pam

During the liquid phase you are allowed to drink as much as you want. So, keep drinking until you are full. THe protein drinks really helped me a lot and are very filling.

Good morning, I started my protein drinks this morning and hopefully that will help. I also bought some fiber water. My stomach was growling so loud it was embarrassing but not as much as the belches were...at least they are a lot quieter now. LOL.

As usual....I get by with a little help from my forum friends.

Pam