ackovach

Good Luck!!!

Good Luck Vix!! You will be home before you know it.

How do you chat?

So sweet... wish I had one of those!!!

I hope you feel better soon. Maybe no more hctz for you.....

Hi, How are you doing now? Everything settle down? Thinking of you, Amy

Hi Murphy2, I was banded at the OCC. But I saw Dr. Williams beforehand just to find out the cost. he did the whole evaluation and I found it was $25k. So I went to Mexico!!!! But He does see patients that were banded anywhere and does fills without fluro. For now, I am going to the fillcentersusa.com to get the fills done with fluro. I am sure getting all done right here is nice once you have the surgery. I could not figure out the financing part. Did you get the realize band or the inamed? When was your surgery? How are you doing? I hear with the realize band that you get a fill in 4 weeks post-op. That would be great!!! Amy

Hi, Ibuprofen is a no-no and any Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory because they are horrible on the stomach. From my understanding, the end result can be a band slippage. One of the bariatric doctors in Atlanta make you sign a contract with him that you will never take these medications again along with carbonated drinks. My friend that was banded at the OCC about a year ago was doing great with her band. She had lost about 60 pounds over the year. She hurt her back, still had a great fill and was prescribed some NSAID meds. She got deathly sick. Could keep nothing down for weeks. She went to a bariatric doctor here. He saw that her band had "flipped"... not slipped yet. Took the saline out for a couple of months, she gained about 20 pounds back, and now has a fill again. It was a huge ordeal for her. She says that the bariatric doctor blamed all of this on the medications she was taken...... Said there are pain meds available that would not hurt the band and to take only Tylenol when possible. And anytime you go to the doctor or hospital, take your lapband cards with you. Tylenol does nothing for me either..... So I am real interested in this thread.

Kittycat, You are smokin'!!! love the hair!! My husband commenting about my weight loss and that he is proud makes me feel better.. After all the weight loss tries, this is the first time people really have taken notice in only 3 or 4 weeks. Sexy just is not there for me yet.

Thank you!!!!

I am sorry this happened. I just want you to know that I here too. Just stay strong and on track with your diet. This is for you!!! I am an emotional eater. Most of the time I get emotional because of the mean stuff that comes out of my husbands mouth. He says he is just venting and I take things too literally. I just can not allow him to tear me down now. It is a battle that I plan to win. He has gotten so much worse since the lapband discussions started. He is 20% ass/80% supportive. I really let the 20% get to me. I think he wonders what will happen to our marriage after I get skinny. Well, if he keeps up the demeaning talk, he is gonna be on the street.... So much change for us to deal with....... Too bad the folks closest to us sometime have to be jerks. Hugs, Amy

Heidi, You can do this. It is just one day at a time. For me it was minute at a time..... But if you kick the preopt in its behind, you will do so good on the postop diet. It was a total mind game for me. I felt like it was my last chance to eat whatever I want. I was taking steroids for pain and on the preopt. It was hard....... But I just kept telling myself, weight loss starts NOW...... I have already eaten enough in the years gone by...... I lost 6 pounds on preopt according to my scales even with steroids. After the surgery, my weight just started falling off. I think it takes a week or two for my body to catch up with the effort. I look back and I am proud of what I have done so far. It is a change day by day in my mind. Food did rule my leisure time....... I am slowly changing that. I could not have understood this change by myself. This forum has been wonderful. Emotional eating is the worst for me. It is hard for me to stop being upset long enough to think about what I am doing. I get frantic. I had that issue last night on my first night of solids. Man, I already love my band. It stopped me from going into a downward spiral. It mentally stopped me. just knowing I have this tool gives me hope and willpower. here is big hug from me....... Amy

Which website do you use to track your calories? I know I have seen it on here, but can't find it now.

Yeah for you!!!

Hi all, I am at 22 days post-op today. I am so happy that I can now pick up my son, go swimming, & exercise. I rocked him to sleep last night the first time in 21 days. I missed it more than he did. Anyway... back to the topic. The occ says no exercise except walking for first 21 days post-op. And no abdominal work for 3 or 6 months? Is pilates considered abdominal work? I know it focuses on the core with roll-ups and such. I get great results with pilates. And it really helps with some of my muscle aches & pains. What about yoga? I was going to email Dr. Miranda, but was scared of her response. I will go ahead and ask her though.

Hi! Happy weekend to those who get a break from their employers!!! Today is my first day of solids.... I am determined not to give in to my "wants". I just had my 30 gram protein shake. Plan to have a small wendys chili for lunch. To go to a free outdoors jazz concert tonight at 8 pm. Getting a 90 minute massage at 3 pm... So excited that I can now pick my son up and go to the pool. So that is where we are headed on Saturday if the weather holds up. Its been kind of cool here. Usually it is unbearable in August. Don't have a clue about Sunday.... But with a 3 year old I am sure will be out and about. Julie, I hope you get a wonderful vacation. Mona-Camille, I hope you get a break sometime this weekend. Sounds very busy. Kittycat, I am with you on the bike thing. I don't think I could watch!!! At least you get some time to yourself. It is hard to find that sometimes. everyone else, Have a great one. Amy

Hi Kim, You look awesome!!! You are a great role model for us newbies!!! I am gonna try to walk your walk!!! Amy

doinitagann, I have known my husband over 10 years and never told him my weight. Even at the OCC, I put everyone on notice that I was hiding it from him. I guess it was the drugs. Sometime during 1st week of post op, I said hun, but the way I weighed 230 pounds when I decided to get the lapband. I weighed 225 at surgery. And I weigh 217 now. I weighed 155 - 160 when we met. I weighed 170 when we got married. His eyes bugged and he did not know what to say. That was pretty smart of him. lol I kind of have a "don't you dare give me anymore sh1t" attitude. So now it is all on the table. I hope it makes me more accountable..... I hope he does not make me regret being that open with him. Amy

Francie, I agree with you. I did feel like I was from a different planet than her. Too bad they don't have a nutritionist in there that is skinny and has been through the lap-band process. My husband directly asked her if she had the lap-band. She seemed to be offended. But she was very professional, but a little cold. I think my husband offended her a couple of times. So I just chalked her attitude up to that. He does not a filter and it gets him trouble. He thinks he is being cute, sometimes it is, other times.....well... ole foot in the mouth. I did not pass the lung test & only lost 6 of my 10 pounds. I was banded the next day. Everyone else was wonderful......

Hi Francie, The first week was the hardest for me. Have you added the yogurt to your diet yet? Do you have any pre-existing conditions that need to be monitored like diabetes or high-blood pressure? My potassium was low and had to make sure I was getting enough. I used Gatorade G2 & Emergen-c drink supplements. Some others have mentioned b-12 supplements as well. hang in there. you almost to the creamy phase. it gets a little easier from there. I also took tomato and and mixed it lots of broth. I am not sure if that is considered a clear liquid or not, but it gave me some variety and nutrients. Be sure to take a liquid vitamin too. I am just finishing up with post-opt today and get eat solids tomorrow.

wow, I can imagine how excited you are. Can't wait to see the pictures. My goal dress is size 12 that is not even thinking about zipping up. So in my book, size 12 is small. congrats!!

Yes, I think I read that too about it being a time to heal. Then Dr. Ortiz came in and blew my husband and I away with the 40 pounds before 1st fill. I kind of hated that my husband heard that. He talks about it and is excited about it. Kind of grates on my nerves.

Hi doinitagann, You should really make that correction with Carolyn or whoever you sent your original paperwork too. I don't think they will be too happy to hear it during your pre-opt visit. I had a similar situation. Carolyn changed the number and gave me new diet guidelines to follow.

Yes, Dr. Ortiz says 10-20% of body weight in first six weeks should be a goal. He has seen 20% and thought I could do 20%. I am eating below 1000 calories now. But I am losing about 2 pounds a week. So I don't know....... I wish my body would let me lose 20% in 6 weeks. All I can do is my best....... I think he may tell us this because it is a motivator and gives us a goal. Maybe they set really high expectations for us because it is really a mind game for some of us. But being on this forum and seeing people's real results, I have not seen anyone lose 20% of their body weight in 6 weeks. But I will try and definitely would LOVE to be one who does.

Sounds like something is not right on Dr. Miranda's end. Maybe she misunderstood some of the numbers you gave you her. Unless I am miscalculating something, 275 is 7% of 296. You will be fine. More than likely you will be ok for surgery. I am sorry that you are stressed out. The pre-opt and post op diet can take its toll on your energy levels. I was very emotional and had brain farts all the time. Just stay determined and stay the course. You are doing great.