BrownEyedGirl

Woohoo and congrats on getting of your @-s-s!! Pretty soon you'll have a much tinier @-s-s to get off of. Dangling participles, aside... GOOD JOB!

This is something Dolittle said in a previous post. It doesn't address blood in the syringe (yikes) but may address your other question. "I do have an answer to Bogies question about how they tell if your band is leaking. The easiest way they can tell, is when you have a fill, if the place you go to is any good, the fill doctor or tech will pull all the fuild out of your band to see how much is in there, then compare it to previous records. If there's a big variation, then there's a possiblity something is might be wrong. The next step would be to watch the refill via the fluoroscope and see if the fuild is leaking. All good bandsters should keep track of how much they have in their band. Try to use the same fill clinic and the same doctor, because they will keep records of this too. But sometimes you might end up at another fill clinic, that's when it pays to know your numbers. I personally have never heard of the band leaking, I've heard of badly done fills at shotty clinics where they have missed the port and hit the tube or damaged the port. Also,, some of these so called fill clinics can accidently not pull all the fuild out and then proceed to tell you somethings wrong. Talk about giving someone some anxiety. This is why it's to your best interest to check out fill clinics before you go to them. My best advise is to go back to the OCC for your fills. My opinion is that they still do the best job at filling your band. I live in the Midwest, if I plan it right and watch airline sales, it's almost the same cost to go back to TJ versus going to one of those so called fill clinics. I know its a little inconvenient to go back to TJ,, but I sleep better at night. "

Ooh gerfren! I'd be afraid I'd shake mah port loose! Looks like fun!!

I'm sorry, I thought I answered this already but it must have been from other posts. It's been a common question and my experience wasn't bad at all. My first words to my husband when I woke up from surgery were "I feel full" and I felt that way the entire three weeks. There was one evening I craved chicken. The day I could eat solids I wasn't hungry but I ate. So, for me, the three weeks went well. Oh, the one night I was hungry my husband came home with pizza and I chewed a piece of sausage and spit it out. I don't recommend doing that because one might not spit it out. Gosh, I know I've written this out a few times. Maybe my blog. Anyway, I hope that puts your mind at ease.

Those sound like all the warning signs Dr. Ortiz told us about. I hope you go in to see him or some other doctor soon. Dolittle says this in his post about getting good fills: 12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will never be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info. A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied for about 3-4 hrs. here's the link: http://www.occforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9919

2 Fiber gummies Breakfast: 1/2 Special K bar 2 prunes 1oz smoked pork Lunch: Tomato Pie Nectarine Was so weak and tired today and could barely eat breakfast. I think it was because I needed more protein or something so I snacked on meat off and on all afternoon. I probaby ate 3-4 oz. Gardening and walking 4 miles yesterday without a lot of fuel probably didn't help. 1oz cheese I also had a yogurt smoothie that said it had a nutrient boost. After eating more than I should have I finally have some energy and am not so fuzzy in the brain but it's 9pm!! I need a different plan for tomorrow. Dinner: sausage and sauteed kale on 1/2 sandwich thin water 64oz walked 1 mile on treadmill

I don't have any experience with a fill yet. I just wanted to say CONGRATS!

Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't mean they aren't rooting you on. Some of the biggest pushes I got were from someone that wasn't commiserating with me. Anyway, go out and succeed in spite of the obstacles.

I'm doing my best to plan ahead so I do't find myself with no healthy food and a McDonald's a few feet away. The cool thing about the tomato pie is that you get 8 slices out of it. I'm having it for lunch and the plan is to always have oatmeal or cottage handy for breakfast. I have TONS of Weight Watchers cook books and picked a few of my faves. Oh!.. I also bought a really cool lunch box to pack meals on the go. I'm getting tons of ideas from that eggface website. http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/

Welcome back! I was glad to see you posting your food diaries still. Hang tough and you'll get through this and to your sweet spot. Even though it may not feel like it sometimes, we're all rooting for you and want to see you succeed. We're all in the same boat here and rely on each other for support and knowledge.

Yummy! But then I love veggies. I added it to the tomato pie and the parts that poked out got crispy. OMGosh! They were so good!! My son and I ate some raw. Whether one likes it plain or not I think it would be pretty easy to chop it fine and add it to an omelette or scramble or salad or whatever.

I got the recipe for the breakfast bites from here: http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/search?q=breakfast+bites&updated-max=2009-04-09T11%3A12%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=20 But I used larger muffin cups so that 1 of mine equaled 2 of hers. I also added Kale. I'm adding that to everything even Tomato Pie. It's one of the top 10 foods we aren't eating but should. http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/15/healthy-foods-eating-lifestyle-health-healthy-foods_slide_9.html?thisSpeed=undefined

Uh oh.. what this about 1/4 cup portion control? I'm not eating much but I'm pretty sure it's more than 1/4 cup. Also Lisal, I can't PM you. I have a question about your rockin' arms.

I don't know what a NSV is but CONGRATS! Where's the smilie with the party hat? *<{:-) Close enough. I've always said I couldn't run even to save my life. I'd be the one in the scary movie that goes first. I really hope someday I can follow in your foot steps. I've broken both legs and ankles and haven't run since because that's when the weight started piling on. Congrats on a great accomplishment. It's awesome hearing things like this or Debbie's mountain climbing! You guys rock!

I heard about them from that cutie girl here on the forum and I can't remember her name at the moment. But her face and smile are in my head. Anyway, they taste like gummi bears and I got them at Wal-mart. Seems when I wake up in the morning I crave something sweet. Even after brushing my teeth. I've always been like that. If there's candy or cake in the house, I'd eat some before breakfast. So, when I get up I eat two of these and they take awhile to chew up and are sweet and I could use the fiber. There's also a Weight Management version. http://www.target.co...k/dp/B002QBZW54 Update: OMGosh.. here she is doing a review of them on YouTube. She's so cute! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2THSPtxpHTc

I'm so sorry to hear that. It does seem like you're being truthful with yourself about what you're doing wrong. You say you don't cook and don't like frozen foods. Does that mean drive-thru? You said you and your mom eat the same foods. I think you need only to look and see that she's doing the same things as you without success to have the confirmation you need. It's not going to be easy to do something different than your mom because she's probably supportive (even if silently) of what you're doing wrong. Kind of like a couple I know. Two chain smokers and one decided to quit. While the husband didn't put her down when she quit he did console her when she'd sneak a cigarette and sympathize with her and pretty much helped ease her right back into smoking. You and your mom may kinda be doing that for each other. In the few days I've been on solids I can tell that having something ..ermm.. more firm(?) helps. Last night I ate steamed broccoli and that seemed to do the trick. I'm having some fruit with breakfast and some meat. I'm going to buy some lunchmeat so I can eat a slice with my oatmeal. For lunch I had some edamame with my tomato pie. I know you have IBS but maybe there's somethng you can do. I finely chopped some kale and put it into my tomato pie. Looks like you are going to have to extricate yourself from this cozy trap you've fallen into with your mom and get to work. You may find that you motivate her too. You say you're bored with frozen foods and don't cook, well start cooking because you've left yourself very few options. Find a few easy recipes that are tasty (tomato pie) and do it. I only know of one person who didn't cook but didn't eat frozen food and lost weight. Not sure how you feel about having Subway sandwiches for the rest of your life though. I'm beginning to realize that if my band is going to work, I'm going to have to work it. I could totally get around this band. It's gonna take work roo and I know that the extra weight makes some of us soooo tired but you have to do it. That weight is going to be an anchor as you get older and cause you so much pain. I really need to blog about my friend who's been in the hospital and docs aren't sure if she's coming out. Why is she there? Something to do with weighing nearly 400 lbs. She said she's given up and tired of fighting. It's not her first time in the hospital either. So, she's chosen death over diet and exercise. And she thinks I'm nuts for getting banded. You wanted honesty. I hope that's not too much. I'm just so desperate for all of us to succeed and see for myself how easy it is to fail. But also see the successes and know they didn't come by it without some sacrifice. I guess that's it. What are we willing to sacrifice? The money and surgery were easy. That wasn't sacrificing that much of ourselves. But getting off our butts and denying ourselves goodies?! Hmm. Anway, Blessings to you and your mom and I'll say a prayer for your success. Also, if you see me backsliding and making excuses.. please kick my arse. HARD!

2 Fiber Gummis Breakfast: Lobster Omelette 1/4 cup lobster 1 egg + 1 egg white 1/8 cup cheese 1/8 cup mixed fruit __________________________ Lunch: 1 serving Tomato Pie 1/4 cup Edamame 1/8 cup blueberries Dinner: 1.5 oz smoked pork 1/4 sandwich thin 1/8 cup cabbage slaw 2 calcium chews Walked on treadmill 4 miles! 48 oz water and hoping to get more in before bed. Gardening

1/2 hour before breakfast green tea plain 2 Fiber Gummis 10 cal 1/2 serving oatmeal no milk 90cal blueberries and cherries 40 ------------------------------------------------ 140 1/2 hour after bfast plain coffee Lunch: Tomato Pie 260 cal 1/4 special K bar 25 Dinner small portion of dinner salad with vinegar brocolli 1/4 lobster tail 250 total? 1/4 special k bar 25 700 calories total for the day?! I think I'm going to quit counting calories. I'm going to get hung up and start over eating thinking I'm not getting enough. Walked 3 miles on treadmill 48 oz water

And for me the obvious question is, "How do I know what the right band is for me?" We have people here succeeding with the same band. I would hate to see this turn into a built in excuse for failure. You may not have gotten what you thought was best for you but you did get what an expert thinks is best for his patients. And you still have a band that you see is working for others. So far I don't see a lot of people jumping up and saying they have the same problem. I'm sure those people exist but most people here are loving their band and those not succeeding are owning up to the fact they aren't working it properly. Still eating junk and drinking calories, whether it's booze or frappucinos and not exercising. I'm not saying that's your case but what people are admitting to here. I'm sure it's frustrating for you since you are having this problem and most people on this forum aren't. And since many people are so happy with their band and the care they recieved from Dr. Ortiz I'm sure it's hard for them to sit silently by while someone questions what boils down to his integrety about something he's been open about. I know it's frustrating for you not to get support in this but no one is speaking out about having the same problem. You should try to schedule a one on one with Dr. Ortiz about this. I don't think you'll get the band you want put in for free though. But maybe he'll sit in on a fill and talk to you to put you more at ease. I think it's good to raise questions but if no one else is having the same problem maybe you need to take it to the source because your problem must be very individual. I don't know if you'll get the support you need from so many succeeding here on this forum which wouldn't help you anyway. The support you need is from Dr. Ortiz. He needs to look at your case and see what the problem is. I'm sorry if I upset you but this whole thing is upsetting and one person's problem amid so many successes is standing out taking over the forum and discouraging so many. And I really want to see you succeed. Geez. I feel like crappy now. I'm going to bow out of this topic from now on.

I agree. I was just trying to describe the sensations. I just finished lunch. Yay for tomato pie! I don't feel like overeating. I hope I feel the same as the swelling goes down.

Thank you. I'm such a newb.

Under Diet and Nutrition and titled 12 March 2010, I accidentally posted duplicate topics. Sorry. I was hitting the space bar and got a weird message. I guess that's when I did it. Could you please delete one? Thanks and sowee.