PAMMIE

LOL THAT'S THE POINT HANG IN THERE

http://www.cosmeticmiracles.com/handbook/s...nd_surgery.html I HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY COMING UP SO I'M BACK ON CHANTIX AGAIN. I'M HOPEFUL THIS WILL BE MY FINAL ATTEMPT, FINGERS CROSSED LOOK UP SKIN NECROSIS, THEY'RE PRETTY GROSS LOOKING SORES THAT HAPPEN TO SMOKERS MORE THEN NON SMOKERS AFTER SURGERY WHEN WOUNDS DON'T HEAL DUE TO BLOOD FLOW AND THE SKIN JUST DIES OFF. IT HELPS ME TO TRY AND STAY FOCUSED. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

A GOOD READ: While the LAP-BAND® System is an effective treatment for morbid obesity, the pounds do not come off by themselves. The LAP-BAND® System is an aid to support you in achieving lasting results by limiting food intake, reducing appetite and slowing digestion. However, your motivation and commitment to adopt a new lifestyle are extremely important for long-term weight loss. New eating habits must be adhered to for the rest of your life. Exercise is an equally important component of a changed lifestyle. YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. MOST LIKELY YOUR NOT GOING TO FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT AFTER YOUR FIRST FILL. IT TAKES SEVERAL FILLS AND EVERY FILLS GOING TO COST MONEY, PERIOD. IT'S WHAT WE ALL SIGNED UP FOR WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO GET BANDED. I WOULDN'T LOOK AT IT AS A WASTE OF MONEY BUT A STARTING POINT, WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE. YOU HAVE TO START WITH BETTER EATING HABITS, PIZZA AND ICE CREAM AREN'T GOING TO DO IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ON WEIGHT WATCHERS FOREVER BUT YOU HAVE TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CALORIE INTAKE UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT OR YOU WON'T LOSE A POUND.

WOW, I JUST LOVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES, YOUR DOIN AN AWESOME JOB GIRLY

HI LISA, I'M GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DR NYTES SUMMER SPECIAL AND GET THE GIRLS BACK IN SHAPE AGAIN IN A FEW WEEKS. I ORIGINALLY HAD THE SAME DATE AS A FRIEND, SHE'S GETTING A TT BUT JUNE WORKS BETTER FOR ME THEN JULY. I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE WAY MY TUMMY TUCK LOOKS AND I COMPLETELY TRUST DR NYTE AND HIS WORK. I'LL UPDATE THE OLD PHOTO ALBUM WHEN DONE

AWESOME READ DAWN. I WISH EVERYONE WOULD READ AND AND TAKE THIS ADVICE THANK YOU

YOU LOOK GREAT MICHELLE

AFTER YEARS OF NOT HAVING THE FLU, THIS YEAR WAS MY YEAR EVEN AFTER GETTING A FLU SHOT. I WAS SICKER THEN A DOGGIE. I THANK GOD I HAD ANTI NAUSEA MEDICINE ON HAND. THINK ABOUT ASKING YOUR DR FOR A RX, JUST IN CASE, IT CAN'T HURT TO KEEP SOME ON HAND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN

AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP FOOD NOR WATER DOWN FOR 36 HOURS, I LOST SEVERAL POUNDS BUT I RETURNED TO NORMAL ONCE I HAD A BIT OF AN UNFILL AND STARTED EATING AND DRINKING AGAIN I'D SAY LOSING THAT FAST, MOST OF IT WAS WATER WEIGHT.

GO BACK IN THE A.M., THAT "THONG" CAN BE BOTHERSOME LOL CONGRATULATIONS

HI CLAIRE, YOU'VE JUST FINISHED HEALING, THE FIRST SIX WEEKS, IT'S NOT ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT AT THIS TIME. JUST HAD YOUR FIRST FILL, 7 DAYS AGO. THE BAND HAS JUST STARTED WORKING AS A TOOL FOR YOU. IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO BE AT OUR WEIGHT. GIVE THE BAND MORE THEN A WEEK TO START IN. YOU'LL DO FINE, JUST GIVE IT TIME.

I DIDN'T BRING TO MUCH CASH WITH ME BUT ENOUGH FOR A LITTLE SHOPPING AND TIPPING THE DRIVER, DOORMAN ETC

DR CURRY HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL ON ANSWERING QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE ON LAPBAND BOARDS, I AM A FAN OF HIS Date / Time: 4/30/2008 5:00 PM SPECIAL GUEST:ObesityHelp's Lap-band Surgeon, Dr. Trace Curry Trace W. Curry, M.D. is a board-certified general surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive weight loss surgery. He is a Cincinnati native and trained at Good Samaritan Hospital. He is the director of bariatric surgery at The Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati and has performed well over 1300 laparoscopic gastric bands, 700 laparoscopic bypasses, and 75 sleeve gastrectomies, making him one of the most experienced in the region at the laparoscopic technique

MY DAUGHTERS STAYING NEXT WEEKEND AT THE OMNI DOWNTOWN. (BOYFRIEND LIVES DOWN THERE) I'VE ONLY STAYED THERE ONCE MYSELF BUT IT'S A NICE HOTEL. IT CAN BE PRICEY BUT IF YOU USE PRICELINE, IT'S PRETTY REASONABLE http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/SanDiego.aspx http://www.priceline.com/

THE PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR HUBBY IS NICE. YOU MAKE A GOOD LOOKIN COUPLE

HI DONNA, YEP, FOR ME STRESS ISN'T GOOD IF I PLAN ON EATING. SOMETIMES IF I'M STRESSED, A GLASS OF VINO, ETC IS JUST WHAT THE DR ORDERED TO RELAX AND ENJOY MY DIN DIN. (I DIDN'T SAY BREAKFAST LOL)

OMG LOL LOVE IT!!!

YEAH, YOUR STILL HEALING AND YOUR BODIES GETTING USE TO EATING LESS. ONCE YOU GET BACK ON SOLID FOODS AND GET USE TO SMALL AMOUNTS, IT GETS BETTER

THAT'S PRETTY KEWL DONNA!!!

YOU LOOK AWESOME AND IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW MONTHS

LET US KNOW HOW IS GOES HANNA

WOO HOO!!! AWESOME!!!

WOW!!! AMAZING!!!

DONNA, IT WAS SO NICE TO MEET YOU ALSO. NEXT TIME I WILL STAY. I GOT TO LISTEN FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND SHE WAS VERY INSPIRATIONAL. I JUST WANTED TO GET HOME AFTER THE RAIN ALL DAY AND NOT FEELING WELL. MORNING MS MICHELLE, THE RESTRICTION JUST CAME OUT OF THE BLUE AND I WAS PRETTY MISERABLE :lb12: . ALL NIGHT I SOUNDED LIKE A GURGLING PLUGGED UP SINK WHEN I OPENED MY MOUTH LOL. THE GALS SAID IT WASN’T UNUSUAL AFTER LOSING THAT AT SOME POINT I’D NEED AN UNFILL. CARO, DRIVE ON UP, IT'S NOT THAT FAR. THE HUBBY WORKS FOR THE AIRLINES AND SOMETIMES I CATCH A FLIGHT FROM SEATAC TO PORTLAND IF EVERYTHING FROM SEATTLE IS OVER BOOKED. IT TAKES MORE TIME TO GET THRU SECURITY AND ALL THE HASSLES THEN JUST DRIVING IT. AND, YOU CAN GET A GOOD VISIT IN WITH THE DAUGHTER IF YA COME UP FOR THE WEEKEND

FOR THE LAST 36 HOURS, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EAT NOR DRINK A DROP OF ANYTHING. EVEN WATER CAME RIGHT UP. I CALLED NW FILLS AND THEY JUST SO HAPPEN TO BE IN THE GIG HARBOR AREA THIS EVENING GIVING FILLS BUT IN MY CASE, UNFILL. I STILL HAD 2.4 IN THE BAND AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF FROM MY LAST FILL. THEY REMOVED .4 AND I'M IN HEAVEN. ON THE WAY HOME A BOTTLE OF WATER WASN'T A PROBLEM TO GET DOWN AND I FEEL SOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER. THEY SAID THAT I MAY HAVE TO EVEN GO WITH LESS NOW THAT I'M WHERE I WANT TO BE BUT WE'LL SEE. THEY HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD TIPS ON THEIR WEB SITE I THOUGHT I'D POST HERE AGAIN, THANK YOU LADIES, I COULDN'T BE ANY HAPPIER WITH YOUR SERVICES http://www.northwestfills.com/education.php FILL INSTRUCTIONS The Lap Band fill (adjustment) is the effect the band has on decreasing your appetite. If you are less hungry then you eat less and will lose weight. The word restriction is a misnomer. When fluid is added to the lap band it causes the food one eats to stay in a pouch for a longer time. This releases a neurotransmitter to the brain that says you are full for 4 hours. This is a fill. To feel restriction is not good and can lead to other problems, like Gastric Reflux, heartburn, PB (projectile burping) and band slippage (rare). How much fill should I get? It is important to understand that the tissue in you gut is like the tissue in your mouth, it is very sensitive and swells very easily. Everyone is different; a good fill for one person is too tight for another person, or not enough for the next person. 1. The initial adjustment post operatively should occur at 6 weeks or later, and 1-2cc of Normal Saline (for the 9.75 or 10 cc band). The larger band (11CM and VG) adjustment os 3-4cc. 2. Regular reviews (4-6 weeks) are recommended with weight and clinical status measured. If weight loss is 1 pound per week over the period and patient is following bandster diet guidelines then another fill of normal saline is added at .2 to .5 increments. 3. If the weight loss average between visits is 2 plus pounds per week no fill is needed. 4. If the weight loss averaged between 1-2 pounds and the person feels hungry and found it difficult to comply with the dietary guideline/portions. 5. Fluid is removed from the system if there is symptoms of excessive restriction or obstruction, including excessive sense of fullness, heartburn, regurgitation and vomiting. 6. Fluoroscopy is needed for evaluation of band placement and/or port placement. 7. It is important know that the fluid in the band never adds up, it is always give or take 1 cc because fluid hides in the tubing or in the band. Post Fill/Adjustment Guidelines Eat lightly the day of your fill. After the fill is done drink liquids for 24 hours. Day 2 go to mushy foods, continue on this until you are comfortable to progress to solid food. If you have pain in your chest, heartburn or you are unable to progress to solid foods within a day or two then please call our office and we will discuss with you if you need to have some fill removed. If you start vomiting (PBing) at any time then stop eating for a few hours. After an episode of vomiting, the area of the band is swollen and you will not be successful in keeping anything down, give the band a few hours to rest and then eat later on. Don’t try to force food down! It is normal for the band to be tighter during the morning. Many people can only drink fluids, or eat yogurt or mushy foods. Work with your band and do not try to force food down. It is also normal of the band be looser in the evening, you might be able to eat more. Some women feel tighter during their period, or flying in a plane. WORK WITH YOUR BAND! EMERGENT/URGENT BAND PROBLEMS What is the difference between Emergent, Urgent and Normal band problems? EMERGENT: Harsh vomiting (different than pb’ing), unable to swallow saliva or any fluid. You need to go to the Emergency Room and have them give you an IV to hydrate you. You need to tell them you have a lap band and need to have a fluoroscopy to see if it has slipped or you are closed off due to swelling. You need to take your surgeons phone number with you so they can call and talk to him. Dehydration: symptoms include dizziness, low blood pressure, disorientation, not able to make decisions appropriately. If someone else thinks you are in need help, you probably are because you are too ill to make that decision. It takes more than 24 hours to become dehydrated. URGENT: When you have frequent throwing up 3-4 or more times per week, you need to be seen by your fill clinic to get a bit of saline removed. If you have heartburn or reflux, you need to be on over the counter Prilosec twice a day, possibly remove a bit of saline from your band. If you let it go on, you risk slippage of the band. After you have a bit taken out, stay on liquids for 1 week, mushy for 1 week, introduce solids slowly. If your band slams shut after you have had a fill, you should return to your clinic for a bit of unfill. Don’t let it go on too long, you risk slipping your band and dehydration. This prevents and ER visit. Normal Problems: You can’t eat solids in the morning. Try drinking something hot. This may open your band up and allow you to eat. If you can’t eat in the mornings, try going on liquids for 3 days, then start eating breakfast, larger lunch, smaller dinner. Sometimes this will reset your eating habits. If you just can’t eat in the morning, but can eat later in the day, go ahead and drink a protein drink in the morning to get your protein in. We normally say no liquid proteins, but once in awhile is ok. The whole process behind the band is to eat our protein in solid form, not liquids. Pb’ing, yakking, tossing your cookies: Are you eating too fast? Not chewing enough? Taking too big a bite? Swallowing hot things too soon? Maybe you need to coat your meat with BBQ sauce or something to help it go down. Try eating with a baby spoon to make sure you are taking smaller bites. IF you have the flu: You should be fine, but if you are throwing up too much, some fluid out of you band would help. You can drink flat 7-up, gatoraid, apple juice, whatever, forget the calories, just stay hydrated. WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR: Get an unfill if you can’t swallow your spit. Get an unfill if you can’t eat regular food. Gen an unfill if you are having heartburn or reflux. Call your doctor emergently if you are throwing up blood. You might have a tear or rupture in your esophagus. Be sure to tell them you have a band. They may think you have an abdominal problem. Not all problems are related to the band. Just make sure they have the information anyway. Go to the ER if you haven’t been able to drink any liquids for 24 hours. Call your surgeon with any concerns. DO NOT LIVE WITH THROWING UP FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. THE WEIGHT YOU ARE LOSING IS WATER, NOT FAT! This is not the way to lose weight. You are depleting yourself of needed vitamins and nutrients your body needs to survive. THINGS TO DO BEFORE AND AFTER YOU GO TO SURGERY 1. Go on a liver shrinking diet, no matter what your BMI is. It makes the surgery much easier. 2. Take a side and front picture full body. 3. Take your measurements. Neck, both arms at the heaviest, chest, waist, hips, heaviest part of thighs and calves, both legs. 4. Find a fill doctor before you have the surgery. 5. Plan out and budget for 3-7 fills. Once you have your fill doctor, figure out how much you are going to have to spend on fills. Plan on the higher number, hope for the smallest. 6. Practice taking pea sized bites, chew, chew, chew. 7. Practice not drinking with meals. Stop at the first bite, wait 45-60 minutes after the last bite to drink again. 8. Plan what you are going to eat in each stage of the band. Day 1-4, clear liquids. This can include popsicles, jello, clear broth, apple juice, white grape juice, anything you can see through and is liquid in the melted stage. 9. Day 4-10, full liquids. This includes any blended, non thickened soup, thin mashed potatoes, yogurt, cottage cheese, sugar free puddings. Anything you can still drink through a straw. Protein drinks are ok until you start eating real food. 10. Day 11-21, mushy stage, anything you can eat if you had no teeth. Take any food, put it in the blender. You may need to add a little milk, water, juice or broth to thin it a bit. 11. Week 4-real food. Start with your protein. Usually 3-4 oz. Then eat ½ cup of veggies or until you are full. 12. Week 6, you may be ready for your first fill. If you are still losing, try to put it off as long as possible. 13. After you fill, you should stay on liquids for that day, go to mushies the next day. Regular food the next. Give your fill a chance to work. If you stop losing, eat more than you know you should, get another fill. HOW TO EAT LIKE A BANDSTER 1. Eat small portions: eat just to the point of fullness. 2. Eat slowly: but not for more than 20-25 minutes. 3. Take small bites and chew, chew, chew. 4. Practice mindful eating: at mealtime, sit down and focus on the meal, no TV, no reading. Focus on your food. 5. Limit soft foods: eat dense protein (chicken, fish, beef, etc) at least twice a day. 6. NO DRINKING WITH MEALS and for at least 1 hour afterwards. (you are washing the food through your band and not letting your band work for you) 7. Eat protein first, then veggies, then starch. 8. Eat healthy fresh food and complex carbs. Stay away from the refined sugars. 9. Less than 30% of your calories should come from 10. No liquid calories except 2 glasses of skim milk. 11. Eat 3 small meals per day plus 1 planned low calorie snack. NO GRAZING. 12. Limit calories to no more than 1600 per day. Average is around 1200 per day. 13. Drink 64 oz of water per day. 14. Exercise vigorously at least 3 times per week. HIGH PROTEIN FOODS Serving Size Protein Grams Serving Size Protein Grams Almonds 1c 26 Red Snapper 3oz 39 Barley, Uncooked 1c 16.5 Salami 1oz 6.9 Baked Beans ½c 8.1 Scallops 5-6 Med 39.5 Kidney Beans ½c 7.2 Shrimp 5 Large 15.5 Lima Beans ½c 5.4 Shrimp, Canned 3oz 20.8 Bean Soup 1c 7.6 Baked Ham 3oz 26.3 Corned Beef 3oz 22.9 Boiled Ham 2oz 14.5 Hamburger 3oz 21.8 Lamb Chop, Broiled 4oz 20.2 Roast Beef 3oz 23.3 Lentil Soup 1 Cup 5 Beef Pot Pie 23 Beef Liver, Fried 3oz 13.2 Cottage Cheese 1/2c 13.6 Calf Liver, Fried 3oz 15.1 Fried Chicken ½ Breast 24.7 Lobster 1c 19.5 Chicken Drumstick 12.5 Mac & Cheese 1/2c 8.4 Chicken, Dark 3.5 oz 29.3 Malted Milk 8oz 11.1 Chicken, White 3.5oz 32.3 Whole Milk 1 Cup 8 Chicken Salad ½ c 17.4 Onion Soup 1 Cup 8.1 Oyster Stew 1 Cup 15.8 Pea Soup 1 Cup 13.3 Perch 3 oz 22.5 Egg, Boiled 6.3 Pork Chop 3.5oz 21.4 Egg, Scrambled 7.1 Bakes Sole 3.5oz 30 Baked Flounder 3oz 30.2 Broiled Trout 3 oz 20.3 Water Packed Tuna ½ c 36.4 Turkey, Dark 3.5oz 30 Turkey, White 3.5oz 32.9 Haddock 1 Fillet 16.6 Yogurt ½ c 4.4