The Gals' Room

Holy balls. I have always had bad cramps, but TOM started a few days ago, like clockwork, no surprises (thank goodness), but the cramps are awful! Ahhhhhhhh! I just tried to take some tylenol, it still takes me a few trys to get medication down, so now I am sitting in my cubicle at work, feel stuffed full of the water I gulped, and crampy... please tell me the cramps get better as months go by?!

I've now had my period for 10 days. It is kind of light, but still I'm passing clots. I'm kind of getting a little worried. I usually go for 4-5 days. Also even the beginning of this period was weird, usually I start cramping a number of days prior, and get cramps on the day I start. This time. No cramps prior and none on the day of. I don't completely keep track, but it just showed up, and thinking back, it was on time. But I'm concerned I'm still bleeding. I was going to give it a couple more days before I call my gyno. But I was wondering if anyone had any advice. With all my weight loss so far, my period has always been consistent, so I'm unsure what change…

So, I've always had a very active social.. mainly because I'm a vocalist and run in the music/arts circles.. Anyway, friday night I went to a new karaoke spot to hang out for a bit...So, I sang a song and proceeded to go hang out around the bar area w/ the DJ and his wife... This guy walks up and introduces himself and kind just lingers... I had this look on my face like.. ahhhh... can I help you??... He keeps talking, finally sits down and an hour later.... were talking about what I like to do besides read and shop.. I had to sing another song, so he follows me back to the stage area and just stands there.. .When I'm done singing, he kind of grabs me and showers me w/ al…

So...I'm scheduled for surgery Feb 10th. I started to freak out and get scared a little but I will tell you........My husband and I took our "before" pics last night and that made all of my fear disappear and reassured that I am doing the right thing. Boy was that some eye opener......

Okay...this is kind of embarassing but I just possibly had a light bullb moment. I have been dealing with a rather embarassing problem for my whole adult life. When I get turned on, even from just a heavy make out session I get SO wet. Like...WAY too much. I know its a normal body function, blah, blah. Im a labor nurse and well versed in sexual function and how our bodies act. The problem is its embarassing AND has a negaive impact on my sex life. I LOVE oral sex and can get pleasure so easily they arent down there too much. However, once sex starts, I cant feel a thing because Im so dripping wet the friction is gone. And though Ive never had any complaints, I have w…

For as long as I can remember I have had very painful cramps the first day of my period, now for the last 5-6 months I've been getting extremely nauseas as well. Well it is affecting my life, last month I had to leave work because I felt like I was going to vomit. I am finally going to be going to the gynocologist (yes, I've never been) and get some birth control (I've heard it can lesson cramps and such) and make sure nothing is wrong since I'm getting nauseas too. My question is, I've heard some can make you gain weight, obviously I don't want this side effect. Which ones don't? Also, I'd probably elect for a type that you dont have to take everyday. I have no …

Ok so i went to see my surgeon today to get a schedule for my EGD (which is next thurs XD) and talk about alot of things. Just to put it out there i will get a date he said around the middle or end of march OR early april. Lol sorry had to share that XD But back on topic. I got like 3 papers today. One shows all the complications that can happen during surgery, and after.. Theres death of course. And of course in the back of my mind im paranoid about that.. But really i dont like the hair loss one.. What are my chances of actually losing my hair or it thinning?? And what causes it? Is there any way to prevent it? Im soo worried because i damaged my hair alot in the past a…

Hi all, So I finally have the hair loss after 4 months of none....I have made sure I have had the right amount of protein since day 2, lost about 10 lbs a month on the average and taken my vitamins and I do understand the resting phase etc of the hair as I'm a trained cosmetologist! But now I need to know what is the best brand of biotin and how much to take...I'm a little traumatized (but I knew it might happen) as my hair is the only thing I've considered pretty my whole life! Been chubby since I was 5, I started at 440lbs and now I'm about 333lbs so I'm not complaining but I'd like to keep my pretty hair....LOL! Thanks for the help! Tracy W.

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Does anyone use firming lotion or can it hinder weight loss? I'm being sleeved on Monday and while I'm happy with my decision to do so and know that it's for health reasons, I am afraid of saggy skin and deflated boobs. I've always had huge boobs so I'm sure I'll need a lift if anything. I'm going through a separation and will eventually begin dating again. I've always had body image issues being over weight, and I'd hate to have body image issues while I look great in clothes but am still afraid to be seen naked. Guess there's always plastic surgery down the road . Oh and is there anyone else close to my size? I'd love to hear how your body has changed. I'm 5'6, 46DDD,…

Hi ladies!! Time for yet ANOTHER period question! I have PCOS so I know that plays a large part in my cycle issues... Priot to surgery I hadn't had a period for 4 months... I'm now 2.5 months post op and working on my 4th period in that amount of time... How long did it take for your cycle to get back to normal? I'm starting to feel drained from just the thought of another period!

So anyway...I'm down 120lbs since March. I have jiggly bits and pieces all over the place so I wear SPANX pretty much everyday for work and when I go out. The ones that are like underwear to your bra. My question is that when I wear them lately I've been getting my left shoulder pain. I normally only get that when I eat too much or too quickly. I think I am now getting it because the SPANX is pushing on my band that hits my phrenic nerve causing my shoulder pain. I know its sounds totally crazy but anyone else experience this? My grandma always used to say, "You have to suffer to be beautiful." I wonder if this is what she meant! LOL! Thanks!

I need a good sports bra (or 2) but I wear about a 40DD. Needless to say they are not so easy to find in stores, but online they are aplenty. I have already come to the conclusion that it is going to cost a small fortune, but if I am going to invest, I want to invest wisely. I have no issues with underwires or racerbacks or anything like that. I want a bra that is going to keep me from getting a black eye (or two!) in Zumba. Any suggestions? Good luck, everyone!

Right before my lovely TOM, I have crazy head hunger AND I can physically eat more. I usually have great restriction, except for "that" time. Then, when it is over, my restriction is back. I was just wondering if anyone else has this happen?

Ok, so I was on birth control for 15 years. I have been off of it for the last few months and my periods have been normal for the first time since I was 14 years old! Yippeee....but I just noticed that I have gained 3lbs and it is just a couple of days before I'm to start...is this normal? What do others gain and does it come off easily after???? Thanks, Tracy

Anyone have a late period post op? I've always been very regular. I had surgery 10/17 and started my period in the hospital. Now, for the first time I'm late. I'm certainly not pregnant, and doc said I can restart my birth control at 8 weeks. I've heard many stories of multiple/heavy periods but was anyone else late?

Hey ladies! I know we aren't supposed to take whole pills and Aleve used to knock my cramps out in 1o mins. Now that you're sleeved, what are you taking for menstrual cramps?

Ladies, I'm wondering if anyone knows anything that works to keep saggy baggy thighs in check? I'm at goal and plastics are more than a year away. I'm small enough that I'm comfortable wearing some shorter dresses and skirts but my thighs are a disaster! Regular hose don't seem to do much except at the waist and upper thigh. I have issues all the way down to my knees. I wonder if anyone has experience with sheer compression hose? Would they do the trick or would they cause an issue? Something like a body shaping short wouldn't work with most things I'm thinking about wearing. Any tips? ~Cheri

Hey ladies!! I am still early on in my journey. When I was in undergrad I had an amazing shape including a nice butt! In your experience, when you lose weight, does your butt/curves go too?

Hi everyone! I have a problem with flem from my esophagus. I get a clogged feeling in my throat and then I belch and it is full of flem type product. Not really any food or liquid, just lots of flem. Anyone else experience this and why and what is it? Thanks!!

So I started my period the day after surgery but I wasn't due for another two weeks. Any ideas?

My husband and I have been married almost 30 years..During those years I never looked at other guys and believe me at 285 pounds they never noticed me either but luckily our sex life has always been amazong.....until now...our sex is better than ever but I cant quit flirting back when guys give me attention...last weekend I al ost got into a lot of trouble but I stopped it..im scared one day it may go to far...could losing all this weight (115 pds)..be a curse? My best friend said it was typical hormone shift in lap band and that I should get counseling...please tell me I'm not the only one feeling this way..by the way I love my hisband. We have been soul mates since 8t…

Hi all, I didn't start losing any hair until about the 4 month mark....since then I have been on a 6week stall and just this week it looks like my hair has pretty much stopped coming out....except I need to loose another 100lbs (my 2012 goal) and I have lost 105lbs so far this past year. So as I loose more over this next year will the hair loss start back up again or when it stops.....is it done????? I know that Biotin does not stop it but I did start taking it (7500mg) when the hair loss started so could it be helping too? Thanks, Tracy w.

So I've always been a huge fan of baths! I can literally sit for hours reading in tub! Now that I've lost a lot of weight I'm noticing strange thing... After spending some time in my ridiculous garden tub when I go to get out of the water there is a.... well a 'draining effect' if you follow my meaning... an amount of water dribbles out. It never seemed to happen before I lost the weight. Is this a normal thing? Its not bothersome... just another interesting thing to get used to.

Thank you to all who helped!

Has anyone heard from KELLY L.? I miss her around here. I noticed she has not been on since a day after Christmas, which is unlike her. Hopefully all is well and she is enjoying a great vacation somewhere.

Anyone been on Wellbutrin before? My doc suggested it as a potential treatment for my non-existent sex drive, and some superficial internet research resulted in lots of positive opinions on this drug - including for weightloss - so I'm thinking of trying it. Does anyone have any personal experiences? Curious as to the effects it had on your sex drive, sleeping, appetite, and general well-being. Just wondering what to expect - the only "brain drug" I've been on to date was Prozac. Well, the only legal brain drug....

Even when I was my thin I always had big thighs. Saddlebags I guess you could call them. I was wondering if when you lose all this weight after being larger, does your body goes back to what it was or does it change? Like will I ever not have fat thighs? I know that's a weird question but it interests me about how your body changes as it gets older, with fat distribution and when you have rapid weight loss does it come off evenly. Another question and this is difficult and embarrassing. Does your 'lady' area lose weight?

This might sound crazy but I can't find any underwear that fits! I have diaper butt no matter what I wear. I was wearing a 22/24 panties from Lane Bryant. I went to Victoria's Secret and bought their all cotton panties in XL but they seem to stretch out a lot, I'm guessing due to the lack of spandex. I even went to Walmart to buy some underwear but I can't determine my size. All of them are sized differently like 5,6,7,8,9, etc. Has anyone found a good quality panty that's working for you? Please let me know what brand to buy and where to find them. Thanks ladies!

I should have posted about these when I found them last summer, but I procrastinate. A lot. Anyway, I was shopping for some kind of Shapewear to help hold the extra skin firm (jiggle reduction) and I was appalled at the prices. Holy moly. I'm a substitute teacher here, people. Even at Wal-Mart the Hanes ones (or whatever brand it was) were like $24 bucks. Ridiculous. So I move a little further down the aisle and they have this black cami that appears to have some lycra action going on. It's only $5.99 so I buy one. When I get it home I am UBER impressed! It holds my skin in, is comfortable, and works like a charm. I immediately went back and bought 2 white ones and 2 …

Hello Ladies I hope you can forgive my intrusion into your sanctuary, but I needed some advice. My lady friend has been my ROCK through my sleeve process. She bought all my supplies, did my two week liquid diet with me slept on a cot at the hospital and refuses to eat any food around me so she wont tempt me. (she even drives to her moms for dinner and drives home) Anyway I want to do something special for her to let her know how much it means to me. I bought her a really cool tennis bracelet and want to give it to her, the problem is I can't bring her out for a nice dinner!! I can't go into Chez Expensique and order mushy confit, I wish. So where do I take her and tell h…

So I am almost 9 months out and my period finally seems lighter I have ALWAYS had heavy periods. And immediately post op they seemed even heavier which my doc attributed to hormones. But this month seems i dare say "normal". lol It's probably heavy by most people's standard but it seems normal to me. Let's see that happens next month!

I know there are a few of you out there... so what music are you dancing to now? I am an ATS dancer and right now working on Shaman Fever on Ethnic and Lalla's Ecstasy on Frequent Flyer. I have my beginner students working on something from Gypsy Caravan. Khy

OK, so I need to vent....I am 5 weeks post-op and I've been doing really well, but the past few days I have been craving chocolate like crazy. I have, for the most part, resisted these cravings. (I did suck on a piece of chocolate for a couple minutes, then spit it out) I thought it was due to all the sweets lying around because of Christmas, but low and behold, I get my period this morning!! What in the world!?? I have always had crazy sweet cravings before my period, I never would have imagine I would still get them post-op!! Well, I guess your hormones don't change when you lose weight..... :-( Thanks for the vent sesion....stinkin' periods....

Okay forum sisters... pls inform me on this question..has your sex life improved since the weight loss? At this point..I just want it "OVER" with..lol My energy level is horrible. If anyone has had trouble here, please tell me it will improve after the weight is gone?? !!!!!!

Since i've last been on here so much has changed...i'll start with the bad!!! My husband (who if you remember was an ASS) has left me and our kids!! He is seeing someone else now and yes he was seeing her before he left me!!! I have filed for divorce and the process has started and its an aweful mess!!! I've never been more stressed over anything in my life but I know this is in mine and the kiddo's best interest!! Luckily my mom is moving here to help me through everything!!! Its bittersweet...i as you know wanted to leave him (not sure if i would've ever had the guts to do it) but he left first making things easier on me!! But i really didn't think another woman would b…

Hi, I will be sleeved on Dec. 13. I have been reading about hair loss and have a question. Do you lose more than the hair on your head? I am just trying to prepare myself mentally! Thanks in advance!

Oh, this is so frustrating! I have eaten fairly healthy for a long time (except for during finals weeks;P) and a little while ago started changing things to get ready for the VSG. My husband and son eat about 3 times the amount that I do. However, since I have started lowering my sodium and carbohydrate intake I have lost 3 lbs. I am very active and am always on the go. My husband is military, but doesn't have to do PT because he has knee and hip problems. Tell me how that man never works out and eats SO much more food and has lost 14 lbs? He even eats a package of chocolate peanut butter bars nightly! How is this fair? I am happy for him, I want him healthy too…

Hey all! I'm 2 weeks post op and down 36 pounds since deciding to have LAP-BAND®®. I've got a lot to lose, so happily for me its falling off pretty easily at this point. I'm starting the C25K tomorrow and as soon as my surgeon releases me to go back to strength training I'll be doing that as well. Even with the loss I've had I still don't see any change in my clothes. When I wear pantyhose there's some change which has got me thinking that I need to invest in some shapewear to help firm everything up. I hit Lane Bryant yesterday and actually had a very helpful and actual plus size gal helping me out. We discussed the Spanx at length but she said something I'd no…

Anybodys period not come on the next month after banding??

I've lost almost 150 pounds and my ring which started as a 9 now needs to be a 6... maybe even 5.75. IT's a channel setting. I've done tons of research online and most of it says that resizing a channel setting ring that much will cause the stones to pop out. But, I was curious if anyone actually was successful with their attempt to re size their ring? I'm too nervous to do it for my e-ring so we plan to use the center stone to make me a pendant and the side stones to make our nieces something. But, I still have TWO wedding bands that I'd like to re use IF possible!

After watching the infomercial, I saw Genie bras at my local Kmart and bought two to try. They were about $20 for 2. They are great. They are comfortable, smooth out my back fat and make my boobs look good. Plus it ends the morning hunt for a bra that fits. It was getting very difficult trying to find one that would fit since my old "normals" looked half full now that my boobs have shrunk. I've seen the bras sold on TV, and I think Kohl's sells them too. They are worth a try. I'll be buying more at least until I reach goal.

I actually got hit on tonight! Not something that ever really happens to me, but anyways, he seemed really nice, was attractive and clean cut and funny. So, I gave him my number for us to text and see what happened from there. So we began texting and he was so complimentary, but then......... Why is it men have to turn texting into SEXTING??? Yes, sex is part of life, but come on! How about spending time getting to know something about someone before bringing it up.....on the first night? Sorry that I'm on a rant here, but it just sucks.....I was so excited. Now I have to wonder if it's him or if I put out some sort of vibe that says that would be okay.

I've been noticing that about a week before my period, I get ravenously hungry. I can pretty much eat the way I did before I was banded. It's horrible. I know I shouldn't get a fill just to deal with this problem because it doesn't happen all the time and I don't want to be too tight, but I feel like I'm undoing all my hard work during PMS time. Anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it?

I have been shrinking back through stored clothing, and have recently discovered some pretty camisoles I don't even remember having. I like them enough I ordered a couple of more. I like them because: They are pretty Some are shape-wear, and help hold in the jiggly middle Even if they are not shape wear, the cami keeps me from having to look at the jiggly middle The extra layer is nice to wear, since I am ALWAYS COLD. Thought someone else might like to give camisoles a try. And, since this post is about undergarments (yes, I know all camis aren't always "under" garments - but bear with me here) - I am celebrating an NSV about underwear - I dropped another size …

Hello Ladies, So of you might recall that a few weeks ago I posted that I was getting a lot of headaches and hot flushes/flashes... well, I bit the bullet and went to see my doc. He said that I am too young for the menopause, but it is possibly... I am getting a blood test for that and thyroid next week. He said that my headaches, flushes and irregular periods could all be linked and that this MIGHT be the reason why I am a slow loser... I really was hoping that when my weight had decreased that my body would synch itself back to 'normal'! Anyway, to cut a long (and boring) story short, he has perscribed me with a drug called Clondine (Dixarit) to help stop the hot…

TMI warning... I am about 5 weeks post op. I just started my second post op period yesterday. I normally have a pretty heavy period, especially on day 2 of my cycle . But I woke up this morning to having soaked through my pajamas. I went to the bathroom and pulled down my underwear and blood gushed out of my panties. It was like a bowl of blood poured out onto the floor. It really scared me. I was only asleep for 7 hours; it looked like I had this pad on for 2 days. I know our hormones are out of whack after surgery, but is this normal? I should note that I haven't felt well the past 3 days. Terrible headaches, not very hungry and tired (I took a 3 hour na…

New attention from the opposite sex...... Is driving me crazy! Ok, So I have told y'all I manage a bar part time..... I have been having to work a lot lately and Tuesday night I got three phone numbers put in my tip jars. Now, I think that this is suppose to be a good thing. Right? You see here is my issue..... I have a wonderful boyfriend..... but things haven't been great lately and all the attention I have been getting (or he thinks I have been getting) is changing him. He use to be confident and he had a great security about him. Now all I hear is how I can do so much better and he has gotten so insecure. I hate this. Have I done this to him? I thought I was do…

Here is a question....Does the appearance of one's tattoo change after weight loss?:confused:

Ok, so you might or might not remember that back at the beginning of the year I had bloods done, after seeing my doc about my irregular mthlies and hot flushes and they showed that my hormone levels were out of synch... that I am peri menopausal (hadn't turned 40 then)... I was put on HRT Patches but taken off them after 7 weeks due to severe migraines. My menopause doc said that there was nothing further she could do for me; advised me to lose more weight and gave me an 'open appointment' for a year if I needed to go back to see her. Anyway,my mthlies have gone awol again and over the last two weeks the symtoms are back with avengance... and it is getting me down! Th…