TerriDoodle

((((MICHELLE)))) Please don't give up hope! It is extremely important that you keep a positive outlook and keep that vision of a healthy, thinner self in front of you at all times....especially now. Keep breathing and exude confidence! BELIEVE!! There is a good chance that there is some kind of mix up or simply that you will have to postpone it a while. We're here for you no matter how long this takes. You are forever a Violet!

WOO HOO !!! LOOK AT THAT BANNER!! BEAUTIFUL, LAURA! Did you make it? Making the rest of us look pretty bad, though!!

If I was having reflux, wouldn't I be having pain, stomach ache, indigestion, trouble sleeping?? I think this sore throat is just that...a sore throat. We have horrible allergens and high humidity here in Houston (but everything is GREEN!) and I was out in the night air for several hours. Next day woke up with cold-like symptoms...and eventually everything went away except for the sore throat!? Doc says it's prob allergies and drainage. Also, my kids have both had strep throat in the past month.

Fill/Restriction Update! -- I was filled last Friday w/ 1.5cc. I do believe I am feeling more restriction today than I have since Friday! I have read in a few posts that sometimes the restriction is felt days later....?? Kat?? A little confusing as I thought it was the other way 'round (more restriction at first then easing off). I dunno. All I can tell you is that I'm eating some finely shredded tuna salad and I can feel every bite go down. Hmmm. Just beware everyone---anything is possible! This band really keeps you on your toes! Went to my family doc today ...I have a persistent sore throat. Anyway, told her about being banded and she was very much OK with it. She just said, "well you realize this is not the easy way out and you have to be vigilant in your eating for a long time to come, right?" I assured her I was fully informed and had great ongoing support. She was happy...and I was grateful for her support. Life is good! Love you guys!!

Well some have chosen to start charm bracelets ...adding a charm every time they reach chosen milestones! Cool idea, eh? Here in the south, James Avery jewelry is very popular and they have lots and lots and LOTS of charms....handcrafted and very well made. www.jamesavery.com

Well, they probably didn't solder it because they didn't know where you wanted it on the bracelet. If you take it to a local jeweler they probably wouldn't charge you much to solder it on. Alternatively, you can email James Avery and ask them to correct the situation. They are very service oriented and would probably pay for the return shipping.

Did anyone see that HBO special documentary called "THIN"? All about a few girls' experience inside an eating disorder clinic. Extremely interesting (and horribly sad, too). But Kat -- is your SIL throwing up on purpose??? EWW!!! Well, in this documentary there was one young girl who was obviously very sick. She'd rather be dead than 'overweight' although she weighed about 90#. But in their group therapy one of the other girls said, "You just want to be the sickest one here."....and I thought that was a strange thing to say, at first. Then I watched that special three more times and think I finally understood it. I think we all know that anexoria and bulemia are all about feeling in control...and from the little I've heard that fits your SIL to a tee! Eh? I mean, she came all unglued because she didn't get her way about transferring Rick (for one thing) which is absolutely not her call to make, and then 'punished' you by not attending the family outing. Oh brother!! Good luck with that one! I have an ex-MIL that was 5x worse. She has 8 kids and only 2 of them talk to her anymore.

((Brenners)) I'm sorry about your trouble. You have a great attitude! Keep it up! Did he say why the port moved? Guess a stitch or two came undone!?

Congratulations!!!! Oh, how I DREAM of being a size 10!!!! You go girlfriend!!

the fact that scale had been doing nothing but going UP for 3 years, no matter what I did. I was headed for 275 and I could see it clear as day. I had been researching the band and then one day, out of the blue, my dear friend asked me if I had ever heard of the gastric band?...and that she was considering it. Well, she's a nurse and I respect her very much...we talked about it and that's what convinced me. I went to my doc's seminar and a month later I was banded (self pay)!! My friend is enrolled in her insurance 6-month program and is anxiously watching my progress.

Hey Jenn! That's what I drink too! I drink the Berry flavor, 20 oz of water and a big ol' slice of fresh lemon! Try it! It tastes like fresh lemonade! And that's exactly what you'll get! You sound so much like me ....well, probably almost ALL of us....and this band is great for just that: keeping you feeling fuller, longer. You are on the right track. You have confidence in your surgeon, right? Then, no worries!! Teach - congrats on the loss!! Just keep on keepin' on!

I looked real quick about b-12 deficiencies and only find that people who have had gastric BYPASS surgery have that risk and that is because food bypasses their stomach which is where B-12 is absorbed. The body stores B-12 so that a deficiency is pretty rare, unless you are a strict vegetarian. B-12 sources are meats and dairy products. Deficiency results in anemia, causing fatigue, weakness and sometime stomach upset. So, I suppose it's possible....but I'd talk to your doctor more or get a blood test before supplementing. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-vitaminb12.html

Hi everyone -- Thanks for all the WOOT's on my new shiny number today! Means a lot coming from you all. I've been reading posts and seems like there's a little bit of panic about stalls and worrying about gaining, etc.... Let me give you some reassurance for those of you who are starting to feel some hunger again. I know that's a scary feeling....like HEY, What the hell?? I paid all this money for this band, went thru all this pain....WHY AM I HUNGRY? I'm not supposed to be hungry!!!! Well I'm 2 days after my first fill and my calories went right back down to where they were 2 weeks ago. The hunger is gone again and the best part is that I don't feel drastic restriction! I'll bet this is what a "sweet spot" is all about! Anyway, i thought it might provide some encouragement if I showed you all my weight chart. Sometimes it helps to have a visual...see how my weight bounced around for a LONG time before finally heading down again:

The pre-surgery panic is perfectly normal. HOWEVER, you are right in taking a step back if and postponing it for a week or two if you are seriously having doubts. Make no mistake that this is a life-altering decision. With that said, I've been banded a month and now over the roughest part (I hope!). I have been eating the same 6 or 7 soft/liquid foods for a month or more and am so ready to move to solids. For the most part I know now that I will be perfectly content to eat small portions of whatever I choose. Yes, I'll miss bread and starches...but I've given them up before and know that they are truly addictive substances. I NEED to give them up!! This tool helps keep me in line and I love it! As for the sodas, I am also grateful that I am simply not allowed to have them. I have enjoyed trying new things and all the different crystal light flavors, etc. Right now my absolute fave is berry Propel with fresh squeezed lemon...I drink it all day, every day, and easily get my 64 oz in. The major added bonus is that I'm also withdrawing from all that caffeine which is helping to also control my hunger!!! It really has been a great experience so far. I am very excited about the future. Oh, and by the way, today I hit ONE-DERLAND!

1-9-9 :Banane43::woot::thumbs_up::thumbs_up::woot::thumbs_up:

Keep in mind that the people who get banded and are doing fine don't tend to post here...but the ones who are experiencing complications or problems are posting. So what you see here is a skewed picture of the experience. There is s a 'sticky' at the top of the General Lapband Discussion forum called something like "Share your Scar Stages" and it's full of pictures. We were all nervous before surgery...and for a few days after when we were dealing with the pain. But we're all here to talk about it and happily getting on with the business of losing weight! :Banane43:

I took off a week, but wish I had taken 10 days...or at least worked 1/2 days for 2-3 days. I just got really tired by the end of the day.

Well, this isn't very impressive, but here are my 1 month progress photos. Mostly I see it in my boobs :cry and my back. This is a loss of 12#. (Yes,my hair does actually grow! I get a haircut every 4 weeks...lol)

Thank you! That's an awesome explanation. Mind if I dupe it in my April 07 bandster thread? I think they'd find it very informative.

Ok, so this is the part I didn't get before....that the food is actually GONE from the pouch within an hour but the FEELING of fullness is still there. AH HA!! Ok, I can wrap my head around that. Thanks.

No, it's not like it was after surgery...not that intense. So far I haven't really noticed any difference from those few days pre-fill except that I'm not *quite* as hungry. We'll see how today goes. I start solid food on Monday (Wow!! What's THAT?) and I can't wait! That will be the true test. Thanks for the congrats...feels good to see a new number! JENN - Take it easy, girlfriend. Stress is a weight staller, too. Extra vitamin C will help battle the higher cortisol levels. How'd the interview go at dbf's employer? Did I miss that post?

Teach - you should be our thread mascot!! You have not broken one single solitary rule since you started on this journey, have you? Seriously, you are incredible. Rvingdi - I wondered when you were gonna show up!! I'm glad you've joined us!! How's Florida? How long do you think ya'll will stay there? It's gettin' pretty hot! I'd be heading for the hills, right about now if I had your mobility! (I LOVE Colorado!) Areellady - Welcome! Biking is so great but it always, no matter what I do, makes my right leg go numb after a short while. I love the recumbant bikes at the gym...like sitting in an easy chair while you exercise! Do you have a nice area to ride in? I've heard that Idaho is beautiful! Lucky you!

LOL!! ....Thank you for all those bananas!! My day is complete now. (For some freaking reason, I can't get to my journal AGAIN! Grrrr.)

Lunasa - You've done it again, dear girl. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you are a part of this group. This was a very powerful post. I hope you don't mind, but i'm going to start cutting and pasting your wisdom into my LBT journal. (Too hard to find in this monster thread!) You are so right about everything you said. I assume these concepts are derived from NLP? ...or just a distillation of all your readiing, research and life experience? I just love it. OKAY PEOPLE. LISTEN UP. I FINALLY SAW A NEW NUMBER ON THE SCALE THIS MORNING! AFTER 17 DAYS OF BOUNCING BETWEEN 201 AND 203....FINALLY.... 200!!! Can i see some dancing bananas????

Jay - I don't know what to tell you....I'm just glad I have Dr. Spivak. He seems to have a very liberal pre-op and post-op plan. thank goodness!!! I'd never make it to July 2!