donali

Rebecca - lol Yes, it is ironic, isn't it? All that time I tried to be so careful not to PB, and now I'm almost grateful I can! lol

Hi Anne!! Chin up, girl! Isn't it wonderful to know that all this time it really WASN'T your fault?!?! I am sure that your leak was NOT caused by your body trying to reject the band. Either they did not connect it properly when it was installed, or the connection was faulty. Once you get a properly working band, you'll be back on the road! I am so very truly sorry for all the frustration and anxiety this must have caused you. But now that's in the past. Best wishes on a speedy recovery from your rebanding!

OH, Penni - I do so hope it is not erosion. But listen - it does NOT make sense to me for you to go through a port fix surgery if erosion is suspected. The endoscopy should be done FIRST, and the possibility of erosion should be removed BEFORE doing any kind of surgery. There is NO point in fixing your port if your band has eroded, and it makes NO sense to make you go through two possible surgeries. Please insist that the endoscopy is done first before you submit to any surgeries. It is my understanding that endoscopy is the ONLY definitive test for erosion. Once you determine your band status, THEN you can have your port fixed, or band removed, whichever is called for. But that's only ONE surgery, instead of a possible two. I'm thinking about you, and hoping for the best. sheeesh!

Sascijo - no, they don't know why my band eroded. According to my doc, I had a lot of adhesions around the tubing and port, which to him meant that my body was trying to get rid of it. So, maybe my body just doesn't tolerate foreign objects well. DeLarla, rumake sounds delicious. I like my liver with lots of onions and mustard. But these days with all the pesticides and such, liver is not considered the "health" food it once was, since the liver is the organ that filters out all that garbage.

What's "rumake"?

Hi Ginny - In addition to Water loading, a time of inadequate restriction is a great opportunity to eat more challenging foods, like more fibrous vegetables, and tougher meats. Use less lubricant, like sauces. Eat drier meats. I bet if you didn't chew quite as well your pouch would get full faster. You have to be careful with that method, because you don't want to be obstructed, so don't be swallowing things whole! Good luck, and hang in there until you can get your next adjustment. Do not fret!

lol Yeah, I hate those meaningless rumers... No, I don't think it's in my head, because of the physical sensations. I think there are either stitches or scar tissue that is making the opening to the stomach smaller than usual. It's possible that will relax/go away in the future, but for now I still need to pay attention. I do not feel the same sense of restriction as with the band, although the stuck feeling/pain was the same. But generally I would say I am somewhere between "wide open" and "good restriction". Water goes down very easy now at night, although I still have troubles finishing my full quart on the way in to work in the morning. Probably still some residual swelling. Outside tummy feeling much better, not nearly as red and swollen at incision sites, but the overlap site is still gross, and overlapped...

I've heard about the stomach "pace maker" - it sounds pretty cool. I guess they're doing some gene research in L.A. as well - there may someday be a gene therapy for morbid obesity - whoo hoo! As far as maintaining weight, I shot up from 204 day of surgery to 212.5 by 7/8. It certainly was quality/quantity that I was eating, so had to be some kind of Fluid retention. I'm back down to 207 this morning, so I think that means I'm really healing.

Well, it's official. I DO still have some restriction, sans-band. It is not my imagination. This morning I ate a small, very ripe nectarine, followed by a handful of well-chewed nuts (I thought) to give me the fat to bond my chewable Vitamins. A big swig of Water, and I was STUCK! And "OWWWW!" I might add... I coughed a few times, and then the swig of water came back-up - just the swig - no nectarine. Would be nice if that's a permanent feature of being unbanded...

Hi Ginger - After my last fill, I burped a lot, particularly about an hour after eating. Even now, unbanded, I burp a lot more than I did before.

I have never cheated... lol Many of my yes answers were also from my past... I'm not quite "squeeky" now, but not nearly as menacing as I was in my wild college days... lol

No mini-skirts for me... But I'm up for the boots! I certainly remember Penelope Pitstop, and that crazy cross country race she was in. DeLarla - about your restriction. Stress tends to increase restriction, so you just need to get stressed out... lol And to clarify the liquid thing - atmosphere should NOT affect the pressure of liquid, so your band should not be affected by altitude. Whether or not YOU are affected by altitude, I do not know - but the pressure in the band should not change, because it is filled with liquid. I know it is frustrating to suddenly lose restriction, but continue to be careful, because it can come back with no warning!! You sounded pretty tight to me right after your fill, so I wouldn't be surprised if this lack of restriction is just a temporary phase. As far as the need to eat junk food, I call that the compulsion part of my food addiction - I'm not physicall hungry, I'm not tired, bored, sad, lonely, depressed, etc., but I am COMPELLED to eat. I think the only thing that can beat compulsion is to find something else to do that totally absorbs your interest. I know that's hard to do, particularly when eating is so fun and easy. You'll have lots of opportunities to practice - remember, progress, not perfection. Oh, and could you throw my shoe back, please? lol

Good luck, Leatha! We'll be thinking of you! I know it seems like a huge delay in getting back on track with fills, but I agree, better safe than sorry. You'll be refilled and back on track before you know it! I hope your recovery is quick and uneventful!

I'm no student of science, but I will throw out there what I've read. Apparently, liquid filled things do NOT react to atmospheric pressure like AIR filled things - so if the band was flushed properly, and doesn't contain air (like it shouldn't) there should not be a difference in restriction due to the band/altitude. However, many people's bodies retain Fluid when flying or at different altitudes, and THAT can affect your feeling of restriction. If you're retaining fluids, it is very possible that your band will feel tighter. Just my second-hand two cents worth...

Terry - lol I sincerely hope your endoscopy reveals that all is well with your band, and that the stomach burning is something that can be easily treated, and then you can get your fill! I am not so very brave about losing my band, but the truth is, it happened, and there was nothing I could do about it, and life must go on. I wept and bawled and screamed and cried, but it didn't change the outcome. Playing the "Grateful Game" really helps me put it all into perspective. We have no control over events, but we have control over how we react to them. I'm just trying to exercise some control over what I can. And so far there is still enough swelling going on that it hasn't been too difficult to stick with bandster portions for the most part. And staying distracted helps, too - like being on this board. Thanks everybody for your support of my tasteless picture. Hopefully no one has been scarred for life...

lol Too bad the Oregon police didn't read/understand the "ONE OR" part.

lol You know you are my inspiration.... lol See, I'm just a bad girl waiting to be led down the garden path, and DeLarla, you're just the kind of girl I would follow... So I can never see you again... I can't afford to end up in jail!!!

I could LIVE on Mexican food! yum, yum! And what a coinky-dink - I live in Escondido, too... So when's your next big Mexican food feast? I may crash the party... lol

Ewwwww... Darcy! lol Your nickname is well-earned! Kelly - yep.

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/fruitveg/tomato.htm Q: Can you give me any information on tomatillos? How do they produce in North Dakota? When do they ripen ? (Bismarck, N.D.) A: Tomatillos and tomatoes are both in the nightshade family, but different genera. The tomatillo is the genus Physalis while tomato is the Lycoperscion genera. Tomatillos grow fruit from large marble to golf ball size in a papery husk and are often called "husk tomatoes." There are several indicators of ripeness: the husk gets papery and straw-colored; or it opens; or, the fruit inside changes color from a green to a pale yellow. The tomatillo is used in Mexican cuisine to make a "genuine" salsa. They are generally simmered in Water for five to10 minutes or roasted in a broiler until the skin blackens slightly to bring out the flavor before adding to salsa or other recipes. Leave the husks on when harvesting and storing. They will store longer. They often self-seed, so the following season will have some volunteers if they are not completely harvested in the fall. http://homeharvestseeds.com/lillymillervegetablestomato.htm Tomatillos Green Husk 100MG Physalis ixocarpa. Salsa's just not salsa unless it's got the tangy sweetness of homegrown tomatillos. The golf-ball-size fruits of this variety are green when ripe, wrapped in papery husks. Bushy plants produce heavy yields for use in southwestern dishes and sauces. May also be canned. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before planting outdoors. Harden off seedlings by putting them outside during the day for 1 week before transplanting. Transplant seedlings to the garden when nighttime temperatures remain above 55 degrees Farenheit. Enrich the soil before planting. Use landscape fabric to retain heat in the soil. To avoid diseases, don't plant where tomatoes or peppers have grown in the last two years. Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist. Tomatillos do not have to be staked or caged. Pick when papery husks turn from green to tan. Ripe tomatillo fruits are light green. 60 days to harvest after transplanting.

Sounds like you're in too good of aerobic shape if you're having troubles getting your heart rate up!! I don't know what kind of aerobic activity you're doing when you're taking your measurements, but pick something that you have trouble doing for long. For me that would be the stair master - I'm sure that after about 5 steps I'd be at 200 or some heart attack type range... lol Maybe try some ankle weights to increase the intensity of the workout?

Darcy - What are the staples made out of, and how do you get them out??? Sounds too heavy duty to me... lol The incisions don't look quite so red today, and I'm sure you're right - as the swelling goes down, things will look better. And the sutures did seem really tight - as soon as I cut the string you could see how far apart the ends wanted to be! And the irritation from the embedding made the swelling worse, which made the stitches embed further... vicious circle.

Kelly, it's the "Flaunt" (of course! lol) http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/Shopping/product.asp?product_id=L1002370 For once a product that is aptly named... I have no good recs on the swimsuit front - anyone else?

Leatha, I am NOT just some woman... lol I've been really frustrated with my cleavage - I spent a LOT of money in January on new bras, trying to get one that would give me cleavage. I mean, I'm a 42DD, and I see gals that are only a B cup walking around with serious cleavage, and I was jealous! I could not for the life of me understand why I couldn't get a similar look. Finally in May or June (NOT in time for my April fling! ) I found these bras at Lane Bryants - brand is Cacique, and they have air filled removeable inserts that go down the outside and underneath the bust that help push them together to finally get cleavage. lol But the bra is so substantial, it really makes me look massive. Like I need a padded bra?!?!?! lol I guess they were worth $35... I never spend that kind of money on clothes. But I really wanted something pretty for my guy. Hopefully they'll still be doing the job in September when he gets here! lol True Confessions over for now... Thanks for the reassurance, Penni. I know things are still swollen a bit, so hopefully it will smooth out over the next few weeks.

Close-up of the "dog ear". That should fill your need for pics for awhile! lol