Alexandra

This week has been a complete derail as far as my taking care of myself goes. To make a long story short, my husband is recovering from surgery for testicular cancer. He'll be fine, we're sure, but starting this past Monday it's been a pretty weird week. The first two days were pretty much worry, then while waiting around during surgery I hit the tray of gourmet Cookies. That was the beginning of the end. We got the diagnosis on Tuesday evening and while we were relieved, since then I've been experiencing an absolute orgy comfort eating. I spent a lot of money at Trader Joe's on Desserts and Snacks, without even trying to stop myself. Yesterday, after a normal, nutritious Breakfast and lunch, I had: popcorn, LOTS of dark-chocolate-covered raisins, a caramel-pecan turtle (220 calories RIGHT THERE), three oatmeal-cranberry cookies under two or three scoops of vanilla ice cream, and four or five mandarin oranges. Oh, and for dinner I had two "tacos" which were made of tortillas, ground beef, melted cheese and sour cream. Now I feel like absolute shit. and even worse because the extra energy that being worried gave me is gone. This was NOT a good thing to happen when I have no fill at all. Blech, blech, and triple blech. Today is another day, and I really have to get a handle on this. Michael is going to be fine, and he's about 80% recovered from the surgery so I don't even have to pull extra duty anymore to make up for his laying on the couch. I have no excuses, and have to somehow regain control of my hand-to-mouth behavior. Ugh. Thanks for letting me vent. Fill is scheduled for 12/14 and now I have more work to do. Moving right along...

That's a good question, and one that points up how meaningless labels are. With banding there are loads of people who are still losing 3 and 4 years out, because they've discovered how to make it work for THEM. Except in the small percentage of cases where the band is causing damage to the body (erosion, dilation, nerve damage), it seems to me one could only say it's "failed" when the patient concludes there is nothing further to be won by continuing on with it and moves on to something else. Even if a banded person has had no or only limited success through noncompliance, there is always another chance to make it work as long as the band is still in place. Unfortunately medical research is all about quantification. Clearly it's ludicrous to demand the same 50% loss rate of banding in the same time frame applied to RNY. Double the time, at least, would seem necessary.

This part of the document makes no claims about what sort of "Creator" did the endowing. If something exists, it's logical to say it was "created" no matter how it came into being. I believe in God, I just spell it differently: N-A-T-U-R-E

No question about it--finding ways to fill the time we used to fill with food can be a challenge. Particularly for people who don't work or who have no families, food could easily have been a main focus of their day and now there's a void. It's crucial that we find ways to occupy ourselves that don't involve food. That's why places like LBT exist and why they can be such a help!

Pretty much pleased, I think; no real surprises. Well, I guess surprise that I've been married twice, but the first one was so short I'd give myself props for practicing until I got it right. And probably surprised that I'm a surburban insurance broker rather than working in NYC at a nonprofit or in the arts. I'd be proud of myself for quitting smoking, having had a great job for many years, and for finally taking good enough care of myself to be healthy for my two daughters as they grow. I think, overall, my 18-year-old self would be pretty chuffed for my 45-year-old self. :biggrin1:

That's not at all what I did. I just took the (I think very reasonable approach) that less intervention is the best way to start. As a healthy person who needed serious help to eat less over the long term, banding seemed to me to be a great tool for that purpose. And it has proved to be one, for me, so far. I'm very encouraged by all the people I see who have had to have their bands removed for one reason or another and who can then move on to life without a band, rebanding, or another bariatric surgery. Of course repeated surgeries are not without risk; the FIRST surgery wasn't without risk and I'm dead set against having any more unless they're absolutely necessary. But I continue to believe that for lots of people--like me--banding is safest, gentlest, and can be very effective as a first choice for bariatric surgery.

This morning I'm not actually as sore as I thought I'd be. Another great NSV! Of course, sitting at my desk all day won't help matters any I'm sure. Kathy, there's no question the right clothes make a big difference. Go get yourself a ski bib! I found a pair of pants one last year ON THE RACK that fit me well--they were a 16 and only one of many that were there. Depending on the ski area, you may even be able to get on-site babysitting. You just reminded me that I actually have a pair of x-country skis in the attic; they were a present from my husband back in our unmarried-and-adventurous days. If we get enough snow this winter I'm going to dig them out and cross some country!!

AriesGirl and anyone else who is so inclined: Stop making negative comments about other posters or this thread will be locked. Basic rules of online posting: Debate the idea, not the person. Final warning.

Today I did two things that I am going to feel in the morning. Last winter my daughters and I picked up ice skating, which was a HUGE NSV for me and one of the dreams I'd hoped to realize after losing weight. After taking the entire summer and fall off, we started up again today. Well, 45 minutes of that and I was seriously hurting. The love is still there, though, and I didn't fall once! Then this evening I headed to the gym for a nice, quite ride on a bike (after having been with the kids all day, this was my reward). When I got there I met a friend who talked me into checking out the open volleyball which was just starting. Now, I used to play volleyball, pretty seriously, but stopped before my older daughter was born. The last time I played I probably weighed 310 or so, and lord knows I wasn't any good at that weight. So I haven't played, AT ALL, in about 8 or 9 years, and for 10 years before that I wasn't playing with any kind of energy or skill. In spite of feeling completely rusty, I let my friend talk me into it. Ho. Ly. Cow!! It was so much fun, and rather than feeling like I did the last time I played, I felt like I did when I played IN HIGH SCHOOL (when I weighed about what I weigh now). It was SO MUCH FUN and I can't wait to do it again!! I'm on a high right now from this experience, that was both familiar and beloved and also completely new and exciting. But I am going to feel this big time tomorrow. It's a good kind of hurt, of course, and I am stoked!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

The only thing I can help you with is #1. The amount of the surgery that is tax-deductible depends on your income and your tax situation, not anything about the surgery itself. If you're like most American taxpayers, your medical expenses of any kind are tax deductible to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of your income. Ask your tax advisor or preparer for specific information relevant to you personally. There are no forms to be filled out; medical expenses are just a line on your 1040 return. Keep your receipts, though, in case you ever get audited you'll have to substantiate the expenses.

You can click on the little arrow at the top right of that Top Ten panel and close it right up. Voila!

Tricia, I'm so sorry to hear of your family's tragedy. It's so sad when people's quest for better health comes to such an end.

Members can have their accounts suspended either on request, or as a result of their not following LBT's rules of participation.

My DH was the same way, and I wondered if it was his own fear at work as someone else mentioned. In my case there was a lot of time to think and talk about it; my insurance battle took almost a year. During that time, it was clear that my husband did not want to speak too much about the surgery with me. He too honestly felt that I "should" be able to do it without surgical intervention. The bottom line was, though, that he supports me and trusts my judgment, and he was there for me every single step of the way. We didn't talk about it too much then or now, but he never gave me any resistance at any time. It bothered me at first, not talking with him about it, but once I realized it was his way of supporting me I let it go. If he'd voiced his fears nothing I could say could make them vanish; I'd never BEEN thin so my telling him losing weight wouldn't change me would have been just empty talk. I couldn't promise him it would work, or salve his fears of my dying on the table, or assure him our lives wouldn't change. I didn't know the answers to these things any more than he did. But what I DID know was that I had to try banding. Period. And he knew I was serious, and so let me be. He loves me fat or thin, but of course we agreed that healthier is better. And that's what banding was all about. We have children and my weight seriously threatened my parenting ability and of course compromised our futures, so my determination to try something serious was enough for both of us. I guess my rambling is just to say that you can't make him "agree." You can ask him to support you, and if that means not talking about it then let him not talk about it. If he's not being hostile to the idea, or to you, then silence is quite possibly the support you seek.

Sue, you'll get no argument from me on that score. :confused:

Carlene, I'm going to ask that you not copy messages from other boards here unless you have permission from the posters to do so. Thanks.

While I in no way would want to have many, many children, I do see the attraction of letting the chips in one's life fall where they may. That's a guiding principle I abandoned at the age of , oh, 13 or so. Nuts? I don't know about that, if the families are truly ready and able to provide for the care of so many. How that would actually be possible I can't imagine; most of the kids are probably acting as pseudo-parents rather than having their own childhoods. It's a very different environment than I can actually picture for myself, but that doesn't mean it's wrong for everyone--or wrong on any level at all.

VanesaV, in my experience low heartburn has been the portent of inflammation, which on two occasions has meant a complete unfill for me. Stay on top of it, and be very alert to any changes. If it responds to Tums that's great, for now. Please be careful and pay close attention; absolutely call your doctor if it doesn't go away or seems to be getting worse. Good luck!!

Flabuless, I'd bet EVERYONE has had a similar experience. If they haven't yet, they will. "Stalling" is part of ANY weight loss regimen, and as Woodys says most programs suggest mixing up your approach when it happens. Whatever works for you is the right answer for you. :confused:

Lisa, it's great to hear that your removal surgery was so successful! Congratulations on making the right decision for your health, and best of luck for continued good news. This is precisely one of the scenarios I considered when I was thinking about being banded. If it "didn't work out" for whatever reason, there were relatively simple remedies for that. And once the band is removed, for the most part the patient is "good as new." Complications, even minor ones, arising from RNY or DS could easily involve repeated surgeries or permanent issues of one sort or another. The band is the gentlest surgical approach for bariatric treatment currently used, and that's why I selected it. Other options can always be tried later, if necessary. Best of luck to you once again, Lisa, and thanks so much for posting to let us know how you're doing!!

Sherilynn, this just shows you that there are important differences between banding and bypass, and it's crucial that patients understand and embrace these differences going in. It's absolutely true that you don't lose as fast with the band: it takes longer to lose weight because there is only one action at work--you eat less. With bypass you not only eat less, you also absorb fewer of the calories you DO eat. Depending on your goals, that could be both a blessing and a curse. If these are things that concern you, think more about what you want out of weight loss surgery. The only way to choose the right one FOR YOU is to be totally honest with yourself before making the decision. Don't do it because someone else said something, or because you feel like you might let someone else down (US? That's absurd.). This is about YOUR health, YOUR future, and if the band isn't right for you knowing it now will save you lots of heartache.

Hi Sivan, The various reasons people have their bands removed are all across the board. However, in my experience, I've never heard of someone simply deciding, after a while of being banded without problems, to have the band removed "just because." But of course, it's a personal decision so I suppose that's as valid a reason as any other. Most people who get banded intend for it to be a permant implant, and it's only removed if it's causing problems of one sort or another. I know for myself, even if it didn't work and I hadn't lost much weight, I wouldn't have another surgery to take it out unless it was really creating issues. Surgery is risky all by itself, and I hope to have as few surgeries in my life as humanly possible.

Congratulations, Carlene. And here's to many more anniversaries!!

What gives is that you're recovering from abdominal surgery. TAKE IT SLOW! You can survive for quite a while without food, and as long as you're taking in fluids you'll be fine. I don't know what your doctor's specific instructions were but you should stick strictly to liquids for AT LEAST a week. Protein drinks will give you plenty of nutrition during this time, and you may even lose a few pounds. Try to drink more than you have been, though; sip throughout the day because it's really important you keep yourself well hydrated. You're doing fine, just don't get worried about not getting enough calories. You've got plenty stored to get you through this healing period. Good luck, and TAKE IT EASY!!

Any regrets? None. But of course there are those who have them. Not surprising, the band isn't the right choice for everyone going in, and down the line there's a definite possibility of problems. Just like every other weight loss surgery. Sharing personal stories is all we do here, and every single one is important...and worthy of respect. Let's keep it that way.