jayres14

Yay!!! Great job!!

scale and NSV today!! I weighed in at 180 this morning! I am on my way to my 70's!! 34 pounds lost total!! I had three different women today compliment me, they all know about the band. One said I was looking great, the other two told me I was wasting away, in a good, not demeaning way. Maybe I just need that extra boost but I like when people comment about how much better I look now. I am under no illusion that I was that great looking at 214. Maybe I still have some self confidence issues to work on, but it is nice to feel support any way I can get it.

JUSTMERMP- Yay for your NSV!!! I am so happy you!!

These are all really good responses, and I totally get what y'all are saying. I usually try to compliment others when I notice a weight loss, if nothing else but to be nice and hope it makes their day better.

Haha, those are good! My husband said the same thing to me about the "oh, I notice" part. I guess most men have learned it's better not to say anything at all to risk it being taken the wrong way.

Usually, when someone loses a lot of weight, people notice. They comment on the weight loss, ask questions, encourage, maybe even say hateful things. I get all of that, what confuses me is the people that DO NOT comment on the weight loss, DO NOT ask you what you've been doing, DO NOT have their own opinions on it, seem completely oblivious about it. I guess the reason I am thinking about this is because I went to a football game yesterday with my two best friends, who I have not seen in person since before my surgery three months ago. They do not know I had the procedure done, I would prefer to tell them about it when we have a chance to really sit and talk. Neither of them commented or made any remarks about me losing weight. Surely there is no way the didn't notice. I've lost thirty pounds so far and am now down to 184. Although I still have a long way to go, it is very noticeable that I have lost weight and I find it odd that they and a few others have not. I know these women's deepest secrets so I am pretty sure there is no way they would be too embarrassed to ask me. I wouldn't think it would be jealousy b/c they have never been that way in the past. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I'd like to hear other's experiences. Thanks

Has anyone been a self pay customer, had a problem with the band, got insurance to cover the repair?? I am frightened on a daily basis that the unthinkable will occur and I have to go back in for surgery to repair or replace the band. I am still paying for my surgery which cost $12,000 and if something went wrong that I had to incur costs, it would devastate me financially. I read on here where another bandster had a bill of $28,000 for an emergency slipped band repair. I am hoping to hear if someone got insurance to cover a repair being self pay to begin with and how they made it happen. This is very valuable information, if it exists, to many of us living in fear. Thanks

This lap band journey is difficult. We have to change our life styles, we have to handle many things with care. We have to prepare ourselves mentally for the opinions and possible ridicule from others. My question is, what do you tell yourself every day? How do you get pumped up in the mornings? What helps you when you are having a rough day or not seeing the scales drop? What inspires you?? This is what I tell myself every morning, "I may not be where I want to be yet, but i am closer today than I was yesterday!" I am looking for some more inspiration.

I suggest a blood test to check thyroid level. I did this and discovered my thyroid was barely functioning. I am now on a daily med and have TONS of energy!!

I am still taking my thyroid medicine. Even with the weight loss, my levels stayed the same. My doctor said i'd probably be on it for life. I don't think the two are related, as in losing weight will not change the thyroid out put since it is hormonal. Not totally sure about that, but remember reading something like that once.

Never beat yourself up for a few indulgences every now and then. As hard as you work, you deserve an occasional treat. As long as you are still losing weight, you are doing something right. Just keep in mind that for every indulgence, harder work will be required. I have an occasional small bowl of ice cream or a piece of cake. I just remember to do an extra five to ten minutes exercise. It is all about moderation. Good luck to you!

I am three months post surgery and I still have port pain. Some days worse than others. Price I pay to lose weight.

This is a wild stab but do you think it could be gas pains? I often find when I have eaten less than a normal day or when I have to do liquids after a fill that I am extra gassy and sometimes get gas pains on my left side lower abdomen. Might not be your problem but worth thinking about.

Congrats!! I am so happy for you and this awesome experience you had!! Not only do you have confidence, you are building happy memories with your daughter! Keep it up!!

My surgeon did tell me that after being banded one or two drinks would make you the life of the party =)

I wonder why that happens? What does the band have to do with getting drunk quicker? I noticed the other night that after only a few sips of a margarita on the rocks that I was already feeling tipsy. It seems to me that the drink would go right through the stoma so it would be digested the same for the banded versus the regulars. Maybe it is because we eat less so there is less to absorb it?? IDK, but that is very interesting. Anyone know the real facts about it??

First, getting stuck is not always a bad thing. It is part of the learning process of having your band. Also, IMO, it is really not vomiting because it comes from the upper portion, esophagus, and not deep below the band. More like a baby spitting up or a hiccup.

The body's way of dealing with this is for saliva to accumulate (sliming) forcing you to spit it up.

When I get stuck to the point that it is very uncomfortable, and I want instant relief, I speed up the natural process by sipping some Water. (preferably over a sink) The Water, like the saliva, has no where to go and will trigger you to immediately spit it up.

I'd prefer to have it pass through than to vomit, or for better words, spit up like a baby. Less chance of the band slipping. To each his own...

I want to share what I do when I carelessly eat and get a piece of food stuck. When I get stuck, which happens more than it should (yea, I know... chew, chew, chew), I have found that raising my arms above my head to stretch and taking deep, long breaths helps to get the food to move and get unstuck. I often times pace the floor too when this happens. I, knock on wood, have never vomited from being stuck and i'd like to think this method helps. Hopefully this advice will help someone in the future, if not, just ignore the post. Happy losing weight!!

Good topic, daisy, and I commend you for putting yourself out there like this. Does your step-daughter know about your band? If she does or even if she doesn't, I think you could use a little bit of manipulation to address healthy eating. If I were you, I would casually ask her one day if she would mind helping me look up some healthy recipes to try to help with the diet. You could tell her that you are bored with the same food choices and are looking for new ways to spice things up. Flatter her and tell her you know how smart and creative she is and that you think she could offer valuable help. Maybe you could ask her to go shopping with you to buy the ingredients and make some of the stuff. It would be a great bonding experience and also make her some what aware of healthy foods. I have often found, especially as a teacher and a mother of an autistic child, that when you approach a touchy topic as needing advice for yourself, the reaction is a much better one that just preaching. It humanizes us non-perfect adults. Good luck to you.

Thanks ladies, I am glad to know others have not had any problems with using it. I do agree that I will probably not be able to lay on my stomach anymore b/c of the port. That's okay though, when I get smaller, i won't have to turn for an even cook!! :lol:

Forgot to ask my surgeon, will laying in a tanning bed affect the band? I find that outside temps and weather conditions make me tighter and looser on different days. I know the port has some metal on the back side. And YES, I know tanning beds are bad for you, and YES, I know self tanners are a better option, but I own a tanning bed and I like to keep a little shade on my white body and the warmth helps my bones in the winter time. If you have spoke to your doctor about this and have a legitimate answer, please let me know. I will make sure to ask when I go back, but that may not be for a while.

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I know it is important to have a strong support system and it sounds to me like your PA is not being a good cheerleader for you. I have a good relationship with my surgeon but something struck me as odd. My surgeon has never checked the total Fluid in my band. I have had 4 fills and the amounts were 2, 2, 1, and 0.5 (none when the band was put in.) Maybe he doesn't check the level each time b/c he is the only one that has ever put the fills in. Anyways, some days I can tell the band is there, others I could eat my weight. I hope both of us figure out what we need. Good luck to you and be proud of your accomplishments!

I had a breast reduction after losing weight the first time. For some reason it NEVER came off my chest. And I am someone with no butt/legs and of course it came off there first! grrr lol

I think we have the same body!! I, too, have no butt and little legs. All my weight is in my upper body!! That is the main reason why I want my boobs to shrink, so I can be more proportional.

I've lost about the same amount of weight as you, and the same thing has happened. My boobs are still filling out the cups, but I've had to go from having my bras on the biggest clasp (and be too tight) to having to put it on the smallest (and having it be comfortable). And as my belly gets smaller, the boobs are starting to look huge!

Things might be different because I've had a baby, but the only time I've managed to lose weight in the past (pre-baby), I did end up losing a LOT of filling in the cup eventually.

Yea, I am hoping they will shrink a little. I am down to 188 and it has been years since i have been this size. I don't ever remember having small boobs but WHEN i hit my goal of 155, surely they won't still be this size. If so, i may need a reduction.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I guess there is no real answer, my body is going to do what it wants in the boobie area.

I started with a bra size of 40D, now I have a bra size of 34B. I wish I could say that makes me happy, but it doesn't. Not only have the size of my breasts shrunk, but it's like they are deflated balloons With a great fitting bra it is not noticeable, but I know. I am now saving money to get a breast lift and implants

That's what I am afraid of. I want them to shrink, God knows i'd love to fit in regular shirts, but I do not want them to get saggy. I'd almost rather keep the big boobies, i am sure my husband would agree. Your picture looks great though!! Your body is definitely beautiful!! I hope you get the money for the lift you want, I am obviously pro-surgery improvement!! Good luck to you!

If this topic caught your attention, hopefully you have some insight to add. I have lost 24 pounds since the surgery. I am losing in my face, neck, legs, stomach shoulders, everywhere but my BOOBIES!!! My bra size is slowly decreasing around my upper stomach but the cup size is not changing. I feel like I am slowly becoming Dolly Parton!! From my understanding, boobs are a good portion of fat so shouldn't they be decreasing too?? I guess a downside would be sagging but I can finally shop in the regular women's sizes except for the boobie part!! How has weight loss affected your boobies??