La_madam

Wow you look great..Fantastic job. What an accomplishment Congratulations to you!

I will contact the publishers tomorrow and find out what is up! I just emailed Ortiz's office and the publishers when I get an answer I will post it.

Lisa!! Way to go on your weight loss...I told you those 6 lbs were just "fluff" weight. I'm so proud of you..to have lost 66 lbs with no port and the battles with food you have endured..you are an inspiration to all of us...I'm equally as happy for you too to hear your wound is finally closed!! YAHOO!!! Looks like things are finally going your way for a change. With all that you have batled you are still able to keep it together and still make us laugh like crazy! I love you too!

I loved pork rinds pre band and PBed on them before I had the band..my god with the band it must be horrible!

Congratulations..what a beautiful baby boy! I'm not a grnadma but I remember the joy my mother experienced being one. Thank You for sharing this with all of us...looks like your holidays will be even more special this year. What a great gift!

Serouisly Guys Its obvious that after reading this post..we all fart alot more then pre-band..Does anyone know the reason why? This is one question I keep forgetting to ask my Docotor when I go see him. I think I will ask my PCP when I go on Thursday. I have never farted in myl ife as much as I have in the last 8 months..hell for that matter in the last week and I wasnt even eating any food this past week due to my esophagitis.

I like your story Lisa..I thought it was just my cat that was tree crazy ..she seems to enjoy drinking the water from the tree stand then the water out of her bowl..and everytime she does she tromples over the presents and knocks atleast 1 of the glass ball ornaments off the tree then rolls it around the house like it is a toy

No PB but reflux, it could mean you are a tad too tight..it will probably happen even if you do not drink before bed. Even thoughyou had your fill on Monday it couldtake a few days to take affect. Call your Doc and get on some prevacid or Nexium..Good Luck

Well Santa brought me comfort from my esophagitis this afternoon so now I want a BIG bottle of Chanel's COCO Madamosielle perfume

Mine is about 3 inches below my left boob! Thank God my boobs dont sag ((too much) or I would have to lift it up for my fills

I just eat a small piece of thin steak and a half of a small baked potato..That was the best damn tasting food I have ever eaten I havent eaten solids in 11 days It feels soooo good to eat. I do not even care if I don't lose or gain this week! I'm eatin!!! Thanks Leatha

Hi Fran..so happy to hear your surgery went well. Congratulations!

Way to go Babs..you will be at goal soon. You have done fantastic! An inspiration!

Ok Guys..It had to be the medicine that was making me worse..this afternoon.. I feel great! I went out and got our Christmas tree all by myself loaded it and unloaded it from the van..I actually want to eat, I have energy and an appetite! Oh my gosh I can not tell you how good I feel right now..I still have a teeeny tiny discomfort from time to time but nothing like yesterday or the days prior to today. Thank You Lord!

Sometimes Alex we have to sacrafice our own needs , wants & desires for the needs , wants and desires of our family..Your day will come

Hi Penni, I have Blue Cross and tried to get reimbursement..I hope you have better luck then I did. I was told that most insurance companies will not reimburse anything done in another country like Mexico, at least that is what I was told. Good Luck..I hope it works for you !

I'm still in some discomfort but I have not taken that medication since I threw it in the trash..it is usually around 1-2 in the afternoon when I noticed a big difference in my spasms so we will see how today goes without taking that medication. I'm praying I feel just a "little" better. I'm missing eating real food..even though the Dr. wants me on a soft diet it is so stragne that after 10 days I'm not hungrier then I am..my daily intake consists of 1 Cup in Hand soup..1 atkins protein drink, and a small bowl of watered down cream of wheat. & juice, thats about it..I have no appetite for liquids, softs or solids! Thanks for asking Becky

Comfort from this esophagitis

Hi Fran by now you are an official bandster! Yahooo!!! I hope it all went well for you, we look forward to hearing all about it when you get homeand feel up to it! Congratulations

I can cross my legs comortably and sit like a lady instead of like a man! My stomach doesnt hit the steering wheel!

I feel what you are saying Lisa..somedays I can eat and eat and eat and others..food is something I do NOT think about becasue I have so much restriction.! I remember scheduling my third fills since I felt I had no restriction and could eat like a horse..the muinute I hung up the phone from making my appointment which was going to be in 2 weeks from that phone call I had MAJOR restriction all the way up until the fill date..never had my fill..Crazy bands..

Ok Im back from my PCP Interesting...Remember in my post earlier I said it felt like it was more painful and I wondered if it was the medicine..Well IT WAS!! The medicine was making my spasms worse and making me have them more frequent. I took the medicine with me and had him look at it and then once he told me to stop taking it I threw it right in the trash can. Everytime I took the medicine I noticed an increase in spasms and pain.He told me exactly what Ortiz told me that it is a regulator for the esophagus but by what I was describing to him that it was over regulatiing mine... So he told me to up my prevacid to 2x's a day even though I have no reflux or heartburn he said it will still help heal my esophagus..if I am not feeling better by Monday he will schedule an endoscopy, but he really believes if I stop this medication I will have relief in a couple of days... I told him I had the fluoro and barium on Monday and all was good with my band but he said just to be safe and to have a very accurate account of my band. I'm hopeful I will start feeling better soon..Thanks for allyour well wishes..this soft food crap and liquids is for the birds!

AN Update I'm going to go see my PCP today at 2:15 I'm still feeling bad..I have these horrible spasms in my esophagus that are causing me a great deal of discomfort. I also want to ask him about the Mexican medicine Ortiz gave me, it may be all in my head but it seems like it is getting more painful then It was on Monday..I'm wondering if it is the medicine and if not then why am I not feeling better. I'm going to ask for that esophagus test. These spasms are so painful when they happen they make me nauseated ..my mouth waters like I'm going to vomit and we all know that is not good for a bandster...I will let you all know when I get home..I'm fuctioning at a very low pace..

Lisa didn't you have your surgery with Dr. Ortiz? I do not remember his post op instructions allowing Soups and mashed potatoes at day 12? Be careful to follow your Dr's post op instructions you would not want to jeopardize the healing process and having your band set in place like the Dr. wants it to. Well to answer your questions..yes it is normal to gain weight when you go from liquids to softs and from soft to solids..but I can tell you from experience weighing everyday will drive you insane you will loses and gain the same 2 lbs over and over again ..most of us here are in a weeklt scale challenge to stay off the scale and only weight once a week and it really helps in the wieght loss..Good Luck

Thats a great I dea Meagn for those who cant make it to send an ornament!