hagerteresa

Hi Margie, I definitely had a few months of those mood swings after getting banded. I have always been kind of an emotional person but I think losing weight definitely made it more pronounced for me. You are also at the age where you might be starting menopause??? Not sure. I think many of us do go thru what you are describing though. I did go to the doctor and he put me on wellbutrin but after taking it a month or so I quit taking it. I have felt pretty stable since then. I think a lot of time it is my husband who is driving me crazy. LOL. I am working on not letting him bother me so much. Best wishes to you and hope you find some peace, Teresa

Hi Becki, Congratulations!!! Nice to meet you!!! Teresa

Hi Christina! Nice to meet you! I am 30 years old and have been married 5 years. I live in Oregon. Good luck getting the band and best wishes, Teresa

LOVEMEACB4E, I don't think anyone actually wants to see harm come to you but you have definitely taken a LOT of risks that we were told not to take by our surgeons. Don't be alarmed when we are shocked at your surgeons protocol. The first six weeks are meant for healing ONLY and we all suffered discomfort from hunger during that time and many people do not lose weight at all during that time. Even I (who have yet to have my first fill 6 MONTHS out) was starving the first 6 weeks until I was on solid food. Don't be offended because people are concerned enough to comment... You may not have asked us our opinion but you did want to update us, and I think we were all still recovering from the shock of you getting the first fill within 4 weeks and eating solid food VERY shortly after your initial surgery. Take care, Teresa

Lauri, You have definitely had your share of struggles. We had a recent sermon about struggles that came to mind when I read your post. I am glad to hear your hubby did get a job and you won't have to move just yet. Hopefully things are on a turn around mode. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Hi Mary, Nice to meet you and congratulations on your success. Your doing great!!! Teresa

Exactly what Pam and Leatha said!!! I love going out for dinner because I'll either make my hubby share with me or I'll get my own and I'll have leftovers for at least another couple of meals. I got the nerve to go to a chinese buffet awhile ago and found I just take a bite or two of each item I wanted and still only ate about 1/2 my plate. At home I use saucers as plates and they work great. One meal I almost always eat consistently for breakfast includes one egg and one Morning Star vegetarian sausage. That will keep me full till lunch. Best of luck to you, Teresa

Glad you got back home okay!!! Congratulations on your banding success!!! I saw those gummy vites today at Costco and they looked so good I was afraid I would eat them like gummy bears (the whole container at once). Best wishes to you and to a quick recovery. Teresa

Hi all, Thanks for the support. I am fine about it now. I just felt like such a failure on my first fill and all. They didn't use any numbing stuff but the needle really didn't hurt too much. I doubt there are very many nerves in the thick layer of fat I still have on my tummy... No, there isn't a closer place. Eugene is about the 2nd biggest city in the state but no fill doctors in the area. Compared to what some people have to travel for fills 2 hours really isn't horrible and at least he does have the flouro option in the same building. Its just in a different office on a lower floor. His prices are also one of the most reasonable in the state and he really does have a wonderful bedside manner. He was a very nice guy. I have never spent so much time with an actual doctor before, he really spent a lot of time with me and his nurse spent the entire 2 hours I was there with me. I was just bummed that evening. Teresa

Marie and Zoe I haven't forgotten you either. I will just go back periodically and review the list and make them as I come across names and colors. Teresa

Hi Becky, Those did come out cute! I normally use either one skein of thicker yarn or two skeins of light wersted yarn. Glad you figured out the pattern. They are addictive. Darcy as you know yours is almost done and will be sent in the mail tomorrow. Betty, yours is next and then Kathy's. I still owe Lisa one too so I'll get hers done sometime in there. Can you guess that she wanted black as well?!? Whats with you guys??? I'm going to go blind making all these black hats. LOL... Hope you like yours Darcy. Best wishes all, Teresa

Have fun Lisa!!! I'll miss you! Teresa

Yeah, it will be interesting to have it done with the flouro. For some reason he doesn't think it is good to have it done that way very often but it definitely is going to have to be the way I have it done the first time. I was so determined for a fill and not having to go back so soon, I asked them to try one more time in his office. Today I feel like a pin cushion. He said once he does it with the flouro he will document the placement and position in my charts so hopefully he doesn't have to every time.... I was just ready to get back on track. We all felt he was really really close but the darn needle just wouldn't go in. Oh-well, hopefully they can get me in next wednesday. Thanks folks, Teresa

They wanted me to come in tomorrow but I absolutely have to work tomorrow and my schedule is such that I have to really plan ahead. The best days for me were mondays and fridays but mondays the flouro office is closed and fridays is the doctors surgery day. thursday would have been the next best day but thats his day off... etc, etc. They are going to try to get me in the following wednesday (17th) but they need to check with the flouro office and see if its open that day. What a fiasco... My mom took the day off and went with me today but it was foggy the whole entire trip and just felt like a long day. Thanks for the support though, Teresa

Hi Kathy, Well my first fill didn't work out at all. He is a very nice guy and I really liked his whole office but he just could not access my port and I am going to have to go back and get a flouro fill in a couple of weeks. They wanted me to come back tomorrow but I absolutely have to work tomorrow. Bummed out... Anyway let you know how the flouro one goes. Hopefully all his stabbing didn't cause any hose punctures. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Hello all, I am so frustrated. I drove to the fill doctor today which is about 2 hours from me. I had gotten a lot of great feed back about him from other Lopez patients but he had a hard time accessing my port. He must have stabbed 20 times at least and just couldn't get it. We could all feel it and all felt so close but alas, no such luck. The flouro office in his building wasn't open today so I am going to have to drive up in a couple of weeks to get a fill. I'm so bummed... :think I know I need a fill because I can definitely eat a lot more in the last few weeks and have only lost a pound in the last month so I was determined to get one today but no such luck. Okay, I'm done whining... Teresa

I just started my volunteering a few weeks ago. In Oregon it is a 5th year program as well but you do come out of it with a Master's degree. 1/2 of it is classwork "how to teach" type classes and the other 1/2 of the program is student teaching in a classroom. I am just sick of being a poor student and am ready for the working world (aside from my housekeeping and bed and breakfast work). I am going to get certified for working with handicapped children as well. I have lived next door to an autistic boy most of his life and evidently Oregon has a shortfall for people certified with challenged kids. Thanks for the info. Becky, Teresa

Hi all, its no problem making the hats. I am going to make them all on the large side unless anyone has a particularly small head. Becky do you have a Master's to teach? I just finished my bachelors and am so sick of school I really wish I could avoid getting my masters right now, but in Oregon it seems most school districts only hire people with a masters. Anyway hope you all have a good sunday and I'll get started on the hats this evening. Don't worry about paying anything till you get them. Teresa

Okay, okay, I will make whoever wants one a hat. The yarn is about $4-5 and its probably only a few dollars to ship one. I'll go back thru and find the colors everyone wants and start some more. Just think, this will be good for MY weight loss. I found last year when I made about 20 of them for christmas gifts I hardly had any chance to snack. My fingers were just too busy. You all crack me up though!!! LOL. Teresa

Okay, here goes nithing... The hat is called a crocheted crusher hat and you need hook sizes H and J. Split ring markers or coiless pins are also handy to mark your rows as you work but I always just use a piece of different colored yarn. Abbreviations used include Ch: chain, St: stitch, Sl st: slip stitch, Sc: single crochet, inc 1: work 2 sc into the same stitch. Use either two strands of light wersted yarns (350-400 yards) or 1 stand of thicker yarn. I love Lion's Main brand (I think thats the name... I know its Lion something). I find the hardest part is starting the first loop but with practice it gets easier. Here goes... Begin by making a loop of yarn around two fingers, circling the ball end strands counter clockwise over the cut end strands. Round 1: Work 6 sc into this loop, pull yarn end to tighten into a circle and completely close the hole in the center. Mark beginning of round. 2: work 2 sc into each stitch (12sc) 3: sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat around (18sc) 4: inc in next st, sc in each of next 2 st, repeat around. (24sc) 5: sc in each of next 3 sts, inc 1 in next st, repeat around. (30sc) 6: sc in next st, inc 1 in next st, sc in each of next 4 sts, repeat around ending with sc in each of last 3 sts. (36sc) 7: sc in each of next 5 sts, inc 1 in next st, repeat around. (42 sc) 8: sc in each of next 2 sts, inc 1 in next st, sc in each of next 6 sts, repeat around, ending with sc in each of of last 4 sts. (48sc) 9: sc in each of next 7 sts, inc 1 in next st, repeat around. (54sc) 10: sc in each of next 3 sts, inc 1 in next st, sc in each of next 8 sts, repeat around ending with sc in each of last 5 sts. (60sc) 11: sc in each of next 9 sts, inc 1 in next st, repeat around. (66sc) 12: sc in each of first 4 sts, inc 1 in next st, sc in each of next 10 sts, repeat around ending with sc in each of last 6 sts. (72sc) For large size 24", continue around in single stitches till hat measures 7 " from center of crown and then follow brim instuctions. For extra large 25", 13: sc in each of next 23 sts, inc 1 in next st, repeat around. (75sc) Continue around in single stitches till hat measures 7" from center of crown and then follow brim instuctions. Brim: 1: Working into the front loop only of previous round, inc 1 in first st, sc in each of next 2 sts, repeat around. Continue working in sc until the hat measures 9.5" from center of crown. Final round: change to size J crochet hook and work 1 round of sc. Join with slip st at end of round. Cut yarn and fasten off. Work ends in carefully working brim ends in upper side of hat. If someone wants instructions for the child sizes or small sizes let me know and I can add them in. Teresa

Hello, I live in the Eugene area and grew up in Cottage Grove which is about 30 minutes away. I was thinking Alaska was kind of like a colder Pacific Northwest, but not so huh... Eating slowly and drinking enough Water are my constant challenges but I think I get better and better at doing those specific tasks. Glad to hear you've pm'ed Delarla. Best wishes, Teresa

That is one aspect that shocked me too Alex. I couldn't believe they didn't even mention other types of WLS. I only heard them mention the by-pass but I know people who have had the RNY and the duodenal switch too, not to mention the mentioning of the band. I wish they would do an hour long segment on the band. Oh-well...

I totally agree Pat!!! I think we all love this sight and pride ourselves about having a family type atmosphere. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Hi Jennifer, Nice to meet you and glad we can be so inspiring. I too love and depend on this forum. Best wishes, Teresa

I watched it and thought it was interesting. I emailed them at msnbc immediately afterwards and recommended they do a segment on the band. I tried to be interesting and informative so who knows if I'll even get a response... Teresa