seppi

Thanks everyone. I was ready to throw in the towel and give up, I cannot stand to gain anymore weight but I made it past that. I think I might float away, I am trying to drink water everytime I want to smoke. So far so good.

I have finally quit smoking. I have quit many times before but this is going to be the last time. I had my last cigarette on Saturday night and am doing OK. I haven't physically hurt anyone, been a bit crabby but not too bad. I really haven't been too bad with the food. Started walking more so I wouldn't eat. WHY HAVE I GAINED 5 Pounds??? Could my metabolism be slowing down without the nicotine? I am a bit constipated but not 5 pounds worth. I know in my head why it is good to quit and that 5 pounds is nothing but I am scared that it will turn into 80 and I will be back where I started. I have very little restriction and cannot get a fill for a while ( another story) Any ideas? I need this to be the last time, I really don't want to die from cigarettes but there has to be something... Friends say it will even out but no one can say when...

Boy, you look fantastic. Dramatic changes throughout! I wouldn't have believe the tummy tuck would have been so fantastic.

I didn't tell anyone anything. I took 3 sick days and went back to work. I was a little sore but not terrible. I didn't want to take too much more because I would have to get checked by our medical department to get cleared and they keep you out forever, especially if it's personal sick time and not work related. If you need more time, could you tell them thats it's something female? Sometimes that keeps people from asking too much.

I had mine out about 8 months after getting banded. The gallbladder recovery was much easier than the band. No problems at all. I am so glad it is out because the gallbladder pains were awful, never really knew when they were going to happen. Good luck!

Naked, after I go to the bathroom, every morning.

I really wish you the best. You gave me some very good advice when I was starting to look at the band. You have really helped me and a lot of others immensely. I hope that you will continue to contribute. I really didn't pay much attention to the battles that were going on a few weeks ago but I cannot imagine that it was all that bad.( or maybe I missed some of it) I hope to see you around. ( by the way your jewelry is beautiful!)

I remember the day very well. I work in a jail and one of the sergeants came down the hall and said that a plane had just hit the WTC, we both thought it was one of those very small planes. We went to the nearest housing unit to see what had happened on the television. As we were watching, the 2nd plane hit. No one was allowed to leave the facility, my kids were at school, I called my husband to and told him what had happened, I asked him to go get the kids and take them home and to please not let them watch TV. We lived very close to the city at that time and I was so scared that something else was going to happen. I think that one of scariest things was that I wasn't allowed to leave work. I was literally locked in. There were so many people from our town that died. Almost everyone knew someone. Once we were finally allowed to leave the jail, I could see the smoke and haze all the way home. There were police cars posted at the top of some of the hills because people were stopping in peoples driveways, many of the homes had views of the city. My kids still remember driving up the hill and seeing the towers burn. Many of the guys that I work with went into the city to help with recovery and clean up, poeple really came together at that time. Everyone was trying to help.

Good luck. I had my gallbladder out a few months ago. I think that it was easier than the band surgery. Hope you feel better soon.

I cannot believe they didn't call you. I have never had that happen but I have gotten there to find out they are running hours behind. Thank god you called first. How do they cancel an appointment when he only has office hours 1 time a week. On another note, I have been following all the advice here, eating smaller amounts, slowly, and being careful with the foods that cause or could cause problems. I also read (here) to try drinking a warm liquid before eating. This seems to help with the mucus. Seems like I would have thought of that. Anyway, hope you get in soon. Good luck, let me know how you make out. There are times when I can eat a lot, but not an entire sandwich. Ask the doctor for the test that checks for a slip, I doubt you have a slip you probably need another fill.

Would probably help with the mucus too. Somethings gotta.

I have never heard of this but I think it's a great idea.

I am worried about the effects of long term reflux. It is under control, most of the time. I still have it times, usually without a reason that I can find. My band doctor is the one that is concerned about the onset. He wants Me to get my esophagus checked again to make sure that everything is OK. I have a very small fill and couldn't tolerate anything more, nothing was going down. I am worried about that as well, the band is suppose to be adjustable but mine isn't really working that way right now. I am hoping that it will resolve itself and I can get on with this.

Good luck! I hop that Petunia stays high and gets her pink slip!

Good luck on the fill, it was really easy for me. Dr. Bertha is wonderful when doing them, he explained everything . I was really anxious but he put me at ease almost immediately. Patriots path is also good for walking. I haven't walked it yet but I know it goes forever. Also the track around horse shoe lake in Roxbury is nice.

The gastro prescribed the nexium. I really like him. Sometimes I feel like the band doctors don't really read the reports, I think he had me mixed up with someone else because he said something about a small abrasion on the esophagus, no one had said anything about that before but who knows. I think they have too many patients , seeing them on 1 day and surgery the other 3 is a bit crazy.

I went home the same day. They gave me water in the hospital. But I wished that I had brought some with me for the ride home, I was so thirsty!

Hi! Welcome! I am from NJ, Morristown, was banded by Abkin exactly 1 year before you. I am down about 75 pounds. I was banded at MMH I don't know if they did it at St, Claire's when I was banded. How are you feeling? are you losing? Have you been to the support group meeting? I missed this last one. I will be there in September. Hope to see you there.

I clear mt throat all the time. I seem to produce a lot of mucus. If I pb it is usually mucus and then everything is fine. I also seem to get clogged ears a lot I don't know if it is connected but it seems to be. That or I am going nuts. Which is entirely possible.I agree that the office is too busy. It is next too impossible to get answers. If you can get Nino on the phone he is usually pretty good and actually calls back when he says that he will. I am still losing but I don't know for how long because the Dr. will not allow another fill unless the reflux is resolved. I go for another egd in late Oct. or early Nov. I just had to renew my nexium, if I forget it I am in trouble. Hope it works out for you. Let me know if you come up with any solutions.

My daughter will be 13 this year. Last year we did the slumber party thing, we had high tea at midnight,(hot chocolate) the girls did a beauty treatment. Just toes and fingers and a semi mask for their faces. We had lemon/orange water, That seemed to be a hit. They liked the fresh fruit in the pitcher. We also, or should I say they, picked out a few scary movies and they had a great time screaming at the scary parts together. We kept the number of kids low and it seemed to work out great. Good luck.

Wow. Amazing gains and losses. Congrats !!!

Oh my, I hope she feels better soon.

Oh Gosh, I am sorry you have lost your band, even sorrier for all that you had to go through. Scary. I would hate to lose the band but I would certainly have done exactly what you did ( and may be facing it in the near future). Good luck.

I have 2 kids 8 and 12 I didn't tell either of them They just thought Mom is on another diet. I don't think they have figured it out. I was back to work in 4 days, including surgery day so nothing was really different for them

THE GOOD: Knowing that I do have something in the closet that fits. THE BAD: Having nothing in the closet that fits (except what I was wearing) The UGLY: My friend telling me that I took the easy way out.