vinesqueen

HI Campers! (Hi Crystal!) Well, today is my one year bandivarsary. Not a single expectation I had before my banding has materialzied at least when it comes to weight or size, but perhaps the evaporation of my asthma symptoms (yay me!) makes up in some small measure for not losing weight. (that whole not-dead thing goes a long way I think) I have lost a net of 30 pounds since being banded. I've lost 15 pounds since April 2005, which is hardly impressive. This last year has been quite a ride for me. Right now I'm not even bothering to try to lose weight, I'm just concentrating on maintaining. And I'm doing a very good job of that. Someone on another board told me that they were disapointed that I've given up, that I wasn't even trying, so of course I would fail. But that's just it, I haven't given up and I haven't failed. I don't think the band failed me either. Or maybe I do. I dunno. I know that I was very angry that I wasn't able to lose weight. I was well on my way for a while to developing my first eating disorder -- this summer and fall I was completely obsessed with counting everysingle calorie trying to lose weight. (tooth paste does not have any significiant calories, BTW) I spent a month at 700 +/- 100 (okay, mostly - ) because I couldn't lose weight at 1000 or 1200 or higher. I lost 1.5 pounds that month I was too tight. I thought I had developed a leak, but it was just a case of an interventional radiologist who didn't have enough experinece letting out more fill than he was putting in... It's hard watching everyone pass me by. It's hard to watch folks who started out with similar stats to me loose 10 sizes to my one size lost. It's hard to watch them lose so much more in pounds that I feel like I ever will. But at least I've recorded every one of my NSVs that I've ever noticed, which does help. After all, when I'm invited to go on Oprah when i finally do get things figured out, I'll be able to share more than pounds lost, I'll be able to share the life I've gained. So, since I badger everyone at their bandivarsaries for their favorite NSVs, here are my favorite ones right now. My top ten NSVs in no particular order. I didn't die from resperatory failure. Probably my biggest NSV, that whole not-death thing. Probably my favorite one too. I have wiggle room when I fly, and I don't need an extender anymore either. (is that one or two?) I've run for the bus without even thinking about it I've been able to chase my Spudboy down the stairs and out into the street before having to stop becaue I was laughing so hard I've started bellydancing again, and I'm a professional bellydancer too now. I no longer have a "breathy" quality to my voice, but I'm told it's strong and clear now. (no more asthma!) I am no longer The Great Crystal Dam in the bathtub I can cross my legs. HOLY SH*T! I can cross my legs! donuts no longer have any appeal I have realized that I will never go hungry again. (it's a wolves thing)

HI Campers! (Hi Crystal!) Well, today is my one year bandivarsary. Not a single expectation I had before my banding has materialzied at least when it comes to weight or size, but perhaps the evaporation of my asthma symptoms (yay me!) makes up in some small measure for not losing weight. (that whole not-dead thing goes a long way I think) I have lost a net of 30 pounds since being banded. I've lost 15 pounds since April 2005, which is hardly impressive. This last year has been quite a ride for me. Right now I'm not even bothering to try to lose weight, I'm just concentrating on maintaining. And I'm doing a very good job of that. Someone on another board told me that they were disapointed that I've given up, that I wasn't even trying, so of course I would fail. But that's just it, I haven't given up and I haven't failed. I don't think the band failed me either. Or maybe I do. I dunno. I know that I was very angry that I wasn't able to lose weight. I was well on my way for a while to developing my first eating disorder -- this summer and fall I was completely obsessed with counting everysingle calorie trying to lose weight. (tooth paste does not have any significiant calories, BTW) I spent a month at 700 +/- 100 (okay, mostly - ) because I couldn't lose weight at 1000 or 1200 or higher. I lost 1.5 pounds that month I was too tight. I thought I had developed a leak, but it was just a case of an interventional radiologist who didn't have enough experinece letting out more fill than he was putting in... It's hard watching everyone pass me by. It's hard to watch folks who started out with similar stats to me loose 10 sizes to my one size lost. It's hard to watch them lose so much more in pounds that I feel like I ever will. But at least I've recorded every one of my NSVs that I've ever noticed, which does help. After all, when I'm invited to go on Oprah when i finally do get things figured out, I'll be able to share more than pounds lost, I'll be able to share the life I've gained. So, since I badger everyone at their bandivarsaries for their favorite NSVs, here are my favorite ones right now. My top ten NSVs in no particular order. I didn't die from resperatory failure. Probably my biggest NSV, that whole not-death thing. Probably my favorite one too. I have wiggle room when I fly, and I don't need an extender anymore either. (is that one or two?) I've run for the bus without even thinking about it I've been able to chase my Spudboy down the stairs and out into the street before having to stop becaue I was laughing so hard I've started bellydancing again, and I'm a professional bellydancer too now. I no longer have a "breathy" quality to my voice, but I'm told it's strong and clear now. (no more asthma!) I am no longer The Great Crystal Dam in the bathtub I can cross my legs. HOLY SH*T! I can cross my legs! donuts no longer have any appeal I have realized that I will never go hungry again. (it's a wolves thing)

Bumping cause it's fun

Bumping 'cause it's fun

Hi Nanster! It is way to early to know if you are a Turtle, we usually don't really know it until 4-6 months after we are banded. Congrats on losing so much so fast! Many people don't lose any weight in the first few weeks after banding. Keep in mind that this time is for healing and any weight lost during this time is bonus!

Hi Bella, welcome to LBT. Turtles, Turtles, Turtles... You have asked a very good question. But unfortunately, we don't have the answers. I don't know that anyone really knows if they are going to be a Turtle until they are one. I have been diagnosed with Cushing's, a condition where I produce way too much cortisol. Right now I'm in the middle of tests to verify the diagnosis. One of the symptoms of Cushing's is the inability to lose weight, and another is unexplained and rapid weight gain. I have to wonder how many other Turtles are also Cushing's folk. But the think is Bella, I have a very strong suspicion that Turtles will be Turtles even if they are converted to a malaborptive technique, like the DS or one of the other bypass flavors like RNY. But we make up a very small percentage of the banded population, if LBT is any indication.

weight's a funny thing. You might not have the extra fat you think you do. The scale is a known lier and deciever. To get a much better idea of what you can realistically lose and realistically weigh, you must have your FFM figured out. Your fat free mass, or you FFM will tell you what you weigh without the fat, simply the weight of your bones, muscles, tissues and anything that isn't fat. There is NOTHING wrong with being a size 12. We have this national obsession to be a size nothing or a size 4 or something completely unrealistic. If you have an athletic build you will weight more and be phsyically larger than a waif. But you will be so much more healthy than a waif. And that's the goal, to be healthy.

Woot! Here's wishing you the best surgery and recovery known to mankind! Yeah, you've needed to change that screen name for the longest time now! Woot! We want pictures!

Congrats! Sometimes NSVs just come like a bolt out of the blue, while other tmes they sort of sneak up on you.

Oh Kabeerah! I'm so sorry about your toe, that's gotta hurt! Yowie-ouch! (((hugs))) And yes, that being confined to your house can really add to a depression. I want you to seriously think about getting checked for diabetis, it's very serious, and the complications can litterally kill you if you are not careful! I too would go with the doc that's done 90 over the one that's done 3. It just makes sense that way. I'll keep you in my thoughts hoping you have a good consult with the doc, and it would be wonderful if you could be banded in a few weeks as opposed to months!

Welcome to Bandlandia everyone!

May the cities in your wake burn like candles on your cake! Happy birthday!

Just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should do something. It would be a very bad idea to drive yourself home after any sort of surgery. BAD IDEA! This would violate two of my guiding principles in life: Never borrow trouble, and God never told you to do anything stupid. You would probably be sited for driving while impaired, plus you would realy be in no condition to drive. If you were close, I'd come and get you. We care.

Well, when I fly I'm definately tighter. When my DH comes to visit me in Pocatello, he gets SUPER tight. Seattle is basically sea level, while Pocatello is more that 4,000 feet in elevation. Some folks find their band becomes an instant baromiter, while other people don't notice any change with the weather. I don't care what the literature says, if you experience it, then you experience it.

okay, WHY are you doing this without pain killers?????? That is not being nice to yourself!

Bups is getting her ba-and! Bups is getting her ba-and!

Candy, go to your regular doc and request in the strongest terms a work up. Don't go back to that same endo, find a different one.

My clinic does revision from RNY to add the band. They know that this works for some folks. I have found my surgeons very compassionate and caring. Some folks do very well with their RNY, it is all about learning to lead a new lifestyle. I really think successful long term results come from lifestyle changes, and of course many RNY folks will learn the new lifestyle. I just worry about people who've been banded who don't lose like they should, not because of a band failure, but because they have metabolic issues. I know that lots of people are not as patient as I am and would have converted to something else by now. I know in my heart of hearts that if I'd converted to a malabsortive technique that I still wouldn't be losing any weight.

Okay Turtles, how are we all doing?

okay Turtles! how is everyone doing?

Yay! I'm glad SunnyKim is back with us too. I just figured you were out having fun without us, and I wanted to be in on the fun too!

Hey Paula! No, I don't think he was that much more interested. But all I had to really do was get him to order the tests. My aunt the doctor thinks I should have just gone right to the UW medical center, but they wouldn't look at me without test results. So, I'm getting the tests, so tht's a good thing! When I had the first collapsed lung, the one doc told me that they were talking bets to see what it would turn out to be. Women rarely get spontainious colapsing lungs, usually a young male athelete thing. The last pulmo I saw diaganosed me as being fat. Yup, that was the diagnosis for the colapsed lung, I was just fat. (250 pounds) So sorry about your dad. Yeah, it's really tough when they don't know what to do. Rarely do they actually tell you that they don't know, but instead to appear infalable, they fluster and bluster. I know it's gonna be a long battle. I'm not happy about that. Im impatient and I want an answer RIGHT NOW!!!! but I"m not going to get it right now, I'll just have to practice the art of restraint and patience.

Happy bandiversary! You've done amazing work, now tell us what your top 10 NSVs are!

Thanks for the laugh!

This is a major step, and please do NOT shop for the cheapest doc, you get what you pay for.