beckiet

Tom, I'm so sorry to hear you're still experiencing troubles. My band did erode into my stomach afterall. They removed everything on Friday and I stayed overnight at surgical center. I was lucky...no feeding tube. Which was amazing since after they saw the Upper GI pics I brought (instead of faxed ones they received) they said it was worse than they were told. We're thinking all the antibiotics I've been on over the last year and a half have somehow helped. I go to surgeon again tomorrow...don't know if he'll remove my drain tube yet or not, still getting 10 mL every 12 hours out of it. We're just watching for infections right now. I will keep you in prayers, Tom. Again, I thank you for sharing your story with me...it helped me prepare and know what to expect.

Tom, my heart goes out to you and your experience. I was banded June 07. Shortly after I had signs of infection with my port incision. I was officially diagnosed with MRSA Staph Infection in Oct. 07. Due to the infection, my port flipped and I had that reflipped Dec. 07. June 08 brought about port removal and a month of intravaneous antibiotic injections daily. Infection was "clear" by August and Nov 14 port placed back in. Tubing was at near surface of skin and incision infected again so that port was removed Nov 26 and third port put in a different pocket. Infection crept in again and docs put me on Zyvox for three weeks. That seems to have worked. Went in today and surgeon said looks great, let's do a fill. PRN checked port site first with needle and no Fluid buildup (I thought, wonderful!!!! back on track). Band was empty but for a bubble of fluid so they gave me a 2cc fill and did a barium drink following. Sent me back to work. I get back to my desk and surgeon's calling me to see how I'm doing. Then he mentions that one of the pics of the barium drink looks like I have band erosion. I looked it up online and found: What is a Band erosion? This is when the Band actually erodes into the stomach. It is a more serious problem, and generally requires removal of the Band. Band erosion is thought to be related to placing too many sutures (or too tight sutures) at the time of Band implantation. Surprisingly, Band erosion is often unnoticed. Occasionally the port will become infected if bacteria track along the catheter out to the port. Other times patients will stop losing weight. Diagnosis often requires an endoscopy. They are scheduling a stomach scope for me soon. Not once since my surgery did they do a barium look and now I wish that they had done so. Will keep you in my prayers, Tom. Best of luck to you and thank you for sharing your story.

Thanks, Everyone! Those two are my angels and a huge inspiration to me to get healthy. They love to dance with me so much that I'm even working on teaching them a few of my Zumba steps. Jewels loves it and Robbie says "shake, shake, shake" so now when I am exercising with my group I can't help but hear his little voice saying that.

Thanks, Suzzzie! I'm enjoying the new clothes and the "old but new" clothes. This was one of my favorites at one time. Thanks, Wombat...those two are my angels. They are a huge, huge reason for me to get healthy. I'm in-between styles right now...I'm at the point I just want to cut it and go back with the Lisa-Rinna style but hubby wants me to grow it out.

Wombat, you look amazing! Everyone does! Way to go, gang! Well, I finally got my pictures developed...now to figure out how to do this thing. I can't find any scanned pre-surgery...sorry. Please ignore hair...this was after a long day at work...but I hadn't worn that skirt in years

Suzzzie, I think we misspell Oreos...I think it's really a 4-letter word, not 5... :smile: I understand...it's those things, especially chocolate this week...that get me slightly off track. All, I think my getting back to meal planning and the port revision surgery have helped! I'm down 2.6 pounds since the 3rd and I'm now at 39+ gone!! The scales are moving well again...now maybe I can see the weight loss I should have seen during my infection time. My goal by July is to be 80 total gone, another 40. Keep posting those plans! We can look back on them and see how we're doing. Lap-Dancer, I also love hummus! There's this great authentic Mediterranean Cafe on my way back to work from my surgeon's office and they have the most amazing Hummus Plate. I stopped today and grabbed it and a little bit of tabbouleh.

BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER THURSDAY 1/10 1 NF Yogurt (90 cal.) Hormel dinner (230 cal) Citrus 5-Spice Chicken Tenders 1 large banana (120 cal) beef or chicken broth Corn on the cobb 1 Fiber granola bar (140 cal) Wonton soup FRIDAY 1/11 Wendy’s (will be fasting from midnight until dr. appt for chol.check) Chinese Chicken Salad ½ c. beef & ww noodles 1 sm. Apple ½ c. green beans 1 ff caramel apple dip sf/ff chocolate pudding w/ free whipped cream SATURDAY 1/12 – NEW DAY: Exercise, meal plan with buddy 1 Scrambled egg w/salsa ½ c. tomato soup Lemon-pepper baked tilapia 1 sausage patty Grilled cheese sand. With ww/bread and lf cheese and ham Salad w/ff dressing ¼ c. fruit salad with splenda ½ c. ff cottage cheese w/pineapple 1 c. ff skim milk SUNDAY 1/13 NF Cherry Vanilla yogurt w/quarter-cup berries 1/2. c. black bean chilaquilles ½ c. cream of wheat w/splenda 1 corn patty SF/FF pudding MONDAY 1/14 1 slice ww toast w/sliced tomato and ff cheese, broiled Hummus & WW Pita Leftover chicken ½ c. tabbouleh ½ c.“fried” brown rice w/peas & carrots 2-4 slices turkey bacon chicken broth egg drop soup TUESDAY 1/15 1 hard-boiled egg Hormel dinner (230 cal) Leftover beef & noodles 1 md. Banana w/pb and granola Beef broth ½ c. nf cottage cheese 1 c. ff skim milk SF Jello cup 1 slc. Ww bread w/lite butter WEDNESDAY 1/16 1 pkg. Oatmeal Tuna salad on multigrain crackers Cheesy Broiled Turkeyburger (no bun) ½ grapefruit w/splenda 2 kiwifruit ½ c. dilled potatoes 1 c. ff skim milk ½ c. steamed carrots

I do allow for Protein or Calcium Snacks also. Right now, I'm trying to get back on track, long story but it has to do with infections and finally getting healthy again. I have 3 cc's in a 4cc band...so I think I'm about there...I am feeling restriction once again, so that's good. I've been told 1 c. or a little over is what we should be eating. I think part of my problem is there were days that I wasn't eating enough...so I may be adding to this. Also, keep in mind that this didn't include my dinner plans (I'm editing that thread after this post to include those). Good luck to you on your journey!!!

Okay...just an idea. Some of us are mentioning how we are not losing as much as we'd like or eating stuff we shouldn't....how about starting a thread for your meal plans? I'll be happy to start, I'll edit this tomorrow because I my dinner plans on the refrigerator at home. Thurs. 1/10 - B: 1 NF Yogurt, 1 Fiber granola bar, maybe 1 sm. banana, water; L: 1 ham wrap w/ww tortilla, hummus, tomato, lettuce, ff cheese, chicken broth; Fri. 1/11 - B: 1 c. cream of wheat w/apple pie spice and cinnamon and splenda, 1 slice ww toast w/pb, 1 c. ff milk; L: chinese chicken salad, 1 sm. apple w/ff caramel dip Sat. 1/12 - B: 1 scrambled egg with salsa and ff cheese, 1 sausage patty, fruit, 1 c. ff milk Sun. 1/13 - B: homemade fruit & yogurt parfait, cream of wheat with splenda Mon. 1/14 - B: 1 slc. ww toast w/sliced tomato and ff cheese broiled; 2-4 slices turkey bacon, 1 c. ff milk; L: Hummus & Pita, 1/2 c. tabbouleh salad, chicken broth Tues.. 1/15 - B: 1 hard-boiled egg, 1 md. banana w/pb & granola, 1 c. ff milk; L: 1 Hormel dinner, SF Jello Wed. 1/16 - B: 1 packet oatmeal made w/skim milk, 1/2 grapefruit; L: Tuna salad on multigrain crackers, 2 kiwifruit Whatcha think??

Suzzzie, I know what you mean! I keep looking at your posts and you are doing so well and I think, "that's my band-twin". You are doing wonderful! I don't think it's anything Dr. Ellison or the center have done, just the luck of the draw. I tried to be very careful after surgery and not lift the kids, but I know I wasn't perfect on that, so I'm sure that didn't help. Sades, thanks for the well wishes. I did get some good news on Friday...I've been approved (a call from my care coordinator with my insurance) and then my surgeon's office called and good news...I've met my Out Of Pocket for the year!!! Insubordination, each person's different. My docs thought my sideways positioning was normal for me. I asked them what I could do to help get it back to the right way of facing and they suggested exercising. When I went in Wednesday I took one look and thought "I did it!"...until we discovered the tink of metal. I will keep you all posted. I hope to hear more today.

Thanks, FarmerE. The surgeon who looked at the fluro yesterday for second says they use four stitches around theirs as well. I am hoping to hear some news today or tomorrow. Will keep everyone posted to what I find out.

Wombat, Zumba is a Latin-dance exercise class, www.zumba.com. I love it! My local instructors are with Casa De Fitness and they are wonderful!! It combines Latin dancing with a little bit of belly dancing even. Works the hips and arms very well.

Thanks, Wombat, I appreciate the prayers. It definitely has been a long journey, but at least I am losing and I'm hoping that if my insurance approves before 1/1 and I get it done before 1/1 that it doesn't happen again. I've been looking online to find out what causes the flipping...and I haven't found much. I've searched this site and that's helped.

Okay....I'm beginning to think I upset a leprechaun sometime along. First the regular infection, then a large bout with MRSA staph infection 4 months out at the main incision site...now I go in today for my first fill since September...couldn't have one because of the MRSA.....and the fluro showed that my port had completely flipped! My port had been angled before for the last two fills. It looked fine at first on fluro...I thought, "great! my zumba has really helped to get it in place" until Judy had trouble. She thought it was scar tissue until she tapped the needle and you could hear metal. So, now I have to have another procedure to fix the port. Since I'm more than 3 months out, they have to go through the entire insurance approval process again. Mind you, I switch insurances on Jan. 1 to a provider that doesn't cover this doctor and all would be out of pocket expenses. Plus, I'm taking over billing for my employer when a co-worker goes on medical leave on Dec. 12th for a month...would be nice to have this done before then, but I know my insurance better. Please, pray for me and happy thoughts my way....

I'm breaking through a little..plus I go to doc tomorrow, hopefully for a long-overdue fill. I also start a second day of Zumba this week! Dakota1984 ..... 246 ....... 242 ....... 234 ..... 8 MJSafari ....... 237 ....... 231 ....... 227 ..... 4 Wombat712 ...... 162 ....... 159.6...... 150 ..... 9.6 SueMagoo ....... 243 ....... 237 ....... 230 ..... 7 Missrhondalynn.. 255 ....... 255 ....... 235 ..... 20 MM ............. 213.4...... 211.2...... 208 ..... 3.2 BeckieT ........ 248.8 ..... 247.8 ..... 240 ..... 7.8 Suzzzie. ....... 312.1 ..... 307.3 ..... 299 ..... 8.3 HUNTERSMOM...... 170 ....... 170 ....... 165 ..... 5 LULUC .......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 170 ..... 12 SWEETY ......... 188 ....... 182.6 ..... 180 ..... 2.6 Joeygirl........ 226 ....... 223....... 220 ..... 3 FarmerE......... 182 ....... 182 ....... 172 ..... 10 Finallythin..... 235 ....... 235 ....... 220 ..... 15 Holliwagz........386.........297.........286...... 11

I'm in. I'm still averaging 1.59 a week and I hope to get my first fill in 2 months after Thanksgiving. My 8.8 isn't as ambitious as others, but at 1.5 for 5 weeks that's 7 1/2 pounds so I'm hoping for a little more...and the 240 will definitely put me at a lower weight than my hubby has known me at. Name........Challenge start wgt.......current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go. Dakota1984....... 246......................246...................... 226................20 MJSafari............237.......................237. .....................227................10 Wombat712.........162.......................162... .....................150.................12 SueMagoo............243.......................243. ......................230................13 Missrhondalynn 255.....................255....................... ..235................20 MM.........................213.4.................. .213.4......................203..............10.4 BeckieT................248.8..................248.8.......................240..............8.8

Way to go MM and Suzzzie!!! You did it!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone!

but the past month and a half plus I've been battling the MRSA staff infection at my main incision site and haven't been able to do any more fills until it's well over and done with. But I have broken a plateau I've been facing this past month, so that's a bonus and I am averaging 1.59 pound loss each week, so I'm happy. Huntersmom...... 174........... 170....... 159............ 11 SWEETY.......... 202........... 188....... 180............ 8 MJsafari........ 268........... 237....... 238............ -1 captdanbo....... 211........... 177....... 185............ -8 PaulaD.......... 216........... 216....... 199............ 17 Stefanie42467... 206........... 200....... 175............ 25 Suzzzie......... 349........... 317.6..... 320.......... -2.4 glindab......... 277........... 260....... 250............ 10 MM.............. 242........... 214.8..... 218...........-3.2 finallythin..... 254........... 254....... 225............ 29 BeckieT......... 259........... 248.8..... 239............ 9.8 Miscontext...... 303........... 303....... 275............ 28 ja9va........... 207........... 199....... 182............ 20 wombat712....... 180........... 162....... 165............ -3 Waters.......... 214........... 213....... 190............ 24 lessnless....... 206........... 181.5..... 179............ 2.5 MissDarlene..... 223........... 223....... 195............ 28 o2bthin......... 238........... 225....... 215............ 10 insubordination. 300........... 285....... 283............ 02 Holliwagz....... 325........... 302....... 295............ 07 cc.............. 202........... 194....... 190............ 04 Grace........... 173........... 169....... 165............ 04 Sheila...........220........... 211....... 200............ 11 Texasmom5573.... 252........... 239....... 230............ 9

Shows: Wayne Brady April 7 @ Venetian $83.00 Penn & Teller April 7-9 @ Rio $85.80 Legends April 7-9 @ Imperial Palace $49.95 Plus more...these are just some that I saw....

Rhonda, Sorry to hear about that! Today's economy is tough on all of us. Unfortunately, I'm carrying two households right now...just bought a house, but ours didn't sell, step-sons are "renting" it from us right now but it's not covering all of its bills. Does anyone have a count of who/how many people are wanting to go? I just looked at lasvegas.com and: Circus Circus Standard Tower Rooms $64.94/night/room Travelodge (S. Strip) Standard Double Double $79.00/night/room Imperial Palace Deluxe $69.87/night/room Riviera Standard $91.76/night/room Harrah's Standard $118.07/night/room Luxor Pyramid $150.00/night/room Luxor Tower $170.00/night/room Flamingo Standard $150.00/night/room Prices pretty much go up from there... How many are able to go April 7-9th? I'd be happy to help coordinate...but I know I can't do it all...I'm too scatterbrained lately.

Quadmom....you are not a failure. My doctors office told me it sometimes takes 3-6 fills for some people to feel restriction. You should really call your doctor. While there, talk to him/her about your feelings as well. Ask them for suggestions. Mine gave me a sheet that says "If you're not losing 1-2 pounds a week, here's what to look at..." and it helps me to keep on track. I've had 3 fills and have 3cc in a 4cc band...and I had good restriction up until a few days ago. I'm getting back in next week.

Oven Fried chicken Tenders 1 pkg. chicken tenders melted I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Mashed Potatoes Flakes Dredge tenders first in butter then in potatoes. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes or until juices run clear. Variations:Use Ranch Seasoning. Someone even suggested using NF Ranch Dressing rather than the butter. Chicken Fajitas I won't give the recipe, because I don't measure this one. I usually do it in my Turbo Cooker. And depending on how my band is doing, I either get a whole wheat tortilla or serve over brown rice. You can even turn this into an omelette very easily. I've even taken leftover fillings and turned into Chicken Fajita Soup.

Wow! Some great recipes! Suzzzie, your meatball recipe reminds me of the one I do and then freeze like 4-5 meatballs in a ziplock and reheat for Breakfast. I use: 1 lb. ground pork sausage (or turkey sausage) 1 lb. ground turkey breast 2 eggs (could do just the whites) 1 c. skim shredded cheese 2 Tbsp. dried onion flakes 1/2 tsp. black pepper Mix all together until well blended. Form into balls about 1 - 1 1/2 inch and place on cookie sheet. (I line mine with foil) Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Once cooled, you can store in ziplock baggies and freeze. About 4 of these have approx. 400 calories, BUT 32.8 g. Protein.

Wonderful!! Yes, those dates are on rewarding days...but it makes it all the more fun! And clothes are a perfect incentive, I think. Way to go!! Wombat, get some clothes!!! : ) But I know how you feel. It feels like I've had so many clothes ready to just fall off...and good advice for the what to suggest for gifts! Suzzzie, awesome incentives and goals! You can do it!! 3 pounds a week is attainable and a healthy goal. Wow! Sounds like a great bike! Clothes, clothes clothes! For me, that's the top incentive...although spa treatments are a very, very close second. Have you been to Wear House of Fashions over in Platte City? It's a second-hand store...but with great clothes! I think I even saw some nurse's uniforms. I forgot to mention that for my birthday my mom took me on a shopping spree at Kohl's. I love their Clearance wracks. She gave me a $40 limit and I was able to get 3 blouses, 2 skirts, and a necklace and earings. I keep teasing my family that when I get down to the weight I should be, they need to nominate me for What Not To Wear so I can get a new wardrobe without making Jody and I go bankrupt.

Anyone want to share your mini-goals and if you do incentives? For instance: My birthday was last week. I have a friend who was banded in February and her birthday was last month. We took $1 for every pound we'd lost and went shopping at a thrift store for new clothes. (I spent $3 over and got $35 worth.) Here are some of my mini goals: By Thanksgiving: Original goal was to be at 239. I'm needing to adjust this. I'd be happy at being at 245 by Thanksgiving. That's just about 6.2 pounds in 4 weeks. With a total of 38 pounds lost. By Christmas: I'd like to be 45 down, which would be 238. Here are my incentives: 40 pound loss: spa pedicure 50 pound loss: $50 clothes shopping spree 60 pound loss: I've never had a facial before...why not? 75 pound loss: mini-me night...dinner/movie with hubby or friends? 85 pound loss: $35 clothes shopping spree 100 pound loss: 1/2 day at the spa Goal: Trip...where? haven't decided yet... I need to reconsider my main goal weight...the BMI is still considered Overweight...but I don't know whether I can get lower. I was 150 in High School. (Size 12 at least)