lindata

Woops, this isn't even Rnr. See, another stupid newbie mistake - posting in the wrong thread.

Oh, Tish, what to say? Tell us as soon as you know what's going on. I'll be thinking of you.

Good point. I forgot I also take a fish oil supplement.

So I have PCOS - one of the side effects is male pattern baldness - and I'm a woman - not nice to have baldness! So I've been taking different things over the years. Here is what I do on a daily basis. Does it work? Who knows for sure. If I stopped taking it I'd hate to see my hair fall out more. All I know is it did thin quite a bit from stress during a move, and now it is growing back in. Nioxin shampoo and conditioner, nioxin leave-in treatment, daily vitamin, biotin (1 capsule/day from Whole Foods), and even before this lapband I drank protein shakes to get in added protein. I've also heard having your hair in a pony tail a LOT can create stress on the folicle and can make some hair fall out that way too. Since I heard that I try not to wear pony tails too much!

Well, as a newbie, can I just say I thoroughly understand how aggravating all the repetitive questions are? I can see that, really! But, since I can still remember what I was like when I joined this board, the first few days or so I was figuring it out, realizing maybe I shouldn't have posted this, said that, finding oh, here's the question I asked in another area, that kind of thing. I'm new, I made mistakes, I asked dumb questions, all the newbies do (maybe I shouldn't say ALL but there you go). I know that most of the questions have already been asked somewhere before, and sometimes the question has been asked one, two, or three pages in one thread. That I can scroll through. But, I mean, I've got a little kid, a hectic life, it's hard to scroll through HUNDREDS of pages to find the answer sometimes needed. In the FAQ's and References thread, it tells how the lapband works, but it doesn't answer questions like "How does it feel when I get stuck?", those kinds of questions that do get asked repeatedly. Now, I don't know exactly how these boards work, but if someone were to post really commonly asked questions in this section, I think a lot of the problem of the repetitiveness would be solved. And don't forget, it's hard being the new kid on the block. You're new, you do stupid things, you're scared of looking like an idiot, but you would really like an opinion to a question, because SOMEONE has been there, done that before, and we just hope our answer isn't answered hurtfully - because we feel pretty darn low and stupid as it is. I think if we can answer the repetitiveness, so you "oldies" don't get so frustrated, everybody may be a lot happier with each other. And, hey, this is the RnR section. Everyone's allowed to vent, gloves off. Can I ask why you really care if someone doesn't "like" what you've said? I mean, isn't this the point here, to say what you want to say, get it off your chest. It's not exactly a place to be all nicey nicey. That's my two cents! Linda

Wow, so many ways to drink water! LOL Hollyberries - I can so relate to re-reading and re-reading the literature. I keep going back to it and seem to find something new everytime. It's a pretty steep learning curve, especially the first week or so. But I don't think I've screwed up too badly yet! I find I get a bit of pain once in a while while drinking Water as well and it seems like captured air (gas bubbles). I know it's not due to food since my stomach is pretty much one continuous rumbling empty entity at the moment!

Yeah Lucy and Brandy!!

Longhorn - I'm new to the southern thing - do you use refried Beans from a can? That sounds soooo good!! I don't know what you guys are doing that you're not hungry! LOL. I'm quite hungry a lot - and, yes, it is real hunger, not head hunger - my tummy is rumbling as we speak - but I can't complain - the weight is actually coming off for once. When my parents were down they wanted to take us out but I just didn't feel like it. I think I'll feel more like going out when I can eat solids. One time we had pizza in and I had some of the cheese and veggies off of it, but that's about it.

Good for you wantolose! I've had compliments from my parents and my husband who -ahem - can't keep his hands off me. LOL I've lost 23 pounds so far total. Once I get into the 100's again I will really start celebrating. Just 4.5 more to go for that!

Phil, did you say you're in the Middle East? Wow! What do you do there? Linda

You know, if you have an address for these guys, we could send them a present of dog poop and THEY could then get a wiff of it. Seriously, I saw this. People sell various sizes of poop and will send it in a baggie (and boxed) with various messages attached. What an A-hole. So they acknowledge that gambling, alcoholism, smoking, compulsive shopping are addictions, but overeating is not? Aren't journalists supposed to actually do a bit of legwork, a bit of investigation before they mouth off personal opinions not even based on fact? Stephen and Steven, sounds like a couple of winners to me - NOT.

God, that's got to hurt - 25 years of friendship because of, what exactly, jealousy? I think wanabeme hit the nail on the head. I have exactly two friends that I can really talk to - one loves me unconditionally, and even though is against WLS in general, understands how hard this has been for me and supports me 100%. The other one I haven't heard from since the first one let slip I am having this surgery. No call to see if I was still alive after surgery, no e-mail, nothing. I do feel very hurt. She has weight issues too, which I don't see her able to resolve anytime soon (not being mean, just a medical condition, etc, etc,), and she seems a little jealous I THINK because I have the $ to pay for it ...? I'm not sure what the prob is. But it hurts, it stinks, I feel for you, and I can understand what you're going through! I think this can be a problem when we have friends who, shall we say, have the same weight issues as us (I don't want to say fat friends but you know what I mean). The true friends want you to be happy, but the other ones just want you to stay fat to make them feel less lonely. The other thing I have to say is girls can be such biatches to each other!!! What's with that?

I try not to tell anybody for exactly this reason but I've had a few opinions that I didn't ask for - one at the HOSPITAL in administration if you can believe it - the lady talked on and on about someone she knew who had it done. And when I was in the hospital overnight from surgery, the lady next to me said, "Why did you get that done? You don't look like you need it." I didn't tell her - she overheard me and the doc. Like, why do people think they need to comment? I'm like Nina - I wanted to nip this thing in the bud before I reached 300, 400, 500 pounds. I was so on the road to being there and then it would have been that much harder.

Hey Phil, Friday was my two week anniversary. I'm interested in your post-op diet. You're so lucky! How much do you eat at one sitting? I'm curious how your tummy felt too, just out of post-op, when you were eating solids. Just wondering! I'm finding it extremely bizarre how there's so much variation between doctors in diets. Hollyberries - I'm just like you when it comes to weighing - absolutely no patience and every morning naked! I'm finding it an encouragement rather than anything. I know there's days where I won't lose, but it's not as discouraging as all those other diets because I know I can finally lose with the band! Linda

Hey there. How was the flight coming back? I was cursing at my husband the entire 1/2 hour drive home. Linda

Steph, you will feel a lot better after a week post-op, really! I went to GNC today and they have Isopure on sale all month. I'm not sure if that's across the States, but it's here in AR. The Isopure is normally $60 but was $36 on sale. I got a shake as well as a drink flavored Alpine Punch. It's got the same amount of protein as the shakes - (50 grams/12 ounces water), zero carbs, zero sugar. I use a little less powder/water, use crushed ice, get it really cold, and it's really good - kind of like a crystal light drink or something like that. They had another flavor but I can't remember what it was. The water thing got easier for me a week post-op too. Give yourself time.

Yeah, it kind of makes you not want to post questions in fear of what the old timers will say to others about it.

You sound just like me pre-op!! I think just about everyone worries themselves sick about it. That's totally normal. I was crying on the way to surgery, and the song that came on the radio was "I'm too sexy for my shirt", had to laugh. I knew it was a sign from somebody saying I was doing the right thing! haha. I obsessed on this board, it got worse and worse right up until surgery, and talked to my sister-in-law who also had it done. I just knew for me I HAD to get it done. You'll know what's best for you.

Hey Steph, I use isopure from GNC. I use eight ounces of milk (around 10 grams protein) and then the appropriate amount of shake (25 grams protein). So with two protein shakes/day I get in 60 grams of protein. Did you just get your surgery? You can try walking around with a pillow around your tummy, just press it in. If you're just out of surgery (I'm sorry I don't know where you are in this process), it gets better in only a few days!! About a week after surgery I was able to drink a lot more. I always have water by me and take two big sips (prob around 2 tablespoons total?) and then I do it again in like five minutes. I don't time it or anything, I just try not to overdo it. With the protein shakes I am able to get in around 8 glasses of fluid/day. It was hard the first week though. Linda

Okay, I strongly suggest staying away from the rants and raves thread. Holy crap, those people have some big problems with newbies! I guess they forgot they were once new too.

My problem is I always get so shocked when people behave that way, that it takes me a few hours to realize what I should have done or said. Why didn't I think of that! I guess I'm still trying to be nice to people around here too. We just moved from Canada to Arkansas. Everyone is so southern and religious and I don't want to offend anyone - I'm a stranger in a strange land - but I've got to think of my own feelings too. See, next time this happens I'll be prepared! That always happens.

Yeah, I was shocked when job after job I encounter people and the "high school stuff". I thought that was all behind me when I graduated. Poor Craig, he's probably wondering what kind of group he got himself into! haha Linda

I think that's how you make the best of friends - when you're in the trenches together! - whether it's pregnancy or a verbal attack!

Hey Steph, I know what you mean about hiding behind your fat. I just don't know the reason why I'm doing it. I was feeling the same way about this band, it's permanent, I can't binge again!! aaaah, what have I done!!! I just knew I was going to eat my way into an early grave if I didn't. I gained about 100 pounds in 1.5 years after I got married. I was just so darn comfortable around my husband I honestly didn't think it mattered how fat I got. That got old around year 2. Then I tried to lose, gained, losed, for the next ten years. I think the reason I'm fat has evolved over those ten years, but I have no idea why it's so hard for me now. I'm scared to go to counselling. I'm scared to get someone who really couldn't care less or who doesn't understand. How do you find someone you can trust to tell everything to?

Wendy, can I just say you're awesome! I was wondering how you'd feel about the remarks since I know you didn't like the name See, this is why we're part of a group, the solidarity that comes from it, the support that we can give each other. Even if we don't agree with each other, we can still agree to disagree, and we don't cut each other down to do it. This is the reason this board came to being, any board for that matter, and some people just can't resist trying to make themselves feel good by making others feel bad. And that IS what they did - made Tish feel bad, I don't care how they try to explain it.