dixiedoo

For what its worth, ask your doctor to book you in for a sleep study. I was exhausted for years (of course Doctors said I was busy, had young children, was overweight, etc as reasons) I had a wake-up call (no pun intended) when my father had serious problems and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Since then, myself, my sis, my brother and my son have all been diagnosed with this. Sleep studies can uncover different problems and the solution is not necessarily drugs. I understand the desperation for a good sleep ( I have used Gravol occasionally cause it makes me sleepy.) Now, as I get older, I find I need a lot less sleep and if I do wake up at night, listen to audiobooks on my ipod and fall back asleep that way. Good luck and let us know what happens.

The boss had to fire somebody, and he narrowed it down to one of two people, Debra or Jack. It was an impossible decision because they were both super workers. Rather than flip a coin, he decided he would fire the first one who used the Water cooler the next morning. Debra came in the next morning with a horrible hangover after partying all night. She went to the cooler to take an aspirin. The boss approached her and said: 'Debra, I've never done this before but I have to lay you or Jack off.' 'Could you jack off?' she said. 'I feel like shit.'

Angelico - I bought these too, but haven't had any success. I tried to put on over my shoulders by myself but no go. Then tried the turning the bra around bit and that didn't work either. I had help to put it on and WHOA - I think "the girls" are too big - They were up around my chin. Maybe I'll try it once more, since you have had success....my thought for this was to use it on a bathing suit as it is really pitiful the support you get from swimsuits - and how droopy "the girls" can be.

Hi all - I'm late for all this but better late than never. My goal is to be 199lbs on August 15th. That is 15 lbs down from now, and a total of 60 lbs from starting this band journey. Its been dang slow - but I'm still waaay better than this time last year. OK - I'm more pumped now

What is the difference between the two or are they the same? If not, is pbing ok and or how often would be ok?

DanBar - It has just dawned on me, after reading your post, that I have a whole drawer of mini and maxi pads and Poise to get rid of! I never knew if I would need dry panties (and pants) at work because I would be incontinent when I sneezed so I have had an extra pair in the trunk of the car "in case". (I did use them a few times.) Sooooo, my thought is this problem will probably clear up or certainlyi mprove as you weigh less.

"I would also encourage your friend to read a book by Gary Chapman called "The Five Love Languages". Ebonyrose wrote this on another thread and I really wanted to see what others thought. I downloaded the audiobook and was blown away with how Mr Chapman explains how we show love and how we need a certain behaviour to validate our love and that this can be different for our partners. It is dawning on me how I may have misread my hubby's behaviour and how he certaainly has misread mine. This book has brought me to tears more than once and should be a mustread for anyone going into a relationship. Ebonyrose this has truly changed my life. Thank you Anyone else read or listened to it?

Iwannabeskinny - I agree with the others - don't wait to see your doctor - If its nothing (probably isn'T) then no harm done. If it is something then the doc can be start treatment quickly. As for asking your girlfriend, it might be comforting, but unless she is a doctor, it is beside the point. My doctor has said that he will call if anything is abnormal (and he is really great) but I have learned that although test results that the office receives back are generally seen by the doctor, some results inadvertently don't come back - for what ever reason.If they have a lot of patients, it is easy to not notice when results don't come in. When they do a test, I ask them when they are likely to receive the results. I wait a day or two after that, and then if I haven't heard, I ALWAYS call the office, ask if results are in and if all is OK. This way I am not worrying that I don't hear from them or that they have forgotten. Works well for me and my family and they do not object either.

Gary - I'm still hoping people will comment so I'm bringing this to the top again.:crying:

Gary - I understand your frustration and feel the same way. I have been following the link where people are tracking everything they eat and am surprised that a lot of them do just have a few bites of this and that for each meal. I often have that overfull pain feeling and I don't know whether I am stuck or overfull - this is when I don't PB. I have been taking pepcid ac and it has helped a bit with inflammation.What I am wondering, though, is this: Are we so used to eating a larger amount that we (in our head) think we shouldn't be satisfied and thus our frustration and head hunger? My fill doc said it has never really been documented how little we need to eat to survive and maybe all our preconceived ideas are really skewed from advertising, habits, portions in restaurants, etc. I do know this though - eating should not cause us discomfort so 1. maybe we are too tight? 2. maybe we really don't need all the food that we think we should be able to (or are longing for) 3. remember that you could have first bite syndrome and take a first bite, chew really really well, wait a few min and see if better. Anyway, please forgive this long post but I sure hope someone is gonna help.

Most important right now...take a deep breath and try to relax. I know its scarey but I've found, the more upset I get, the worse the tightening is. You have to consciously relax and I know you won't feel quite as panicky. It's like the knots in your stomach are increasing with time. Call and leave a message for your doc again (they do sometimes get busy and forget.) Sucking an ice cube is a great idea. This isn't life threatening as you are taking care of the problem ....I know its hard, but rellax and be patient, help is coming when your doc calls back - if not....E.R.? Please let us know ASAP when you are feeling better.

I am sorry to be a bit graphic here, but I wanted to warn those of you who have pets. Please, please,please DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PAPER SHREDDER ON THE AUTOMATIC STARTER. I work at a vets office and have just seen pics of a dogs tongue that had been shredded in the paper shredder - very upsetting. :eek: The dog was sedated and his poor tongue repaired, but let me tell you, you do not want this to happen! Only turn your shredder on when you use it, then turn it off. Think about how easily this could happen with a curious pet - this dog was a lab and we all know how hyper and curious they are. Anyway, just passing this on..

Little by Little - I enjoyed your posting and agree with you to a point. I too had pain every time I ate - actual pain, and wondered if that was the way full was supposed to feel from now on. It made me really scared. I talked to my doc and he had me use pepcid ac morning and night. (Please do not take this as an endorsement of this drug.)After a few days, the pain lessened and is not usually there if I chew small pieces, etc. It has helped a lot. The other thing - and it may sound really dumb - but I gave myself permission to be full and satisfied on the much smaller amount of food. I used to feel very stressed at what were small amounts of food (compared to before)and feeling that for my health, my body would need a lot more food. Once I took a deep breath and said to myself that I would be fine just eating that amount my band seemed to relax more and I was able to stop eating and be more happy about it. We shouldn't be in pain, we should be able to FINALLY listen to the signs our bodies are giving us. Sorry if I ramble but is this making sense?

Carolynfletcher - I too was getting discouraged but my doc measured me last time and although i have lost only about 30 lbs, by the measurement he said I have actually lost 65 lbs of abdominal fat ( muscle is replacing it, hence the weight discrepency.) Sooo maybe we're all doing better than we think! I've about given up on the scale also.

I do have sleep apnea - have been using a CPAP for seven years and it's been a real lifesaver. I don't have to get up to go to bathroom, rather I wake up often and seem to have trouble staying asleep. Maybe since I've lost 30 lbs my pressure on the CPAP needs adjusting - just thought of that last night so I will phone my tech. Maybe I'm wrong about it being connected to the band but ........

I posted this on the fifties forum but have not had any responses so here goes.... Hope everyone is having a great holiday! Mine has been hectic and I now understand what "having your stomach in knots" means since having been banded. My question, tho is this... Does having the band sometimes cause sleeping problems? if so, why? I sometimes go through a few days or a week with lots of waking up in the night, but then it seems to go away, and I sleep well again. This was also pre-band (surgery was august 15th, 2008) but I have been finding that the sleeping problem seems increased post band and I wondered if that had anything to do with it. I remember my fill doc asking about my sleeping but I didn't connect anything and now I'm wondering if its significant to the band or not. As for menopause, I haven't had a period in about 4 1/2 years. Soooo what do you think? It sure makes for long nights when you wake up a lot!!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday! Mine has been hectic and I now understand what "having your stomach in knots" means since having been banded. My question, tho is this... Does having the band sometimes cause sleeping problems? if so, why? I sometimes go through a few days or a week with lots of waking up in the night, but then it seems to go away, and I sleep well again. This was also pre-band (surgery was august 15th, 2008) but I have been finding that the sleeping problem seems increased post band and I wondered if that had anything to do with it. I remember my fill doc asking about my sleeping but I didn't connect anything and now I'm wondering if its significant to the band or not. As for menopause, I haven't had a period in about 4 1/2 years. :tongue2: Soooo what do you think? It sure makes for long nights when you wake up a lot!!

Glorybee123 -:cursing: I surely understand why you would want to "brag"a bit. OMG you have done so well!! I haven't taken measurements of myself but I am going to today. Thanks for the advice and congratulations!!! I am happy for you.:blushing:

I will be flying on Monday - first time since being banded. I will be in the air 4-5 hours. Has anyone had any problems or anything they've noticed while flying? Any does or don'ts? Any comments will be appreciated.

I had my 2nd fill to bring me up to 5cc and I really don't feel more restriction than when I had my 2nd fill. I am trying to eat less but am still finding myself thinking more about food then I should be. Breakfast - 1 ww toast, pb and small amt of jam, 1 ff yogurt, snack - 1 protein bar, lunch - 1/2 turkey sand, 1 ff choc pudding snack - ff yogurt (maybe 2) with a handful of nuts, supper - try to keep total to 1 cup - a bit of potato, meat, and sometimes some cooked veggies. If I am reall y hungry, I tend to wolf my food down and then oh oh - can only eat a few mouthfuls and then have to stop. Huh - maybe this would be my solution to eating too much !! :thumbup:

Weeeeellllll Ladies (and gents) tomorrow marks one week that I was banded AND I AM FREAKIN' STARVING!! Two weeks before and this past week on liquids have just about done me in. I have taken little bites of stuff today and chewed chewed chewed and everything seems ok, no restrictions. I have pureed cooked carrots and potatoes with skim milk and drank (drunk??) it. Please remind me why I am going soooo slowly - applesauce OK yet? What else? If I puree anything enough so that it can be drunken?? would that be ok? How about runny oatmeal?? Please give me suggestions and encouragement - I can't wait to chew something - ANYTHING!!!

I was allowed to keep on the panties - no bra. I agree that there is nothing to be shy about. You will not be exposed any more than you have to be. Sterile drapes and everything but incision areas well covered. Don't forget - these people have to undergo surgery sometimes too and I'm sure they stick to a strict professsional code regarding exposure.

Hey Peaches - I was banded on the 15th also. Went to toronto and came back on the 16th. Do I ever feel like a pregnant pup!! I am in more pain today than yesterday - I don't know if it's becaUSEI am more relaxed at home and its starting to hit home. How're you doing Peaches? Able to keep liquids down?

Tomorrows my big day - leaving for Toronto tonight as I have to be at clinic tomorrow at 7:15, operated on an hour later. I have been really edgey and teary the last couple of days. I too am wondering if I really am so out of control with my eating, but I know I am doing the right thing. I guess last minute nerves seem to be the norm so....here I go. Luck to everyone today and yomorrow - will check in with my experience in a couple days.

I will be thinking of you tomorrow - good luck