StLouisGal

It sounds like I'm not the only one in a slump. Silly me, I thought I was all alone. It's been one of those weeks with lots of chocolate and ice cream hanging around as we say goodbye and hello to the folks in the office who are leaving and coming. I have been actively giving chocolate bars to anyone I see just so I won't eat them. I have no self control where chocolate and ice cream are concerned, and it goes through my band quite nicely. UGHHHHH! And everyone always puts the leftovers on my desk for people to help themselves too, double UGHHHH!! Today I actually left the office and walked two miles at lunch. Working on a college campus makes the track quite handy and ony 1/4 mile away. I enjoyed watching the little kids at their soccer camp and the sunshine felt good but it was hot out there. I stuck it out for the full six laps and then walked the quarter mile back to the office. I'm having trouble getting motivated to walk this summer. I've got to get going or I won't be ready for the 5K I'm doing in September. I'm off to Curves tonight so today will be a good exercise day. Thanks for listening. I love you all!

Gardening gets me out of the house and keeps me trying to eat healthier foods. Living in the city, we don't have a large yard but I have carved out little flower beds in various places in the yard and put my veggies among the flowers. It makes for an interesting look and gives us fresh veggies over the summer. I need to get out this weekend and tie up my tomatos. They are getting big and if I don't do it now they will take over. I plant my herbs in pots along the edge of our patio, again interspersed with flowers. I can take the pots inside for the winter and not have to start over every year.

The garden is fun, I love fresh tomatos, they don't taste anything like the hot house variety you buy at the store. This is the first year I have tried zuchini and cucumbers but they make nice ground cover in the flower beds so I stuck them in. They are really good home grown too. We have a bunch of neighborhood cats that congregate in our yard so the bunnies and squirrels stay away and cat's don't eat tomatos so we get the best of all worlds.:thumbup:

Hi Fellow VV's. I'm just checking in. I've been out and about and not hanging around here much. We just got back from a mini vacation to TX. My hips are telling me that even though I am much thinner, I'm not sure I have a lot of business on the trampoline, but it sure was fun while I was playing with my neice on it. We also did Wii bowling so I am sore all over, but I did it! My weight is unchanged but at least I am not gaining since my unfill (I only have 1cc in my band right now) I go up a few pounds, then back down a few pounds so I am holding my own, which for now is fine. We are off on another trip (to Gatlinburg TN in a few weeks so I need to start getting ready for mountain hikes. Not much else going on, got the garden going and have marble sized tomatos on the vine and lots of buds on the zuchinni and cucumber vines so here come the good salads. You all take care!

That could well be gall bladder pain. Mine was like a huge labor pain that lasted for a couple of hours. It rotated from the center front all the way around to the back, very painful. It didn't take me long to decide to have the thing removed. Good luck, I hope they figure out what is going on soon.

My SIL says a chain around the neck is actually better because medical personel are more apt to check your pulse in your neck and would be more likely to find it there. Mine has my name, dob, my allergies, my band and my emergency contact info. That way I don't have to carry ID when I am out walking, etc.

The unfill seems to have done the trick. I'm doing much better. Just have to get back on track and lose these last few pounds.

I got 2 cc's out on Thursday. I can eat again. I ate an egg mcmuffin (without the top bun) on Friday and was comfortably full but not overfilled like I would have been without the unfill. I think it did the trick. It is really good to be able to eat again.

I know that terrified feeling. It's awful. Hopefully they will get it right this time and you will start losing again. I've been pretty much on liquids for about a month. Not fun but at least on liquids I don't get the pain. I'm getting an unfill on Thursday. Keep coming back. You'll get lots of support and we really understand. Hang in there.

Hang in there Melissa, You look fantastic. At least you don't have to buy new ones right away. I'll bet by summer you will need new ones. I can tell by looking at your picture that you are totally making progress.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I saw my surgeon today. He looked at the upper GI x-rays and said he didn't see a slip. One side of the pouch is not shaped quite as nicely as he wanted but he said it looked ok. He thought it looked like the band was too tight. He is going to take out 2cc's on Thursday and see how it goes. He seemed to think that would fix the problem. I am so relieved. I had all kinds of fears going through my mind. I tried to talk him into taking it out today but he will only do fills and unfills under flouroscope so I have to go back Thursday morning. I guess that is a small price to pay.

Hang in there Irene. One bowl of popcorn isn't going to ruin your efforts. Look at the scale for heaven sakes. Have you tried doing something with your hands while you watch TV to keep you from wanting to snack. I crochet while I'm watching TV or play a mindless computer game. Can't eat while I do that. Writing it down and actually thinking about what you are doing is getting you where you want to be. You go girl!

Thanks for the support! From what I understand a prolaps and a slip are the same thing. Not a good thing. I'll just have to wait until Monday to see what he says. Waiting is the hard part. My biggest fear is gaining weight while my band is unfilled. I don't want to lose ground.

Well! The saga continues... The nurse called and told me that the doctor had recieved the report from the upper GI and it showed a prolaps so we need to do an unfill. He wants to see the actual films when I go in on Monday so I have to go collect them at the X-ray place and take them with me. He said he didnt' see a prolaps on the upper endoscopy. She seemed surprised when I told her I had been eating just fine all week. I'll let you know on Monday what is going on. Since they may have to do an unfill, I can't eat or drink anything six hours before my appointment. bummer!!!

I get it in the tea section *by the instant tea* It's called "Pappy's Sassafras concnetrate instant tea". It's in a 12 ounce bottle with a green and yellow label. Their website is www.sassafrastea.com

You are doing great Irene. Just don't give in to those sugar cravings. It will be tough for a few days but you can do it. The Cocoa and coffee and chewing gum are great ideas. I am onto Sassafras tea right now. It curbs my hunger pretty well. Comes in a bottle of concentrate that I just add hot water to. It's a treat between bottles of plain water.

Of course you can come back. We are glad to have you! From reading everyone else's posts I think it is quite common to slack off after a year or so, I know I did. Lets get back on the band wagon together and make this work. Good luck to you!

I am so glad to see that the VV's are hitting the board more often. I think this helps us all be more successful. The world out there doesn't understand the struggles that bandster's face. It's good to have friends who know what we are talking about and understand the frustration. Life is good here. I'm so ready for spring so I can get out and walk again. Yesterday it was 80 degrees and this morning it was 21 degrees. Missouri weather has it's challenges. Have a wonderful day Victorious Valentines.

Day 1 is always the hardest. Today will be easier. Hang in there. Be proud of yourself.

They always say the first step to fixing a problem is to admit there is a problem. You are on the right track Irene. You can do this. Pretend last year didn't happen and start fresh from the start, getting back to basics, measuring food if you have to and then writing it down. You have a good plan now work your plan. I'm proud of you. I had to do much the same as you did so I think there are a lot of us in your boat. Just call it the one year blah's and move on. Take care. See you tomorrow.

Thank you both. I think it probably was the cold that caused the problem but I am anxious to see what the doctor has to say. I can eat again now that the cold has gone away. I'm also glad we did the tests just to make sure that my band is a-ok. I'll let you know what he says after I see him next week.

I had my upper endoscopy today. He said everything looks good, no prolaps, band not overly tight. The upper GI yesterday showed a hiatal hernia and reflux but my doctor want to read the x-rays himself and see me again next week for a follow-up. I really don't have any other news. I'm feeling a little better and able to eat semi-solid food so I'll try something harder for dinner. Eating all liquids brings back memories that I would prefer to forget.:laugh: Thanks for all of your support.

I know what you mean, I went ten years without seeing my GYN because all he did was tell me how fat I was. If I was over the last weight I was when I saw him, I just didn't go. I now go to a really sweet doc who doesn't fuss at me about my weight. I wish I had switched much sooner.

I'm not sure it is all a $$ thing. I think they like for their statistics to look good. The main thing is most surgeons are men and don't really understand how a woman's mind reacts to negative stimulation. I'm lucky, I only have to see the doctor when I am getting a fill or when I'm having a problem. The rest of the time I deal with his staff, most of whom are wonderful. They are pretty specific about not wanting us to diet. We are to eat a well rounded diet that includes Protein, fruits, veggies, starch etc. Just in much smaller portions.

Thanks Tapshoes, That is what I am hoping for too. Whatever it is, we will deal with it. My doctor is fairly conservative and won't just start treatment on something that it may be. He wants the tests to make sure. I like that about him. I'll let you know Friday evening. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.