CandySmooch

I lost my father right in front of me when I was 19 due to a massive heart attack at his age of 54. I am an EMT and had to endure performing CPR on him at my young age. He survived for 2 weeks on life support after cardiac surgery, but never regained consciousness and we had to make a family decision to remove life support. It was completely unexpected even when he had gone to his Dr. the day before for chest pains and he didn't do anything for him, but sent him home with a false diagnois of a strained muscle. This incident devastaed and changed my life forever as this as with you as well. Just from experience, the pain NEVER goes away, you just have to learn to live with it as a part of your life and you will find comfort by not denying or expecting it to go away. I kept expecting for the pain to go away until I realized it never will - keep your chin up - we're all here to support you with whatever you need!!

My fill history is also on my signature. 1st fill 1cc - nothing. 2nd fill another 1cc - grrrr - too tight!!! Unfill of .5cc for a total of 1.5cc in a 4cc band - a little but not quite there. I'm going to wait a few weeks before attempting another fill - think I'll ask him for .3 as with 2cc I was too tight, but not extremely tight. Haven't hit the sweet spot yet, but at least I know my band works after being too tight and my sweet spot is somewhere between 1.5 and 2cc's.

These are in no particular order - just as I think of them. 1. Horseback riding 2. Fit comfortably in seats at some rocking Music Concerts 3. Have my fiance' carry me over the threshold or pick me up period or sit in his lap! 4. Not break out in a sweat from doing minor activities where no one else is sweating. 5. Get out of my low-ridin 35th Anniversary Edition Camaro easier. 6. To be comfortable completely and openly naked and lights blaring with my fiancee' instead of always trying to move an arm this way or a leg that way to try to look better and cover up my stomach or thighs etc. 7. To have smaller fingers to show off jewelry. (I got chubby man hands) 8. To be more comfortable when trying to shave in the bathtub. 9. To get a sexy tattoo right on my ass! 10. To Get my belly button pierced. 11. To look decent in a bathing suit that isn't a swimdress. 12. To be able to balance in sexy stillettos without breakin an ankle instead of wearing chunked platforms. 13. To buy cute belts and have the option of tucking in my shirt! 14. The look on everyone's faces at my 10 year high school reunion. 15. Being able to see ALL the way down south without a mirror. 16. To have seatbelts fit better. 17. To feel comfortable on a hot air balloon ride. 18. To shop for even cuter styles I can't wear now ie sleeveless etc. 19. To have more confidence in my body. 20. TO NEVER EVER HEAR SOMEONE SAY AGAIN - OH BUT YOU HAVE SUCH A PRETTY FACE!

Keep us updated!!!!!

Knowing you DeLarla - I was opened this anxiously to see what kind of controversy was being started now boy was I disapointed LOL

I love soy milk - my mom is a health nut and recommends SILK as it has more nutrition or something over the other brands - I can't quite remember but she's a health nut and I trust her judgment since she researches everything that goes into her body - I love the vanilla flavored one.

This is what you need to take with you to the hospital just in case. I took hard candy to suck on afterwards - I took sugar-free jolly ranchers and boyyyy was that ever a lifesaver. 3 other ladies being banded with me kept coming into my hospital room wanting some - it got us through the tough times. Also I took Gas-X chewable tablets even though they say the pain afterwards is not in regards to this - we felt it helped get some things moving. Also the heat pads you wear and throw away. I also took Tylenol gel tabs with me just in case I needed it. I think that's all I can think of but it all helped at least to keep me comfortable.

I am a 911 Communications Specialist which is a fancy title for a 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher. I've been doing it for 7 years now. I work for a large Communications Center that dispatches for 9 Fire Departments across 3 counties near Kansas City, Missouri. I started when I was 17 y/o. I was also an Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter for 5 years. I love my job although it is not an easy one - lots of people can't hand it and end up burned out quickly, but I had a calling for it and here I am! I've been working night shifts for 7 years now also so I cruise these forums all night long during slow times at work. I am looking to move to a day shift when the opportunity presents itself. I work long 12 hour shifts. 911 call - gotta go!

I WOULD NEVER HAVE A BYPASS PERIOD - unless for some ungodly reason I gained twice my weight back and ended up being like 4-500lbs. If I had to have my band removed - I would do it on my own for as long as I could until I could afford to be re-banded - even if it took me 10-15 years to save up and do it again I would have to do it that way and fight like hell not to gain much weight back. BYPASS is not an option for me. EVER!

I totally believe that is why he cheated. But how completely selfish of him! I would be crushed if my boyfriend only loved me for physical appearences only. I hope he doesn't. That's terrible. I can't offer anything else that hasn't been said here. Even I don't want to end up "skinny" - skinny for me? YES! But skinny for me would be a 14-16 and I'd be hella happy if I can get there. I'm currently a 26-28 heading into a 30 before banding. That was my concern - for gaining more! I love being a plus sized lady - I just didn't want to end up SUPER PLUS sized lady. Such a sad situation - sorry I can't offer more here

Don't give up so soon!! There are ways - people are here to help. I had to self pay w/ Dr. Sanchez in Monterrey MX for $7900 - everything included except airfare. www.ready4achange.com if you care to take a gander. It was more like a vacation than surgery in a foreign country. I'm 24 y/o - went alone and it was my first surgery. There are ways for you and if its meant to be then God will find a way for you. Be patient it may take some time - start seeing a Dr. and getting it documented now even if the worst scenario is having to wait 5 years to get approval - better get on it now.

That's awesome. My boyfriend is totally not into this stuff. I'm sure he would find it a waste of time. I felt a lot better when I was doing the cards, but again I felt like it just wasn't my "thing" it didn't click for me except the angel cards clicked a little. What other things do you do? What are the Goddess cards that you have?

Yes I am a religious person. And oddly enough I didn't think about "praying" over a dream. I will have to add that to my morning regimen. Positive thinking and prayer. Can't go wrong. Thanks for the support.

WOW - I FOUND MY PEOPLE!!!! I have dabbled in tarot, spells, and healing angel cards awhile back. I haven't found my spirtual nitch yet. The best of the 3 I mentioned - I felt the healing angel cards worked best, but still didn't seem to be quite my thing. I would love to chat with you guys about other ideas and things you dabble in. This is great!

Thank you. Your right. I've been worried about saggy skin afterwards, but I've been reading the Kevin Trudeau "Natural Cures They Don't want you to know" and he was talking about the power of positve thoughts can heal. Sooo I've been starting to rub my belly everyday in the mirror and say I will have a sexy new body. I will not have excess skin. I will add something about my band working in perfect condition. I totallly believe in the power of positive thinking. Thank you for bringing me back down

I too joined the group 3 1/2 months ago and I don't know who Blossom is - although I think I'll go do some searching to find out.

that's great - wish I would have done something like this. I too didn't even take a before pic - and no excuses here - just didn't do it. Maybe because I have pics that are recent.

thanks! I ordered the boy shorts - I like how they make my butt look Even though it will be awhile before I can get into a large - It will give me something to look forward to!

I chose the band simply because bypass was not an option in my book - I DID NOT want my insides re-arranged - period. I'd rather be a fat girl than have bypass. And because the band is completely reversable if need be. I've read, heard, known and had a friend die from complications of bypass. Not an option for me period.

Huh - the link didn't work - it just took me to juno webmail - i love controversy - any other link that might work?

Well I don't know about anyone else, but my band is fickle from day to day! One day I can eat more than usual and the next its just a couple of bites! I'd like to find a steady groove because most days I think I need more fill and then I'm like oh no I couldn't take anymore - and still the scales stay the same.

THAT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! I always wanted to be homecoming queen! I was pretty and popular, but still - only the skinny ones got nominated in my school. Fat girls across the globe are rejoicing with her!!!! YEAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man oh man - I am sooo freaked out. I have a good sixth sense or intuition and often try to maintain in touch with my spirtual self. I had a dream I was at my dr's office and he told me he'd half to remove my band because of erosion!!!!!!!!! I am sitting here just thinking this is something that's going to happen in a year or two........yes I know it was a dream, but it still has me worried

I belong to 3 other bandster websites on yahoo - AND I rarely go check anything on those anymore because they're so boring and the topics are always the same - and there aren't too many regulars that you get to know - it seems to be for people wanting information on it more than anything else. I love this site and check it a lot to keep up on everyone's progress! I like getting personal and belonging to something here with everyone. Makes me feel like I'm not alone on this journey.

No you did not make the wrong choice!!!! You are not alone. Some of us are just slower than others. I lost a whopping 8lbs out of surgery. GAINED 4lbs BACK before my 1st fill and it's been a battle to get those 4lbs back off again - TOTAL weight loss to date - a whopping 8lbs!!!! It's not a wrong choice, hey at least I'm not gaining and I've been holding a steady loss of - hold your breath - 1-2lbs in between fills. I'm getting closer to getting good restriction though - but it is a little discouraging as I've been banded for 3 1/2 months - but at least its coming off and not going back on!!! I'll get there one day and so will you!!!!!!!!!! Look at my damn ticker - you can't even see what my starting weight was and what it is now because the numbers overlap - take a look Welcome to the fight my friend!