Dianechef

Great rule Mary!! Everyone raise your right hand & say out loud together- "I ________ (fill in your name) PROMISE to never buy or consume another Girl Scout Cookie for the rest of my life!!" I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!! Say it louder!!! :biggrin1: I think rule #2 should be to never eat any more HOT DOGS!! (For those who don't know, I had a very bad obstruction incident involving a hot dog! Bands and hot dogs don't get along very well!!) Here's to no more GS cookies & banning all hot dogs!!! :speechles Anybody out there with me on this?!?!

Skye!!! I'm sure I can't understand your pain right now. But, I can only imagine how I would feel if the same thing happened to my amazingly supportive husband. HANG IN THERE!! You are definately in my thoughts & prayers. Please keep us updated! You can handle this!!!!!!

Check out Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. I love him! His website is www.obesitycontrolcenter.com Good luck!!

Yep. Sounds like the gall bladder. I would definately suggest more testing.

Boo - 10 days!! I remember the count down. It seems just like yesterday. Good choice in your doctor. You will love Dr. Ortiz!! Jess - Did you say BREAD?!?!?! OMG!! It goes down so easily & tastes heavenly. I had some homeade bread with butter today & I had forgotten how good it was. What are we going to do with ourselves? I have NO self-control. I keep saying I'll jump back on the wagon, but so far the wagon isn't even coming my way. It's heading the other direction!! :biggrin1: I am baffled at how I did so well when the band was properly restricted. It made me THINK I was in complete control of myself. I am very dissappointed that I really don't have it. Strike that. I'm not dissappointed. I'm MAD at myself!! :devious I am amazed at people who were de-banded & are still maintaining their weight loss. What's the secret?!?! Did you learn something that I'm missing?!?! :faint: It's time to sit down & have a LONG talk with myself. I want the strong, in-control Diane to come back & kick this lazy, no-good, ice cream eating Diane OUT!!! I thought that old Diane was looooooong gone!! NOPE!! She's showing her face & her face is UGLY!! I just re-read that last paragraph & now I'm worried that maybe I have bi-polar issues. HA!! Is there a physciatrist in the house?!?!?!?!?!? :help:

I have done very good for such a long time!!!!!!! But, I have jumped off the wagon & hangin' by a rope with a big ice cream cone in my hand!! I had to have a partial un-fill this week due to some complications. After being on liquids/soft foods for 3 days I was finally able to eat REAL food yesterday. I am soooo out of control & can't seem to get back on track. What is wrong with me?!?!? I have been eating healthy for 8 MONTHS!! I thought that if my band were to get unfilled I would be fine because I had developed a good eating habit. Boy, was I WRONG!!! I went to a birthday party yesterday & they had a smorgasborg (sp?) of all kinds of food. I sampled them all & then went back for more. I couldn't pass up the heaping plate of cake & ice cream - right?!?! Then, that night I stopped at Sonic to order a drink. I ended up getting a thousand island burger & tator tots along with it!! WHAT IS MY PROBLEM!?!?! It didn't even taste good. I am constantly hungry & can't get satisified. I've been eating candy from my kids rooms & left over ice cream!!! I will get my band re-filled in a few weeks, but until then I may blow up like a big balloon & gain back all the pounds I worked so diligently to lose!! I'm sure there's some underlying reason why I'm eating so crazily, but I don't know what it is. I am happy. Maybe I am TOO happy & having a little party for myself!! :help: Anybody have some Hoodia they'd like to share?!?! Where's the website so I can order some NOW!!!!! I need some major help.

Holy Rabbbits!!!! What are you doing that is working so well!?!? I'm at 8 months & am desperately TRYING to hit -60 this month. You are AWESOME!! I am very jealous!!!!!!!!!! Are you just a model bandster or what? Size 12 pants are a dream come true. You rock!! WE WANT PICTURES!!!!!!!!

I am so happy for you!! What a GREAT feeling!!!!!! :clap2: You probably feel just like a regular, normal person is supposed to feel! We have been missing out on life & straightened hair & size 16 pants too long!! You're motivating & inspiring!! Keep up the great work. Those are fabulous NSV's!!!!!

Donna, I thought the same thing!! One of those cream donuts would just fly into my mouth without any effort on my part. I don't think I could ever step foot in a Dunkin' Donuts without gaining 10 lbs. Krispy Kremes are 10 times worse!!!

3loves, You're so cute. The Aloe Vera juice tastes just like the Aloe Vera plant. It's not too bad, but I can't say it tastes YUMMY!! I've definately drank things that were worse. (Any body ever drink the green stuff?!?!?) Egg Drop soup is a chinese soup. It basically broth with an egg cooked in it. Good protien!! And no, it doesn't really taste like an egg. You'll have to try one. I can't describe it. By the way, I've never seen Egg Drop Soup that you can buy in the store. It has to be ordered & made right at a Chinese Restaurant. I go down to street & pick some up when I want Egg Drop Soup. I never did get to the store to buy the Aloe Vera juice or soup. One of my good friends called me & said she was bringing over dinner that night. (I have some great friends!!!) So, I ditched the shopping list & vegged at home. Maybe I'll get to the store tomorrow. :rolleyes

The squeezing, throbbing pain in my stomach & up into my espohagus is similar to what I felt this past weekend when I had an obstruction. Now, that doesn't mean that's what your problem is, but I can understand your pain. Is it worse at night? I could hardly get any sleep from the pain. When I saw my stomach under flouro, my stomach looked like it was being strangled & was trying to gasp for air. (Does that make sense?) The doctor said that THAT is what was causing the pain. As soon as he took out the Fluid, the strangling stomach calmed down & NO MORE PAIN!! I am wondering if you have a band that is smaller then what you need!?!? You don't have a fill, right?! I don't know how you are dealing with that pain. It was able to still do stuff & live my life, but it was very uncomfortable. I could hardly be left alone with myself because all I could feel & think about was the pain at my band. Good luck Leener!! Not sure if I helped or not, but at least I can sympathize with you!!! NO FUN!!! :straight

COUNT ME IN THE EATING RAVENOUS CLUB!! I definately agree that once you change something with your fills, your stomach sends a VERY BIG signal to your brain telling it that it's STARVING & to stuff some food in your mouth. After my partial unfill I want to eat the house!! I am so out of control! I wish you luck Sal!! Unfills are HARD!!!

WAHOO!!!! I hope to join you very soon. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

If you're starting a "Fell off the bandwagon" group here, please add my name to the list! I recently had my band partially unfilled and I CAN'T STOP EATING!! I had a miserable 4-5 days when I could barely get down water!! I lost 5 lbs. from it all. As soon as I could start eating again, it's been a feeding frenzy!! I have some kind, caring friends who brought dinner over for me & my family. There was a jello/whip cream salad, ice cream with hot fudge, full fat yogurt, a creamy chicken casserole thing that was heavenly & MORE!! I am downing it all and have gained back all the 5 lbs. I had weight I lost & more. I am feeling ZERO restriction and just having a party!! Why do we do this to ourselves?!?!?!?!?!??! Thank goodness there hasn't been any chocolate in the house because the entire bag would be GONE. How is it that we can be in such control over ourselves & then the next day we completely LOSE IT!! It's like a Jeckel & Hyde thing. It makes me feel like a freak when I'm so out of control! SOMEBODY PLEASE WIRE MY MOUTH SHUT & THROW ME INTO THE PSYCH WARD!! :speechles

HA!! I think I just found a new name for my band. The DOGGIE BAND!! (After my hot dog episode, it is so fitting!!!) And, my last name IS Shephard. What do you think? P'Nut, you're GOOD!!!

Hey P'Nut! I admit I was hiding in the closet with the GS Cookies. Here's my current stats. 202 /-3 this week/ -55 total

Hey Kathy!! I'm making my shopping list right now & I will be going out to get Aloe Vera juice AND some Egg Drop Soup! My dad is a big believer in Aloe Vera Juice. He's dranken it since I can remember. And, he's 76 yrs. old stick alive & kickin'!! It must work!!!! And yes, Dr. Ortiz & Martinez are THE BEST!! I can't say enough about them. They're new clinic is AMAZING!!

I have to agree with Alex. I know a lady who hit goal weight with her band & she is living her life. She says she doesn't have time to go to support groups & "all that stuff." However, I WILL get to goal weight & I WILL continue to hang around here!!! (Whether you want me or not!!!!)

Hi P'Nut!! I must have been fixin' it while you were typing!!! I learned how to fix pictures from YOU!!!! Thanks!!!! Tammy - You're going to have to PAY me to pose in a swimming suit. These clothes really do hide A LOT!! :becky:

I took some sunset pictures of me while I was in San Diego. This is the happy me AFTER I was able to eat!! It's one of the first times I have seen a picture of me & didn't think - "Gosh, I look fat!" I actually look like a normal person!!

Kelly, you look great!!! Okay, maybe great isn't the word. You look like you just had surgery!!! ha! But, your stomach is UP!! No more hanging. I am following you closely as I am SOOO thinking of having the same thing done when I get to goal. Can't wait to see updated pictures!! Hang in there!!

Hey Everyone! After a good night of rest, I am feeling so much better!!! Dawg & P'Nut: Good call!! You were right on with the diagnosis!! Next time I'll skip the long 6 hr drive to see my Doctor & just consult YOU!! Sunta: Thanks for being so concerned about me!! I saw that you checked back here several times. So sweet of you!! To answer your question about the blockage - Once the saline was taken completely out of my band & I drank the Water, everything that was blocking the way went right through. The doctor said that the skin of the hotdogs do not chew well even if you chewed them 100 times. They're just rubbery & it's like I had a rubber stop clogging my band. He suggested that if I really wanted to eat another one to peel the skin off first. I assured him that I would just completely stay away from them!! I DO NOT want to go through that again!!!!!! Just to clarify, the hot dog was probably long gone from my throwing it up. However, the swelling, inflammation & bleeding had already gotten to the point of no return & the band had to be unfilled to fix the problem. After reading other posts about several other people who have had slipped bands, I feel VERY, VERY blessed. I don't know why or how come mine was just blocked!! The black vomit to me was a dead give away that my band had slipped. I think it was all the prayers & white lights everyone sent my way. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! My doctor didn't charge me for the visit either!! I only had to pay $30 for the needle. That was also a blessing. After weighing in this morning, I gained back 2 lbs. from all the milkshakes, cream Soups, ice cream & yogurt I ate. Oh well!! They sure did taste good!! Anne - So sorry you had to have surgery for your slipped band!!! Did you by chance eat a hot dog?!?!?!?!? :speechles Here's to a fast recovery. I am officially banning Girl Scout Cookies & Hot dogs from my diet for the rest of my life!!!

Hi Anne! I am so sorry your band slipped!! I was going through the same thing as you & thought FOR SURE my band had slipped also. I was very lucky that it didn't. I hope you have a good recooperation. Was this surgery as easy as the first one?!?!

I live in AZ & traveled to Tijuana to see Dr. Ortiz who is my doctor. It was a 6 hr. drive. But, I am back home & happy!!! First of all, I just have to tell you that MY BAND HAS NOT SLIPPED!! I was very scared that it had because I had all the symptoms of slippage. When the Dr. looked at my band under flouroscope, we saw that my stomach & esophagus were very swollen. Apparently, I had a blockage at the band area that caused everything to swell & then bleed. It bled into my stomach which was the black tar I threw up. The swelling & throwing up caused severe Reflux. The terrible pain I was feeling was the pressure from my band around my swollen stomach. The doctor took out all the Fluid in my band & I was able to drink water!!! Up to that point, I was able to get only a few sips down at a time & it wasn't enough to keep my hydrated. I was feeling very weak!! It was wonderful to drink a whole cup of water!!! My doctor told me to be on liquids for 3 days & to take Acid Reflux medicine 3x a day. He filled my band half way & then wanted to monitor me to make sure I was fine. I drank a shake & some chicken broth without any problems!! He gave me the okay. One of the last things I had eaten before all these problems started was a Hot Dog. The doctor said that he has had a lot of people come in with similar Hot Dog stories. I can gaurantee you I will NOT be eating another hot dog. The good news is that through this whole ordeal I lost 5 lbs!!! I do not reccomend this form of weight loss, however; I will take the 5 lb. loss!! Thanks for all the concerns!! I feel very special knowing that I had so many people waiting for me to share what happened!! You all are WONDERFUL!!!

I just got off the phone with my doctor & he wants to see me immediately!! I have an appointment tomorrow in TJ. I will let you know what happens when I return.