Chrisann

My regular doc gave me this foam for the itching it was called Olux-E. It worked unbelieveably fast and well. It was a life saver.

The President of my company saw me and said that I was looking good, asked about the weight loss, etc. Another woman, about 110 soaking wet, starts swinging her long kinky hair, like the 80's tight perm, and said (that annoying falsetto, nasaly voice) "didn't anyone notice my hair, I got a hair cut, its so soft" blah, blah. She had always made herself the center of attention. We have 50 men and 10 women at our job. She always goes around and flaunts and preens etc. Anyway, the President says, "well, I really didn't notice, but I wasn't talking to you anyway".

I am on call. I donated exactly one month after my surgery, and will donate again on Monday, three months after my surgery. I was told that as long as the incisions were closed and healed there is not a problem. They only cautioned that to make sure I get some food in the morning of the donation so I am not weak. The band for me, is really tight in the morning, so I don't donate in the morning anymore. I eat around 11am, and donate around 1pm.

I squeezed my surgery into an extremely busy schedule. Its doable. I would take my vacation first. You want to be around in the event you need to see your surgeon after the surgery. This was my first ever surgery, so I didn't know what to expect. I took a week off from work and then worked a shorter day for the week I went back. I experienced some complications, so I had to put a business trip on hold, but was back to the 50+hours a week and the two business trips a month, 4 weeks after surgery. Everyone reacts differently, some people here have gone back to work in 3 days. Good luck in whatever you choose. Its the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I was banded by Dr. Ren and had complications. I would still do it all over again. I was in about a month of hell, but I don't even remember those days specifically now.

Yep I so Agree:blush: And if it was my guy that had the surgery, there are positions that would require him to not move at all.....:rolleyes2:

Do it unconsciously, like the way we used to eat, and before long you will be floating in water consumption.....

Keep sipping, while watching tv, being on the computer etc, all of sudden you realize you are drinking. It is strange, but that is how I started doing it. If I put a bottle out, I wouldn't finish it, now I am sipping on cups all day, I am getting more in. Not 64oz yet, but 48oz. Keep in mind once the weather gets warmer, we will be drinking closer to 80oz a day!

Great a date!!!! Have fun and enjoy yourself.:huh2:

That is why I won't deny myself that ice cream pop if I want it. I know my body, if I deprive myself of it, I will eat the whole box. I will not put any ice cream in my house, because I will eat the whole thing. I went for Chinese food the other night, and PB'd after about 10 well chewed bites of fried rice. Yes, fried rice my old nemisis. I wanted it, hadn't had it in awhile so got it. I took the rest home. The old me would have been able to eat the whole quart of fried rice, plus an egg roll, plus an entree. The new me has had a small bowl everynight this week and that is it, no other food. There is even still some leftover, after 4 days. I am far from being perfect in my eating, but sticking as close to plan as possible, and I am happy with any loss. I didn't get fat in one year, I got fat over 25 years. I don't care if the weight loss happens in 1 year or 5, as long as I am seeing some reduction.

I had my period on the day of surgery, it came early, 24 days between, instead of my usual 28. Since the surgery, its come every 24 days. I have an appt with the GYN in April, so I can find out why there was this change. Definately talk to your doctor.

I am down 37 pounds now and lost a cup size already. I was tired of the wrinkle in the cup so went to get a FREE fitting at the department store. My size is ample, so I don't miss the cup. You can get some nice interim bras in K-Mart. I paid $7.99 each for the few I have in the new size.

I think that keeping yourself hungry only puts your body in starvation mode, and you won't lose anything. Did your doctor give you guidelines to follow in terms of food to eat? Mine gave me a list of food suggestions. I am losing slow, and happy about it. I could eat everything, but I am making smart food choices now. None of my trigger foods are in the house, I have no cake, Cookies, ice cream, soda, Snacks, or candy in my house. I try to eat 4-5oz Protein at meals, with veggies. I eat grapefruit, and juice veggies and fruit. I very rarely eat bread, rice, potatoes, or that kind of carb. I look at the nutrition statement on everything I eat. I keep myself to 1000-1200 calories a day. I have had some bad days, we all do, but I get right back on track the next day. Walk more, and if you can't, go up and down the stairs in your house or at work. If you can, take a class at the gym or the Y. Just increase your activity by 15 minutes a day. The band is not a miracle worker. You have to use the band as an aid while you make a complete lifestyle change on your part.

After every fill my doc puts me on 2 days liquid and 2 days mushy foods. So I know, that in my first year, since I have to see the doc every month, 4 days of the month are going to be liquid and mushy. Soreness is a part of the banding process, you will look back 3 months from now and realize that despite the complications, it was the best decision you ever made.

Never thought about that either, but my guess is that since you have to pulverize your food to get it past the band, and you have to throw up its going to come up. In that case you will probably have the vomit taste and smell. I think you should also post this question in the main section, you will probably get a great response.

I think the band reacts differently in different people. With me, I am tight in the morning if I wake up at 6am all the way through 10am, but, if I wake up on Saturday morning at 10am, I am tight all the way into the afternoon. That is so weird. If I am out all night, and come home at 6am, I am not tight. So I am guessing that the band tightening is not an environmental thing its a body thing.

Every doctor is different. I have 20oz of coffee or tea, the caffeine version everyday.

Almost 3 months out and I am just getting into size 20 jeans, was at size 24 day of surgery!!! Can I have your size 20's?:ohmy:

I didn't have any restriction problems flying NYC to Tampa, or NYC to Orlando, or NYC to Chicago or NYC to Buffalo since getting the band.

I do alot of walking, I live in NYC, so the blocks fly by! I take a Pilates class every Monday, and boy do I see a change. I do one additional session with a DVD at home. Right now that is working me for body wise and scheduling wise.

Slime is produced in your esophogus. Its the juices you produce in anticipation of the food working its way down to your stomach. You know, when your mouth waters. Sometimes, you eat too fast or don't chew the food enough and it gets stuck, your body now over produces those juices to try to get it down, and sometimes the slime comes up through your nose and mouth, and the food goes down. When it doesn't, that is when you PB. You don't want to make a habit of this because you might stretch your new pouch or damage your band. The idea is to portion control your food and eat slow and chew alot.

Some states offer a health plan directly when your income is in certain ranges, maybe Texas offers that. You mention you are a contract employer, so try Freelancers Union :: Platform for an Independent Workforce, you can get independent insurance through them.

PB is Productive burping, its really not vomit, its you bringing up what you ate that is pretty much at the top of your stomach pouch or in the esophogus, so you aren't getting the nasty taste or smell of vomit. Usually you slime first. I have slimed before, but this was my second episode of PB'ing.

Had 1/2 cup wonton Soup tonite, and then about 10 bites of roast pork fried rice. I sat in the restaurant with my chest getting tighter and tighter, but no slime. Left the restaurant and we were walking to the car, and boom, up everything came. Lucky for me I was with my best friend, the one who taught me how to throw up in the NYC Subway System 20 years ago. He just held my hair back for me and let me throw up. Just like the old days.:tt2: (of course in those days it was throwing up from drinking too much liquor, oh have the times changed...:sneaky:)

Phowell, I agree with you!!! I bought a size 20 Bill Blass designer jeans at an outlet, $15, and was holding them. I tried them on yesterday, and they were loose!!! I wore them anyway because they weren't as loose as the 24's I had been wearing!!!