NewLife'sGr8

Only my daughters and one co-worker who'd been banded a short time before I was.

It took me 4 yrs to drop ~100lbs. @Bandinista has it right! Good words of wisdom. One day, bam! There you are, your true self.

You look marvelous! Keep it up!

*disclaimer: I do NOT recommend doing what I did. I am one tough woman. Would've taken any other option if I had one, but I didn't. Twice. Band surgery was an hour away. Band was supposed to be a day surgery. Daughter came with me. She's sight-impaired so can't drive but I had to have someone with me. She was my only choice. I though: day surgery, no prob. Had already been through 4 (ortho) with no probs. after surgery in recovery, was in so much pain- couldn't deal. They tried to feed me liquid morphine but I was SO um, off-the-chain in pain, like I'd never felt before, I spat it out. Tasted like chit on top of the pain and I wasn't hearing that it would help. Wasn't hearing anything at all. I guess it was the gas-pain from being blown up like a balloon. The surgeon told me she'd do that but didn't tell me anything about what it might feel like. Mind you, I've been through some serious pain before that- thought I could handle anything. Guess not. Stayed overnight. Excruciating. Just wanted to lay down. They wouldn't let me. Rough night. Daughter slept in the recliner next to me. Next day, felt a bit better, got discharged. Wheeled to the exit & I drove all the way home. When I got my total hip replacement 4yrs later, had a ride arranged between other daughter and her hubby. I drove down w/ my car & they followed for the surgery, then went home to take care of the kiddies & my pets. Plan was for her to drive me in her car & her hubby, drive my stick home. I gave her my purse to hang onto which had a new script for pain killers to get me through to surgery (a few days). when I was back inn the room, they gave me my purse back and I saw more than 1/2 painkillers were gone. I called them on it. Her hubby took them. There went my ride- he played the anger card on me and told me he wouldn't be responsible if anything happened to my car on the way. Forget THAT! So my dad who stayed with me in the hosp 4-5 days, lied & said he was designated driver, at 86yo. So we wheel-chaired out to the car, he got in driver seat, got out of parking garage and a lil down the road & pulled over- we switched. Mind you, it was my left (clutch) hip replaced. I know, not wise but I'd probably still be there waiting for a ride if I didn't do that. then drove most of the hour homeward bound. IMHO, Sometimes, you've just got to toughen up and do what you've got to do. I took it easy in slow lane and when we got back to familiar territory, pulled over & let him drive the rest of the way. He would've never navigated that "city driving" so I did. Like I said, not recommended. Hopefully, will never have to again.

I'd probably lie that I feel fine too & if they didn't pick up on anything after taking my vitals, go through with it. The only thing is if the cold gets worse post- surgery, make sure you have enough antibiotics so you don't go septic (fever IS an infection). YOU first! Take care of YOU, & well.

Feel better soon

I try to stick with good quality dark chocolate with high cacao (coco) percentage & eat just a couple/ few squares. Best to stay away from all those fruity things in them. Sometimes, it's not real fruit, it's "lab-created" fruit look alike with a little fruit juice in it. Blech! (Keep telling yourself THAT when you feel like the "fruity" chocolates. Dark chocolate has some health benefits and is usually lower in sugars. If you eat 1oz of the good dark chocolate before a meal, it reduces your hunger. If you eat the kind with hot chili peppers in it, it increases your metabolism too when I do eat it, I keep in mind "It's for my health" while eating it (mindful eating). It's a once in awhile thing for me. Not a daily regimen. The tricky part is not eating the whole thing or going on a choco-binge. That's just self control. I found it's helpful to allow myself the dark choco once in awhile- without any guilt. Yes, I CAN have that! Re-framing my mind has reduced my cravings

@@paigeh93 Thank your for informing me. I'm glad your lung-clots have already been reduced by 30%. Like you, I hope they're gone by summer so you can have your adrenal-tumor removed. What an ordeal. Oof! Kudos to you, girl! I know you're going to nail this- one step at a time. Sounds like you've done your research & have, with your doctors, derived a sound plan for ultimately achieving good health. That is my sincere wish & prayer for you. The best possible outcomes that will ensure a healthy, happy, long life. <3

Breathing Family My resilience & resolve Life lessons My Integrity

*Clarification: By 'quick fix" I mean losing a lot of weight fast, early on. No WLS is a quick fix. It's all hard work.

Banding isn't a quick fix like the other WLS's. It requires patience and commitment. It took me 4yrs to lose ~100lbs. I'd requested a slower course of fills because I had to have many (too many) ortho surgeries from a fall ~ a week before my WLS & I wanted to be sure to have enough nutrients to heal well. Then one day, there I was, 100 lbs lighter. I've seen bandsters on here who've lost a significant amount of weight a lot quicker. Others, like me took longer. Everyone's different. You'll get there.

I'm pretty sure the hubbies always knew they were/are gay. It's not something that suddenly pops up. Yes, more common than some might think. They marry to appear "normal" to their families and the outside world. Sooner or later, many can't live the lie anymore and come out. @@bellabill that must've been so hard for you. *Hugs. I'm glad you've rebounded and remarried. Kudos & cheers to you!

So sorry to read about your many health issues, and so young too. I'll def keep you in my prayers for the best possible outcomes. I'm highly concerned for you. Dual pulmonary embolisms is by far the most serious issue you're facing,. Lung bloodclots (as you know having been diagnosed) suddenly dislodge, go straight to the heart & kill. Of all your issues, this is the most life-threatening and normally requires immediate medical intervention. I'm shocked any surgeon would put you under general anesthesia with dual pulmonary embolisms (which posits a whole other set of risks that are compounded by your voluminous health issues), for another surgery, first. What' did your doctor say about it? How are you being treated for this ailment? Have you considered a 2nd opinion regarding what should be taken care of first? Maybe my info is outdated & there's newer treatments for this life-threatening disease that I'm unaware of.

Thank you, Keeper. I had boughts with that, especially at the end- my highest weight - a bottomless pit that could never be filled. OY! So glad THAT's over!

What's BED?

@Riskygirl2 Good to see you're reading... processing... hopefully implementing some of these valuable suggestions. Baby steps are where it's at! (At least for me) These last few days, I've gotten up even though I didn't really want to, made it to my appointments & work (really really didn't want to go there! SO toxic, so draconian, mindless minions of haters- the antithesis of who "I" am- drudgery and fear of WTF is next?!?!) and at least maintaining a semi-sense of 'normalcy' taking care of what matters most: taking care of my 87yo dad (my physical [not sexual] abuser who had nowhere else to go - which is another whole realm of weirdness - had seriously to crack open my heart & find true forgiveness on that one- and thankfully it's working) ) cleaned some of what needed cleaning around the house, took care of some business (not nearly what I needed to) and plunk! back onto the couch again for a few (as a reward, as suggested). Gratefully, Baby steps recommendations seem to be working for me. For now, it's the best I can do - and that's ok. I used to be SUCH a confidant over-achiever. I'm mostly confidant now, mourning who I once was. We have to be who we are now, in this moment. One thing's for sure- we choose what we do with every minute of our lives. ACT, don't react to what life delivers. The choice is ours. I hope baby steps are working for you, too doll. *hugs

Seek & you will find

*Viewing recipe: I'll make it crustless & just have it as a delicious "parfait".

@@CowgirlJane Thank you for that. I'm sorry your didn't get/find the support when you needed, when you needed it for your banding. I'm 5.5 yrs out. Until now, on my own. SO happy I found this site. Thank you @Alex & for EVERYONE who's posted, good, bad & ugly. I'm learning a lot here & am finally finding the support I need. When the student is ready, the teacher(s) appear! I consider myself very lucky to have found ALL of you. <3

We can look forward to achieving our goals together. I'm not there yet, but have faith I will. Keep us posted.

My pregnancies are long done. My 1st, I had really bad morning sickness, bad-bad all day. I put a box of Saltine crackers next to my bed and ate a few before I got up, sometimes laying down as I couldn't pick up my head off the pillow without running to the bathroom. Put them in my mouth and let them 'melt' then swallowed a little at a time. It really helped. It was the ONLY thing that helped. It was long before WLS but I could hardly get them in, even then. This is an old home-remedy. Now, I know carbs are considered evil- both dieting and with WLS... BUT... if you eat a couple crackers a day, it's not going to kill you nor make you gain to obesity nor prevent weightloss outcome. I kept a few in my purse in a zip bag, just in case. There's always that feeling of nausea before vomiting and as soon as I felt it- IN went a cracker bite or few. This really did help me. I hope it helps you. Worth a try before fluoroscopy, X-rays, or surgery under anesthesia that could have mal-affect on the baby. SALTINES- not Ritz or any of those flavored or buttery kinds. Just bland, old mainstay- Saltines. I kept them next to my bed for about 4-5 months. Please let me know if it helps you. I hope it does. *FYI: My 2nd pregnancy: no morning sickness @ all. Just so you know, it's not straight across the board with pregnancies. Both of my babies had head-full of hair. That's not the cause. Don't know what is... but it's not that though a lot of women told me it probably was.... women will tell you lots of things. Listen to about 1/2 of what you hear.

Thank you, @@Forsythia! I knew it probably isn't 'healthy'. That's ok. I'll make it and have a sliver as you suggested. Couldn't eat more than that anyway.

@Forsynthia: *Perk! mmmm... Cranberry custard? Never heard of it. Care to share the recipe?

What's PCOS?