Rockin' Robyn

Wheetsin- I'm thinking of you honey......Just remember, you have the best surgeon in the area (in my opinion)...not to mention sweet and kind of cute (in my opinion). You are in excellent hands!!! Think of Wednesday as being the first day of the rest of your life which will be filled with health, feeling good, and lots of energy. A little pre-surgery jitters is healthy and normal...I had it too. Breathe with me now....Innnn 2, 3, 4, 5....... and Out 2, 3, 4, 5. Keep doing that over and over and you will do just fine. Sending happy thoughts and lots of weight loss your way! Robyn

I'm not the type to typically respond to negative posts (and I'm probably gonna get myself in trouble here...but I'm feeling feisty tonight). I feel very compelled to defend my profession here Dody- If you are questioning if Dr. Pleatman is really a doctor, then I am questioning if you are really a nurse. Come on now, any nurse that has been through any sort of reputable nursing program would know how to do a literature search, or at the very least an internet search and EASILY see the 100's of articles that come up on RNY reversal!!!!!!!!! I certainly hope you don't make such uneducated comments to your own patients before you investigate and find out the correct answers, since such a huge part of our job is patient EDUCATION...... Enough said.......By the way, could it be possible you are actually a certified 'nursing' assistant??????????

No regrets at all....and that's coming from someone who has had many more complications that the typical bandster 'should have'. If I ever had to have my band removed, I'd do it all over again if they would let me. Like someone else said, the band has forced me to take my bad eating habits head on....not just relying on the surgery to "fix everything". I have been one of the lucky ones that has lost weight, but I never look at the band as my easy fix, because it's not. You must enter this journey prepared mentally to make long-term changes in your eating habits. The band won't do that for you, only you can do that for you.....NO REGRETS!!!

I don't know if you are referring to acne when you said "rash", but I broke out horribly about 4-5 weeks after surgery all over my cheeks. This was weird for me, because I normally have clear skin and no problems. The surgeon said it was r/t the huge hormone shift due to the rapid weight loss. I also have the dry finger tips.....but I chalk it up to that I probably get a little dehydrated from time to time from only being able to drink an hour before/after meals, which is a pain sometimes to get enough fluids in.

Delarla- You said it sister!!!! I also have been wanting to comment on all of the comments here lately. Lisa....PULLLLEEEASSEE don't leave or visit here less often. You have been a huge inspiration to not only me, but I know to MANY others on this board. You're words and wisdom have gotten me through days before where I didn't know if I could go on another minute. We need you here!!! People....don't let a few annoying, bad apples come here and destroy a good thing. It may be easier said than done, since I don't know what type of PM's some people are getting, but please try to ignore the stupidity and ignorance. All I have to say is, for those that are new and preaching the "I'm holier than thou" sermon....it sure is a lot easier to be perfect for a month than for any longer period of time. That's not to wish any badness or cheating on anyone. Just a simple statement for those who don't "get it".

"386, 6.5 months, 10%, 30, 6, no, caucasion, lost 106"

Those are good suggestions guys. I like the idea of having a bite or two of other's food. In some situations I would think it would be odd (depending on who you are going out to eat with) to ask others "Do you mind if I have one bite off all of your plates?" Although I love the sound of it, I don't know if I would have the nerve. Maybe it would be less awkward if I offered to pay a couple bucks per person's plate or something???

I also weigh ever morning. I used to look at it as a bad addiction, but I think it's all in how you look at it. I too started using it as a motivational tool. Like someone else said earlier, if the scale is down-that motivates me to keep going....If it's up a little, that too motivates me to try even harder. (However, I will not lie and say that I have not let the upward fluctuations disappoint me before). Now I think I would go through withdrawl and start convulsing or something if someone took my scale away:p

Okay....I'm not a new bandster exactly (6 months out). But I truly thought by now that my head would have adjusted quicker than it has. By that I mean, I get so SCREAMING mad at myself when I go out to eat in particular. I know full well that I can (on my good days) at the MOST eat a cup of food. Yet what do I do????? I still order a full meal. Then I'm practically full on 5 bites of the Soup or salad that comes before my meal even gets there. When I'm ordering, my mind is saying "Oh, well you are extra hungry, so just go ahead and order like you used to." Now that being said, I do order healthy stuff (like today I ordered salmon and broccoli). But what's the point of spending $13 on something that you are going to eat 5 small bites of? Maybe it's that voice in the back of my head from my mom saying when I was little "There are people starving in .....now finish your plate!" I am so frustrated with this. Maybe it's silly, but I'm just tired of wasting not only the money on the food, but the eventual wasting of the huge portions themselves. I've tried ordering half portions, but most places don't do that....soup is full of empty calories....the kids meals are usually full of unhealthy fried choices or carbs...so what's left to do? I know consciously that I can't eat that much anymore....so why do I continue to waste so much food? Then I get irritated when I have enough left over for 5 more meals. Any suggestions anyone?....and for you long time bandsters, Does this EVER change? Thanks in advance for any advice! :faint:

Count me in too:clap2:

I lost 17 pounds pre-op. Of course that was due to 7 days of clear liquids. YUCK.....I still don't know how I did it, but it was a good jump start.

ILLUDE- All I can say is HOLY CRAP!!!!!! You look awesome! It made my day to see your stats and how much weight you have lost. You need to post more on here. Your weight loss is a true inspiration to us all. I don't know of any posters around here that have lost as much as you! Wow...I'm speechless!:clap2:

Can you guys believe it has been six months already (I guess on some days it feels like it has been longer :puke: ) Keep up the great work everyone!!

Mandy- We are definitely continuing to pray for you and your daughter. Sending lots of love and positive thoughts your way. Robyn

So easy, healthy, and delicious!:clap2: chicken TACO Soup 5-6 boneless frozen chicken breasts 2 cups diced onions 2 (15 1/2-ounce) cans pinto Beans 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can pink kidney beans 1 (15 1/4-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes with chiles 2 (4 1/2-ounce) cans diced green chiles 1 (1 1/4-ounce) package taco seasoning mix 1 (1-ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix Corn chips, for serving Low fat Sour cream, for garnish Low Fat Grated cheddar cheese, for garnish Chopped green onions, for garnish Dump all ingredients into a large slow cooker or a stockpot. Cook in a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours or simmer over low heat for about 2 hours in a pot on the stove. Just before serving, remove cooked chicken breasts, and shred into bite sized-but hearty pieces. Then add back into soup. To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, & green onions. YUMMY!!!!:wow2:

This is one of my favorite low carb meals! If you're a bandster that can't do steak, just eat the chicken part. YUMMMY!!:hungry: COBB SALAD-HOLD THE salad 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick) 2 tablespoons hot sauce, eyeball it 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling 2 pounds flank steak 8 pieces "thin cut" chicken breast cutlets 2 slightly under ripe Hass avocados – dark skinned, but still firm 2 vine ripe tomatoes cut into wedges 8 strips bacon, thick sliced 1 lemon, zest and juiced Salt and pepper 1/3 pound blue cheese, crumbled (recommended Maytag Blue) Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat. Mix garlic, steak seasoning, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar. Whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Divide the mixture between 2 shallow dishes. Add the flank steak to one and the thin chicken cutlets to the other. Toss to coat all of the meats thoroughly and marinate for 5 minutes. While the flank steak and chicken are marinating, cut the avocados in half lengthwise cutting around the pit. Separate the halves then, using a spoon, scoop out the pit, then use the spoon to scoop the avocado from its skin. Chop the avocado flesh into bite size pieces add to a mixing bowl. Add the tomatoes, watercress and crisp chopped bacon. Dress the salad with the juice of 1 lemon and a generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill flank steak 6 to 7 minutes on each side. Grill the thin cut chicken cutlets 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove both meats from the grill to a cutting board to rest for about 5 minutes. Thinly slice the flank steak on an angle, cutting the meat against the grain. Cut the chicken into thin strips. Add both meats to a platter or dinner plates. Top the meats with a mound of the salad. To make the dressing, combine in a small bowl the lemon zest and juice, salt, pepper, crumbled blue cheese, whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Pour the dressing over the salad. Eat and enjoy the lack of lettuce getting in your way!

Sounds like sooo much fun!!! My Hubby will definitely be excited about this too....He's been looking for an excuse to go to Vegas again! Slumber party...romance theme....sangria...doesn't get much better than that:dance: :dance: And I have a sneaking suspicion that Lisa knows exactly how to throw a party!!!! :) :mad:

Mandy- I just read your posts, and want to say PLEASE know you are doing all of the right things. I have personal experience with these same types of issues with my son. When he was 8 years old he started having very sudden and extreme mood changes. So bad that he was no longer functional in school. He would literally throw himself on the floor in the principal's office and throw a tantrum like a 2 year old at the age of 8. Before this, he had been a perfect little prince. Of course, being in the medical field, I needed to have a reason why. After months of counseling and behavior modification steps, we were finally able to get to the trigger of his anxiety disorder/depression was triggered by 2 events for him. One...was being bullied at school by a teenager, Two was watching the news before going to school right during the time of the 9/11 attacks where he saw a piece where they were interviewing children whose parents had died in the event. I hope I am not overstepping my boundaries here, but I just have to say something. After 4 years of Zoloft, I still get friends/family ignorantly saying, "So when are you going to take him off of that stuff?" My answer is, "Never...as long as he still needs it." He is old enough now, that he takes his meds at the same time on his own accord every day. My husband and I know instantly if he has gone 2 or more days without it, due to the same sudden changes in his behavior (weepy, depressed, mouthy, angry, anxious). This is the only confirmation that I need in my mind to know without a doubt that the drug does definitely work, and without it...he would again become less functional. People that haven't gone through this don't understand. My thoughts on medicating children are...Thank GOD there are meds out there today that can help. Yes, there are docs that overprescribe as a quick fix. But if there is a definite DIAGNOSED chemical imbalance in the brain causing behavioral changes, this is a PHYSICAL problem. These same relatives/friends wouldn't go up to their grandmother with Congestive Heart Failure who is on Lasix and say, "So...when are you going to go off that life-saving medication?":confused: Hang in there and stay the course. Zoloft takes more than just a week to see optimal effects. I will also put you and Abigail on our prayer list at church. Sending many hugs and prayers your way. Robyn

Hi Jessiebear- I have definitely hit my sweetspot....Although I know what you are going through, in that your mind plays tricks on you and leaves you constantly asking "Am I there, or could I stand to have just a tinnnnnnny bit more of a fill." Of course everyone is different, but for me I all of the sudden could care less about food or eating at all after my last fill. I can eat anywhere from 1/4 cup of food in the am to sometimes 3/4 cup in the evening...of course things change depending on the day, and how my band decides she wants to treat me from meal to meal. I can still eat most everything, although I choose to stay away from bread most of the time because I don't like the way it makes me feel. I do still occasionally PB, but I have found it is more correlated with not WHAT I am eating, but HOW I eat it. For instance, if I fix something to eat and someone calls me on the phone, I tend to fall back on old habits of stuffing my face unconsciously, because I am not being consciously aware of my behaviors while I'm conversing. Then I end up having to abruptly end the conversation to PB. I have tried to get better about walking away from my plate if someone calls during a meal. I think you will definitely know when you are there. My experience has been, if you still don't know if you are at your sweet spot yet, then you probably aren't. But as you know, steady on, but not to quickly. You'll get there. I also knew I was at my sweet spot, because after that last fill, I dropped several pounds quickly after the fill because my eating habits changed so dramatically (as far as amounts and my outlook on food). That's my story anyway.....Good Luck in finding your spot on your next fill. Best Wishes, Robyn

That's right Iluvharleys, I am glad I didn't get another fill right before because no way to adjust if I got too tight. I was just saying since I am SOOOO close to my sweet spot, I wish I could have gotten one more tiny fill and waited like a month before having my port removed (since I no longer have an option for adjustments). But actually, I am fine with things now. It has been 12 days since my surgery, and although it has been a worse experience than the original lapband placement, the one good thing is that my restriction is holding on strong!!! :clap2:

$16,000 for original surgery, including pre-op consultations $10,500 for a 4 day hospitalization one month after band was placed due to internal bleeding from my first fill $500 co-pay for infected port removal on December 28th. ????? Don't have a quote yet on how much it will be to replace port. TOTAL: $27,000 and counting.... YIKES, I hadn't figured that up before!!!

Would make sense theoretically because diabetics are at higher risk for poor wound healing. Nope...have never been diabetic

Yes, that's exactly it. Only time will tell if I have maintained my restriction. I'll let you know how it goes.

Penni- That would be great if you could post the pics. I have tried searching under Delarla's posts and couldn't find. Thanks.

It is usually an infection that has been there ALL ALONG from day one of the banding. I knew something was wrong when the incision over my port did not heal properly for almost 5 weeks. It continued to ooze and the skin wouldnt grow back together. Then about 6 weeks post op, when the skin finally did heal - putting 2 and 2 together, now I know the skin healing wasn't a good idea, because now all the drainage/puss had no where to escape. Therefore it just kept accumulating slowly in my abdomen. So it's not that the infection actually all the sudden comes up several months post-op. It is there along, and you get to the point where the pain/redness/hardness around the port just becomes too much to bare, and the only option is removal. As Delarla has posted so many times, antibiotics do NOTHING on this type of infection! The only cure is removal and resting the infected area (not putting another port in right away). It was explained to me by my doc that the port is so prone to infection because it has square edges on it and lots of grooves where bacteria love to hide/grow. The tubing itself is very smooth and doesn't tend to have that problem. Another interesting piece of info is that the tubing is actually inside the abdomen (peritoneum). The body does a much better job of fighting off infection INSIDE the abdominal cavity. But the port is NOT in the abdominal cavity, it is sutured to the fatty tissue under something called the Fascia (a layer above the muscle and abdominal cavity). Okay...enough anatomy and physiology for tonight, but I have a sneaking suspicion that some inquiring minds would like to know