Bensmum1109

Stina, I went through what you are going through with my family. I only told my parents (hubby knows, of course), and my mother blabbed to my sister-in-law. Which totally pissed me off. Although I have forgiven her for it, I still don't trust her like I used to, which is sad. If people ask, nag, put food in your face, just respond like this "I am trying to lose weight by watching my portions, eating more slowly, and exercising. It seems to be working, and I WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYONES SUPPORT" Even though you have a band now, that is, in fact, what you are doing. You are trying to lose weight, you are watching your portions, eating more slowly, and exercising (I hope). The fact that you have a tool to assist you with this process is nobodys business but YOURS unless you want it to be. I applaud you for choosing the band. My surgeon told me that this form of WLS is a lot more work than other forms, because we lose weight slower and it's easier to "eat around" this surgery. But there is definitely a misconception of WLS being the easy way out, and people are awfully judgemental, aren't they? Remember, the decision needs to be yours. Follow your gut on this decision and use our advice as a guide. None of us will judge you no matter what you are comfortable with!!

Hey Lins- I met my husband on Match.com. Match is really cool because you are able to find out quite a bit about someone before you even meet them. I will admit, I had a LOT of dates from the internet, an even a few boyfriends before I met Jim. But he is a keeper, and gorgeous too!!

:phanvan I absolutely get tighter when I fly, and it lasts for days. I look at it as a good thing because we fly to Disneyland at least four times a year, and if I didn't get tighter, I might eat myself into a coma there :faint: By the way, I have a Disneyland eating plan if anyone wants it. I can make it a separate thread. It lists a lot of good places to eat bandster food (and soft food if you are too tight) while you are visiting!

What is this stuff? And where can you get it

I went home the same day. I was at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. and home by 6 that night. I was happy to be in my own bed that night!

Wow! Great job!! Pretty soon you will have to give the 26s away:D

I never thought about diverticulitis. My brother had it, so that is a possibility I should discuss with the doctor. I am not constipated at all, toally normal in that department. The pain and bloating is actually in my upper abdomen in the area of my lower stomach. But the random cramps are in my lower abdomen. Weird, right?? Anyway, my doctor called back, and for now he is doubling my Prevacid and putting me on Simethicone which is a stomach coater. He also asked me to refrain from my beloved papaya enzyme tablets because he thinks that could be irritating me. He wants me on liquids and mushies for a few days, and if it doesn't improve by Monday or Tuesday it's flouroscopy and/or endoscopy. YUK. I will keep you all updated!

Yep, that sounds pretty similar. I am waiting for my doctor to call me back- I paged him 4 hours ago!

Absolutely my favorite show on tv!!! I watched the second part today (we were in Disneyland until yesterday) and cried like a baby. I could not believe they killed Denny. I just loved him!! Anyway, Chris O'Donnell, the actor who plays Finn, is coming back next season so I assume that at least for a while Merideth stays with him. And DonnaB, I think the support forum is the perfect spot for this thread. Anybody who is a Grey's junkie needs some support right now. Support to get through the next few months of re-runs, support to get over Denny and Doc's deaths, and support to face the fact that Izzie might be gone :cry I am pretty sure the support forum has covered other types of support/motivation besides eating and band issues before, right?

I paid 14,000 which covered everything plus 1 year of aftercare. I was banded at Laproscopic Associates of San Francisco.

My first fill did not kick in until two weeks later. I could not imagine 2CCs in my band, I only have 1.5 after my SECOND fill and I am very restricted!! And I am tighter during my cycle and also for a day or so after I fly. If you are flying somewhere for your vacation, you may want to consider the fact that some people do experience increased restriction while traveling. If you are uncomfortable and pretty much unable to eat, you may want to have some taken out before you go on vacation.

Karen- will you please PM me or post once you have had the esophogram? I am interested in how the procedure works as I will probably want one 12 months out. Thanks!

Yes, he had the Fobi. He was on Oprah and explained the procedure with his surgeon.

Yup, Amy Brown is the fairy artist. She is awesome!! She has one drawing that is called "Glamour" and I am thinking about getting it tatooed on my shoulder. It's a fairy sitting inside a martini glass. I also love the fire fairy.

How do I add images and change the background on my profile. After looking at some of yours mine seems so remedial!

OK, Wendy, I can't figure out how to send you a friend request. But seeing how I am a huge Amy Brown fan and Tinkerbell fan, I imagine we have some stuff in common!

I am on and am new. I would love some friends!! http://www.myspace.com/heather4766

Well, Sarah, the good news (and bad news, depending how you look at it) is that you will always be able to have ice cream :-) Getting this band has certainly presented some difficulties for me, and some discomfort. But it is unquestionably worth it. I am getting my health back and I am going to live to see my son graduate, get married, etc. My knees rarely hurt anymore because of the weight I have dropped and my cholesterol has dropped 58 points. I sleep better and have more energy. I would absolutely do this again.

If we're being honest here, sometimes I still eat things that I'm sure I shouldn't. But the band restricts my intake enough that it does not impact me the way it used to. Also, I do STEADFASTLY live by the rule that I am going to eat my Protein first, veggies second, and then the "naughty" stuff. If you live by that rule, then by the time you get to the fat and sugar you will probably only have room for one or two bites. I no longer obsess over food, I never feel deprived, and I am losing weight. Also, some of the things I used to love I can no longer tolerate because of the band. Believe me, once you have tried to eat a bagel or some french fries and you have had to PB it all back up, you will no longer want to eat bagels or french fries. Talk about aversion therapy! You can do this!! And remember, we are here for you.

Hi all- After what seemed like two solid months of rain here in Northern California, spring has finally sprung. For the last three days the weather has been sunny and very warm (in the 80s). This will be the first summer that I have been banded and I am wondering if hot weather affects the band. It seems as if I have been extremely tight for the last few days, and I can't think of any other reason for it. I am not sick (which tightens me), I finished my period a week ago (which tightens me), and I have not traveled recently (which, well...you get the picture). I am hoping to hear a lot of responses from you all that yes, hot weather does tighten you up. I didn't get a whole lot of restriction from fill #2 and I would rather not go in for another one yet.:confused:

Boo, you shouldn't be eating solid foods three weeks out from surgery. It takes longer than that for your insides to heal and a PB at this stage is far worse for you than having one when you are healed. Go back to liquids for 24 hours, and then stay on soft foods for another week or two. There are lots of great soft foods that you can eat and not feel deprived, like refried Beans, mashed potatoes, frozen yogurt, bananas, even baked sweet potatoes!

My weight loss goal has been mine, not my surgeons (see "my doctor is a crackhead" threads). I have wanted to be in a size 10 comfortably, and weigh what I did 10 years ago. But I have decided to drop my goal 10 more pounds to get into an 8 and weigh what I did 20 years ago when I was a singer in a rock band. Yes, I am a 40 year old wife and mother but one can dream, right? And this band has really made me feel like my dreams can come true! has anyone else lowered their initial goal once they have gotten some (or most) of the way there?

Karen, I am so glad Dr C was nice to you!! Maybe he is changing his ways. Or maybe he is lurking on the board and is seeing what his patients think of him. Or maybe they just aren't involved in any published statistical studies at the moment. And your weight loss is FANTASTIC. You should be so proud of yourself!:clap2: Anyway, folks, haven't changed my ticker yet, but I was on the "stomach flu" diet all weekend, and lost 4 more pounds!! I had forgotten the difference between a PB and a forceful vomit, and was viciously reminded several times over the last three days :sick . Not the best way to drop a few pounds, but I'll take it.

So I went in and got another fill today- I am now up to 1.5CCs. Hopefully I will get some more restriction. Dr F was able to pull out almost the entire 1CC that I had before he refilled me-no leaks! My doctor and I noticed that my port scar is a few inches lower than where my actual port is when I am standing up. That is a good thing- it means that although I am losing weight which is making my skin sag a little, my port is very well secured. I have lost 36 pounds in 6 months. That's 6 pounds a month. Not a rabbit, not a turtle. If I can keep up this pace I will be at my goal weight in 7 more months!!! BUT- my doctor kind of let me have it!! He thinks I should be losing a lot more rapidly, and is very upset that I am not staying under 800 calories a day (tried it, I was tired and sick all of the time). I have been feeling so great about my progress, but frankly, I left his office a little bummed out!:angry Anyway, my DH made me some Soup and tea and I am resting since my port is a little sore now. I'll let you all know when the restriction hits and how it is working. Love you all for your support!

Many people can eat anything before their first fill. You are eight weeks out so you are pretty much healed. Your swelling has gone down, which may have restricted you initially. I have had two fills and the foods I can and cannot tolerate have changed from fill to fill. I used to eat chicken all the time and now it almost always gets stuck, yet I am now able to tolerate some forms of bread. It's definitely not a perfect science, but you will figure it out as you go...