Apples2

Awwwwwwwww...what a nice thing to say....I think most everyone on this thread can answer a few of those questions. Keep 'em comin'!

Wow, Julie...thanks for the info. So nice to get to know you. B/4 I read this I had PM'd you to see about getting together for lunch some day if it works for you. I can knock off a day of volunteering and drive to meet you!!!!! Wouldn't that be fun??????

Flowers...as I stated above...I have not had acid reflux since being banded. I really worry when I read a story like yours about having weeks of misery. Cannot be good for you. At least your problems subsided. I guess if they come back, I would go to the doc for a slight unfill. Heading to see GP today. Just dreading it but know I need to take care of this problem I have with kidney stones. I had them lasered about 10 years ago and have a feeling that I will need to do that again. When they did it last time I did not have stones for two years. Was a nice reprieve. Need to see GP so that I can get a referral. I am sure I will need to notify my LB surgeon if I need to have this procedure done. Anyway, dreading the thought of going through this again and having a sore back for a could of years but better than the stones. I have had three bouts in a five week period of time. Very taxing on the body and takes many days to feel right again after passing. Wishing everyone a Happy Hump Day!!!

I had a huge hiatel hernia and surgeon corrected it when he did the lap band.

Katy...all I can say is that I'm sending hugs your way and in hopes that everything works out and you regain your health

You know it just doesn't seem fair sometimes. I am unsure why I only needed 2 fills. I did starve (or thought I was starving) for three months b/4 my last fill. After the second fill, I struggled wondering if I should get another. My fill did not kick in for at least a month or more. So happy I didn't get one. I think I would have been way too tight. I sometimes think that when people have trouble with being too tight that they did not wait long enough between fills to see what it would do for them. No expert here...just a guess. We are all so different and is interesting finding out about each of you and what the rest of you require as far as fills and food. I have a feeling that there will be a time that I will need another fill. But, my doc would not fill me now (if I needed it) because I am a little below my goal weight. I like to stay on this side of hungry though. My biggest fear is to be too filled and start having trouble. I lived with acid reflux for so many years and surgery corrected that. I never want to go back there.

Yep, that's me. Lipstick in hand and face in the mirror.

Hey...did you girls notice that I posted my "real" photo as my avatar. That's really me. Really it is!

Janet...the pain was definitely in the band area...not the port. I have never had ANY pains in that area or the port area. Took it easy and ate soft food all day yesterday and today was a little better. Was very tender in that area until later today. Ate solid meat for supper and it went OK. I believe it was the corn I ate the night b/4. Truly think it was stoma spasms caused by the corn. I will be taking it off of the menu! Thanks for asking. If it would have continued, I would have made an appt. with doc. Will just keep an eye on things. No reflux or any other symptoms. My post to Sharons is still bugging me. Don't think my post came across the way I wanted it to. Didn't mean that she shouldn't rely on people for support and certainly did not mean that she should not admire Janet and want her approval. I just wanted to make Sharons see that SHE should also be proud of her accomplishments...just as we are all proud of her. Hope this clears it all up. DH went into local hospital tonight for a sleep study. Have been trying to get him to do it for years. He is of normal weight. 5'10" and weighs 184lbs. He had his physical about six weeks ago. Showed high number with BP and cholesterol. Also, showed enlarged heart. This can be caused by intermittent high BP but also from sleep disorder. 27 yr old DS was diagnosed with rare sleep disorder in 2008 and already showed signs of enlarged heart and uses CPAP. He is also a normal weight. He was warned that this type of rare sleep disorder can kill. He lives alone and would wake up just barely able to get his breath. Anyway, hoping that there will be some answers with this test. DH has always watched his weight but not what he eats. Does that make sense to you all? He would push himself back from the table after one serving but would drink 1/2 gallon of milk and a dozen Cookies b/4 bed. Wrong choices and cannot have his favs in the house. He has no willpower when it comes to sweets. Fruit is always available around here. It's just me and the dog tonight out on this lonely farm. All the doors are locked and rechecked and relocked. Do I sound a little paranoid??????? Do not sleep good alone in this big farm house with no DH. Anything ever happened to him I would have an apt. in town the next day. Get way to scared by myself. Never used to be but had a scary incident 5 yrs ago when someone tried to rob the place when DH was gone and I was here alone. OK...going to stop thinking and grab my book and head for bed (with the bedroom door locked also). Good night, girls.

AHHHHHHHH...there are Lap Band Ferries.... I happened to have 6 co-morbidities and ins paid for my surgery. I lucked out in a way. I admire self-payers for finding a way to do what they need to do for themselves. If your credit is shot and you have no means to pay...well...maybe time to work on yourself and what is important. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Lucy...I LOVE Pampered Chef. About the only party I am invited to and don't mind going. Tupperware isn't too bad either. Hope you had a good trip. Did you fly? Does your band get tight when flying? Mine certainly does for a few days after. Had one of my first band complications on Sunday. Tried corn...bad deal. Had stoma spasms a couple of times. Thought of going to ER it was so bad. It cleared up on it's own but was tender all day today. Corn is off my list of things to eat. UGH! This experience just made me appreciate and respect my band more. I am a band rule follower but believe in trying new things. It came back and bit me in the butt!

Melody....you sound sooooo excited. Yes, it's sometimes difficult to know if a fill is doing anything for you. I have had 2 fills. Took a month for the second one to kick in and then I was at perfect restriction. That was back in Oct and have not had the need for one again. I hope you notice more restriction with this fill. Good luck and keep us posted on your success.

Happy to hear that you are feeling better, Phyl. There were a couple of days this last week that I did not get exercise and I felt sooooooooo sluggish. Once you get used to being active, you tend to rely on that exercise to make you feel better about everything. 18 months ago I couldn't walk more than a mile on the treadmill and walked very slow...now I'm doing 5 miles and it doesn't seem like work.

OK....just re-read my previous post. Sharon...sorry...hope I didn't sound too "preachy". You are only a few weeks out of surgery and just hang in there. It will all fit together.

Sharon....I do know that one of the keys to success is to share your struggles on a daily basis. Helps keep things in check. We are a great support system but one thing that I have to say to you....you talked of wanting Janet to be proud of you...she's great and does not mince words when you ask for her help. But, you need to be proud of your accomplishments too. This is all about you and the goals you have set for yourself. If you are struggling, definitely come here for support and ideas. There's always someone that has been through the same things you are going through. I guess my main point in this post is to say that maybe posting on a daily basis would help you most. I know that if I did not keep a daily food journal I would have struggled and if I would not have come on LBT each day I would have felt as if I was on the "weight loss island" all by myself. Please keep us posted on a daily basis. We all love to hear how everyone is doing and look forward to everyone's daily posts. Take care and hoping that you can take control and continue your success with the band. YOU CAN DO THIS. (Hugs)

Oh JoAnne...I bet you cannot wait to love them all up in person. We used webcam when our son was in Iraq. It was just great to see him. We tried to do it at least once a week if he was available to do so. He is quite the card. This first time we got on and were able to see him he came on in the Iraqi headdress and garb. He said "Just that I should tell you that I converted to Islam and changes my name to Aukmed. Hope your DD and family will be able to be stationed where you do not have to travel too far. I always figure if they are in the US, we're good to go!

JoAnne...try not to worry too much about how your band will be when you fly and any complications while on vacation. I was very concerned about being gone for over a month and away from my doc. He said all I would need to do is make one call to him and he would provide me with a name of a doc in the area I was in. I think you are being smart not to get another fill b/4 you go. I have had only 2 fills. Thought the second one did no go good until a month later and it finally tightened. Have not had to have one since and think that one was in Oct. I feel that I have perfect restriction. Never have had problems (until I ate that corn) and I get hungry at the appropriate times (meal times or about every three hours). My doc thought I was crazy when I told him I tightened up the first time I flew with the band. He said that none of his other patients have ever mentioned this. I can literally feel the band squeezing as we are ascending. It's not a bad deal. Just tight for a few days and then back to normal. I am very careful those few days after I fly and eat soft foods. It could be that flying will not bother you but just something to watch for. Just make sure that you have packed your band friendly food just in case. Talk to your doc b/4 you fly and let him know of your concerns and just have the greatest trip ever!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure everything will be OK. I am almost positive that it was the corn. It felt like something REALLY BIG was trying to work it's way through the stoma. I had chewed my steak really well (it was very tender also) and really think it was the corn that absolutely did not agree with me. I know you self-payers would panic a little more when it comes to complications. I had thought about it if ins. was not going to cover. But, with my six co-morbidities, not a problem. There is not one co-morbidity left in my body and that is after only 9 months. I thank God every day for providing me with this band (and my wonderful surgeon also).

Long...congrats on Onederland. You will be at goal b/4 you know it and into those new capris b/4 you go on your cruise. You have all positive things to look forward to. Our 30th anniversary is in November. Been trying to think of some things to do for DH. Last year I bought him the original Lionel Pennsylvania line train set. I am thinking that I will add to it by buying another line for him. But, a trip of some sort would be wonderful also. Phyl..hope you are feeling better. We've been lucky not to have had any "bugs" this winter. (I am knocking on wood!) Take care of yourself. To everyone else...........Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

Mornin' girls...had a tough Sunday. Woke up to extreme pain around my band area. It lasted about 15 minutes and then about an hour later it happened again. With the second round of pain, I was going to go into the ER but pain stopped again. Just kind of waited it out and it didn't happen again. The rest of the day was a little touchy as far as food goes. My band area was really tender so just ate soft foods. Today everything is fine. We had gone out to dinner Sat. evening. I had a butterflied fillet and corn. I am wondering if it was the corn that caused me to have trouble. It's something I have not tried since banding. I have had the IDEAL band life since surgery. I have known which foods to stay away from (I will try different things but know if they will be band friendly after one bite). Needless to say, I was quite worried and when the actual episodes were happening, I had visions of a slipped band, twisted gut, etc., etc., etc. Scared me. Ate a bowl of steel cut oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar this morning for breakfast and now working on a Pure Protein Bar and everything is going great and no more tender band area. Has anything similar to this happened to any of you?????? I have always been so thankful to never have complications with the band. A little insight, please. I was going to make an appt. with my doc but don't see the need now that I feel back to wonderful.

I was really surprised that I actually had some butt after weight loss. When I was thin years ago I had somewhat of a flat butt and, as Jackie stated, that rack that women get as they gain weight makes the butt look flatter. I now have a rounded rear...think a lot of the shape comes from working out and staying active. The thing I think helped the most to shape my butt is walking 5 miles a day on a pretty good incline on my treadmill.

Wow...great photos, Janet. You are so beautiful. You truly are an inspiration to all of us. Heading out for a date with DH tonight. Dinner and then stop at our local bar and grill to cap the night off. Haven't seen a lot of my friends for over a month because we have been gone. Should be a fun night. We didn't do anything for Valentines Day cuz we were bushed and in some hotel in Orlando getting ready to fly out the next morning. I am thinking that lobster is in order. LOL....I'm worth it, aren't I? Everyone have a great evening. Better hit the shower.

What I don't get is this preconceived notion that whoever has the band "throws up after every meal". Do you know how many people think that?

Mimieg...trying to break acquired eating habits is really tough but you can do it. You had great success with your weight loss. Try not to compare yourself to a person that has lost more than you in that time period since surgery. We all lose at our own pace. Till you get back to your post band eating habits it might be a good idea to not have "trigger" foods in the house. Get back to the "hard" Protein first and then fruit or veggies. Keep SF Jello, SF popsicles, SF jello, etc. so you can grab something healthy. I love the 100 cal pkgs of Orville R. kettle corn. You feel like you are getting a real treat. You CAN turn this around. Give yourself a new start and come back to the LB board for support!!!!!!!!!!!

It wouldn't be me LOL....usually not quick to judge but Casey's demeanor from the get-go stinks to high heaven.