Apples2

Did your doc check you at all for pancreatitis? One of the symptoms can be a stabbing pain between the shoulder blades.

Awwww....so sorry you had to go through that. People can be so insensitive. Good luck on your LapBand journey. It's work but you will get there. Just follow all the rules provided by your doc and you will be successful.

I have lost: ...the tire around my middle ...those awful elastic waist black pants and closets full of Lane Bryant clothes ...a shoe size ...a couple of friends ...the ability to wonder what my next meal will be an hour after eating a full meal ...the worry about people behind me looking at my back fat

Susan's suggestion of looking into doing the 5 day pouch test is a great one. It just might give you what you need. After that, go back to basics: ie, journaling your food, following the LB rules your doc first gave you. As ParrotheadCathy stated, go back to your doc....maybe you do need another fill. Good Luck!!!!

Michelle....I agree with what others have said. I was also told at my initial LB session to wait a year or more after goal to consider any kind of cosmetic surgery. I was not at all happy looking in the mirror once I reached goal (Oct. 15, 2008). I will be 54 yrs old in a couple of months and I can honestly tell you that my skin did amazing things in the last year. My boobs looked like tube socks and are now sitting up nicely again. My tummy is in good shape. My thighs look a little like melted butter but a lot of my friends at the same age as myself look similar. Be patient...see what comes a fair time after goal and then decide what you can or cannot live with. Wishing you the best on your LB journey!

I love to cook so don't have a problem with coming up with meal ideas. But, have a few tips for on-the-go items or high protein fill-ins when on the go. Beef Jerky (I love the Worlds Kitchen brand...Amazon.com) Seapoint roasted Edemame and Seapoint roasted soynuts...also ordered from Amazon.com Pure Protein and Myoplex Lite bars...Walmart or Amazon.com

Hey Margaret...all depends on what hoops your doc and your insurance company make you jump through. A lot of companies require a six month medically supervised diet b/4 insurance approval. Mine did. Had to see a nutritionist, psych and needed a complete physical with my primary physician. Good luck on your Lap Band journey!

IMO do all the research you can b/4 you make your decision. WASA HAS experience with both the band (not a good option for her as it turned out) and the sleeve. From what I can tell by her posts, she has done a great deal of research on the subject of all WLS. I know she has provided some links on WLS previously and maybe can do the same for you. As for the band, I have had a great experience but I do know people personally that continually have daily struggles and health threatening issues. Prior to banding, I was unaware of how the sleeve worked. If I experience any unmanageble complications with my band I will definately look into the sleeve. Wishing you the best in any decision you make.

That kid is going to make out just fine in life! Way too funny!:biggrin:

Congrats on reaching goal, Bill. I think Levis still puts the waist size on the back outside label so you can announce it to the world. You deserve some reconition for your hard work!

As others have stated...good to wait at least a year after you reach your goal. I reached goal in Oct, 2008 after losing 139lbs. I was SURE I would need some work. Now, don't think so. I am really surprised at how my breasts have firmed and also the tummy. We all carry weight differently...worth the wait to see how things turn out...you might be surprised! Good luck and hope no matter what you decide that you get the outcome you are looking for.

I would say you were stuck and maybe had spasms around your stoma. You most likely will be swollen because of this incident. Make sure to take it easy on your band the next few days. Make a call to your doc's office to let them know what happened and for advice.

Rod....so happy to hear that your son is back home and doing fine. So sorry you had to go through this, Mom. Been gone for a week and just catching up with thread....only to find that I do have something in common with MJ. We tend to took a lot alike....melting butter...his face...my thighs and A$$ after losing 139lbs!

So funny on the "yo momma" comment. I've been following your thread (breaking off with momma) but did not jump into it. Nope, cannot insult yo mamma....but, have lots to say about my momma who I divorced in 1995. I agree, felt good to vent on this thread. No intention of flinging crap at any posters. One of the reasons I do not visit "Rants and Raves" very often. Always seems to be a "bible beater" in the wings just a waitin' to abase. I believe there is a higher power and I do have some morals. Just don't want to be preached to for an opionion that does not match theirs. :thumbup:

I believe you are correct on both counts

Ooops...post had timed out on me so did it over...sorry about that. Looks like I'm doubley pissed!

And...how many parents would let there sweet little boys have a "sleep over" with the creep down the street? Bet if there was one small rumor of a pedophile in a "normal" neighborhood with children, social services would be knocking the door down. I know throughout this thread some of us have come off as very bitter. But, as children we were thrown into unthinkable situations at the hands of an abuser (s). It takes your childhood away and makes a person numb. Then it makes you want to fight back. I truly have forgiven my abuser. (But I cannot forget). I had to in order to have peace. I did my work on this. But, it doesn't make me any less passionate about my opinion on pedophilia(sp?). It is my right to have the wish that all of them rot in hell after death. I have a little quote from the bible "Eye for an Eye"?

And I wonder how many parents would let there child have a "sleepover" with the creep down the street? And how many social workers do you think would show up at the door of that creep down the street if he had children in his care and was known to have a drug abuse problem??????

Kat, as always...you clearly have a way of expressing what others are maybe thinking but cannot put into words. On the steroids...I was on them for 5.5 yrs. Really raised havoc and contributed to a lot of my weight gain. Helped with the symptoms I was dealing with but also helped add the pounds (along with the fork in my hand).

Don't mean to sound snarky here but I can tell you what I learned from my ten years of childhood sexual abuse. I learned that if it looks like a pedophile, walks and talks like one, it is most likely a pedophile and I have no feeling but contempt for people that inflict abuse. None of us know for SURE what went on in that "chamber" her had off of his bedroom that was rigged with bells and whistles....but I sure as hell can speculate and come to my own conclusions.:thumbdown:

Just want to throw this in, Kat....congrats on the weightloss. Way to jump back on the horse.

Very eloquent responses, Glouchester.... This is a "rants" thread,right? You can cast boulders, say how YOU feel about something, disagree, agree, duck and get bashed for it. DH's fav saying: Opinions are like A$$holes...everyone has one. (My point is...every rant thread seems to pick them up along the way).

Thanks, Blaze...getting to goal was a chore, maintanence is a chore, but, what in life isn't????? I am living this new lifestyle and plan to continue to stay healthy and happy.

Proud to say that I lost 54lbs on 6 mo pre-op diet and 85lbs after band in 11 month time for a total of 139lbs lost

For me it was about 60lbs lost. Friends and family would comment but I just couldn't see it. My "light bulb" moment came when a friend of mine kindly told me to start donating my clothes. The big red thermal shirt was looking like a tent!