tztmama

I think we are going to start seeing more and more celebrities getting banded.

Anne, Make yourself drink 16 oz of Water before you let yourself have a snack. When I get like this (hungry all the time) I plan 3 meals and 3 Snacks, write it out, allow myself what I have planned and with the 16oz water thing, it is usually easier to stick to. Your in our thoughts and prayers and we are behind you 100%

I will send her prayers. Bless her little heart. I teach students with emotional difficulties and have heard stories such as yours. Sometimes kids have had high fever and then they start having the problems you speak of. Sometimes there is just no explanation. As soon as possible, start talking to organizations in your area about getting an advocate (health or educational) for your daughter. As a special ed teacher, I know that once teachers see that there is an advocate involved they really go out of their way to make sure the child gets services needed. It may be a little early for this but things take time and it would be better to have an advocate too soon than too late. Feel free to PM me if you'd like. Darla

thanks guys, i'm on my way to the toilet--------------

ok, i posted a few days ago that i finally feel restriction. i ate a little chicken and it is stuck and it is hurting like heck. it won't go dow or come back up. Do i just wait? Is there a way to help it go down? thanks for any advice!

Penni, I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.........I hate when I am having the feelings you are having right now, we all know how devastating it is. The only thing other than the band that helped me was going to Overeaters Anonymous. It seems if I am reading self-help books regarding food addiction it seems to stay with me during the day. When my mom had another stroke I could no longer continue my support group but when i can, i will rejoin. It helps to have others to talk to about it. Take care, Darla PS are you planning on getting rebanded?

I have always stood up for the underdog but I think it was when I grew obese, became a grandma at 37, and hit menopause that my backbone really started to become rock solid.

Confession: A couple of times I just came on LBT and looked up Delarla's posts. Thanks for all you are to us Delarla!

exercise on "Gazelle" for 20 minutes. 3 meals and one bedtime snack only. Keep it under my personal calorie restriction.

not much. I took my pain meds as directed and i felt very little pain.

I have a co-worker who hid her gastric bypass surgery. She didn't even tell her family, she only told me because she needed someone to pick her up at the hospital and go to the store for her. It bugs me when I hear her telling our fellow overweight coworkers that she went on some kind of "milk" diet. I guess I'm just a big mouth, I probably tell more than I should about my antics and I certainly told about the surgery. I don't get being secretive about it but some folks are just more private.

I think she had the lap band, don't you guys? She looks a little too meaty to have had gastric bypass. I'd bet on the band.

I have 2 years off cigarettes as of 12/31/05. I do have a hookah once in awhile though.

My doc tells me just to eat like normal before and after my fills. I dont' know if this is a good or bad thing. He seems a little to "everythings fine" sometimes. I asked about dental work and if I should have antibiotics and he looked puzzled and said he'd never heard about this. It sort of makes sense that when getting a fill one would want to be as empty as possible to ensure that the band gets tightened enough. IF the stomach is full of food how is the band going to be able to tighten? When I went in for my fill on Wed. I just hjad a shake that day and I finally got a fill I can feel.

I have to agree with Jachut, its in the genes. After my first baby I got down to 124 and worked out like crazy, especially with my abs but although I could feel that 6 pack under the skin, it still looked like a deflated balloon. Either you have elasticity or not. I know that exercices will minimalize it at least. It does look worse without any muscle tone. What the heck, i'm gonna package it all up and strut around like i have that 18 yr old body again once I lose this weight.

It has been a little over 3 months, 5 or 6 fills, and I just now (few days ago) finally got some restriction. I really feel like I am finally beginning to lose consistently now!

sometimes i go outside and work in the yard. sometimes i clean around the house. sometimes i feed the head hunger with lowfat snacks.

You have some excellent points. Maybe you don't have to "go that way" but perhaps someone else may. We paid dearly for the band and so therefore we should be able to keep it. I'll poke around a bit during my last few days off of work and see what I come up with.

Fantastic! I am so happy for you!

What does Sami really want? I think both parents should be reminded that it is about Sami and her husband, not a socially gathering to ensure everyone's comfort. I don't think Sami is obligated to have her dad there or have him walk her, but if she wants him too, thats the way it should be. Unfortunately, step-parenting is really about doing the work and having bio-parents take a lot of the credit. SOrt of the nature of the beast. I can understand your mom's point of view but right now, Sami is the main concern.

Okay, I have been hanging around since before my surgery (9/26/05) and have been very happy for all who are losing while being frustrated with myself for losing very little. Today I went in for my 5th or 6th (can't remember) and my surgeon had an intern (I guess thats what he was) see me. I told the guy that I was very frustrated, most who had surgery in Sept. have lost on average, 40 pounds and that I really am upset. I told them "no" I haven't made the wisest food choices but I haven't gorged myself either. If I were good at dieting I would have lost weight long ago. ANyway, the intern told me he would give me a fill. I said "please don't say you are giving me .5 or something like that. Well, I talked him into 2cc and guess what? I AM FINALLY FEELING RESTRICTION! I tried to eat scrambled eggs and had to eat them really slowly and got full quickly. Everything yal have described, I am finallly feeling. Maybe now we can get this show on the road! Woo hoo!!!

my surgeon provided me with an ID card for my wallet. Who would think to look through my wallet for medical information though. Come to think of it, I actually have it behind my credit card, I'd better place it face showing just in case. The bracelet sounds more reliable.

thanks for all the replies, folks. i am certainly going to ask a few more questions. i truly hope it is an error.

I did not stay overnight, no barium swallow then or since.

I spoke to my insurer and actually read her some of the replies to this thread and she laughed and said that since the Dr. was not "in their network" he could charge, pretty much, whatever he wants. I have an itemized acount of the charges, check this out: Pharmacy (one prescription of vicodin)..............$750.00!! Surgical Supplies...........................................$5,468.00 General Operating Room Services.....................$68.782.00!!! It makes me sick to see anyone, much less the person who is providing my follow up care, behave this way. Maybe I am missing something but this just seems like pure greed! I am still going to talk to the surgery center about this.