taz

Trissie, I think maybe you feel like I feel at times. Something like, no one really cares so what's the use. Maybe aggrevating family issues come up and seem to pull us under the surface. These can all be true at times. I think the suggestation of writing what you eat for a week on this site can get you started again. Also I think you can tell from the responses to your comment that people here really do care and want to help you to succeed because they want you to be happy. They want to help you any way they can. Perhaps a fill would help. I certainly hope it helps me on Monday. Anyway, if you or anyone else wants to email me just to bat around ideas my email is tzirbel@hotmail.com. Keep trying. The only way we don't succeed is when we totally give up. The good thing is that there are many ways to succeed.

I became a lifetime member of WW 27 years ago. It was the only thing that ever worked for me. I lost my weight from pregnancies with their help. Unfortunately when I found out my daughter had autism 18 years ago I never could get back in control. I was banded Feb 8th and did well until a week ago. I guess the swelling went down. I get a fill on Monday and hope that gets me back on track. I have also decided to go back to WW again. It is the best program, being both healthy and flexible. Portion control is everything and that is their main focus. I'm glad I will not be the only one. It could be that half the members have been banded and we just don't know it. Anyway, next week I get my first fill and start once more to WW. This time I think it will work with the help of my band.

Believe me, I tried everything. We were out of town for two weeks. My doc had to keep from giggling at me when I told her everything I had tried. She does have a sense of humor. Anyway, by the second day I was doing MUCH better. Thank goodness for meds.:thumbup:

I also had my gallbladder removed in Jan then banded Feb 8th. I have numbness below where all the incisions are. About an inch strip across the lower stomach. I see my doc in a week. I assume the feeling will come back. I will have to ask him. It is a strange sensation.

I had something similar. It turned out to be a yeast rash. Only a precription from the doc works and lots of the cream. From my own experience, if it itches like mine you are very motivated to get this cleared up.

Lifeway lowfat Kefir has 174 calories and 14 grams of protein per cup. It's a drinkable yogurt and tastes very good. Most supermarkets carry it and it tastes very good.

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad things are going so well for you. Maybe when I lose more weight I will have better results too.:biggrin:

I just wanted to clarify that I was self-pay. The doc has worked an agreement with the hospital for $18,000 with no extra charges for immediate complications. I thought that was fair. That was in my contract. Thanks.

I am from Memphis,TN, for the last 18 years. Born in Arkansas, went to school at Florida State in Tallahassee. Went to Birmingham for a job. Met dh backpacking (those were the days:smile2:) and stayed for 10 years. Nashville for a few years and now Memphis. I miss going to the Smokies. They are so beautiful. I can truely say Memphis has noooo mountains. It has been nice being close to my mom and dad as they have gotten older and needed more help. But I would love to travel EVERYWHERE!

Does anyone have trouble with feeling hungry when you have a fibromyalgia attack. I can't decide if it is head hunger or if I am really feeling a sense of hunger.

I had out-patient surgery. Still, the hospital billed me for an extra $8,000. The agreement was for $18,000 not $26,000. I called my doc's office. I was told they were not supposed to charge me for it. They gave me the # and person to call at the hospital. I did and that took care of it. Look at the contract you signed. It should state if there are other charges. Hospitals are notorious for overbilling. If no one calls they get more money. Also your doc's office should be abe to advise you.

I make a strawberry yogurt protein shake. 1 cup ff plain yogurt, 1 cup unsweetened frozen strawberries, 1 scoop unflavored whey protein powdered, 2-3 packets Equal, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Blend in a blender until smooth. Add a few extra frozen strawberries if you want to eat it with a spoon. I put it in large insulated cup and it stays cold until it's gone.

I am so glad insurance paid for you. You would think every insurance company would be pushing us down to the o.r. for surgery.:drool: It must save them money in the long run. I am just blessed with a sweet husband who didn't really want to do it but agreed when he saw how much I wanted to. Good luck with everything.

My doc found gallstones during testing for the band. I had mine out one month prior to the band. I did not find it as difficult to recover from. I had less pain than from the band. I was also very glad to have it out. My father-in-law and a friends son both almost died from complications from gallstones. I was almost running to the o.r.:drool: Hope this is helpful.

I was also self-pay. Because I stayed in Memphis, TN, and therefore chose someone locally (who had a good reputation) I paid $18,000 (which we had to borrow). It makes me shiver to even think about it. I think I will feel better after I have my first fill. Hope this is helpful. If you don't mind me asking, what are some of the prices you have come up with?

Hi. I have a love of ice cream too. I have an alternative that helps me now. I use one cup ff plain yogurt, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 2-3 packets Equal, about 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and a scoop unflavored whey protein powder. Blend in a blender. I usually put mine in a wide mouth thermos and carry around all day. It will usually get me through breakfast and lunch with a few things added. I guess you could add a splash of milk if you wanted a thinner smoothie. I hope this is helpful. Have a great day.

Thanks for responding. You all really make me feel better. You make me remember a Shirley Temple song. :ohmy:Pick yourself us. Dust yourself off. Start all over again.

Hi, everyone. Boy am I feeling discouraged. I was banded Feb 8th. Things went alongpretty well until this past week. I guess I've healed because I have wanted everything in sight (and some that I can't see). I cooked for a meeting and made boiled custard to pour over strawberries. Of course there was some left....Not much anymore. It has egg yolks as its base and half and half. It is soooo creamy in my mouth. I also made banana nut bread. It was mostly eaten by the rest of the family. It seems anything will go down...dadgumit! Now, when it comes to having my first fill soon I am afraid. I want to lose weight bet it just seems so hard. My doc has no sense of humor. He will not laugh. Anyone feel like they don't want a fill? I know I have to have it. I can takemy meds now without crushing them up and gagging (literally) them down. Yuck! Nothing has changed!!!!!

Jam265, you are absolutely right about working through Lyrica's weirdness. I have never had trouble with falling asleep while driving. Three days into taking Lyrica I fell asleep and woke up driving on the wrong side of the road. Thankfully no other cars. I was also dizzy in the beginning but most of that has passed. For me the good outweighed the bad.

It's funny you should say that about the detox. When I had my colonoscopy I felt the same. It was also like that with my gallbladder and being banded. Maybe the body is busy processing real pain instead of this pretend stuff it is determined to recognize. My doctor says many of her patience are treated in pain centers as well. Eighteen years is a very long time.

I have a protein drink I enjoy. I use one cup non-fat plain yogurt, one cup frozen strawberries (not sweetened), 2-3 pkgs Equal, one scoop unflavered whey protein powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend in a blender until smooth. Very high in protein and low in calories. Just stick it in an insulated mug and you can sip or drink from it over the day. I find it very filling and the unflavored whey protein powder has a higher protein content than the flavored ones.

What is a bipap machine?

Hi. It took me three months from first meeting and getting banded. While having tests run, I found out I had gallstones so that was two months out and then I had to recover from that surgery. If you work consistently at it you can probably have it done within two months. Good luck!

Hi Carla K. I have had quite a bit of trouble with this. Not just where my port is. I had my gallbladder out Jan 8th. I had lapband surgery Feb 8th. It seemed I had trouble with all my incisions. I tried to wear a bra 3 weeks after gallbladder surgery. This really irritated two of my puncture wounds. Then I tried using Neosporin on them and bandaids. Wrong. They wouldn't heal because they stayed moist. My doc was not pleased. He said they had to breath to dry up. However, when I woke from being banded I had thick layers of gauze over one wound. I guess he didn't think it neede to breath all the time. Anyway, after having to wash the blood out of my gowns constantly for the last two months this is what I found helpful. When showering I wash my tummy with Soft Soap using my hand. For me Neosporin has been helpful. I just put a thin layer over my wounds. If I need to have them covered because of needing to wear clothes and such silly things, I use a thick layer of gauze taped on with the tape that is used for that. I still have oozing 2 months out but not so much from infections. It has been an interesting road. Good luck with this. I appreciate it that this can be very frustrating.

jam 265, have you tried Elavil. That is the one which helped me the most consistently. As with all meds, I built up a bit of a resistence to it. Also Zanaflex (muscle relaxer) really helps me at night so I can sleep. (Warning! It will make you snore which may bring complaints from your family! Nothing is perfect:). Hope this is helpful. Lyrica hasn't affected my weight.