cierra'sgrandma

I found this cartoon while surfing the web for various and sundry stuff. I think many banded ones out there will be able to identify with it. I sure did!

Hope this cartoon goes through! I think most will be able to identify wth it!

Administrators, if this isn't the appropriate "spot" in which to discuss the nature of my subject, I whole-heartedly apologize in advance. And PLEASE let me know if I am in error. I just got a good look at Sarah.R's photos in the latest photo albums section, and for some reason, I personally find these pictures offensive, I suppose, because they remind me of what I used to look like, the "before", and what I was headed towards. I didn't take lightly, the decision to have the lap-band surgery. I was tired of being FAT! I was tired of being stared at and made fun of, if not openly, then "behind the hand". At the age of 45, I had yet to experience any medical problems making losing weight an absolute necessity, but I feel they were under the surface, waiting to spring up and bite my butt, so to speak. And it's sad that, for some people, it has to come to losing weight or facing certain debilitating medical problems and/or death. I believe I was headed in that direction. Sarah.R, if you're comfortable in your own skin, if you're comfortable with your weight, more power to you. I'm sorry that, due to medical complications, you HAVE to lose weight. But try to think about the whole new world that could open up to you, once you start losing weight. I pray your husband (I hope I got that right!) supports you in this new endeavor, just as he has expressed his love for you just the way you are. Be strong, whatever you do.

I watched an episode of Dr. Phil {or was it Oprah?} a WHILE back--okay, a long time ago--something about cheapskate spouses. One woman was ragging on her husband because he saved empty butter tubs, etc. for storing leftover, etc. And I thought--hey, what's wrong with that? This is the gist of my poll. {Looks like I made some typos in the poll! Sorry about that! Apparently my attention span isn't too great this evening.}

When I was a teen-ager, I used pads. I switched to tampons in my twenties, and continued to use tampons into my forties {I'm y6 yrs. old.}, when I started having to use tampons AND pads at the same time, because my periods were so freaking heavy, as in changing tampons at least every hour. I got home from church one night, got out of the car, and felt something trickling down my leg. I thought, since I had to go to the bathroom so badly that I had started to pee on myself {yuck!}, but that wasn't the case. Yeah, y'all guessed it. It wasn't pee. About three months after that incident, I had a procedure call an endometrial ablation, in which the lining of the uterus is cauterized, or in effect, "burned off". My gynecologist did this procedure in, his office, instead of resorting to a hysterectomy. The recovery time was, for me, very quick. It's definitely not a procedure for women who want to get pregnant. ANYWAY, I haven't had to use a pad or tampon since about a month after that procedure. I still have my ovaries, etc., just not the flow!

Menopause is the absence of menstrual periods for 12 months, and starts with varying menstrual cycle lengths and ends with the final menstrual cycle. This is a very basic explanation of menopause. Perimenopause is a time of transition to actual menopause. There are any number of websites one could go to for more information. I got this from MedicineNet.com. I guess I could say I'm perimenopausal. I'm 46 years old, and on my way! ANYWAY, as for TOMs, I don't have the flow. I had what is called an endometrial ablation done about four years ago. My TOMs were HEAVY, and quite painful. My gynecologist performed this procedure, in which the lining of the uterus is cauterized {or "burned" off}, instead of a hysterectomy. It's not a procedure for anyone wanting to get pregnant. I still have "all the stuff", but I haven't had to buy a feminine hygiene product since about a month after the procedure, and I SO TOTALLY LOVE not having to do so.

Okay, I've got to be honest and say that I didn't have the desire to look through well over 100 pages of questions and responses concerning food issues, so I'm going to ask anyway...Has anyone ever had a problem with eating peanut butter? I have found that while it's not a physician-restricted food, I personally cannot tolerate eating peanut butter. It's like having a plug put right over the stoma. It's a shame, too. I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! But then again, in a way, it's a good thing, because peanut butter is SO fattening.

I eat popcorn! It's probably another one of those dietary restrictions my surgeon would be upset about if he knew I didn't/haven't cut out the popcorn! I don't eat it all the time, although I went for quite a while after my surgery before I risked it, and I didn't have any problems.

I've been a "bandita" for almost a year, and I drink sodas, although not with the frequency I once did, and I've not experienced a problem with drinking it. However, I think my surgeon would probably be upset with me if he knew! I do drink a lot of coffee though. Gotta get my caffeine somewhere!

Although I don't just go around introducing myself by saying, "Hi! My name is "cierra'sgrandma" and I had lap-band surgery.", I DO, when asked, tell people about my surgery, and I'm not at all shy to talk about it. Having this surgery was one of the most important decisions I've ever made, and I absolutely don't regret it!:cursing: I've gone from 310 pounds to 236 pounds {so far}. {Banded on February 6th, 2008.} As a matter-of-fact, I'm thinking about designing a t-shirt that says something to the effect, "Ask me about Lap-Band surgery!", and add before and after pictures.

This is for any/all "banditas" out there who has Humana's Medicare-approved HMO, PPO, &/or PFFS plans: Curves has been added to the nationwide SilverSneakers network of participating locations. "Effective January 1, 2009 Humana members may use any participating Curves location AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. For the location nearest you, visit www.silversneakers.com or call 1-866-634-1067, Monday--Friday, 8 a.m. to8 p.m. EST. TTY: 1-800-833-3301, Monday--Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m." {This is the direct quote from the mailing I received this morning, and since I have a Medicare-approved PPO plan through Humana, I thought maybe there are some "banditas" in the U.S.A. who could benefit from this information.}

I was banded on February 6th, 2008. My starting weight--before the two-week liquid diet I had to be on--was 310 lbs. As of this morning, January 6th, 2009, I weigh 236 lbs. And even though my surgeon feels I've hit a plateau, he was rather pleased with the amount of weight I've lost so far. I didn't get a fill today due to problems finding my sweet spot and gallbladder problems. I haven't had any difficulty with the fills, or the three unfills I've had. I know right where my port is, and thank God, there's never been a problem with accessing it. My new goal is aimed at a 100 pound weight loss. Then, I'll move on to the ultimate goal of 135 pounds lost, AND maintained, THEN consider plastic surgery. I've pretty much had enough of the belly hanging over!

I was banded on February 6th, 2008. i've had a number of fills and three un-fills since then, in the ques to find that sweet spot. My surgeon, and his wife, who is also a surgeon, one of their nurses, and a nurse practitioner have "done the honors". I've never received any type of topical anesthetic before a fill or unfill, and they [those mentioned above] have never had a problem accessing my port. As far as any discomfort associated with these precedures, well, I guess it felt somewhat like a slight, sharp pinch, a sensation that faded rather quickly. I actually felt and have felt more discomfort upon being "stuck" for an IV or blood draw! I won't EVER discount anyone's account(s) of pain and/or discomfort!

I didn't realize that it had been September of '08 since i was on this site! A lot of things have been happening...I am nearing the one-year mark since my surgery (February 6th, 2008). I've lost 76 pounds, so far. I've had a few problems with the fills, in that they were actually too much! ANYWAY, I've been doing a lot better, but you know, there are times when--or so it seems--all I want to do is EAT:w00t:! And yes, I've fallen of the wagon a few times. But, my surgeon is rather pleased that I've lost 76 pounds, and that makes me feel pretty good--even though he feels I've hit a plateau. Sort of breathes new life back into the situation. Now, I'm learning to NOT eat fried foods, as my stomach will say, "Not in here!". Fried foods tend to mess with my gall bladder problems. Other types of foods do too. Still, hard-head that I am, I'll attempt to eat something that I know I shouldn't, and I pay the price. I've actually stuck my finger down my throat a few times to make it all come back up and chase away the extreme discomfort. Don't like admitting to that, but there it is! No, it's not an every day, every meal thing, thank God! {I hope that last comment wasn't insensitive or offensive to those who struggle with bulimia. I sincerely apologize if it is/was.}Sometimes, when I get nauseated and feel sick, and I know what's about to happen, my thoughts are to help it along. After seeing my surgeon this morning, I do feel better about myself. I was sor tof punishing myself for "not doing better", but he was really very pleased with my weight loss. Yet, I can't help but feel that if I had just been more vigilant, I would have more than 76 pounds lost by now. Hey, I'm going to break through that plateau.