JaimeSTL

:crying: OMG, it does sort of look like that! LMAO

I couldn't agree more with all of that! I think it is a very unhealthy way to eat and live. The DS is a surgery for people who can't give up their unhealthy lifestyle but want to be thin. I wouldn't want the level of malabsorption it must take to eat like that and maintain a lower weight. I also noticed that many look unhealthy, much older, and just...sickly. I commented on that to the friend I mentioned before (the one drawn to the DS) and she thought they all looked great because they are thin. Being thin isn't all that matters.

Speaking of the type to be drawn to DS....

When you have a fill, does your doctor check your current fill level before adding more? If not, I would ask him to do that. If you have a leak in your tubing, that would cause loss of restriction like you are describing. All he has to do is pull out the saline before adding more. After my second fill, even the first day or two, I felt like I had less restriction than I had before the fill. With my third (and most recent) fill, I've had pretty good restriction for the last few weeks, but I feel it slowly waning so when I go back at the end of the month, I'll get another fill. My doctor already said he will draw all the fill out then replace it next time because at my last fill, the connection between the syringe and needle leaked a bunch of Fluid out so he didn't know how much I really got. I also have the 14 cc band, and have between 6.5-7 cc or so.

I think those things are definite advantages because when you have a complication with another type of surgery, you can't go back and just remove, repair, or replace the permanently altered stomach/gut.

That's one thing I love now! LOL The biggest difference to me is just the smile, period. I used to hate pictures so there aren't many and those that do exist don't show me smiling.

I have two small kids, both with special needs. I didn't feel comfortable making a decision that I felt was risky. I went with the band for many reasons, but the first was that it was the safest. Four months before my lap band, I stopped breathing during a routine surgery, which scared the crap out of me and prompted me to look into the band. I'd researched RNY and hadn't heard of the band so I just forgot about WLS because I didn't want my insides rerouted. I was terrified that I would fail--I'm still terrified of it. When I wanted to eat something before, I NEVER said no, I ate it and didn't even care. I ate when I wasn't hungry, when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was angry. I was so worried that I was destined to be obese forever. In the days leading up to my surgery, I sat down with a family member and expressed my wishes for the worst case, gave her the information needed for life insurance, financials, etc. The morning I went into surgery, I bawled like a baby because I was so scared. The surgery prior was the first time I'd ever had surgery and look at what happened. When I had surgery, something just clicked in my head. Food no longer controls me, I control my food. I can have a small portion of something "bad" and I'm satisfied. Seven months ago, I never would've guessed I could think this way. I'm sorry to ramble. The point is, it is ok to be scared and nervous. Of course we question ourselves--how many other times have you tried to lose weight and either failed or gained it back? This is a huge step. I don't think it would be normal to not be worried and nervous.

Aww, thanks, Froggi! :thumbup:

As much as they call us uninformed about DS, they are uninformed about the Lap Band. Look at my stats in my sig. Look at so many other people on this board. Don't let those idiots influence you. Not everybody PB's, vomits, slimes, gets food stuck,etc all the time--I have NEVER done any of those things, save one small food sticking issue that was my fault because I ate too fast. It is ALL about compliance, IMO.

Good question! I've noticed several posters over there who had their DS before I got my band and they've lost less than me. And I don't smell like a sewer or have my own personal johnny on the spot. But their surgery is sooooo superior.

If my mother in law put 1/10th of the effort into gift giving that you describe, Michee, I wouldn't dare return a gift. But the fact is, with her, she will buy a whole load of crap out of a clearance bin rather than consider what the kids really want. Then the crap sits in my house forever until it is finally thrown away without being played with. One problem with gifts for my children is that my 7 year old is on the Autism spectrum. His social skills aren't exactly up to par and until recently, he didn't understand that gifts will come from mommy and daddy, and grandma and grandpa, and others. So if he opens up something from say, my MIL and she has decided to buy him something that doesn't fit with his interests (which are really obsessions), he would have a meltdown. Besides, why spend money on something that the child doesn't even like? When I buy gifts for other people's children, I find out wht the child likes, what their interests are, etc., and I buy accordingly. The gift isn't for me, it's for the child. I don't see anything wrong with a parent giving suggestions especially when asked or a child making a list. I think the registry thing is strange, especially including the information in a party invitation and when all of the items are so pricey.

Yeah, I agree, Froggi. I can only imagine the DS'ers invading LBT. :thumbup:

I think the denial is hilarious when it follows pages of posts about nothing other than poop.

LOL My DD loves clothes, shoes, accessories. She loves to shop too. She's such a girly girl.

Well obviously I am partial to the band, so I pointed her to info on the band and the sleeve. I don't think she'd really go forward with it though. Her husband is gone 2-6 weeks at a time and he doesn't support WLS so she wouldn't have any support. Plus, she already admits that she is a self-sabotager. I keep hoping that she'll see me doing so well and go for it. Fortunately there are no DS surgeons in her area, so hopefully she isn't serious about looking into it further.

So I have a friend who has struggled with her weight for a long time, has a BMI of about 40-42 and won't consider banding. She whines incessantly about how she can't lose weight, how fat she is, etc. She lost 50 lbs last year on Weight Watchers and gained it back plus some in a few months. She is struggling to lose anything right now, doing WW again. I've talked to her about the band, she knows everything I have been through with it. I told her to just go to a seminar and get more information, but she made some snide comments about WLS overall, how she's not that desperate, it's so extreme, etc. Anyway, last night she was whining about it yet again and I again suggested she look into the band. She said, I know I would sabotage surgery. So I jokingly said, oh ok, then have the DS. I'd told her about this thread and linked her to the OH DS board. Can you believe she's looking into it?! She's totally drawn into the whole eat what you want and still lose weight thing. At one point in the conversation she said, I wish I could wave a magic wand and not be fat anymore. She also said, "well they're only stinky when they sh*t or fart, right? I could live with that." *sigh* I guess that answered my previous question about WHO would do that to themselves. Obviously someone who can't bother to make a lifestyle change or work for the weight loss, they just want to wave a magic wand and be thing.

Everybody asks what the kids want for Christmas or birthdays and I tell them. I am glad they ask because there are a lot of things we don't allow (toy guns, certain dolls, etc). I will tell different people different things to minimize duplicates and later returns. I never suggest things that are too much or hard to find or whatever. What I hate is when people (my mother in law) don't listen and buy whatever they want--why ask if you aren't going to take my suggestions? THEN, at whatever event, despite my protests they help the kids open up the package. I will return things that aren't appropriate or allowed so I get so annoyed when they let the kids open things and I can't take it back. My kids have WAY too many toys so I often ask for clothes for them. My mother will give them money in those cases and I will buy the clothes. My MIL will not buy clothes because they aren't fun.

LOL I know! But *insert whining* he wanted it! And apparently he gets whatever he wants even if it is completely inappropriate.

Some women bleed when they ovulate. The ovulation bleeding usually isn't as heavy as the normal period. That could be why it seems like you are having such short cycles.

I have a friend who does this with her kids. She shared her sons' lists for birthdays and Christmas with me. It was at one of those specialty toy stores, where they don't seem to sell anything under $40 or so. She then went on and on about all the things they were buying from the lists and she checked it regularly to see if anybody else had bought things from the list. Her kids are SPOILED. She also did something that I found bizarre--her 7 year old opened his gifts from her and her husband, and her parents, at his Chuck E cheese birthday party with all of his friends. Among many other things, he got a digital camera (not a kid one, a real one) and a digital camcorder. My kids open their gifts from their party guests at their party, and gifts from us and family ON their birthday. I've never seen kids open gifts from their parents at the party their friends are invited to. It seems like bragging "look what I can buy my kids" to me.

I was stuck for about a week, went up a few lbs, came back down, stayed there for like a week, then dropped two lbs and stayed there for a week. Today I finally dropped another two lbs so I hope it doesn't stall again. LOL First it was swelling so I upped my water. This last week, I started working out, including strengthening workouts 3 days a week. I lost several inches all around this week but no weight until today. I gave myself the whole weekend off...ate what I wanted and didn't worry about it. Back on plan today though. I just needed to not think about it for a day or two...I've been so frustrated.

Crystal, I just read somewhere that when you are retaining Water, the band can get tighter. I probably read it here. When I was bloated a couple of weeks ago, I had my first stuck episode. It only happened once, so I didn't worry about it. I also felt like I was eating less around that time, having to remind myself to eat because I always felt full, etc. I hope you feel better after your unfill.

I think the kids are adorable too. However, first, they are on way too much. Second, I don't agree with people pimping out their kids to make money. How can the kids grow up normally with tv cameras in their house every minute of their lives?

I got the info from Dr. Garth's latest blog on MySpace. First TLC was going to cancel it (I guess to make room for more Jon and Kate plus 8...5 nights a week isn't nearly enough of them <tic>), then they weren't, then they said, let's see how the ratings are. I completely agree that they need to leave it on.

They are doing repeats on Discovery Health to see how the ratings are. TLC was planning to cancel it, but they are trying to pull for another season. If a new season starts, it will be back on TLC.