strikeuptheband

Jeter, You have a right to be sad and mad. I think your sis really has some issues and I would guess she's been this way for a long time. I have only told one of my sisters that I trust and none of the rest of my family. Heck, more co-workers know than family members! And now I wish I hadn't told them. A few are supportive but most just look at me like how come you aren't thin yet. (Gee, its been two whole months!) I would put all the distance you can between you and your sis. Keep in touch with her kids; I think they need a supportive aunt to come to if it gets rough at home for them. Surround yourself with positive people and keep on doing what you are doing. Its working for you. I have one sis that is always right no matter what and she also tends to look down her nose at me. I make myself go to family get togethers at Christmas mainly to see those I do enjoy and I just tolerate the rest. Can't wait for this year so I can shake my little booty and make them wonder how I lost it! lol You are awesome for being a stay at home mom with the economy these days. I salute you! and God Bless ya for taking care of your mom. Hope things improve for you soon.

I had the option of staying in the hospital overnight. I was able to drive myself home the next day. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive. I stopped 3 times to get out and walk around. This was probably not the smartest thing I ever did, because I was really tired. But I made it home safely. (Also went in and worked 3 hrs the following day...just to go to a meeting I couldn't get out of. Don't even ask me what they discussed!)

Jules, I only have one little red mark from the needle, but inside she was sure poking around. Maybe I exaggerated about the number, but it did take a while. I was more afraid she would give up and send me on my way without a fill. But she found it and I woke up 2 lbs lighter this morning! Its been a slow month but I hope I start losing a bit faster now.:biggrin:

Oh Catfishdna! I agree with all the other people who have posted. Food is NOT the enemy! This doc is way past conservative. Being on liquids for this long can't be healthy. I would really look at getting another opinion if you can. Most docs will say stay on liquids or soft food for a few days after a fill then move on to eating small portions of regular food. I had my 3rd fill today and was told to eat soft today and regular tomorow. I had half a chicken salad sandwich today after my fill. I would starve to death if I had your doc! Its good to see you are losing some weight tho. But I am not sure you are going about it in a healthy and safe way.

Wow Jules! You really have a conservative doc! I would starve to death if I went to him! lol Today I went in for my 3rd fill, got another 1cc. The first 2 went well, they got it first time and it was done in a second. Not this time! She poked me about20 times! Actually only one stick but she poked around the whole perimiter of the port before she found where the needle goes in. I was sure glad she numbed it first. Nothing hurt but it was unnerving to hear that click every time she hit the plastic part and I was sure hoping she didnt poke a hole in anything vital! She just said eat soft today and regular tomorrow and come back in 3 weeks if I felt I needed another fill. Now I am up to 5cc so I am hoping for some restriction soon. For lunch I went out with a friend, we got a chicken salad sandwich and fries basket at Culvers and I only ate half the sandwich and less than half of the fries! That looked like a lot of food, but I seldom eat out so was getting used to banster sized portions eating at home. I only lost 2 lbs in the last month, and I have been getting out walking every night after work. Gonna bump that up and with this fill, I sure hope I start feeling restriction. Have a great time on your vacation!

Hi Serenity, Thinking about getting my flute out is about as far as I get these days. But I did just finish a college class today that was taking a huge amount of time, my son is off doing his Guard unit thing and the cat doesn't complain too much so I just might get it out and see how rusty I am! Have you been banded yet? I go in thursday for fill #3 and I hope this one does the trick. So far, I have no restriction and am not losing. (Not gaining either tho...:wink2:

Music Lover here! I play flute (but haven't gotten it out lately...) I have played in community bands and I miss that since I live in a small town now that doesn't have much going on musically. Glad to see this thread!

OMG libra that's too funny!

:scared2: Congrats, Cathy! I have been finding I am eating smaller portions and being satisfied. Don't know if that means I have restriction or not, but I think I am eating less these days.The weight loss has slowed down considerably but then so has my exercise. This month is insane. I have been traveling 90 miles one way to a class 4 days a week, plus trying to keep up with my job. The class will be done at the end of the month so then I plan to get started exercising again. Also fill #3 on the 31st so maybe in August I can get the ball rolling again. I am ok with just maintaining this month since so much is going on. I am envious that you can walk so far! I am pooped after 1 mile and its been soooooo hot!:wink2:

Hi Chickie! You will like Sylvia. She's been sooo helpful to me. How exciting that it will happen so soon! Did they tell you about the Realize Band? Thats the newest version that he is using now. He can do either the Lap Band or Realize band and will tell you the pros & cons of each. Realize is what I have and what Cathychatts has and a few others in here too, I think. Hey, too bad you wont be there on the 31st...thats when I go back for a fill. We coulda done lunch!

So did you learn any Spanish?:cursing:

Did you meet Tina, Dr Pitt's nurse? She gave me my last fill. Seems real helpful and knows her stuff. When are you getting banded? Or are you still waiting for insurance approval. I was self pay. My insurance doesn't cover this (actually my employer doesn't cover it) so I had to cough up the moolah for this. But I am glad I did and you will be too!:cursing:

Cathy, no, not really. Read up a few posts and you will see how i pigged out today. I did lose 1 lb when I went in for the 2nd fill. She gave me 1 more cc, which now totals 4cc. some meals I can feel some restriction a bit and I only know thats what it is when I drink a sip of cold water (and I know I shouldnt be doing that at meals...). I felt the cold water back up (not enough to throw up but it was just sitting there and slowly I felt it go back down). I haven't had any problems with any food yet. I wanted to get 2ccs, thought that would make a difference but the nurse didnt want to go too fast because I might have been too tight and no way to fix it over the weekend. I go back on the 31st for the 3rd fill and maybe then I will be at the right fit. Gotta get back on the bandwagon now, but dang that s'more was good.

I took back 11 bottles of Isopure drink (bought a dozen and hated the first one). They let me exchange for another big cannister of Amplify protien powder which I did like. I even got a refund because the Isopure cost more than the Amplify.

Long2bthin, Once in a while we all fall down. Today my youngest daughter came to visit for a week. So to do something fun, we threw together some food and went to the park. We grilled hamburgers. We ate baked beans. We ate cantalope. Nothing too bad, so far. I could only eat half the hamburger and a little bit of beans. But.....since we had hot coals, we had to roast marshmallows, right? and had to have chocolate to put on the graham crackers to make s'mores, right??? ugghhh! I did eat one, and it was delicious! But only one and I did feel sorta sick afterwards. Too bad I didnt get deathly ill and throw up or something! That would have taught me a lesson. But, tomorrow is another day. I promise to be better. Really.

Jazzy Junes First Fill Lineup:party: :confused: 7-14 Huggie Bear, Long2bThin, greyhoundmom, eagerbandi :sleep: 7-15 ginas, Insky67, Irish Ladybug, Da Gramma :eek: 7-16 kristiebandy 7-17 Navywife Jenn,nannypants, mamamarie :drool: 7-18 LIZZARD, :mad: 7-22 livn4jesus, mimieg :mad: 7-23 kkarryall, vzghj3, Cadets71 :mad: 7-25 brownbear :mad: 7-28 kiki220 :mad: 7-29 Phoenix, Greythope :mad: 7-31 Jules K, iteachurkid :mad: 8-4 snuffy65 :mad: 8-5 Kathystrick :mad: 8-7 Nuali :mad: 9-17 TX Diva Jazzy Junes SECOND Fill Lineup :mad: 7/10 Strikeuptheband :drool:8-8 Whiskypie :mad:FILLED Jazzy Junes :mad: :mad: 7-1 Strikeuptheband :mad: 7-2 Cathychatts :mad: 7-7 TxJuneBug08 :mad: 7-9 Amisha, Kizzie, whiskypie, rames767 :mad: 7-10 gardengrl, Strikeuptheband(second fill) :mad: 7-11 ajpink, MUSIC MOM edited to add me to the 2nd fill list. edited again--oops sorry huggybear, didn't see you already had me on the list.

Hi Emily, be sure to check out the Jazzy Junes thread. Theres over 300 of us that got banded last month. We would love to have you come and post there. Feel free to talk to any of us about questions you might have.

Huggie Bear, You can put me on the line up for 2nd fill. Had it today. They put 1 more cc in for a total of 4. I was hoping she would give me 2cc today but she didn't want to go that fast. I still don't feel much restriction...of course I tried hard to do soft food for lunch. Not much in the fast food area for that but my son and I went to KFC and I had mashed potatoes and about half of a very soft and moist chicken breast. No problems, nothing came back up. I might have been able to eat it all but was afraid to get overfilled when I hade to be in the car for another 2 1/2 hrs home. So I had the mashed potatoes, a small amount of chicken breast and about 6 bites off a corn on the cob. Doc was pleased with me, but I only lost 1 lb in the last couple of weeks. Maybe that will speed up a bit now. Considering how bad I was with ice cream on the 4th of july, I am surprised I lost anything at all! Going back at the end of the month for fill #3. Maybe that will get me to proper restriction.

Yep Cathy, I logged mine in and up popped a survey. It asked if I was feeling any restriction and I said no so I also got a message to go see my doc about another fill. What I don't like about the food data base, is, if its not on their list, you have to do a lot of work by looking up all the ingredients in whatever you are making, ie tuna salad, then look up all the calories, fat and Protein, then divide it all by how many servings your recipe calls for, then name it something and add that to your food list. Whewwww! too much work for me. I also find I am bringing all kinds of food boxes, bags etc to my computer so I can enter the data from the back of the package. The waste basket by my computer looks like I have been bingeing!!! :wink2:

Hi All, I got my appt for my 2nd fill moved up to this thursday. Got the 1st one on the 2nd and I haven't had any restriction. The most I get is a few hard hiccups when I get done eating..that sort of tells me I am full. Hoping the 2nd one gives me enough restriction to stop before I am full. The weight loss has come to a stand still so I am hoping the next fill gets me going again.

Hi midwestchickie, I was banded by Dr Pitt on June 2nd. I really like him and his staff. Just curious tho, since you are from KC, wouldn't there be surgeons closer to where you live? Have you been banded yet? The hosp, Boone County is great. They were so nice. I stayed overnight because I had no one to drive me home afterwards and it was a long drive! Even the next day I had to stop 3 times to get out and walk around because I was still very tired. Doing great now tho. Good luck if you are still waiting to be banded. He has a great staff and program. I think you will like it.:biggrin:

Linda...July 16, 2008 and you have had two fills??? Amazing considering today is just the 7th! lol Did you mean 2007? :tt2:I was also banded by Dr Pitt. I like him a lot. I got a realize band and had my 1st fill on the 1st. He is willing and I need it, to do the second fill next week if I can get down there. The first fill did't give me any restriction so I really need another one. I also can't get to the support groups because I live 2 1/2 hrs away. But the one I went to was really great.:biggrin:

Hang in there Huggy Bear! I also have to get back on the bandwagon after the Holiday binge! I made home made ice cream cuz thats what we DO on the 4th:sad_smile: And I KNEW it was gonna be my downfall. I will not be happy again till its all gone out of the fridge! And no I can't stop with one small dish...maybe my son will eat it all. Hope the days fly til you can get your fill. Cathychatts, thats great that your fill is working so good already! Mine isn't. My weight is being stubborn, the scale is not my friend these days. Hopefully I will find some time to get back for a fill before my next appt that is at the end of the month. I did just get off the elliptical and did 15 min and I am back to my boring boiled egg Breakfast. Lets keep the hope alive! We are gonna get there!

Hi Deedra, No I haven't had any problems with getting food in me! Dang, wish I would! I have worked my way up to full solids now and anything goes down. I am the one who has to say enough, its time to quit eating. I measure my portions and am not down to bandster portions yet but more like 'sensible diet portions' which for me is an improvement from pre surgery running thru the fast food lane and supersizing everything. We have lost about the same amount. My wt loss has slowed down a lot. Lost one yesterday but the little sucker was back this morning.:thumbup: I am slowly getting back into exercising. I waited on that because I have been pretty sore around the port area and too much movement puts me in agony. I saw the doc for my first fill on the 1st and he looked at it, said it wasn't infected but irritated. I sit at a desk all day and my fat roll just gets squished I guess. He put me on antibiotics just in case. Last night I walked over a mile. I have started using my eliptical in the evenings. As for feeling full, I never do. The fill didn't restrict anything yet so I will be going back for another one soon. One day I did blow it and went to McDonalds. I just got a 4 pc chicken nugget happy meal. Ate all 4 and half the fries. Told my son if I was smart I would toss the rest of the fries but McD's has the best fries so I ate em all:mad2: I knew that was too much and I did feel queasy after that so at least I know i CAN get full. I just wont eat that much again at a meal! Hope your depression lifts soon. Keep coming to the message board and reading positive messages or better yet, get outside and take a walk. Keep us informed about how its going for you. You know we all care.

I am also in the self pay club. I was able to pull together a couple of nest eggs and borrowed $1800 from my 401k. yea, ouch. But its not a lot to pay back and I am not sorry I did it. It is totally worth whatever you have to jump through to make it happen. Good luck with your decision.