HeatherO

Good morning all you lovely Vi's, Thank goodness I have never seen a Sonic in Ohio . . . it saves me from having to "check out" their offerings, lol. Jenn, having a trainer is great. I need someone to kick my butt as well. I was going to the gym religiously several times a week . . . and now I can't remember if the last time I was in there was in January or February, yikess. Kat & Laura, out of curiousity, how does one become a moderator and what do you have to do? Do you actually revoke memberships from time to time? This is my favorite site because people seem supportive . . . but I have seen other sites were people are vicious and nasty to each other. Is moderation the key, or are we just lucky that this site seems to attract nicer people??? Judy, I can't wait to hear that Kris has delivered along with the details :0). It is so exciting and I have to live the experience vicariously through others until the special day arrives for me as well, lol. TracyK, be careful about pb'ing and not going on liquids. My stomach has become so sensitive that if I do it a couple of times in a row . . . I swell until I virtually close up and need an emergency unfill. It might just be pregnancy that makes me ultra prone to swelling, but I am not sure. One trick my fill doctor told me is to take children's Motrin and it makes the swelling go down. They said it is not to be used by bandsters except very infrequently, but they approve it for the special case of stomach swelling/inflamation on a very limited basis. TracyInKS, I think a girls weekend is great. I haven't had one in toooo long and I miss it. Sometimes I even invite my small nieces over for the slumber party version with movies, manicures, pedicures and hair, lol. Although I have to be truthful and admit that this usually involves pizza and ice cream sundaes as well. Terry & Haydee, my baby should end up being a gemini, lol. I guess I didn't realize what I was in for (not to mention the emotionality of being a girl). It sounds like it is going to be interesting to say the least. Everyone, I love this thread and I am happy to be part of it :0). I am not out of the closet about being banded in real life, so it is nice to just chat about whatever with people who really know what it is like. Thanks!!!

Actually, now that you mention it wasn't the surgeon but someone else in the office, I think asking would be perfect. It just seems too unlikely that they wouldn't repair that as they go :0) Some people have heartburn post banding. One common thing I read in posts is that the people who have heartburn post banding didn't have a problem before . . . the people who had a problem before are typically cured by banding. There are definitely a few good heartburn posts out there if you search for them.

That makes perfect sense and is a good reason. 18 pounds is a lot to be picking up right after surgery and there is no way around it at 9 months in age. :0) A two month delay isn't really going to make a difference in the long run. This is a change for a lifetime and 2 months is next to nothing when you look at the years of healthier living ahead. Not to mention you might need all the extra energy you will have after losing weight once your grandbaby starts running amuck, lol.

Just one more comment. The way I really found out how many calories started off by seeking suggestions as well. However, I soon found that the true answer for me was trial and error. I stayed at a level where I lost 1-2 pounds a week. As soon as I didn't lose for a week, I moved it up or down until I started losing again (don't forget that sometimes you have to go up to lose weight if you were staying too low to begin with). Changing up calories and exercise is what actually got me to goal. Plateaus happen to all of us . . . this moved me beyone the plateaus.

Typically it is on the restricted list. You can get an occasional OK to use it on a very limited basis from your doctor but it is frowned upon for the most part.

I have never heard of their being a problem with the band itself. Did they test the port to identify where the leak was after they removed it? I would wonder if the band itself was defective if there is some kind of warranty on it.

Gingerbug, thanks for starting this thread. It is so slow in this area, I forget to check in from time to time. I started off doing aerobics after banding and left the toning/lifting out of it. When I finally added it in at the beginnign of last summer, that is when I noticed my body really started changing and I could eat more and still lose. It definitely makes a difference. Even 20 minutes of moderate weight training can make a big impact. It also raises your resting metabolism so even when you sleep you are burning more calories . . . definitely worth it. I am pretty sure that is what got me the last little bit to goal. Also changing up the diet and exercise routine along with weight training is what helped me get beyond plateaus. I have been on a plateau for a while now, but since I am pregnant, I am not attempting to lose anymore until post baby. All and all, I feel great and healthier than ever. The band has definitely given me my life back and I couldn't be happier :0)

I never told either and kept it the same way. It was hard not to share it with others in the beginning . . . it felt like I was hiding a dark secret or something when all I wanted to do was just talk a little about it. Now I think it was definitely worth it to keep it under wraps. It freed me from comments or scrutiny concerning every bite I took. I am really happy about the decision now.

Welcome to the forum, Neil. Congratulations and good luck on your surgery. It goes by so quickly. The first month is a little rough but it gets easier after you get your first fill. Banding is the best thing I ever did and I have no regrets. My life is infinitely better now and that more than makes up for a little discomfort in the beginning. I wish you the best of luck :0).

If the pain is really intense, you should definitely call your doctor just in case. You are still not very far out from surgery so it could still be healing/adjustment pains . . . but better to be safe than sorry.

I wouldn't think coughing would loosen your band. You do occasionally get looser over time . . . perhaps you would have been getting ready for another fill even if you didnt get sick and it is just a coincidence. There is a 5 day pouch test diet you can do that seems to give people a really good jumpstart on weight loss and seems to get people back on track. You can google it and find it fairly easy. Good luck.

I had one as well, as did so many other bandsters as you will read in the threads. It seems to be a relatively common issue and not really a big deal during the banding surgery for small hernias. However, this is the first time that I have heard that they will not fix it while they are in there. Mine was corrected at surgery. They typically fix it at the time with a couple of stitches since they are already working in the area. I don't understand why they wouldn't correct it. I would also be concerned if they would just let it go and do the banding anyways. It just doesnt make sense to me not to correct it. Is your insurance covering the procedure or is it self pay? I would almost consider a different surgeon if they were going to ignore a problem like that which could give you problems later.

We all get cold feet before a big life-altering decision such as this . . . I sure did. Now that I have lost all my weight, I can honestly say that I don't have any regrets. It is the best decision I ever made for myself. Good luck!!!

Yikes . . . 395 is a ton of calories!!! I love Starbucks Frappucinos but I am afraid they are probably just as bad so I have been avoiding them.

I also had mixed emotions in the beginning, but I don't regret a thing about it now. It is the best decision I ever made. Good luck with everything! Just curious, why did you chose May as "the month?"

You will need to be unfilled it they need to see more than your esophagus or pouch. Lower stomach would definitely require an unfill.

Plane trips can be just as bad, lol. Over the past 2-3 years I flew to Germany 3 times and Turkey 3 times. There have been a ton of domestic flights as well, but for a few hours I can't complain. I am always sooo excited to go, but coming back and having to sit on a plane somewhere between 8 to 11 hours and a couple of transfers in between . . . make . . . me . . . crazyyy!!! I am annoyed, uncomfortable, tired, cranky and all the movies are kind of boring. By that time I just want to go home after being abroad for a while. Also going to the Middle East, no one really asks a lot of questions or pays much attention to you in security more so than they would for a domestic flight . . . but coming back into Europe or the US from the Middle East is a completely different story and very hassle prone. Last November was the absolute worst. I was in the first trimester and my band was acting up so that it was super, super tight on the plane and nausea was running rampant. I remember looking for one of those "special blue bags" for the first time in my life . . . and there was nothing there!!!! I barely had a chance to get the door of the teeny tiny WC closed before it was all coming up . . . and this happened several times on that flight. This was a 10-11 hour flight and the longest exercise in sheer misery I can remember in many years. Thank goodness my DH was there. Sorry to write on and on, lol. You just brought up some very distinct memories :0). They are still all to fresh in my mind.

I would think that your body may be adjusting to lack of NSAIDS. It you were taking that much for that long, it was bound to have some impact on your body by stopping cold turkey. I hope the Lidocaine patches work well for your back pain and you feel better soon.

That is interesting and I never thought about it before. I didnt notice a big change much more than better posture and a new spring in my step from the extra energy from eating healthy and exercising regularly. However, I am noticing that pregnancy has an even bigger effect on walking. Perhaps it is somewhat dependent on how your weight is distributed.

I agree about finding motivation other than just the scale by setting exercise goals or something else. It is jut hard to stay focused after a certain amount of time. I also slowed down a couple of months out, but kept to the plan even though motivation was lagging. I lost slowly, but steadily, all the way to goal. The trick for me was to find other activities to replace the "diet/banding/scale" focus.

I'm from Ohio as well :0). Welcome and congrats on your upcoming banding!!!

I finished my final papers and presentation for my MBA class that ended yesterday night. I loovvveee that sense of relief and relaxation that comes after finishing a class, lol. The sun is finally starting to shine here, could Spring actually be coming??? It makes me want to get out and start moving again. I have been cooped up in the house and not exercising enough for too long. Haydee, I agree about the need for a trim. When it is too dry and frizzy at the ends, a trim makes all the difference. I use a smoothing serum on dry hair when I get the frizzies or if I am straightening my hair. Laura, since you are both pregnant and suffering from allergies, shouldn't Russ wipe the walls down and eliminate all bedroom dust??? I have dust allergies as well and I am extra stuffy and miserable after deep cleaning.

I would offer her as much support as possible without making her feel bad about her weight. The band can help to an extent. In my home before banding, we were picking up chinese takeout, ordering pizzas, eating high calorie and high fat foods all to often. Eating on our tight schedule was based more on impulse and tight time schedules than being about health. We did eat healthy, but also unhealthy as well. After banding, I started making mostly home cooked meals. This changed how I shopped, with more fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats as opposed to convenience foods in the center of the store. All of our diets have improved although I was the only one suffering from obesity in my family.

I am sorry you are going through this and I hope they can find the cause soon so that you can address it. There is nothing worse than having an undiagnosed problem that causes you to suffer. Abdominal pain can be caused by sooo many different reasons, I just hope you get an answer quickly. Good luck.

One last comment. I think that using 0 calorie beverages as a substitute for Water is workable to an extent but should be done in moderation. However, I have read quite a few articles regarding consumption of a high level of artificial sweeteners having a negative effect on health. Some people get headaches and start to feel achy or lethargic. If you are drinking a lot of 0 calorie "sweetened" beverages during the day but have not been feeling 100%, you might want to switch to primarily water for a couple of days to see if it helps. There have also been articles stating that artificial sweeteners are sometimes linked with weight gains in that it causes the body to crave more sugar. Anecdotally, most people I know that are significantly overweight are also diet pop-aholics (and that included me before banding and the pop restriction). I have actually started drinking things like mint tea completely unsweetened with a spot of creamer. It is hot, tasty, 0 calorie and there are no chemicals involved.