Carrie_C

I've had IBS my entire life and I was also very scared it would make it worse. But it is so much better. I used to have a lot of nausea. I haven't had it since being banded. I used to have awful flare ups and even get fevers with the flare ups, but I haven't had one since surgery. (My surgery was May 22). I still do have some diarrhea, but not like before.

Ok, I'm a little embarrassed to ask this question, but my husband really wants to know, and I know you all will give us honest answers. How long is normal for a guy to last during sex? My husband is almost 40 and he's worried that he doesn't last very long. (I have no complaints, however, because he always satisfies me in other ways). I would also love to hear from the guys on this one.

The link doesn't work.

The band does suppress my appetite pretty good. I have to make myself eat most of the time.

Hi, I took phentermine a few years ago and lost weight too. I think the band is similar to it because you don't feel hungry. But the band doesn't have the side effects that the drugs do, which is great. The band is MUCH better!!

"If a woman goes through life without having children there are so many questions and assumptions. Like, why didn't she have kids, could she not physically have kids? Then to find out she CHOSE not to have kids she is looked at as a bitch or heartless!" I TOTALLY agree with you. That is what I was trying to say earlier. I don't have any kids and don't even think I want them. I have had no desire to be a mother. People think there is something majorly wrong with me in the head, especially my family. I get tired of defending my right not to have any.

kaytay, are you exercising at all? That would probably help. Maybe you need another fill. Some people need a lot of fills before they feel any difference.

I agree with you. If a man doesn't want the child and has nothing to do with it, and doesn't pay support, how is that different than a woman not wanting it and having an abortion? You are right, women can't expect it to be all their decision, but only have half the responsibility. I never really thought about it that way. I also know what you mean about a crazy nut job coming after men. My husband has a 16 year old son and he has paid child support and health care (voluntarily) since he was born, even though the child doesn't want to have anything to do with him. The child's mother doesn't want my husband to have anything to do with him either, but she sure wants her support check every week.

Somehow mine is still showing up the old way. I have no idea why.

sassy, I was just like you, I almost backed out at the last minute. I had my surgery done 5/22 and it was the best thing I have ever done. Loriembree, what you are feeling is VERY normal. I think most of us felt that way. But you will be very happy you did it. As far as being active, you don't have to become an exercise freak. I walk about 30 minutes a day, more only if I feel like it.

libra, I agree with you. I have never been pregnant, but I don't think I could have an abortion either. But I have never had to make that decision so I also don't think it's right to judge. I think girls get pregnant way too young too, especially here in the south. It is almost unheard of for a women here that is my age not to have 2 or 3 kids. And a lot of people here are against birth control too. But what I find funny is, they are against birth control, but not against having sex and babies outside of marriage. Not to judge anyone, but I think a lot of people who believe like that need to get their priorities straight.

I haven't read this entire post, but I felt the need to comment. I am a little on the fence with the politics of abortion. I don't think the government has any business in women's private lives. I think a lot of it has more to do with controling women than saving babies (or fetus, whichever you prefer). I don't think a woman that is raped should be forced to carry the child, and I don't think a young girl impregnated by incest should have to have that child either. Some people will argue that they can put the child up for adoption, and while I agree that is an alternative, I still feel like they have every right to abort. But I also think women, and the general public, who are pro choice have no idea what actually occurs during an abortion. I think women who are considering an abortion are kept in the dark by doctors about what actually happens. I think if more women considering abortion watched a video of one actually being done, quite a few of them would change their minds. Being in the health profession, I have watched many videos of the procedure and seen many pictures of the babies after they have been aborted. It is not pretty. The baby is torn apart from its head in the womb. Since the head won't fit through the suction machine, the body has to be dismembered. After the rest of the body has been sucked out, the doctor then has to pull the head out. It is very bloody, and the first time I saw one, I thought about how violent it actually is. Has anyone ever seen the video Silent Scream? If you haven't, I suggest you go to youtube and watch it. It shows an ultrasound picture of a baby being aborted. You can actually see the baby thrashing around right before it is dismembered. You can also see its heart rate go up and see as it tries to get away from the surgical instruments. It is not bloody, but I found it very sad. The doctor that was preforming the abortion allowed the ultrasound to be filmed, and after he watched it, he never preformed another abortion. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but I just think everyone needs to be informed about what actually goes on. I find it very hard to believe that these fetuses don't have feelings. I think everyone who sees the video will probably feel the same.

I also seem to be losing slow, but I think I would lose slow even if I had another fill. I am just a slow loser and always have been. But I don't mind. I feel like I am doing it the healthy way too. The doctor said they don't need to see me back until my 6 post op month, or unless I need a fill before then. I haven't really asked about what band size I have, but I doubt they would tell me. I asked how much fluid they put in during my first fill and that's when the nurse told me that they don't tell fill amounts bacause patients will dwell on it. All she would say is it depends on the picture on the flouro machine. I am not really worried about it, it's not something that I really want to know. Even if they told me, I probably wouldn't even know how much is a lot and how much is not.

I am not sure what size band I have. The doctor's office refuses to tell me and they also won't tell patients how much Fluid they put in during a fill. That is their rules, I'm not sure why. I talked to the nurse today and she said she will cancel this one. She said I will probably need another one soon, but I am fine for now. I can barely eat anything as it is.

Thanks! I'll have to check it out. I'm not even close to goal weight so I haven't even thought about PS yet.

Are the dark circles fixable with plastic surgery?

I agree. I can't blaim my family for me being fat either. I think the gene is probably there, but my previous fast food addiction has way more to do with it. I think a lot of it is social eating for my family too. I have an aunt that cooks enough for a Golden Corral buffet EVERY night. Plus a big breakfast in the morning.

I have 4 half siblings and 1 full sister. None of them are fat. My youngest sister has gotten a little heavy, but she always loses it. But I suspent her drug and alcohol addictions probably have something to do with that. My Mom is overweight, not severely, but she has always struggled with her weight. She has been on a diet since I can remember. But her sisters and aunts are all heavy. It seems like it is the women who are heavy and not the guys. It also seems like the women don't get fat until they reach adulthood.

I was just wondering how many of us have a family history of obesity. I have read about there being a so called "fat gene" and I just wonder if it's true. Almost everyone on my Mom's side is obese. Not just overweight, but severly obese. My Dad is overweight as well, but most of the people on his side don't have weight issues.

I also have problems in the morning. I only eat thin oatmeal. Then I wait about an hour and I start drinking water. I really don't get hungry again until late afternoon. Like someone else said, you will most likely have to give up the big meal in the morning.

I think birth control has a lot to do with it too.

I have heard a little about Instead. Can you reuse those?

I am a 20 right now, and I can cross mine, but not very comfortably.

I say enjoy it too. I seem to have the opposite problem. I had a lot of desire when I was younger, but I don't now. But that may be because my husband and I argue a lot. I don't want to have sex with someone I fight with all the time.