brandyII

Sorry to hear that SDBeachMom, I've never had the reflux problem a lot of people have but know too well what it's like to get down to a small size and put it back on. To me it's more devastating than never having lost it at all because you were there and got to "taste" thin, and then you have to deal with all the people in your life who wonder or say how could you go back to that size again and they obviously have no clue whatsoever of what a real struggle it is. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just fooling myself thinking I'm actually going to get this to work. But I walked today on the treadmill and that in itself made me feel better and everyday I deal with my band failure, although no one likes to hear it called that but what am I to say "my failure", I'm trying to be specific, I could have many failures going on at the same time, who knows!! But anyway I don't know your whole story about if you've gained it back or just are at a standstill for now but good luck with whatever you choose to do and this is a good start for talking it out, it's been keeping me from jumping off a bridge, brandyII.

I just looked at my WW book "getting started 1" and it's from the year 2001, last time I actually joined WW. I checked with my SIL who is currently going and looked at her book and she figured out I should get 31 pts for someone my age and weight but it seems high but oh well, I'll just use the old book I don't think it's that much different than the new one I just won't count the exercise when I walk. Well it really doesn't surprise me that the people would be like that. I never would tell anyone at WW that I had a band especially since I wasn't doing well and needed to go there, lol. There's always people that knock wls and think you've gotten off easy like it's lipo or something and it's totally not. Some people do seem to lose weight very easily with the lap band but some people like me have been struggling since the beginning. But I'm not giving up, just trying to deal, brandyII

Oops:mellow:

You'd think Weight Watchers would be thrilled that people have gotten the lap band and still have to use their program in order to lose weight, wouldn't be surprised if they used that to their advantage one day!

Hi Tammy, the good news is you haven't gained it back yet. The bad news is you're not losing and that's depressing enough for you. I agree with the other bandster it sounds to me like you're probably too tight. I've been struggling with mine for 9 months now and have a 10cc band and have had quite a wild ride on the band fill wagon! I gained back the 25 pounds that I had lost on my Medifast liquid diet prior to surgery. At my last appointment I asked my surgeon, well kind of pleaded, if he would take out 2ccs out of the 4 so I could see how I would do. I had been eating the softer foods before because I was tired of pbing up all my food before and still had the urge to eat and it was pretty much physiological to me. Especially if what I'm eating is crap my body wanted good food but I couldn't give it to it. All I wanted was a big salad!!!! I didn't realize before my surgery that most of the bad stuff goes down quite easily and the healthy stuff you'd take a couple bites and bam you're done. Most bandsters find this a bit looney that I didn't know but all I was told and or read was that sugary liquids like sodas and ice cream would go down and add those unwanted calories. I didn't know I could eat an once of Protein and be full but could still eat Cookies, chocolate, candy, cakes etc... on top of it. I know those were to be avoided but I didn't know it was because they'd go down like water! Anyway I'm sorry you're disappointed, I am too and still am trying to get things working but I don't know if they'll ever work as well as some people who are more or less "bulk" eaters and find a couple bites of food does the trick for them and they can leave the table feeling satisfied. I don't know if my brain would ever let that happen. So basically find a good doctor now that you've moved and discuss the issues you've had and see if you can work out something and start over again with a fresh attitude like you had when you first had surgery and lost those 40 pounds. Maybe you can post to people in your area and they might have suggestions for a new doctor with a "good" bedside manner. Hopefully you'll be able to get back on track and things will work out for you again, take care brandyII:smile:

Scarlett, Didn't even know about lead in wicks, great:frown:. Thanks for the tip on the company too, it's not the same one I originally found while searching the web. That's a funny story about the case of candles you got from Kmart. Thanks brandyII.

Wow I was going to say I didn't even know they've been around that long. My daughter used to be vegan so we've ingested many a soybean but not burned them. I definitely think I'll go with soy you all have convinced me. Thanks brandyII.

Thanks Tania, I bought some of the soy "beans" I forget if that's what they were called or not but instead of using a Mall Store "tart" for my tart warmer I ued these Beans or beads and they were nice. Maybe I should get more of them too! I searched on line for the soy candles and a pretty large one came up but I still don't know if the shades that I have from the other candle store would fit the jars from the soy candle store. I know such troubles! I guess I can just call and ask, they didn't seem to sell their own shades etc... thanks brandyII.

No I don't feel like reading them either that's why I posted it! But I know with my sister, and her bday is coming up too soon, that she was really proactive on that type of thing after she had her surgery to remove her tumor and has calmed down a bit but still I don't take a chance with my sister or elderly peeps etc... This girl is an ex-cigarette smoker/ex-coffee drinker and let me tell you for her to give those two up was a major thing!

Plain, Maybe it was a long time ago but I don't remember having blood work done prior to leaving the hospital. Maybe it's not a standard procedure that all surgeons/hospitals require.

What are your thought on candles these days. My sister had cancer and afterwards went through a time where she got anything out of the house that could be a carcinogen. This happen to include her favorite brand of jar candle that is in most malls. (She loves sugar cookie or was it Christmas cookie) Anyway I don't remember if it had something to do with the scents they were using or what but now says it's better to buy soy candles. I love my candles and buy them as gifts a lot and was wondering if you all have opinions on the matter or knowledge about this. Thanks brandyII.:smile:/:wink2:

Don't quote me, I'll quote you! I'm a girl I can admit there are sometimes issues with working with my sex!!! :wink2:

I guess you can take the Boss out of the bitch but not the bitch out of the boss, well it made sense at the time. I don't know all the politics where you work but have never liked working with women especially as my boss. I think it's something ingrained in my family, be your own boss but there's something that always seems to cause problems when I have a female boss, I'm not a hater it just is the way it is. Anyway I think you're just still shaken from telling her off and it seems like it was a good thing to stand up for yourself. She sounds just as annoying as she is bitchy! She's probably rotten at her job also isn't she? Anyway it's always good to stand up for yourself, maybe now she'll treat you with a little more respect and find someone else to torture. Good luck!!!! brandyII

That's the beauty of these types of disorders one shoe does not fit all. Just because one drug works for me doesn't mean it works for my daughter and we're from the same gene pool. We're both on Cymbalta too and that does help me with my depression but it didn't seem to do much for anxiety which I get now and again. Can't always predict but never gets to be a full blown panic attack, knock on wood!!!!!!! My daughter is on Adavan which is also Lorazepam and it seemed to work fine for her when she was in school and was having a panic attack she was to take them to stop it. Like I said with her it's situational. I take the Clonazepam or clonapin which is also a "controlled substance" script and can take up to three a day and I had been taking two and now am down to one at night because I think it has been interfering with my weight loss metabolism-wise, which can be an unfortunate side effect of these meds but I would not go off them and sacrafice my sanity for a pound, been there done that. My brother had his panic attacks when he was in his 20s and they've come and gone. He's always been on antidepressants though. I can't remember what he took for anxiety but I'm sure it's the same class of drug that yours is. Anyway the last time he had his panic attack problem was when he had some mentor type person convince him that he should get off his antidepressants and I don't know do yoga or something. My poor brother's attacks were so bad he couldn't get off the floor, he was just so freaked. It was awful talking to him on the phone during this time but I convinced him to go back to a psychiatrist, this was not a sign of weakness but a chemical imbalance and he did and he's on effexor and whatever I can't remember in case he had panic attacks but it was actually going off the antidepressant that brought them back. Not that would happen to everyone but he's able to just be on his antidepressants now and hasn't had panic attacks in a long time. I've never had an actual one I get the start of one in very particular situations but it passes so I'm lucky and I know it. Anyway if whatever you're on now doesn't work they'll find something that does eventually so have faith, you will be better soon and good luck with your surgery, brandyII.:wink2:

Is your doctor a psychiatrist or your regular physician?

Mrs. Flipflops you're so right-on there. It's a team effort when it comes to hospitals. I know things aren't always perfect and my daughter, 19, has her gastric bypass next Tuesday and I'm already trying to figure out how to be able to spend the night so I can be there to help her when she needs something. My hospital experiences weren't always the most wonderful things but they were never nearly as bad as what the poster experienced. But I do know that if I can be there to help I would love to. I don't think I'm being over protective but maybe I am. This will be her first experience with major surgery and it can be scary.:ohmy:brandyII.

Hi Amanda, just wanted you to know that Alex was kind enough to open a forum for people struggling with weight loss due to non mechanical issues on the band and it's placed under Band complications. Anyway, after stating that I'm still struggling and have always fallen back to Weight Watchers to be my guiding star of sorts. Mainly because I've been doing it for so long it's burned into my brain. (35 years) Points and all. I haven't gone to the latest of meetings but I have the last program guide and and have been trying to stick with the point system they have given me for my weight. I know it's changed a bit now and they take age into consideration, but I'm still in the same range for my weight and I chose under 250 lbs and I think it's about 26 to 31 points. I know I do better in the lower of points range but that's me. I also am a bit under-filled now as I was always overfilled so I can probably eat those points without a problem. I don't go to meetings though and don't choose to. I have seen other bansters post about Weight Watchers it seems to be one of the favorites on this forum. brandyII. Don't know if I was of help.:smile:

Were you already told not to take the drugs prior to surgery? I don't even remember now what they told me as it was nine months ago. Eating is one thing but taking certain meds is something else. I know I knew I would not be able to sleep the night before and that would be as much as I had to worry about but I knew I'd be knocked out for a while so I could sleep then, lol. I still take a clonapin at night for a little "sleep" assistance. I'd double check on the drug situation part of anxiety and panic attacks can be anticipatory in nature and God knows you're anticipating your surgery! I'm not a doc but do have a bit of personal experience with dealing with my own depression/anxiety and my daughter's and many family members so I know it's a real issue for your, hope everything works out for you. Also, just want to add that I've had many surgeries in the past and this was the easiest breeziest of them all! brandyII.

I don't have panic attacks but my daughter used to and she's only 19. They're pretty much situational in nature. She has lorazepam (sp) in case of a panic attack it supposed to work quickly. I was taking clonapin (sp) for anxiety. She's getting bariatric surgery next week and I'm hoping her panic attacks will stay far away for long while!! Are you more concerned about the effectiveness of the meds after surgery? I've never had a problem with my antidepressant or anti-anxiety meds since mine but like I said I don't have panic attacks. Did the doctor who prescribes your meds say you'd be fine or the surgeon. I'd just make sure you get the okay on the meds from the prescribing doc. Good luck to you on your surgery, brandyII.

It's funny how some areas are great when it comes to public transportation and others aren't. I learned how to take buses from my grandmother when she was living with her son in Wash D.C. It was fun and I learned the art of "the transfer". We took buses everywhere. Then when I was older and worked in the city they had built the subway system (Metro) by then and you could go anywhere. Now I live in a different state and not in the city where there maybe some "Ride-On" buses in some areas but not anywhere where I live! I miss it and wish my kids could have that same city type life I was able to experience. But I guess the country ain't that bad either:thumbup:.

Thanks Boo Boo Kitty, you know now that BIL isn't here the air is a little sweeter! They were also freezing to death up here because they're from SC where it was 85 degrees and I almost felt responsible because it was in the 50s and 60s here!!!

My brother-in-law did pee around the yard after a few but I thought he was just drunk:lol:

My MIL and my BIL are gone as of 7:45 AM EST. He went through a bottle rum, the large size (are they gallons, half gallons what?) and part of another one in four days along with a carton of cigs. And I thought I was the stressed out one! All MIL's pissy moments were directed to her younger son who lives in our town with his wife and 3 little ones and their blood so that's the way it should be :biggrin:. The anxiety of having to see them after I put back on the 25 pounds after my lap band surgery nine months ago has been lifted and no comments were made derogatory in nature:rolleyes:. Anywho, thanks for putting up with my pre-visit anxiety maybe with this worry off my shoulders I can move on...............................brandyII.:wink2:

I agree someone enlighten us, I love to be enlightened:smile: