coleoptera

HI! I was banded on July 20, 2006 by Dr. Minikin in St louis, MO. My heaviest weight was 380. I was 350 at surgery and I am now about to say goodbye to 300... May I join the club?

I did optifast when it was first offered in 1988. It was hard. I fasted for 13 weeks. The shakes were HORRIBLE. My gallbladder atrophied and I had tohave it removed. But, I did loose weight. Hot liquids helped curb my appetite. Brushing my teeth helped. You can do it.

Thank you for al of your words of encouragement! I appreciate you and think of the kind words when I fell discouraged Mariquita

I used to weigh 380 pounds and wear 5x, 32-34 Now, I weigh 302 pounds and can shop at Kohls! 3x, 24-26!!!!!! ;) :bananapartyhat:

They are jello brand!

Thanks for the encouragement. I am packed and ready to move! Threetopolis will never see me again! I even went back to the gym today...(I was not being very dilligent, but I am back and I meet with my personal trainer next week)

I am three pounds away from 299! OMG! :clap2: I can't believe I am almost there. To those who have already past that milestone...how does it feel?

I either freeze it in small plastic tubs and eat it like ice cream, or sandwich it between two chocolate graham crackers.....dang their good. Phentermine forums at PhenForum.com

I drink coffee with creamer and sweet and low all morning. At 10:45 I have a small banana and half of a smart ones frozen entree. At 3:30 I go to taco bell and eat a pintos and cheese. For dinner around 7pm I have about 3/4 cup of what ever I cook for dinner. tonight I made beef stoganoff with low fat sour cream and whole wheat noodles. Last night I made lamb shanks and roasted potaotes served with steamed broccoli, carrots and snap peas. around 9 I have a sugar free fat free pudding... there are some very nice new ones fudge and mocha, mint chocolate, and dulce de leche! They're only 60 calories. I am not good at getting all my water in, but I do take my vitamins and calcium suppliment.

I brush my teeth. I never want to eat anything if my mouth is minty fresh and clean. Thanks for the other helpful hints!

I have the book, "Eating Well after Weight Loss Surgery" bu Levine and Bontempo-Saray. It is very informative! The recipes are YUMMY!

I am self pay and my fills with flouro are $360...that is ONLY the hospital's fee. My doc does not charge for the 1st year of fills.

a "round egg" only at mc donalds. (it's jus the egg from the egg mc muffin!)

my port is very deep. I have to have fluoro fills. Sometimes, as the dr sits the xray table up after putting the needle in, it pops out! I hate it!

Thank you, Kat;)

I suffer from daily chronic stress headaches and have tried every remedy under the sun...tylenol, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, anti-seisure meds, anti-depressants, imitrex, chiropractic, I have even had my chakra adjusted--to no avail! I have had MRIs, MRAs, Trigger point injections, physical therapy. NOPE! The Diamond Headche clinic in Chicago is a JOKE! They told me a 15 day stay for psychotherapy and MAOIs would cure me...uh, no thanks. My latest stint...(with no relief) was topical ibuprofen. It doesn't work. The only thing that comes close to helping is vicodin or codiene...but that only masks the pain, and good luck finding a doctor to prescribe it with out thinking you're a junkie. :sick

I did clear liquids for 3 and a half weeks before my surgery so I could make my surgeons weight requirement. It was difficult, but I perservered by keeping my hands busy.

I was thinking either Cornflake or Shirley.

Here is a letter I wrote to my health insurance to explain my situation. They told me that even though I was a perfect candidate for the lapband, they would not cover it. Nor would they cover ANY proceedure, medication, therapy, doctor's visit to discuss weightloss, gym membership. I borrowed the money and I had the band in July. At this time last year, I weighed 380. I now weigh 315! Maybe this can help someone.... Obesity is affecting my life in the following ways: Physically Hypertension My blood pressure continues to get higher and higher despite the use of medications. When I must walk any distance I can feel my pulse in my face. sleep Apnea I must now sleep with an ugly cumbersome breathing machine at night. I am afraid I will die in my sleep if I don’t use my CPAP. Caught Variant Asthma When I have an asthma attack, I cough because I can’t breathe. I cough so hard I turn purple, pee my pants and throw up…not nice anywhere, especially in front of a classroom full of elementary kids. Foot and ankle pain The pain in my feet and ankles is so severe, that at night I must elevate and ice them just to be able to walk around the house. I have spurs on many of my foot bones because I have carried around so much weight for so long. Chaffing My thighs rub together. My arms rub my sides. My fat folds rub each other and the tops of my legs. It is miserable! Even though I wash, medicate, powder, use antiperspirant under my belly fat and in the creases and wear absorbing cotton clothing, I STILL rub, sweat, chafe, hurt, and break out in nasty folliculitis. Walking My thighs are so fat; my legs are forced to spread, causing my gait to be too wide. This makes my hips and lower back hurt. I walk like an old fat cowboy duck. Just watch me next time I come into the room. I can’t walk more than a block without pain in my back, hips, feet and ankles. I am out of breath after the first 100 yards. My ankles and feet hurt so badly all day. Stairs? Ha. Going up is actually better than going down. I may be slow ascending stairs and need breaks within a single flight, but descending, well I can’t see my feet to see the next step below me. Each step down jars my huge frame. It is easier if I turn to the side, hold on to the rail and use a side step, using the same foot to lead on each step. I prefer elevators or escalators even if I am going down one flight. Sweating Have you ever been so winded and worn out after taking a trip through Wal-Mart that the sweat rolls down your back and into your butt crack? No? Try being me for a day. Getting Up I have a hard time getting in and up out of cars, chairs, the floor and bed. Fitting I need chairs without arms. Do you know how many chairs have arms? All movie theatres, all theatrical venues, all stadiums, all beauty shops, dentist chairs, office chairs, lawn chairs, waiting rooms, airplanes, trains, and most restaurants (I’m sorry ma’am we only have chairs with arms, do you think you could fit in a booth? HA!) I don’t fit in many cars, non handicapped bathroom stalls, dressing rooms, bathtubs, the spaces between clothing racks at stores, and turnstiles. Bathrooming First I must see if I have enough room to spread my leg wide enough to wipe, then I check the sturdiness of the toilet. I have been on a toilet in the midst of a very delicate maneuver when the toilet has come loose from the floor and made a horrible mess. It is a very embarrassing thing to have to tell your hostess that you broke her toilet and ruined the bathroom rugs. Once all seems to be fit, I do my business and then attempt to lean forward with one arm tucked under my belly. I must balance all of me onto my tip toes and reach through the front. This acrobatic feat is difficult. I do not fit in regular sized bathtubs. If I must bathe, I force my hips into the tub. I had to install a shower wand to clean my self properly while showering. I use hibiclense and other antimicrobial soaps and solutions to reduce the risk of folliculitis, and faruncles. I shower every morning and every evening to keep my fat folds clean and my body smelling nice. Clothing This is a big issue with me. I must be very careful in clothing I select as not to bring attention to my self. One day I bought a very expensive, very cute chartreuse short set. I wore it to the store and I had a very rude person look directly at me and mimic my walk and say, “Look, at me…I am a big, fat lime!” Super sized clothing is hard to find. Once you do find it, it is very expensive. I spend a lot of time, effort and money covering my body in a tasteful way. I must be very careful in selecting clothing. I cannot fit in any clothes from regular plus sized shops. I surpassed the sizes at Lane Bryant 5 years ago. I am now wearing the largest size at the only two mail order clothiers available. I will have to resort to having “tents” made for me if I don’t loose weight. Sex Sex is very difficult because of my large stomach and large backside. This is a very difficult topic to discuss, and an even more difficult topic to endure. My sex life is not what I want it to be because my fat makes sex very difficult. I also feel very self conscious about my body. Mentally Embarrassment I do not like the way I look. I feel embarrassed about how I look to other people. I feel that my fat makes me ugly and undesirable. It is embarrassing to not fit in a $120.00 Chicago theatre seat and have to ask the manager if there is any where else he could seat me. I am embarrassed when am winded from taking my students out to recess. I am embarrassed when I must lift my fat belly up over a turnstile to fit through it. Compensating I feel I must be better, smarter, funnier, cleverer, and more charming because I am fat. I have developed quite a sense of humor to mask my hurt at being left out of many things over the course of growing up. Sarcasm is one of my compensating tools. Sadness- I cry often because I am overwhelmed about my weight. It make s me feel so sad to think about all of the things I miss out on because I am fat. I hate myself for getting so fat and out of control. I am angry at myself for not being able to stick to an eating plan and exercise regime. Fear I do not want to develop heart problems because of my obesity. I fear going to the doctor each time, because I am expecting to hear the words “heart disease.” My blood pressure scares me. Anxiety then takes over and I feel overwhelmed with guilt and fear. Self Consciousness I cover my body with big baggy clothes. I cover my belly with a pillow to “hide” my fat when I am sitting on a couch. I am always very aware of how other people are looking at me, and the remarks they make. This horrible habit puts a strain on my marriage. Self Worth My self worth is in the toilet. I feel disgusting. I hate being fat and I hate not being able to control my food intake. I feel bad about not being able to lose weight. I feel like a failure because I am not able to stick to a successful diet or long range exercise program. These and many more mental obstacles must be overcome daily, even hourly. It is emotionally draining to have to prepare my self mentally for a day, not to mention the actually endurance of the emotions through the day. I am tired and disgusted with being so emotionally tied to this weight. Socially As a child I was ridiculed and left out of peer activities. In middle school I had a handful of friends, but the fat jokes and ridicule over shadowed me and made me feel worthless, ugly and unwanted. There was a rumor that followed me through all of 6th, 7th and 8th grades about me looking pregnant and every week it the big joke was to ask me whose baby it was. Ha! So funny! A three year “gestation period” was more than I could endure. I sought help from the school counselors. They told me if I lost weight they would stop bothering me. High school was miserable. I was never asked on a date, never held a boy’s hand. I was always overlooked. College was no different. Either were my 20s. No boyfriends, no dates, nothing…and I DID try. I tried 2 dating services; I spent 3 years in a huge singles group at my church. While my girlfriends were on dates and getting engaged, I was alone and depressed. I finally put a personal ad on yahoo. I did find a loving man who I fell in love with and married. I love my husband, but I wish I didn’t have the lonely rejection filled past. There are many social opportunities that I must turn down because of my morbid obesity. Camping, swimming, hiking and traveling are too difficult at my size. When a friend asks me to go out, I must consider all of the possibilities (Will there be room for me, is the restroom big enough, is her car big enough, will the chair support me even if I do fit?) There worries are enough to make me want to stay at home, and often times, I do because of worry and shame. Financially It is expensive to be fat and even more expensive to yo-yo diet. I have done both since I was 16. Specialty clothing costs twice as much as other clothes. My medical needs are very costly, even with health insurance. I spend lots of money on my favorite hobbies, eating and cooking. I need help. I want to be successful in losing weight. I am ready. I want to be able to walk with our pain. I want to be alive for another 35 years, at least! Please help me by considering me for weight loss surgery.

I was banded in July at 347. I lost 26 lbs pre surgery by doing Water aerobics and total liquid diet for 3 weeks. I am currently at 318. I do water aerobics twice a week and weight training three days a week. I do yoga every Saturday. The only part I truly enjoy is the water aerobics and yoga. The water is perfect for exercize because it lubricates so there is no chaffing, it is cool, you don't realize you are sweating, and the resistance is very toning. Yoga kicks my but and I sweat more in a one hour session than I do on a treadmill. I HATE THE TREADMILL! :faint: I joined 24 hour fitness (close to where I work)with some girlfriends from work and we encourage one another on those days someone (usually me) doesn't feel like workin out! I even splurged for a personal trainer~ She really has helped me stay ontrack. I never thought that I would have 1. a personal trainer:rolleyes 2. two sets of work out clothes in a real gym bag:clap2: 3. more than one pair of tennis shoes:) 4. worked out this much in my entire life~!:biggrin1: You can do it~ If my fat ass has an exercize plan, yours can too! ( no ofense )

Panty Holes, are the worst! I hate when the fat pokes through the holes that are created as your thighs rub together, then the fat starts to chaffe... arggghhhh. The sizes are silly. The colors are way gross. Who needs 'em!

I was banded on July 20, 2006, on that day I weighed 347. My highest weight was 380! I am now 320 and CANNOT wait to put hte 300s behind me. My goal is to have a big party with my family and friends. I think we will have a fall bonfire, sing songs, look at the stars. I think I will consume one adult beverage as a treat. We can do this!

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs) like aspirin and ibuprofin (motrin, advil) are very hard on the stomach and could cause erosion, from the inside of the stomach where the band is located.

I had my second adjustment today. Dr Minkin put in 1cc. He told me I am doing great! He said that The band is only doing 50% of the work! I have an Inmed 10cm band. At his office I weighed 320~!

I had my second adjustment today. Dr Minkin put in 1cc. He told me I am doing great! He said that The band is only doing 50% of the work! I have an Inmed 10cm band. At his office I weighed 320~!