tamboclan

So... I was cleaning out closets yesterday and looking for a dress to wear to church last night. I tried on several dresses that I have had for awhile and it was quite comical. I looked like a little kid playing dress up! I now have the huge pile of clothes that I know I'll never be able to wear again... I am so OK with that! My husband came home and asked what in the world I had been doing. I was all smiles. Especially after I put on my size 12 black skirt and cute new red shirt to go to church in. My ex husband was there and he kept staring! It felt good although I felt bad for him, too. He never wanted the divorce and even though he's remarried I don't think he's ever really gotten over it. Anyway, I have 35 pounds to go to hit goal. I cant' wait! :smile:

Thanks everyone. I had a great night's sleep. No acid reflux. Today I am still not eating a lot, but was able to get in plenty to drink so I think the unfill is helping. I was just afraid it would take away all of my restriction, but so far, so good... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that was the key! Hope everyone has a great weekend. We have Santa pictures in the morning, a birthday party in the afternoon, gingerbread house making and then Christmas with my mom tomorrow so we'll be busy, busy! :laugh:

Amy, so sorry to hear about that. They thought I had a leak at one point, but it turned out that the woman who measured what was left in my band during the initial surgery was wrong. They are always sure to check mine now every single time to make sure. I hope your insurance will cover it. I was self pay as well, although my insurance company paid for my hernia repair and they put my band in at the same time so it saved me lots of $$. Please let us know how your appointment goes on the 29th and what they decide to do.

So I went for my "unfill" today. She took out .4 cc's. That still leaves me 6.4 in my 10cc band. I can certainly tell that I am not quite as restricted. I was able to eat a decent lunch and dinner and haven't felt the need to PB. I just finished a bottle of gatorade, which I hate, but she said I was dehydrated. I know I haven't been drinking enough. It's hard to drink when I have been staying so full. She said she really thinks I have just been plugged up with mucus from my allergies. I have an appointment to go back in 2 weeks if I feel like I am not restricted enough. She said if I need it she'll put back in .2 and see if that works. I'll just be thankful if I can sleep through the night without waking up with that horrible acid reflux. It was worse than when I had a hiatal hernia before surgery.

I was in a 16, some 18's and now I am in a 12 (bottom) and a 14 top. I always lose from the waist down much more quickly than I do on top. Although I have to say that I have gone from a 1x down to a regular XL and in some cases a L. I can even wear some of my skinny husband's t-shirts now. Overall I'm down 60 pounds, so I guess it was about 30 pounds per size although I didn't really pay that much attention to it.

Ya'll will both be there soon... Just keep doing what you are doing! I tell you, it was a great feeling to cross that barrier and know that I will never see a "2**" on that scale again!!

Heard from the doctor's office. I am going in tomorrow for a slight unfill. She said probably it was from mucus building up. I do have bad allergies and even though I am on medication, odds are that's what is causing it. Since cedar season has barely begun, I better do something now. Then in 2 weeks I'll go back and see if that has helped or hurt. Here is a strange question for the ladies... do you notice more weight loss during your time of the month? For the past two months I have lost 4 and 5 pounds respectively during that one week. I am not complaining, but that is an unusual amount in one week. I normally lose 1-2 pounds per week.

OK... so it's been like AGES since I have posted. I apologize. I have been slacking. Just too busy and not paying any attention to my April Avengers. So sorry!!! Things have been good for the most part. I already met my end of year goal. I wanted to be down 45 pounds since surgery. So I revised it to 50 and I only have 2 more pounds to go. I have lost 60 pounds altogether, 48 since the surgery. I finally hit my sweet spot after my 6th fill at the end of August. I haven't had a fill since and have been doing OK until just recently. I think the cold weather has had an adverse effect on my band. I've been BPing a lot and having horrible acid reflux at night. The only thing that has changed is the weather, so that has to be it. I have a call in to my doctor and am waiting on one of the nurses to call me back. We'll see. So how's everyone else doing? I plan to go back and read up on the posts to see how everyone has been. Hope you are all doing well and that everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

You poor thing. You have really had it rough. I feel for you. Hang in there. You'll get there eventually. I hope soon!!

Wow!! 30 pounds already. That's wonderful. I am down 20 including the preop diet and have already had one fill, but haven't budged since my fill. I go back again next Tuesday. I want to see some movement!

I lost 12 pounds on the 10 day pre-op diet and have lost 8 since surgery (4/25). I have had one fill and go back next week for another one.

This was too funny not to share. I think I can check off just about every one of these! IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 1970'S...... You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked. You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it. You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels. You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!) You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island . You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill'. People sometimes thought you were a boy. You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days. YEAH! You owned a 'Slip-n-Slide', on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once. You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once ! Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession. You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers. You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon. You had the Donnie and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the sunshine family You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once. You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!) You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-Water sandals. You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture; and you despised Nellie Oleson! You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink! PONG! ('video tennis' ) was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of ! Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty' with the comb you kept in your back pocket. When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down, looked like you were gonna 'take off' You know who strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie. You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic. With the thermos inside some were glass inside and broke the first time you dropped them. You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend. YOU had Star Wars action figures, too! It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags! You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: 'Who will I marry. Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?' You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album. You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom. You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts! You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker. You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat. You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are you there God, It's Me, Margaret.) You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics. (?? its not??) You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or rain bow designs. You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - which was the first 'real' perfume you ever owned. You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off. PASS THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR 30 OR 40-SOMETHING GIRLFRIENDS. IT WILL MAKE THEM SMILE TOO!!!

I've seen Neil Diamond and he was great. Different than the typical 80's bands since he spans such a long period of time. My mom loves him too. She couldn't tell you who Cheap Trick, Journey or Heart were... she is kindo of stuck in the 60's. I love 60's music too. I saw Herman's Hermits, Moody Blues, the Monkees Reunion tour... Sting and Eric Clapton have been some of the best concerts I have been to. We have a Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre just outside of San Antonio (which is about an hour away from us). It's a great venue.

We are catching several bands here in Texas this summer. For Father's Day I got my hubby tickets to Boston, Styx and Smash Mouth and then later in the summer we are going to see Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick. That's really what I am looking forward to! I never was much of a New Kids fan either. I just knew back then that somehow fate was going to bring John Taylor (from Duran Duran) and I together and he would be my soul mate! HA! Of course it never happened, but I really had it bad for him...:laugh:

Hey gang. I have to say I have been reading everyone's posts and laughing. I love the bit about eating each other! HA! I was banded on April 25th and so still on mushies. I managed fine on the broth and juice phase for the first few days, but admit that I did have some creamy Soup 2 days before I was supposed to. Not a lot, but some. I have had a few bites of real food, other than my mashed potatoes this week. When I cook for my family I have to taste to see if I get it right! But I haven't eaten anything "hard" like meat. Just some jalapeno cornbread, noodles and eggs. And just a couple of bites here and there, no full servings. I haven't really been "hungry" but miss flavor and chewing and swallowing. However, I can tell about 10 minutes after I have eaten if it's been too much. I get a pain in what I imagine is my pouch. Just a reminder that it's too full or something. I eat slow, but it takes awhile after I have eaten to get that feeling. I am looking forward to having fish next week. I love fish so that will be a treat. I have a followup appointment with my surgeon on Thursday and I'll ask him then when I can get my first fill. It will be interesting to see the difference between now and then. I had lost 6 pounds from surgery to this week, but I think that I have probably gained a couple of those back since I started mushies. Not sure, but I wouldn't be suprised. I still feel a little swollen and distended. No "sucking" it in or tight clothes yet. It's helpful for us to all have this place to come together. At least we can vent without our significant others having to hear it. Although, I have to say my husband has been great. He told his boss today that he'd starve to death on what I was eating. Since I have always been the bigger eater, that made my day! Hang in there! We can do this!

That sounds great. I'll try it. I am making mashed potatoes right now, but boiling them in chicken broth. I'll add some horseradish sauce when I put in the milk and butter. Yummy...

Thanks. I am feeling a little better every day. I was on liquids all last week and started adding some food yesterday. I over did it though and ate too many mashed potatoes and they got stuck. It hurt. Learned my lesson. They were also not creamy enough so that didn't help. I'll be glad to be able to eat normal food again. I am not really hungry, but I love flavor and there isnt' much in mush!

Hi Pnw_Red, tarrn13 and lara b! Welcome! Lots of us 30's folk around here. It's good to see!

Hey Hippiemamma! Glad to see you on the other side!! It's a transition for sure, but I know we'll all be happy about it in the long run!

Hey tabytha... I am not single either, but still have a very active social life! I work and live on a small university campus in the Texas Hill Country. Between my husband, my 7 year old daughter, our 2 dogs, 1 cat and the 100 or so students that I live around, there isn't much of a dull moment around here. I have only told certain people about my band and I talk to them some. I am looking forward to be healed and over it so I just make it a way of life without having to think about it... you know? Coming here is great support for me too. It's so helpful to talk to others going through or that have gone through this already. We are really the only ones that understand. I only know one person that's had it personally and she's a student here. I don't talk to her much. So this board and my True Results board are lifesavors!! I bet you'll have a busy social life in no time. But I feel for you with that commute! Glad I just walk across the parking lot to get to work!

I am now 6 days post op and feeling pretty good. I haven't been hungry at all, but am tired of broth and apple juice! I did have some cream of potato soup yesterday for lunch and some cream of tomato today, but that has kept me so full that I haven't wanted to eat anything at night. I had some apple juice and a SF popsicle last night and was fine. I did make the mistake day before yesterday of eating a while frozen fruit bar, which my doctor said was OK. It was bigger than the single bullet style popsicles and when I had the whole thing, it HURT. I won't be doing that again. No PB, but man, I felt like I had brain freeze in my stomach! I don't really have any pain any more and havent' taken any pain meds in a couple of days. I feel a "discomfort" in my left side. I am assuming that it's where the tube leads out to the port, but I could be wrong. That's what it feels like. Just a pulling sort of sensation. I go for my followup appointment next week and I'll ask. Other than that, I notice that if I sit hunched over at the computer for long, my whole stomach hurts, like I am squishing everything up inside. So I try to stretch often and have been going home every day up until today at lunch to stretch out a little bit. Glad to hear everyone's doing so well. I've lost 6 pounds since the morning of surgery, so I am excited about that. I'll just be glad when my whole stomach is not uncomfortable anymore and I can wear all my regular cloths. I am still doing stretchy for now. Anything else is uncomfortable!

bling, I hope you did OK. I am home and fine. The gas pains were bad yesterday, but today I just sore. It feels like someone has kicked me in the stomach several times. My throat is also a bit sore from the tube, but other than that, I am OK. Taking it easy today, just sleeping a lot and trying to walk some. I could sleep on both sides last night and even onto my stomach a little. I was actually surprised. I am only taking pain meds every 7 hours or so instead of 4 yesterday. It's nice to be on the other side!

Tomorrow is mine too!!! I am so excited. Nervous, but excited. It's not the surgery part that bothers me, it's the lifestyle changes afterwards. I know I can do it, but just don't want to fail. My 7 year old is a little upset that I am having "a surgery" as she calls it. She told her whole class that her mom was "having a surgery to put a giant rubber band around her stomach so she wouldn't be fat anymore"... nice... I don't know if I'll sleep or not. I plan to. I love sleeping... Looking forward to the excuse to sleep tomorrow afternoon away after I get back from surgery. So good luck bling and hippiemomma! I'll see you both on the other side!

DH won't let me search for 30 something guys, but that's OK... I couldn't be happier with my 40 something man! This does seem to be a mostly woman world... Maybe men just don't post in forums as often as women?? DH rarely gets on the computer... once a month or so to check email. He lets me pay the bills! :blushing:

Of course that counts!! Once you've lived in Texas you are always considered a Texan! It's the rule!