Morsaille

Thanks guys, she's been a good friend to me since I had my daughter. She has kids too and having kids changes you. All my single friends just drifted away when drinking and dancing every weekend wasn't an option anymore. She knows very little about the band, mostly because she isn't very interested. I told her all about it when I was planning surgery, she changed the subject so we could talk about her stuff. I am thinking I would probably do better to drift away from her. I am glad to have you all to listen to and support me. Thanks for being there.

No problems here with the carbonation either. I give it a l-o-n-g pour over ice. It takes awhile to pour a glass, but the carbonation is just tingly and not explosion inducing. I love the advice about the blender! My mental picture is just brillliant.

WOW, very nice! You are doing great!

My OB Gyn used a smooth narrow pincer/tweezer thing to open the cervix, then slipped the little bugger in. The cervix didn't care for all the sudden attention. It pinched and burned a bit, she kept telling me to relax. The whole thing took about two minutes. On the whole it was only slightly worse than an annual Pap. On the girlie pain-o-meter it would rank about a three/four during the actual insertion; 10 seconds later, a one.

I'm sorry Angie, not sure how I would answer that one, maybe, "Nope, but maybe I do like this sweater after all, thanks" Karen, you are too sweet. I am sure it will pay off! For all of us.

I'm sorry. I was nervous about picking up my 2 year old, but did. I don't know what I'd do if I popped a stitch. How scary! Glad you are back on the wagon. Hope both of us are pleasantly restricted in June. Thanks again for joining or little group. Brenda

Thank You Karen, sweet to say. I know I could use a 'time out'.

Thanks! I have been working on my water too. Haven't seen a weight change, but my skin is better...

I have had my IUD for two and a half years. My periods are almost non-existent! I read on the crimp that this is normal for at least 10% of women. Insertion wasn't exactly fun, but a small price to pay for 5 years of no fuss birth control. I have had no other side effects. If I had it to do over, I would have taken Tylenol before the appointment to help with the hour or so of cramping after insertion. My periods used to be very heavy with severe cramping lasting more than a week. Now I have trace amounts of bleeding for three days or so every other month. The money I have saved on feminine hygiene products have paid for my IUD twice over already. I am contemplating removal in the near future becasue we are talking about another baby. I will definitely get another IUD.

I have been trying to stay happy knowing that I have not gained. Knowing that unbanded I could be significantly heavier and that I would still weigh 312! I cherish my tiny NSVs and work hard, knowing that I am learning skills that will help me to succeed. I understand that it can take 4-6 months to get restriction. My next fill is this Tuesday (yay). A friend of mine is really bugging me. She can't understand why I haven't lost more weight. She sounds so disappointed that you'd think someone befouled her birthday cake. I kind of want to scream "What about me!!" I don't think anyone else should have permission to be publicly disappointed with my weight loss until I say so. That time is not here yet. She is normal weight and always has been. Last time we got together was over a month ago. At that time she said that she couldn't notice that I had lost twenty-five pounds. Ouch. Not sure where to go with this one. I am starting to feel like a broken toy. One that was supposed to fly, but just flops over and twitches when you wind it. A big disappointment. Anyone else been here? Did you pelt your friend and/or family member with something foul and sticky? That's what I wanna do...

Hey Hefftynetty! Thanks for popping in. I sooo understand where you are coming from. I am anxiously awaiting my next fill on Tues. I am so ready to get started. What happended with your last band if you don't mind me asking. If it is too much too soon, just ignore the question, K?

I considered bypass for a very short period of time. Once I got over just wanting the weight "gone" and talked myself into working toward my goals, I realized I loved my family too much to gamble with their wife, mom, sister, and daughter. I know a bandster and I know a bypass patient. My bandster friend lost all of her weight and is keeping it off (5 years). She is healthy and happy and is raising her son (now 2 years old). My GB friend lost her weight, is slowly regaining it, is very self conscious of body odor and has fragile hair, skin, and nails. She gets B vitamin shots. Her doctor tells her it would be better if she did not have children. Her body would be unable to support a pregnancy. She is happy with her weight loss but fears she will regain all of it. If I didn't love her, I might think she had substance abuse issues from what the surgery has done to her. I know that this is not a fair comparison. I had very limited access to role models and I understand that many GB patients do wonderfully. I just opted not to be one of them. I may have chosen GB if I was older and not hoping for more children or looking 40 years into the future. If I want to make it, I need new skills. I am working on them right now. I agree with the other ladies that it is your body. Find a doc who will support you in the path you decide on.

Glad you are home, Welcome to the club! I wasn't a fan of the Morphine either. Nasty stuff. Hospitals are scary enough without Mom going off the deep-end in a hospital gown. Get some rest now and heal up quick-like.

Chelleanne- My understanding is that the band is made of a semi-permeable material. People have said that with their first fills in particular, that much of it is actually missing when they go in for the second fill. One person (sorry for forgetting) said that they were actually dry. Weirdness huh? I think after you reach proper restriction the band hangs in there with you until you lose enough weight to reduce the amount of fat assisting the band in maintaining that restriction. People aren't just fat on the outside, but on the inside too. It loosens as you lose. You may need to go in for a touch up. This is Brenda theory mixed with fact so double check my stuff, K? I am still working toward restriction and have no veteran credentials or testimonials to share, yet. Here I go, typing after midnight again. Last time I tasted foot for quite awhile.

Me too. I thought about you today when I opened the thread and we still hadn't gotten an update. Scary! But glad you are doing better and that your band is still working for you. Dianamae- Definitely give a personal trainer a shot at you before you find a surgeon. We all love our bands, but we love them because all other avenues led to weight gain. Try everything before you try surgery. And if you get banded, you'll know it is money well spent. Toodles, y'all Brenda

What did they call those UFO chips from the X-files? Remember? Scully had one? But I love 'John Malkovich' and 'Pinky'

Stitchy, On the advanced reply page use the paperclip icon. The pics will upload to the little window and will attach automatically when you submit. Real Estate in my area is much like Mari Maru's. 3-5 bd in a nice house. Depending on location. You pay more for the neighborhood than you do for the house. We are close enough to Seattle to bring that price. Maybe if gas doubles, Real Estate will drop and I will ride a bike. For now the commute is worth it for the city up and comers.

I have a little american sign language, and can understand french and spanish. I still have hiccups getting the sentences together in my head. I took french in school but learned spanish through immersion thanks to the Red Cross

crossing fingers...sendinglots of positive and happy thoughts...

DOCTOR! Coffee grounds are usually blood in the stool, blood is red or brown usu. in vomit....BUT if you are coughing up stuff you don't recognize... Call the doc yesterday! And let us know what is going on. Please. Take care and get healthy.

I am so sorry Jack! I had no idea that what I was saying would come off as hurtful. Yes, I was trying to be funny but I will stop. Seriously! All done. I have no Idea where number 2 came from. Did it really sound that bad? Gosh, I am ready to cry. You were right not to ignore it if I hurt you that deeply and for that I am truly sorry. Wish I had come to this thread earlier because the only thing I can think of that is worse than what you heard, was for me to delay in setting things right. I think of you only as an intelligent and thoughtful bandster. I was, and still am, unaware of any specific ethnicity involved and have MUCH respect for Chiropractors as their hard work, vast training, expertise and dedication reduce the need for painful, expensive, and ongoing chemical treatment by a General Practitioner. Thank You! I was so busy patting myself on the back and laughing at my own jokes that I was unaware I was being crass an hurtful. I really needed to hear this. I am leaving this thread now, bye guys, have fun.

:bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: Just trying to keep this on top for awhile. Thanks Leatha!

:bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: :bump2: Just trying to keep this on top for awhile. Thanks Leatha!

I know it has been said before, but not yet on this thread. Any online poll in a support forum would naturally be non-representative of the bandster community on the whole. Forum bandsters like those on LBT and Obesity Help generally have a reason for logging on. They are usually: 1) newer and seeking guidance 2) more experienced but losing momentum 3) experiencing difficulty and seeking help 4) volunteers looking to give that momentum, guidance, and/or help The bandsters who are doing well and living a healthy active life are generally less likely to visit an online forum on a daily basis. You see these wonderful people logging in and saying. "Sorry it has been so long, I really missed you guys! I had a PB yesterday and thought of you..." Touching. I think that most of us have come to the conclusion that the band can help us when nothing else was helping. To what degree the band will assist is mostly unknown at the time of banding and insurance companies' attempts to skew data by weeding out 'undesirables' through procrastination and hoop-jumping has yet to show in US statistics because US bands still have that "new car smell". WOW, see, this is why I try to stop posting at midnight. *backing away from the soapbox*

The worst part for me is the golfball, sliming, and all that w-a-i-t-i-n-g for it to happen. The PB is more of a relief for me than anything.