Great2BThin

Congrats!! Welcome to the 50+ club!! I agree, it's the best feeling ever!

I got a fill today too!! I got 1cc for a total of 8.5 cc in a 14cc band I think. So far so good. My dr. said I was doing fantastic and called me a star, that felt good!

You mean I have to read the book they gave me? I have skimmed so far and don't see anything about pills. However, I am fresh home from my g/b post op appt and he said I could take allergy pills. He said my g/b was in rough shape and good thing it came out it was infected and inflammed and stones. All the ducts were clear though. He wants me back in 6 weeks with 6 more lbs gone. He said I was doing fantastic and called me 'a star'. Made my day!

You look amazing and deserve to feel happy!! 14's!! Awesome!!

Just curious and I am very confused now. What exactly are we allowed to take medication wise and in what forms? At first I thought it was no pills only liquid forms of medications, then was told some pills were okay but not capsules. Now I am so confused. Iplan on asking at my next dr. visit this afternoon, but am going crazy the past few days with hayfever. Can I take allergy pills? I take a chewable vitamin but my calcium is a 'petite pill' that I swallow. When I took b/p meds the nurse told me it was okay to take that in tablet form. I don't know why or how I got this so confused, maybe because most of it at the time didnt' apply to me and I didn't pay close enough attention!! :thumbup:

Thanks for asking Joann. So far everything is good. The reason they called is when she took the blood she used the wrong vial or cylinder for the 'vitamin B test' and I had to go back and have it redrawn at the lab at the hospital downstairs as she didn't have that tube. So off I go this morning, I had to register at admittance just for a blood draw. Get there, get it done, then as I am getting to my car, they are chasing me down in the parking lot, she said they used the wrong cylinder again, they used lavender and they should've used green, I needed to be redrawn AGAIN! I was fuming by now. BUt back I go, I get there and the other gal in there was on the phone with Quest labs. Turns out as long as they noted it they could do the test on the lavender topped cylinder. I asked why they couldn't just put a different color cap on or pour it in, but I guess those tubes have different additives to them. She said it was only the 2nd time she did this test. I know my surgeon is checking all my vitamin and nutrient levels. So I am sure they won't have the results tomorrow when I go for my gall bladder post op so will keep my band 3 mos post op appt next week to go over all the labs. just means another trip. Oh and I have no more meds to get off of!! I got of my b/p one a week post op!!!!!! Linda, same thing happend to me only 1 week post op. I thought something was seriously wrong from the surgery as I was so dizzy and weak. And it turned out to be the b/p meds as well. My b/p was 80/50 and my pulse was 42. They had me go off totally and it's been good or borderline since. That's $75 every 3 mos I was paying for those pills. I want a Coach purse so bad maybe I should bank those $75 payments and save towards it!

Do you folks who have to do liquids so long after a fill have big losses at that time then? Just curious. I have to do 5-6 HOURS of liquids then mushies by evening if the fill was the morning. And next day solids. I promise not to complain about it anymore, I don't know if I could do 3 days of liquids again either.

Have you tried putting your hands up over your head kindda like you are doing the wave in a stadium? I've heard of people saying that helps. I've not had the lasting stuck yet, just the kind that goes away in a few minutes or comes back up. Doesn't sound like something I want to experience. Hope it passes soon.

I know that feeling of which you speak!! Though I am still considered obese, I am getting better every day. I have more energy, I am feeling more 'normal' in the sense I am not obsessing about my weight so much anymore. However, I am still leaning on the shopping cart. Have a bum knee, bone on bone, and sometimes it just helps. But it's not even as bad as it was and I'm not dreading going to the mall anymore or looking for the absolute closest spot to park.

Thanks so much for clearing that up OH and D!! I really appreciate it. I am anxious to get back out there on mine. I go for a gall bladder post op tomorrow, maybe he'll lift a few restrictions. I've been walking or riding a recumbant bike at the gym. But I need to do more.

Anyone have an answer to my bike question? As to what's a road bike, vs a hybrid, etc.???

Good afternoon. I had a disappointing shopping trip this afternoon. After being able to buy a few things in XL in regular misses depts lately I thought I'd shop those. Dillards was having a huge clearance sale so tried on a couple XL's and they were too small, so I came home with a purse. :thumbup: I didn't want to go to the Womens dept because they are going to be too big soon, so I hope! Had a very interesting evening last night, went to my hospital/surgeon's 3 mos post op class. I got a whole new binder of info from this point on, my last one dealt mostly with preop diets, hospital stuff etc for surgery. This got into the nitty gritty of nutrients, vitamins, supplements, etc. I need to up my protein I am too low on that, and eat more often, I eat 3 or 4 times a day they want us to eat 5 to 6 times. Also they are starting so many new groups that sound fascinating, some bariatric personal training, some nutritionist classes and some psychologists classes, there's a small fee for some and many are free. The after care is one of the reasons I picked my surgeon and I am so glad I did.

Your welcome, I hope it proved helpful. I just discovered it myself not too long ago when I was reading posts about gall bladders. There's also a handy tool there to bounch from thread to thread without having to go back to the index. I went to a 3mos and out class at my hospital last night and the nurse giving it mentioned the first few months being crazy with the fat loss giving off estrogen or something to that effect so sounds like there's definitely something to it. Maybe since I am in 'the change' I didn't have as much to give off or something. Interesting.

I hit 56!! Since my gall bladder surgery the weight loss has really kicked in. AT least there was some reward for going through that! :thumbup: Well that and the no more deep pain in my right side! :biggrin:

Good morning. I think my gall bladder surgery has done something to speed up my weight loss as it's really going down lately. I see a big plateau in my future soon. I must remember this time! I am now down almost 57, that's 8 lbs in less than a week. I had been stuck at 49 for weeks them VROOM! the ol' bod kicked in. Last night I went to the 3 mos and out post op class my hospital/surgeon provide. It was a great refresher in my nutrition requirements etc. Right at the time of surgery it was all so overwhelming, plus the nurse teaching it said they just give you the basics. Now is a time for tweaking and making sure I am meeting my protein, carb, fat, & vitamin goals etc. She said it becomes even more crucial because by now you have used up most of your body's sotres of these things. I was a little short on my protein daily and actually need to maybe get a few good carbs in there. It was a 3 hour class and I am very glad I went. Hubby went with me so now he understands it all better now too. Plus they had lots of samples of products from Bariatric Advantage of snacks, vitamins and supplements as well as info on upcoming classes, support groups etc. There's so much to choose from. I got a whole new binder of info. on going forward in this journey. I'll be busy reading today. Grey, I find if I keep my hands busy that helps too, I am trying to teach myself to knit. Cathy, hopefully your fill will give you some help. Are you stil out riding that bike? i've had to park mine for a bit due to the 2nd surgery. Apples, it's rather scary to not look back and only look forward. It's been so long since I've not had the identity of a fat person vs a normal weight person it's like going into the unknown. She talked in the class last night about the head catching up with the changes. When I say the identity of I mean in my own head and how I see myself. It's been a journey of self discovery that's for sure.

Sometimes the only way a person learns is the hard way instead of listening to someone who's been there done that. But I wonder is it a lesson better learnt if one has to learn it the hard way. And while there's nothing wrong with having to learn things the hard way what I get tired of on the boards is when someone is trying to help someone else, possibly sparing them 'the hard way' the anger the person asking for the help lashes out with at the person trying to help them. I mean really, one posts asking for help, gets it and then doesn't like it and gets angry. That doesn't make sense, if they genuinely wanted help in the first place.

I've not experienced it, but wanted to point out that if you scroll to the bottom of the page when you have this thread open on your screen, there are links to 'similar threads'. Maybe one of those would have more info., since someone mentioned reading about it here. That might be a start. Hope it gets better.

Please do check in tomorrow as I am very curious. I'm losing at a great rate, so not sure they'll give me one or not, but think some of my big losses this week are due to recovery from gall bladder surgery. I just hit 50 lbs lost on Thurs. the 14th and today am at 56. But as I sit here typing this I am hungry and just ate lunch about an hour or so ago. Last night I PB'd on watermelon of all things. I'd think that would go right down. We were at a party and luckily I could feel it coming and was able to excuse myself to the restroom just in time, luckily no one was in there.

I've been reading a lot lately here about road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. What are these? Of course, mine is a standard Scwhinn right now from Walmart. I needed to see how I liked this biking before spending big bucks. It was called a comfort bike. Hopefully I'll be back on mine soon. I go to the surgeon for my post op gall bladder appt on Wed. since that surgery I'm dropping like crazy at the scale. I like it but am also wondering if I am going to hit a wall. I had gained 8 lbs in the hospital, I imagine from the fluids, swelling, etc. I lost that and 8 more in less than a week. D, any news on your gall bladder and attacks? I seem to remember reading that your tests were normal, do they know what it is?

Welcome Marie!! I sure wish I knew you DE gals when I lived there! We lived there for only a year and a half sortta off Naamans road and Concord Pike area. We moved back to CO which was home about a year and a half ago. But I was so lonely back there as I didn't know anyone. Loved the area though, just missed family a lot!

Welcome back Janet!! I have been losing like crazy since my gall bladder surger. I'm now at 56, so in less than a week I lost the 8 lbs I gained in the hospital plus 8 more and am at 56. I went to my primary care dr for a check up last week and also gave them a lab slip of blood work my surgeon wants for my 3 mos post op lap band check. They just called and something is wrong. Of course, I was out when they called so am awaiting a call back and am now very nervous something is wrong. They never call if everything is fine, they just send a post card. I was ecstatic to be losing so fast but now am worried. Are we ever happy? :wink2: (by we I mostly mean me). The great thing about my loss today though is it put me in the 240's. I can now officially say I am closer to the 100s than the 300s!! That's huge for me! Also have a question about fills: Sometimes I am able to eat about anything and way more than 4 to 8 oz portions. No problem at all. Then others I get stuck, last night I PB'd at a party on watermelon, and am able to eat very little. I've read about the band being fickle. But my question is, how do I know if I am at my sweet spot or in need of a fill? I want to get as many fills as possible before my 3 free months are up, but I also don't want to get over filled and have to deal with that.

Hi Apples, I've been wondering the same thing. There's times that I could eat anything and other times that food gets stuck and I have a PB. I go on Wed. and wanted to see about a fill because of those hungry times but am so afraid of being too filled. I read on here that the bands can be fickle, tighter some days than others so wonder exactly where I should be at.

I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone here. I feel so at home. I got myself in a bit of trouble on my surgery month thread in a reply to a thread titled 'Anyone NOT exercising' (thread has since been moved to rants and raves). I took offense because I felt someone compared themselves to a 50 yr old in a negative way. This person had asked for advice and got very angry at what she got. I meant no ill will just said I was offended by the negative connotation to age. Someone else posted that some 10 yr olds are more mature than 50's, etc. I think I will stick with my fabulous 50 group! The thread got ugly and to think I had a part in it bothers me, though I still don't see how I was attacking or anything to anyone. :confused2::cake::thumbup::Banane34: I am about to leave this evening for a retirement party for hubby's uncle. Social settings still make me nervous. I need to remember to either not eat, or be very mindful of what I am eating and how much I am chewing as I get distracted socializing. Also many of these folks haven't seen me since my weight loss. I am wearing my new size 20 jeans! :present: PJ, I eat grilled meat all the time, that has been how we've been cooking mostly in the summer. I stay away from chicken breasts and eat thighs which seem to go down better. I've had steak, pork, just about anything, very small portions. As far as sizes, I noticed for me it took a long while to go down my first size. One theory is maybe they were really too small to start with and pretty tight so it took longer. Also I think as we lose we need to lose less to have a bigger impact. Think of it in terms of percentage of body fat, if at 300 lbs I lose 10% it's 30 lbs but at 200 lbs it would be 20. Therefore a 200 lb person would have to lose less to have it be more noticeable. These are just my theories. Not proven. ha ha I am getting into 14/16 on top but 20's on bottom. Started at 22/24s on top and 26's on bottom. I just went to Lane Bryant's 40% off sale and decided not to give them any more money today. I'll wait til I need smaller things.

Jachut, you and any other longer term banders can offer me advice in any June thread post you want. I long to follow your success and am well on my way but still have questions at times.

NSV = Non Scale Victory I'll have to be careful about the left over meat. So far I haven't had a problem or if I have it wasn't left over and because I ate too fast or too big of bite. I'd love to do a Hawaii cruise. We did them in opposite orders.