NurseMelly

This thread is so weird for me. Almost none of what is posted here applies to me. I've never PB'd, slimed, or gotten stuck. I can definitely eat more than 3 bites of food. I can still drink, poop, and eat much like I used to except the quantities are smaller. I have to wonder if alot of people in this thread are way too tight or maybe I'm just the weirdest bandster alive??:crying: Just an observation. carry on all :redface:

My goal was 185. I'm 16 pounds away. Geez, I hope I can do it *LOL* I struggled with no weight loss for the last 3 weeks and then all of the sudden, it's picked up again. Here's hoping it will be smooth sailing till July :redface:

2 more pounds down after a long stall. YAY!

The scale finally started moving for me again! YAY! I'm at 201 today. It's so close now, I can taste it. I'm hoping I'll wake up and be there tomorrow but I know it might take a little longer than that. How's it going for you, Mary? Anyone else getting close to onderland?

You didn't cry during ET?? I still can't sit through that movie and not sob *LOL* I know, I'm pathetic.

I love breastfeeding! I know that's a weird thing to say but it is so wonderful!! Breastfed babies have less incidence of respiratory infection, ear infections, gut problems (ie. Celiac disease, NEC, constipation, Crohns, IBS), Diabetes, they score higher on IQ tests, have stronger eyesight, less allergies. Not to mention, it's so great for mom too. It burns over 500 calories a day, less preparation for feedings, less incidence of breast cancer, and it just creates this awesome bond. I don't care if anyone is offended by breastfeeding. It's one of the most precious and longest lasting gifts you can give your child. People need to get over themselves :rolleyes2:

I voted no. Of course, now a days you can easily convince a doctor to give you one. If you heard some of the made up reasons doctors allow a section, it's ridiculous. C-sections but you at risk for abruptions and hemorrhage in future pregnancies. Not to mention, infection. I've seen women who have needed wound vacs from c-sections. I've even seen a woman who ended up in critical care after her section because her incision became infected with C-diff. Hospitals are dirty places! C-sections require you to stay longer, putting you at greater risk for getting an infection. Is it common? No, but the risk is there. I've had both a vaginal birth and a c-section. Second baby was footling breach. Little sucker wouldn't turn for anything :thumbup: Let me tell you, you do not want a c-section. PAINFUL. I even had a 3rd degree tear with my vaginal delivery and I still recovered a million times faster than with the c-section. C-sections cut through the muscle thus it's common to have numbness and strange pain/needle type sensation for years after the surgery. I will tell you that having sex felt like someone was stabbing my guts with a knife for 6 months after I had my baby. And during all this you still have to get up and down taking care of a newborn and breastfeed. UGH. MacMadame is right. There is an obvious difference in the appearance of your stomach after a c-section. My belly looked much better before the 2nd baby. The skin tends to hang over your incision.:rolleyes2: Not to mention, the baby usually does better after a vaginal delivery. Traveling through the birth canal, squeezes alot of the Fluid out the babies' lungs. They tend to breathe much better and not require oxygen as often.

I'm not going to discuss this with you. You are the type of person that makes me glad I am not religious.

I'm over 4 months post op and mine still bothers me. It's not excruciating or anything like that but at times, it passes over annoying bridge and drives right to punched in the side town. There's nothing wrong with it. I just happen to be sensitive to surgery involving the muscle. I had a c-section almost 2 years ago and it was well over a year and a half before it stopped "feeling weird."

LMAO So now I am enabling prostitutes by providing medical care to them? Are you being serious? So, maybe we should refuse to treat trauma patients who come through the door that weren't wearing a seat belt in a car accident. After all, they brought it on themselves. If we follow your line of logic, that's a very slippery slope. Refusing medical care to people because someone deems their actions immoral? Think about that, really? That would mean no care for drug addicts, fat people, adulterers, prostitutes, gamblers, people who gossip about others, etc. Who would be the one to judge who should receive treatment? YOU?

Wrong. Nadia was receiving public assistance for the kids she had before the octuplets so following your line of thinking, we shouldn't give her a dime for the kids she continued to have. Oh, except because she claims to be a Christian, you're all for supporting her. Hypocrisy. And where or where did a victim of domestic violence and abuse bring that situation on themselves? How does someone who is mentally ill cause that? People like that can't hold down a job at McDonalds. Despite what you probably think that actually takes functioning brain cognition. Many of these people are not in the right frame of mind to even make sure they shower everyday much less know how to fill out a job application. Your thought process is extremely flawed because you live in a glass house. Yes, you do hate. Yes, I do feel sorry for you. Thank you Kat and Nanook! I don't make a ton of money because I work in public health (made much more in the hospital) but I feel it's what I was meant to do. The rewards are much better than money :scared2:

Awww...thanks Beth, I've been having one of those down days where it just seems like I'm not doing as well as I want to. Your post made me feel better. BTW, every time I see your ticker now, it keeps moving down!! You're doing fantastic and it seems like the weight is just dropping now :grouphug:

Yes! This! I wish people would get this. Until you hit restriction (I have 5.5 cc and no restriction), you are dieting and exercising. Lap band is a slow process for many people. I happen to be one of them and even though I know this is normal, it can be frustrating at times.

Wow, very interesting thread! I've loved reading everyone's responses. I, myself, don't believe in organized religion. I do, however, consider myself spiritual. I wasn't raised in the church. My mom was and still is extremely mentally ill (diagnosed bi-polar and BPD). I'm sure that really shaped me and my beliefs. I've just never felt connected to most people who claim to be Christians. I remember when I was 13 my mother OD'd on a cocktail of pills in a suicide attempt (she was molested by her father growing up, ironically an upstanding church member). She was in ICU for days and then committed to a psych ward for 4 months. My father was in the military and happened to be on a long tour in Korea when it all took place. My brother and I had to go live with our grandparents, who happened to be really religious. They made us go to church during that time and I still vividly remember a member telling me that I was lucky my mom didn't die because if she had she would have gone to hell since apparently suicide = going to hell. I always thought that was strange. I mean, my mom is sick, just the same as someone with cancer. I'm to believe that God would then punish this person to a life of eternal damnation? I just don't get that. I also don't understand why those who claim to follow someone who teaches compassion and understanding for others would tell this to a girl who almost lost her mother? Yet, I find these attitudes in many Christians. It saddens me. I like to believe there is something out there greater than myself, but I'm not 100% sure. I choose to do the right thing not because I'm scared of some divine retribution but because it feels right to me. Isn't that better than the former? On a side note, I found it kind of funny that many of those with a "higher education" on this thread happen to be nurses. We chose a career helping others because we're hideous, small minded people?? LOL

Not really true. I'm guessing you don't get out much. I'm a public health nurse and I deal with this particular population daily. I take care of at risk pregnant moms and babies. Many of these women come from abusive backgrounds, many have no higher than an 8th grade education. I see lots of drug addicts, mental illness, and people who just are victims of bad circumstances. They are people just the same. They do what they must to get food for their children and pay the bills. Don't judge people unless you've walked a mile in their shoes. I've read many of your posts and I feel sorry for people like you. You seem so overcome with hate. I love my job! I get to help these women learn how to care for themselves and their babies and surprisingly, lots of times I learn about myself from them. I care about my clients. I'm not there to judge their lifestyle. I'm there to see that they are safe and their babies are safe.

Whew, you give me hope. I kept thinking something was wrong with me. I have 5.5 cc and can still eat pretty normally. I've never Pb'd, slimed, or gotten stuck. I can still eat a whole sandwich. I feel like I'm never gonna reach restriction! I exercise and keep my food choices healthy but I'm definitely not full on just 1/2 cup of food. So it took you over 7.5 cc to get restriction?

Oh please It doesn't sound like malingering at all. In fact, if you cared to read anything about the human body, you would know we all heal at different paces. The OP never said she was lying around all day. She said she didn't feel good, which is to be expected after surgery. To the OP, I didn't feel well either. I went back to work in a week but my port area bothered me quite a bit. In fact, it still bothers me at times during exercise and I'm 4 months post op. I hope you feel better soon!

Like Fanny said, I've found that grilled chicken salad tends to stay with me for a long time and I feel satisfied throughout the afternoon. I got a lap band to eat like a normal healthy person, not cut out entire food groups. I suppose it would be better to eat a lean cuisine full of preservatives and crap as long as it had 20 g of protein???

Thanks for the support! Yes, Fanny, I am sensitive to weight gain around my cycle which is due next week. I also started a new BC pill 3 weeks ago and I've been spotting off and on because of it so maybe all that is affecting me. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and maybe I'll just wake up one day and be 199. That would be nice!!

Hey Mary!! I'm feeling so frustrated! I weighed yesterday morning 202, this morning 203. I've been exercising my booty off but I seem to stay the same. Maybe I'm eating too much?? I'm entering all my foods into dailyplate and I'm always under the amt of calories it says I need to eat to lose 2 pounds per week. Maybe that site's not accurate for WLS patients?? I make good food choices but I'm definitely not full on 3 bites of food like alot of people post on this site. I don't know if I should just limit myself to 1/2 cup of food per meal and just cut myself off or what. I went jogging tonight instead of doing my Slim in 6 video to try and shake things up. I'm open to suggestions if you have any!! My doctor will only let me get a fill every 6 weeks so I don't go back till June 10th. I want to be like 195 by then but lately I'm feeling like it's impossible. Talk me off the ledge :thumbup:

AACK! We're so not friends anymore! hehe That's awesome!!! I was banded around the same time and I'm only down a little over 40 and I feel like I'm killing myself *LOL* Are you male or female if you don't mind me asking?

Big Congrats!! You've done an awesome job!

This is only my personal opinion so take it for what it's worth but I feel the band is a good option for SOME, not ALL. There are certain cases that I feel should opt for something other than the band. I think you need to look at a multitude of things before you decide what WLS is right for you. I feel like the band is better for those with lower BMI's. Had I been heavier and had a BMI of 50 or over, there is no way I would have been banded. I would have chosen something with malabsorption in that case. Actually, if my insurance would have covered the sleeve that is what I would have gone with and probably will convert to when/if my band ever gives me trouble. For alot of people the band is work. It's alot like dieting but with some built in portion control. You still have to make good food choices. You HAVE to exercise if you intend to make it to a normal BMI. If you're fine paying for a band and losing only 30 pounds than maybe you can sit around and let the band do all the work. I know for myself, I will not be satisfied until I've lost at least 100 pounds and I would like to do that by my 1 year bandiversary. This requires me to be meticulous and committed. I have to log my food and I have to exercise at least 5 days a week or I just stall with my weight loss. Also the band is not without complications of its own, which each WLS surgery has. Do your research and pick the WLS that is right for YOU. Good Luck!

Thanks Mary! This virus actually knocked me down pretty hard. I ended up leaving work early on Wednesday, stayed home on Thursday, and tried to go back Friday but only made it half day. I came home, took some Nyquil and just slept. I actually feel so much better today. Guess my body needed that sleep. You're right us nurses take care of everyone else but ourselves. Guess that's how I got so overweight too *LOL* Yeah, this swine flu thing is crazy. I have to pull shelter duty in cases of disasters and pandemics and they've already put us on call this weekend. I think they're going a little overboard but who knows. I'm still holding at 203. GAH!! Move scale, move