Boo

Going to the movies has always been synonymous with popcorn and candy! I used to leave the theatre feeling sick. Now I force myself to remember how I feel after eating the theatre's popcorn. It smells great, but I feel better if I bring in a frozen, flavored Vitamin Water, my dinner, or fruit and yogurt. Luckily, our AMC allows outside food! At home, the small micro packs are great. They aren't laden with fat to make me sick, the kernels are lighter and it goes down okay.

Sorry to sidetrack this thread, but how is Cushing's curable? Is it mainly with surgery and steroids?

Great advice, Road Queen, Aussie Chick and Photonut (again!).

Great post, Photonut. How does everyone eat with baby utensils and take bites the size of M & M's and explain to friends? I am now terrified to eat out with friends. I am a closet bandster and don't want to appear as if I have developed an eating disorder. I was so embarrassed to eat at an event that I ate too much, too fast trying to look normal. The thirty minutes in the bathroom were painful enough to make me want to avoid eating in public altogether!.

Though I never knew Ryan, reading his posts brings me to tears. As Mousecrazy pointed out, Ryan is an artist of words. This forum has also brought me friendship and support. Thank you to everyone! And hugs and prayers to Ryan's friends and family!

Wow! How do they diagnose this problem if there is no mass? Unfortunately, I have much experience with brain tumors, but don't know if that is of any help to you. I'm so sorry you have to go through this! Getting a shunt is not really that bad. I know it is terrifying to think about, but it can make a huge difference in how you feel. Dealing with excruciating headaches, dizziness and any other symptoms you are plagued with is MUCH worse than the surgery! I hope you can find some helpful information!

Maybe she was mad at herself for referring patients for gastric bypass when she could have sent them to get a band. Or maybe she was mad that her insurance won't cover a band for herself.

Hopes place, I am so sorry for your ordeal! I was going through the exact same thing until last Friday. My first fill was 1.0 cc. I had zero restriction and could eat almost anything (except guacamole.) Two months later I had a second fill for 2.0 cc. It was fine in the office, but on the way home I got a cold drink and immediately got stuck. After suffering for six days I called my doctor. (For an entire night I was up vomitting spit.) He saw me the next day and unfilled my band to 1.5 cc. I could drink, but still had problems with food. Called my doctor's office AGAIN and they had me come in the next day! Two weeks later (last Friday) I was unfilled to 1.2 cc. During the tight phase the weight was pouring off, but the weakness was not worth it. Also, the fear of compromising my band and damaging my esophagus was very scary. Now that I am unfilled to 1.2 cc I can eat anything. I'm scared now of gaining weight and have to wait a couple weeks to put a little more in. I've learned a few things from this experience: 1. Don't drink anything really cold if you are tight. I learned to take my morning medication with warm Water. 2. If it is too tight, get into the doctor a.s.a.p.! 3. It is better to be extra cautious. If you need an unfill, be generous. If you need a fill, go easy. 4. Sometimes a little Pepto Bismal can help. I will probably go in for another fill and just put in .1 cc and see how it goes. I'm scared to have another episode of constant pb's. GOOD LUCK!!!

Oh, honey, I am soooo sorry! That is the worst thing imaginable! Who did your surgery?

That is disgusting!!!! It is impossible to calculate how ONE little comment can effect our perceptions of our bodies FOR LIFE. Luckily, she has YOU!

Eve, what time did you leave TJ yesterday? I left Ortiz' office yesterday, also, but was not in their van. There was a line about 1/8 mile long to walk through the border crossing, and the cars were lined up for miles. This was in the mid-afternoon. The cars that were crossing were moving very slowly and there were border patrol agents searching every car. There were also special lanes for cars with certain passes, and a lane for buses and vans. Those moved faster. I paid $5 for a van to drop me off in one of the quicker lanes. It still took me 90 minutes to get across the border. It looked like a 2-4 hour wait for the cars and others in line. What did I learn? Don't try to go to TJ on Saturday afternoon for fills! I only needed my driver's license also. That will change on Dec. 31 of this year, though.

Clady! I echo what Marys says. As another one of Ortiz' patients, you probably were told to be on liquids for three weeks. The first week allows only clear liquids! It is too big a gamble to be eating anything or even drinking anything not on your list. Not only can you compromise your banding, but part of this whole experience is learning to follow the doctors' orders. There are specific eating rules later. It will make it so much easier to keep them if you keep the rules now. MARY! I am sooo sorry you had to fly emergency first class to Mexico! Ouch!!! And SCARY! I am going on Saturday and would have loved to see you there. I do exactly the same things as you. I eat too fast! The first few bites I am so careful and then my hunger takes my attention and I feel safe enough to put that next biteful in my mouth before the last has hit my stoma. Mornings are tough, too. I am getting my 2nd fill tomorrow. I only have 1.0 cc now. I hope I don't get too much! Who did your fill? You can pm me if you want! I have a hard head, too!

MonaLisa! This is the most amazing powder! You can go online to coffeebean.com and order the sugar-free/fat-free powder in chocolate or vanilla. (I like chocolate!) You mix it in the blender with ice cubes and a couple ounces of fat-free milk. It is YUMMY!!! You can also blend it with coffee. There is no wierd after taste. It costs about $9, but you only need 1 1/2 Tablespoons per drink. There is some protein in the drink and low carbs. To buy an ice-blended at Coffee Bean it costs $4-$5. So I make them at home. Thanks for starting this post. Sweets are my worst cravings!

To give up Diet Coke, I eliminated one can a day each week. It took me six weeks to go from 6/day to 0/day. I am amazed I don't miss it. I freeze Glaceau Vitamin Water. It gives me vitamins and is yummy. (125 calories in a bottle) The Tropical Citrus flavor does have caffeine in it.

My brother is a surgeon and I noticed at his house he had displayed a personal note from a patient. It was not on any special stationary and the words were misspelled (?), but the sentiment of appreciation meant alot to him. I think kind words of appreciation are the best gesture you can give!

I have a YUMMY chocolate ice blended from the Coffee Bean. It is sugar-free/fat-free and is amazing! Or I freeze "Vitamin Water" by Glacieu...yummy slushie! If I have one of these things every day, it curbs my sweet tooth with FEW calories.

I really feel for what you are going through. Your weight loss is awesome!! But what is more moving is how you care for so many people around you...twins AND a special needs child AND a mother-in-law AND an absent husband in grad school AND a difficult job!!! You need help!! Is there anyone at your church or in your community that can help you? Are there services available to help you with the special needs child? You must be the type that is extremely responsible and perfectionistic, because everyone trusts you to DO IT ALL! Sometimes you just have to say, "ENOUGH! I CAN"T DO THIS ALL BY MYSELF!" Your voice needs to be heard. Personally, I think you should start with your husband, then get some meds for anxiety, then look for another job..IF you can find a minute of time in your life. Prayers and hugs! Boo

Hey "Miper70", My experience has been similar to yours. I had all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but was barred from getting consistent help due to inconsistent tests. For years I have struggled through doctors' tests showing borderline hypothyroidism. I was put on medication, then taken off too many times. I finally found a good endocrinologist that asks me how I feel! He let me gradually add 25 mcg of Levothyroxine (synthroid) each week until it got to a level I could live with, which is 125 mcg. Now I don't feel like I am fighting to stay awake each day! Unfortunately, the medication has never caused me to lose weight. But it has prevented me from gaining! Whenever the bouts of complete exhaustion have hit me over the years, my weight has shot up. Now I feel so blessed to have the band because nothing was working for me before. Hypothyroidism is a condition that every tired, overweight person should be evaluated for.

Wheetsin, What do we get out of being fat?

Great thread, Wheetsin! I totally agree with Amy, "FunnyDuddies." A huge part of the appeal of the lapband , for me, was to limit or stop the continual weight gain. I didn't want to develop the co-morbidities. Also, the idea of banding teens to prevent MO is really interesting. It could completely change their lives. Sho, that is so frustrating to have the rapid weight gain as a side-effect of life-saving treatment. I do know what that is like, and it totally sucks! I thought it would be temporary because it came on so fast, but even years later, it is still hanging on. But even so, I am so grateful to be alive! At least it looks like you have your weight back down again. Personally, I fudged 1/2 inch on my height on my initial application. When I went to my first appointment to be weighed and measured, I stood tall and to my despair found out I had shrunk 1/2 inch and my height was correct. Karma!

Sooo pretty! I want one! Where can we get them? How is your daughter, by the way? I hope everything is fine!

I did not have one, either. I went to the bathroom right before I went in for surgery. The surgery is so quick and Dr. Ortiz has an excellent anesthesia, so you wake up completely alert about 30-45 minutes later. Anyway, don't worry about a catheter!

Thanks, Kathy! The egg drop soup saved me early on!! It is wierd how I can eat raw carrots, but get stuck on cottage cheese! It doesn't make sense. For me, the foods that hurt are lettuce, tomatoes, cottage cheese, pinto beans, any potatoes, and some meats. It doesn't matter how small the bites are. So I am learning to not go there. I AM learning to slow down. That has been a bad habit that I never knew I had. Thanks again everyone!

Another Update!! 4-3: JenRN - 263/257/248/150 - 15 total 4-3: Picardy3 - 298/300/282.5/150 - 17.5 total 4-3: tipper - 300/290/278/165 - 22 total 4-4: Sugar1 - 311/289/248/150 - 63 total<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = U2 /><U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1028 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> </U2:SHAPE> 4-5: Boo - 208/203/188/130 - 20 total 4-6: Disneynut - 290/287/260/125 - 27 total <U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1030 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""></U2:SHAPE> 4-11: Vickie1177 - 320/297/267/137 - 53 total 4-11: tellymelly - 240/235/203/135 - 37 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1032 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> </U2:SHAPE> 4-11: Fel0816 - 307/284/265/to get under 200 - 42 total 4-13: Nursekathy2u - 358/356/335/175 - 23 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1035 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""></U2:SHAPE> 4-13: NJgirl - 247/230/220/140 - 27 total 4-13: Miper70 - 217/201/145 down 16 lbs. 4 -17: Amourette - 22.5 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1039 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""></U2:SHAPE> 4 -17: Jeepergurrl - 242/222/140 - 20 total <U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1041 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""></U2:SHAPE> 4-18: Danaclark2 - 270/260.5/249/150 - 21 total 4-18: LapBandit - 392/369/347/336 -56 total 4-20: Omamoon - 220/211.5/202/130 - 18 total 4-21: Yoda - 273/257/246/150 - 27 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1043 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""></U2:SHAPE> 4-21: kristielynn - 310/302/281/150 - 29 total 4-24: Eficka - 125starting/117preop/111.1/69kg goal - total 13,9kgs/30.5 pounds<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1045 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> </U2:SHAPE> 4-24: Ceparano -255/270.5/247/170 - 23.5 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1047 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-24: Kat - 289/281/263/165 -26 lbs total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1049 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-24: hlj25950 - 262/257/241/160 - 21 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1051 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/255/145 - 11 total 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/229/150 - 35 total 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1053 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-27: lookingout - 185/178/165/101 - 20 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1055 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-27: flowergoddesstn - 214/204/190/130 - 24 total<U2:SHAPE id=_x0000_i1057 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""> <U2:IMAGEDATA u3:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif" src="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh %20%20%20%20tml1%5C01%5Cclip_i%20%20%20%20%20%20ma ge001.gif"></U2:IMAGEDATA></U2:SHAPE> 4-27: Dimples0323 - 284/284/250/145 - 30 Total 4-28: Susan4794 - 281.2/267/265.6/145 - 15.6 total 4-28: bluehill - 333/299/145 - 34 total <O =""></O>CONGRATULATIONS APRIL BANDSISTERS!!! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yeah! I have to stay with the softer foods also. It has been two months for me and I am still finding out what will or won't go down easily. So I haven't been entirely successful at following the recommended eating plan. The heavier foods just don't sit well, yet. WIll that change? I don't get a full feeling, either. Cottage cheese doesn't go down well for me. My biggest deterrent to eating is that I'm afraid of the pain!