clayverde

Well, I'm not done with my weight loss journey, but the difference is so significant that I thought it was time to post here. I recently went to a routine appointment and was shown the picture taken by the doctor's office at the beginning of my journey. Actually, she thought she had the wrong patient picture at first because she didn't think it was me!! Even I was shocked at the picture - so here are a few pictures that show some of the before and after. The only thing I regret about the band is that I didn't do it sooner! I love my band and even with hassles, etc. it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I hope this helps as much as these pictures helped me when I started out and needed to see the proof that this could work. Good Luck! Claire Before and After

Hi all - I have had the band for a few years now and have lost lost of weight and I had a tummy tuck about 12 weeks ago now (BTW - LOVE it, best money ever spent!!). Anyway, I have been having major problems with loud noises and gurgling from my tummy. It doesn't seem to be connected to what I'm eating (but I am terrible about noticing that kind of thing), and it is often, but not always, accompanied by gas. I kept thinking that if I was able to get rid of the gas (which seems to get trapped at times since the surgery), the noises would stop but they don't seem to be. So now my stomach is gurgling away all the time and is VERY loud. Like strangers noticing and asking if I'm all right! Is this normal? Should I be trying to pinpoint a food that is the culprit? Is this just life with the band? Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions and/or just plain old complaining would be welcome!! PS - annoying and uncomfortable enough to finally post something on the boards, not even close to making me want to get rid of the band - I LOVE my band!!!!!!

Hmm... that is very interesting and I never thought of that. Especially because I am about to make an appointment to go get a fill!! I'll have to think about that one now. I wonder if it could also be too loose? It feels like I'm hungry a lot of the time it is happening, so maybe it is actual hunger (but I'm eating enough and the right stuff, etc.) because the band isn't tight enough and I never feel full? I dunno.... I'll update the post when I do get the fill and we'll see what happens!

You know, it DID occur to me that maybe this was how it has always been, but all the fat and skin muffled the sound - especially because I carried all my extra weight on my tummy and they removed 14 lbs of skin and fat!! But then I realized that I can feel it on the inside too, the rumbling and vibration can get pretty loud and strong, and while it has happened on and off since I got my band, lately, it seems to be all the time AND more severe then I had ever experienced. It is moderately annoying and mildly uncomfortable, but I was mainly concerned that it might be a symptom of a problem or something. I figure that I'm going to see my Dr in a few weeks anyway and I'll mention it then. But then I thought about the board and realized that it might be a really common thing with a simple fix, I just had to ask - so I did! I will also DEFINITELY agree that I'd rather have a loud flat tummy than a quiet fat one!! But if I can manage to keep the flat one just a bit softer, that'd be nice too!

The surgeon's post care instructions said to "remove dressing and reapply as necessary." But I wasn't sure what was necessary or not and what to replace it with. And it did say to not shower, that question was more my own wondering. And I think that until I have my drains removed in a week, the point is just to make sure I don't leave the same dressing on the whole time. I don't actually touch or adjust the drains or anything (well, beyond the emptying and measuring.) I was nervous seeing the incision and touching it to gently clean it, but it didn't hurt (much) and wasn't as fragile as I was afraid it would be. (Nightmare images of touching it and it "unzipping" were just that - nightmares!) I did end up calling the on-call surgeon anyway (my husband agreed with canadagirl33's thinking and said - we just paid a butt ton of money for this surgery, completely out of pocket, so if we need clarification, we ARE going to call for it!!) and he was nice about it. He said to remove the dressings, clean gently and reapply new gauze bandages only if the incision was weeping, but if not then to just put the binder back on. So I ended up just removing the dressing, gently cleaning and then binder back on. Thanks for the help and comments!!

I had a full tummy tuck on the 15th (yeah!!) and I was told a few days after the surgery to "take of the dressing and clean the wound". So here we are and it seems much more complicated than that. We (hubby and I) opened up the elastic compression bandage and found a large white dressing that wraps all the way around me. Does this just come off? What's under there? What is the best way to do this - recliner or standing up? Do I have to replace the dressing? Or just clean it up and then put the compression on again? Spongebath - what exactly can't I get wet? If I'm cleaning the whole area with soap and water, why not just take a shower? Questions that should have been asked before but weren't thought of until now, which is of course a sunday afternoon and so nobody to call except the emergency dr, and I don't think these questions constitute an emergency. So please, bandsters unite and help me figure this out!! Thanks!:smile:

Hi - I was just banded on Monday and am now home. Everything is going fine, EXCEPT gas pain. The pain meds take care of the actual surgery pain, but my stomach is so distended and tight with gas. It is painful and I can't seem to get rid of it. I have no problems with using the obvious methods, but my body just doesn't seem to be using them! So I am stuck and it is painful. Any hints, suggestions, etc. on what to do? I am doing so great in every other aspect, that if I could just address this issue, I'd be SOO relieved and happy!! Also, I am drinking a lot of apple juice - does that cause gas? Thanks for any help you can give me!! :thumbup:

Hi - I have Triwest and I am waiting right now to find out if the panniculectomy was approved. I was told that it is normally approved given the amount of weight loss and excess skin that I have. I keep checking the website, but it still says under medical review. I have high hopes that it will be decided quickly (the approval process for the lapband surgery was just three days) but who knows? The surgeon was very clear with me that he has never seen an insurance pay for the leg or arm lift. Any portion of it. I know that a breast reduction will be covered by Triwest, but I'm not sure if that surgery would also be a breast lift or what. The surgeon I am using works at the same hospital that I had the lapband done. He has worked many times with lapband (and other weight loss patients). He feels strongly that any and all possible surgeries I would consider doing should be done individually and with time between them. He said that patients like us can often have a higher rate of complications - he feels that keeping the surgery time limited and focused on one thing helps reduce possible complications, etc. Plus, he said that it is very difficult to know exactly what the skin and shape will look like when it heals. So he said it helps to let everything heal and settle and then take a look at the boobs or arms, etc. So, for instance, when he takes a look at my boobs AFTER the tummy tuck, he will have a better idea of what the size and shape, etc. of the boobs will be best especially in comparison to where my belly is then. What the proportions will be. (I hope that I'm making sense there... I understand it but I'm not sure I'm explaining it well.) While I am of course anxious to get it all done and done RIGHT NOW, I am of course also concerned with my health (what point is having a flat tummy but a massive staph infection??). Also, as soon as he explained about wanting to take each new surgery be able to see exactly what will look best in relation to what my tummy actually looks like, instead of what he thinks it will look like once the swelling goes down. And, frankly, this allows us to save up money for each new thing. Anyway, so the tummy tuck is definitely NOT covered by Triwest but the panniculectomy often is if the surgeon provides pics and evidence of the medical necessity to remove it. Of course he recommended the tummy tuck for a few different reasons (the repair to the abdominal muscles, the fact that the tummy tuck removes more skin and fat than the simple panni, and the additional lipo etc gives a better looking final result) but of course that is not covered. We were able to talk to the hospital and (hopefully!) Tricare will cover the panni and my husband and I will pay the difference to the tummy tuck. That way, I get the results I want but my insurance covers at least a portion, which is what made coming up with the money for the difference much easier. Obviously, I'll keep you updated as I get approvals, etc.!! Good Luck!

Hi - congrats on all your weight loss! I too have had my band for over a year now and love it. Everything has changed for the better. HOWEVER - losing weight does NOT solve clinical depression. I did have terrible self esteem and depression issues due to my weight, the way I was treated, the things I couldn't do, etc. And that part of the depression has improved enormously. But I also have clinical depression and found that I have had more issue with it since I have lost weight. Mainly because as you lose weight, your hormones keep changing and adjusting which in turn means you need to keep seeing a doctor to change and adjust your depression meds to reflect that. For me, my husband actually notices the signs of depression sooner than I do and lets me know so I can make an appointment. This helps manage the depression better than waiting until it is a real problem and THEN trying to get an appointment, etc. Given the wait time for appointments, the potential time of insurance approval, and the time it takes to adjust to the new levels of depression meds before seeing any results, it is crucial to stay on top of it. That being said, the band in no way made any of those issues worse. And because it did alleviate so much depression associated with the weight, the issue of managing the depression was easier as well. And once you get to the point where the weight is much slower to come off or you hit goal, the meds are pretty steady as well and you see MUCH improvement in every aspect of your life. I hope this makes sense! Good Luck!!

HI - I'm another vote for Lose it! app. I love it!! Not only is it free (yeah!!) but it is actually a great program. It has a huge database, you can add items and even break it down into individual servings, AND, especially good for us bandsters, you can break down the daily info to keep track of fat, protein, etc. per day and even per week. I highly recommend it! Good Luck! Claire

I just passed my one year anniversary and I have lost a total of 85 lbs!! While I have a way to go still, the difference is amazing - people I have known for years barely recognize me. I can't wait to lose the rest and have been losing slowly but surely, so I am (for the first time) really confident it is just a matter of time until I get there!! Claire

Well said Drew05!!! I would also like to mention 2 things I forgot in my last post: 1. I really enjoy smoking a tiny bit before exercise. Why? Because it makes the time go by faster; it makes the time more enjoyable (I love to do my Bollywood Booty exercise while slightly stoned - it actually feels fun and sexy! Who doesn't want to feel that way while exercising??); it makes the exercise slightly easier (especially at my heaviest, exercise and stretching could hurt and then discourage me from continuing. While moderation and care is key, the slight high can ease the aches and pains allowing me to push through the exercises and actually finish. Careful though - don't want to push yourself into injuring yourself!!); it makes me forget the munchies! When I work out like that, I don't munch and it wears off when the hour is over; it makes something I normally dread seem fun and enjoyable which helps me do it and not avoid it. I realize this wouldn't work for everyone, but it really does for me. 2. Get to know your strains! Different strains of MJ will contain various percentages of both sativa and indica. The sativa gives you a more upbeat, cerebral high. The indica gives you the mellow, stoney high. I can't remember which one (but I think it's the indica), is the one that is more likely to cause the munchies. So when you buy (or before you buy), research the strain online. It isn't always there, but often you can find the strain and lots of information about it. Then you can begin to keep a real or mental list of the types and the effects it caused. Then just avoid the ones that give you the worst munchies, etc. I'm a geek, but I really do have a computer list with basic descriptions and ratings for myself! This is another huge help to me in being able to buy the stuff that will work with me and my life (so, less munchie issues for the lapband girl!). Good Luck!!

Hi - just had to add a quick reply - I was terrified and the morning of the surgery I was so sick to my stomach. It was a relief when they finally knocked me out! Everyone had great advice for you, but here is my two cents: Get prepared - fill out the living will info, create a will (doesn't have to be a lawyer visit - do some research on the net and you can create a valid one yourself), etc. That helped me because I felt I was actively DOING something to prepare for the worst case scenario. Do lots of research - the more you know, the better you'll be. I looked at the risks of death associated with obesity and they are astronomical compared to death by the surgery. Know your doctor and hospital - they had the lowest numbers in the state, which also helped reassure me. Finally, talk to and look up posts, profiles, etc. of people who have succeeded with the band. This really helps remind you that not only is the surgery worth it, but what you are really looking at to accomplish and how your life will be so different when you achieve that goal. I look back now and laugh because this surgery and the aftermath were almost ridiculously easy. (I mean, it was painful, etc. BUT compared to how I was living every day before - overweight, tired, achey, lonely, excluded, etc etc. - the surgery was a breeze!) I let my fear of the surgery keep me from doing this earlier and now that is the ONLY thing I regret! I wish I had done this so much earlier. I love my band and, aside from my husband and my children, it is the best thing I have EVER done for myself. I have been happier now than I've been in years. My husband, family and friends constantly comment that it is like "getting the old Claire back". Just keep thinking that what you are going through now IS the hard part - it gets easier after this!! Good luck!!!

I no longer have those pains, but I distinctly remember them right after the surgery and lasting for quite awhile afterwards. I tended to have the pain as a sharp, aching in my left shoulder. I remember being told at the time that it wasn't uncommon. There is some nerve that runs right near the area that the band is put in that runs up the chest and to the shoulder. With the surgery and inflammation, etc., that nerve is irritated which causes the pain in the shoulder. I was so nervous I was having a heart attack!! Eventually it went away, and now I only occasionally have that pain after I get a fill (which again makes sense if it is a nerve irritation thing.) But you always have to be careful - you don't want to dismiss it if it is a real heart attack! No matter what, I'd bring it up to your doctor and see what he/she says. Hopefully, this will help ease the panic factor to help better figure out if this is a serious issue or the aches and pains of having invasive surgery! Good luck!

Hi - I've been banded for about a year now and have smoked pretty much the entire time after the banding. I have never had any problems with it whatsoever. The munchies are always an issue to be aware of, but there are lots of things you can do to deal with it. One thing I do is smoke before a meal and have the meal already prepared and waiting. That way, when I'm hungry, I already have a healthy meal waiting that I am supposed to eat anyway (as opposed to a snack). I also stock up on healthy snacks - I make a homemade trail mix with nuts and craisins that is coated in egg white, splenda and cinnamon and baked. It is delicious but still low in calories (well, extra calories beyond the nuts - they have high calories and fat content but it is the good fat and they have lots of protein, so as long as you limit the amount, the calories balance out). When I have some of that, I take a specific measurement (like 1/3 cup) and put it in a bowl and put the rest away. Then I sit down knowing when it is gone, I'm done. This also helps "feed" the munchies, but in a healthy and controlled way. Sugar free popsicles, sugar free or low fat hot chocolate, chocolate covered craisins (again, small specific amount) etc are also ways to fill cravings for sweets or crunchy or whatever without ruining your diet or causing slippage or stretching the pouch. And I agree with TheWatcher - I have managed to lose 80 lbs, so I guess I'm doing something right! I think you just have to find the right balance for YOU - and it may or may not include smoking weed! Good Luck and congratulations on choosing to change your life for the better!!

Hi all - I have been very lucky and never had a problem with any foods getting stuck all the time or foods that I just can't tolerate. But yesterday and today I ate some home made granola (rolled oats, oat bran, wheat germ and nuts, etc) and both times right after I got terrible stomach aches. It felt like my stomach was inflated and trying to get bigger but couldn't. Or like I have tons of gas trapped in there but that isn't the case - no gas, just that too full feeling and pain. I didn't eat a lot of it at all, so it isn't literally too much food. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Any ideas on what could be causing the problem? Thanks for the help!! Claire

Pashee - I definitely understand what you are talking about. I smoke a lot too and while I have lost quite a bit of weight, I recently gained back 3 pounds and it has been because I let things "slide" while I have munchies. But I do have a few recommendations for you, because I have been smoking the entire time after the surgery and still have lost 80 lbs, so it isn't like I have a huge problem with it. I just need to get back on track with these tricks I developed. First of all, all weed isn't the same. If you buy stuff that has names, look it up. I have found tons of information about strands I have bought. The two main issues of weed are sativia (sp?) and indica. One of them produces a more "heavy" high with munchies and the other produces a more "alert" high without munchies. I have found that when I smoke one that is more of the alert type (I forget which one causes which, but you can look it up), not only do I not get munchies, my band actually feels tighter. I find that even if I do eat (like a healthy dinner) it tends to "stick" after smoking that type. Then there are others that make me ravenous. I have started jotting down the names and a few comments about it in a Word document. Kind of lame, I know, but that helps me keep track of which ones were really good and no munchies and which ones were dangerous because of the food issue. The other thing I'd recommend is finding other ways to satisfy the cravings. So I like to keep things on hand like sugar free Jello and low fat whip cream. Or sugar free hot chocolate. Sugar free pudding. Also almonds for a salty craving. The jello cups, etc. are good because they are already in good proportion sizes and prevent you from filling up too much. All of these things are (relatively) good for you and fulfill the craving without blowing the band out. Another great one for me are small candies like sugar free Lifesavers or a dark chocolate bar that I break one piece off and put the rest away. The final thing I can suggest is to occupy yourself to distract you from the hunger. A lot of it is mental, so if you can keep your mind busy, you'll be a lot less likely to blow it. Obviously it doesn't have to be crazy, but I like to play viva pinata, or read a book, or watch cartoon network, or even veg out with my ipod. But that helps keep me busy enough to distract me from munchies. And the more you smoke without getting munchies, the more that will seem normal and help it get easier. Hope this all helps! Claire

Hi all - I love my band and have great results. The main issue I have now is to fill or not to fill. Right now, I have never PB'd and I have only occasionally gotten that stuck feeling, which goes away pretty quickly (well, it doesn't FEEL quick!). So the issue is that I can easily eat more than the 1 cup the doctors advise me to eat. I am good about not eating a lot, but I would say I generally eat about 1 and 1/2 cup to 2 cups of food per meal. So I would normally think get a fill, right? But at the same time, I don't get hungry between meals, I often could even skip meals without feeling hungry, I'm not uncomfortable ever after eating the larger amount, things still sometimes feel stuck and I'm still losing weight at a steady and comfortable rate. So then I wonder if I should just not rock the boat - if I get another fill, will it lead to more problems? And I've been at this same fill amount for about 4 or 5 months. So do I go with the I'm eating a bit too much and try to get a small fill? Or do I go with the All the other issues (feeling comfortably full and still losing weight) and let it be for now? Thanks for any advice you guys can give me!!

Hi Jessica - first of all - CONGRATULATIONS on such a great job with your weight loss! So don't be too hard on yourself, as you have already accomplished so much. As to some tips - here are a few that occurred to me after reading your post: 1. Try to have some meals ready and waiting for you when you get home AND some things that are still good but very easy to prepare. I find that when I am hungry and tired is when I have the worst time staying strong! So I try to have a few healthy frozen meals, a few small meals in tupperware in the fridge, and a few easy things to eat that are still within my acceptable foods. My favorite is actually cottage cheese with a Target brand pineapple salsa. It is super fast, it is very high in Protein and low in fat and it tastes good. Another good choice are almonds. If I am starving before dinner, I have a handful of almonds which help soothe the pain and tide me over while I get my real dinner together. 2. Find some substitutes that satisfy that sweet tooth. Again, I am addicted to having something sweet right before bed. I normally have either sugar free cocoa (which is sweet and warm and choclatey but still okay) or I have vanilla milk. For that, I use my low fat milk and add some splenda. Then microwave it for about 1 min to 1 and 1/2 minutes then stir in some vanilla. It is sweet and yummy but not bad for the diet. Hope those help!

Hi all - I had to post because I have had a difficult time with every fill I've had (although there have only been 3 or 4). I have the same PA every time and she is great - I love her, but she can never find the port exactly right. And after the second time when I came very close to passing out in her office, she decided that it would be easier for everyone involved if I get my fills done with the x-ray from now on. The last time after quite a few failed attempts, she had me go to x-ray and I was a wreck (after the failed attempts and pain and all - plus I am a huge baby!). But I got in there and they did the fill and it was MUCH easier because he got it on the first try because they could actually see it. And I was worried about the port flipping or something too, but it wasn't. It is just hard to feel exactly where the port is under all that fat, etc. Now I have lost a lot more weight than last time and you can actually see the little bump on my tummy where the port is, so I hope that this next fill (coming soon) will be a lot easier. The doctor also assured me that had the port actually been flipped, it still would have been a relatively easy thing to repair - it is even an out patient thing, so no overnight stays. I have a blog entry with the more specific information about the fill should you want more details, but I feel all of your pain and wanted to let you know that there is some hope! Good luck!!

Wow - I never meant to let it get this long without another posting. Yet more evidence that the more weight you lose, the more you re-enter the real world and that thing called "a life" that you have been avoiding, which means you just get busier and busier!! SOO.... I have been doing great. I have lost 62 lbs. now but I know that I have been slipping from the right path. One thing is my food choices. Not the greatest lately. Not terrible (I AM still losing weight) but not great - a few too many cookies here and there. And while it hasn't derailed my success (YET), it just shows me that I am getting complacent - lazy! So I need to get back on track. The second thing I have been bad about is exercise. I basically haven't exercised at all since the start of winter. Given that it is now mid-February and that I live in MN, so winter began about September - that is a long time and, again, a bad habit. It has been so cold that walking outdoors wasn't an option. And I joined the YMCA with the intention of swimming (the only exercise I actually enjoy!) but it has ended up being a hassle to get the truck. We only have the one SUV and Pat uses it to go to work. Normally it isn't that big of a deal because we live so close to the base that I can take the truck anytime. But it means getting everyone up really early (about 5:30am) to bring Pat in and then come home. So I recently bought a treadmill on Craigslist for $50 (great deal!!) and I am excited. Imagine that - me excited about exercise!! But I am! I feel that I have already had a lot of success with my weight loss and can you imagine the results if I actually got off my butt and did some exercise?? Well, I can and I like it!! It will be nice to be able to go to the den downstairs and put my ipod on or watch TV while I walk and Molly can play, etc. So my exercise is now completely in my hands - no excuses about the truck or weather. And I am looking forward to the challenge. (Which is shocking to me that I even wrote that sentence!!) The last thing that I am being bad about is going to the lapband doctor. I don't need a fill (I don't think so anyway. I am pretty happy where I am at. I already skip meals at times because I just forget and I'm not hungry. *I am NOT advocating that as a good idea!!* I'm just being honest. But I also feel that when I do eat, I can eat more than the one cup that I should be eating. But I am more concerned that if I get the fill any tighter, I might stop eating even more, which is obviously not healthy. So I think I'll stay where I am for now.) But what happened was I missed the first appointment because I flaked out. So I rescheduled and it was about a month later before they could get me in. So next thing you know, I freaking flake on that one too!! (I often ask myself if I am really an adult and so far, I can't answer myself!) So I was really disappointed in myself and embarrassed that I did that twice. So then I didn't want to call and make another appointment - I felt like I'd be scolded or they'll be mad at me. Which is ridiculous. They have so many patients they probably don't remember that I missed the dang appointments anyway. And even if they do - what are they going to do?? Make a comment and we all move on. But I have let it go on for so long now, that I really don't want to face them and have to admit how long since I've seen the doctor. (Hello?? Will Claire the adult please stand up??) This is childish and I know it, but I can't seem to get over the feeling like I've let them down and I don't want to show my face there. So I think I will call and schedule an appointment and make my husband go with me. He is really my rock - he is a no-BS type of guy and helps me overcome these types of issues and see how silly it really is. So that is how I have been bad. BOO!!! :w00t: Now onto the good stuff!! I have lost 62 lbs baby!! I used to wear a 26/28 and I am now in a 22/24!! I just bagged up the last of the too big clothes from my closet and with our tax return we got me some clothes. Which I loved. Not only shopping for smaller sizes, but the way clothes looked better on me, the fact that there are cuter clothes to choose from, that there is more variety to choose from, etc etc. So that was pretty awesome. My husband spent a fortune on lingerie for me!! Every pair of panties are adorable now (or sexy) and I even have some actual lingerie. Which brings me to a side point that someone else mentioned and I figured I should talk about it. If sex is TMI for you, skip to the next paragraph!! Okay - sex is GREAT! I mean, I've always enjoyed sex, but for quite awhile before the surgery, I had NO sex drive. I just never felt like having sex. I still enjoyed it when I did have it, I just never felt much like having it. But now, it is so different! Not only do I have a normal sex drive, but the sex is better. Why? Well, for one thing, there are positions and stuff like that we can do now that we haven't been able to do in awhile. But now we can because I have lost so much weight. I don't know whether it is hormones or what, but the "grand finale" is much better too. Which of course makes me want sex more often, etc. So that is a great side effect of all of this - my husband thanks the surgeon every night!! Back to the normal great stuff - in losing so much weight, I am beginning to literally and figuratively "find" myself. I am seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in ages (not always a good thing, but the novelty is nice!). I am discovering my body and beginning to feel like we are friends again. For so long I felt like I battled my own body all the time - being sick all the time, all the problems and medications I was on, and the constant battle to lose weight with no results. But now I am beginning to feel like my body and I are working together and now that we are on the same side, I am beginning to actually be proud of my body - despite the imperfections. I feel like I earned those battle scars and that despite the abuse my body has endured, it is still here and we are on the right track now and my body is still going! I don't know how else to describe it. But I also am finding ME. The actual person and personality that has been smothered for so long under all that fat. I've begun to realize that I have a sense of style and individuality that is beginning to be reflected in my clothes - for so long it was all about the clothes that fit and would flatter as much as possible while still fitting in my budget. That doesn't really allow for style and personality. But now, I am discovering that I am pretty off beat. Maybe it is also a reaction to having to wear fat girl clothes for so long, which are often kind of older and dowdy, but I am really throwing that aside. I realized that I love the Rockabilly look (very old school, Bettie Page hair, pencil skirts, peep toe shoes, etc.) which I'm still not small enough to pull off, but I still like more edgy clothes and styles. I have begun to shop exclusively at Torrid. Now, there are a lot of clothes there that are not my style AND way too young for me, but there is a lot there that I really love. I am dressing younger and hipper. I painted my nails purple the other day!! Which, if you knew me, is pretty extreme. I was always so conservative. But I loved it. For my 32nd birthday in January, I got the top of my right ear pierced AND my nose pierced!! I have always wanted to get it done - I love the way it looks. But I always felt like I was too fat and too old. A mother of two who is 32 does NOT get her nose pierced. But when my husband found out that THAT was the reason I haven't done it, he was adamant that I was getting it done. That was my birthday present from him. He said, "Who says you are too old?? Who cares what anyone thinks?? You want to get it done, it would make you happy - what does anyone else's opinion matter??" It might be different if I worked at a very conservative job, but I don't!! I'm a stay at home mom and I'm going to college online for graphic design. My hubby said that my nose ring and new look are perfect for an "artsy" career. He said that looking young and being your own person and slightly unconventional will probably be a plus in my job field, when I get that far. So I am happy about that - I feel like I am developing my own style and learning all over again what I really like and what works for me. Of course I am still busy with the kids - James is in third grade and he just had his 9th birthday party. Molly is about to start kindergarten in September (boo hoo!!:smile:) and her 5th birthday party is in a month, which I am still trying to get my butt in gear and finish planning everything for. (Get my butt in gear - are we sensing a theme here??) Patrick is frustrated at his job, but we are actually all really happy. Life for our entire family has steadily improved since I got this surgery. It has changed our lives in so many ways - many of them unexpected. So, that is about it for now. As usual, I'll end with - I LOVE MY LAPBAND!! :tt2:

Wow - I never meant to let it get this long without another posting. Yet more evidence that the more weight you lose, the more you re-enter the real world and that thing called "a life" that you have been avoiding, which means you just get busier and busier!! SOO.... I have been doing great. I have lost 62 lbs. now but I know that I have been slipping from the right path. One thing is my food choices. Not the greatest lately. Not terrible (I AM still losing weight) but not great - a few too many cookies here and there. And while it hasn't derailed my success (YET), it just shows me that I am getting complacent - lazy! So I need to get back on track. The second thing I have been bad about is exercise. I basically haven't exercised at all since the start of winter. Given that it is now mid-February and that I live in MN, so winter began about September - that is a long time and, again, a bad habit. It has been so cold that walking outdoors wasn't an option. And I joined the YMCA with the intention of swimming (the only exercise I actually enjoy!) but it has ended up being a hassle to get the truck. We only have the one SUV and Pat uses it to go to work. Normally it isn't that big of a deal because we live so close to the base that I can take the truck anytime. But it means getting everyone up really early (about 5:30am) to bring Pat in and then come home. So I recently bought a treadmill on Craigslist for $50 (great deal!!) and I am excited. Imagine that - me excited about exercise!! But I am! I feel that I have already had a lot of success with my weight loss and can you imagine the results if I actually got off my butt and did some exercise?? Well, I can and I like it!! It will be nice to be able to go to the den downstairs and put my ipod on or watch TV while I walk and Molly can play, etc. So my exercise is now completely in my hands - no excuses about the truck or weather. And I am looking forward to the challenge. (Which is shocking to me that I even wrote that sentence!!) The last thing that I am being bad about is going to the lapband doctor. I don't need a fill (I don't think so anyway. I am pretty happy where I am at. I already skip meals at times because I just forget and I'm not hungry. *I am NOT advocating that as a good idea!!* I'm just being honest. But I also feel that when I do eat, I can eat more than the one cup that I should be eating. But I am more concerned that if I get the fill any tighter, I might stop eating even more, which is obviously not healthy. So I think I'll stay where I am for now.) But what happened was I missed the first appointment because I flaked out. So I rescheduled and it was about a month later before they could get me in. So next thing you know, I freaking flake on that one too!! (I often ask myself if I am really an adult and so far, I can't answer myself!) So I was really disappointed in myself and embarrassed that I did that twice. So then I didn't want to call and make another appointment - I felt like I'd be scolded or they'll be mad at me. Which is ridiculous. They have so many patients they probably don't remember that I missed the dang appointments anyway. And even if they do - what are they going to do?? Make a comment and we all move on. But I have let it go on for so long now, that I really don't want to face them and have to admit how long since I've seen the doctor. (Hello?? Will Claire the adult please stand up??) This is childish and I know it, but I can't seem to get over the feeling like I've let them down and I don't want to show my face there. So I think I will call and schedule an appointment and make my husband go with me. He is really my rock - he is a no-BS type of guy and helps me overcome these types of issues and see how silly it really is. So that is how I have been bad. BOO!!! :thumbup: Now onto the good stuff!! I have lost 62 lbs baby!! I used to wear a 26/28 and I am now in a 22/24!! I just bagged up the last of the too big clothes from my closet and with our tax return we got me some clothes. Which I loved. Not only shopping for smaller sizes, but the way clothes looked better on me, the fact that there are cuter clothes to choose from, that there is more variety to choose from, etc etc. So that was pretty awesome. My husband spent a fortune on lingerie for me!! Every pair of panties are adorable now (or sexy) and I even have some actual lingerie. Which brings me to a side point that someone else mentioned and I figured I should talk about it. If sex is TMI for you, skip to the next paragraph!! Okay - sex is GREAT! I mean, I've always enjoyed sex, but for quite awhile before the surgery, I had NO sex drive. I just never felt like having sex. I still enjoyed it when I did have it, I just never felt much like having it. But now, it is so different! Not only do I have a normal sex drive, but the sex is better. Why? Well, for one thing, there are positions and stuff like that we can do now that we haven't been able to do in awhile. But now we can because I have lost so much weight. I don't know whether it is hormones or what, but the "grand finale" is much better too. Which of course makes me want sex more often, etc. So that is a great side effect of all of this - my husband thanks the surgeon every night!! Back to the normal great stuff - in losing so much weight, I am beginning to literally and figuratively "find" myself. I am seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in ages (not always a good thing, but the novelty is nice!). I am discovering my body and beginning to feel like we are friends again. For so long I felt like I battled my own body all the time - being sick all the time, all the problems and medications I was on, and the constant battle to lose weight with no results. But now I am beginning to feel like my body and I are working together and now that we are on the same side, I am beginning to actually be proud of my body - despite the imperfections. I feel like I earned those battle scars and that despite the abuse my body has endured, it is still here and we are on the right track now and my body is still going! I don't know how else to describe it. But I also am finding ME. The actual person and personality that has been smothered for so long under all that fat. I've begun to realize that I have a sense of style and individuality that is beginning to be reflected in my clothes - for so long it was all about the clothes that fit and would flatter as much as possible while still fitting in my budget. That doesn't really allow for style and personality. But now, I am discovering that I am pretty off beat. Maybe it is also a reaction to having to wear fat girl clothes for so long, which are often kind of older and dowdy, but I am really throwing that aside. I realized that I love the Rockabilly look (very old school, Bettie Page hair, pencil skirts, peep toe shoes, etc.) which I'm still not small enough to pull off, but I still like more edgy clothes and styles. I have begun to shop exclusively at Torrid. Now, there are a lot of clothes there that are not my style AND way too young for me, but there is a lot there that I really love. I am dressing younger and hipper. I painted my nails purple the other day!! Which, if you knew me, is pretty extreme. I was always so conservative. But I loved it. For my 32nd birthday in January, I got the top of my right ear pierced AND my nose pierced!! I have always wanted to get it done - I love the way it looks. But I always felt like I was too fat and too old. A mother of two who is 32 does NOT get her nose pierced. But when my husband found out that THAT was the reason I haven't done it, he was adamant that I was getting it done. That was my birthday present from him. He said, "Who says you are too old?? Who cares what anyone thinks?? You want to get it done, it would make you happy - what does anyone else's opinion matter??" It might be different if I worked at a very conservative job, but I don't!! I'm a stay at home mom and I'm going to college online for graphic design. My hubby said that my nose ring and new look are perfect for an "artsy" career. He said that looking young and being your own person and slightly unconventional will probably be a plus in my job field, when I get that far. So I am happy about that - I feel like I am developing my own style and learning all over again what I really like and what works for me. Of course I am still busy with the kids - James is in third grade and he just had his 9th birthday party. Molly is about to start kindergarten in September (boo hoo!!:tt1:) and her 5th birthday party is in a month, which I am still trying to get my butt in gear and finish planning everything for. (Get my butt in gear - are we sensing a theme here??) Patrick is frustrated at his job, but we are actually all really happy. Life for our entire family has steadily improved since I got this surgery. It has changed our lives in so many ways - many of them unexpected. So, that is about it for now. As usual, I'll end with - I LOVE MY LAPBAND!!

Well, it is day 4. I am still hungry, miserable, and have a growing hatred for Slimfast. I look forward to bed time each night because it means that I have made it through another day!!! I find myself going over the list of approved liquids again and again, like this time maybe I'll find something on there I missed before. You know, like a steak. Or whatever. But no, the list remains the same and is only filled with crappy stuff. Yesterday was really rough for me. I was all right in the am. I talked to my mom and was okay. But in the pm I just kept getting worse and worse. More hungry, more depressed, more upset until I started crying. Patrick tried to cheer me up, but as he doesn't have a liquid, no fat, no calorie, no carb cupcake, there wasn't much he could do besides hug me. Which is great. But not cheesecake. So I calmed down. And then I got myself some chicken broth to heat up for dinner. I had gotten some garlic chicken broth thinking a little garlic flavor might shake things up a bit and normally I love garlic. So I open the can and I immediately gag a little at the strong smell of garlic. Hmm.. I strain out the chunks of actual garlic and heat up the broth. Still not smelling good. I sit and take a sip and I really gag. I put the spoon down and burst into tears. "I don't even like my BROTH!!" Patrick suggested a hot shower so I went into the shower and cried in there. But after a little bit, the warm water helped calm me down and then I cleaned up. When I got out I felt a little better. A little more in control. But I was still starving, so I asked Pat to make me a shake of Slimfast and some ice for "dinner" because if I went into the kitchen, I knew that it would be all over. Patrick would find me a half an hour later sitting on the floor with pieces of food strewn all around me and my face covered with a look of absolute contentment. So, while that was tempting, I knew I had to be strong and asked Pat to make the shake. Which he did. And I drank it. And it still sucked. When I went to bed, Patrick saw me smiling and asked why I was happy and I told him "because another day of this hell is over!" And here I am again. Doing the same thing. Today is a bit better, but man this sucks. I find myself obsessively reading and posting on the boards here. I write the longest posts ever. But being on here and involved in the posts help me focus on other people's problems and distract me from my issues. Plus it helps me focus on why I am going through this. Speaking of staying on track and keeping focus, the nurse from the hospital called today, Dave. I saw that it was the hospital and I have been reading so much about surgeries being canceled and all, that I got nervous. So I answered and he asked how I was and I said fine. The he said, "How are you REALLY? With the diet and all?" I laughed and told him that I was following the diet exactly and hadn't cheated or anything, but not to ask me if I was happy. He said that patients even a year later say that this pre-op diet was the hardest part of the entire experience. Then Dave asked if I had any other questions. Luckily, since we were on the phone I had the guts to ask the question (which I never would have if I was in the office) "What are the rules for after the surgery for .... sexual relations?" I could tell that he wanted to laugh but wouldn't because he didn't want to make me even more uncomfortable, but said that it was "as tolerated." He said that too early and too much friction could cause the little wounds to open up again, but other than that, it was fine. Although, I have to say for right now, regardless of how hot Pat is (and he is!), unless he is covered in chocolate and/or whipped cream, I'm just not interested. :biggrin: Well, I am going to make my kids some lunch and try not to lick the deli ham juice off my fingers..... Would that count as a liquid?

HI - Sorry it took so long to get this to you!! If you go to the home page, look on the left side and scroll down until you see "Lap Band Support Groups". If you click on that, it will open a new page. Then scroll down until you see "Lap Band Support Groups" Then keep scrolling until you see the sub-heading "Special Interest Lap Band Support Groups" and the second entry under that is the PCOS group. Here is the link (but I also wanted to let you know how to get there normally so you don't have to come back to this entry or in case the link doesn't work!): PCOS Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum Good Luck!!

Hi - I saw your post and had to reply. I was banded in July (I can't believe it has been almost 6 months already!!) and have obviously (from the signature) lost 55 lbs now. And the night before I had the surgery, I cried and cried thinking that I was never going to have pie or Cookies or McDonald's nuggets or fries ever again. I felt like I was in mourning. And I guess, in a way, I was. BUT I can tell you a few things - first of all, that simply isn't true. Since the surgery I have had all of those things - pie, cookies, nuggets and fries. Should I have had them at all? Probably not. But it isn't impossible. The band is a tool that you have to use, but it IS possible for you to not use the tool. So you still have to be careful, but at the same time, it is not really like you will literally never eat it again. Second, the biggest issue, and one that you just can't wrap your mind around right now because you don't have the band yet, is that you really won't WANT them the same way. I don't know if everyone has the same reaction, but I have seen enough similar thoughts on the boards that I know it is often a reaction to the band. You aren't hungry anymore. Pretty much ever. You actually have to be careful to remember to eat (really!). I have literally gone until 3pm one day and I didn't eat anything - not one thing. That is very bad and dangerous - I didn't mean to do that and it is very unhealthy. This is in no way a recommendation to do that. But I am trying to relate an extreme example to show you the point that you are often just not hungry. And when you aren't hungry at all, it is easy to pass by even really yummy food like cake or whatever. I honestly can look at cookies and think - nah, I'm just not hungry. Which is a freaking miracle in itself! Another thing, which again I don't think is just me, I actually like healthy things and don't mind eating them at all anymore. I mean, if something unhealthy is in front of me and faster, I'll be tempted to just eat that, but if I actually get myself the healthy stuff, I'm perfectly content to eat it and actually enjoy it without going overboard. I used to hate cottage cheese. Despise it! But now, not only do I like it, I actually enjoy it for lunch. It is super high in Protein, tastes like cheese and I like to put salsa on top of it, which is low in fat, etc. It is fast, it tastes good, it leaves me full and I feel great. You can eat about 1 cup to 1 and 1/2 cup of food at a sitting. But while that seems like nothing, it is very satisfying and filling. I wouldn't (couldn't!) eat more than that. So that doesn't seem hard or like you are starving yourself or like I have to use any self control to only eat that much. That is part of what is great about the band, that is all I WANT to eat. I eat that much and sit back feeling full and happy. Finally, you simply can NOT understand how great you'll feel. As the pounds come off, and you feel better and better, and you realize how easy it is (you aren't hungry, you don't have to use extreme will power to not eat more or to only eat healthy food, or all the normal terrible things that go along with dieting), it is so easy to keep up with the things you should. You have so much energy. You start to lose weight and people notice. You start wearing smaller clothes and are able to buy things you couldn't before. Your clothes start to flatter you as opposed to simply hide the worst of your figure flaws. All of those things add up to feeling great and helps give you even more strength to turn down the temptations when they do come up. Even when you are tempted and have bad things in front of you, it is so much easier when you are happy and full to smile and say, nope - I don't feel like having cookies, thanks anyway! Finally, I actually understand more about moderation. Again, should you have pie or cookies at all? No. But (as it is the holidays right now) there are going to be times - birthday, holidays, etc. - that you might actually decide to eat something high in calories or sugar or whatever. But NOW, you can actually eat one cookie with tea and walk away. As opposed to before eating four or five cookies and only stopping because you don't want to look like a pig, but knowing that you could easily eat another four or five cookies with no problem. You just don't feel like that anymore. So, one of the biggest problems that you are facing right now is that you simply can't truly imagine what life is like after having the band. Which is understandable and frightening. I think it is a lot like having kids. I don't care how many books you read, how many kids you babysat, how many videos you watched, how many people you talked to - were you truly prepared to have kids?? Did you have at all an accurate idea of what you or your life would be like after having a baby? Of course not. You simply can't understand how much you can truly love the little things! You can't really understand what pushing a child out of your body is actually like. You can't ever grasp how completely your life changes. You can't ever be truly ready for that. I think the same is true for the band. Because you never really had a good relationship with food, you can't truly grasp what it will be like after. But I wanted to tell you the best that I can, that it will be fine. That you will be happy. That food still tastes good. That it will all be worth it. I truly believe that aside from my children and my husband, getting the band was simply the best thing I have ever done in my life for myself. I hope that helps!