barbara465

I think that most of the time what has effected our lives has had no effect on the others. A person who made you feel bad in High School say probably does not realize what effect they had on your life. That's what I've learned from all these talk shoes where they bring the "offender" back to be confronted. SOmetimes they don't remember the person at all. We need to learn to let go of the things we can't control and learn from our experiences. Never let someone destroy your life, for they become the winner. Reclaim your power and enjoy life!

Regina you are still doing great. Down to 4 cigs a day is moumental. Have you heard about the new pill that is now on the market OTC? I saw a news story on it and it holds promise for those that couldn't do it with the patch and other aids. Just a thought, but only 4 a day I think is great. I think we're all going through the winter blahs as PinkyLee pointed out to me. I also think it is normal that we've all been hitting it hard, seen the results, and now are trying to deal with all of the changes. I've decided to schedule a fill for March 12 or 13th. This will give me time to refocus, go on our trips we have planned, and settle back in. I don't want to give feeding this fill/unfill/fill cycle I've been on. This gives me a full month since the unfill and hopefully my innards have settled back down. I just have to make sure I don't gain any more weight in the process.

You will be surprised how little people notice what you are NOT eating or drinking. Everyone gets caught up in the socializing and they don't notice. I've been at parties, my own included, where I've never had a drink. No one noticed. I've been in many social settings and no one noticed. I was on a cruise for 7 days and no one noticed what I didn't eat or drink. Its really very easy. The things we hold onto or think will be problems before surgery turn out to be non issues afterwards. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

Glad to hear your DH is OK Lisa. Under the circumstances the cupcakes can be forgiven. PinkyLee so good to see the scale move in a positive direction. Hang in there I think things will start moving once again. Melissa let us know how your Dad is doing. He is in our thoughts and we're glad you are with him. We'll miss you at lunch, but your Dad his definitely more important. I'm just coasting this week. I'm not being really good or really bad. The scale is not moving so I still have the 4 lb weight gain from the unfill. Since I lost 8 lbs in just a few days I guess it was to be expected. I'm still 10 lbs down from the 1st of the year, so that's not bad. Have a great day and stay warm for all of those in north and east. Several of our offices are closed and by Go Live for a new application is put off until tomorrow. It's like throwing a party and no one comes!

Dr. Spiegel is exactly what I expected. He is a great surgeon, but not great on the aftercare. It was OK by me as I like the surgicenter and that's where I get my fills. When I need Dr. Spiegel he is there. I've had no problems with the surgery and only with the fills. However, that is not a surgical problem. It's just my body is very sensitive to fills so I'm having issues there. I haven't had to deal with his office staff since surgery so don't know about them. Good luck to you

My Valentine goal was to lose 10 lbs. I lost 8 then gained 4, so I didn't make mine either. Will recomit to Easter goal of 10 lbs from this date. I've been good about the water and multivitamin. I'm stopping at Curves tonight and sign up. I need to get the exercise started.

Lainie good luck to you. I hope you can get it fixed and that the insurance will pay. If not, then a savings program for a new lapband after the wedding may be in order. I know you can keep the weight off until you can afford to get it replaced. You have come so far. Your in our thoughts.

This is a difficult situation for sure. However, medical insurance would be an issue you would have to deal with in a divorce. In some divorce decrees it is written in that health insurance has to be provided for X amount of time. Also, he will take a big financial hit if you divorce. You need to ask yourself what would happen if you had a major illness or required surgery? It's not just the lapband surgery that you are facing. It could be anything. Most divorces take time to get and work through. You are half way through the 6 months so you could have surgery in 4-5 months. Goes against my grain, but maybe laying low for a while will get you closer to the surgery. Once it is done you could start filing divorce papers. You might have to pay for aftercare, but that would be a smaller portion of the total costs. Hope you can work all of this to your advantage. No one should have to submit to emotional blackmail.

Hope everyone is doing well today. I've had a busy, busy morning at work. I'm getting ready for a 2 hour meeting so it will be afternoon before I can get back to my desk and finish some work. I'm still eating too much. It's either too much or nothing at all for me. I would love to know the feeling of the "sweet" spot. Maybe someday. I tried eating some Special K this morning with a banana. I'll see if this keeps me full a little longer. DH also made me a toasted ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. This will be my first attempt at bread so we'll see. I have a can of soup in reserve if this doesn't work. I was reading a thread about weight loss areas with the band. I noticed that I had lost weight differently this time. I have a flat tummy from my waist down. I've not had that before. I lost considerably from my tummy, but there is a roll of fat above my waist that looks kinda weird. I've not lost as much on top, but 2 of my 4 chins are gone. I've also seem to have gotten "puffy". Not sure how else to describe it. I checked into the prepared frozen meals over the weekend. I didn't see any that we could eat easily and they have lots of sodium. DH told me he is going to try Nutrisystems. He has about 15 lbs to lose, but his big thing is getting his sugar under control. Since I've gotten banded he has gained weight and eating lots of sugar. Not sure why all the changes with him. He has been so good about eating right and keeping his weight in line. I think its like sympathy morning sickeness in reverse! Hope everyone is OK with the different weather conditions throughout the country today. We are having a mild and balmy day, with a cold front moving our way.

Everyone is different and with every fill it changes. That being said, I stay away from foods that I can visualize swell. Things like soft bread, rolls, Pasta. My doctor doesn't want us having oatmeal and powdered Protein drinks so I stay away from that too. I also don't chew gum, don't eat popcorn, no flour tortillas. It isn't because I've tried them and they got stuck. I just haven't tried them because I don't want to get stuck. Eat a sensible balanced meal and should do fine. You will learn that there are certain foods that just aren't worth the effort. I only have steak now and then, only if my DH cooks it, and only tenderloins. I never reheat the meat once I've had what I can eat that meal. Leftovers are for DH and the dog. Some people have trouble with chicken, but if it is moist I can eat it. I usually have gravy (fat free) or applesauce around to "grease the skids" as others call it. I've pretty much given up on brocolli. It is hit or miss with me and makes me nervous now to eat. I don't really have any issues with food except after a fill. Then everything is subject to PB as a result of delayed swelling. I usually react to a fill 6-10 days afterwards. Other than those times I've had no problems. Good luck.

Most likely. I still get an occasional ache in the left shoulder. Try laying down with a heating pad. That really helps me.

Take the dozen boxes of cookies to the nearest hospital, senior home, or work and explain your dilema. Tell them you can't be trusted with them, but you needed to buy them to support your neices. Remove them from your house immediately. :confused:

Well I'm up another lb so that makes 4 of them. I don't think a good poop is going to hellp me. I definitely need a fill, but I'm not going to do it yet. We are going to Orlando on the 2nd and I'm afraid to get one and then have problems. I've just got to keep my mouth closed after dinner. I haven't had any ice cream, but I've had cookies and candy. This isn't like me so I'm just out of control. PinkyLee I'm glad you are OK. I'd be taking that back to Kohl's in a heart beat! At least she could have come and gotten it after all of your effort and injury. :confused: Kids! Those going to Las Vegas I want you to start gathering some pictures of your weight loss journey. You will need about 6-8 pictures of the progress you've made. I have a fun activity planned for us so start getting those pictures together. We had a great weekend. It was nice to feel good for a change and so did DH. I think our colds/flu are over now and we're back to ourselves. Now it's time to get back on track and start losing again.

I try to target 40-60 each day. I do this with food and not protein drinks. I am thinking about having one of those smoothie king drinks a couple times a week. You can get like 60 in one drink. I'm not sure how it tastes, but I want to give it a try.

Sounds like you need to revisit the doctor. I've had lots of problems with fills, but not shortness of breath. Unless you are hyperventilating, that doesn't sound like a normal symptom to me. As a side note, I have the thicker soution, called omnipaque. It definitely changed how much I could tolerate in my band. Not sure what the difference is, but definitely different. Even if you had a slip I haven't heard of the shortness of breath. Sounds like you need to be a squeky wheel and find out what's going on. Let us know how you are doing.

Melissa you are sooooooooooooo close. You might enter onederland next week - on Valentine's day. Wow!

Hope all is doing well today. I'm hoping for another great weekend. DH and I had a good time last weekend after being sick for 5 weeks off and on with cold and flu. I'm definitely going for a massage to get my tired muscles working again. Can I count that as exercise? My appetite is definitely back after the unfill. I'm having to really watch what I eat. I'm really thinking some of those prepared meals may be the way to go. I guess I could make my own on the weekends and freeze them. DH does all the cooking, but sometimes he lacks variety.

It is better to go to your doctor as soon as you can get in. Have them do at least a barium swallow to see about the placement of the band. Is this just all of a sudden or has it been coming on for a while? Maybe, it is just temporary being so open, but it's worth getting checked out. If you are just open doctor can give you a fill. Let us know how you are doing.

Well first they have to find out who the father is of her baby. Then you know that her baby's lawyer will continue the fight for the 450+ million she was awarded from Marshall estate. I see that this will go on for a while. They will probably being standing in line to be the father and a chance at that jackpot. How sad.

BetsyJane I think you are OK. Normal colds and coughs should be OK. Those type of pills I take whole because you can't crush them. I figured being that sick the risk was low. If your cough gets really bad and you start to really have racking, heaving, coughs, you then might need to call the doctor. In some cases they unfill so not to put undo pressure on the stomach. I would stick with soft foods until that part is over. Sorry you missed your trip to Vegas.

Cathy first take a deep breathe. Take a few more. Now list out all the things you can control. If you can control them, how do you do that? Next look at all the things you can't control. Those things you need to let go. OK so let's get started. Take the house sale first. Can you control it? No. Can you take some positive steps to do all you can do about selling the house? yes. OK now list out what you can do. Work the list. Go to the next item, etc. Take it from a control freak - you can only control so much. The rest you have to let go. It sounds like your plate is very full right now. Remember you can be of no help to anyone if you don't take care of yourself. It's sounds selfish sometimes, but you need to take care of YOU. After that, the children. However, there you can only do so much. Now about those M&Ms ...... They are your substitute for not being in control. I know that one too. Each of us has our "M&M" that help us get through the rough times. Each of us struggles with that. We all need to find something else to give us comfort when we are not in control. For some they turn to exercise. Others alcohol. Others shopping. Find something that allows you to take deep breaths (time) so the "need" diminishes and we can go back to positive actions. I say all of this for my own sake as well. I go crazy when things are not in my control and always in the past turned to food. I haven't found the perfect substitute as yet, but I'm working on it. When all else fails I go to bed. SOmetimes going to bed early prevents me from snacking. We're here for you. Let us know how we all can help.

I think maintenance is the same. You may have less fill so you may eat a few more calories, but basically that's the only difference. We've got to use this time to change our habits, learn to love healthy foods, and shy away from all the sweets, easy stuff, chips, etc. I have gained 3 lbs. I am so bummed. I knew I would gain some after the unfill. The weight you lose from not eating always comes back. I also find I can eat a little more than I think I should. I really need to step back and evaluate what I'm eating. Back to tracking my food intake to see the errors of my ways. I am definitely drinking my water, taking my vitamins, and watching portion controls. Still not exercising. I am really trying to eat more hard protein and then my vegetables. That seems to be working for me and I'm less hungry.

Ditto what the others have said. I was a little different in that I was hungry from the get go. The first weeks I wanted to eat, but really couldn't. I didn't sleep in my bed for about 4 nights. I slept in the recliner. Each day got better, but I felt pretty good from the beginning. I wasn't really in pain and was able to work home the first few days. I did experience swelling and wore loose clothes at first. I never burbed before surgery so what I do now is something new to me. So is all this gas. I just wasn't used to either one of these new events in my life. I still feel twinges on the skin of my stomach. It's like I have a rash, but no rash. It's just like my skin is sensitive, but I wouldn't call it pain. Now down the road 7 months I have had more issues with fills. I seem to swell 6-10 days after a fill. Then I definitely feel restriction. Other than that, I don't feel restriction like others describe it. I can definitely eat less and feel content, but I must exercise some self control as well. Bottom Line: each of us is different and may or may not experience the same things. There are probably some common things we all experience to some degree, but each react in their own way. You will find what your new "norm" is all about, but keep in mind it may change with each fill. Good luck and happy journey. I love my band and would do this again in a heartbeat. Just wish it had been available to me 30 years ago.

Didn't your doctor tell you to stay on liquids? If so, for how long. The reason is they don't want you to be digesting food and having the stomach working so much while you are healing. Also, they don't want you to throw up because your band can slip. Most people have trouble with scrambled eggs so unfortunately that was not a good choice to cheat with. You need to go back to liquids for a day or two, even if you are allowed something else. After a PB (our version of throwing up) you should always go back to liquids to give your tummy a chance to heal. I found a heating pad worked wonders for me with the gas. Also keep moving around, walking as much as you can. This helps get the gas out of your system. Good luck to you.

Hang in there. It gets better. Not sure what phase you are in liquids, thicker liquids, or mushies. Thicker liquids I was able to take bean/bacon Soup and blend it some more with Water. It was really good. I also got Won Ton soup for liquid phase and took out the won tons. I did the same with chicken noodle soup, just strained it. It had more flavor than just plain broth. Just think of the weight you have lost. WOW, so much. I didn't lose that much as fast. This will pass and you will be on your way. This is the time for healing. Good luck and welcome to bandland.