barbara465

Just be careful that you don't accidently swallow. I've heard of some pretty bizarre stories. People also justify chewing gum in the same way. I'll just chew and chew and then spit it out. Next thing you hear of someone that accidently swallowed it. If you are really really hungry call your doctor. Some doctors move their patients to mushies from liquids when they are really hungry. Mushie stage is much better because you get a few food items that are filling. Go look at the mushie stage thread for some ideas. One of mine is bean/bacon soup. I never bought it before but after hearing others rave about it off I went. I can't believe how filling it is. Also refried beans and chili con queso. Mix them together and enjoy.

We don't receive and tell. However, there's a big ol smile on my face!

Looks the site has been restored minus a couple of days of posting. Just as well because all I did was whine, whine, whine. Glad to see some new and old friends posting. Seems like if it isn't candy that's getting us, its flu and honeymoons!!!! Hang in there. Cindy not sure what is going on with your fill. Give it a few more days and see how it goes. I thought I was doing OK and now wham I'm hungry all the time. I seem to be able to eat more and more so Monday is fill day for me. I still can't get large fills so only .3. Hope that does the trick. I want them to check to make sure I still have my fill, but I think I do. I'm going today to get a food scale. I'm going to weigh it all and only eat that much at one sitting. I think I'm taking too long to eat and chewing well and its allowing me to eat too much. I'm also going to have to give up chili con queso and chips after the next fill. I rely on it for protein and I think it just has too many calories. My hair is still falling out, but so far no bald spots. I guess I'd better up the vitamins. Loving the cooler weather. I wonder how that will play with our bands.

I live in Houston and they run an ad about every 30 minutes on one of the channels. We have some pretty active doctors here. We also have one or two ads a week in the newspaper as well as billboards. Did I mention we have an active market here? Guess that's what we should expect being voted the fattest city in the USA.

Melissa that was me yesterday. I never get headaches, but it was a dousey. I went to bed at 8 last night. This morning I asked DH to give me a slight massage in my shoulders. My headache started easing. I hope yours goes away soon, but maybe after Halloween goodies are gone.

Here is your official kick in your @###. We all slip from time to time. Don't dwell on it. Pick yourself up and move on. Remove temptation from the house. At least you will have to go out for it and may think twice. You must eat the hard protein to get results. You know this and you can do it. I have to tell myself this as well. I've been in some kind of spiral for the last few days. I am really hungry. I mean really hungry. I thought maybe the fill had drained out. Today I was eating just a little cereal and golf ball. I was able to recover from it easily enough after 15 minutes, no PB. Now I know I still have fill. That's good to know, but I was eating too fast. That's never happened before so I need to get myself back in control. Do you think its the change in weather? I do and the fact that we've had success. Maybe our head's are trying to sabbotage us. I vow to do better the rest of the day and onward. I've been officialy kicked into action as well.

It takes time for most to determine if their fill is too much or too little. Also, some can eat one day and not the next. Still others find that food they could eat before a fill they might not be able to eat afterwards. My advice is to take it slow and easy. Get a fill and go a while to determine if it is enough, or too much, or just right. If you need more go for additional fill, but not at 2 cc increments. My personal experience has been that I can't tollerate big fills. You might not be able to either. It will just take time. I know its frustrating, but its a part of the program.

I did my voting on Saturday. I am encouraged by the number of people at the polls. Hopefully the voter turnout will turn the tide. Most of the polls show Perry leading. I hope the polls are wrong. I'm worried that the votes will be split by the other three that he'll win by default.

I went to Dr. Spiegel for his surgical skills. He has no bedside manner. Neither doctor is great at aftercare, but Dr. Spivak seems to be "loved" by his patients. Both use the surgicenter for surgeries and for fills. It just depends on what you want. I was looking for the best surgeon. Others may look for a combination of surgeon and aftercare. Dr. Matthew St. Laurent seems to have a good following as well and takes lots of time with his patients. Good luck.

Welcome MommaTramel. Glad you found us. I had a good weekend, but I ate chocolate. I haven't done that since banding. Over the 2 days I had 4 bite size candy bars and a couple hand fulls of M&Ms. I was just craving it. I'm also able to eat again way too much. I scheduled a fill for next week. Maybe just a tiny one will do the trick. I haven't exercised all week. I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm really being bad! Hope everyone has a good week. The time change is really nice for me in the mornings, but depressing at night. I like going to work in daylight, but coming home in the dark is not good.

You shouldn't be paying anymore now then you did when you were a couple. Stop paying 1/2 of the bills. Don't bring your money home. Let him pay. He can't force you out and you can't seem to get him to leave. Let him pay for everything. Then if you need to you can go out to eat your meals! Hang in there. It's going to get tougher as you go on. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Treat yourself good and continue to take the high road. You will be there for your kids when they need you. You won't be able to change their minds so let them have their opinions. Let them know you are there for them. That's all you can do.

I really was suffering after being banded. Before the band I had the opposite problem. What has helped me is eating a container of Activia every day. I don't know how or why it works, but for me it is working. Nothing else worked and I had to resort to enema's twice to get some relief. Now since starting the Activia I've been fine.

Michael J. Fox was interviewed by Katie Couric last night on the news. His interview was from the heart. It was difficult to watch him as he definitely struggles with the racking movements from his body. His mind is clear and his message even clearer. I do so admire this man while I loathe Rush. How could Rush come back from all his scandals and why can he dare to make fun of such a man? Only in America.

Yes, the NW group. They meet at Cafe Express in the Woodlands or sometimes Jason's. Watch for their notice. I think it is every other Thursday at 6:30.

Carlene you are in a difficult situation. You have to go with your heart and what you believe in. However, I do think you can be "true" to your values, while honoring his. If he asks, just say what you said above. Its not in my value system to dishonor my marriage or words to that effect. You don't have to go out of your way to voice your opinion, but if asked .... I admire your position and your committment to your late husband. I believe as you do, until death do us part. I also know that all of us are human and sometimes loneliness etc. makes us do things not of our making. I worry that Mr. P is lonely and seeks the caretaker's friendship for that reason. Hopefully, she has honorable intentions. Don't let this drive a wedge between you and DH. There must be a way to be friends without comprimising your principles. I don't see anything wrong with inviting him to dinner without his new companion. If he moves his wife to a nursing home wouldn't the new friend find work with another ill patient? If so, maybe you could invite him to lunch while she is working. My sister has just told me that her husband is leaving after 40 years of marriage. And of course leaving her for her best friend whose husband died a few years ago. My sister has been ill for most of their marriage. He has stayed with her when most would have left. Now retired, he wants a little bit of happiness. I feel for both of them. I see both of their views. There's no right or wrong in the situation for me. I feel for them both. I do want them to be happy and at peace with whatever they decide. It's difficult at best ....

It sounds like you did what you should have - called your doctor. Chances are you didn't do any damage to the band. It may have bruised you inside, but the band is probably OK. If you didn't do damage to your internal organs your lapband is OK as well. Take care and I hope the soreness goes away soon.

Carlene, You are in a difficult position, but until you have walked in his shoes, you may not know completely what it is like. In a sense, his wife did leave him a while ago. Not in the physical sense, but in the mental sense. He has probably been grieving her loss for years. It doesn't mean he doesn't love who she was or what they had together. He must now live in the real world, in some ways without her. It is somewhat like those suffering from Alizemer's (sp). The person they knew, is not the person that is left. As I was reading the post I knew you were going to say the caretaker and him were now an item. It only seemed natural that it would happen after seeing each other every day and sharing the experience. I know it must be difficult on you as a friend as well as family members. It sounds like he has honored his wife and his love for her for a very long time. His choice to put her in a nursing home has got to be difficult. How nice for him to receive some support from his friends in what has got to be a devasting decision to make. Life is very short. We should try to make the best of it, however we can. I believe strongly in the vows that were taken. I also live in the real world. Nothing is to be gained from him depriving himself of a few moments of pleasure in the company of a nice woman. I'm not talking "sex" I'm talking about companionship and sharing the moments of our lives with another. I side with your DH on this one. I think Mr. P needs your love and support. You can still be his friend, even if you don't agree with his choices.

After you get used to the fill you might want to vary your diet some. You don't want to get bored with it. You should be able to eat hard solid Proteins for all your meals. You might want to eliminate that Protein drink at night. Try eating 3-4 oz of protein for dinner. Most find that eating before bed is not good. It will take you a few days after your fill before you can tell if it was enough. Go slow, liquids, mushies, and then solids. The goal is to eat solid foods and not rely on liquids to do the job. Hope this helps.

I am encouraged by the stand that NJ took. Hopefully we can eliminate church and religion from the union of people. I've argued this over and over that its the union we must fight for and not the religious ceremony. The IRS, companies for health benefits, recognition of legal rights, etc. must recognize the union of two people. Keep sex out of it. Why can't two same sex friends form a union to protect their assets, etc.? I don't think its fair to limit these rights to those that are married and recognized by the law. Married folks shouldn't get preferential treatment. Hopefully other states will follow and finally as someone else has said, we can put this injustice behind us.

Lisa good to hear from you. Your confession is all of our stories. Most of us I would say are emotional eaters. Recognizing the triggers and stopping the behavior are key to our success. I find myself wanting to graze at night. I have to recognize the activity as boredom and go do something to stop myself. Work on your triggers and find others way to comfort yourself. I found Dr. Phil's book had some good advice in it as well. He has you do some soul searching to find the "what's eating you" syndrome. Keep up the great work though. Your weight loss is right in line of where you should be. Fills can start a whole new perspective on the lapband. Recognize that you now may start to have issues with it until you get the right fill.

I can even cross my legs on the bus!!!! That is really exciting because its hard to sit there in just one position. This has been such a great week for me. I've felt good, seem to have a little restriction, the weather is cool and crisp (was), wearing new clothes, and my hair while still falling out it doesn't seem as much!!! I plan to have a long walk with DH on Sunday at one of the state parks. I thought a change of scenery would be good. Leila glad to hear your on the mend. Hang in there the pain will start to go away soon. Just take care of yourself and allow yourself to be pampered. Weight loss can wait until your stronger. Give yourself a chance to mend. Hope everyone else is doing well.

I don't get nausea, but I do get tired followed by chills and fever. It doesn't start until about an hour after the fill and lasts for a few hours. I just plan my fill at the end of the day so I can go home and curl up on the couch for a few hours. Its over very fast and no other repercusions. Not very many have reported this side effect.

Glad you got to talk with your lawyer in depth. Keep your spirits high. The best thing to do is refer him to your lawyer every time he tries to engage in war. Rest and peace are key components for you keeping your emotions on an even keel. Do something nice for yourself, even if it renting a hotel room on a Saturday afternoon and getting some rest and down time. Be kind to yourself.

I was told that if I don't have 45 minutes to devote to eating, then drink a Protein drink for my meal. I can easily take 45 minutes for my meal now as I eat very slowly. Before banding it only took me 15 minutes to eat. I also only put out my portion on the plate so that I don't overeat.

Great news babs! I am so happy that they were able to correct things by giving your stomach a rest. You will get the extra pounds off I'm sure. Continued success on your journey.