barbara465

I like getting mine under fluro to make sure that the barium flows through and that the band is where it should be. However, most of the time they find the port and put the needle in without the aid of the fluro machine. I've never had them poke around. If for some reason they are unsure they put the kiszo (camera) over and guide themselves into the port. They've only done that twice. I think its a good idea to have them under fluro to keep my sanity.

Do you know that our thread is the most viewed thread? We are great group!

Left work early yesterday and went and had a facial. I decided if I was going to have chills than I might as well be under a warm blanket! It was nice, but my face is a little red today. I have roscea so my face goes red, but its so smooth. Yesterday a co worker told me I looked so cute in my jeans on Friday. Me cute? I was so astonished, but it felt so good. I thought they looked good and I felt good in them, but it's nice to have confirmation. I think we all should just chill a little over the holidays. I mean, let's don't go overboard on eating, but let's not beat ourselves up either. We all have accomplished lots, whether it is 10 lbs or 70lbs. We made the decision and started the changes. We should be proud of those steps. I feel so much better now than 6 months ago. I don't have the love affair with food I once had. I haven't had really bad daily experiences with the band. I've only had problems as a result of overfills so I've not experienced some of the challenges as others. I've gone from tight 24s to loose 20's and I can see 18s in the near future. I bought a pair of XL pants and they fit! Yes, I have lots to be thankful for, as all of you do. Genn has it right. We shouldn't focus so much on the band. We should focus on making changes and living our new lives. However, that doesn't mean you can't come here to talk. :eek: We need to start thinking of our anniversary month and where we are going. Its only 6 months away. I still vote for Las Vegas. Let's hear where everyone else wants to go and start making our plans! DH found my seat belt extender for airplanes last night. He said here it is, but you won't need this anymore. That was a nice feeling.

Just as a side note you should be on liquids the day of the fill and depending on your doctor, a few days after. Mine requires 3 days of liquids and 3 days of mushies. Sorry to say it, but he sounds like a jerk. If that's being supportive what's abuse sound like? I'd be watching him and if this continues I wouldn't stick around.

I didn't realize how old I was!!! I don't know these bands. Just a crazy picture to me.

Why don't you start logging your food in Sparkspeople or fitday? That way you can see exactly what and how much you are eating. I've also heard that people that have been too tight don't lose weight sometimes. My doctor told me today that eating solids is the only way so check how much liquid in meals you are eating. You might find something you are overlooking that is causing the weight fluctations. Sometimes it takes a day or three before a bad food choice adds any weight. It is best not to weigh yourself more than 1/week. The scale can drive you crazy. Hang in there. Look for the reasons and if all else fails, consult with a nutrionist or doctor's staff for assistance.

Thanks for the onion analogy. I never thought of it that way. I also didn't know about the plus size difference. I had finally come to the conclusion that I needed to get to regulars as quickly as possible because the women's were too big, but I wasn't changing sizes. I have smaller thighs and no rear. I carry all my weight in the middle. I now can wear regular 20's, but 1X fits as well. It just depends.

I got a rash after a fill. I think I was allergic to the bandaid they put on me. I had the rash for several days, but it was definitely the result of the bandaid. I also get sensitive on my torso. Hard to explain, but like when someone tickles you. However, it is just there. No rash, but feels funny for a few days. It comes and goes, but defintely only since surgery.

NW Bandster meeting is Thursday Dec 7, 6:30 December 7, 2006 6:30 p.m. to ? Cafe Express 9595 Six Pines Dr., Suite 150 The Woodlands, TX 77380 A good group of people and not that far, as the crow flies, from you.

Cathy, this is terrific. Ride it for all the weight loss you can. Looks like the fill is working nicely. (and the old flame must be helping.) You are under Christmas goal and we have 20 more days! Way to go! Lucy glad you are eating normal bandster meals now. That must be a nice change for you. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from now on in to goal. I am hoping that this fill stays in and I can get some restriction. It will be a few days before I can tell.

This is a great loss. I know he is a very popular doctor and many from this board went to him.

Just got back from the surgicenter where I lost another .6 of last week's fill. I was down to 1.4 cc in my band. I told you I could eat too much. Dr. Spiegel put in the thicker saline and only filled me to 2.0. Why you ask? Because I had lost 3.8 lbs since last Tuesday. I tried to explain to him that I lose on liquids/mushies and the difference between afternoon and morning weigh ins, but he just told me to eat regular foods. I think in his haste he forgot his own rules of 3 days liquids, 3 days mushies. He also told me that I react to solid foods, not the aggressive fills. Yeah right. He is always so much in a hurry I don't think they listen. After all that, he didn't even take me to 2.3 where I was before the leaking. He did tell me to come back in a few weeks if I was hungry. So I guess I'll go with this and see what happens. This is so frustrating, but I guess this is all part of the band system. Met some interesting ladies while waiting. One was from San Diego and had come for her first fill. She is leaving tonight at 7 to return home. Brave women I think. I tried to explain she might get a little tighter from flying so not to be too concerned. Another woman was having her first fill and her husband wanted her to have the first one by the doctor. She was scared, but seemed to come through it OK. I left them both after a few sips of water. Being an old pro at this has some advantages. I've been thinking about the overeating and self sabotage. I think we don't know how to treat our new bodies and our success so we try to repeat the tried and true which is failure. We have failed to lose weight, so we will fail at this. Make sense? I am trying to prepare foods for our Open House on Sunday. I can't eat anything so having to rely on DH's tastebuds. He likes things spicy so I need to be careful of his taste gauge. Not used to coming to work after a fill. I'm sleepy now and getting the chills. Hopefully I can make it for most of the day.

The good thing about the band is it is reversible. You can have it removed if complications or other issues come about. The gastric bypass is a permanent change to your internal plumbing so to speak. It was not a choice for me. My doctor's wouldn't endorse that, but the band was OK. It is a viable choice for many of us, and if the worse happens, it can be removed.

Christa, they just have your best interest at heart. Many overweight people as they lose weight don't see it. It causes them to sabotage themselves because they don't see the changes or maybe they do. Some can't accept their new thinner body. Not to say that is happening to you, but there are some red flags. You should be seeing the new you and rejoycing in your loss. (taking the scale with you is a little extreme. ) Are you 8 lbs from goal? From your signature line it looks like that.

Carlene you look fabulous, simply fabulous. Mr. Carlene must be waiting by the chimney for you!!! Unfortunatley OJ was found not guilty by the system. The prosecutors just got out smarted by the defense team. It's the way the system works. I still find it odd that a person can be found not guilty in criminal and guilty in civil. The system can't take their life, but can take their money. Doesn't make much sense.

I voted Pop, although if they sound good and can entertain me, then I'll vote for them. I'm not into Rock, although I thought Chris had a good voice and certainly could entertain. Let the new Idol begin ....

I eat an Activia every day. It has kept me regular. After surgery I had major problems with constipation until I started this routine.

Welcome acdsmitte! Just a word about your large band. If you do have the larger ones it is made up of tiny like folds inside, like sections. Sometimes saline gets trapped in there so when they pull out to see how much is in there they don't get it all. The doctor's can't get as accurate a reading with that band because of it. It usually is called Vanguard band. Anyway, just wanted to pass that on. I feel like I have no restriction. I don't think I have 2 cc in there now. I will be surprised if I do. If that's the case I am more concerned that there is a leak. Will see tomorrow hopefully, but I'm getting suspicous. I can just eat way too much. Solid food today so I'm going out to lunch. Liquids start again tomorrow.

Aren't you tired of playing nice? Now is the time to act. Enough already, it is effecting your daughter. Get you lawyer to get a temporary restraining order and have him taken from the house. He has somewhere he can go. You do not. I know he is getting the house after the divorce, but I'm assuming your daughter is coming with you? If so, no judge is going to kick you and your daughter out before the holidays. Let him leave and get some peace for your daughter and you. Change the locks and take his set of your car keys. The lawyer can do this for you. Stop paying the bills. Don't pay anything. Let him see what it is like to suffer without money. You will never get out if you keep spending everything on the house and the children. He takes care of the children. He won't let your daughter starve. Don't eat meals there. If you do, just bring enough in for your daughter and you. Stop the freeloader dead in his tracks. OK that's my 2 cents this evening. I say take off the kid gloves and get as dirty as he is, but don't get your children involved.

My doctor says to crush everything and I do. When I first had surgery I took a little Protein drink and mixed the crushed pills in it. Not a lot of the drink because you might not be able to drink that much. I also tried it with yogurt and activia on the spoon. I now just put it on the spoon and add a little Water. I get it in my mouth and follow it with a coffee chaser. I guess mine don't taste bad. You might find which one tastes bad and crush it separately. I would follow your doctor's rules. I know some say a dime size pill is just fine. I think if it gets stuck it wouldn't be so good in the pouch until it disolved which could be hours. Its the same effect of swallowing pills without liquid - it can damage the esphogus.

SocialGal so sorry you are having issues. I know that the holidays can bring on depression. It sounds like you are going to have a different holiday by going out of the country. That sounds exciting. I like to travel during the holidays for lots of reasons. Mainly though most people are nice, where I go is exciting, and I'm not around family. This year we are going on a cruise. Some people can't correct their cholestrol with diet Lisa. Give it some time, but don't beat yourself up if you need to keep taking medication. Some people do, even at normal weights. Devana good to hear from you. Hopefully the weather will clear and you can get a fill. Good luck with that. Lucy I hope your fill is doing OK. I get one on Tuesday with the thicker solution. I don't have any restriction when they refilled me last week. Today is my day to eat as Tuesday it will be back on liquids. I think it is understable at this time of year we want to hurry the process along. We want to feel thin at Christmas. It will be a challenge for all of us.

Sorry didn't mean to come off harsh. I have heard horror stories of people who swallowed gum, it got stuck, and had to have it surgically removed. For me, its not worth the risk. I'm not perfect, but I do try to adhere to the bandster rules. If I wasn't going to do that I wouldn't have been banded. Sometimes we play the part of enablers on this board and let others think its alright to break the rules. Just my opinion of course.

You CAN give it up, you chose not to. There is a difference. We all need to make choices and I guess you've made yours. Hope you never swallow it accidently and have issues.

I read that those Listerine breath strips work great and help satisfy your hunger. I haven't tried it for that, but they are kind of nasty and I wouldn't necessarily want to eat something after tasting them. You might give them a try as they disolve on your tongue. I would stay away from chewing gum. Too much chance of swallowing it and also putting air in your stomach.

OK I've got a NSV. Today it is cold in Houston, 39. My little jacket that I borrowed from my DH wasn't warm enough. I have a 3/4 length coat that I bought when I was consulting in Detroit. It was spacious as I wore suits then and needed room for my suit jackets. Today I put it on and the coat could fit 2 people. There was no way I could wear it. DH had to lend me yet another of his jackets to wear. I'm lovin it!!!! So far so good on the fill. Move to mushies today. I hope the thicker solution at 2.0 will give me restriction. Can't wait to try it.