MelodyJ

A1ikou, VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am close behind!!! :confused: Keep up the GREAT work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is SO WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God BLess, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -87lbs

WandaM---you still have choices too make....but I am ABSOLUTELY miserable if I overeat now!!!!!! Just NOT worth it!!!!! Remember the band is not magic....it's about choices!!!!!!!!!!! You quit asking yourself if your full....you ask yourself if your still hungry?!? Big DIFFERENT way to look at things!!!!!!!!! I LOVE food....so at least now I am portion-controlled with the band!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -87lbs

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!I pray it's BETTER than you can dream or imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -87lbs

Oh Leigh Ann....I am so sorry your going through this but glad you may have found your doctor!!! I would stick with hot liquids only....I had a slight overfill I think and ended up on liquids for a month (per dr instruction) and this actually helped...once you throw up you swell and you just keep circling....vomit....swell!! It's ugly Hang in there!!! Oh and CONGRATS on the GREAT weight loss!! I am impressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -87lbs

Oops...keep hitting that tab button..... Do you feel the love of adoption?!?!?!? GOd Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

I'll adopt you Colleen....welcome to FL!!!

Well....my experience was a bit different. I did not have to have a sleep study for mine. I did not have to go to a seminar....I just went in for a consult. I didn't struggle because I wanted this SO BAD!!! I was/am sick of being overweight!!! Just look at it as the "next step" to your goal!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

I'm so glad your able to write and on the mend!! I am SO SORRY you've had such a rough time!!! Praying that the rest of this banded journey only gets better!!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Ariel, Hang in there....you know you love your sister...that has changed with her "bad choice"....just keep praying she'll see the truth and realize her value!!!! Years ago I had to tell a dad his teenage daughter was pregant (made me sweat) and I reminded him that how he responds would make or break the relationship....that she was the same little girl he loved when he walked in the office ...she would know she was loved and stay around or feel the pain of anger and rejection and RUN....keep showing your sister how much SHE means too you and your family!!! That dad told his daughter "you know I love you" as I walked out of the exam room!! AWESOME!!!! God Bless, Melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

I'm with Alexandra and feel like you are in a win-win situation. The fear of the "unknown" can be HUGE....right now you are comfortable which is a nice place to be. Can you see yourself staying forever???? Do you love adventure??? You really have to figure out you....wouldn't one of those "EASY" buttons from Staples be good about now?!?!?! I can only offer prayer....pray for your wisdom to make the best decision for you!!! I've found in life the decisions that I struggled the most with meant change was on the way!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs :Banane10:

Sounds like your sister has a low self-esteem!?!?! I did the same thing and tolerated because I knew no better...and you may have nailed it when you say she is acting like she is in high school....she didn't get the opportunities to "blow it" in high school and now she is supposedly more mature....but she's still a young girl inside in relationships?! There is not much you can do unfortunately beyond prayer! She is going to have to make the decision. There may need to be boundaries before the marriage...maybe if she realizes where the family is at she'll realize how much you love her and care about her and he doesn't!!! Maybe it's not a good idea that he is over there everyday???? I went through a horrible marriage in 1991.....pulled myself together and divorced and stayed single until 2004....wasn't a man hater....just MUCH more wise!!!! Well, I am married and LOVE it....he is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!! When my husband and I were dating I owned my own home and we included our families in our lives BIG time!! But we did not run over to our parents every night!!! We went out on dates and enjoyed getting to know one another not sitting in front of the tv as a "date".... One suggestion I would make is "build" your sister up...tell her how valuable and important she is....because when she realizes this....she'll quit putting up with a loser!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Cheryl and Jennifer looking GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the WONDERFUL job!!! Good motivation for all of us!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs :puke:

LOVE Maalox Max.....it moved EVERYTHING out....got diarrhea but moved that gas!!!! So worth it!!!!!!!!!!!! Walking and increasing your Fluid intake helps....also avoid straws as you can suck in more air on accident! I actually had pain into my ear of all places...it was MISERABLE! Hang in there....it does get better!!!!!!!!!!! God bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Oh THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!I am smiling and feeling a bit tear-y!!!!! I am SO IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You give me hope woman!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Becky....that can be my NSV too.....I can get an epidural!!! WOOOHOOOO! God bless, Melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs :eek:

Health1st-- Your doing AWESOME in a short time.... No it's not all the band....but I have MUCH too lose....so am glad I can see the progress and not get discouraged!! I still have to fight "head" hunger....that's my biggest battle! God Bless, melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Healthfirst....I agree!! I went back after 2 wks....I had lost 17lbs in 14days....wasn't keeping much down. He did flouro and liquid went through in 1sec....I watched too. So.....he felt that I had gotten into an ugly cycle of vomitting....swelling....etc. I didn't want it this way and did question him. But he got another opinion by another surgeon in the clinic. And they felt that I just needed to rest. And each time you put the needle in to put in or take out saline there is a risk as well....so I sucked it up and went on to take liquids and now I can eat again. But I TOTALLY agree.....too tight is miserable!! I haven't went back for another fill and it's been about 2-3mos. No rush here!!! God Bless, Melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

I agree w/ Gonnabethin.....we have 30days we provide care by law in FL until they find someone else. It's better that you find someone else that is not "emotional" as this doctor seems to be. I"ve never been personally dismissed....but I have chosen not to go back to doctors and dismissed them! Praying you find someone you have confidence in!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Diane-- I was filled a 2nd time and ended up on liquids for almost 1mo... I could keep liquids down as well....then I have slowly progressed...but the band is still VERY controlling at times!! Somedays wish I could have a smidge taken out....but most days happy losing the weight!!! God Bless, Melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs:)

Lexapro is for depression/anxiety. Maybe they are thinking that it will "relax" the band?!?!??!!? Have you tried the more "natural" stuff, like elevating the head of your bed 6-8", lemon juice squeezed in my Water REALLY helped pre-banding, now smaller more frequent meals. If they have free samples maybe it's worth a try?!?? Ya never know.... God Bless, melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Oh Jennifer you are doing GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 50lbs is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, MElody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Sunta--- CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So many wonderful things happening....and ya never know when you'll need that epidural!! God Bless, Melody banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Congratulations....but we need DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!! Tell us who and what she does ya know?!?!? Also....marriage is what you make of it....I have had the BEST 2 years of my life!!!! WE enjoy our lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

You'll need your operation reports and history to change doctors. You'll also need to find another doctor to accept you. I was banded in TN....then moved to FL....so had to switch! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs

Elisabeth, GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bridget, So impressed with your photo journal!! Just BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! Liz, WOW!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can HARDLY wait to say I'm almost to goal....you truly have done well!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have much more to lose so mine seems to go faster....but you are IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!!!! I have lost 85lbs since March 20th!! Love losing the weight....at times....around the TOM it is frustrating as it clamps down....can be VERY controlling but would still do it all over given the results!!!! God Bless, Melody Banded 3/20/06 -85lbs