Kat817

Would tempt me to wear some really heavy jewelry, heavy jeans, drink lots of Water prior to appt......lay it on thick, but not permanent!!! My BCBS was of TX and it was 35 w/ 2 co morbidities, and 40 w/ none. Good Luck! Kat

How is your weight loss? Are you losing 1-2 pounds a week? If you are, and if you are still getting food "stuck" then it does not sound as though you are needing another fill yet. It is always a temptation to get really tight restriction, and lose it fast. But as you are finding out, it is hard to eat if you do not do so properly, and have restriction!!! My suggestion would be to slow down.....and learn to seriously eat like a bandster. Smaller bites, and chewed VERY well....then a few more times just for good measure! When you can eat in this way, and eat hard proteins--meat--without getting stuck, and your weight loss falls below the recommended 1-2 pounds per week----then go get the next fill. If you push it, get another fill, and do not learn to eat properly before hand---you take a chance on getting something stuck seriously that would require a complete unfill, and healing time. I have been banded for almost 2 years, am getting close to goal now....and have only had 2 fills. I might be able to handle another now, but I like the control I have learned. I like being able to eat healthy food. I can eat salads, and meat without issue. I still eat small amounts, and in small bites. Chewing is serious business! It is better for your band and your stomach to achieve restriction slowly....and cautiously. Overfilling and unfilling, begins a swelling cycle sometimes that can be hard to break. Therefore making it hard to find your sweet spot. If the only thing you are getting stuck on is the buns, tortillas, and chicken, it may well be that they are simply too dry, or going to be trigger foods for you at this stage of the game. It is time to watch your intake, and how you feel closely----see how you eat those foods, and if you feel that way at any other time, etc. Ask yourself some serious questions about whether you are ready for another fill, whether your Dr. asks you or not. It is your body---be sure you take as good of care of it and your band as you can!! Kat

It helps flush the toxins from your body that you are losing as you lose weight. If I don't get enough water/fluids in, my weight loss totally stalls! Kat

Sometimes it is an indication of a band being too tight. Other times it is possibly indicating a hiatal hernia. Try avoiding food after say 7 PM. About 8 begin drinking a large glass of Water to flush the pouch. Then nothing more by mouth until bed. See if that helps. Do you have any indications other than this that you might be too tight? If not you can try raising the head of your bed a few inches, or sleeping on a wedge type of pillow to help with reflux. Sometimes sleeping on your side eases it as well. If you feel like your food is getting stuck too often---then see your Dr. for a slight unfill. You can also use an OTC antacid. Many Dr.'s have their patients take one as a precaution. I had a hiatal hernia prior to surgery, it was fixed, but has herniated again----both my parents have them, guess it is my lot in life!!! I sleep on a wedge and take Prilosec OTC, and have no issues anymore. Good Luck. Try something, that acid in your throat is not healthy! Kat

IF---------and that is a big IF-----you are on a regular diet now, not on mushies or liquids, then nothing will happen if you eat it. This is not bypass surgery with dumping issues. Small bites, chewed well----and you should be fine. Most suggest the lower calorie as it speeds up weight loss!! Avoiding refined sugars and flours is recommended, but if you are asking will it physically hurt you, or your band, or make you "dump" the answer is no! One of the benefits and yet drawback at the same time to the band! You can eat it, but you will get the same calories and fat out of it you would have pre band. The difference is, with the band, once you get some restriction, 1 cookie will be enough, not the entire plate she brought!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

Wow! Lucky you! If there is a 6 month wait, look into it, often times doing all the pre op testing etc. still takes a few months. Think of the vacation you could take on your 16K----when you feel good wearing the swimming suit!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

As someone mentioned before, a motel desk, is often slow through the night, allowing you to get your study time, and grading papers done. If you could get a 3-11 shift, you would have busy time, also slow time, and still have time to go home and sleep. Or even an 11-7 shift, you would have slow time----and could sleep prior to work. I am not sure what your other hours are. Home health is also always an option. Many allow you to sleep as long as you are there if the person needs you. I did this lots of years ago when I was going to school. Did the night shift with a man who had cancer, and was an amputee---if he needed up at night, I was there to help him....most nights, I got a solid 6 hours sleep anyway. A question--------can your parents afford to help you out this way? If so, draw up a contract, make it legal, allow them to loan you the money to finish up school. Agree to whatever repayment schedule you all decide on---then you could relax, not worry about asking for the extra each month....that kind of thing. If they really cannot afford to help you I understand, that would not be an option. As a parent, who has helped her kids, with school expenses, and home loans---I know I had no issues helping them, as I knew what they were doing was helping them! They have repaid the money, and we all come through it without issue. I have our youngest DD now, we loaned some $$$ for their down payment on their new house. They have not done exactly as we had hoped....her DH has chosen to go back for his masters instead of getting the job that would allow her to continue her education too, as well as pay us back.....but fornow we are letting things sit for a bit....we feel she is under enough stress right now, trying to support them. Parents usually do just want to see their kids happy and successful!! Good Luck finding your way through this. Few things are more stressful than money issues. Kat

I always figured if you had a snotty nose due to an infection, if you swallowed it, it would just move to another place. My SIL says she always gets bowel issues when she gets a sinus infection, she thinks it is from the antibiotic---which it likely is--but it could also be all the crap she is swallowing----ick! My appointment today is not until 3:30.....so going to try to stay busy and not think about it!! I have things out so I can put some cheesy chicken enchilada Soup in the crock pot. Not calorie good----but tastes good, and will be something I can eat on over the next couple of days. I have some laundry I want to get done. I really think I will feel better once it is done. The infection is getting to me. I took my prescription in to get filled, and they took FOREVER!!! Then they still got it wrong! I was trying to simplify, and do all my things in one spot, such a mistake. From now on, I stick to the pharmacist who knows me. There is another woman here in our tiny little town with the same name as me. And if that is not enough----our birthdates are almost identical----exactly 10 years apart. Mine being say 1/1/60 and hers being 1/1/50! They put my prescription through her insurance----and then told me my insurance card was no good. Well I have seen plenty of Dr.'s and dentists lately to know it IS good! What a disaster--then when I get it home, I see they still have it wrong! So among other things today I intend on a letter being written to the corporate offices. Then when I checked out of the main store, I had more problems! My next door neighbor and I went together and bought a gift card for the couple across the street, who are expecting their first baby. She told me what "pattern" she was using---but we figured to be safe we would go with the card. So I take the card to the cashier and tell her we want $75.00 on it. She messed with it over and over and set it to the side. Totalled my stuff, and before I run my debit I told her I needed the gift card, she replied she had given it to me already. I disagreed, and she just stood there, very slowly blinking at me, like she was controlling her temper! Pissed me off!!! We ended up with a manager at the register, and she kept insisting I had the card, it must be in my purse. So I went through my purse again---nothing, the manager went through my bags. The cashier is being super snotty--saying check your pockets, and not just shaking her head at me, but her entire body! So I tell the manager "Look it is $75.00 on that card, I brought it up here, a white card with little yellow ducks, and she fought with it for several swipes, it IS on my ticket total, she sat it somewhere, she never give it to me, and I am not leaving this store without either the transaction voided off----so it is not charged to me, or the card IN MY HAND! I told her she is welcome to go through my purse, I do not have the card! So she says, let's just void it off, and begin again---the cashier is very agitated, so she cannot get the proper sequence of keys on the register, so the manager stepped up and as she reached to pull out a copy of my receipt, she reaches down and there between the check reader and the drawer part of the station, is my gift card!!!! I told her VERY loudly, I thought her cashier was trying to rip me off, and I would be in touch with the corporate offices about this! The email I got back from them this morning bemoans the entire gift card process. Not an apology from a stinking single person I dealt with!!! Frustration! Watch if you buy a card, make sure you get it!!! Did you hear about all the Sharper Images cards sold at Christmas are now worthless, as the company went bankrupt? Today will be better!!! While in the mall yesterday I happened across a rack of Crocs marked 75% off. So I bought them for the granddaughters. For $9.97. Kinseys look so dang cute!!! They are the smallest they sell a size 4-5, and they are a bit big, but they look so cute---I wear mine to run out after the paper, or wood, so she has her a pair right here now too, she thinks she is hot stuff!!! Well I am going to go assemble all my stuff in the crock pot, and change out laundry. Will likely be back as I try to keep myself occupied, if not----I'll check in soon! Kat

Got busy (?) reading a book, now it is LATE!! Kinsey will be here early---and Rick leaves at 5:30---so I better go get some sleep. Tomorrow is my day, wish it was early----but at least it will soon be over---hope it fixes my headache. Talk to y'all tomorrow!! Kat

These comments do not seem to be made to be non supportive to me---or malicious in nature. When we are fat, joking about it is not okay. Seems like maybe this is just their way of being happy for you and maybe an uninformed way of showing it. There are people on this site who find being called skinny, the equivalent of being cussed at----and in the next post you will find someone who is counting the pounds and days til someone refers to them as skinny. We all take things differently, and in this case, what your family is doing, would make me laugh at myself too!!! Kat

I am so glad Abi got her box, and is feeling up to school tomorrow! Hope it goes great. Kids all seem to prefer snuffing as opposed to blowing or wiping.....some men too. My BIL drives me nuts with this deep sucking of everything in his head--I cannot describe the grossness!!!!! Well we are off to chinese, last time it did not set well.....so we will see!!! Catch ya in awhile!! Kat

I think if you go in and ask him in a manner that is not accusing---and give him a chance to respond----you should be ok, even if you don't get the answer you desire. Then you have a clear picture of where he stands, and whether he is involved at all. Then if you want to change, you can seriously begin looking, and then I would write letters saying they misrepresent the costs involved. Let us know! Kat

I just had my PS consult, and yes I do have sagging skin along with remaining fat in my belly. I am at a point it is a problem--today--not in another year or 2. As the fullness in my stomach has reduced, it has dropped. Now it irritates underneath it, the skin actually breaks down, and becomes infected. I have had the Dr. prescribe ointments, I have tried everything over the counter from lotions, to powders, to deodorant, to athletes foot cream, to yeast infection ointments. I had no serious problem clearing the wound up, and it healing...IF I allowed it to receive plenty of air, and I quit irritating it. The problem is, to do any type of exercise irritates it! If I ride my bike or the elliptical, it bounces my stomach up and down---first day I am ok, second day the skin with tear. Then I am sidelined for 4-5 days while I allow it to heal, I deal with the pain of it, do not get any work outs in, and sit in a chair reclined with my belly open to the air.....real exciting!!! If I try the compression as opposed to allowing it to move---then it breaks out in a heat type rash, and instead of being in one spot where the skin tears--------it is the entire width of my stomach, and on my groin/thigh area---where my legs attach to my body. I have lost weight everywhere, my hips are thin....my legs very thin....my only remaining problem is my stomach, and I am limited in how much I can do without injuring myself. I could reduce the calorie intake, and risk malnutrition.....but the goal here is to be active, and be healthy! My remaining fat, and skin on my stomach alone stop that. My PS surgeon agreed completely. He said any more weight loss might leave me a slightly looser skin feel, but not one that would interfere in my daily life as this is. Now if insurance comes through like they say they are-------it is gone! I would bet without the alien on my stomach I would drop 2 sizes easily! I wear a 14 now, and the bottom and legs sag....but I need it to cover my belly. I am ready for it to be gone and be able to walk and exercise again at will! Not in 1-2 years! I would be regaining weight I would bet! Right now I feel very healthy----and this is my only deterrent to staying active. Kat

Hi girls----I had issues logging in once this morning, but have not had trouble since....knock, knock, knocking on the desk!!! Will look into another pic besides my avatar Laura. Cute! Laura I am in a strange place with food as well. I either eat like you say, grazing all day, out of more boredome maybe than hunger....or I do like today, I get busy, and then as I walked in the door and began putting away groceries, I realized I was sooooo thirsty for my tea ( I had a bottle of water but it was getting warm)---and then I thought to myself it is going on 3 PM and I have not eaten anything but the cracker I took my antibiotic with! I find myself doing that a lot, forgetting to eat if I am alone and busy. With Kinsey, her new mantra is "I'm hungry"....so I fix her breakfast, and lunch, then of course I cook dinner, so I eat regularly. Left alone, I forget! So I sat down with a small bowl of chili with some fritos----but if I eat much I won't be hungry for dinner in 3 hours! I would have NEVER, EVER thought I would forget to eat. Hope MRS. Tracy is having a good time! Jane hope the accountant has good news for you! My neighbor next door, and I went together and bought a gift card for the couple across the street---they are expecting their first baby. So I bought it while I was in the store today. But the cashier never give the card to me after adding the amount to it. I ask for it, she said she handed it to me. I disagreed....she just ignored me! So she finished ringing up my purchases, and I told her I would not enter my PIN on my debit until the gift card had been found. She got ALL huffy, and flipped her light to flash--the CSM come over, I explained, she again told her she gave it to me. I am going through my purse thinking maybe I did space out....but nothing. So the woman goes through my bags.....nothing. I check all my pockets....and as the CSM is looking between the bags on the turntable, the cashier gets a little edgy and keeps saying "she has to have it!" I told the woman, I handed her the gift card with little yellow ducks on it, and told her I needed $75.00 on the card, she sat it against the keys on the register, and then she typed in the amount and slid the card, she kept sliding it over and over, so she sat it to the side. She is shaking her head---well actually shaking her whole body at that point! The CSM stepped up to the register, and found my card....slid next to the area they slide a check through at! The cashier keeps saying she thought she give it to me...blah, blah, blah------I think once it was paid for she planned on keeping it! I was so mad when I left! Neither one of them ever apologized! Home now, and have a bunch of things I need to do, and nothing I want to do!!! Story of my life lately. I still have this headache....I would prefer to be lazy! I see Terry here!!! She made it! Talk to you gals later! Kat

I read this, and as I was putting things away in the kitchen just now, it was running through my mind. Picture this scenario! Since you found his match.com, you respond to it as another woman....play him along, I mean after all this time, you likely know of his serious dislikes, and things, so you could play up being the perfect match. Then when the time comes to meet face to face....invite everyone you know to the restaurant, to watch as you hand over his divorce papers, and everyone sees him as the cheater he just proved himself to be. I know it would not pull off so easily, but wouldn't it be fun??!!! Kat

Going to trial and making him lie on the stand or fess up is going to be about all that might make DH's charges lessen I would imagine. HIS actions do not make YOU a hypocrite unless you go around saying your DH never does this or that. Those are his actions! I would say go to an Al-Anon meeting, you will find many others who feel just like you. Loving the person, and loving their actions when alcohol is involved are 2 separate issues, and they will give you guidance in ways not to enable him to have the "why you mad at me?" attitude. It will also send a message to your DH-----his alcohol consumption and lying are serious problems, ones you are not taking responsibility for. I know it takes a lot of energy to be mad. But hang on to that mad, do not let DH convince you to just get over it. You deserve to be treated better---YOU were not out partying with friends while your family was at home....he was. Kat

You say you are headed to trial? Can you not subpeona the original driver to testify? MAKE him perjure himself---then maybe the 3rd guy will be honest. It might not make a difference, but maybe it will freak him out, that it ISN'T over! Maybe this is the wake up call your DH needed though not to be taking DUI so lightly. Better he serve a short jail stay and know better than to do it again, than hit a kid and kill him in the future. My 16 year old neighbor boy was coming home from a rodeo when 3 men coming in from a few drinks after work crossed the center line, hitting and killing him. The men were not staggering drunk, the driver blew just over the legal limit of .08---they were laughing and arguing over which CD to put in----and he let the car veer off. Unfortunately Ty will never have the chance to make better choices than the grown men did. Maybe this is the lesser of 2 evils. I am not dogging your DH---I told my own brother the same thing when he got popped on a DUI. My brother has been sober for years now----hope it wakes your DH up as to what all he has to lose too. Kat

I agree that BMI is a nice tool to have to track progress, similar to the scale---meaning it is helpful, but it does not tell the whole story. My beautiful DD is just like Ceredad, she is tall 5'9", and ACTIVE!!!! According to the charts she would still be overweight, and by more than a simple pound! But this girl is a 36D, on top and wears a size 7 in Juniors!!!! But she has muscle tone that is incredible. She runs marathons! She lifts weights 3 X weekly, and does cardio 2X weekly one week then swaps the next. She only gets this time, as she does it in the company gym---but her weekends she is running with the dogs, she is GO GO GO!!! There is actually not that many pounds separating my DD and I---------but the shape we are in is totally different!! Her body fat is very, very low.....mine is slowly going down! We love having ways to track our progress, and scales, and BMI charts, are great, but a measuring tape, and a good physical cannot be replaced by either! In all honesty it saddens me to think something like a chart can say she is overweight, when ANYONE looking at her, would just shake their heads. You do not see her bones poking through----and you don't see body builder level of muscles, but she looks like I dream of looking! Kat

Same here, just checking in with my girls! I am off to do some shopping today, stock up on Soups and mushie things, I get my tooth fixed tomorrow ---- finally. I am so sick of the nasty taste it leaves in my mouth! Not to mention it has made hamburger out of my tongue. Be a relief! Hope Abi is still mending well!! Weather turned here too----t shirts Saturday, snow flurries Sunday----I am sooo ready for Spring! Will check back with all of you after I get back! Hugs~~ Kat

Welcome home Judy, we missed you, but I am glad you had a wonderful trip! I get my tooth/roots removed tomorrow. Not until like 3:30 tomorrow afternoon though.....I am a bit nervous. I have to go get my prescription filled today. Speaking of----I need to call my regular dentist and ask a couple of questions concerning the removal.....ok did that, now I am set. Going to go shopping today and stock up some more Soups and soft things. Plus I have a big ol' list anyway, might as well get it done while I don't have my Kinsey helper! My scale is not budging---but my rings will not stay on again....so weight is apparantly shifting....probably all is going to places I don't want it!!! It is cold here today....but the snow stopped. Well I am off to do a few minutes on the elliptical before I shower and head off to do my shopping I think. Better check on my email----I have been soooooo lazy this weekend!! Talk to y'all this afternoon! Kat

Zippykat, if you are having issues with length one thing you can try is the maternity lines. They are often made longer. I have a friend who is 6'1" and she buys lots of maternity things, and takes up some of the tops etc. She needs the extra length. Many are sold in separates, you can get the top in maternity and the bottoms in womens or misses if needed. Most tops will go with a black or solid color bottom. Kat

Wow! Pamela I would never be so brave with color. Of course I live with a man who wants to paint everything white!!! He wants lots of color elsewhere----but he is double color blind. He cannot tell browns/greens/some blues....nor can he distinguish reds/oranges. The 2 colors he always gets right are white---lack of color! And yellow. So he had developed this plan of white walls....then he went with whatever was in the JC Penney catalog under the same color! I kid you not! When we got back together, his entire house was done in Khaki and white. Not any shade variation, because if he ordered towels, or sheets, or curtains---he ordered JCP's Khaki # such and such, and it all worked! Was kind of comical. He hates pink----his entire house when he was married before was pink. He does not want to live in a pink house, but he always tells me how pretty I look when I wear it!!! Go figure! So we have spurts of color---all done by me! And we do have some white walls as well. We have lots of sagey greens, taupes and yep still hanging with some of his khaki!!! Burnt orange in teeny tiny amounts is highlight in the LR. An overall western feel---lots of antique country implements, farm tools etc., a cowhide rug, wraught iron, barbed wire! A wall full of huge saws! The kitchen is also done in a tone of sage green, and white with red barn accessories! Bedrooms all have the continuing color to the LR area, but are each also highlighted in another color with it...pretty boring! But it is cozy and warm....and we are both comfortable with it! I am envious in a way of the bright color! Not sure it is me....but the idea of starting a room with a clean slate is always fun!! Anyone watch Oprahs Big Give tonight? Well I am going to go soak in the tub for a bit. I don't have Kinsey tomorrow. Lindzie had a bad asthma attack, and spent the day in ER----and now has to have nebulizer treatments every 2 hours, so Manda is staying home with her tomorrow. She gets these attacks everytime she goes to her Grandma's house---or to her Grandpa's. Grandpa's new girlfriend has cats, and they found out today her stupid grandma, had failed to tell them the new bed she bought for Lindzie from a co worker was a mass of cat hair on the bottom of the box springs, but she vaccuumed it she said so it would be ok. Idiot woman! The child could die from an asthma attack, and she refuses to educate herself about the issue! I ate too much for dinner, but overall it was not a bad day. I don't expect with the amount I ate for the scale to move, but it was at least healthy! I drank really well! Going to Durango to meet up with a girl who is being banded in the next month. Will likely go the end of the week or the first of the following, depending on how this dental thing goes. I am SOOO ready! Well girls it is snowing....winter is here to stay! I am so ready for our trip! Kat

With any tax knowledge, Vegas might just be up your alley!!! I have a friend who was a retired tax attorney in Vegas----he is my age, and has been retired for several years. Might be worth checking out! If you are wanting to continue your schooling then do so, at least a class that sounds interesting, you never know when something is going to get your serious attention! Put out some feelers, and look into your options! Kat

There are worse things in life than being alone. I have sat in a house all by myself and felt less lonely than I felt at one time in a house with my ex husband. Knowing we should be able to connect and couldn't and that he cared so little about me as to have an affair....it was lonelier by far wondering about all this when he was there, than it was making a life happy for me, without a concern to him. Whether you bide your time with him due to insurance purposes or what....NOW is the time to contact an attorney, so that 1/2 of your home, your retirement, your assets of all sorts remain where they belong. If he knows you know, they could be moved and hidden, and you walk away with less. HE made the choice for you, now you look out for #1. IF something like this wakes him up, and you choose to remain in the marriage, he will never again wonder about taking such advantage of you. Document the conversations you have with him concerning this. Good Luck! Kat

Well....I don't think I would go so far as to say you are too tight if you can eat well half of the time. My guess would be that on the days you are not able to eat, is that maybe you begin a bad cycle day with a first bite syndrome kind of thing, then due to the irritation of the first problem, you continue them through the day. Then following a rest at night often times it will be ok the next day. First bite syndrome is not uncommon. For some reason the esophagus, and therefore our pouch will sometimes spasm, and tighten up when we take the first bite. When it does this, then anything added after will only hurt and cause you to PB. What is suggested for issues with first bite syndrome is to begin the meal with a couple of sips of a very warm liquid---Water, tea, coffee---small sips of it hot! Then take the tiniest bite imaginable---chew well, and wait. Let it hit your pouch and allow the pouch to accept it, after a couple of minutes---serious minutes, as in 120 seconds---not just a few seconds---try another tiny bite. Then wait again. If after a few bites, you still feel good, then proceed as usual with your meal. If it feels stuck--just stop! Then in a half an hour or so, try some Fluid, and stick with fluids for a few hours minimally before you try again. Anytime you end up PB'ing, the best thing for your stomach is to go onto liquids for a period of time, allowing your stomach to settle without causing further swelling. I think a truly too tight band would be causing this to be the normal, as opposed to just happening half the time. And it would cause most things to come back up not eventually going down. If you are having problems with stuck things eventually going down, the most common cause is not chewing well. Be sure you are thoroughly chewing your food, then chew a few more times just for good measure!! Good Luck Brandy---hope you get it figured out real soon!!! Kat