Yoda

yeah, you'd think that would matter...but it doesn't! My friend had this happen 9 months after her last fill!! So, you never know....there is really no rhyme or reason...just try and recognize the signs and don't ignore it and think it will go away. Yeah, I know Lila...it's different when you experience it yourself! If it weren't for my husband incessantly bugging me to do something about it, I would have been in the same boat as you a couple of months ago!

Yes, we are lucky (I'm about 2 hrs away from downtown TO)....I try and remind myself of that when I'm stuck in traffic trying to get there!!! I'd rather have that than be an out of province patient!! The ticker thingy.....go to Graphical Event Ticker for your Signature, Message Boards, Blogs and Web Page

Holy Crap Lila!!! Sorry you went through it but I don't blame you for going to the SG and getting info directly from Dr Yau. I'm glad you are well (or getting there).....and yes, TLBC does have a great DVD which can come in very handy. Also, let that be a lesson to us all....if this starts to happen....GO GET A DEFILL ASAP....don't wait for it to get as bad as what happened to Lila. It IS a warning sign. That too happened to me a few months ago and at the insistence of Mr Yoda, I went and got the defill....otherwise, I too would have ended up at the same bad place....I have no doubts!!! All should learn from the "mistakes" we make so you don't have to go through the same ones!! Thanks for sharing Lila...and take care!

Holy Crap Lila!!! Sorry you went through it but I don't blame you for going to the SG and getting info directly from Dr Yau. I'm glad you are well (or getting there).....and yes, TLBC does have a great DVD which can come in very handy. Also, let that be a lesson to us all....if this starts to happen....GO GET A DEFILL ASAP....don't wait for it to get as bad as what happened to Lila. It IS a warning sign. That too happened to me a few months ago and at the insistence of Mr Yoda, I went and got the defill....otherwise, I too would have ended up at the same bad place....I have no doubts!!! All should learn from the "mistakes" we make so you don't have to go through the same ones!! Thanks for sharing Lila...and take care!

the cost at TLBC includes "fills for life" (includes de-fills too, of course). Of course that means you have to physically go to TLBC for the fills....which is why some end up paying (ie. if they live far far away from TO and chose not to go back for aftercare).

I hear ya Mandi...I still can't actually see mine sticking out but I can feel it. Mr Yoda's REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY sticks out.......we'll ask about it next time we go. But then again, maybe I had more fat up there!!!

Mandi.....if you have the store "The Running Room" anywhere near you...check them out (not sure if they have any in NB)....their staff "knows" running and has you walk on paper and then "run" for them so they can check out your gait etc. Good luck! You have done (& are doing) sooooo incredibly AWESOME!

I certainly HOPE that wherever you are going for your surgery that they stitch the stomach (at least part of it) up over the band (as you put it). This anchors it much more effectively in place. A few yrs ago, this wasn't being done and it resulted in more slippages....so now, the "better" doctors do the anchoring better by doing this type of stitching. Trust me, you WANT them to do this. This was one of the first questions I asked my doctor ...I wanted to make sure they were "current"...and of course, they were. You make it sound like it is a bad thing, when in fact, it is quite the opposite!

below copied from another thread in which the same query was posed: don't forget also that "one cup" can be considered as once cup of "chewed" food.....in which case it all ends up being the same. Imagine one cup of "chewed" lettuce (ewww!...) but it is a lot more that way than puting 2 lettuce leaves into a cup. What I mean is that your pouch can hold approx 1 cup of "chewed" food....don't think of it so much as whole. That being said....after about a week on "real food" I started doing what Gaffer described.....

don't forget also that "one cup" can be considered as once cup of "chewed" food.....in which case it all ends up being the same. Imagine one cup of "chewed" lettuce (ewww!...) but it is a lot more that way than puting 2 lettuce leaves into a cup. What I mean is that your pouch can hold approx 1 cup of "chewed" food....don't think of it so much as whole.

My two cents worth: I wouldn't recommend changing your pressure without the orders from the sleep doctor (which...yes, likely means another sleep study). Just because you learn how to change the pressure on your own doesn't make it right or mean you "should". I don't know about other countries...but in Canada...there are legal issues....for instance if you get into a vehicle accident and they know your have a CPAP and you either don't regularly use the CPAP as prescribed OR have unilaterally changed the pressure....the implications are serious. So, obviously, in addition...you don't "know" when you no longer have apnea....and snoring is NOT an indication (for instance, I have never snored and yet I have apnea)....so you can't decide when to stop using it altogether...not without a sleep study. It just makes sense to lose a significant amount of weight first...then have another study. Also, as someone else said....it may not go away....don't forget that lots of "thin" people also have apnea. There is "sometimes" a connection with weight but that is not the main thing. Personally, (& thankfully!) I looooooooove my CPAP and in a way I hope I always have to use it, even when at goal.

My menstrual cycles have definitely gotten more regular....(compared to before!). I'd say they are almost 100% "normal" now....

DEFINITELY call it in Lila! Keep us posted.

May all time fave mushie (which I've mentioned before on here!): Open a can of "re-fried beans" (a mushie in itself!) and heat it up in a pan. Add some shredded cheese near the end to melt it in a bit (mmmm, even more protein!)....serve on a plate and add in a dollup of sour creme (light, of course!) and some salsa ....mix it up.....enjoy!

Good luck LeslieLee. As for advice...I didn't do Optifast pre-op BUT I did go thro the entire optifast program several yrs ago. The trick is: extract flavourings!! Orange was my fave. Mix it with the chocolate optifast and it tastes like a "Terry's Chocolate Orange Ball". Bananna and almond were also my other faves.

Thanks for letting us know Carol!! I did see it on the general board, and you look AWESOME by the way!! Many congrats on reaching your goal...and in only one year!!! :clap2: :clap2: You have so very much to be proud about. Sorry to hear the news about your hubby....best wishes going your way...all the best to you both.

.....and what a vewy vewy vewy good boy he has been!!!!! :eek:

Yeah, I regularly look at the Before & Afters on the GENERAL Thread and saw Carol's goal photo (WoodyS). AAAAMAAAAZING!!! She looks GREAT~!

We saw "Fracture" (Anthony Hopkins/Ryan Gosling....mmmmmmmm yummy!)....It was a very good movie....!

Welcome :welcome: & congrats on your banding date! You soooooo won't regret it! You are starting very close to where I started (273)....and I'm a slow loser....so imagine where you will be a year from now!!!

that is fantastic msrobby!!! Yay you!!!:clap2: Your body shape is merely "re-distributing" itself!!! The first of many to come!!!! Well done...you are doing GRRRREAT!!!! Can't you just taste the 50!

welcome rosiejan and congrats on making a great life changing decision!! I too could never stand to even LOOK at cottage cheese and so just did the yogurt...I swear, if I could do it, ANYONE can!! Keep up the good fight....ur almost there!

robgoblin: all the info re. portion sizes (even the full Fluid stage) are on the instructions provided by TLBC. Ultimately, it is up to you whether or not you follow them "religiously" or not....your choice and you naturally have to do what you feel comfortable with. That being said, I would not advise others to disregard the instructions...the choice is theirs if they wish to do so. Don't forget....even though you "feel fine"....you can still feel fine but you can't "see" your insides so you don't know if it has completely healed....apparently you need 6 weeks to "heal". Just my two cents...take it or leave it!

Silly gal!!!!!

Hi & welcome soonsunny. Don't forget that the 3/4 cup is a guide for most people. If you can only eat 1/2 cup....than that is no biggie....as long as it is rich in Protein etc. There will come a time when you can eat more. Don't force it.