SpideyMom

Yes, it's all a learning process. I'm doing fine now, except now I'm back to not getting full and feeling like I'm eating too much. My PA says she wants me to just stop after eating 1 cup of food, drink more in between meals, and exercise more. A part of me is upset, thinking, if I could stop eating while I'm still hungry, I wouldn't have needed the LapBand in the first place! Ugh. I'd like to go back up .25 cc, but I'm not sure they will let me just yet. This is SO hard and frustrating! And some people think this is the easy way out. Ha! On the Way, good luck with your port replacement! I hope it all goes well. Let us know! :thumbup:

Wow, you look great! Your smile in the last picture says it all! :thumbup: Fantastic work!

WOWZA! Everyone is doing SO well! Congratulations, Rachieroo, EPRESC, and Carrie0322! :biggrin:And John, that's awesome what the doctor said!!! :yikes: I would be nervous too about maintaining, but I'm sure you'll do fine. What do you do for exercise? You play golf, right? Rguay, you did great on vacation -- you had fun and you didn't gain! :thumbup: To determine restriction, are you hungry between meals? If not, then you have restriction. If you feel like you're constantly hungry and eating more than 1 cup at each meal, you probably need a fill. HTH. :biggrin:

Lol, thanks. It does sound funny, huh? I forgot you had the port problems! Oh, I'm sorry that is causing so much of a hassle, but it will definitely be worth it. You shouldn't be hungry like that all of the time. That's miserable. I know, I've been there! It's very hard to resist temptation that way. Glad you got an appointment made. In the meantime, hang in there!! :sad::thumbup:

Wow, John, awesome news about possibly reaching goal!! You have crossed the finish line in record time!!!:wub: Sorry to hear about the port, but I am glad to hear that the port revision is a relatively simple operation. Will insurance pay for that, I hope? Mine is starting to stick out, also, but mine is up higher, so it doesn't cause me problems. I just catch myself rubbing my tummy all the time, like a pregnant woman does. LOL Well, thanks to my unfill last week, I :thumbup: and made it down to the "overweight" category! :frown: Carrie, congrats to you on your awesome loss! :sad: And, less-of-me, it definitely sounds like you are due for a fill. Why can't you take your kids with you? Or is it possible to find a fill doctor closer to your home? I'm sure once you get some more restriction, the lbs will be dropping off! Keep your chin up! :w00t:

I'm doing okay, now, knock on wood! No swelling or reflux this time. :thumbup: It is an awful feeling, isn't it, John? ugh. And to think, some people say that having WLS is taking the easy way out. HA! :sad:

Tina, thanks for the kind words of support! I'm proud of my six years! :w00t: And I wish you luck with the rheumatologist! Mine has been fabulous! My oncologist was the one who recommended I see a rheumy rather than just my family doctor, and I'm so glad she did. Charlene, I have IBS, and it is common among people with FM. If you are having a lot of acid, you should definitely consider a slight unfill. I just had one about a week ago (-0.5 ccs) and it made all the difference in the world. The acid is gone. Hostbody, FM often mimics Lyme disease, which is why most doctors nowadays will test a patient for Lyme before giving them the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. I was tested twice for Lyme.... and for MS, Lupus, and a whole host of other diseases. That's why the diagnosis of FM is considered a "diagnosis of elimination." Unfortunately there is no blood test for FM, so they have to eliminate all other possibilities. And I totally agree with you -- everyone needs to be their own health advocate!!! :thumbup: Oh, and regarding pain meds... I mispoke before... I do take pain meds (Vicodin) for breakthrough pain only, but that is very rarely now. Thank goodness! :sad:

I have tried acupuncture for fibro, and that is wonderful! My insurance paid a portion of it. However, the best things that have worked for me are Cymbalta and losing weight. However, I am also a firm believer in medicine when needed! It saved my life from Stage III breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. So, if it can help me with my fibro, I'm willing to try! If I don't like the side effects, there are enough meds out there that I can just try another one. Life is too short to be in pain. (And when I say I take meds, I'm not talking about pain meds. Those aren't necessary if you have the right preventative medication. :thumbup:) BTW, taz, if my temper can also flare up if I'm having a fibro flare, just like my memory goes out the window. lol

Hey, Tam Tam! Great to hear from you! It's was a nice surprise to see some activity on this thread. I know how busy life can get when you have children -- and I only have one! lol How many do you have? I think keeping up after children is exercise enough! Don't worry about losing slowly -- slow and steady wins the race, they say! I understand how awful it feels to have the band too tight, also. I just went through that a few weeks ago, and felt so much better after an unfill. Before that, I was unable to keep any restriction. I didn't realize you can get "thicker" Fluid. Very interesting! I'm very pleased with my WL, but I must admit, I attribute a lot of it to cutting all sugar and all white carbs completely out of my life. That has made a *huge* difference in my life. (I was truly addicted.) That, plus walking a little every day and not snacking between meals is the difference between this diet and all the other diets I've ever tried in my life. The last I heard from Lili, her partner Lisa got a terrible infection and had to have her band removed. :bored: But, she said she was on the mend. I haven't seen her around the board since then, which was the end of July. I really feel for them. Lili, if you're out there, we're thinking of you and would love to know how you and Lisa are! T, great to hear from you! Keep up the great work! :thumbup:

ACK! I'm scared... last night I didn't get a chance to eat until 8:45, and when I did, I started wolfing down my food. I know, I know -- I forgot because I was so darn hungry! And sure enough, what happens? I got stuck (it was whole wheat pizza) and suddenly I had to make a mad dash to the bathroom to throw up. (sorry tmi) Why, oh why didn't I learn from the darn scrambled eggs two weeks ago???? I'm kicking myself. So now I'm doing liquids today, in hopes that I can avoid swelling.:biggrin: This just makes me realize how careful we have to be at all times! I was feeling SO good after my unfill, enjoying food again, and I let myself get too hungry and bam! Too big of bites, too fast, and I'm stuck, stuck, stuck. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Keeping my fingers crossed that I haven't caused any damage...

Thanks, everyone! I never thought I'd be so happy to be overweight! LOL I got a good laugh about this with my dh and some friends at work, also.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so happy for you! You are such an inspiration! This calls for the Dancing Vitamins (not M&Ms)!!! :thumbup: :party::cursing:

I was going to suggest the same thing. I use the Daily Plate (similar to fitday) and it helps me get a very good idea of all the calories I'm really eating. I know the Daily Plate has a calculator that will tell you how many calories you need to consume based on your height, weight, and how much you want to lose per week. It also tracks your exercise and subtracts the calories burned from the calories consumed. Here's a link: Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate Also, are you having any problems eating -- like things getting stuck that weren't before? Any reflux?? If so, you might be too tight and need an unfill. I just went through that. Once I had my unfill, I lost 3 lbs in 3 days. Reflux is a big sign of being too tight. Good luck!! Don't give up! You've come too far. :thumbup:

Thanks, Carrie! I'm really surprised at how quickly this is going. And look at you, girl, you're flying right along with me!!! :thumbup:

And I've never been happier! LOL :wub: As of today, I have lost 75 lbs., and my BMI has changed from "obese" to "overweight"!!! Or, if you go by the BMI calculator on the Bandster Profile, they call it, "Prone to Health Risks." LOL Either way, considering I started this journey as "morbidly obese" back at my consultation in February, I'm celebrating! drinks and dancing (to work it all off) at my place! :ohmy::tt2::thumbup::martini_shaken: ha ha! :cursing:

Thanks, John. I think you're right -- lost another pound! :thumbup:

Greek yogurt is not just thicker, it also has much, much more Protein than any regular yogurt, so straining regular yogurt will only thicken it, not make it more protein-rich, unfortunately. I swear by the plain Greek yogurt, just like your doctor said, nawlinzlady. However, I don't like sour things and I gave up sugar! SO, I always add two packets of Splenda to my serving to sweeten it. Once it is sweet, it tastes like vanilla yogurt to me, and any fresh fruit (including bananas) added is delicious!!! I also have added sugar-free preserves like others have mentioned, and I've been told that adding chocolate Protein powder makes a pudding-like treat, but I haven't tried that yet. Once at work I added a little bit of Strawberry-Banana South Beach Tide Me Over drink mix-in, and that was really yummy. I have also added a dollop or two of it to Protein shakes to make them thicker. That really packs in the protein, too! :frown: My surgeon, who is Lebanese, suggested straining the Greek yogurt (which is already thick), to make it thicker -- to spreadable cheese consistancy, then adding spices and perhaps a bit of olive oil to it and serving it with veggies or whole wheat crackers. He said it would be similar to "labneh." HTH!

PS -- On the Way, good luck finding that leak! Let us know what happens. :frown: And hopefully your reflux will go away soon also. :eek:

Well, the doc took out .5 ccs, which makes me less than where I was after my 3rd fill (I've had 4), but let me tell you... what a relief!!!! I feel awesome!!!! :frown: And I am back to enjoying food again. I had told several friends that it was to the point that all enjoyment was gone from eating. Heh... last night I had a whole steak & pepper kebab and it tasted like the best thing I had ever had in my life! I was very careful about cutting and chewing and taking my time, and I didn't have any problems. Oh, and important to note -- especially for you, On the Way -- my reflux went away instantly with the unfill. The doc said that the onset of reflux is definitely a sign of being too tight. What a relief that that burning pain is gone! And, to top it all off, I dropped two pounds since the unfill -- go figure! So, another Bandito lives to tell the story of a successful unfill... don't be scared to ask for one if you need it! :eek:

Pephlin, way to go! That's awesome -- 4 lbs. in one week!!! :frown::eek: I found one of the greatest tools to help me is the dailyplate (Click here: Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate). It is an online food tracker that helps you keep track of calories, Protein, Water intake, exercise, weight, and so much more. A believe a lot of people on this forum use it or a similar online food tracker. Good luck to you! Keep up the great work!

Hey, Chele, if you are vomiting up a Vitamin, you really are too tight. I strongly encourage you to go in to your doctor STAT and get a slight unfill. I ate something two weeks ago that got terribly stuck and I vomited it up. That caused swelling, and everything I ate after that (unless it was yogurt or a Protein drink) hurt to eat. I finally called my doc and went in for an unfill. The difference is night and day! I feel SO much better, and in just two days, 2 lbs. dropped off. So, don't think that having an unfill will necessarily cause you to gain weight. :eek: Get back on the bandwagon today by calling your surgeon for an appointment. I think you'll be very glad you did. We're rooting for you, girl! :frown:

Jacqui, it sounds like you really love your grandmother's rings. Our tastes are always changing, so why not wear your grandmother's rings and just enjoy them?! :frown::eek: Tell your hubby that you love your gold rings, but for right now, you're going to put them away for safe keeping. Then you can take your time and decide what you really want to do with the gold rings.

Thanks, everyone. I'll let you know how it goes. It seems to get worse every day! My PA thinks the stuck episode caused swelling around the band, which just isn't going away. Today I've had a Protein shake, 8 oz. of Water, and 3 cups of tea, and I hurt!! That is very odd for me. Usually I can drink lots of liquids and never have pain from it. Weird. Here's to getting back to the green zone! :smile:

Carrie, that is awful!! I would post on the main board here, inquiring if there are any good fill doctors in your area. I would bet there is someone out there on this board who can help you. Also, I would write a poor review of your surgeon on his profile, if he is listed under the official LAP-BAND®® surgeons. You don't want others going through what you've been struggling with. Remember, the customer is always right.....and in healthcare, the patient is the customer, and you deserve to be treated right. If you have a medical need that is urgent, you need to get an appointment. Period. Everything about that office sounds unprofessional! :smile: And, as far as no restriction goes, I was there for 4 months -- and I know it was hard!!! I just kept telling my doc how difficult it was, and he kept giving me small fills. Now that I finally got restriction, I was feeling great... until I ate something that got horribly stuck and now I can't eat much of anything without it hurting. So I went from the yellow zone for 4 months to the green zone for 1 1/2 weeks, to the red zone for 1 1/2 weeks. Let me tell ya, the green zone was great, as John337 can attest to, but the other zones suk. Hang in there! In the meantime, have you tried South Beach Tide Me Over mix-ins for Water? Each packet has 3g of Protein and 5g of Fiber and only 30 calories. It really does help curb your hunger more than just water between meals. Here's a link to check it out:http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=195721&catid=126486&aid=337953&aparam=south_beach_living_on_th&CAWELAID=215858979

Thanks, John! We like having you around! :smile: Good job, Sassysara! The important thing is to have fun while you are in Vegas! I'm sure you will do fine.