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You don't need menopause for that benefit, for me a hysterectomy sorted that out! Ovaries were kept so I didn't get the menopause symptoms whilst they were still working.

I didn't get hot flushes I got cold ones instead. I also got palpitations which I thought were probably menopause related but the Dr's refused to concur, instead they ran a battery of tests - holter monitor, ultrasound, stress echo, the results of which were all fine so my theory must have been correct. I have been using Patches now for about 2 months and the difference is subtle but I just seem to feel better in general. Less aches and pains and stiffness! Not flushing( hot or cold) and no palpitations although the new BP meds they put me on prior to the patches seem to have fixed those. What they haven't done is changed my libido or lack thereof...........

3 ciders mixed with Vodka is not 3 drinks. A cider is probably equal to 1.5 - 2 standard drinks and depending on how heavy handed you were with the vodka that could have been 2 standard drinks each too. That means that you could easily have drunk 12 standard drinks even though you didn't realise it. Not surprising you got drunk, I would have too, band or no band.

You can still eat when you go out. The point of the band is to help you be satisfied with less. I haven't stopped going out to things that involve food - they are past of life

You are on a support site, not a Mollycoddling site. Sometimes that support will be what you want to hear, sometimes it won't. You need to be tough enough to take the bad with the good. What TMF said is correct and it wasn't medical advice. He was outlining the possible consequences of your actions. An example of medical advice would be Q" I have a severe pain in the chest what should I do" A " take 2 aspirin and go and lie down". Obviously that is wrong and the first thing any person should do if suffering with chest pain is call or go to emergency.

Try sucking crushed ice

At 2 1/2 weeks out I am surprised that you are even back on solids. If you are making such poor choices this early on when your motivation should be at it's highest then it does not bode well for your future success. Remember the band is only a tool, you are in charge and you are making the decisions as to what you eat.

Anything that I know should be soft. Fish, especially salmon. Pasta, slow cooked lamb shanks etc

I hope you find it. I find that the sensation a couple of years down the line is very different to initially. Things that were difficult to eat are easy to eat and I find t harder to stop myself grazing yet I still eat small portions. More fill doesn't seem to be an option as that then seems to lead to reflux. Seems to be 1 of those weird but yet unexplained things about the band and how it works.

Presumably you had the surgery in Mexico?

Is that lbs or kilos? If it is pounds that you are TINY!

I would love to have a TT, breast lift, lipo etc and have the "perfect" body. Sadly for me it isn't going to happen. I can't afford it and even if I could probably couldn't justify spending all that money. Luckily I look fine with clothes on. Besides if I had the perfect body it might make my hubby feel less comfortable, I can't make him feel inadequate! Good luck with what you get done

If I had a new boyfriend or was dating then I might feel the same way. I don't care what the magazines or anyone else say, after 20+ years the excitement level is not the same as when things are new.

I'm with Maddysgram

Glad you had fun. Although it may feel great to eat now because you can I would approach that with caution. It is always harder to lose the excess than it is not to gain it in the first place. Also it is harder to stick to those initial first weeks post op if you have been eating with wild abandon beforehand. All the best

That is 5lb a week, it hardly sounds like you are "stuck". Especially been as the average weight loss is approx 1 - 2lb per week.

Don't we all!

I wouldn't even dare to try steak.

Try buying things that your Mum likes but you don't?

Hey, just getting a band doesn't mean that all your food demons suddenly disappear. i still love chocolate as much today as I ever did. Give me a choice between chocolate and real food and I'll take the chocolate anyday. The problem with the band is that it doesn't stop you from eating the type of foods that you eat in secret. They are sliders and they go down really easily. There are a couple of things I think you need to do:- Be honest with your Dr, hopefully he will refer you to someone that can help you. Allow yourself your forbidden foods but in small quantities. foods that are forbidden are far more attractive and have so much more power over us than foods that are allowed. try not to have foods in the house that you know you cannot stay away from- if you have to go out to buy them it makes it a lot harder And don't be so tough on yourself, none of us are perfect.

F A B

Not sure how chicken can be regarded as a mushy..........

I think she wants to know what a gastroplasty is.

They seem to be very strange instructions but presumably they know what they are doing. What are you allowed to eat?

I didn't eat more than half of a fairly large bag of M & Ms yesterday !!!!!!