April

Yes, it could make a huge difference. Most of my fills are .25 cc's or .50 cc's. It takes a few fills at first to find your niche. You have a large band so it might take some time to get the right amount of fill. You just don't want to get too much fill all at once and be too tight. Don't be discouraged. What it feels like today can be completely different tomorrow or next week. I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but you'll come to understand that comment. I't a lot of trial and error.

Thanks guys, I am feeling better now. Man, one little thing can really catch you off guard and really make you feel like crap for a few days. I haven't talked to my son yet about it. I couldn't even think about it without getting choked-up, but you guys are right, it is a perfect opportunity for one of those "Happy Days" kind of lessons. I think I'm gonna have to go all Mrs. C. tomorrow.

Hey GG, I just watched your you-tube vblogs, you are so right! Get this done for you and don't listen to any one who'll tell you otherwise. I'd love to be your buddy through your journey. It is a lot of hard work and a lot of mental demons to overcome. I hope your surgery goes well for you in September. I'm also a September bandster (2006) and I am also telling on a "need to know" basis. My Mom still doesn't know and I have no intention of telling her. Stay strong and let us all know how it's going.

Well, I was having a pretty good day. In fact I was feeling great! I had my son out for our usual "Treat Night", which we do every Friday. It's this crazy thing we do to make childhood memorable for him. We eat backwards; dessert first, then dinner. Then we go to see "The Man with the sweet hook-up", which is this really nice guy, Rick, that owns the movie rental place up at the corner. Holden usually talks him out of some candy, hence "the sweet hook-up". I've been feeling pretty confident lately since shedding a whole extra person's weight in pure fat. I've even gotten out some of my old clothes from High School & College. I know there a bit dated, but it makes me feel good to wear them again. Tonight I had on one such outfit. I didn't think it looked too out of place, in fact, I thought I looked rather good. I had on size 13 black shorts with a white "Dead Milkmen" concert t-shirt. I was stylin' & profilin', even had my trade mark Elaine poof happening. Well, maybe the hair was a bit much, but I was feeling nostalgic. As we were walking into the movie store a girl (older teen/young woman) in the passenger's side of a purple mini-van thought it was imperative that I know just how old and extremely fat I am. Just the stream of obscenities frothing from her vile mouth shocked me to my core. Here I am walking, minding my own business, I don't know her and she doesn't know me. Yet some how I am so offensive to look at that I deserve this treatment, in front of my 5 year old? I think I almost liked it better when I was so fat I was invisible. At least then I ate when and what I wanted and was never bothered by the constant rumbling of my empty stomach. People stared and gave me a wide berth when passing me in a hall. They made comments back then too. This is nothing new. But I think it hurt more because of all the effort I've made in the past 2 years, because of all the sacrifices, and accomplishments. It hurt more because I'm feeling confident and good, and she felt it necessary to go out of her way to cut me down. I really don't understand people. How do some get to be so cruel? Were they raised like that? Have they never had a hurtful thing said to them? Isn't there any empathy left in this world? I was so born in the wrong place and time. I think I would be better suited for the early 20th century instead of the latter. Not that I have any disillusions that people weren't cruel back then, but rather, I believe people at least had manners. I have always said "I hate people". If I came across a burning building I'd save the animals first. A lot of my family and friends don't get that. But it is true, I am not a people person. But then again, I've not come across very many kind people in my life. The few good ones I have I treasure and keep dear to my heart.

Hi Woodsy, Support Group Meetings are the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm - Bethel Lutheran Church SE corner of Little Mack & Frazho in St. Clair Shores. May 7th June 4th July 2nd August 6th September 3rd October 1st November 5th December 3rd Looking forward to seeing you there! :thumbup:

I'll be there. I went last month too, I thought it was far better than Dr. Deol's support group! The only thing I found distracting was the overwhelming smell of sloppy joes, and people getting pop from the machine in the corner. Hopefully there won't be as many other groups there tomorrow.

Ok, allow me to give you some background info, bounce my problems off you and see if you can sort this out for me... I was banded 9/18/2006. I've lost 100 lbs give or take depending on the day. Since mid December I've not lost much of anything. I had a .50cc fill 2/2/08 lost 4 lbs then totally stopped loosing again. At first I chalked it up to too many Holiday treats, now I'm getting worried. It's March-there's no more Holiday treats to sneak! I told my Doc I only wanted a .25cc fill. I thought .50cc would be too much. I feel tight, but I'm not sure it's too tight. I have a coffee & yogurt for Breakfast, salad w/grilled chicken for lunch, and most of the time I have a Protein drink for dinner. Granted I have a wicked sweet tooth, and I usually have a chocolate snack around 3:00pm. But that's nothing new, and it's usually very small, like a chocolate pudding cup, or a couple kisses, or hot cocoa. I don't think I eat enough not to be loosing anything. My God, if thats all I can eat to maintain 180+ lbs, I'll never make it to 120! What would I be eating, a rice cake every-other day??? I slipped my band 1/16/07, and I now live in constant, consuming fear of another slip, or other complication. I digress... For all of you still reading my ramble, thank you, now allow me to get to my point. Since my fill, some days I feel like I can only drink my meals, somedays I can eat everything in sight. I always gurgle. I have HORRIBLE burping fits. I sound like an 85 year old man with no manners left. I sometimes scare my 5 year old, he thinks it's a monster coming to get him. I get the shoulder gas pain often. It doesn't feel like my slip felt, but I don't know. Am I just mental? Am I normal? Is there something wrong? Any of you get the burps this bad? Can I do anything about it? Honestly, my coworker came to my desk the other day to tell me, and I quote... "What are you doing over here, it's the grossest thing I've ever heard!" I need help!

I didn't get a letter but I was talking to Dr. Deol a couple months ago and she was investigating some billing issues herself. It's probably along the same lines. What was happening was the hospital was billing a Dr. Fee and so was she. Problem was the hospital should not have been billing a fee, so it looks as if Dr. Deol was trying to double dip. Let us know how that goes. Maria, nice to hear from you again. Where have you been? Doing Ok? Are you going to the groups anymore? I won't be there this month. My work Christmas party is the same night. Well, everyone... Good luck finding a new Dr. Sounds like a lot of you are going with Dr. K. I choose Dr. Meguid. I liked him, he was very nice. I just hope this all works out for us in the end. I just keep thinking, we already did the hard part now we just need to stay on track... Right?

I thought we did!!! Yes, Dr. Greening was running the show last time and she said something about continuing as long as we like as long as we get our insurance company to pay for group therapy, and the ones that don't have coverage would have to chip in cash. And she said if we miss 2 meetings in a row we are no longer in the group! So I guess you'd better show up in November!

I went, I had to call to find out it was changed. They are now saying it will be heald in the office for a while because Dr Deol is still paying rent. But now they are saying we will only meet for a few more months...Did't we discuss a whole year of meetings at the Sept. group?