txprincess

I went today for a consultation to remove band/get sleeve...and was told it would be a two-stepper. I thought I was going to cry. So thank you for asking the questions I had...especially the cost, since I'm a self pay as well.

Also, even though for most of us, it's a no no...a sip of something carbonated will make it bubble up to the top. Being banded isn't always pretty, but it's so worth it!

What a great idea! I would have never thought to use a cucumber as a cracker! Great!!! Thanks!

Done...good luck with your studies!

Ugh! I burp enough! No need to add to it by drinking a Diet Coke.

Well I found a solution...Academy has their "generic" brand of Under Armour, I think it's called BCG. They have compression clothes that are very reasonably priced (9.99-14.99). Tight fitting shorts and pants that will hold everything tight. They're not cute on me, but like Papillion said, I covered them up with a loose fitting shirt.

I'd be a little pissy about it too! I had one girl say, "OH! You cheated! You did it the easy way!" Whatever!

Obviously everyone is different and you won't know how you handle it until you actually have the surgery. I had surgery on Tuesday and was told I would probably feel better to go back to work on Friday. I did not feel well enough by Friday, but by Monday was doing fine. I was still sore and wore stretchy pants (luckily it was winter and I was able to wear jogging suits), but other than that, I was good to go. Good luck!

Okay...this is kind of random, but thought I'd see if I'm the only one with an issue out there. I started working out this week after losing 60 pounds with no exercise. I still have about 25 to go and the only way I'm going to do it is to get my butt in the gym. What I learned is all this excess skin and flab in my belly area jiggles and bounces and flops. It's actually quite uncomfortable. Anyone else with this problem? What do you wear? I feel like I won't be comfortable unless I wear a Spanx bodysuit!

Does your insurance cover mental health? If so, you could start by looking at who is covered on your plan. That's what I did. Then I googled them to see if they had a website and read up on them to see what kinds of things they specialized in. The one I picked didn't necessarily deal with food issues, but she's so good that she's zoned in on what is causing my food issues...depression, loneliness, etc...and we're focusing on that. She said people use all kinds of things to deal with their "issues", we use something to dull the pain...alcohol, drugs, excessive exercising...mine is binge eating. All that to say...even if someone doesn't "specialize" in eating disorders, it doesn't mean they can't help you with it. Another thing you could do...if you feel comfortable...is tell your surgeon that you didn't really click with the therapist he used for your pre-surgery consult. Ask if he could recommend someone else. Or ask someone else in the office (nutritionist, nurse, etc) who they would recommend besides the original therapist. Last option is word of mouth. Ask around. Ask those close to you if they know of someone, you would be surprised to know how many people around you have seen a therapist/shrink. Good luck! You're making the right step...

The only thing I could do to get motivated is have someone go with me. My dad works out every single morning and has been wanting to me to get to the gym so badly. So I finally told him I could join up if he would go with me every afternoon and be my personal trainer. He agreed. We start today! Oh...and I went shopping and got some cute workout clothes. That helped too. GOOD LUCK!

Wow! Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement. I have to admit I was kind of nervous about what kind of feedback I was going to receive. So glad to see I have some understanding peeps that got my back. I joined Weight Watchers online. I like the online tracker tool and can better understand points than I can calories/sugars/fats. I started tracking a couple of days ago and am doing some pretty strong self talking at home. Like last night when I handed my son an Oreo, I picked one up for myself. I threw it back down and verbally said, "STOP IT! You're better than that." And I walked away. YAY for small victories!

Thank you...wow...thank you. I needed to hear that. Like the blogger, I am also tired of hearing people say "you can do it" and "just stop eating." Grrrrr!!! If it were that easy for me, I would have NEVER needed to get the band. I know they're just trying to encourage me, but instead I just roll my eyes. I did go talk to the psychologist that the surgeon recommends, but she just sent me to the nutritionist to find healthy eating ideas. I'd love to talk to someone that truly believes in food addictions. I'm there, but when I mention it, "normal" people look at me weird like there's no such thing. I love coming here where people understand what I'm going through. thanks!

Just need to vent.... I was having some complications after my last fill in September. I couldn't eat anything without throwing it up. I went back for 2 unfills and it never got better. And don't lecture me....but I let it go for about 4 months because I was losing weight. In those 4 months, I lost 25 pounds. Yes, it was because I couldn't keep anything down, but for a while I was okay with that. The worst parts were the acid reflux at night keeping me awake and my 2 year old son asking me if I needed to throw up during our meals. He didn't need to think of his mommy like that. So I finally confessed my sins to my surgeon and he did a complete unfill. He said my stomach and esophagus are swollen and irritated and they needed a break. In 6 weeks he will start sloooooowly filling me back up with only 1 cc at a time. When I first started this crazy ride, I was eating so well, getting all my lean Protein in, eating the right portions and Snacks. But over the past couple of months, I started back on my old habits: fast food, Cookies, chips, etc. I knew the food was going to come right back up, so what did it matter what I ate? So now that I don't have the tool of the band's restriction, I can eat whatever I want and however much I want. It's disgusting actually...I will wait til no one is in the kitchen and they're all occupied in their own rooms and I will just inhale whatever food I can find. If you were to video me during one of these episodes, I would deny that monster was me. I have already gained 7 pounds since my visit to the doctor last week. I don't want to undo all the good I've done over the past year. I've lost 70 pounds and don't want to go backwards! Encouraging words? Similar experiences?

I have been honest with my close cricle of people. But when I go out, I try not to make it the topic of conversation. I usually just order from the appetizers. I made the mistake of asking the waiter once if I could order from the children's menu, and when he started to say no, my table of family started explaining to him why I couldn't eat more. That really embarassed me, so now there are rules on who is allowed to speak when I'm ordering my food. I'm single and only 32, but no dating lately so I have no idea how I would handle that. I would probably be honest with them too. I would hate to order a big dinner and then only eat a couple of bites. If he didn't know I was banded, he could think I was just being a snob and now he's out $25 for my dinner. So yeah...probably honesty is your best policy here. I can physically NOT drink when I eat. If I do, it will all come back up. So I don't care what anyone says if they even notice I'm not drinking...I will NOT drink.

The burping! Come on...admit it! I'm not only one that is constantly burping!

Best decision I ever made was to do this. My only issue is that I didn't do it sooner!! Thanks to this site and all of you for being a refuge and place to go for questions and answers. So glad to know I'm not out here doing it on my own. Pictures of my journey and information are in my blog at the link at my signature. I'M SO EXCITED to see what will happen next!!!

Victorylover -- Thank you for your story. I was banded January 2010. In September I got too much of a fill and started throwing up everything I put in my mouth. In 5 weeks, I lost about 20 pounds. Because of the weight loss, I did NOT want to get an unfill. I finally went and got a tiny bit taken out, but still throw up everything. And because I know it's all coming up, I eat whatever I want. I too don't want to tell my doctor for fear of him taking out all of my fill. But I know my health is really at risk. I have an appointment for next Tuesday to talk to my surgeon and I plan to be completely honest. Again, thank you for popping me upside the head and making me see what the consequences are.

I never thought about how much I lost each week on average. I just did the calculations...1.37. Amazing! Now some weeks I lost more, and some I lost nothing, but to see how it all averaged out...well, that's just GREAT! Thanks Bobbi! HIGH FIVE!

I want to binge sometimes, but all it does is lead to me vomiting. I will be watching TV and the people on whatever show I'm watching is at a restaurant ordering and eating food. All I want is to fly through the TV, grab all the food, and shove it in my mouth. I miss food all the time.

I struggled big time after my last fill. Just hours after I got 1 cc, I had to go back because I couldn't even swallow my own spit without throwing it up. So he took out .5 cc. For about 5 weeks, I threw up EVERYTHING I ate. EVERYTHING. And at night I had to sleep sitting straight up or the acid would come up and I would wake up vomiting in my sleep. Why did I let it go on for so long without going back to the doctor for another unfill? I lost 22 pounds in that 5 weeks, that's why. Isn't that sick? I suffered every day just to lose some weight. My best friend is 5'3" and weighs MAYBE 85 pounds. She doesn't understand what I'm going through and actually encouraged me to keep all my fluid and tried to discourage me from getting an unfill. She asked, "Isn't this what you want? To lose weight?" This was so frustrating and hurtful. I honestly dont' think she meant harm by it, she doesn't get it. I just couldn't handle it anymore. Every time I'd go out to eat, after just a few small bites of food, I was excusing myself to the restroom and praying no one was in there to hear me throw up. I finally went back to the doctor where he took out .25 cc. The weight loss has coming to a screeching halt, but I feel so much better. I joined Curves for about a month and grew very bored with it and haven't done any exercising since. I know if I were to add this to my daily routine, the pounds and inches would just slide off. I just haven't mentally gotten there yet.

Your answers are interesting. My nutritionist said to stay away from soup, but if I absolutely had to have it, then drain off the liquid first.

Well the holidays are just about here...are you ready? Not sure I'm mentally prepared for not being able to gorge myself, but trying to stay focused on the REAL meaning of the holidays.

Is anyone having any acid reflux problems? Mine started with my last fill. Sometimes it gets so bad at night, I'm up all night throwing up. The only way I can sleep those nights is sitting straight up in bed. And then the next day I'm super sore and can't eat much. It doesn't happen all the time, but it's terrible when it happens.

OMGOMGOMG!!! That's AH-MAY-ZING!!! :w00t::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: YAY YOU!!!!