sherilynn

Actually, I've been to the derm dr. for this, 'Intertrigo'. It's a fungus, I got it three years ago when I hit my heaviest...and each spring, the first sign of heat/humidity - HERE IT COMES. You can treat this with Lotrimin Spray/Powder is the best version I find. Be sure to totally dry under your breasts after a shower, and even under arms (I get the weeping, rash there sometimes too). Been doing this for years. Best part now; I work for the company who makes it!!! HEHEHEHE The NSV for me with regard to this; after my current weight loss (which is recommended to get rid of this) - I didn't have one outbreak this whole summer. Yet. Now watch, I've just cursed myself! lol :faint:

Hey JordansMom! WELCOME. You're in the BEST place to gain insider information, advice and encouragement. Without this board, I don't know what I would have done. You're getting educated about this 'tool'...which is the best thing you could be doing for yourself. I don't know about self-pay; I'm sure there are other Bandsters that will reply to you. I can tell you that reading this forum, new and old posts, there is a wealth of information and experiences with self pay. Months of past medical history usually is required. So gathering this information ahead of time is key. I went to my OBGYN, my Gen. Practice Doctor, Cardiologist, etc...(any doc visits you can think of)...and obtain records from them. Especially anything that shows or documents your obesity history and/or medical conditions associated. In the end, all of this will help with getting you approved. Good luck!!!! :clap2:

Not to brag...but...(ok, maybe a little bit proud!) Last night we went to see Kenny Chesney in concert. I can PROUDLY say I sat in the seat with ROOM TO SPARE! Walked the steps up and down to concession - never lost my breath once! :whoo: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I love my band! :kiss2: These NSV's are more important than what that scale says. hehehe :clap2:

From one Sheri to another... GOOD FOR YOU! 8 months; 40 pounds - WHAT an incredible accomplishment! I find that following the rules is much easier than I originally thought. I think right now; almost 6 months out - I'm doing more 'testing of the waters' than anything else. Heck, learned how to eat around the band, etc. The band doesn't fix our heads. Once you do that for yourself, we're well on our way. What a great tool we have!!!

I've been taking Ambien for years. I'm a diagnosed insomniac. No apnea, etc.; did all the sleep studies. I still use my ambien when needed.

Hey all, did my 1 month post fill with my doctor day, and I'm SO happy to report I'm down another 5 pounds. But what is even better, my blood work is fabulous. And my blood sugars have been in GREAT check - so I'm getting HEALTHY!!! :whoo: The way my Doc works is Fill, wait a month, visit, another month for a fill. So that's where I am; next fill August 30. But I think it's perfectly fine, b/c I think by then, I'll feel no restriction. Right now (last night infact) I am still getting 'stuck' on some things. But after my fabulous cardiologist check up last week - all good news, and now this all good news visit - I'm just thrilled to tears. Oh…and I 'gave away' a HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE bag of clothes to someone in need. Seems that every week now, I'm ridding myself of something too big. Now, to hit the lottery to prepare my closets for the spree I'm going to do when I get into a size 10!!!! ***I can dream, can't I??????????????? Have a great day all!!! xoxo

For those who are fans of calamari… I'm sure many folks have found it hard to be able to eat it small enough after surgery. I have been cooking it the following way, and it's so tender, I don't even need a knife to cut it into pieces: In a pot (not a fry pan) I put in 1/2 stick butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste, up to a boil. I throw in 1 - 2 lbs of calamari whole tubes and/or legs. Stir, to get the flavors all over the calamari. Put the lid on, bring it down to a simmer for 1/2 hour. Last 5 minutes, take the lid off, to boil off some of the water and the sauce can thicken. Let me tell you; my family RAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a necklace that I wear all of the time; it's my zodiac. It's my 'staple' necklace, weekends, etc. Anyway, today I went to grab it (habit)...and noticed it was quite a bit LOWER on my breast bone. It's an 18" chain. It's always hung up in the soft 'hole' in front of my lower neck. Now it's below that! WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO :whoo:

All these months now on this forum, and I see 'Bump' on a few threads here and there. Can you please tell me what this is all about? Thanks!

Julie, You once again have inspired me. Pre-band, your posts were a driving force. Post-band, they are priceless. Thank you.

Don't fret - you have US!!!! Trust me, every day for me was up or down or up or down. As hard as it is for me; I stay off the scales completely - for months at a time, b/c I get nuts over the numbers! For instance, I weighed in on the scale here at work yesterday in the a.m. Then after I pee'd. Then after lunch. Then after I pee'd again - HOW insane is that??? The Scale is an evil thing for some of us. Others find it to be helpful, I do not. It can be very discouraging. The scale is only a 'guide', not to be confused with a 'measure' of weight loss. Are you clothes fitting better? Do you have more energy? See…things like that are measurable - and no scale in the world can take that all away from me. I've been gaining and loosing the same 5 pounds for the last two months. But you know what: I've lost 5 inches off my hips, 6 off my waist , my blood sugars are fantastic - and I feel GOOD!!! Please, don't let this get you down. The band is a funny 'tool'. Events and experiences will change each day. Please don’t feel like a failure. You're not taking a step backwards by any means. Perhaps just a 'side step'…your body has to catch up with all the adjustment it's been going through. My weight loss is very slow. But I am certain that some day (and I know it's soon)…the scale will catch up with my body's shrinking size. Chin up!!!

....Or you could have replied..."I may be fat, but you're ugly. I can go on a diet...What are you gonna do"? AHHHHHHHHHH, that makes me so mad!!!!! There was a thread "What was your last straw" for getting the band. I will NEVER forget last September (band was already decided, so it wasn't my last straw…but this STICKS in my mind) and I was driving my Jeep. I guy cut me off, I cut him off. He pulled up along side of me, and I looked right at him. He said to me "OMG, look at you - you're so fat. Didn't you ever hear of Weight Watchers?" I started to scream about how ugly he was…but damage was done - to me. For a total stranger to 'see' how fat I was in the next car. I felt so small and belittled. It was a commerical vehicle…and I really hope that some day I come across the same van in town. I have a gesture for him. You're getting healthy...he's not.

I am glad this question was asked, b/c I find myself in the same boat. I know I definitely have restriction; but just don't think it's enough. Caesar salad is exactly what I had yesterday and today. 1/2 of the small tin from a pizzeria each day. So, 1/2 breast, plus the lettuce (and a few anchovies). I'm seeing my doctor for my 1 month follow up visit after my 2nd fill, on Thursday. At that point, I'm going to tell him that I have 'some' restriction, but can certainly eat more than 1/4 cup….more than 1 cup. Albeit slow and chewed well.

...one we've all heard before... "Nothing tastes as good as being thin/healthy feels"!!

I was very, VERY concerned about hair loss...who wouldn't be, right? I started taking 5000 iu Biotin months before surgery. The plus is that my hair was GREAT pre surgery, as was my skin and nails! I'm 6 months out now, and my hair is still great. But protein intake is key I believe. I take protein supplements as well.

I don't have any tattoos, never really thought of getting one. But a bullseye right at my port WOULD be pretty funny!

You said 'bad, bad'…isn't it funny how different we view things post-band? I was SO upset with myself yesterday with what I ate by mid day, I emailed my Mom. Breakfast: seafood salad Snack: 1 plum, 1 brownie (I'm pmsing!!!) Lunch: 1 sausage link, and a slice of turkey Snack: 1 piece of australian chocolate (PMS again…) She wrote back SO disgusted with me! Lol She said "Sheri…are you kidding me? Just think of what your day would have looked like PRE band, as far as food, and quantity - ESPEICALLY pms!!! It's all relative I suppose. So even when I think I'm doing 'bad'…I'm really not. I just might not be doing as good as I should be.

Sunshine, You've brought me to tears - congratulations to you. You are truly an inspiration!!

Hey Gayle, Congrats on the surgery. I guess I am a bit surprised to hear you say that you had a flap of skin flapping against your legs. Maybe b/c I haven't thought about my loose skin dropping that far! ...Oh great, just another thing for me to have to worry about! lol

I know that QVC has these items!!!

I'm finally starting to love my band. Strange things with fill, no restriction - eating anything. Then 2nd fill, restriction, then NO restriction - BACK TO RESTRICTION. This is a daily struggle - the band is not easy for me. I don't have 'average' days. I can't really reply to those questions "What do you eat on an average day". No day is average, just every changing. Today I could barely get down a link of sausage, and a piece of sliced turkey (brought the sausage from home, found out the café had their YUMMY turkey). I have a 'throat' fullness that isn't pleasant. Not an actual 'stuck'…that was this a.m. Ate turkey for breakfast. Yes…I do eat a lot of turkey, b/c of the protein - besides, I love it. It just hit me yesterday when I saw a Lap Band commerical on TV. Thinking; that I was on the couch a year ago…seeing that commercial and thinking…"Wow - wonder what that's all about, and if it could help me". :confused: …ok enough of my emotional rant for today.

Matrix simply Vanila 5.0 mixes well with ANYTHING!!!

Hi MSDAD... I made Protein my #1 priority...my biggest reason for not wanting to get banded; loosing my hair. And I read many articles that think that lack of protein can do it. I know...vanity. I think as a 'test' is what it's meant for; getting true hunger. I too am diabetic. I don't NEED to eat on the clock...but I know my 'tell tale signs of low blood sugars'. :faint: If I'm not hungry - I won't eat - at least not RIGHT AWAY. I really, really ask myself 'are you hungry'. Most cases - answer is NO! :clap2:

I found this while googling 'stages of physical hunger'. Thought it was something worth sharing! As I believe that many of us DO loose the ability to feel actual 'hunger'!! Step Three: Physical Hunger vs. Emotional Eating Learning to distinguish when physical hunger ends and emotional eating begins is essential to identifying your emotional eating issues and patterns. Just by being more active, as you have been doing in Phases One and Two, you have enhanced your ability to become physically hungry. Feeling Physical Hunger If you deal with your emotions by using food, you may have actually lost the ability to feel physical hunger. You must allow yourself to become hungry. To do this, delay your eating past your normal meal times to experience the actual sensation of physical hunger. You may feel anxiety and stress at first, but these emotions need to be experienced in order to make a permanent change. The goal is to get to know your body so you eat only when you are physically hungry. Note: if you have a medical condition such as diabetes, you should consult your physician. Why are you eating? In order to re-learn how to eat according to the demands of your physical hunger, you need to get into the habit of knowing exactly why you're eating whenever you eat.

I wonder how MAD my doc would get if I did use a fill center? That might be against his 'rules'.