Betsyjane

Terri-I will definitely report back! So much for shakes, popcicles......So far...perfect!

OMG! I took the pills for acid reflux-no help. I went on the GERD diet-no help. I just stopped artificial sweeteners and the reflux is gone! I mean gone!

Woo hoo! I've been having acid reflux lately...went on the pills for it-no help. Went on the diet for it-no help. I just stopped eating artificial sweeteners and the reflux is gone! I mean gone!

STOP THE PRESSES! I stopped eating artifical sweeteners and my acid reflux went away....within a day!

Stop the presses! I stopped eating artificial sweeteners and my reflux disappeared!!!!!!!!! Within a day!

Well, will wonders never cease! I recently started to have mild GERD and was put on meds for it....that didn't help. I cut the things out of my diet that I was supposed to....no difference. GET THIS! I quit artificial sweeteners and the GERD went away! Within a day! I'll miss my popsicles, but I sure feel good!

I read something recently that was new to me. If you have any refluz, you aren't supposed to sleep with a lot of pillows, because it actually puts you at an angle that crunches your stomach and forces more reflux. You are supposed to raise the head of your bed by putting something under the bed's legs.

Yeah...I'm off pills and don't register as diabetic anymore, AND my osteoporosis reversed itself. Way cool. I just SO want to get to goal weight and go shopping. I hate to buy any clothes when I dson't know what my size will eventually be. I'm t-shrts and jeans and work out clothes most days...but I did go buy a "little black dress". Well, not actually little, but it was in regular sizes anyway...

It's irritating. You can buy a policy that says it covers 80% with a $1000 deductible and a maximum out of pocket of $3000, and somehow end up owing $10,000. What a lie insurance is!

That was fun! Thanks for coming out and bringing the gang!

Since you know she's incompetent, or at least lazy, you know you'll have to take the lead in EVERYTHING! I guess it's better to know that now so you can keep things moving. It's not right. It's not fair. But at least you know where things stand. Go after it! Vent here, and go after it!

Does it have anything to do with timing? If I drink before my pouch is empty, I sometimes feel like the water just sits on top of food waiting to pass through, and it feels like the water is in my esophagus.

That's perfect! Thanks. I'd really like to rid my life of artificial and natural sweeteners! When I was diabetic, BOTH would cause my blood sugar to go off the chart. Thanks to the band, the very highest I can get my blood sugar to go now (with NO pills anymore) was 110 after a bunch of ice cream. Burp. I never used artificial sweeteners before I was banded, except for with Diet Coke, which I gave up with the band. Would like to continue pruning my diet until it's just plain healthy.

You don't have to get all the head stuff right now. It will come over time.

I've never heard of such a thing! I'm so sorry you had to go through this, but I'm glad they found the cause. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Swimmer-I didn't have significant restriction until my third fill. Everybody's different. And my Dr. has us back of solid food within days. Every doctor's different. This is the stage called Bandster Hell. It'll teach you patience. Spend your time learning about your band and practicing eating like a bandster when you can. Fake it til you make it.

I loved how I felt on phentermine, and it worked...until it didn't work and I gained more than I had lost. That's how it goes. I got the band for the long term, because short term yo yo-ing was literally killing me. I also spent enough money on the band that I'm not spending it on alli and I'm not buying into any other weight loss fad. If I never lose another pound with the band, I'm happy. If I reach my goal weight, I'm ecstatic!

Gayle, we sound like birds of a feather. Great post.

I'm sick of sugar AND artificial sweeteners. Is there a protein that is just tasteless that could be added to water or soup or something????

yOU BET! cOME JOIN US. We have dinner together once or twice a month either in Humble or Atascocita. We just met 2 days ago...it's usually Monday nights. What's the earliest you could join us in the evening? Keep an eye on this site to see when the next meeting will be...... We had a great time last Monday.

I also found a new natural in other ways. I no longer take diabetic meds, and my osteoporosis has completely reversed itself. So no more pills = more natural, I think. I can also see my feet, and cross my legs!

Yes!!!! For all the times I've dieted and failed, I developed tremendous self blame. The core of it for me was believing that as a successful woman, I should be able to do this too. But I couldn't. It is so complex, this obesity. I do believe that after carrying weight for so long, my brain has changed...and my body...and my chemistry....and all that garbage about being able to change morbid obesity with diet and exercise is just ignorant. What I found is that I carried that self blame all the way through the first month after surgery. And then slowly, I changed. I found that I was able to let go of self blame, even for days that I screwed up on the lap band plan. I found that the band was a good friend. On days that I was good, I lost weight. On days that I wasn't, I didn't gain! My band pateintly waited and maintained my weight until I got back on track. What had been impossible before was just hard work now. And that was fine with me! For me, I had to experience the gentle successes and the days of being just a flawed human being, and the patience and peace that I've found, before I could get a real vision of success. I am now as grateful for my maintenance days as my losing days, and it feels natural...something that I wasn't able to be before.

On the other hand....you'll be good and ready for the challenges ahead...and you still paid less than the self pay folks. Hope all goes well.

Oh, by the way....I had no restriction until my third fill, then went through a bout of having a stretched pouch, and then GERD. Also had an ice cream fetish. I do well and I lose. I screw up and I stabilize. I guess I'm not a fast learner, but I've learned to love my plateaus and how forgiving my band is...and how patient. My one year anniversary is coming up and I didn't get all my weight off...but I can only live one day at a time...as a super flawed but fairly lovable human being. (Besides, I'm not great at predicting what my band will do. Just got back from a week in Vegas eating those buffets and at Bobby Flay's...and lost a pound. But when I was sick with Lyupus and eating practically nothing, I didn't lose. I've givien up thinking I have ultimate control over my world.....just doin' what I can.)

People come here for support when they have problems. The rest of folks are usually out living their lives and don't post as often. So it seems like there are lots of complications when the incidence of complications is actually low. I don't call PBing a complication exactly. It's more a learning process. A swift punishment, er, reminder when I'm not following the plan. I no longer take meds for diabetes. I no longer test as having osteoporosis. I can cross my legs and see my feet!