beversman

well, i can feel my port and mine is dead center on my abdomin this pain is all the way around on my left side... 4-6 inches left of center just below my rib cage. The doctors office just called. They told me that they werent worried to take aleve and call them monday if it still hurts. I hate being paranoid, but my side HURTS. I didnt even have this pain after surgery.

yeah, i sure do... gall bladder intact

I need some reassurance… Ive already call my doctor and I am waiting on a return call. But here is the situation. I got a stomach virus on Tuesday. I feel nauseated all day. And some chicken I tried to eat that morning (before I felt too bad) seemed to be stuck. By noon I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach with a boot. My muscles ached. I had a 101 degree fever. I couldn’t even drink Water without feeling sick, and it felt like things weren’t going down properly. <O:p I threw up a little water on three separate occasions through out the day. That was all. By 4 pm fever was worse, I left work early went home and slept. The virus finally passed by about 10pm that night. I no longer felt sick to my stomach and was able to keep chicken broth down and even a little potato Soup. <O:p</O:p Next morning I felt a lot better.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p Then Wednesday even on my LEFT side just below my rib cage I started to get this horrible pain. If I breath deeply, it hurts. If I lay on that side it hurts. If I stretch, it hurts.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I am worried that I somehow did something to my band.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p It was only one day… on time being sick. I was hoping it was just an irritation, but should I still be hurting like this 2 days later? Or should it be easing up.<O:p</O:p <O:p</O:p I was just hoping someone else out there had had this happen and might be able to ease my mind.<O:p></O:p>

Well, i took my one month pictures... i cant tell a difference... ggggrrrr I guess you can see my collar bones now... and I think maybe I lost some in my arms... my belly was showing in my pics (thanks alot to the camera man for telling me)... so now I dont want to post them on here... ha I will put them on yahoo though... I dont know where that 9 lbs was that I lost... i sure cant tell. ---------------------- Nat -- love you too hon! Dont let a damn man get you down. Do as i say, not as I do... :-) don't get into a "brandi" funk.... that is what drinking and crying is you know. hehe (hugs) if he was that much trouble THAT soon... imagine how much trouble he would have been later Steph - so glad ive found all of you too! I've been lazy as well... dont feel bad Bannanie - oh yes, I did a happy dance when I got ahold of that title, and it didnt leave my hands the rest of the day. The old car with bad brakes... is a hunk of JUNK. so, it is off to the scrap yard. So LONG, and good riddance. --------------------------- I am a bit worried girls. I have this bad pain on my left side (above my stomach) that wont go away. It has hurt since Tuesday when I had my bad virus (throwing up 3 times). If I breath deep, or stretch up... it hurts. I am afraid I damaged something. Wouldnt THAT be my luck. One sick day and trouble.... I sure hope not, but it doesnt seem to be letting up. I am hoping that if I give it a few days that it will be ok. I am just worried. :girl_hug: I hate to run to the Dr. but it sure does hurt.

OMG -- well, the brakes went out on my car on Monday I borrowed my grandmothers car till those could be fixed... the cluth on her car went out on Tuesday! Yeah... no kidding... the same day that i had West Nile/bubonic plague. ----------------- BUT today... I got the title to that car that Ive had since last August.. that the dealer wouldnt send me the title. I finally got it today!!! 6 months later... i can sell, drive, ANYTHING my car. yeah!!! I am not carless!! ----------------- Claud... hahaha... i dont think i can transmit germs through the internet... but these were pretty horrible germs. maybe they DID make it that far... hahaha -- So sorry about the job hon. you should find a way to transfer to Indiana. Then, you can come exercise with me!! I will write more later... just had to tell you all the news!

oh yeah... it is WAY normal for us to be eating way less than we burn just sitting still. Normal people burn from 2000-2500+ depending on weight and age. That is just sitting still (resting)! Just think about how many calories you USED to eat in a normal day. I entered an "old" normal day in there one time. I was eating 3500 - 4000 calories a day...:girl_hug: NO PROBLEM! Now it is 600-800... I feel like ive eaten a ton when I get to 1200. Just goes to show... even with minimal exercise, we are gonna lose weight. Just remember that when you feel like your eating alot. Think about how much you USED to be able to eat. -------------------------- Thanks for noticing the BMI... what is considered Obese? I dont even know. My goal is to get below 200 by the end of March :-)

My goal is to be below 200 lbs by the end of March. :-)

What you do is just look at the Nutrion Label on the back of a package. It will tell you what a serving is. Soup is usually 1/2 cup to 1 cup. chicken fingers... 3-5 pieces. The nutrion label will always give you the serving size. Lets say I eat Uncle Ben's Brown Rice. So, I go to fitday... ADD a "custom food" You name it and then enter the nutrional info. In one serving (which on the box tells you is 1/4 precooked, 1/2 cooked) You have the ability to change the amount of the serving... you can use TBSP, TSP, CUP, LITER So, in this instance... you enter .5 CUP Calories 170 Total Fat 1 Cholesterol 0 Sodium 0 Potassium 100 Carbohydrates 36 Fiber 2 Protein 4 Alcohol 0 Then you SAVE it. Now, when you come back three days later, you could enter that you ate .5 CUP and those stats would pop up. (EX 170 calories) If the next day, you only eat .25 cup(half as much).... half of those values pop up. (EX 85 calories) It will calculate the changes for you once you enter it the first time. So, if you enter the stats for 1 Ounce of meat... then you eat 4 ounces. You enter four ounces and it will automatically X 4 to get the total amount of calories, fat, carb, ect... that you ate. TIP: If you don't have a nutritional label... they have many foods already listed in their database that you can search for and add. You can also find ALL Fastfood nutrional facts at http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question457.htm&url=http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ You can search by restraunt. Then enter the nutrional #'s into fitday to tally them up with everything else you've eaten.

BK -- I track my calories on www.fitday.com. and yes, it is free :-) You can use the approximate calories that they already have on file or you can enter your own customer foods (by entering the nutrition label off of everything you eat). It saves them so you dont have to enter them ever again. You just select them and enter the amount that you consumed. --------------------------- OMG ladies... Ive been so sick. :sick i almost went to the hospital yesterday. i got a horrible stomache virus that acutally made my abdominal muscles hurt it was so bad. It felt like someone had kicked me in my stomach... right on top of my port. I mean like it felt like someone had beaten me. It hurt to sit up straight. It hurt to breath deeply. It was a million times worse than my surgery. :girl_hug: So, it really scared me. I thought that something was wrong with my band. It felt like I was gonna die. I couldnt even keep Water down. Honestly, I think having the band made it worse... because when i got sick it irritated my stomache where the band was making it even more uncomfortable than it would have been for the average person. I had NO food yesterday. Finally got water down... but no food. I had a fever of 102 the last i checked (last night)... and it got worse before it broke though. It broke at about 10pm last night. I was considerably better this morning... called in to work until Noon. Slept a little bit more and now I'm 100% better, but it sure gave me a heck of a scare. I thought I had an infection with my band or something. I got VERY paranoid. Ive eaten a very very small amount today, but it is all staying down now... no nauesea... so it must have just been a bug. I'm so glad THAT is over.

Here is what i had yesterday.... i had about 47 carbs... little more than I usually do... but I ate part of a piece of pizza. so, that was a bit unusual for me.

bk -- hey hon!! I think you just need to cut the carbs back. Like you said you lost well when you cut those out. I only eat about 40 carbs a day... even though I am eating food. Look at it this way: (for Snacks i will guess low and say 4 carbs... assuming your eating a low carb snack) Protein bar or Cereal - 10 -15 carbs Snack 4 carbs Wheat thins 8-10 probably have 20-25 carbs salad and meat -- depending on the veggies (tomatos and peppers can have quite a few carbs for veggies... the dressing will have from 5 - 8 (or WAY more in a TBSP) You could be anwhere from 15 - 25, maybe even more if the dressing is high in carbs. Snack 4 carbs Cottage cheese 6-8 carbs Wheat Thins 10 -20 carbs Sandwhich - 18 carbs for only one slice of bread if it is white cottage cheese 6-8 carbs That's 95 (low side) to 135 carbs (high side) a day. too high! My doctor says no more than 60 -80 a day. 60-80 is considered high. While you are still NOT eating that much.... You are consuming enough carbs that your body will be burning those all day FIRST instead of burning off the fat that you already are holding on your body. Rule is: Exercise burns CARBS that you consume FIRST. The first 15 mintues of your workout will just be burning what carbs you've consumed that day. Those carbs are the easiest for your body to access. The fastest energy source. So your body burns THOSE first. Then, once your body runs out of the "easy burning carbs" it turns to your body fat which is not as easy to break down, but will make the same kind of energy. So, (as someone who also can NOT eat many carbs) I would cut back to 50-60 carbs a day. Eat more meat and try low carb wraps instead of bread. I never eat wheat thins or chips becuase only 8 or 10 will have as many carbs as a whole sandwhich. They add up fast! Also watch your dressing (for salad) some of those Low Fat ones will replace the fat with sugar to compensate on taste. So, if it is LOW FAT... there is probably more sugar. Try slightly higher fat content and cut out the carbs. Don't get me wrong. You are NOT eating alot. Compared to regular people you are eating lower carbs... BUT The amount you are eating in comparison to the low calorie count will stall your weight becuase you are supplying enough carbs to keep your exercise from targeting the fat. Hope this helps. It's how ive been approaching it. I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and it makes me insulin resistant. Which means carbs dont digest. So, i steer clear of them all the time.

Yes, Ms. Nat -- we better get to hear the story! Steph -- I sure need to get myself into gear on the exercise too. Since my elliptical had its melt down... I havent been to the gym either. (also due to the medical crap last week), but i should have been there this weekend... and I didnt go. It is sooooo all in my mind. kaydot -- congrats on the 90%! I wouldnt feel like moving anything either. ALTHOUGH, it is soooo nice when you get everything organized and cleaned out. i just hate doing it too. :-) bk -- i go to a co-ed gym. I get anxious in there sometimes with all of those men just pounding away on the equipment. i doubt they really give me a second thought, but I feel like they are watching my every clumsy move sometimes. some days it bothers me... some days it doesnt of course, in order for it to bother me... i need to get my butt to the gym! ha ------------------------------ So, this last fill has me ALOT closer to my sweet spot. I actually feel the restriction a little bit again. I think I still need another small fill, but I am definitely not snacking around or looking for food at night anymore. It has really helped alot. Definitely dont wait. If you need a fill, call and get a fill! you shouldnt be feeling hungry. If you do, you need just a touch more. I am hoping to get back on track now.

I cant think of a reason why you couldnt do the elliptical right now. I have one and I was doing mine 2 days post op :-) no problems at all. Per my Dr. as long as it doesnt hurt when you do it... and you work up to a healthy level slowly... then you will be just fine. I did wait about 4 weeks before I did any crunches... but those were fine after 4 weeks too. So, if I were you... i'd go for it :-) but of course, I have to say it is always best to "listen to your dr."

Kristen hope your son does ok... that is always scary to send them into surgery. Let us know how everything goes :-)

.2CC more... I am up to 2.0CC total The nurse told me today that a good .5 to 1.0CC is actually just held in the tubing... so even though I have 2.0 "in the band" only a little over 1.0CC is actually out in the band around my stomach... thought that was interesting. She also explained that anything with fluids will go down straight past the band into my other bigger stomach. that includes caseroles, pot pie type things... or anything that had extra fluid. She said to stick to a plain chicken breast type consistency and I would notice the restriction better. You will also not feel it if you eat sauces with the meat ... it makes it slide right on past. They want it to stick around in there for a few hours so... you have to find the balance between too dry and just moist enough to go down... fun fun fun Well, their scale said I lost 4 lbs. They were happy. That was the 2.0lbs a week... They told me to stop being impatient. They also told me that I should be taking measurements (boy, that sounds familiar... how long have I been saying, "I am gonna start doing that soon." I got my pedometer yesterday... wore it all day today... I just reached 10,000 steps... so according to Dr. C -- I should jump start my weight loss. Hope he is right. I missed Yoga. Got stuck in traffic... we had bad thunder storms here and everyone was driving slow. Didnt get back from the DR. in time...

Maurden -- i have the same problem. I definitely feel like I can eat too much, but at times I still feel it "going down" slow. Like you said, when eating too fast. I have another fill today. I am not looking forward to it. I know I havent lost but 2lbs since two weeks ago at my last fill. I was doing so well before. So, yes, glad to be getting fill... but NO not happy to have to go step on the scale and admit ive been sucking it up. I ran a little over a mile last night. I miss having my elliptical. I havent been to the gym this week... on account of my biopsy, and then NOT having a car. I borrowed a car from my grandmother yesterday. So, now I can get from point A to point B until I make other arrangments. So, I should be going to Yoga tonight. Its been a week. I will let you all know how the fill goes. I sure need one.

Ok ladies, so far TODAY. Feel like someone beat my lower body with a bat... thanks to good ol' biopsy. So, woke up to exercise, got on my elliptical... and BROKE it. :-( nothing makes you feel fatter than breaking your exercise equipment. Decided well... will just go to work. Got in the Car. The brakes went out. I have NO money. but now the car is in the shop. not a good combination You know... God, it is funny and all. I'm sure. BUT give me a freakin' break. Glad to see you back Claud... I will say a prayer for you... Im glad that you had such a wonderful time with your family. You nephew sounds adorable. dont you love the way children see things?? i wish everyone could be so innocent and enthusiastic. VABand -- I know you will reach your 10 lbs girl... AT LEAST. You will probably sail past that with flying colors. Steph -- dont worry girl. i have very little restriction again too. At least any time after noon i go. I just ate 5 (naked) but still FIVE chicken strips for lunch... they were little ones... but it was still FIVE. Decided if the car gets fixed that i MUST get another fill this week... asap. I have good restriction in the morning but thats it. And that just doesnt cut it. Nikki -- thanks hon, I know ive come along way. We all have. It is just so hard to remember that when i am looking in the mirror. Or trying to wedge myself into a size 16 and it is laughing at me. Or when i break my elliptical machine that is supposed to be fine for people up to 300 lbs. gggrrr yeah, i just gotta keep at it. Ive only lost a lbs since my last fill almost two weeks ago. I just dont know what Im doing wrong lately. But thank you for the encouragement. Nat -- you didnt offend me girl. I just have already been there done the meds, and they make me a different person. I can't be on them. I am just not myself. So, I dont go near them anymore. You should definitely tell him if he asks. jill -- congrats on the fill! and 5lbs is great. i know what you mean by impatient though. I am the queen of that. Now that the weightloss is slowing down to a "normal" 2lbs/week... i am NOT liking it. too slow!! bkwalling -- I hope you get to feeling better girl. the last thing you need to be doing is throwing up :-) that is the worst

Dont worry ladies there is nothing to vent about. I don't need drugs. I'll be ok.

Im here. I was just waiting for everyone else to post. My scale isnt budging at all either. I didnt exercise friday and saturday night... I was so sore from last week. I told myself I better rest a few days. Now whether there is any merit to that OR whether I was just being lazy and making excuses... I dont know. I did my weights for 40 min and elliptical for 30 last night. sooo... guess that means im kinda back on track. I'm just soo down still. I have been since the beginning of the month. Its all in my head though... so there isnt much I can do about it. I am ready to go hit the gym starting tomorrow. I have a doctors appointment today :-( not the good kind. I have to have a biopsy done, and im not looking forward to it. Completely NOT band related. My life is one mess after another. :-) This is just another one of those other medical issues. Doctor better not keeping me from the gym. I know he is gonna tell me to stay away, but he can kiss my big white butt. I dont have time to sit around and rest. Not for this crap. Wish I had someone close to exercise with... it would help. I just sat in my apartment by myself all weekend. (UGH) It gets to me.

Thanks Dr. C! Feel free to interject the advice any time you see me slacking! I like the idea that you are keeping a watchful eye. You are the expert after all. So, if I am going to listen to anybody I better listen to you. You ARE the guy with the needle. ha! So, I will definitely heed your advice. See ladies... told you my doc was attentive! I'm so BUSTED :guess haha

Girls, I'm paying for it today. :faint: Feel like I got hit by a truck. ha I took some extra strength tylenol and I guess i will work this all out tonight in Yoga. (i hope) My body is screaming at me... my abs and my thighs/glutes. (ouch) Girls, i didnt exercise all weekend Friday-Monday. So, dont think your doing anything less. I hadnt moved till I saw stephs pics and then I knew I better get my lazy butt moving if I was gonna stay on track with you girls. Hurts to type.... OH! By the way, today is my 2nd month Bandiversary! I can't wait to hear what Nat was up to in Florida. I am sure she will have stories when she gets back.

Just got back from the Gym again... Yoga last night. Tonight I did an hour of a "Stability Ball" class... did about 60 pushups and a ton of ab work. There were these skinny bitches in there... you know the kind that have always been skinny, always will BE skinny. I kept up with them, and think I may have even taken some of it a bit better than they did. Amazing how "skinny" doesnt always equal "in shape"... ya know? I also did 10 minutes of the elliptical on level 10 to warm up. 30 crunches on the Ab machine before class... 20 sets working my arms and chest... 30 sets working my lower back... 20 sets working the backs of my inner thighs.. I am back at Yoga tomorrow. I may even hop on my elliptical here at home tonight. I am on a mission. I am going to see my best friend (he lives in Indianapolis... over 2 hours away) We have a very close relationship, and I hope that he really notices the change. He just sees me a certain way, and alot of the time he has a hard time being able to see the difference when I make a change. So, I am on a mission to lose at least 10 more lbs before March 9th. Have a good night girls. BK -- congrats on being able to join the competition at the Gym. You totally deserve it. I am glad you took the time to explain the surgery to that lady. So many people dont have a clue. When my best friend Eric found out I had the surgery... he said, "so, you had a Tummy Tuck?" HA! um, no... not exactly. Go kick some butt! Claud -- have fun tomorrow honey! let us know all the juicy details.

My husband WAS that guy. Up until the day he left he told me that I was the most beautiful woman in the world. Then one day he left without explanation. I, of course, blame the weight, but maybe im wrong. I wont ever know the reason.

Hey claud (hugs) its ok girl. I know what you mean about being down. It just happens. Just remember (and I need to remember this too)... one day at a time. You are doing an awesome job. it is a good thing that people are noticing how well you are doing. I just (today) had the first person from my work actually say something about the weight i am losing. It was kind of nice and made me feel good. I thought that no one could tell. BUT Someone actually noticed!! So, dont take her compliment badly. It WAS a compliment. i wish i looked like Id lost a 100 lbs. I feel like I am just as wide as ever. :-) I think our brains are going through a more drastic change than our bodies. Becuase we dont see the change taking place in our "thought process" we tend to over look it. Sometimes it just catches up with us. I've been in a bad mood for over a week... so just know that we are all here and we understand :-)

bkwalling -- girl! you are just perfect size for yoga. I've been doing it since I was 267lbs and am still doing it down at 217! The beauty is that you only have to do what you need to "feel" it. You dont have to fully extend or push yourself all the way in any of the poses until YOU are ready. You just go at your own pace. It is sooooo nice. i think you would love it. Bandiva -- what did i get a WOW for? ive been a lazy bum lately... ha but thanks for it none the less. VAbandster -- its emotional crap. i just would rather be in bed, but i am determined this week to go to the gym whether I want to or not. So, no i dont feel more motivated, but i DO feel better since I got up and moved. Nikki -- I eat close to a cup of food when i eat. I am just not supposed to eat any more than that. If I eat any less, I just dont feel nourished. I was told by my doctors that eating a 1.4 of a cup was almost on the unhealthy side. It would be very hard to get the nutrients and live a "normal" lifestyle. BUT anything from 1/2 cup to <1 cup should be ok. Over a cup means you need to get a fill.