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11/01/08 1030: Today is better so far. I had some runny oatmeal. Maybe a ¼ cup at the most. I am still trying to drink protein drinks because protein helps with healing. I am going to work hard to get my water in today. I weighed myself and finally have all the water weight off from the hospital. I was wondering how long it would take to lose that. I am down 3 lbs since surgery 3 days ago. I haven’t been able to get many calories in. I am trying. I had to take my scopolamine patch off so I am hoping that I won’t have any nausea. I have my zofran if I need it. I am not going to worry so much about what I eat except to try to keep protein going in. My shoulder is only giving me a few pains. I hope I have gotten over the worst. It seems it gets worse when I eat or drink. 1400: Okay….so now I have a new question. When will I go? I guess this is a problem that many bandsters have. I took liquid colace on the 30th. I took mom the same day. I used Miralax on the 31st and another dose of mom today. I am passing gass. That is good, but I would be much happier if I would just go. I DO NOT want to end up with problems because of this. 1630: I almost passed out in Walmart. Luckily I leaned against a wall and was able to breath through it. I don’t know if it is dehydrations or too little calories. Probably the calories. I haven’t been able to get above 300 cal yet. Maybe today. 1930: Ok now I feel better about the plumbing and I will take some lortab before bed.

April 4, 2009 Well the day is here! It is time to do the ONEderland Happy Dance!!!! I can’t believe it!!! I want to scream it to the heavens! I had this grand goal to hit it by April 1st. It happened a few days late, but who am I to complain? I just can’t believe it! In under 6 months I have gone from 285lbs to 199lbs. I just can’t believe it! My next goal is to get to the century mark and lose 100 lbs. That is about 15 lbs and my next goal is Memorial Day. I have big news on top of that. I shared my experience with a friend. This sounds like a small thing, but it isn’t for me. I have a 7 hour drive one way for a fill and I asked a friend to go with me. About 45 minutes into the drive I told her why we were headed out to Denver. I was very nervous about sharing with someone else. I’m not ready for everyone to know. I guess I am more ready than I have been in the past because it isn’t a question of whether or not I will be successful. She told me that sooner or later people or going to start to wonder if I had something done because usually people plateau and I haven’t yet. She might have a point, but have to tell people on my terms when I am ready. She even came back and saw me get a fill. I did get a fill yesterday. I was on the fence about whether or not to get one. I have been doing pretty good. I was surprised that I needed 0.6cc. Everything went down without a hitch after that….water, lunch, supper. No problem and we will see how things set in about 10 days when the fill takes effect. I still find it funny that it takes that long to kick in. Well this fat girl will keep doing the happy dance all day and someday I might realize that I’m not the fat girl I used to be. I still have a long way to go, but I’m not sure when my head will catch up with my weight.

Had my 2 week check up and could not wait to get on the scale to be weighed,(imagine that) New weight 331, that's 14 pounds lost since surgery and total 42 if you include pre op loss. Surgeon checked my incision and reminded me that my port had to be put in deeper then usual due to a thick abdomen, he says this had nothing to do with my weight some people just have thicker bellies. He is hoping that he can do my fills in his office if not I will have to have them done in the hospital under xray. Next stop the dietitian and she wanted to know what I had been eating and if I had stuck to full liquids for the first 14 days, yes I did! Now I am on mushies and am so happy to have canned chicken there is a variety of foods that I can have during this phase and I am looking forward to it. My fill is not until May 14 but that's ok because so far I have been able to go close to 5 hours without getting hungry and the 3 oz amount really fills me up! Now I know that I have the lapband and not the realize band and my band is empty so maybe it's mental or maybe just having the band around my stomach is doing something to help satisfy me....whatever it is I am digging it. I must say that this has been a great experience and I am glad I made this big decision to change!

Went in for my first fill May 14th and to my surprise my surgeon decided to hold off. After I mentioned to him that I am still satisfied for 4-5 hours on a cup and a half of food he was happy with my weight loss and says that we will consider it in a month. I do notice that it really all depends on what I am eating. If I am following the rules and eating protein first then I stay satisfied, but once I eat a slider food then I am ready to eat sooner and can eat more at a sitting. I have increased my walking to 2.5 miles at least 3 times a week and I can even go into a slow jog. My goal for this month is to continue my walking and to stay on track with eating healthy satisfying foods.

Wow, I'm almost 3 months in and still no fill. Since I am losing and still staying satisfied on small portions my surgeon is not suggesting a fill at this time, my next appointment is in 6 weeks and we'll just go from there. I feel great and I am 5 lbs from getting out of the 3's. I decided to put my scale up for a couple weeks because I want to be in the 2's next time I weigh.... this is a really big deal for me!! I have many non scale victories and they are equally as important, one that really makes me happy is that I am seeing body parts that I haven't seen in years... and you know what I'm talking about :thumbup: Also I am wogging, what is wogging you say, well it's in between a walk and a jog and I am wogging a mile without stopping and it feels great. I'm also very excited that my husband has been on the plan with me, minus the band. He also has a weight issue and even though we are tackling this in different ways we are doing it together and that is all that matters.

Ok so i am 4 weeks POst Op. Lost 18 lbs so far and now comes the day when i am surrounded by candy. I have never had a big sweet tooth but i am craving a Kitcat or a Recesse. I have 3 small kids who are excited to go out tricker treating...i will go with them. But by tomorrow morning 80% of that candy has to be out of the house. My kids dont know what most of those candys are so i want to keep it that way. And i also what to they it away from me. Am i being mean? unfair? i dont think so, my kids do not have a weight problem, but i do not want a sugar overload that for sure will lead to Time Outs! I have my first fill in two weeks, i hope i can last. I am feeling hundry every 3 hours and so far i have not felt any restriction, BUT i am keeping an eye on portions, protein and CHEWING. Good luck to all!!!

So after 5 or 6 fills (I forget which, I could be lying, maybe 3 or 4, ok 5 whatever) I have yet to TRULY feel restriction, it works for a day or so then eh I could really eat what I wanted it, if I wanted to... I finally.. finally have restriction and this couldn't be better after a 15lbs gain in the last month - my doctor says not to worry because it's muscle - my measurements are way down... so they say there's nothing to "do" per say besides eat right and exercise, which I'm doing. But I gotta admit I was upset to see the scale going UP, but I think it'll be on it's way back down here.. I have no appetite.. FINALLY! YAY RESTRICTION!!!!

hi Trevajane. for the most part losing weight is pretty black and white, we're either eating too many calories or not enough. I don't count calories but I do credit some of my success on being a planner. I have a meal planner that I fill out for the week which allows me to plan not only my meals but makes my trip to the grocery more productive. Being that we are addicts we really need to plan ahead to take the impulsive guess work out of the picture because that's when we make bad choices. So may I sugest that you sit down and make out a menu for a week, and stick it to the refrigerator and stay on plan. My menu changes but I continue to start off my morning with a protein drink, I don't snack between meals and drink plenty of water throughout the day. now... not losing weight for a week is normal, it's going to happen. I was not able to view your profile so I don't know anything about you but I have been the same weight for 2 weeks and it just happens. our body's are going through major changes and we should not worry about a stall in weight loss from time to time. So relax and if you think that you are eating enough calories but not over doing it then in time you will see the scale move.... but don't forget those non scale victories I can barely keep my pants up and to me that's a priceless good luck!

I had my first fill 6 weeks post-op. My doctor always based the fills/unfills on how I was feeling; hungry, getting sick et... I think that's better than going by weight loss. Their were deffiinately long stretches of time I lost weight but was very hungry. The weight loss didn't mean I didn't need a fill.

I live in southern Oklahoma and not seeing many people from here...either on threads or chatroom. I am having surgery in Norman at the Oklahoma Weight Loss Solutions clinic under Dr. Nelsons care. So, if anyones from around here or know this Doc. could you please respond. My surgery is Oct 2 thanks all...GBYalways!

That is always the first thing I say to people when they ask how much I've lost. "Well, I don't have good restriction, yet". I too, am tired of saying that and feeling like I have to explain why I haven't lost more. I have a friend that had GBP a few years ago and she always says how slow I'm losing, but for me, this weight loss has been faster than any diet I've done, but I am annoyed the weigh loss is significantly slowing down! As I mentioned, I'm ravenous today and I just keep eating things today. Cereal, 4 oz leftover chix breast, Atkins Protein Bar, 2 bottles of flavored water and about 15 almonds and I'm still watching the clock for dinner time. I'm about to have an apple becasue i know they take me 20 min. to finish. I need to be at 181 by end of this month to stay on my dress weight goal. That's 3 pounds to go in 2 weeks. Let's pray to the restriction gods, that they hear us for this next fill. I wanted an appt for tomorrow instead of Thurs, but they are in a different office (farther away) so that's how I got stuck waiting until Thurs. Bummer!

Where to begin. Well much like most of you we are all chasing that dream. I was always the fat girl in my crew cute for a fat girl and never really felt like I was confident or cute enough to hang with my mom and skinny sisters. In 2009 I decided at 327 pounds that enough was enough. I researched the band and at the time it was relatively new. I save up and went down to Mexico so very I'll prepared but no one could talk me out of it. So there I was on a plane like no turning back now. So I had the surgery returned home and actually from 2009 to 2013 I never had a fill... bad I know my band helped me lose 127 ponds but I was miserable couldn't eat lived off of snacks that was my life for years but it became a health issue. I went to a US doctor we will call him dr asshole, because we were to do a band to Sleeve revision. At that time I had alot of a car tissue so he removed my band and I woke up totally unprepared to go payout life without a tool in place to help me, since I never really learned discipline with the band. As soon as I could eat again I went in and gained 60-70 pounds in a year or less. I was super depressed as all my cute clothes I could no longer fit almost like I was being teased. So I started to research the sleeve and almost went back to Mexico but I have insurance so I decided to take the 4 month route after Tons of appointments I finally was sleeved on 03/17/2015. Since my pre op I was 267 and as of today my one week follow up I've lost 21 pounds. What an emotional ride. I can't lie I had a breakdown like shoot will i regret this but it's to late so I have to now work it to the best of my abilities. At my follow up my doctors told me that normal to feel this way and to continue to push forward and I will see progress. So here is to the new me and us and any encouragements questions comments are greatly appreciated.

You're welcome! Looks like we started out at the same weight!

Here is my complete list of NSVs (non-scale victories) today. Since I am not seeing any change in the scale, I decided that I needed to review my progress, to see how my life has changed since March 14th, 2005. Because I was so distraught earlier this week because I listened to the damn scale, I decided I needed to list them all in one place. If you are not currently tracking your NSVs, I really want all y'all to start tracking them. Besides, when we are all invited to the Oprah show we need to have some evidence besides what the scale says, right? My most important NSV is that I haven't died from respiratory failure. 03-27-2005, 11:04 AM I finally have an NSV! my rings fit again! And I don't have the terrible edema problem I developed over Christmas any more! Woot! Two NSVs for week two! 03-29-2005, 08:18 AM This is a gi-normous NSV. I haven't used my inhaler in five whole days! As many of you know, I have terrible acute and chronic asthma. Five days before my band installation, I had to be taken to the ER via ambulance. My asthma was one of the main reasons I got the band, that whole prospect of death by respiratory failure just didn't appeal to me. (..."I want a death by misadventure) My book bag doesn't seem as heavy as it was before I was banded. (and I do almost all my walking with that book bag) It doesn't hurt to stand at the sink when I do the dishes anymore. I believe it is because I can get closer to the sink because my tummy is smaller. I've lost an inch from my waist! Speaking of inches lost, I've lost a total of 11 from my entire body. 03-30-2005, 06:29 PM another day, another NSV! I ran up a flight of stairs this evening. I didn't even realize what I had done until after I had done it! And my had my 20 pound backpack on. I wasn't even winded when I got to the top either! New crop of NSVs 4/5/05 Okay, one of the women in my math class wanted to know how much weight I’ve lost. “You’re looking good! How much have you lost?” My purple robe fits me! My jeans slide off my butt! New NSV 5/7/5 Monday will be my eight week bandiversary. All my pants have been very baggy, so today I tried on a pair of pants I haven't been able to fit for 4 years and I could button them! Size 22 black jeans. 05-10-2005, 07:44 AM Sunday night I woke up because I was laying on something hard. I figured that I must have rolled over on a book or something like that. (I sometimes fall asleep reading). I felt around in the dark, but I couldn't find anything that didn't belong in my bed. The hard thing? it was my ribs. 05-19-2005, 11:20 AM the other day the weather was on the wet side, so I zipped my jacked. Just like that, without even a second thought, zuup up the zipper went. And then it hit me. I. Zipped. My. Jacket! No wiggling, no struggling, no thought! Holy weight-watchers Batman! 05-24-2005, 11:56 AM I got a great NSV Sunday night when I got home. My sweet son wanted to know how I was doing, with the band. We've been apart since I got my band 10 weeks ago. He said I looked really good, and that my face was full of life, and that I was glowing. Then I had to chase him down the stairs and out the front door, and around the truck. I RAN down the stairs, I RAN around chasing him until we nearly collapsed laughing! 06-21-2005, 10:09 PM Today I wore a pair of jeans I haven't been able to fit into since 2002. Today I walked 15 minutes to and from the restaurant for lunch, and I wasn't winded, and I didn't need my inhaler. Today I took a walk with my son and he had to tell me to slow down (of course the silly boy wasn't wearing any shoes...) Today I went grocery shopping after work, and then DID NOT collapse on the sofa all night. 06-23-2005, 11:23 AM Another day, another NSV. Today, not only am I wearing for the first time, a shirt I got for Christmas, but I RAN FOR THE BUS. Yes, you read that correctly, I RAN for the bus. It's not like there wasn't another bus in 5 minutes... but I RAN. Me! and I wasn't winded either! Heh, sure, I'm happy with all my NSVs but a part of me is wondering when I'm going to start having some weight loss! 06-26-2005, 09:40 AM And here I was, worried that I'd never have any NSV when I started this journey... Today, I needed a belt! Now, I'm not in any real danger of pulling a Jonathan in the grocery store, but my pants are uncomfortably loose. I didn't even think that was possible! So, I dug out an old belt that I haven't been able to wear and it fit! 1 notch down, 13 more to go! 07-13-2005, 08:29 PM Major NSV time! I had to get a pair of Khakis for my trip to NY this weekend. I was told "brown khakis" which don't really exsist... Anyway, I digress. I tried on a pair of 22, thinking they might fit. Nope, too baggy. I tried on a pair of 20s! They were on the baggy side! I got a pair of 18s, and they fit! I fit into a size 18 today!!!!! Okay, I didn't buy them because they were not pretty, but I could put them on! Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, oh my gawd! A size 18! I haven't been able to squeeze my pretty little self into a size 18 since my baby was small! Oh sure, my jeans aren't a size 20, but still! It looks like I'll be bringing some clothes to the Las Vegas Bash after all! 07-28-2005, 10:17 AM Okay, I apparently gained 3 pounds but I lost another notch on my belt! Woot! Maybe the best one of all... This morning I realized that I will never go hungry again. (it's a wolves thing) 08-07-2005, 11:28 PM This weekend at the Beach I discovered that forgot a jacket. So I had to buy a new one. I picked up a 2x and it fit fine. A little roomy but that's okay. Wait a second... The sleeves are a bit long. Let's try the XL. I know, I know, an XL? That’s crazy talk. Hey! This XL is pretty roomy... but the sleeves fit. So, I had this totally insane idea... What would happen if I try on a Large? oh, it's never going to fit, it won't even zip up. Nah.. I'm too fat for a LARGE. oh my gawd, she's actually going to try to put on a LARGE jacket??? What, is she nuts? Is she a glutton for punishment? No! She's the proud owner of a powder blue fleece Long Beach Washington jacket!!! SIZE LARGE 8-11-2005 I am not hording food anymore. 8-14-2005 I just realized that on my cross country flight to Syracuse NY I did not need a seatbelt extender. Not only did I not need one, I actually had wiggle room in my seat. 8-21-2005 Well, my NSV has to do with my hording. I gave 2.5 big black lawn & leaf bags of clothes to the help house. I was going to bring them to the bash, but I felt that they were more needed here. I got rid of them while packing to return to exile. 8-22-2005 back to school, and I fit into the desks so well my tummy doesn't even touch the table! No squishing into the desks! 8-25-2005 I just realized that I didn't have any trouble with the change in altitude or the change in heat this year. For the last 2 years going from temperate Seattle to the extremes of Pocatello were very hard on me. A week after being here I ran up 2 flights of stairs in the COB without being terribly winded or needing my puffer. I also have been handling the heat just fine. Of course, having an AC sure helps... 8-30-2005 I had to go buy a big skirt for my Middle Eastnern Folk dance class... Yeah, they don't want us to call it "belly dancing" here, they feel it has "negative connotations." Yeah, what ever, it's belly dancing. :mad: I went to several stores trying to find a skirt that would match the requirements, let alone worry about the size thing... So at the 4th and final store I found one, a cocoa dip-dyed skirt. The biggest one was a LARGE, so I wasn't too hopeful. But I was brave and went to try it on. IT FIT! I just bought a size LARGE skirt. Not 2X, not XL, but just LARGE!!! Mind you, when I bought my Large jacket, I really suspected that the label was wrong, that it had been marked Large in error at the factory, an that it was some sort of cosmic joke on me. Sort of like that pair of size 18 pants that I was able to fit into (didn't buy but that's a different story). I felt that was in error as well. Maybe it wasn't an aberation, maybe it's the truth. I feel like I have no restriction at all. I still haven't lost any more weight, but I'll take my size shrinking. My other NSV is a medical one, and has to do with my leg skin graphs. In about 2001 I had a revision of one of my skin graphs from my motorcycle accedent. Every day since the revision, I had to wrap my leg in an ACE wrap to give it support so it wouldn't blow-out. I had such bad edema that if I didn't wrap it, it would buldge out quite a bit because of the nature of the graph. I stopped needing to bind my leg a couple of months ago. I simply don't need to any more, no more edema problem. 9/1/2005 My knees doen't rub together when I walk anymore. My belly roll is squishier and hangs a bit lower. This is an NSV because it is proof that I am loosing fat. 9/12/2005 This past weekend was the Bandster Bash in Las Vegas. I had to tighten the airplane seatbelt. Sure, I've lost 3 pounds since 2/29, but I'm trying soo hard to not focus on that. Focus on needing to tighten the seat belt. At the Bash this weekend, I got several pieces of clothes. Okay a whole new wardrobe. When you wear your own clothes over and over, it is really hard to notice any difference. I mean really hard. I've been working my way into several pairs of pants that I haven't been able to wear in years and they are size 22. Yet at the bash, I found size 18 pants that were comfortable. What gives with that? Anyway, I have a few pairs of size 18 that are comphy. 9/15/2005 I've been looking at my body fat % and my current Fat Free Mass. If I don't put on any more muscle mass, and stay current where I am, I only need to lose 55 to 70 pounds, not 70 to 100 pounds. I think that's counts as an NSV. Of course, if I can manage to put on 15 pounds of muscle like NanaHarly (Pat in Virginia) did, then I only need to loose 35 to 50 pounds! Woot! I know what I'm going to focus on! I was tallking to my DH on the phone and I casually crossed my legs. HOLY SH*T!!!! I CROSSED MY LEGS!!!!! 9/17/2005 As of today, I have had 46 NSVs. That amazes me. Today's NSV is that I dropped a .5% in body fat. 9/27/2005 I had an NSV this weekend of a sexual nature. Let's just say that I'm not as bulky.... My forearems and calves have amazing definition. My low belly is shrinking, and starting to gain some definition. 10/1/2005 My 50th NSV is that I am no longer The Great Crystal Dam in the bathtub. There was room on both sides of my hips in the tub! At this rate I'll have to invest in some rubber duckies... 10/2/2005 Spoke with my mom on the phone last night. She said it has been years since my voice sounded so strong. She said there wasn't any breathiness at all. I guess after years of severe asthma, I'd developed a sort of wheezy -breathy sort of way a speaking. 10/22/05 I had a fitness assessment done yesterday. While my aerobic fitness score wasn't very high, 22 out of a scale of 20-50 (needs work), my over all fitness level fell into the Fair range, and my blood pressure is in the Fit range. (mind you, I've always had good BP, except for the first few weeks I'm back in SE ID due to the altitude and heat change) 10/27/05 I am offically no longer Morbidly Obese, but simply Obese. Today my BMI is 39.6, so I might not even qualify for the surgery, if not for my co-morbidities, which are all under control. My second NSV for the day is that I have been invited to dance professionally at a Greek restaurant here in town. It will be fun to be able to put on my resume that I'm a Professional Belly Dancer. 11/5/05 All my pants are starting to look like giant clown pants, none of them fit in the butt or thighs anymore. If I didn't have this damn thick waist, I would really be in honest size 18 jeans. My black leather jacket is going to have to be retired soon. It's rediculously large on me now. The sleves alone now hang past my finger-tips and it looks like I could smuggle a medium sized ham in each shoulder. So I tried on my big winter coat, and now it really is my huge winter coat. It's about XX too big. It's fully reversable a suede stadium jacket, with lepord fake fur on the other side. I love this jacket, but next year, some other lucky bandster gets to love it. It's important for me that last winter before I was banded I couldn't zip the black leather jacket up. There was a 2-3 inch gap that just wouldn't meet. While the stadium jacket fit, it was pretty snug. Not any more! 11/10/05 Lastnight I was using my laptop. In my lap. This means that I HAVE A LAP!!!!! Woot! 11/14/05 When I sit on the floor or in a hard chair, I feel the bones in my butt. Not only my tail bones, but other bones (probably my pelvic bones?) as well. 11/17/05 Okay, time to bump the thread. Last night while Iwas talking on the phone to an old friend from high school I again casually just crossed my legs. Without thinking about it. I know I've done this before, but it's a mind thing I think. Other NSVs include belly dance stuff. My DH won a few auctions on ebay for me, a couple of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L belts, a gorgous silk veil and a pair of harem pants. The pants looked impossibly small, even with an elastic waist. I just knew that they were NOT going to fit, but being the glutton for punishment that I am, I attempted to put them on anyway. They fit! They are too shere to wear without a skirt, so that will have to be next on my list of things to get. The other victories around dancing are some of the skinny ones are asking me for help, since they cannot get some of the moves quite right. I'm also getting really excited about dancing at the restaurant. I'll do that once I get home after Thanksgiving, and I complete my costume. I still need a top and a skirt I mean, I just bearly broke out of MO, and I'm going to be a fat professional dancer. What am I thinking? I mean, what am i thinking, other than I'm dead sexy and a fine belly dancer. 11/19/05 Okay, Thursday I passed up free donuts, and this weekend I've been busily working in my yard now that I'm home. Raking big fat soggy leaves, clearing flower beds, and the like. DH is amazined at my level of energy, and so is son. I guess I'm a little amazed too, since for the last several years the only energy I've had at this time of year has been spent trying to breathe or something aerobic like reading or playing video games. I've gotten used to a more active lifestyle in ID with all the walking and PE/dance classes I attend. I routinely walk up several flights of stairs with my heavy bookbag, where this time last year I was using a rolling bag, and needing to take the elevator because my asthma was so bad. 12/09/05 Well, tonight I make my semi-professional debute again! We had our dance department dance review Wednesday night, and pix will be forthcoming. We were great, several people told us that we were the best group on stage, so that was awesome! I went out on stage, in front of an audience of maybe 300 or 400 people, and I OWNED the stage. I wasn't the slightest bit nervous, and I'm quite amazed at that, believe you me! I made eye contact with many of the audience, and I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time. Not only did I look like I was having a great time, I WAS having a great time! The next NSV is my costume... my top was a crop tant top that I've added bead work too to make it sparkle. But the important part of that sentence is CROP TOP! Yes, that's right, I was wearing a belly shirt on stage, exposing my ample belly to the public, with my surgery scars clearly visible! And I did it on purpose! Okay, this next one isn't an NSV, not really, and it properly goes on the "Skniny Bitches" thread, but here it is We had just come off stage after doing our two numbers and we were all still amped up on adrenalline. We were talking about how we had done, bla bla bla. A group of ballet dancers were there, I mean, right there and one of the skinny blond said to another skinny blond the snottiest comment I've heard in a long time. Okay, all the ballet dancers were skinny blonds, but that's besides the point. She said, in a loud voice "well, at least we weren't shaking our Bon-Bons." In the snottiest possible voice mind you. So, I simply said, with sugar in my voice, "well that's because you can't shake your Bon-Bon." And then I smiled so sweetly at her. (then she said that I was probably right, and the group of them walked away) So, I suppose that makes me a fat bitch, but I just decided that I wasn't in the mood to take crap from anyone. So, the next part of the Bellydancing NSV is that I'll be dancing againg tonight at a local restaurant, and yes, I'll be dancing for tips, so Big Paul, you'd better leave now so you get here in time, and yes, you'll probably need to take out a second mortgage So, finally, I'm doing this when I weigh 240 pound and not waiting until I get closer to goal. I'm doing this at size 22/24 and not when I get to my goal of 12/14 12/22/05 I'm less invisible. Last year at this same time I felt so invisible when walking through the halls at school. Now guys hold the door open for me, and men and women smile more at me. Perhaps they just needed a couple of years to get used to me, or perhaps I am more self asured and confident. Confidence attracts confidence. This time last year I could not breathe. I was in and out of the hospital and making near daily trips to the ER, having several nebulizer treatments every single day. Since I've been home just about a week, I've used my inhaler much more often than usual of late. I've used it 3 times in a week. This is a weird NSV, but I finally have doctors seriously trying to figure out why I'm not having the sort of weight loss I should. I guess I had to go on the Supermodel Diet for a month before they would take me seriously. 1/4/6 Today I went skiing for the first time in 5 or 6 years! Woot! It was a lot of fun, and I fit into my ski pants from 5 or 6 years ago. I'm so happy! Okay, this was a MAJOR NSV for the DH too because he went skiing too! Spudboy and I had to talk him into it, but he did it! I'm so proud of him! I didn't use my puffer once while skiing, but was wicked cold because my gloves weren't good ski gloves. Oh, and I didn't have a water proof jacket either... So, 3 for the price of one. 1/13/06 I just got back from several days in DC, for a scholarship symposium and job fair. I have a conditional job offer for when I graduate, if I can obtain a security clearance! Woot! That's an NSV, since it would be a major job! I have a whole string of NSVs, the very most important one is that I went to DC WITHOUT AN INHALER. What's more, I didn't even need it. This is super significant because this time last year, and for several years prior, I couldn't go anywhere without at least 2 inhalers on my person. I had an inhaler in every single piece of clothing that had a pocket. Last year this time I had spent 10 days of the Christmas vacation in hospital, don't know how many trips to the various ERs. I didn't even realize that I didn't have an inhaler until the puddle jumper from Salt Lake to Pokey, AFTER my trip was almost done. I was constantly being mistaken for a much younger woman, and when I would talk about my son, people assumed I was talking about a baby or a very small boy. Oh if they only knew! 1/18/06 In class yesterday I realized that my belly wasn't even touching the desk in two of my classes! 2/7/06 I had two NSVs this week. One is that I went to a party where I only knew one person. Big deal? Yup, big deal since I am terrified of groups people. It's not like they are spiders or kittens or something like that, but I have avery difficult time with groups of people I don't know, I'm very shy. (yeah, who would believe that?) But I went to the party, and I was charming and talked to everybody. I don't think my husband would have recognized me.... The other NSV is that I've accepted that I'm not going to lose weight. Not until this Cushing's thing has been addressed or resolved. But because I've accepted it, I don't have to stress over it. I don't have to beat myself up any more. Oh wait, one more NSV, I need to take my watch to the Jewlers to have one of the links removed from the band! 3/5/6 Well, I haven't had that many NSV's lately, or if I have, they have been lost to me. I need links removed from my beautiful watch, and I can wear more of my rings. I have to stop wearing one of my rings because when my fingers get cold (winters in SE ID are COLD!) it flies off my finger! Woot! So, 3 NSVs for Feb 06!

TURTLE POWER!!!! We are slow losers. But we need to demand answers. I've been thinking about this for the last forever. Or at least it feels like forever. Why are we so different, why doesn't the weight fall off of us like it does our rabbit sisters and brothers? So, I decided that instead of ranting and raving about not losing weight, crying to the folks that can't help with the underlying problem, I decided that I would start crying to medical doctors, not to therapists. I went to my PCP and demanded answers. He couldn't help me, other than putting me on thyroid meds, which as it turns out I needed. But he couldn't help beyond that, and I haven't seen much activity scale wise from the increased thyroid function. He said I should find an endocrinologist, and good luck. Not much help there, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he was baffled, well, basically because he told me "I'm baffled." So I went to another doctor demanded answers. He couldn't do anything, but he did refer me to an internist. She's wonderful; she doesn’t downplay my problems, or my concerns. She doesn't blame me for being fat, she doesn't view all my problems through that if-you-lose-weight-your-problems-will-go-away lense. And who here hasn't had all their medical problems blamed on their weight? I think that might be why we, as turtles, haven't demanded answers, demanded that they figure out why we can't lose Wight on 1200 calories, or 1000 calories or even less. We think that if we just follow the Bandster rules and guidelines like good banisters, that if we do, the weight will fall off of us. I mean, this works for everyone else, why doesn't it work for us? Because I think there has to be something else going on with us. Medically speaking, there has to be something that is keeping us from losing weight. If all the literature says that women will lose 1 to 2 pounds a week eating 1200 calories a day, if all the banding literature says that we should expect to lose 1-2 pounds a week, if we follow the rules. Well, we are following the rules. We are eating within the stated guidelines, or if we are too tight we eat less, we exercise, we drink water, we attend support groups (LBT if nothing else); we do all these things and in most cases see a 1 to 2 pound loss a month. So, how long do we beat ourselves up? Why shouldn't we get discouraged and stop trying because, just like every other wild hair-brained scheme to lose weight, this one doesn't work either. Someone said that their doc said that if the thyroid med didn't work that we couldn't blame the medication, which I took to be one more example of blaming the fat person. The implied message that I took away was if it doesn't work, it's your fault, again. Well I say rubbish. It may be that the thyroid medication isn't the answer, but there has to be an answer somewhere. So, if you are a true turtle, or even a winded wabbit, call your doctor and demand answers. Don't take no for an answer, don't take, "if you just lost weight" for an answer. If your surgeon's office can't help, talk to your PCP. If she can't help, demand a referral. Cry, weep, and threaten a break down if you must, but demand those answers. Don't let them shuffle you off to see a therapist as the only course of treatment either. I think we owe that much to ourselves. We owe that to ourselves, our families and loved ones. We even owe it to the other turtles who come after us. But mostly, we owe this to ourselves.

Last night I went to the first seminar at jewish hospital. The day before they had sent me the papers I needed to submit about myself, like weight, insurance information, medications and etc. I turned that in and expect that they should receive it by thursday. The seminar was good, and I got to ask the actual doctor questions.. He didnt impress me personality wise- but I am sure he knows what he is doing. He seems a little rough around the edges.. like corn bread. and he definitely ain't sweet -LOL i almost feel as if he looks down upon us poor plumpers as he claimed in big words his bmi was in the lower twenties. Im disappoited that I will most likely not be able to go to Dr. curry and deaconess because he is moving away. He seemed nice. I will probably still go their seminar on the twentyfirst anyhoo I think I asked the most risque questions -- mainly thanks to the knowledge and information I have gained from being a member (a quite active one) of this message board! He does not repair slipped bands or erosion bands for free. He does not include the first year of fills for free (only one fill) my main concern of all is about medical mutual insurance: they do require a six month dieting attempt- but it does not have to be medicall supervised ?!?!?! so... i thought i was going to scream when she said It was needed, but then i realized I might still have hope because I had been on the endocrinologist diet for a while long ago, and have done weight watchers... i almost feel that i could scrap together about anything I think that is going to be the biggest obstacle between me and bandland... if i start another medically supervised diet, it wont be over with until september (whew) long WEIGH away -- :help: I expect to get my endocrinologist notes (from 5-7 years ago) next week, and I plan on traveling to toledo to visit my PCP to get the lab work done. I think my endocrinologist weight diagrams will prove a point. It also have the diagnoses of PCOS. AT TWELVE! I already have my rheumatologist notes -- which i think is my strongest co morbidity claim. anyhow I have been very anxious/excited about the whole thing for a while now.. and i really hope that i can strengthen my rather odd claim for this surgery.

I know that lots of people are convinced that weight loss is about calories in/out and I know that that holds true for the majority of people. But I have to wonder about us Cushies. I don't think that it is a matter that we have a really slow metabolism. But the thing is, it doesn't matter how much I eat or don't eat. The calorie in/out would hold true if I gained massive amounts of weight on 1200-1500, when I couldn't lose on 1200, 1000, 800 or less than 700 calories. (I did gain 10 pounds in a week at 1000 calories, but that was one week.) It is entiely possible that my weight gain/loss has been only water, which is fine on one level because it lessens my edema problems. But not fine for why I had WLS. If my metabolism was truely that slow, I wouldn't metabolize medications as fast as I do, and I would gain constantly. But as for low calories, I just don't see how other people can function on sub 700 long term. I will give you that it is entirely prorbable that I entered into a deep Low during the month I was too restricted. But I think the lowered calorie intake made the Low worse.

Tomorrow I go see Dr. L at OHSU again. A couple of weeks ago Lynne called me and told me that they want to see me. That I didn’t need to test any more. I guess when they tell you that it’s because they have all the data they need or want. Part of me is so afraid that he’s calling me down to tell me that there is nothing they can do for me. That I don’t need to test any more because there is nothing wrong, at least nothing wrong that losing weight won’t fix. Oh sure, if only I could lose weight. My husband said that I shouldn’t worry, that they wouldn’t have us drive 3 hours plus each way, just to tell me that there is nothing more to do. He figures that Dr. L would just dump me over the phone, like any bad relationship. My son asks me every day when are they going to take this thing out of my head. And then he either punches me in the arm or bitch-slaps me, or attempts to anyway. That’s one way he can tell if I’m High or Low… if I’m High there is no way he’s going to count coup on me, no way. But when I’m Low on the other hand… well, he knows that I’m going to be moving in slow motion, tai chi slow… He’s got a long way to go before he counts enough coups on me, that’s for sure; I’m so far ahead on the coup count he will never catch up. Last week was really rough for me. I was very, very Low, and my headaches were beyond reasonable. I was temped to go to the ER a couple of time, but it wasn’t until Friday night when I was throwing up that I went. I’d taken two phengren during the day, but by 8:00 pm I was throwing up, or at least I was giving it the old collage try. After the fifth dry heave session I gave up and had Mike drive me to the ER. I didn’t’ want to go, but I couldn’t’ stop heaving, and I couldn’t keep anything down. We had to wait for over an hour in the waiting room, so many sic people on a Friday night. The doc thought it was another migraine, but this time I didn’t have the weakness, so I could explain exactly what the headache felt like. These headaches are nothing like migraine, but something more. I can only hope that when I finally do have the pit surgery they will go away. Anyway, it took the nurse three tries before she was able to start the line. But she used lidocane, and besides, my head was in so much pain I don’t know that I would have even noticed the IV going in. Yeah, that bad. The doc wasn’t convinced that I’m not having “atypical migraines” so she wanted to try a combination of phenegren and benidryl. She said that was a sure fire way to knock out a migraine. Well, like I said, it wasn’t a migraine, and no it didn’t work. So she ordered a large dose of the narcotic for me. She said they were done pussy-footing around. On previous trips to the ER they gave me the usual small amounts, then had to repeat several times before I was beyond the pain. The last time they gave me a double dose, but again, had to keep repeating the dosage of the medication. This time they just game me a large syringe of the good stuff, lowered my bed and put me on oxygen. I have no idea how long I was knocked out, but it worked. I didn’t have a head ache the next morning. You have no idea how wonderful it is to wake up without a headache. If you do know, you have my deepest sympathies. Before she gave me the injection, we talked about pain management. She sent me home with a prescription for the highest dose percacet they make, a big bottle. She wants me to keep on top of the pain, and to not let it get away from me. So, now I don’t let the headaches get to far into the really bad range before I start managing the pain. No more “riding it out.” No more being the tough girl. She also had the radiology department make a CD of my CT scan from last week. We thought I was having a stroke or a TIA because the right side of my face was melting. I see the neurologist in a couple of weeks, but tomorrow I go to OHSU to see Dr. L. Back to that worry. And now for something completely different… The chinchillas are my husband's pets, but I've been training them to get used to being handled, so they will willingly come to me in their cage, because they know I always have a treat for them. Tonight I decided that I'd start working on them to see going in their balls as a happy thing, so I put treats in them, and let it be their decision to go in the ball, or not. Usually my husband stuffs them in there so he can clean their cages, very high adrenaline stuff... I was able to coax them into their balls and they had a good roll-around. Now I have these basketball sized balls roaming freely around my house. One of the chinchillas is really adventuresome, while the other got himself stuck between some pillows and boy shoes...Chilly got out of his ball, and it didn't take much effort to catch him. Spud, my son, scared him under my Chase lounge then I had him turn on the light, and I got one of the millet sprays to try to coax in from under it. Instead, he just crawled up between my arms as I was kneeled beside the chase Chilly let me pick him up without any fight or struggle. He wasn't interested in the millet, he just wanted me. He didn't struggle at all while we walked to the cage, all the while I was telling him what a good boy he was. Then he stretched out on one of the platforms, like they do when they are hot.

Today I found a watch that I bought myself over a year ago. It was on sale and so cute I couldn't wait to wear it. When I got it out and tried it on it was too small. My husband was going to get another band for it, but it was put away and it was overlooked until today. I can get that watch on now. It made me think of a few necklaces that were too tight. I can accessorize now! It is nice to see some small changes to keep me on track. I am 3.5 weeks post panding. I have lost 18 lbs since the band and 25 since I started all of the pre op stuff. I am at the point now that the swelling has gone down and the hunger has come back. This web site is helping me keep myself in check. I will have my first fill on 1-29. I am really excited, except for the gastroview that I have to drink uuugh. I never had a real weight issue until I was 22. I was in a bad relationship and when that marriage ended I was over 250 pounds. I was in denial for a long time that I had a problem. After I looked in the mirror and really saw myself the right way, I knew I had to do something. Life went on and I married again, I had 3 beautiful kids, I graduated from school and landed my dream job. With all of that settled, I focused on what I needed. I found that I was up to 291lbs. I enjoyed the pre surgery work up that my hospital requires. 12 weeks of a weight loss program, a psych eval, sleep apnea test (I failed), egd, gallbladder ultrasound (I failed that too and had my gallbladder removed on 11-9), 6 weeks of behavior change group therapy and a lot of appointments. Now it is done, I am banded and her I sit feeling content. I am seeing results and for the first time in a long time, I believe in myself again. :clap2:

Hi, new here, my first appt for surgery will be Friday. Finally have insurance coverage. When I read this tonight, I started shaking inside and began to cry. I couldnt imagine that feeling of losing weight, of having hope. It was almost too much for me. Thanks

So when the Dr warns of throwing up too much is he talking about PBing? What is too much. Is it only throwing up if stomach acid is involved? I PB almost every day. I had my band installed March 20th 2009 it is now June 24th 2009 and I have lost 84 pounds. I have so many questions. What is normal. How do I know if I have slippage or have streached my pouch....How much food am I suposed to able to eat? am I loosing weight fast enough? Can I loose it faster? What about extra skin? Oh by the way I need to update my signature. Also how do I attach my ticker from the ticker making website?

Well, let's see. Yeah, I did. I bawled like a baby. No matter how hard I tried to keep the calories down and do what I was supposed to do, I still gained weight. I don't see how. But I did. On Friday, October 27, I found out I weigh 280 pounds. That's the heaviest I've ever been in my life. I don't want it to become 290 or 300 or... more. I am also diabetic, have sleep apnea, bad knees, bad ankles, bursitis in both shoulders, chronic bronchitis, depression, absolutely NO energy for exercise.. shall I go on???? Dr. S., my endocrinologist, has referred me to who she thinks is the best to do the surgery. I've printed out the paperwork so I can fill it out and send it in. I've called the insurance companies (I actually have two, strangely enough) to find out their take on this. :angry UHC, of course, states that my policy does not cover WLS. Period. WHATever. I will fight it, of course. My second insurance, which is from my DH being retired military, will cover at least 80% of the cost, if not more.:clap2: We'll see. So at least I know I have one hurdle partially done. Funny thing, when I finally decided I wanted to do this, I want it over NOW. Is that normal? I guess it is for me. I'm not a patient soul.

Just checked my weight,,, 10 pounds down! Wow,,, liquids are horrible,,, but they work, hehehe:thumbup:

17days since post op liquid diet 3 days since surgery

Well, it's been 2.5 weeks after my sleeve, and it's been interesting. Yeah I want to eat less, lose weight, and stay healthy, but what a bummer. I'm still "eating" liquids, and it's getting old. Today I tried to eat some sushi (raw fish) thinking it would be soft and easy on my stomach, and today I puked for the first time. It was pretty violent. Worse than I was expecting. My body needs meat. I'm starving, but surprisingly not that hungry. I just get meat cravings every now and then. Some buyer's remorse too. Went to a birthday party, and realized how much I miss pizza. I know I have a new stomach, and I don't feel like eating a whole pizza, but it'll be 5 more months until I can even try it.