Search the Community

I have grave's...which is from hyperthyroid. At first I lost, then gained a bunch. My weight went up and down. Surgery...the band has helped so much...and I make sure to get my levels checked every 4 mths. I take my meds like I should(most of the time) which really helps. Having a thyroid disease can cause your weight to go up or down...whether your hypo or hyper. Everyone is different.

My doc said that as a precaution you should try to avoid putting lotion on the incision sites until you are a month out. He said if you must put lotion on it, try to use fragrance free, hypo allergenic lotion. He also said I could use aloe vera, which has worked out well. So, I use regular lotion on the non-incision parts of my stomach and aloe vera on the incisions. Oh, and he said that if the reason you want to put lotion on them is because they itch (as opposed to generally wanting to lotion your body), then you should use the aloe vera because it means your incisions are still trying to heal.

HI Ali! I am doing good! 5 days out. getting sick of eating the same crap....what shall I have for breakfast? yogurt? pudding? lol I am SUPER picky and will only eat that or the cream of mushroom soup so choosing from 3 things is rather BORING and sad! ha ha. alright my sleevesters!!!!!!!!! what else can I have? stage 2 is for 2 weeks! this sucks. ha ha. water is still an issue but Dr. Im said as long as I am peeing I am okay. ha ha. my neck is draining still but the antibiotics are helping this stupid thing looks better already! Thank god for keflex.. it's leaking plasma! ewww I am STILL waiting for neck, head, surgery to contact me. I should start saving it-I know they pay good MONEY for plasma now adays....and waiting for a disability check sucks. lmao!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup: Tina-yeah we ARE nightmares aren't we. :thumbdown:I feel ya on the panic attacks. I have them too. ohh and I have asthma and get chronic bronchitus and sinus infection like 8-10 a year! I am now alergic to EVERYTHING under the sun because of all the antibiotics I have taken. I get them soooo bad. I totally sympathize with you. You totally panic and that makes everything 1000 times worse. Well now we can grovel with eachother let me know what they do. I hear ya with all the breathing problems. I get sick SO much that I am always checking to see if I am sick. I am so nuts. lol. Everyone calls me hypo-but your not hypo when your always sick! It sucks. It's nice to know someone who has this same problem seriously!!! After I had my gallbladder taken out? They told me I was gonna die cause I had 5 clots on my lungs. I was actually diagnosed with PTS because of all the crap I went through. My hubby and I even split up at that time I went loopy! Thank god he eventually realized that was my mid-life crisis and took my crazy ass back. It was horrible. When the doctors say your not gonna make it-imagine what that does. man ohh man. anywho-so I am here if ya need someone to vent too! Medical nightmares together. :Banane20: awwww lol. BAND SUBJECT:Yeah ASH I was totally surprised when you showed me YOUR KAISER book. 1 in 6 people is a HUGE amount in people to get a revision!!!!!!!! I think it sucks that kaiser FREEMONT and KAISER RICHMOND's bariatric programs differ so much. I kinda like yours better Ash! They seem to tell you A LOT more. I was all gung-ho for the band in the begining like ash, ali, john, and I were. After doing research and hearing from other bandsters that made my decision. Even Dr. Im told me that he thought the band wasn't even a choice. I guess they have know for a while that they where phasing them out. My dad also JUST went and had his surgeon appointment. They didn't offer him the band! I just talked to him about his appointment. He had it a week ago and I asked him if the Doctor mentioned it and he said it's really not an option. I am HAPPY with my decision with the sleeve. I am SO surprised that I am recovering so QUICKLY! (knock on wood) My health isn't the greatest and I am always slow to heal ect...but 5 days out and I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!! I HOPE THIS CONTINUES! I don't wanna JINX myself. I walk walk walk so that is proll helping greatly too. Then again it's all a personal choice! I am anxious to see what will happen! 10 POUNDS IN 5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! IF SOMEONE SAYS THAT ISN'T A MIRACLE THEN THEY ARE NUTS! LOL!

Mom, you have a sensitive and reactive stomach like I do. Your swelling will go down and as you lose wt the fat around your stomach under the band will melt and the band will get looser, less restrictive. I have been going through something similar and since I can get fluids dow I decided to ride the wave and lose as much as possible for now. Beware of switching to slider foods, though. Please keep posting about how you are doing. Mimi

I am happy to see this thread has been reactivated. My name is Llyra and I have thirteen years of clean time. My banding was done on March 3 of this year and I have lost 26 pounds with approximately 60 more to go. Until I got the second fill, I was afraid I was in line to be one of the lap band failures- the weight simply was not coming off. The second fill helped immensely as has a gradual adjustment to a new way of eating. I teach belly dance, garden and maintain two horses so exercise is not as big a problem for me as for some, though I do tend to spend too much time on the couch if I am feeling low. After six years of not attending meetings, I returned to the rooms in October. The catalyst was the death of a friend in a motorcycle accident. I saw so many old faces at his funeral and realized I missed them. Didn't expect to be recognized after so many years and a 75 pound weight gain, but I was welcomed back with open arms.

I was diagnosed with Graves in 2005. For a while I was a looser with Graves, then it turned and i gained. I was treated with RAI and went total hypo. It has taken years for the synthetic replacement to level off. I gained a bunch my weight post RAI. 40+, which they said shouldn't happen once my thyroid is balanced. If you are gaining with graves and treat it, you will probably gain if you get RAI. Graves sucks either way because you can only treat the symptoms not the disease. So even if you treat the thyroid, you can still get all the wacky autoimmune effects. Like hives, etc. I think if you are healthy, and thyroid is under control, you will be able to get the band. In my opinion, the sooner you start the journey, the better. Good luck!!!!

i have a lapband, was pregnant almost immediately after surgery, and now can finally get started losing... I am on a natural thyroid for hypo [slow] thyroid. They did have to raise my dosage during pregnancy to 2 grains 60mg i/o 1 grain 30mg. You will lose with the combo of medication, lapband, healthy eating, and exercise~ i walk and weightlift. I say go for it!!!

As I said to Jeannie in a PM...it has become increasingly clear to me that there are some people who seem to take advantage of the "distance protection" offered them by this internet form of communication, as a means to unleash their emotional reactivity, arrogance, negativity, immaturity, and general lack of manners. Let's try to remember that we are all here for support and encouragement, and be polite.

not my doctor! I have hypo thyroid and pcos....was banded 5/20....goodluck!

This article changed my whole outlook, I hope it is insightful for you. Long but worth reading! I am working with a coaching client who had put on about 30 extra pounds since reaching her I am working weight-loss- surgery goal. One of the actions she chose to take to begin to work on her problem was recording what she was eating. After two weeks of setting that goal and not meeting it, I suggested she explore what else might work for her. "But I want to record what I eat!" she said. "I'm just too embarrassed to write it down and share it with you." I assured her she was going to be sharing this information with someone who well understood her problem, someone who had been battling the food demon her whole life, as well. "Okay, so if I take my embarrassment out of the equation," she reasoned, "I'm still left with not wanting to admit what I'm eating. I don't want to give up the foods I love. I want to eat them anytime I want!" In the next breath she blurted out, "Why is it so hard to stop eating? I want to be thin. I don't want to go back to not being able to get out of a chair!" Eating anything you want, whenever you want, is not freedom. If you really think about it, eating with free abandon does not feel like freedom for people who struggle with compulsive eating. In fact, being a prisoner to food thoughts and mindless eating 24/7 can be miserable. Trapped by cravings and food thoughts, a person will conduct their daily business and make their daily decisions based on the eating they want to do. "I can't go to the play tonight," you might say. "I am not feeling well. I think I'm coming down with something." But, what you are thinking may be, "I want to eat the rest of the bread I bought today. With butter! But, I'll have to pace myself. It will take me all evening to eat it." Does this scenario paint a picture of a person who is experiencing freedom? Or does the bread have then trapped? After weight loss surgery, many people get into the habit of grazing, or eating small amounts frequently. That's what my client was doing. She mistakenly believed grazing was a way to be free from the shackles of dieting and food plans. And she hated diets and food plans! Unstructured eating, however, can quickly lead to eating unhealthy foods in unhealthy portions. (Yes, even if you tell yourself you'll never go back to the unhealthy foods you used to eat.) A rebelliousness exists inside most overeaters, and they don't want to give up their freedom to choose what to eat and when. Step back, though and give yourself the "Dr. Phil" treatment. Ask yourself, "And how well is my rebellious attitude working for me? It's time to live in the solution. Many people who struggle with their weight never lose obsessive thoughts about food, but that's partly because they are not living in the solution. The people who are the most successful at breaking free from the burden of unhealthy eating, have transitioned from being rebellious (reactive) to responsible (proactive). They spend some time planning. They establish a routine with boundaries around their eating, so that they don't get carried away. Ironically, when you add some structure to your eating by making a food plan for the day, an amazing sense of freedom can set in - freedom FROM compulsive eating. So, if you're struggling with obsessive food thoughts and overeating, make a food plan today. Write it down and refer to it often. Give yourself the gift of one day of freedom from overeating. Oh, and the "rebellious" client I've been working with has lost 6 pounds already. She told me, "I'm amazed at how much less I obsess about food now that I make my plan every morning. I just write down what I'm going to eat for the day, and then I go live my life." Want to Reprint this Newsletter? If you'd like to reprint any part of this newsletter, do so with the following credit: From Small Bites, the email newsletter for the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery. Inc. All rights reserved.

I got one of every class to 80 (and got many of them epic/raid gear), then got bored and quit. Now I'm addicted to LotRO, but I'm also finding that my newfound energy due to weight loss is pulling me outside a lot more! I used to play mostly PVE on Baelgun. Look up Drhfuhruhurr (80 Warlock) sometime. When Cataclysm comes out, I may reactivate my accounts long enough to bring my 80 Pally (my favorite) to 85...

Oh I am in for sure but have to figure out how to set up my PM. I need to update my account setting I will work on that this afternoon. YOu have Dr. Baggs everyone likes him and likes going in to see him. :-) I love talking to him because he really gets it. I always tell him things are easy when he sets goals (than don't make them) and he wants me to quit saying that!! LOL. He keeps telling me nothing about this is easy don't keep saying that!! I am registered over at Obesity.com but haven't checked in a year or so. I might need to reactivate my account again. WHat is going on over there?? SO Bella 25 is about 8 pounds a month........Maybe I should do that as well. It is probably more realistic than the 30 I would like!! I can't keep getting discouraged by setting outlandish goals it has been a whole 7 months of that. I need some successes to keep me moving! forward! :-) I think Pam is right small goals ......so if you instead of 25 pounds focus on the 8 X 3 or if you want to break it down more 2 pounds a week.................LOL. Yea Bella I will do the 25 pounds too that seems health and realistic..........and if I end up with more I won't complain! :-) That would still but me firmly under 200! I am lacto ovo vegetarian. And yep I am on top of the vitamins. Even when I was gaining weight I stuck with the vitamins......... Getting ready to watch Invitus and fold laundry.......trying to give myself an incentive to get the housework done!! LOL.

Okay, I have a question...when I went to the nutritionist a few years back, she said I was "pre-diabetic" (that my insulin gets out of whack from me being obese.) Basically what happens is if I don't eat every few hours, I start to get this queasy, dizzy, lightheaded yet SUPER hungry feeling where I feel as though I need to eat everything in the room in order to get my blood sugar back to normal. It's like a reactive hypoglycemia thing, I guess. My question is, after the VSG surgery where you can only drink liquid at first, wouldn't that reactive hypoglycemia reaction go nutso from not getting any food in? I know it would eventually go back to normal, but I just wonder if the first few weeks wouldn't be hellish. Just wondering if anyone else has/had this pre-diabetes thing and how the VSG effected it. Thanks!

Thanks. I'll look the hypo-allergenic tape. :tongue_smilie: My skin is just irritated all around from the tape I use now. Some of the areas are drying up as well and that causes itching. The redness is the painful part. Its tolerable but enough to notice. More like a sting.

I had a severe reaction to every type of tape/bandage I used. I had a dressing longer than some because I came home with a drain for 1 1/2 weeks, and inspite of my trying to move the dressing/tape each day, the skin was breaking down. By the time I was able to stop using dressings to cover the drain wound, I had raw spots all over my abdomen where the skin was just gone because of the tape. I used a lot of polysporin to prevent infections and tried to keep any old adhesive cleaned off my skin. I have heard that there is a hypo-allergenic paper surgical tape (Micropore) made by 3m. If I had know how much trouble I was going to have in the long-run, I would have tried it immediately.

Oh, don't misunderstand, Heidi--- I'm not regretting my decision at all. I wouldn't even consider the GB surgery and this was my ticket to finding a healthier me. I know others have had different experiences than that but the reality remains the same--if you don't decrease caloric intake, you won't lose weight. It's all in the Math that I refuse to do. :ohmy: I realize that it's simple for "normal" people, but not for us. We're not wired like them--none of us would have gone to this extent if it were that simple! It's about behaviors---nearly 38 years for me to change. It won't happen overnight, but if I can change some of the, even if only for a limited time, then I have a fighting chance. At 315 pounds, I didn't have that chance.... We all have bad days when we think we've made a mistake. We're on this journey for a reason. It's something we have to figure out on our own, for ourselves.... Hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. I had PIZZA for dinner last night with my family. Could only manage one piece and really ended up getting rid of most of that--no milk required! Regardless, I enjoyed it immensely. As a side note---I think we all need to find a way to accept responsibility WITHOUT using it as an excuse to beat ourselves up. Most of us are guilty of doing far too much of that. Truth be told, the way we talk to ourselves can strongly influence how we function. It's easier to put ourselves down for making bad choices than to force ourselves to make good choices. It makes me so sad when I think about all of the negative self talk we do---but it really keeps us in that horrible, non-reactive place and prevents us from progressing. Just for today, I'm going to be better to myself--treating myself the way I'd treat my friends.

Hi, y'all! Whew! I have a lot of catching up to do. I've been reading when I can, but was so, so overwhelmed with work and life last week. I'm sorry! I think about you all all the time. Things are okay here--just busy. I just finished doctoring a manuscript, and now am back with just my usual workload....whee! I feel free! Weight-wise, I juggled the same 1.8 pounds from my last fill (3 weeks ago) until this past weekend, when it finally started going DOWN. I'm not at the sweet spot yet, but getting close enough that I have to listen to my band much more carefully. Talk about a learning curve! I have not yet fully mastered it! Now I'll go back, read, and re-read so I can properly post ETA: Okay, here goes: Amy--Congratulations on your excellent loss so far! You are doing so, so well! Regarding fills, every time I’ve had a fill, the doctor has used fluoroscopy to assess restriction. For safety purposes, he won’t go beyond a certain level---but that level does provide restriction. The caveat is that it provides restriction right then and there; that means that, two days hence, I may not have it. Chances are, even being taken to the brink of sweet spot at Filling #1 will be ephemeral---you may enjoy restriction for a while, though. Especially since you still have enough to slime (congratulations! LOL) I think it’s kind of a misconception, though, that we have a great deal of input for the first fill. Certainly, we give feedback to the doctor about what we are feeling. But we can’t specify, “I’d like you to fill ‘er up,” or “Take it easy today, doc.” I would wager you’ll go in, and see a line of 100 syringes, all filled with exactly the same amount of saline. For my doctor, that’s 4 ccs. For the first fill, all patients get around that much---or a little less, depending on what fluoro shows. Denise-- I’m so impressed that your diabetes is being nipped in the bud! In terms of future health predictors, this is the biggest big deal I can think of! Congratulations! Your most recent illness sounds horrendous. I’m glad you’re finally on the road to recovery. What a lousy way to lose weight! You mentioned a baby sweater. Are you a knitter? (ETA: Okay, I just saw the frog hat, so I have the answer to that question---TOO CUTE!) I am aching to learn how to knit; I can do the very basics (cast on, knit, purl, cast off), but have never acquired the skills to actually make something. Would you say that the best way to learn is to take classes at a knitting shop? I wonder if there are any in this area---my aunt had one with marvelous, gorgeous, sumptuous wools. Hm. Maybe that will be my career in my dotage. Re: potassium and blood pressure--there’s a complicated cell action-potential explanation I’ll skip (unless you want it!). But potassium is critical to maintaining heart function and blood pressure. Christie--congrats on your great loss! Under 250---awesome!! I’m so sorry you’re sad about your brother’s impending deployment. It must be so hard for you. What is your brother’s name---I’d like to keep him in my prayers. Also, I am an excellent care-package maker---if you ever get the sense he needs a boost, let me know and I will send him goodies. My daughter’s lobster is deploying to Afghanistan soon, too. Abby is crushed and so, so scared. When he enlisted, his mother was beside herself. She’s very, very proud of him, but there is such ambivalence. Those men and women sacrifice so, so much for us. Bob--Are you tired of Farmville yet? Leigha-- Yes, I do think so. I think that the real, hard, using-your-whole-body physical labor can be a better workout than many gym regimens. My body agrees with me, this morning, too! Take your vitamins! They are not like processed food (whatever that means lol)! If they are good-quality bariatric vitamins, they are made to be readily used by the body. Green smoothies are fine, but they address only a portion of the micronutrients we need. (Track on Fitday.com for a while---you’ll be surprised to see what you’re missing out on, even with a good multi! I take my bariatric multi, cal-mag, biotin, selenium, pantothenic acid, CoQ-10, and vitamin D. Why? Because over time, I noticed that even with my multi, and upping veggies, etc, I was missing out on those nutrients. When you reorder protein, consider Bariatric Eating’s PURE unflavored protein. IMO, it “disappears” better than Unjury, and it’s less expensive, too J It’s a bit of both, myth and fact. In most people, the body does an exquisite job of maintaining blood sugar within very tight parameters. If you eat sugar--or foods easily broken down into sugars---the pancreas responds by producing insulin. Insulin “ushers” sugar molecules from the bloodstream into cells, where it is used for energy. In most people this is seamless, and blood sugar is brought back to within normal limits very rapidly. Some people experience reactive hypoglycemia, though. Instead of going back to “normal,” they crash. And that does, indeed set up cravings. For MOST of us, the craving that follows sugar or simple carb consumption is NOT physical---it’s just in our minds. We like the stuff. We miss it when we’re not eating it. Simple as that. Re: your fill decision. I’d hold off, if you think it might make you too tight. It may be a “free” fill, but I bet the Unfill won’t be free! I just moved out of the free-fill zone, too--thank goodness I only have a $30 copay--my doctor charges $250 with fluoro. Bobbie--I’m so sorry you’re on the rollercoaster. Job loss is so stressful; we’ve been there more than once, and it can be so hard to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I hope you get GOOD news very soon! In the meantime, I am so glad you’re making use of resources available to you. Re: calories. I do think their source matters, particularly when stomach space is finite. Right now, I concentrate on protein--because I’m still figuring out how much real estate I have in there, and it’s the most important for cell maintenance and repair. But when I reach goal, I plan to eat a balance of lean protein, veggies, heart-healthy fat, legumes, whole grains, and fruits (the latter two in more moderation than many people, based on my own peculiarities of metabolism). While there are as many opinions about the proper mix of macronutrients as there are people with opinions, I do think the general consensus is that the foods going in should be nutrient-dense rather than junky. (At least most of the time.) Anne--I’ll trade you beautiful New England for Illinois pollen and farm dust. (I live in an area that was, until recently, exurban. Out my front window is a farm; behind me (though not visible) is the usual Generica: Home Depots, Applebees, WalMart, etc. No wonder I have an identity crisis. Congratulations on your losses! You are going to be in SUCH a good place when you have surgery! Hummingbird--I am laughing so hard at your NSV. Hammered shit! That’s the best expression I’ve heard in a long, long time. I totally understand getting the warm fuzzies from other people’s deterioration in appearance. Count me in with the mean-spirited bunch, but there have been times when about all I’ve had going for me is the good genetics that keep me looking younger than many of my peers. (Of course, there IS the fear that it’s just that the fat is plumping out the wrinkles, and I, too, will look like hammered shit when all is said and done LOL! This is why I am already researching plastic surgeons.) Dottie--I think we’re in much the same place, fill-wise. I have days when I think I’m (almost) there, and days when I’m sure I’m not! I hope your fill tomorrow gets you where you need to go. Stacie--I’m so sorry you’re experiencing so much stress. It’s good you’re seeing your doctor on Thursday. I bet you’ll find that as your anxiety diminishes, so does your need to scale-hop as much. Compulsive stuff like that tends to be tied to anxiety… It will get better (((Hugs)))) Karen--it definitely sounds like you need a fill! And TWENTY pounds from goal--you must be ecstatic. Or frustrated, depending on the day! I wonder: I see that you’re very focused on restriction (as we all are!), but also referring to foods you “can” eat. Is it possible that you could substitute others, and reach your goal in a less-frustrating (and maybe more comfortable) manner? I mean, just ‘cause you can eat bread and pizza doesn’t mean you should. Don’t get me wrong--I think all of our lives have room for those foods. But if you’re really pushing to reach goal, maybe they should be reserved for further down the road? Just a thought---worth the paper it (wasn’t) written on! Jacki! OMG--LOOK at you! Awesome. Congratulations on your running! You must be SO proud of yourself! I am in the market for a new bike, too. Lee Anne--welcome! I’m glad you’re joining us! Whew! We're a prolific bunch! Have a great Monday, everyone!

Thank you for ALL the advice!!! Today was a MUCH better - I have been on soft food since Sunday as per my meal plan from my doc. Foods on my acceptable list are : eggs, chicken, baked fish, crab, melon, pear, banana, yogurt, steamed veggies. (I had to be on pureed foods for 3 days before that and "full" liquid for 3 before that - and clear liquid for three before that. I have been VERY blessed to have very few complications and only felt that I have had "too much" restriction once when I didnt chew well enough before I swollowed. I was feeling hungry because I have reactive hypoglicemia because of my p.c.o.s. -but today I took Betsy's advice - and toughened up!!! I moved my meal times back later in the day and stuck with a skim milk with sugar free carnation this afternoon and NO cheating!!! Yeah!!! One good day down and many more to come. (My morning weigh in was a huge wake up call - only lost 3 ounces since Sunday!!) THANK YOU SOOO much to my new lap band friends - this has been a HUGE help and encouragement and look forwaed to many more pounds lost together!!!:thumbup:

yorkshire;1447595]Has anyone been denied by UHC and did you appeal? My claim has been submitted but I'm afraid it will be denied because my BMI has not been over 35 for 5 yrs. - only 3 yrs. I do have several comorbidities (sleep apnea, arthritis, fibroids, back & knee pain, high blood pressure, high cholestral, hypo-thyroid, etc) Does anyone have any suggestions to help with an appeal?:thumbup:

Has anyone been denied by UHC and did you appeal? My claim has been submitted but I'm afraid it will be denied because my BMI has not been over 35 for 5 yrs. - only 3 yrs. I do have several comorbidities (sleep apnea, arthritis, fibroids, back & knee pain, high blood pressure, high cholestral, hypo-thyroid, etc) Does anyone have any suggestions to help with an appeal?:thumbup:

Dumping actually can cause a whole-body response that includes dizziness. It can be dreadful. That said, while some bandsters do experience diarrhea in response to sugar, they don't experience the same kind of dumping that people who've had gastric bypass do. If you're experiencing dizziness/lightheadedness in response to sugar, I'd ask the doctor to check for reactive hypoglycemia. It's a more likely culprit.

Boy am I glad that this thread was started, and I am thankful that I am not alone...I got into the dr tomorrow for my 3rd fill...I was banded 10/29 and have only lost 20 pounds...lately I feel hungry all of the time...did have my thyroid checked and found that I am hypo and started meds...hopefully with a new fill and thryoid meds, I will feel like exercising more...I am so tired some days that I could sleep from 4:00 in the afternoon until morning....I thought losing weight was to help with energy and instead I feel more emotionally tired and physically exhausted. Thanks everyone for posting, it gives me hope that I can start each day new.:thumbdown:

Hi There again. I'll let Betsy speak to the malabsorption amount in RNY. All I really know is, it is a fact that there is more in RNY than there is for LAP-BAND as we absorb everything we eat :smile2: You ask what I would do? I would keep pursuing a diagnosis, that is for certain. I'd also pursue the band. This is my opinion only, of course--I have no medical training. The reason I'd choose the band over the other WLS procedures is that you are unsure of your thyroid condition. I would not want to permanently disable parts of my digestive tract. RNY -is- reversible, just not as easily as is a band. Also, RNY affects some other hormones, not sure if I'd really want that if I were already having endocrine problems. My thinking is that if you do get a band, whey you are hypo, you'll not really lose weight, you might even gain. When hyper, the band will help you with portion control and you'll lose, probably pretty quickly. Especially if you work the band properly. This is based on my hyper phase experience. I was HUNGRY. So I ate. Question for you, are the surgeons willing to do the band with the thyroid issues going on? Have you tried Armour thyroid? I've read that some people do much better converting it than the synthetic variety. Best wishes in your decision!

Betsy its really interesting that you pointed that out I actually copied and pasted that from the hospital web site, lahey clinic but I am sure it was just mis-wording on the part of whoever typed it, I know lahey is very well respected world-wide and they were willing to do brain surgery on me that had never been done before and they have given be a second chance at living a normal life, so I would put my life, stomach, or whatever it may be in their hands any day. You are correct about that statement though, I do beleive it is worded wrong, but I also don't beleive the surgeon himself is sitting at the computer typing that lol. Cocoabean, ditto on that, same goes with rare side effects. But my pounding headaches/migranes have been almost absent after 2 weeks on it. Good to hear about the diabetes thing, since I am not diabetic either. I think I might be in that small population too, although I dont know what the heck is going on with my thryoid, my TSH and T4 levels have been wacko all over the place the past 2 years even though I am on synthroid. I seem to have hyper-hypo phases......I swear to god I have hashimotos but I have had my antibodies tested twice and they were neg....I also likely have a pituitary tumor that is causing some hormone dysfunction....but I just cant wait for them to come up with a diagnosis and just watch myself BLOW up to over 400lbs....that is why I really want the band....b/c I do believe they will eventually find something....and if they do...all of us will be happy that I chose the band....its a really tough descision...and I guess I hadnt mentioned it on here before b/c you guys might think it is a weird reason for seeking a band....but if they are willing to band me (which costs a lot more than running tests to dx me) I have to go along with it...... I dont know, what would you do...just sit and wait for an abnormal test while you battle with hungry every day and watch the scale continue to go up....or do something if you were offered it...???

I will pray for your family. My daughter and I have Hashimoto's. My daughter's goiter was very larger a few months ago and the endocrinologist increased her medicine. That disorder comes and goes.....hyper and hypo....so many doctors don't treat it. We take medication. I hope she gets the treatment she needs. Hypo or Hyper can really make you feel bad. Cheri, the info about muscle helping you burn calories came from DietandNutrition@EverydayHealth.com I thought you could just go there and get the information. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Lori, I wish I could go to Las Vegas with you! Have fun!