June 2006 Band Crew

[Leila 0]

Hey Junbies, I'm stressed and feeling down. I noticed last night as I was poking around at my shrinking tummy a hard spot, I felt around some more and could feel a large hard mass low in my pelvis area. I was worried and went to the ER this morning. The Dr. says I have a mass about the size of a football! That it is probably benign - fibroids. They will call me tommorow a.m. with a time to go get an ultrasound for a proper diagnosis. I was reading online and given how big the mass is, even if it is just fibroids, and how fast it has grown (it definitely wasn't there a few months ago!) I will probably have to get a hysterectomy. I'm bummed, and teary. Just needed a place that felt safe to vent my news and fears.

[Melissa Lea 1]

Lelia --

Sorry to hear about your uterine fibroid. I knew a lady I worked with at the hospital that had a 25 pound fibroid that they had to remove, via a hysterectomy. Let us know how things progress.

Your in my prayers.

Melissa Lea

[carol134 0]

So sorry to hear of your health issue I hope you will be fine and I'm sure you will...easy for me to say.

Anyway here is a big hope it helps... Keep us posted

[Poodles 0]

Lelia- You lucky woman!!! How sweet it will be to never buy a pad/tampon again! Look at the bright side girl... you can play all month, no worries about swimming or sex.

Heck if that football weights a lot... you will be down that ticker in no time!!!

Just be happy you found it early... and it is benign.

[barbara465 2]

So sorry to hear about the tumors. At least they have got it early. Its better than suffering. I'm sorry about the hysterectomy. I had a total one at 29. I did have one child before everything had to go. The upside has been mentioned and for me I was ready. Some women really suffer through this removal. You know, the "head" side. Take care. Keep us posted.

[socalgal3 4]

Leila- I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I hope it isn't as bad as it sounds. I'm sending positive thoughts your way.

Now, I need help. I got a fill last Monday and was on liquids for 3 days. I've been able to eat some things, but I PB nearly everything. Yes, I am chewing, taking small bites and eating healthy foods. It may be a TOM thing, but I'm not sure. How long does that generally last? Your entire TOM? Should I just stay on liquids? Am I swollen? If it is swelling, what are the suggestions to reduce swelling? I don't want to live on liquids, but I don't want to get an unfill if I just need to rest my body. Advice appreciated.

[Leila 0]

Thanks for the support everyone, I'll keep you posted.

socalgal3 - If it were me, I'd do two days liquids ONLY, then try a day of mushies, if that goes fine next day a day of soft foods, if that goes fine, then try regular solids again - If you start to PB again during any of that time, I'd go for an unfill asap - if you are overfilled and wait PBing all the time, you will do yourself damage, you increase chances of further complications down the road like slippage or erosion, and you won't lose weight overfilled - it's too easy to take in too many calories on liquids/mushies because they don't sit in the pouch, they don't let you feel full. There is no good reason to be overfilled, proceed cautiously, and if you continue to PB, unfill!!!!

[barbara465 2]

Ditto what Leilia said. Go slow and if you PB get an unfill ASAP. I am doing so much better after my unfill and don't feel hungry. Go figure!

[rroswelltx 1]

Leila, I had a hysterectomy because of a fibroid tumor 2 years ago. I had already had a child and wasn't planning on anymore so that wasn't an issue, but I have felt sooo much better since then. My back has hurt less, and I sure don't miss the TOM. I had my overies left in because at 36 I wasn't prepared for menapause ( and neither was my DH, LOL). I will be sending well wishes your way. You would be suprised of the aches pains and cramps that those tumors cause when they are in your body and you are probably like me just related it to being fat!!!! You will feel better afterwards. I'll keep you in my prayers. Let us know what happens.

[barbara465 2]

Good morning Junebies!

Haven't seen much posting going on in our group lately. That could be good or that could be bad. Hope everyone is doing well. Sounds like from prior posts that fills, unfills, and PBs are still consuming us. I can't begin to describe how much better I feel after the last unfill and the restriction I now enjoy. I can eat almost anything that I dare, but get full and stay full. I think this is what its supposed to feel like. I don't try things that I have been told not to eat so I don't push my boundaries. I had steak last night and it was delicious. I ate my alloted amount and felt full. Stayed that way the rest of the evening.

Let's hear from everyone. Some are going through some challenges. We are here for each other. How's the Christmas goals going? I have about 35 lbs to lose to meet mine.

[Barbara12375 0]

Ok guys. It's exactly 15 weeks till Christmas. Two pounds a week will mean thirty pounds gone for Christmas. Can we do? I sure intend to!

[Barbara12375 0]

Is anyone else noticing more discomfort when you bend over? It seems as I lose more weight, I am more aware of the band when I move. I definitely feel the port more than I did at first. Sometimes I feel a slight burning pain when I bend or when I lay on my side. Is it a normal thing? Is it just me? Should I be concerned?

[Melissa Lea 1]

Barbara12 --

I feel a few tingles and twinges from time to time. I figure things are just getting permanently set into place.

I go on vacation next week (yipppee!!) but I think I am going to schedule anohter fill ( my 3rd) for when I return. I think I have very little restriction. Last night I had a bite of my friends chopped steak. That you have to chew and chew but after a good minute I got tired and just swallowed the bolus (hunk) of food. I thought, Oh my goodness, this is gonna get stuck. It was HUGE!! Well, nothing!! I didn't even feel it go down. So I'm thinking I have very little restriction.

My appetite has been fine. I didn't lose any weight last week. But my trend has been lose a few pounds then nothing for 1 to 2 weeks. No biggie right. But, do you all think it's time for another fill???

Melissa Lea

[rroswelltx 1]

Barabara,

I have had some discomfort but not necessarily at my port but the area under my port scar (since my port is actually about 2in below that), I have a hard place under that scar and when I lay on it or on my side I sometimes have a burning sensation in it. The doctor told me it was normal just scar tissue and it would get less and less, in which I guess it is, but it is uncofortable at times. Is this what you are describing?

[barbara465 2]

Barbara 12 - Ofcourse we can. Let's lose 2 lbs for the next 15 weeks!!!! I'm with you on that one.

Melissa - Did you think maybe you were just lucky? Maybe it didn't go down, but is still floating around. Maybe it did go down. Not sure if you need a fill or not. Wait until you get back and decide. SOmetimes I think we are just more "open" then other times.

Have you noticed that you can eat more on weekends? I have noticed that I do differently on weekends. I wonder if its we're more relaxed and not so much into our "weekly" routine. I don't get in as much Water, but I tend to eat more at my meals. Although sometimes I don't get lunch in because we are out and about.

My husband just said something interesting. He says this sure has been an adventure and stressful. I laughed and said stressful on you? I didn't realize how others are effected by our decisions. Maybe we need to be kinder to our support.