I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where we could discuss the different challenges/issues we face as being single and banded.

I'll start with introducing myself. My name is Chris, I am 32 and live in a suburb of Boston. About a year ago I got out of a 5 year relationship and have just casually dated (online dating) since then. I have decided to take a break from dating for a bit, so I can focus on myself and adjust to living life as a bandster. (I was just banded on 10/2). One of my biggest concerns when I start dating again is if/when to tell that I am banded. It's not that I don't want to tell people, it's just that my idea of great dinner conversation does not include discussing my weight. Overall I would say that I have a great life. I have a good job, a very supportive family, and lots of friends. I am happy to be taking control over my weight and issues with food, and am excited at the prospect of my future as a not-so-fat woman.

I look forward to meeting more single bandsters and hope this thread takes off!

Chris :cocktail:

I had an ex that used to do that too. It's part of being a man, women like expressing themselves and men would rather let things go away on it's own (which they never will) I will have to say that my boyfriend is really good about expressing himself. If you didn't know any better, you would think he was a woman. I love that he can cry in front of me and want to work through disagreements. He's awesome and I'm so in love with him.

Why? did you meet someone?

YES! Yes, I did! :tongue2:

That's great news! I hope all of us on this singles thread finds the person of our dreams.

Missy, is your bf all better? What happened with his liver problem?

He's going to the liver specialist tomorrow morning to find out what exactly is wrong. He did discover some liver spots on his legs. Don't know exactly what that means but we'll see. Keep him in your prayers. Thank you.

I will be anxious to find out what is wrong. I have liver problems myself.

I took an anit depressant for years that was taken off the market because it causes liver failure.

Oh wow, sorry to hear that. What happened to your liver? Is it enlarged?

He went this morning, and all they did was more blood work and the doctor said he'd call him in the next 2 weeks after he looks at his ultrasound and blood samples. 2 weeks?

Well I have had two liver biopsies and they both came back that my liver is inflamed. I am supposed to have another one in 5-7 years and the last one was about 2 years ago. If it hasn't progressed past inflamed to

liver disease, he feels I'll be able to live with it. I prefer to forget about it, but it would be nice to know if I am going to get liver cancer.

Hope your bf 's tests come back good. Tell your bf to take milk thistle.

Get good stuff from the health food store not from like Walmart. My

liver dr. swears this stuff really heals the liver. I take it twice a day.

No offence meant, Denise, but "my liver is inflamed" + "I take [milk thistle] twice a day" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement :eek:. Just saying, is all... :eek:

No offence meant, Denise, but "my liver is inflamed" + "I take [milk thistle] twice a day" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement :eek:. Just saying, is all... :eek:

Fanny Adams - Not trying to butt in but...from what I understood about what Denise meant by her response was that she had an "inflammed liver", (2 years ago) and then started taking the "milk thistle" after she found out about it and hasn't had a test since then?!? So it could very well be working now. Am I right Denise?

Missy - You and your BF are continuing to be in my prayers. I pray for his health and for your strength to be there for him through this time in his life.

Denise - I will add you and your BF to my prayers; for him to learn to communicate better during the rough patches and for you to continue to grow together!

Chrispy - I am still praying for you and your BF that things continue to go well for you two.

And for all on here that you continue to have success with the band and in your love lives!

On another note.....

I hope I find someone soon like the rest of you. By the way still proud of myself, I have been continuing to keep up on my exercise regularly!!! I exercise at least 5 days a week, try for 6, and sometimes I do 2 - 60 minute classes once a week. I have lost 23 lbs in the last 6 weeks which is great for me. Now I am only 2 pounds away from hitting my 100 lbs lost mark which is a great milestone as well.

Take care everyone!

Edited October 23, 200817 yr by smilin_apple
Spelling error

Thank you so much Denise and Apple for your prayers and for being here for me on this board. It means a lot to me. Best of luck to all of you and I will definately let him know about the milk thistle. Is it a pill or liquid form? And do you find it with the vitamins?

It's a capsule. You find it with the vitamins and supplements. My liver dr. feels that if I wasn't taking it, my inflamed liver would have gone to cirrhosis of the liver. He felt that the fact that I had two liver biopsies and that there was no change between the two and that my liver has not gotten worse, means that the milk thistle is keeping it from progressing to cirrhosis. That's why he wanted to wait to repeat the biopsy for at least 5 years this time. If there is still no change, he feels I won't get cirrhosis.

This is what it says on the bottle " targeted support to promote healthy liver function"

Way to go April. 23 lbs is fabulous for 6 weeks! It's so great when we get the exercise habit and it's no longer a chore, but rather just something that we do as a regular routine.

I could use some prayers right now...

I am having a hard time figuring out if I need to have a little bit of an unfill or not. I had my last fill on Sept 1st and am due to see my surgeon for my 1 year follow up on November 13th. I am getting in my daily intake of needed calories but not always with the best foods because it feels like when my stoma is too tight food gets stuck and I end up throwing up probably 1 or 2 times a week.

This past Friday I went out of town with some ladies from my church to Tahoe at one of their cabins and had a wonderful RELAXING weekend. About 95% of my meals I never got anything stuck, I ate the right amounts, and when something did get stuck it only took about 10 minutes to clear itself unlike when I am home and it takes sometimes almost 45 minutes to clear or I end up having to throw up.

The minute I get and back into my routine it starts back up again and I threw up again last night. I don't know if there is something I can do to relax better at home so my stoma isn't so tight or what. I would hate to get an unfil and start eating bad again like the last time I had just a little bit taken out.

Well enough rambling on and on, I would appreciate any advice some of you more seasoned bandsters might have as well as your prayers.

Thank you,

What are you eating? Are you sure that you are taking tiny bites? When we say tiny, we mean the size of a pencil eraser. Chew it up until it's liquid in your mouth. Then you need to wait to see if it feels like it's going down. If you do that, and it gets stuck, then you probably do need a little bit taken out.

There are certain foods that give a lot of people trouble. Let me know which foods you seem to get stuck on. I am glad to help if I can.

Chicken, Shredded Beef, Pasta, Salad, even in the mornings when I am really tight if I drink milk I can feel it gurggling down slowly. But that is not every day. I would say I take really small bites but I know there are days when I don't. Especially if I get carried away and dont pay attention. For example last night I tried to eat some bites of the meat from the center of a burrito and it was stuck so long I had to throw up. I am sure I can do better on the bites I will try, I think i just forget sometimes and get a little carried away. [/b]

Also last week I had two days of Acid reflux which scared me because they told me if I start getting that all the time then that could be a sign as well of needing some fluid out. I am so glad that is gone now though. Do you eat off of regular silverware? I heard of some people who change the size of the utensils they used to eat with.? Have you heard of this before?

yeah, I have heard of people using baby spoons and stuff. I don't do that. I try to just eat slowly and take very small bites. If the meat is dry, I keep chewing until basically there is nothing left to chew.

I have been having some problems with acid reflux as well. I see my dr. next week.

Do you think when you ate the meat out of the burrito that you chewed it up very well?