Dontondan

I had a really tough evening last night. My puppy "Arabella" ate a huge rock last evening and we had to run her to the ER to see if they could get it out. Well she didn't vomit it up and was in surgery early this morning to remove the "boulder" that she ate. They did retrieve it and it is about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and very rough and jagged. Good thing we go outside with her to potty her or we wouldn't have known and it would have delayed the inevitable surgery and she could have died! Well she is recuperating now and is expected to make a full recovery, but out bank account is in serious trouble now......$3000! I couldn't have her suffer at all as I was very leary about even getting another puppy after losing my 2 Goldens a year ago last spring, one from Cancer and the other from old age. At least she is okay now. I got so upset and was so "hungry" and wanted to eat anything and everything.....I have such a difficult evening but I persevered and just had a slim-a-bear ice cream bar and it was sooo good (I wanted to demolish the box, but only had one). Without my band it would have been much worse....I probably wouldn't even have made it home without going through a drive through or two! Also I got some money back from my insurance from my surgery that I had put in the bank for an emergency. My band is definitely a blessing in disguise. Donna http://a691.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/image...641c65e4cc1587a

I am curious to see if she has any takers!!!

The band is not a Magic Bullet and without all the rules for "band use" it would not work. You have to be committed to following the instructions or else it will be a failure. I still have a tough time in the evening times where I want to eat and eat...not out of hunger, but more from habit and for emotional reasons. These are times I have to be extra careful and come here to read the posts or keep my mind, hands and mouth occupied so that I don't eat around the band. There isn't a day that goes by when it isn't a struggle, but I have committed to the band and changing my lifestyle. Even when I regress and go back to old habits, I quickly get back on the band-wagon!

Don't beat yourself up over having some yogurt....Liquid Immodium would work like a charm. Everything should settle down soon. Hang in there.

Congratulations! Glad that all that worry was for nothing. I did have a problem with my IV, but am glad it went well for you. When they missed my vein I panicked and the anesthesiologist (can't remember his name, but he was soooo kind) came in and held me and calmed me down until they finally got my IV in. That was the ONLY glitch in my surgery and if I had to do it all over again I would say "Hell Yeah!"

Vix, I think that you have a good support system here....you will need all the support you need. I too have a penny pinching husband, but mine wants me to be happy and healthy more....I thank God every day for this. It is a change that is life altering and maybe he is also insecure to have you look better than he does and be happy. My thoughts and prayers will be with you during this tough time, stay strong. Donna

Way to go! Pretty soon you will need a belt to hold them jeans up! I had to go a few weeks ago to buy my first belt! Never could wear one before.

Congratulations Amber!!! I was so happy to see this news. I am getting excited as I am about 7 pounds from one-derland......I haven't been there for about 25 years or more! I think it is now realistic to think about getting to that number. Must feel really good to be you today! Happy Dance!!!

You are doing great! Your face has slimmed down, your butt has lost a lot and your tummy is starting to go down. It has only been since Feb. My goal is to be thin by the time I am 50 too....I only have until January! I vowed that I didn't want to be the 3 F's, female, fat and fifty......the only thing that I can change is the fat part! Keep plugging away and it will come off. I wish that I was brave enough to do before pictures. I still don't like to be in the camera...it adds too many pounds and I think "do I really look that fat?" Hopefully that will change in time.

Another suggestion would be to get your mother a third party payee, which would be responsible for taking care of her bills, money, etc. It would take it totally out of your sister's hands and there would be a full accounting of where the money was going. Also there is lots of help through the drug manufacturers to help out those in need to get the medications that are necessary but expensive. Her Dr. can help with that. Just hang in there and don't feel guilty about what you have done to improve your life. Your sister is just bitter. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to get healthy.

It is pretty much trial and error to see what will agree with you or not. Just take it easy and follow the rules and you can eat pretty normally. Small bites, chew like crazy, take your time. I usually have to start with coffee...hot, because my band is very tight in the morning and won't take food at first. You may not have any restriction at all at first, so people do. Everyone is different. So enjoy your new lifestyle and practice what Dr. Miranda recommends and you will be fine.

I don't think I fart any more than I used to, but I do PB or slime pretty often, but it is usually from "pushing the limits" by taking too large a bite or eating too fast or the wrong things....I would rather be the way I am now than the way I was. I was miserable being fat and I am slowly coming out of my shell now. I never used to belch, but I do that now more than before, but they aren't the huge loud things, just little "Hiccups", usually from trying to hurry through a meal. I just can't do that now. The only other thing that I have noticed that can be a potential problem is Constipation. I have to take a metamucil capsule every day to keep regular and when I get backed up things get a little gassy. LOL!

I have a huge needle phobia and I have had 3 fills so far. It doesn't get any easier for me, but I let whoever does it know that I am afraid of the needles and they don't let me see it at all. I close my eyes tight and do breathing exercises and I do fine. It doesn't really hurt at all, but just the thought of the needle scares the C--P out of me. When I had the flouro done at OCC I came close to passing out because I had to sit up for the flouro and the needle sticking out of my tummy at the time really freaked me out and I had a panic attack and got dizzy, etc. I have had 2 blind fills since (with no flouro) and I do fine with that cause I am lying down and can't see anything. They also numb it for me prior to the stick so if it takes more than once I won't feel anything. Good Luck!

Hanna, Congratulations Grandma! Fun, isn't it?

Alana, You handled the situaltion very well, I personally would have "gone off" on her sorry butt!

Oh Will........Only you could come up with that one!!!! :sarcastic_hand:

I have had 3 fills now and when I eat a meal I am usually eating around 3-4 bites (regular sized) but it takes me many more bites (very small) and it takes me a long, long time to eat it. I take additional protein (vanilla flavored powder) in my morning coffee (I have to have something hot to start the day and loosen my band). The scale hasn't moved much since my fill, but I know it will soon. Because it takes me so long to eat, it feels like I am eating much more than I used to. I have to choose wisely what I consume as I feel full most of the day, but feel hungry in the evening. I also take vitamins and a metamucil capsule so I don't get "stuck".

We have a store here called Super Supplements and they have these Protein Bombs for about $3-$5 depending on the flavor and the amount of protein in them.

Shannon, Happy Bandaversary!!! Always great to hear success stories about Happy Bandsters. You did great with that much in your first year, I hope I can do the same. You are my role model!!!

I had the same thing happen to me, but it was in Victoria's Secret. I now shop for my unmentionables there and they fit!!!

Wow, what a difference! I was banded about 10 days after you were. Never a doubt that it was the right thing to do. Your little girl is adorable and you will be around for a long, long time with her. You look great, keep it up!

I would have to say that I am much more confident than I was and I started wearing makeup again.....hadn't done that except on special occasions for many years. I think people take me more seriously than they used to.

Just let them know about the Diabetes and they will monitor you while you are at the OCC. They came in several times to check my sugars and also gave me a shot of insulin at one point (I was pretty loopy at the time, but remember this). Since the surgery my diabetes is pretty much gone and they are talking about taking me off of my Metformin soon. So the lapband can help you control your diabetes! Yipee! Good Luck!

Never noticed a difference with the hummus.....will have to pay more attention next time.

I need to go out and get me some of these!!!!!!