stormy

Are you talking about the plastic inserts that they make for rings. I never thought about that. I dont think it looks as nice. I need to really get to the reality that I am not going back to being that fat. but you guys are right, I better not take the chance of losing a ring. I will talk to the dr at next fill about what is expected in weight loss on next fill and then put some of them away. My husband would kill me if I lost a $4,000 ring. That one I will get sized. Its amazing that fingers go first. I wonder if my toes will get smaller too HA!

Ok here is the deal. I wear rings on almost all my fingers. Of course my most important one is my wedding ring. But I like to wear the others as well. What I have noticed is now they are all loose. Some will spin and drive me crazy because I have to constantly turn them correct. I was wondering did people go and get their rings sized right away or did they just quit wearing them until they were sure the weight was gone. I know that there are some times that I will be swollen, because of that time of month but I wonder if I should be sizing them over and over as I lose or just stop wearing them all except the wedding ring, until I hit my sweet spot. What did you guys do? I have been moving them around from finger to finger, but the wedding right is staying right where it belongs. HA! Just wondering if you had any ideas?

Yes, I have a 4cc too, I have only had three fills and I dont have much in my band. I have had one little unfill and I think that has me a bit nervous to go in again. I was tight and had a hard time getting phelm down, I think I may have allergies. Not sure but it would get caught in my throat and would not go down. Didnt like that at all. I may try clariton and see if that helps. Otherwise I could use another fill for sure. I think hubby needs one too. Can't wait to see updated photo..

I loved your video, you look amazing. Thanks for sharing it is very uplifting. I look forward to losing more. Keep up the good work!!

I dont update much about hubbys progress, he is kinda shy but I am very proud of him. He helps me move along. So I thought I would share his progress. He is down 55 pounds. I am very proud of him.

WOW you look incredible-- Yowser. how big is your band. That is wonderful that you have lost so much. WOW great job!!

I appreciate all the positive responses I have received, thank you everyone. For those of you that are new and had your first experience at this, I can tell you that after it happened to me, I went back on liquids for 48 hours. Usually I think it is about 24 but I wanted to be sure it was ok because it was really stuck in there. So after 48 hours, I started back with soft food and went back to eating slowing to the foods I had been eating. I have had no problems since. In fact, I talked with the dr and she said it may be ok now to get my next fill. I was a very good learning experience. I have lost another 5 pounds and feel great. I think the hard part is our body tends, when you are chewing to chew and then swallow, at least for me, it is like retraining the body to wait, chew chew chew. My body wants to chew and then swollow without even thinking that I did not chew it enough. I am working on retraining. It means that every bite, I need to really think about what I am doing. I went to lunch with some friends and they were just talking away while they were eating and you could see that they were not even thinking about the way they eat. Not me, I was really thinking about it. When we were done, one of my friends said, you didnt eat so much today, you ok? I said. I dont need to eat alot anymore. I am full and feel really good thanks. It feels good. I am happy to say that our hardwood floors are done so the pole is back up. I expect to lose another 5 pounds just getting back on that puppy! YA HOOO!!. Anyway. Keep up the good work everyone and for all newbies, Think when you bite!! I should get a shirt that says " Did you really CHEW that hamburger" HA!

I pay $177.00 on one loan and $236.00 on another loan but I got both mine and my husbands band done at same time. I think I am at 19%. I hate paying that but it was worth it. We have saved a lot in the long run, less food to buy. HA!

This may sound crazy but I was searching the internet because I need a vacation BIG TIME and I found this site. http://www.alumnicruises.org/Autism/Autism_Home.htm. It is a vacation cruise line for kids with autism to go on cruises. Looks like they have families with other disabilites also. I cant believe it. They even have a forum just like this one. I joined immediately to ask questions. Could it really be possible. I would have to save up but who cares. They even take payments!!! Never have a seen such a thing. I just thought I should share in case any of you have autism kids like me. WOW

since I was off only one day for the surgery, that would not have been necessary. Are you talking about SSI or short term disability? I know you wouldnt be eligible for SSI but state disabiltiy, short term, if you have it through your work like I do, you would need to be off a whole month before it would kick in. At least that is the policy under our short term disability. If you have it, I would check the policy of yours but I was back to work on Monday after having my surgery on Friday. It was not necessary to be off long.

I saw nothing wrong with my post. I think people need to be aware of how much it can hurt to get something stuck. Yes, I admitted that I did not chew it enough. Bad habits are hard to change. I have lived my life always in a hurry, thinking that I need to eat fast. Mostly because I have one hour for lunch and it took me 15 minutes to get home and 15 minutes to get back, so I rushed. There is no reason to not let the newbies know that this can happen. I wrote it for support and for people to know this is serious business. I had never had anything stuck like this. I have worked hard to not have that happen and it was any eye opening experience. I thought that is what this site is for, to share our experience and to ask questions. Lisalaw, I wil answer you questions What was the point of a blow by blow? To share how the experience affected me. Have you not been stuck before? No, not like this ever! why would you eat something that would put you in this position? Why would I eat? Is that what you asked? I did not eat anything unusual. You say that you know I have had issues in the past with not having enough of a fill and have struggled with getting on the right track. I'm not sure you even know me. Yes I am concerned about my fill but I have kept on track very well. I exercise and eat exactly the way I was told to do. I did however have this experience by not chewing correctly. I wonder why you would take this approach and ask me why I would post my experience on here, making experienced people shake their head why would they do that? I consider myself to be what you call experienced, since I have had my band now over a year and as far a newbies, they are here to learn and get the facts, just as I was. I wanted to know all the facts. Not the pretty stuff.

I knew I chewed, at least I thought I did. Then suddenly a weight on my chest. The feeling of wanting to vomit. Burping, foaming, spit coming out the sides of my mouth. Oh my God this is horrible. I could swear I chewed it enough. I got out a cup. Maybe I would burp it out. No, gagging, burping, foaming. Now I feel like I am going into anxiety attach. Oh my stomach just made a noise. I think diarreria is coming because I am freaking out. More weight on chest. I cant take it. I stuck my finger down my throat. A big lump of something came out. Still the weight on my chest. Still the burping with the foam. Now a hiccup and a burp. Oh my, I dont feel well. Now the sweating, very nervous. I stuck my finger down my throat again, Another lump of something comes out. ohhh, yuck. Still the weight on my chest but not so bad now. But still feel like I am going to poo my pants. Now I have the chills. The pain is going down. Dont feel well at all. Tired. I think I will lay down. May have to throw up again. I dont want this to happen ever again. This is horrible!!! Still burping with foam. I think I am better now. UG- Watch out, let this be a warning to everyone. HORRIBLE!!!

So when hubby and I want to get the band checked over, how do we do it. Do we just call OCC? Do they reserve the room for you like they did before? And then you just get the airline tickets? I found tickets for about $250.00 per person, so I am going to save up so we can go back. Anyone know how this all works? Has anyone gone back to get checked out? How much was the room cost? I am not sure about weather but if we go down, I am hoping we can go on a Friday and come back Saturday night, maybe Sunday and hopefully weather would be good. Maybe go in November or something. Anyone got any thoughts?

My husband and I had the same experience. I had never had a dr come in and talk, just shoot the breeze before. He was pretty neat!! I felt so comfortable. The experience was great. We dont regret any of it. We had a very good time and look forward to going back for a check up.

that is so cute, I need to find mine, my stomach was huge but I was very thin because I was sick the whole pregnany. BARF, it was terrible. I dont think I want to do that again. UG!

It has been on year today that hubby and I got banded. We are celebrating tonight with a small bowl of chilli and our favorite drink, sobe's haha. It has been a hard road. Both of us feel like we should have come further than what we are but at least we have some loss. I was hoping to be at least 50 pounds down. I was almost there. I think we are both due for a fill. I have been nervous about getting one because there are times I feel very tight, like in the mornings. Plus I had to get a small unfill because I could not get my phelgm to go down. I dont like that feeling. I had to take my pole down because we are putting in new floors so I couldnt even dance for the last week and it is driving me crazy. I need my exercise. I can't wait to get it back up. I think I will get on my wii to get some skiing done or maybe some bowling. Anyhow, I wanted to check in and say it has been a good year. I dont regret doing this. I just wish I would have lost more weight then this. Maybe this year will be better. I did go to lunch with the girls at work and they commented about the fact that I dont eat much, as they stuffed their faces. I kinda liked that. I have been very impressed with how the band has held up so far. I have been worried about slippage and band errosion but so far, I feel good. I think I will save up to get it check under the xray again, I just need that reassurance. Anyway, have a good weekend everyone!! I LOVE MY BAND!!

My husband had the surgery with me on Sept 19th of last year. He is very happy he did it. I can ask him to respond to you if you would like. I need to create him a log on. He doesnt get on these type of things. But he has lost 65 pounds and looks great. Men do better than woman from what I understand. He is losing much faster than me.

I got two loans actually. One is through Citizens Finance and the other is through Bay Finance. There is 6 months no interest. My time with that is up, so here comes the interest charges. UG! But it is worth it to me for my health. My goal is to get them refinanced to get them fee lower, so far I have not been able to do that because I owe so much on other debt. Banks are very tight right now. If they begin to losen up, I should be able to. There are many finance companies and if you could do the no interest and get it paid off, then it is a much better deal.

Sept 19th will be my one year anniversary. It was the best decision I have made. Congrats on making this choice for your health. Let the Journey begin.

I am right there with you. I have no restriction. I have gained about 4 pounds back. So far this week I am holding steady the same weight but I can eat whatever I want. I bet if I had to measure it, it is about 3 cups of food. Maybe 3. I have had 3 fills, so it makes no sense that I can eat this much. I am not happy about it. I know that I have lost because my rings are loose but I am not sure exactly what is going on. In the morning I seem tight because I have phelm that seems to get stuck and I can't eat much at breakfast. But by afternoon, that is where I get the 3 cups of food in. I may need a fill, I am very nervous about it. I am afraid of going back into that old pattern. I know it dont seem like it but I bet you are eating less. I know that I am. Maybe we should just check into getting another fill. Have you had flouro on all your fills? I wish there was somewhere close that I could do that, I wonder what it looks like in there?

I had a breast reduction in 1997. I was a FFF, they were very big and the dr said very hard. Which made them even more heavy. I was only about 170 then so you could tell they were too big. The surgery went well. I hated the drain tubes, when they pulled them out, I thought I would die. It took me about 2 months to heal. I am a slow healer. I had mine done at kaiser and I have a lot of scares. I should have had someone else do it. I hope to have the scares removed. I am very light skinned so you can see where it was done. I have gained weight so now I am a DD but when I first had it done, they looked real nice, they were purkey. I hope to get a breast lift once I lose all the weight. I dont regret getting it done. It was a good decision. I just wish they were looking better. Did you get your band taken out? I thought I read that you did.

OMG is right!!! The things that people will do. There is no way somebody is touching my brain. I can't believe someone could do that. Are they crazy? I dont think the band is that extreme, at least it can be taken out. You mess with someones head and that is it! TOAST! What did Oprah think about this? I feel bad that people feel like they need to go to that extreme. There are so many other things to try first. That is why I tried this. People need to really be careful. I am glad I didnt see that, I would be calling in or something - YUCK!!

I cant wait to get where I can tuck my shirts in. Good job!!! Keep it up!!

I can't help it. The pole just stares at me. I am frustrated that I am not losing anymore. May need a fill, but at least I can still have fun. Now I am just getting crazy with it. I signed up for a tester class to see if I will like new company that came into town. If I like them, I will do classes there. They are called Primal Beginnings. They take larger women. Maybe I will fit in better there. Who knows. You wont believe it, the co-worker who wanted to get me in trouble wants to go with me, HA! We will see if she has the nerve to do it. I cant stand it, I have to swing on my pole, HA! Did I show you my son. He is so cute.

I wish I would have known about his daughter, we could have had a much different conversation as my son was diagnosed at the same age. It is wonderful that he donates to the childrens hospital. I am glad his child is doing well. My son is doing good also. I look forward to talking to him next time I go down. I had my surgery on Sept 19th of last year and so far have lost almost 46 pounds. It goes up and down. He was right that it is not an easy road. I got under 200 and have gained back almost 6 pounds. I think I need another fill. Getting in control of why we eat is the hard part. My mind tells me I am hungry but my stomach really is not. I think the weird part is I can hear my bottom stomach growl but yet i am not hungry uptop. Probebly does not make sense but I need to figure out why it does that. The whole experience down there was a good one and each day is a learning experience as well. I am glad I got it done. I welcome you aboard this new adventure. It really was a good decision at least for me. My husband got banded the same day and me. He looks great as well.