Smiley

Part of the reason I chose to have the band was because I wanted to live a normal life. I didn't want to have to count calories and measure things forever. If I had been okay doing those things I would have done just fine on WW and kept the weight off. I ate a little bit of everything that I wanted to eat on Thanksgiving including the rolls, noodles and stuffing. I just had to make sure that I paid attention to how well I chewed and that when my band said I was done that I was done - I never got that feeling which was fine because I pretty much cleaned my plate and didn't go back. Actually, the turkey was left on my plate because by the time I had eaten everything else it was cold and since I had already had some ham I just didn't worry about it. I did eat all of my slider foods first, but I have never been one to follow the proper order of protein first. I figure as long as I put no more than a cup of food on my plate at a time I can eat it in whatever order I want and if something happens to get stuck then that is my sign to stop eating everything. The good news is that one day will not kill us as long as we do not allow it to totally get us off track. As I said earlier, I want to live a normal life and by golly I do, just with smaller portions of it.

Wow! Congrats on reaching your goal. A size 5 can never be in my future because I would look sick but kuddos to you for getting there. Something tells me Santa may be bringing you some clothes for Christmas!

Not sure about the FSA, but if your medical bills exceed 7.5% of your income you can claim the amount over 7.5% on your taxes. I did it last year and got an extra $4,000 or so back.

I was kind of scared because of the attention factor as well. Not only had attention like this never been paid to me before, but I was scared to have it given to me for a couple of reasons. In the last month I have decided to step out of my box and just go with it. I must say, I had a very unexpected ending to a day at the library on Thursday and I am grateful that I decided to step out my box and go for it. Two months ago, I would have had the guy run off before he could have ever thought to borrow paper from me, much less ask me out for coffee. And now we have spent over 6 hours together in one day, I have relocated his hand a couple of times and we have each others phone numbers with the intent to talk and possibly see each other later this week because in the end I believe he really is a nice guy and wants to respect my wishes, even if I have to remind him of them periodically. Hindsight being 20/20, I am proud of myself for not running when he said I was beautiful and he was attracted to me and I am proud of him that he didn't run when he found out I was 3-4 years older than him. At this point he does not know about the band, the weightloss, or my plastic surgery and I am not sure when or how he will find out. Counseling is a good option as I have been there myself about 8 years ago. When you are ready, for less expensive options, you might check with local churches or universities with master's level counseling programs. Churches often will accept a donation or have a sliding scale fee if they even charge at all. Universities have a practicuum program and need clients for their students. All of this is done under the supervision of the professor's who are licensed counselors. I know this because I was once working on my master's in counseling. When I say I have been there myself, it was not only as a counselor, but also as a counselee. Shelby - I still look in the mirror almost every morning to make sure I look like I did when I went to bed the night before and while doing it I feel for my port to make sure it is there. So far so good!

I did not wear anything for my surgery. The thing to remember is that they cover up pretty much everything except the actual area that is being operated on, so more than like you will be covered before the surgeon gets in there anyway. I had plastic surgery earlier this year and there is nothing more humbling than standing completely naked in front of your surgeon with your arms out to your sides while he is drawing on you with magic markers. After that experience and having him see me naked in a professional manner every visit I have had with him since, I have taken on the attitude that if you are in any way associated with the medical community and you would like to see something just let me know what it is and I'll show it. Heck, he even walked in the other day while I was still undressing and I just didn't care, nor did he. We just struck up a conversation and I just kept peeling off the layers. When it comes to doctors I have lost my modesty and embarrassment as there is absolutely nothing sexual about the experience for me or them.

So, I escaped from the library for a couple of hours today in search of new jammies for a PJ party Friday night. In the end I found no jammies but ended up with 3 sets of earrings, 6 turtle necks and pair of khaki's. All clothing items were basic needed purchases, but not really planned for. Anyway, I bought the Medium tops without even trying them on but wasn't so brave in regards to the pants. I tried on the size 10's as that is what I have been buying lately. The were kind of long in the crotch (this might be what they call the rise, but I'm not sure) as some of my other 10's are. So, for grins I decided to try on the 8's. Oh heavenly day the 8's fit. I realize this may be a one time only thing, but it did feel kind of good to be able to wear a size 8 even though being an 8 is so not my goal. I am now wondering if the other pants I have that are kind of long in the same place would have fit me better if they were an 8. Something tells me I may take another study break tomorrow and head to the mall to try and prove my new theory about the pants and to look for some cute/modest jammies. Sometimes I feel like I should join a 12 step program for shopaholics, but hopefully after I get my wardrobe restocked for all of the seasons I will stop spending money on new clothes each month.

Are you 100% sure you are not too tight? After reading this post and another one of your posts I seriously think you are. There is no way you should be limited to soups and soft foods at this point in the game if everything is as it should be. I think most doctors would tell you that you need to be eating solid foods as solids will make you feel full sooner and keep you full longer. I also noticed that you had your surgery 14 weeks ago and have not lost anything yet. Not losing weight and limiting yourself to soft foods is often a sign that you are too tight. They also often mean that your body is not getting enough protein or nutrients to survive in a healthy manner, therefore it holds onto everything it does get by going into a starvation mode and it will not allow you to lose. Please please please contact your doctor and let them know what it going on.

Don't forget that pounds are not the only way to measure results. Have you noticed that you are losing inches?

Three bites per meal is definitely not enough to get the proper nutrition you need. You should be eating 3/4 to a cup of food per meal. I think you should make an appointment with your doctor and have a barium swallow done. They can tell by how quickly or slowly the barium is going thru your band if you are too tight or not.

My hairdresser suggested I take Biotin. I took it until I ran out and just have not bothered to buy anymore in addition to the fact that I am taking enough pills right now. You can get Biotin at most any pharmacy or even Wal-Mart. My hair has finally stopped falling out so of course I am planning my next surgery which will be a catalyst for more hair loss. For me it is the anesthesia that causes the hair loss.

I am like both of you in that I can eat any and all breads, rice and pasta. I did well in losing my weight, but never really felt like I had good restriction, partially because I could eat anything I wanted. I had a fill last Tuesday and I finally have the elusive restriction that so many people talk about. I still can eat anything I want, but I simply don't get hungry anymore. I leave home around 6:30 most mornings and drink 16 ounces of milk between then and 7:30. I used to get hungry by that time and was more than ready to eat at 8. The last three days that I have been on solids I have not felt hungry for breakfast. Sunday I had four saltines and a piece of cheese just because if I didn't I was afraid the donuts in Sunday School would be calling my name. Yesterday and today it has been almost 9:30 before I remember to actually eat my peanut butter sandwich. I ate lunch around 1:30 yesterday and today even though I wasn't hungry. No longer are my mealtimes ruled by my hungry tummy, they are now ruled by the clock when I look at it and realize it is way past a mealtime. I love the fact that I now have the ability to forget to eat. As for your drinking water - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BE CAREFUL! The PA that does my fills had a couple of people this summer stretch out their pouch because they were drinking too fast. I do not chug or even come close to chugging my water. What I do is take a mouthful of liquid and then swallow it in about three swallows. I have become so accustomed to doing this over the past 20 months that I have started noticing that I cannot even swallow a pill without swallowing a portion of the liquid in my mouth and then going ahead and swallowing the rest of the liquid and the pill. If you are able to feel the liquid in your pouch then I think you should probably slow down on how fast you drink. It is more physically and financially cost effective to change your drinking habits than it is to dilate your pouch and esophogaus.

Mine is coming out in January or February. Luckily I do not have any gallstones or attacks so I have been allowed to keep it for the past year. Back in January it was only functioning at 2% and by now it is probably completely dead. Now is the time because not only does it need to come out but I also need to have a cyst taken out of my neck before it does nerve damage and I am going to have my port moved. My port is just under my skin right by my belly button. I am so scared I am going to hit it somehow and there is absolutely no progection. He is going to move it up to where it will sit just at the end of my sternum. I am hoping he will be able to bury it a little bit because from my poking around it feels like there is some extra padding there. Not sure if he will also replace it with a low profile port or not. I am going back to the same surgery center where I had my band placed, but it will be a different doctor. The good news is that insurance will pay for the gallbladder and cyst so I only have to pay the portion of surgeon fees for the port relocation. Even though the surgery center will be out of network the office staff said they would give me in network benefits because that is where I had my band placed and they all know me. Heck, I even talked to the surgeon about his new deer stand when I saw him last week. This was not a part of my visit with him, it was just part of the conversation he, the nurse, the PA and I had when we were visiting and catching up in the hallway after my official appointment. You will do fine with the surgery and since you are having attacks you will be super relieved and feel so much better once it is out.

I am not a physician nor do I play one on tv, but I don't think your band has slipped. It is my understanding that when a band slips the ability to eat solid foods is out of the question and from what you have said you are able to eat solids. As for the pain at the port site, I have absolutely no idea, but hopefully it is something that can be easily treated. Your flight will be fine tomorrow and I am sure that your appointment will give you peace of mind and help you figure out the pain issue. Please keep us updated when you can. Andrea

You are on the right track in regards to the counseling. However, don't just "try" it, you have to actively participate in it. I say this not only because of my marriage and family counseling background but also because I have been in individual counseling myself many years ago. The best case scenario is for both of you to go together. However, even if he won't go with you, you need to go for yourself. It is my understanding that you have not been banded yet and any issues you have that could potentially hold you back from being successful with the band need to be addressed before being banded if possible as opposed to after the band. Please keep us updated as we are all here for you. Andrea

I will probably be having mine out in early January, but it isn't because I have any gallstones. My gallbladder just stopped working, presumably due to my large weight loss. If I had had gallstones I would have had to of had it out last January when we discovered it wasn't working. I'm only having it out now because I have to get a cyst off the back of my neck and I want to get my port moved, so I decided to have all 3 done on the same day which will save me money when it comes to relocating he port.

Wow! I think I would at least ask for this in writing. I had a consult today to have my port moved to different location at the same time I have my gallbladder out. I think I'll call and ask how much the port repositioning will be before I actually schedule the surgery as the gallbladder should be covered by insurance. Sorry I don't have any other suggestions for you.

That's the attitude! My mom called me today and asked if I wanted to be spoiled a little bit - well duh! She said she had just bought me a bunch of winter clothes but she wasn't going to wait until Christmas to give them to me and she wasn't going to tell my sister-in-law that she bought them for me because they are extra Christmas expenses that the others didn't get spent on them. I can't wait to go home next weekend!

The speed of the barium going thru the band is how they determine if you have good restriction or not. If yours is emptying too slow you may have a little too much restriction, for which my doctor would have removed a little bit. If it is just that you think it is emptying too slow and are upset that you did not get a fill then you probably have a perfect amount of restriction for right now. Just continue to work the band and he weight will come off. Slow and steady wins the race!

I feel nauseous when I get dehydrated, so I understand how you feel and it is a vicious cycle.

In regards to looking in the mirror, that is part of the reason I chose to have my TT. When I looked in the mirror I just saw a smaller version of the old me with all of the same rolls and such. By having the TT I suddenly had a very different visual when I looked in the mirror. My staff look at a picture I have in my window and comment about how different I look. I am impatiently waiting for some friends to send me pictures so that I can make the comparison myself.

Measure out your cup of food and completely leave the kitchen if you have to focus on your chewing, small bites, and paying attention to your body. Hopefully you are not eating as much post band as you did pre band. If you are, please don't as you could stretch your pouch and or esophogaus which would negate the surgery you have just had.

I have slimed, but not from just drinking water. I am glad you were still at the office and able to get it taken care of quickly. Be careful the next couple of days. I also had a fill today and am kind of having clear liquids. It is egg drop soup that I made myself so the liquid is clear but I'm not sure the egg in it is legal, but boy am I enjoying it.

It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. If only I had had the opportunity to do it about 12 years earlier. Go for it!

I have two thoughts about the swollen esophagaus. I would say you have either stretched it my eating too much and/or drinking along with eating. My second thought is if he meant swelling as I usually think of swelling, maybe it is irritated and has developed some swelling because of that. If it is my first thought, he doesn't want to give you a fill because he wants you to recognize your restriction and eat the appropriate amount without drinking. I am not saying you have been doing these things, these are just my thoughts as to what he might have meant. Did he give you any other information or tell you what you need to do help reduce the swelling? Losing inches over pounds is a normal occurrence. As for getting rid of the fat around the middle, I had a TT because even though it was shrinking, the rolls were still going to exist.