donali

A few possibilities: It could be the result of a fungus, symptoms of your insulin being out of whack, results of friction... Sounds like your best bet would be to see a doctor/dermatologist, and in the meantime perhaps try the suggestion for the friction caused discoloration? A discussion thread where some people received some sort of diagnosis: http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-77678.html http://www.indiaparenting.com/faqs/beauty/complextion.shtml Q: I have fairly brown skin. I was a athlete in my younger days. Due to jogging and exercises there was rubbing of the skin and hence the inner thighs have blackened a bit. I would want to know if there is any way that i can make my skin lighter there. Are there any home remedies.. please suggest.. Thanks.. Diva (Mumbai, India) A: First, target losing weight around the thighs so they don't rub against each other, or they will get dark again. Lemon is a natural bleach, so you can apply it to your inner thighs while bathing, and wash it off in ten minutes. Do this everyday. Don't wear polyester fabrics around that area. In the summer, try and stick to linen trousers or cotton salwar kameezes. Also, apply Shower to Shower powder to your inner thighs. http://www.bawarchi.com/health/queries70.html#13 From: Sue Question: I have dark discolouration in underarms and inner thighs, although I keep it very clear, washing with soap twice a day. Can I apply anything to lighten the dark skin? Ans: It is very difficult to get back the colour in the inner thighs and under arms. Try applying anti fungal cream after consulting a dermatologist. http://www.bharatmatrimony.com/consult/beauty/beautyjan292005.html I would like to know what can improve my complexion. I use Green leaf's Aloe vera gel which looks good on my skin. I would like to know how to remove tanned skin and blackness around inner thighs. Thanks Answer Wash your face twice a day with any transparent face wash with micro granules to wash away the excess oil and maintain the pH balance of your skin. Shiseido Blemish Targeting gel This clears quick absorbing gel minimises the appearance of blemishes as it purifies and refreshes skin. It contains purifying agents proven to keep the skin clean. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Defining Skin Brightener This intensive multi benefit lotion contains optical diffuses which immediately blur imperfections and revive radiance .With continued use smoothens and clarity are restored for brighter , healthier looking skin. Home remedy: oatmeal magic: 1 tsp Oatmeal powder 1 tsp sandalwood paste 1 tsp buttermilk Mix and apply twice daily on dark spots . Eat a diet rich in vegetables, yoghurt, fruits & drink plenty of Water. Your skin color is determined by your genes. But you can definitely prevent your skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Besides causing pigmentation which is due to the natural process of melanin synthesis within the skin . The ultra-violet rays in the sun cause photo-aging and skin cancer in the extreme. To remove a tan and brighten dull skin-Mix one tablespoon oatmeal and yoghurt and apply. Wash with tap water. Use of sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 is absolutely vital in a tropical country like India. Dark skin around inner thighs is usually caused due to constant friction. You could use all the remedies which you use on your face.

Can't wait to hear how everything goes!!! Congrats!!

Okay, shoot... The very FIRST forum at the top of the list under "Main Lap-Band Forums" should be "Newbie Info"!!! Name it with an underscore if you have to to make it be the #1 section in that list. I was just trying to find a sticky post that listed all the acronyms and newbie-type info that we give out so often, and I could find NO newbie-specific stickies!!! WTF?!?! lol 'Cause, gosh, I would SO love to have the basics ALL written down and available in ONE place, in ONE post, so we can just link newbies to that info. Do I have any seconds on this suggestion?? Please say yes... I'll help draft the main post... Please, pretty please??? :bats eyes (very seductively... ):

First bash at the "Newbie Info" main post (each item or group of items will link to a post below specifically about that topic). Please add in stuff I forgot, make suggestions on organization, etc. Getting Started How to Navigate this site (LBT) Terms of Agreement/User Guidelines User CP Profiles Safety on the Internet Avatars Signature Lines 305/205/135 Weightloss Tickers First Stop Introductions Who are you? Where are you in the process? What are your questions? What are your fears? How much do you want to lose? Searching Regular Advanced Etiquette "rules" of polite posting eg:capital letters is yelling, etc. Posting areas Hijacking Posting New Threads Replying to Existing Threads Posting Photos Jazzing up your posts Bananas, smilies, etc. Color Fonts Font size Quoting Bold Italics FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Acronyms, Abbreviations, Lingo Various common questions Resources Personal Site Links Professional Site Links books What is the Lapband? Inamed site link Lapband vs RnY What Can Go Wrong? Leaks Leak Stories Reflux Reflux Stories Slippage Slippage Stories Erosion Erosion Stories Blockage Blockage Stories Complication Stats for the Lapband Weightloss Stats for the Lapband Who Usually Qualifies? Insurance Jumping through hoops General requirements Fighting denials Insurance stories How do I decide where to have it done? Inamed Link to Approved Docs Your Insurance Pays Available Docs for your Insurance Plan Your Insurance WON’T Pay Price Experience Location Considerations for Surgery outside of the country Hospital Used Follow-up Care Maintenance Getting Fills Additional Costs Mexico Info (need of passports, language barriers, phones) Europe Info Keys to success with banding The bandster “rules” Changing your lifestyle forever Water Exercise Mindsets Before Surgery Research, Research, Research Site Links (individual sites and informational sites) Emotions How are my emotions tied to my eating habits? Exercises in separating emotional hunger from physical hunger. Preparing emotionally for: Reduced food intake Changing relationships with food Shifting of relationship dynamics Losing weight Receiving compliments Buying smaller sizes Letting go of stuff that’s too big Jealousy Sabotage Self Others Society in general Challenges in the workplace Getting “personal” Attention They’re hitting on me!! I can feel them looking at me Now everyone wants to be my friend Everyone wants to know how I’m doing it Backhanded compliments Fears I won’t be able to eat my favorite foods I won’t be able to eat in quantity I won’t be able to eat out People will notice how I eat What if something goes wrong? My relationships will change I will change Support Why do I need support? Who do I tell? Where do I get support? Shopping Stocking up on liquids for the first 2-4 weeks What’s a clear liquid? What’s a full liquid? The eating stages Clear Liquids Full Liquids Mushies Back to “normal” The Surgery What to bring to the hospital Expected Length of Hospital Stay Surgery Stories After the Surgery Initial diet restrictions, and why Clear liquids Full liquids Mushies "Regular" food Is this normal? I’m hungry I’m not losing weight I make new noises My shoulder hurts THIS is “natural” gas??? Expected Recovery Time When Can I: Shower Drive Pick-up my Children Have sex Eat real food Swim Soak in the Jacuzzi Go diving Exercise Go back to work Take my vitamins/medications Post surgical pain, gas, Food Shopping list for Liquids Clears Full Shopping list for Mushies recipes How much water? How much Protein? Vomiting (Productive Burping, Productive Belching, “PB”) Why to avoid at all costs #1 cause of slippage Stomach trauma and resulting restriction After the PB When “normal” life resumes General Do’s and Don’ts How much should I be eating? How can I tell when I’m full? What should I be eating? Tubing issues Leaks Poking out Repairing Tubing Stories Port issues Flipping Hard to find Uncomfortable Port Stories Fills When can I get one? How much? How often? How many? How do I know when I need one? Price? Blind (non-Fluoro) vs Fluoro How’s it done? Pain After the fill When does it kick in? Am I too tight? Am I too loose? Fill Stories Should I wear a medical bracelet? pills, Vitamins Aftercare Problem foods Dry White meats Clogging Breads Breading Nuts Fibrous Asparagus Fruit skins Swells with liquid Rice Noodles Bulking Laxatives Chunky after chewing eggs Rubbery Shellfish Carbonated Soda Beer Champagne Seltzer Food Stories Can I still: Fly? Dive? Bungee jump? Diet? Have healthy pregnancies? Etc.

I think the links for the Newbies should be to clean Q&A threads that are locked within that section, as opposed to links to existing posts, as oftentimes one must read through 5 pages of replies to glean all the info in that thread about that particular topic. And we all know how easy it is to get "Off track" when we hit a thread hijack, and then we forget what we were trying to learn in the first place. I personally like the hijacks, that wasn't a criticism, but it is easy to get distracted... I also think that underneath the "Newbie Info" group, there should be an "LBT Index" group - that would be just one post with hotlinks to existing threads - an example of a list that would have links in this section: PB stories Slippage stories Erosion stories Fill stories Surgery stories Port revision stories Re-banding stories Things like that. Then, as we come across these interesting/informative threads, we can send the link to a moderator and ask them to add it to the index page under the appropriate list group. I don't think EVERY story needs to go on the index page, but I think we'd all agree that some people have written in more depth about their experiences than others, and those threads could be helpful to others. And frankly, some of these old posts are almost impossible to find - I was looking for Leatha's slippage story for a friend, because I KNEW it was here somewhere, and it took me over FIVE searches to finally find it, and I don't think I even found the original post about her symptoms - I could only find the post about her diagnosis. I've searched for my own posts re: my erosion, and even knowing some of the phrases I used in the post I had difficultly digging some of those back up, which is why I post those list of links now - telling someone to search for the info isn't necessarily going to help them find some of this stuff.

Kathy and Lisa, those are GREAT lists! You've given me an idea on organization - The first post, that will stay at the top, will have a brief welcome and explanation of this section. Then there will be a list of topics within that first main post that are hot links. The hot links will link to the other posts in that section - we'll have a seperate, clear, on-topic, locked post for each item in the main list. As we add to the main list and the posts it links to, the moderators can edit the effected posts and leave them locked. What do you say, guys? I'm thinking we have all the info we need scattered through almost 2 years worth of knowledge... I'm sure the newbies will thank us, too.

Wishing you the best tomorrow, Jamie!! And everyone else getting banded tomorrow, this month, this year, next.... One of the best things I've ever done for myself!

Megan??? Are you STILL resting?!?!?! OMG. Okay, yeah, I'm jealous... Leatha, I'm commiserating with you... I want to have such fabulous romps that I'm THAT tired!!! LOL

GeezerSue used Rumbaut - she'll probably pop in at some point, but in the meantime you can do a search for her posts using the advanced search feature with Rumbaut as the key word, and GeezerSue as the user.

Just thought I'd start a thread for San Diego, even though it seems most of us are hooked up on the Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SanDiegoBandsters/ If you are not a part of the San Diego Yahoo group, I highly recommend it. We meet once a month for a pot luck. We're a high energy positive group, and we always have lots of laughs when we're together. The experience level is from 2+ years banded, to newbies and everything in between, with at least two people at goal.

Hi Kelly - Sorry, I have no idea. But why don't you join the group and ask yourself? It's been SUPER quiet there lately - maybe you can stir them up a bit... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SanDiegoBandsters/

Is your cry for help re: surgeon choice? Could you be a little more specific? Welcome to LBT - most of us here arrived at the same conclusion as you have - lapband much less risky than RnY. Poke around the site - there's lots of stuff to learn before you get banded that will help make your journey much smoother and less stressful.

LOL!!! Megan, girl, PLEASE use a little sensitivity for those here who may not have "done it" in a long time (you're welcome, Leatha!! )!! It's bad enough to know someone else is getting it, but the "...must rest... can't lift head... more later..." is just rubbing salt into the wound... ROTFLMAO!! Since you're so "tired," I'm going out on a limb here opining that means it was wonderful... So congrats!! I am SO thrilled for you!!! :D xxooxxooxxoo

Hi Megan!!! Congrats on everything - your life seems enveloped by a rosy glow these past few weeks!! I am so happy for you! My port revision surgery was supposed to be done under a local, but I went under general. Or what seemed like general, but was really twilight? My port wasn't really moved, just resutured - maybe they moved it slightly, but it stayed basically in the same place. But I imagine the surgery would be similar to a regular move, depending on how far they're going to move it. Doc used the original port scar to do his stuff. Recovery was much easier than the original placement as far as incision pain, etc. That may not be true if they really move it a good distance... So I guess my experience probably won't be that helpful to you, but I just felt the need to say "Hi!" anyway...

Whoo hoo!!! You're banded!! Hope all went well, and you're back on your feet in record time!

Whoo hooo!!!! Congrats, congrats!!! Baby yourself and take it easy. You're going to do great!!

Lots of people experience the "full" feeling differently. Since your band is empty, it is possible that once you start on solid foods you will feel little to no restriction. Since the feeling of restriction, however, can change day to day (sometimes hour to hour!), it is always important to take small bites, chew well, swallow, and then WAIT before going on to the next bite so you can have a chance to feel how the last bite is settling. It is inevitable that you will eventually learn just how small your pouch really is... However, you can postpone that experience longer by taking small bites, chewing well, swallowing, and then waiting. This is NOT how most people eat, so you will be surprised at the learning curve!! Okay, once you swallow, and are waiting, this is what you're looking for, sensation-wise - you may get all or just one of these signals that you are either "full" or are eating too fast/chewing too poorly: 1. STUCK. Okay, that's not a very good description, but as soon as you feel this you WILL KNOW what "STUCK" feels like. Your eyes will get big, you will freeze in mid-chew, and you will feel an awful pain high in your chest, way in the bottom of your throat. DO NOT PANIC!!! DO NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT take a sip of liquid!! DO NOT SWALLOW!!!! Sit there calmly and try to breathe normally. When people ask you what's wrong, you will not feel as though you can talk - if you can squeeze out a few words, your voice will sound raspy and strained. Sometimes standing up will be enough to help things move down a little bit. IF you start salivating, you need to get to a bathroom. DO NOT SWALLOW YOUR SALIVA!!! Spit it out. Lots of times you will feel stuck for only a few seconds before the offending bit passes, IF YOU ARE EATING SLOWLY AND PAYING ATTENTION AND CHEWING WELL. However, sometimes the offending bit will not pass, and it will either come back up on its own, or you will have to force yourself to vomit. This is often NOT a full feeling! It IS an indication that you are swallowing too much, too fast, and/or are not chewing well enough OR that you have taken one bite too many. Once you become unstuck you can think enough to evaluate how much you have eaten, and whether or not you were being careless, or just missed the more subtle signs that you're full. STUCK is considered a "hard stop", whereas the more subtle feelings described later are considered "soft stops." The goal, of course, is to learn your personal soft stops and heed them. 2. A hiccough. Many people will have one daintly little hiccough when they are full. When you're full your stomach may be pressing up on your diaphragm and irritating it a little bit, which translates into a hiccough. 3. A sigh. Many people will heave a little sigh after that last bite that makes them full. You THINK you're thinking about the next bite, and you'll be loading up that fork... But you're not putting it into your mouth. That's when you realize that you're full. One more bite, and you may suffer the dreaded STUCK feeling. 4. A runny nose. Many people's noses will unexplicably start running. If you were fine when you started eating, and now your nose is running, it's probably time to stop eating. Or you are eating something really, really spicy/hot! 5. A general pressure. Some people will feel a similar feeling to "full", just a little higher. It's a little disconcerting at first, because your lower stomach may still be growling, but your pouch is sending you pressure/full feelings. 6. Port pain. Your port may start aching. My theory as to why is that the pressure of the food is pressing against the saline in the band, which forces the saline out towards the tubing, which starts to straighten a little under pressure, which torques the port a little bit. Like a garden hose turned on full blast with the sprayer closed - it tries to straighten out, right? That's just my theory. But whatever the true reason is, if your port starts bugging you after you start eating, you may be full. 7. Shoulder pain. Some people's left shoulder starts to ache a little bit. This is referred pain from pressure on the diaphragm. When you're full your stomach may be pressing up on your diaphragm and irritating it a little bit, which translates into shoulder pain. Your soft stop may be something entirely different, but these are the most common sensations/behaviours reported. Take it slow, but you may not experience any of these until you start getting fills.

I stripped everything down during the chastizing for extraneous info in sig lines. Figured I'd trash the avatar, as well. Now my posts are lean and mean... Hope everyone's happy now!

Today's the day, today's the day!!! Here's hoping all went well, and that you're one of the ones up to a walking tour as soon as you wake-up from anesthesia. Let us know how it went, and how you're doing! WHOOO HOOO!!! You're BANDED!!! :banana

Peanut Butter, velveeta, dill pickles and mustard sandwich. My dad's invention. It's really not that bad... lol Vera - you have me dying with the worm story! "Tastes like chicken"... ROTFLMAO!!!! And milk bones are bland but not too bad tasting, if you can get over the grittiness. Oh, and a big mouthful of birdseed... Has a nice nutty flavor... lol Gaines burger is the absolutely most disgusting thing I think I have ever tasted. (I wanted to know why my dog loved it so much, so had to try it - sickeningly sweet - tasted like sweet playdough without the saltiness. Yuck!! Oh, I guess now I have to admit to eating playdough... DOH!!) A childhood fav - that white paste. YUM!! I could eat a jar of that stuff... UGH! They make a throat lozenge that tastes like white paste - can't think of the name off hand... :cross-eye

Scotty - You may be one of those who have more residual swelling from their surgery. There is no need to move to mushies if your body isn't ready - it's always okay to go slower than recommended in these transitions. Go back to full liquids for a week, with yoghurts and puddings, and then try mushies again later. Whatever you do, DON'T force yourself to move faster than your body likes - schedule or no schedule.

Okay, this is the "FOREVER" part coming to bite you. Bear in mind, this is advice from an unbanded person who has gained 30 pounds since October - WAAAHHH!!! My advice to us both... lol 1. This is NOT a diet - this really really really really is FOREVER. Our eating habits will have to change forever. 2. In the end, our lifestyle changes canNOT be about losing weight - because once we have lost the weight, there will be no motivation to continue with our healthy habits. At some point, we will no longer have the scale moving downward to motivate us. And we certainly don't want to wait for the scale to move UPWARD(:eek!) to regain motivation! (Trust me on THIS one!!! lol) So... this journey HAS to be about HEALTH. Seriously. Losing weight is secondary to this journey. 3. Take 15 minutes to really think about all you have accomplished, seperate from the scale. Review all of those NSVs. Feel the regained health of your body. Realize that you NEVER, EVER want to give that up. NEVER. Admit to yourself that you are WORTH being healthy. 4. Recommit to your health in baby steps. Set one goal for each day. Make it a small, easily attainable goal so that you can experience the success. Add slowly to that goal until you are at the max for that particular health-breeding habit. For example, if your main goal is to drink a gallon of Water each day, and you haven't been drinking any, start with a mini-goal of a quart. Slowly add to that each day until you get to your gallon. Once that habit is reset, start working towards your next goal. Suppose it's walking. Maybe you want to walk a minimum of 30 minutes each day. So day 1 your goal is to walk 10 minutes. Do that successfully for a couple of days, and then add another 5 minutes. 5. Remember that you do NOT have to fix everything in one day!! This is for the rest of your life! Be gentle with yourself, start your positive habits small, and build on them. 6. Focus on what you WANT to do, not what you DON'T want to do. Don't focus on NOT eating something less nutritious - focus on eating MORE nutritious foods. Don't deny yourself anything - just make your more healthy food choices FIRST - always promise yourself (and keep the promise!!) that you can have whatever you want (IF you still want it) after you've had your health building food(s). 7. Continue seeking and offering support! Good luck, and I know you can do this. Sometimes we all need a little rest - there is nothing wrong with that. But you don't want to neglect your health for too long (like I have!) xxoo

Hi Paula - I don't know if it's normal or not, but being a person who has a severe problem with clutter, I'm just going to throw this out there as food for thought. Some people seem to have a need to have a lot of their stuff around them to reassure themselves that they have a place to belong, that they have some control (OCD, only manifests in the opposite way that you experience it - like anorexia and MO can often be symptoms of the same thing, just expressed in different ways). Some people are BO (born organized) and some people have to learn those skills. Maddening for the BO people, to be sure!! And so often they seem to have children who "just don't get it". lol A site that I've found helpful is www.flylady.net - you can read more about those of us who have clutter problems and releasing issues. This may have nothing to do with your daughter, but it's always good to know, just in case.

Thanks for not being offended over my concern. The funny thing is, I FEEL like my parents did everything right - they never withheld affection, were always participatory in my life, and yet... I still ended up with a low self-image/self-esteem in some areas of my life, and some other emotional baggage I honestly cannot blame on them. And then I meet people whose home lifes were a nightmare, who seem to have no emotional baggage whatsoever... Your son is a very lucky little guy, and I'm glad he's able to experience the rewards of success so early in his life, and that he's really picking up on that positive reinforcement.

Whooo HOOOOOOO, Megan!!! Ah, so exciting, and so scary.... I've always hated dating, but now that I'm in a committed relationship I see taking chances with your heart really is worth it - because eventually you're going to find the great guy you deserve!! Here's hoping THIS is the one!! xxooxxoo