leatha_g

Welcome!! Welcome! Welcome!! Congrats on being banded and starting your new life!! :cool: :D

Welcome Lucy!! Congratulations on your great experience!! Good luck with your liquids phase!! I'm doing liquids right now too - for the second time around. :cool:

LOL. Yes. Isn't that strange? It is definitely a different feeling, so go slow with it until you see how it works. Even now morning to evening may be different or one day to the next. The band is fickle, but it does work! Even more strange, a year down the road if they took your fill completely out, you feel very foreign NOT having the restriction. I've been un-filled since June 14th and it's still strange to me that I don't have that restricted feeling. Good luck with your new restriction!! Leatha

Maureen, I've had slippage. Others here have had problems too, so first of all, we understand your fears and concerns. Secondly, good news! Donali, maybe you can back this up - but it is my understanding that erosion does not make your band tighter. actually, you begin to have NO restriction with erosion because the band is sitting INSIDE the stomach wall and no longer restricts it. So. I think for now, you can put that worry aside. You had restriction, right? It sounds like there are some conflicting views on how your band should look on flouro. So those guys need to get their heads together and discuss that. Often, with slippage, the band has moved downward and the anatomy changes. Your stomach has moved up inside the band and sometimes obstructs the opening so that you tend to vomit anything you may have taken in. Maybe you feel extreme restriction - which is really this occlusion of the stomach's opening. I would be more inclined to think this could be your cause for vomiting rather than erosion. Better news - it's possible to un-fill the band and allow it to rest awhile and occasionally, that's all that's needed. The band sometimes right's itself during this stage of resting. If that doesn't happen, then sometimes slippage can be fixed with re-postioning of the band which may involve surgery. Either way you get to keep your band and move on with your journey! I've heard of situations where these options weren't available, but it sounds to me like your problem is being addressed. You've gotten your un-fill which is really the most important thing to do. Are you now able to eat without vomiting? If so - this is a good good sign! Hopefully, your banding surgeon is right and all is well. Please keep us posted!! Just know that you are not alone - there are those of us here who have been right where you are with worry and fear of losing our bands. (((((Maureen))))) Leatha

Thanks for the kind words you guys! There is a saying in some 12 step circles "If He can bring you to it. He can bring you through it!" That, to me, sums it all up pretty well. The human spirit is indeed much stronger than we know, with help. :cool: Hope you all have a great Tuesday! Leatha

I'm banded over a year and it's getting better, but it's still something I have to consciously work with. My dr said drink all the drink you want BEFORE you eat, then just wait half hour to 45 minutes to drink after. To me, this still washes stuff through, but I've gotten to where that really doesn't bother me much. This past year has really mentally changed my attitude about being 'hungry' and feeling as if I HAVE to eat. It's just not that necessary anymore. Thank goodness! I have moments, but this second round of liquids is really not bothering me nearly as bad as the first. I guess because I know it's all temporary and because the band has helped to adjust my 'stinking' thinking about eating - at least some. You'll get better with practice, I promise. Leatha

lmaorofl.. omg.. ya'll are terrible!!:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

Babs. You've done awesome. I think we share almost the same surgery date and I've only lost half that. I'm sure you've worked twice as hard as I have too. You've done wonderfull! Don't discount how great 126 lbs is. Happy Birthday!! (btw, we nearly share the same b-day too. Mine was yesterday. I was 44. :cool: ) Leatha

LJ, Congratulations on an uneventful surgery!! She's a very lucky woman to have you so close by her side and attentive to her surgery. Please let us know how she does. Best wishes! Leatha

Yessum. Car wrecks, drug overdoses, drownings - I ran around with alot of party people. Seems drugs and alcohol never really come to a good end. It felt like we were a 'marked' group for awhile. I spent that summer in a state of shock really. Then, my stepfather died suddenly on top of it all and I really turned inward. I was a very traumatized young lady. Also, I had always been quite active and did a lot of dancing, swimming, etc. I knew I had the propensity to gain weight, but I think I thought I was immune to more than a few pounds. I met my husband who didn't dance OR swim so my life basically changed to going out to eat for entertainment. I don't think I was really eating more, but I was definitely exercising less. I had some real issues with how men related to me because of my body too, so I think I basically just wrapped myself in a cocoon so no one would see me or get close to me. I think you see that pretty often in obese women. Life definitely has a way of humbling us, don't it? .. Leatha

Wowee, Terry you look fabulous!! And I'm sorry, but you do NOT look like any size 18 to me! I'm supposed to be in 18's now and I sure don't look as good as you do! Way to go!! I'm very proud for you!! Leatha

Well, I was 18 then. I lost about 14 friends and a stepfather that summer is really the only trigger I know of. It was a very traumatic time for me. I did alot of partying during that time - self medicating, probably. Things changed. I met and married my husband - who was probably more of a rescuer than anything and I think I just turned alot of pain inside, but yea, along with the trauma of so many deaths close to me, the weight gain was devestating too, but I didn't have the tools to do much about it. I really think it was that comfort or hiding my body away from something. It was just a very tough time.

Well, I was 18 then. I lost about 14 friends and a stepfather that summer is really the only trigger I know of. It was a very traumatic time for me. I did alot of partying during that time - self medicating, probably. Things changed. I met and married my husband - who was probably more of a rescuer than anything and I think I just turned alot of pain inside, but yea, along with the trauma of so many deaths close to me, the weight gain was devestating too, but I didn't have the tools to do much about it. I really think it was that comfort or hiding my body away from something. It was just a very tough time.

I definitely understand about the depression. I think it's a very common thread in obesity. I went from 118lbs to 196 in less than a year and have never gone back since. :-( I don't know which came first, the depression or the weight. I've battled it ever since. Thank God there is something now that will hopefully help to free us from that hell. Hugs to you. You look like a beautiful lady to me. Leatha

I'll be sending good thoughts your way! It's tough knowing someone else has your life in their hands, for sure. Good luck! Please keep us posted! Leatha

what a beautiful story. if only all women were as fortunate. sounds like you're a keeper, large or small. I wish you both the best! leatha

Woohoo Penni!! Gotta love those after pics!! Great job!! Leatha

Some docs have their patients take Lovenox shots to prevent blood clots. I don't think this is a real common practice, but I've heard of it. I have to take Lovenox everytime I do any sort of procedure due to having had clots in my legs and lungs in the past. I take coumadin up until 5 days before the procedure then I have to get off it and take Lovenox which is a shorter acting anti-coagulant. Once the procedure is over, I take the Lovenox for a couple of extra days, while I try to bring my Coumadin back up to a therapeutic level. Hope that helps to answer your question. - unless I'm totally wrong about the injections. Leatha

250/189/140?? - 5 ft tall/44yrs tomorrow. banded 5/29/03 - San Francisco/Dr Wetter Slippage/hiatal hernia repair 07/16/04 - Texas/Dr Veninga

I've decided to start eating Raisin bran in the mornings(once i'm over my mushies again.) and try to get the proteins in later because of this. It definitely is an issue.

That's very cool about your daughter. My daughter was in drama in high school and really surprised me too. Normally, she is pretty shy and quiet, but up on stage, she was another person. It really helped her self-confidence. I understand the pride. I also understand about this food situation. It's gonna be a long few weeks until real food again and another fill. I'm excited to see if I'll even need it. Right now I can't tell by the liquids, everything seems to slide down fine. But he said he put my band up higher and really stitched the stomach around it, in addition to fixing a hiatal hernia which had allowed food to sort of bulge over the top of the band and stay there. This is itself should be different. Today, I FINALLY broke the 190 barrier too. I'm very excited by that, for some reason. I think the last time I weighed under 190 was hmm. .. 1997 maybe, and only for a few minutes then. lol. Leatha

way to go deco!! i noticed the exact same thing. Seemed like my first 12lb loss was ALL from my poor ankles. amazing how swollen feet and ankles can make you feel all over. i've had severe problems with swelling since i had a deep vein thrombosis in 2000. it was a nightmare and has since become nearly non-existent with the weight-loss! it sounds like you're doing better and i'm real glad to hear it. soon you'll be able to do some puddings, yogurt, etc with the full liquids or mushy stage! let us know how it's going! congrats on such a good loss already! Leatha

Welcome Minda and Maureen!! Congrats and your banding! We can't wait to hear how your journey has gone thus far. Leatha banded 5/29/03 - Dr. Wetter/San Francisco Slippage/hiatal hernia repair - 07/16/04 - Dr Veninga, Texas 250/190/140??

wow, that does sound really nice. i wished i'd had one. i made my own cough/support pillow.