leatha_g

Boy! Amen to that, Sue. lol In addition, we have several 'Gods' right here in the good ole USof A. lol. Leatha

Congratualations, Kathy!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana Here's wishing you an uneventful recovery and a speedy transition through liquids and soft foods, straight to solids. Welcome! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny

Hello Susan, I don't think anyone can guarantee you that you will never throw up with the band. I'd be more inclined to believe it's gonna happen at least a few times until you really get used to it. Either way, it's not so much vomiting as it is expelling something that never made it fully to the stomach. I don't have a phobia, really, but I really hate to vomit, myself, so I try to be very cautious of what I'm doing. In a year, I've probably had about 6 episodes where I had to excuse myself to the restroom during dinner. Good luck with your decision! Leatha

Welcome Sandy! Wowee!! 139?? I am sooo jealous. :huytsao :banana :banana Does it feel totally foreign? I'm having fun finding bones I haven't felt in years. .lol. Leatha

Being a child of divorce, physical, verbal and emotional abuse. I can say that sometimes, actually living in that situation is far worse than being removed from it. Of course, kids want their parents to remain together. That feels like security to them. It's all they've ever known. But, I also know that kids can feel the tension and the anger and the lonliness their parents feel and often they act it out themselves when the parents aren't strong enough to confront the issues and change them. I was married for 20 yrs, trying to change my husband into what I felt was a more responsible person. It never worked, in fact, he just got worse and the resentment grew into something insurmountable as time went on. Once I lost respect for him, nothing he could do would change it. Respect and trust is something very hard to re-build once it's torn down. I finally divorced him when I felt secure enough to know my kids knew I had tried all I could to keep things together and when I could explain to them WHY I could no longer stay. Part of that WHY, was because in good conscience I could no longer live a lie. I could not let my daughter believe that it was okay to live with a man because he represented 'security'. I could not let my son grow up thinking that it was okay to raise a family like his dad wanted to. I could no longer let them be responsible for my unhappiness because they both knew that I was miserable but I was there for them and them only. I was afraid that they might make the same mistakes, because children learn what they live and I didn't want mine to live in house of disgust and resentment any longer. Everyone's story is different, but yet often the same. Each person has to do what their conscience and circumstances allow. It is not easy to walk out on the only life you have ever known and know it's the right decision, but I can tell you that I have taken better care of myself and had more, financially and emotionally, since I left than I ever had in the whole 20 yrs I was married. Material things aside, I have my children's respect and admiration for my determination and sense of right and wrong and that is worth more to me than anything money can buy. Keep your chin up and know that everything in life, even this, is temporary. Ask for counseling. Go by yourself, even if he doesn't go. There are many great books out too. One that changed my life was: Women Who Love Too Much - Robin Norwood. awesome awesome book. Good luck to you.. Leatha

That's definitely very good. I hear people going on about 'pb'ing' all the time. That really concerns me. I would think our goal would be to avoid it at all costs. There are two kinds of people : those who have and those who will. It is inevitable, but I sure don't want to do it anymore often than I have to. Have a great day!

Lori, So sorry to hear of your terrible ordeal. I'm really glad you had a local doc as that is not the case for everyone. You were very lucky in that aspect. I guess everyone has a story, right? I'm truly sorry yours was not as great as many others. The band is definitely a wonderful tool, but there are many things to consider when getting one. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I do believe prospective bandsters should be aware of all things band related, good and not so good. Best wishes for your good health! Leatha

hahaha, ya'll are hilarious. i may have to make that vegas weekend just to witness you two in the same room. lol. g'nite, leatha

I'm glad you got to the doctor when you did, then. Don't worry. Modern medicine is pretty amazing these days, for sure. An angiogram oftens tells good things as well as not so good. Either way, you're working on it early. Sometimes our bodies give us warning signals and we don't hear them soon enough. I'm really glad you heard yours. Best of luck to you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Leatha

LOL, welcome Sandy! I had a friend who once said she started with 38dd boobs and wound up with 36 longs. lol.. Sounds like you've done extremely well. Congratulations! btw, I love La. too. Leatha

I am in Plano now, up north of Dallas.I moved a whole lot as a child. I've lived in Cisco, Eastland, Rising Star and farther west in Snyder and Midland. Then, there was Temple in high school.. and since my divorce.. lol.. well, you get the drift... Leatha:D

That'll learn ya, durn ya.. lol. Thanks for sharing, DeLarla. btw, you remind me of my sister who's name is Darla.

Believe me, IF you do have a band, you will definitely learn to give pizza up.. lol. Enjoy it (a little bit) while you can, cause once they start tweaking your band, pizza will be one of the first to go.

Hahaha! Sounds like something I might get myself into. That's funny. And in your area of Texas, too. I can see it now. lol. (I lived in Rising Star for a short time. ) :laugh :laugh :laugh :eek

Here! Here! I've only been 'acquainted' with you for such a short time, really, but I think we're all in agreement of what a good attitude and sense of rightness you have shared with all of us. You will definitely be in my thoughts on Friday and please let us know when you feel up to it how you are doing. ((((((((((Donali))))))))) Leatha

LOL, my co-worker has become quite familiar with that 'deer in the headlights' look. I've PB'd very few times, but the times I have is usually with her (she's a terrible influence). Now she's gotten to where when she sees me lay my silverware down and become quiet, sort of trying to tell if things are gonna stay down or come up, she'll quietly ask if I'm allright. When filled, my band definitely became boss and I really liked that. BTW, pizza was my first PB ever. Nowadays, if pizza is my only choice, I only eat the topping.

Well. I've been unfilled now since June 14th. 2 weeks this past Monday. Amazingly, I've maintained my weight loss. There was a few days where I went up 3-5lbs, but since I've done a pretty good job of reminding myself to eat like I have been prior to the unfill. I've also started back to Curves because I need it to maintain the weightloss, for one, but I think I need it mentally and emotionally as much or more. This slippage and waiting to see new doctors and getting ready for all those tests etc seems to be bothering me much more emotionally than it ever has. My life is just so frustrating at times. I had so looked forward to having this fixed and being on the road to recovery starting today and being ready to get back on the road after the holiday weekend. Now, I don't even see the doc until then and this means if he feels surgery is necessary I'll have to be off during a time that my team members need me. I feel pretty guilty about that, especially since I'm sitting here doing nothing this week. Anyway, my biggest concern was that I maintain what loss I've had and so far I'm doing much better than I thought. You get used to having those training wheels, then you find out you can do it all by yourself, if you try. So.. YAY for me Leatha

Poor thing. I had the same thing happen in the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. Darn restrooms are way around this circular walkway. Another thing people keep in their purses are sick bags from airlines.

Thanks Donali.

Yes. I know, and she also started up Band New Life, right? We've emailed. She is living near the same town I moved from in California. I've followed quite a lot of people's journeys from the time I started researching the lapband. She and Cynthia were some of the first.

And, Ester WAS a banding professional at one time.

I fully agree with you. I've met Cynthia and Charlie and several others. I never said a word against them. I have thanked them privately and pubicly for their help. I'm extremely inspired by Cynthia. But, please. I'd rather not go back there. My feelings are extremely hurt. I still believe that there is a hole in the system regarding patients who relocate. I understand no one person can do anything about it. Maybe I was too passionate about it, but I am currently living in the vortex of it and I know I am not going to be the only one. I think I could have used just an ounce of validation. I also think that my experience was abrasively negated by someone else coming on and stating THEIR experience was so much different than mine and that bandsters with 1-5 years being banded ( I have been banded over a year, btw) specifically these two people are the one's to listen to? How would that make you feel? Most people who are conversing don't really want a resolution, they simply want to be heard. Either way, I don't normally let people bother me much, but this is an extremely stressful situation for me and I found it very hurtful. I recieved nothing from Charlie asking me to let it go, publicly or privately. Any one of them could have emailed me privately and nicely. I have only respect for them. And you're right, people do not know WHO their dealing with just by reading their words. I didn't deserve what I recieved there by any stretch of the imagination. I'm really sorry it happened, but I'm still extremely hurt by it. Thanks Babs. I really admire your success too. Leatha

That's really sad, isn't it? One person causing people to leave support boards. You know, if you leave, then there have been others too. I find that really sad. Worst part is, she really thinks she is helping. I've run into others like her too. Have a good day All. Leatha

Oh, Thank you Donali! LOL that was huge. Anyway. Thought some of the folks might like to see a film of what they are calling slippage from the 'old' technique. (Not being stitched around the band. Just as a note, the very dark areas are the actual barium coming down the esophagus, then into the stomach. The bowl-like stomach is ABOVE the band.

Congratulations!! To me, the best part of the band is not having that guilt of eating everything that isn't nailed down. At night, when I go to bed. I go to bed feeling so much better, not stuffed and miserable and guilty for what I'd eaten. I know all too well about hiatal hernia's, too. Often, a band surgeon will fix them. :Bunny Leatha