crzytchr

I don't normally shop at WalMart, but I will have to check that out.

I have been drinking skim milk for around 30 years and can not stand to drink whole or even 2% milk now. It is too thick for me.

It happens around the 4th month because of the growth cycle mentioned above and it is due to the shock in our system, probably. We had surgery (I had 2 and it happened at around 4 months after both) and we are losing weight with a diet change. My friend has also lost hair (calls it her epidural patch) after both of her c sections. Her hair loss always occurs when the babies are 3-4 months old. The only consolation is that it will eventually stop.

UGH! speaking of which, my daughter and I have to bake 6 dozen Tollhouse cookies tomorrow night:ohmy:

I drink up until 15 minutes before I eat, since liquids go right through the band, but I wait at least an hour after I eat.

I wouldn't get really worried yet. At your next fill, be sure that they withdraw the Fluid from the band to be certain they actually hit the port when they filled you last time. If the port was missed, you didn't actually get a fill at all. Also, it will tell whether or not any fluid is missing, possibly indicating a leak. If none of these are the case, it is possible that you just need a lot to get restriction. My friend who was banded 2 weeks prior to me almost 18 months ago has 8ccs in her band and I only have 2. When it gets close, even an increase of .2ccs can make a huge difference. Good luck!

It is cool that they are too big, but extremely pathetic that they are WAY too big because I haven't worked out IN A YEAR!:thumbup::smile::biggrin: Ugh, I am going to take my shower so I can go "into town" and buy the pants and go to the gym.

Tracy, I am sorry to hear about your nanny, but you are correct; we should all be so lucky to live to see great grandchildren. Oh, and I got rid of my sweets yesterday in the same way:scared2:. They are now sitting on my thighs.:biggrin:

Welcome. There is an entire thread that is devoted to before and after pictures. Go the the home page and click on the General Lap-Band Surgery Discussion forum. You will find a Before/After Photo thread. It is very inspiring!

Wow, it sounds like y'all are having an eventful holiday. Suzie: cold=yuck. You sound like you have a sweet husband like mine Kat: you are a great friend to go to that trouble so her day will be special; next time just kick her husband's butt in advance Jenn: your friends have given some good advice so far. You need to spend some time focusing on yourself. Love yourself and someone will come along once you stop looking. Ok, I realized this morning that I am pathetic. I have not even pretended to exercise, so this really shouldn't have surprised me, but I went to get dressed for the gym this morning and I HAVE NO WORKOUT PANTS THAT FIT!!! UGH! I worked out when I was first banded, but not since. That means I have pants that are a 26/28 and I am now a 14/16. This is not conducive for walking, much less real exercising. I am not ready to expose all of me to the entire coed gym:scared2:. So...now I will have to wait until tomorrow to workout since I have to go "into town" (about 15 miles) to buy some pants. On top of that, I am sick again. I had pneumonia with the flu at the end of Septmeber (zythromax, steroid and tamiflu), then at the beginning of this month I went back to the dr with bronchitis and he put me on a 750 mg antibiotic (levaquin) and a steroid. Now, I am severely congested in the chest again. I don't know if there is anything else they can put me on. If I have to take another dose of prednisone I am going to scream.:thumbup:

It depends on your group/policy. I was approved in one day.

If you can barely swallow water in the morning and you are living on soup, you are way too tight. Go get a small unfill. You may only need to get .5 taken out to get relief and be able to eat a little food again.

You want to ask about your pre and post op diet that he/she prescribes. You also need to be aware of the fill schedule. How often and when is the first? Also, you need to know how many are covered in the surgery cost and how much they are after you have used up that amount.

I have been following your journey, because I know this is all of the work I need to have done in the next year or so, though I probably can't afford it! I must say the "girls" look great! I want to go with the lift without implants also, since I am now a 40G. I figure I can be left around a D cup once all is said and done. You are quite the inspiration since you haven't really complained about pain much. I will be honest, the pain and drain part of it scares me!:smile: It looks like you surgery was definitely worth it, congrats!

Wow, what an inspiration you are! I had to call my daughter over to see your pics. Thank you for posting your story, especially about your decision to be rebanded. Often we only here of the people who had slips and decide to revise to something else. Thanks again!

I don't know if you can stretch you band, but you CAN stretch your pouch. If you feel you need to "get in touch" with your band and rediscipline yourself to correct portion sizes, try the 5 day pouch test. Do a search on this forum for it and you should be able to find it. If not, search yahoo and it will come up. It has you follow liquids, then mushies, then soft Protein, etc for 5 days and it should help you get back on track and allow any swelling you have from the pbing subside.

As stated before, it depends on your insurance company and if they require you to jump through a bunch of hoops or not. Insurance paid for mine and it took a little over 3 weeks from my consultation until surgery. I had my 5 year documented weight history from doctor visits and I had a qualifying BMI and few comorbidities, so I was approved quickly. It also helps to have a case manager at the surgeon's office who knows what to do and how your insurance works. Good luck!

Jeez, Suzie, you certainly had a white Christmas! I would stay at home, bundled up in blankets with hot chocolate (Oh, sugar-free, of course)! Being from southern Louisiana, I have never experienced that much snow at once. Although, last year we did have a little over 3 inches where I live, which was amazing!

Anytime I am experiencing extra stress, my band gets tighter. I have also heard if you become slightly dehydrated (very easy to do) then your band can tighten. However, if this has been going on over a month, get to the doctor's office after the holiday and have them look at you and take a little of your fill out. It should bring you immediate relief and then, once you are doing better, you can get some added back. Also, if you are constantly getting sick, you are probably experiencing some swelling which is aggravating the situation and continuing the cycle. You can always try going on liquids (full) and take a little children's ibuprofen for a couple of days and that will help reduce the swelling. This may alleviate the problem itself, but I would still call the doctor. Good luck and post an update!

Wow, I haven't posted in a while...but even if I don't post, I do check-in on y'all. Yesterday was the last day of school before the holidays. I swear, only two parishes in the whole state had school this week and I work in one of them!:tongue: I am a complete standstill with my weightloss, and I know it is because I need to exercise. So, I am going to join the anytime fitness here in town. Do any of y'all have any experience with them? I hope we all make it through this holiday without gaining, or if we do, without piling the guilt on because of it. Just this once, I want us to give ourselves a break. That is my little prayer for us. Oh, and Jennifur, omg, I dont' go well at all anymore. I use Miralax every other week. If you find something you can take regularly that works, let me know. If I don't check back in, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Congratulations!!! That is amazing.

Congratulations on not being pregnant!! My 18 year old, I affectionately call my "little sinus infection", was conceived while on antibiotics on Valentine's Day.

Charlene, I am glad you had a great time in Hawaii. I bet it was fabulous. Isn't it great to be able to enjoy it since your weightloss?!

If it were me, I would get some taken out, because I do NOT like having my band tight. If you decide to wait it out a little more, then go from liquids to mushies. If even the mushies give you problems, get some taken out. If the mushies are ok, then just try to progress to solids after a couple days of mushies. If after that you are still unable to eat solids, you should get an unfill.

Don't worry about the foods post op. As long as you don't get your band too tight, you can eat most foods. I eat thin crust pizza, whole wheat Pasta and even whole wheat bread. My friend, who was banded two weeks before me, has her band a little looser, and she can eat anything. I eat what I want, just about 1/3 of the amounts I did before banding. I consistently eat 1200-1500 calories per day. I lost my weight so far without exercising, but plan on joining a gym in the next week or two to get started. If you have any specific questions, feel free to pm me. I will help you in any way I can. Keep reading, researching and if you decide to be banded, don't let anyone else talk you out of it. This has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. :rolleyes2: