claraluz

Thanks for this thread, Marie. I am thankful for my brother and sister and friends. I am thankful for this opportunity to restore my health. I am thankful for my dog and cats. I am thankful for meaningful work and a supportive work environment. I am thankful for my volunteer work and the opportunity to make lonely seniors smile. I am thankful for books and music. Nancy

I know you must be relieved. I'm happy for you. Nancy

Without question, the hardest thing for me has been giving up bread and Pasta. I can't eat them with the band and I shouldn't eat with them anyway. But I still miss them. Nancy

I think the most critical thing to think about is whether or not you are sure that you have tried every possible non-surgical method to lose weight. Do you feel certain beyond doubt that you will not be able to lose and maintain the weight on your own? If you are sure that nothing other than surgery will work, then my advice would be to seriously consider having surgery. Your BMI is lower than what most U.S. surgeons would consider, though, so you may need to go to Mexico or elsewhere. I wish I had had this option when I was "only" 60 pounds overweight. Perhaps if I had, I would not have acquired the health problems that I have now. It certainly would be better to take action before obesity-related health problems arise. As far as the cost is concerned, I would love to know what I actually spent on Diet Center, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig over the years. It may not be quite what surgery costs, but I bet it's close. Nancy

Babs, I understand what you are going through. I think we all do. I did very poorly with my diet for months. Recently I have gotten back on track. The band helps, but I feel I may always be struggling with my relationship with food. But Babs, if you never lose another pound, you are a tremendous success! You've lost more than the average percentage of excess weight for the LapBand. Don't forget that. Nancy

Alex, only you can know, of course, why you feel the way you do. Maybe after the party it would be good to do a little journaling to see if you can put your finger on it. I just know that we have so many intense feelings bound up with our obesity and also with our weight loss. Maybe you just don't want to share any of it with people you don't know that well. Go, have a good time, and be your fabulous self! Oh, and congrats on getting into your husband's jeans (in the size-wise sense ! Nancy

Thank you, Ryan, for once again giving voice to my own feelings and touching me deeply. As I re-read this thread, I am reminded that although I did have THE moment, I somehow let years of other moments move past almost unnoticed, without understanding that I was in deeper trouble than I knew. For me, obesity has been like my mother's Alzheimer's: insidious, sneaky. It started off with incidents that, while troubling, could have been considered to be part of normal experience; embarrasing, but something that could be complained about as one would complain about getting gray hair. Though on a deeper level, I was afraid and ashamed. After a few years, I no longer realized that these moments and the despair they engendered were something alien to me, a disease. I incorporated them into my sense of self. Eventually, like my mother, I found myself in a much smaller world and I could not remember that it, that I, had not always been thus. Then I had my moment of clarity. I wanted to be healthier and I wanted to look better. I had a vague sense that having the surgery and losing weight might change me in other ways as well, but by then I had lost the ability to imagine a substantially better and bigger life for myself. The biggest surprise to me has been the great, great improvement in my self-esteem. I no longer wait for others to go through a doorway first. I no longer imagine that others are thinking badly of me. I speak up when I disagree with a colleague. I wear new, more stylish clothes. My posture is better. I no longer feel old or feel like my life is substantially over. I recognize my strengths and honor them. I am studying for an advanced credential in my field and am investigating returning to graduate school, which is to say I have a plan for the future. I have experienced the return of hope. I am in the middle of my journey. I've only lost half the weight I want to lose. And I still struggle to eat right and exercise. But if I never lose another pound, I have to say it is enough. I have found the path back to health that wasn't there for my mother. And I will be ever grateful. Thanks to all of you who have shared your stories and reminded me of my own. Nancy

I would call your doctor's office and speak to the staff about this. My guess would be that you are perhaps trying to eat too much. Slow down and really check in with your body between bites. Are you experiencing any strange or new sensations such as hiccuping, nose running, chest pain? Those are all soft signals to stop eating immediately. You have had enough. I also wonder whether perhaps your stomach is not ready for soft food and you should stick to truly mushy things like cottage cheese (I love those Breakstone pre-packaged cottage cheese and compote dishes), mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc. But you should discuss this with your doctor. I certainly hope you feel better soon! Remember, there is really a learning curve when we first get banded. We have to learn to recognize what our band is telling us and it does take time. Nancy

Thanks for notifying us. I got to see the second half, which I thought was pretty realistic. I still am amazed, though, that there is not more about the Lap-Band on TV and in newspapers. I did see it mentioned on one program. It was about a woman who had it and "had" to have it taken out due to unbearable heartburn. I'm sure she had an inexperienced doctor and I wonder what the real story there was. Nancy

Penni, life is so unfair sometimes. I am so sorry for your multiple losses. Let yourself feel the pain, cry, mourn, and try to find a special way to remember your stepfather's father, your aunt, your fish, and Felix. I believe you are right when you say that losing Felix was like losing a child. Please don't try to tell yourself that you shouldn't be as upset as you are because Felix was a cat and not a person. Those of us who share our lives with animals love them, dote on them, and are amused and comforted by them for years on end. We have to acknowledge the courage this takes because somewhere in the back of our minds we know we will probably outlive them. Yet we still give our hearts completely. I commend you for coping so well with everything. And by that I do not mean that you aren't feeling sad and upset, but that you are choosing healthy ways of processing your feelings like walking and sharing with us. Bereavement is the price we pay for loving, I guess, and when you look at it that way, it's worth it, isn't it? I had a similar week five years ago. I know it hurts. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Nancy

You can do it, Ryan!! It's all for a good cause. Your life! Nancy

I have insulin resistance and I've decided to start testing a fasting blood sugar in the morning to make sure it's in the normal range and to help keep me honest about my diet. Anyway, I bought one of those meters where you are supposed to be able to test your forearm or leg instead of your fingers. But I've tried it several times in those areas and I can't make it bleed enough! I even tried putting a warm towel there to increase circulation, but no go. Does anyone have any tips? My fingers are getting sore and it's only been a few days. Nancy

Good luck! I'll be thinking of you. Nancy

Great Question! My moment was being told by my doctor that I had insulin resistance and that I needed to watch my diet, lose weight, and exercise or I would soon have diabetes. Suddenly at age 49 I realized that I was all out of tomorrows. As in I'll go on a diet tomorrow. From that moment it had to be TODAY or I would end up with a serious chronic illness. I gave myself 6 months to lose weight and get with the program and told myself that if I wasn't able to do so, I would have surgery. I gave it my best try. I lost weight, I exercised, and all symptoms of insulin resistance went away. But just as with so many times in the past, I found I couldn't maintain my new way of living permanently. So here I am. With normal blood sugars. And a renewed spirit. Nancy

Alex, how wonderful for you! I'm sure you're right that it is the weights. I've gotten into weights off and on and everytime I do, I notice that my muscle tone and my shape improve very quickly. Keep up the great work and do share your routine with us, please! Nancy

Congratulations! I'm sorry it was so painful for you, though. I'm glad you are feeling better. Try to stay away from those chocolate shakes if possible. You might as well get into good band habits now. Nancy

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know how stressful a parent's illness can be. There are a few different forms of leukemia. Some are very curable and the others are more difficult to beat, but still possible to beat. Sending your family best wishes for a good outcome. Nancy

Congratulations! Isn't it fun? I just broke down and bought some winter clothes. Now if the temperature would just drop below 90 here. . . Nancy

Do you spray the Vitamins in your mouth? Or on your food? Sounds interesting. Nancy

Congratulations, Marie! It didn't happen just because you got the band. You've taken a lot of steps to be healthier and it's showing! Great job!!! Nancy

I have the one touch ultra. It only does require a small drop, but no, the most that has happened so far is that I can see some blood on my arm, but not a drop that flows or that I could transfer to the strip. Even though I try to "milk" it. Nancy

I'm so sorry this is hitting you now, so soon after your surgery. I can almost feel your anxiety when reading your words. I always find that exercise helps to calm me and to burn off that nervous energy. Actually, crying helps too. It releases all those endorphins. It also helps me to concentrate on one day at a time. What do I need to do today? There will be time later to look at the big picture and to plan for the future, but in a crisis, it is best to focus on the here-and-now until you feel stronger. It sounds like you are taking some positive steps by reaching out for support and by consulting a lawyer. And we are here for you. Take care. Nancy

Whether or not you can take those pills will be an individual thing and will depend in part on your level of restriction. You won't be able to right after you get banded, but you may be able to down the road. I take several medications and supplements a day. I break the big pills in half. But I can take a fish oil supplement without problems. But I really agree with Leatha that the band is worth it even if you can't take the big capsules. Losing weight will benefit your health greatly. And there are other ways to get those Omega 3s. Nancy

Well, Penni, by now you are certainly in the car with all that crazy driving. Please be careful. I feel for you. Those nights without sleep are awful. I hope you are feeling OK (or at least somewhat OK). When I can't sleep, I usually get out of bed and read. It usually helps me sleep, but even if it doesn't, I feel better when I'm not in bed worrying about sleep and tossing and turning. I've also used valerian root. It might have helped a little. It sounds like your night of insomnia was caused by the fact that you were going to have such a hectic couple of days. But I've also found that when I eat less in the evening I sleep better. Nancy

HI, Theresa Marie. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. You are about to embark on a very rewarding journey. Best of luck and welcome! Nancy