MeganA

I tell EVERYONE...my family, friends, business clients, people I pass on the street. I have NEVER had a bad reaction to the news. In fact, almost everyone I explain it to thinks it's just the coolest thing and they wish they could have one- even thought they might not have that much to lose. There is only one small group of friends I did not tell- they are my friends from high school that I get together with once a year at Christmas. Most of them are overweight and pretty sensitive...and I felt that they might feel bad if I told them so I haven't. I'm sure I will at the next Christmas...it's getting hard to hide 63 pounds gone. I just have always been "the fun fat one that makes it ok to be fat" and in some weird way I feel a little like I betrayed them. Everyone is different. And the people you have around you may or may not be supportive...you probably can tell. Trust your gut...and know that you're making a decision for yourself that will better your life, and sometimes that scares people. You, and they, will get over it...or you'll be living your new life and not have time for such nonsense. Megan

Donali- you are the best :-) That does bring back memories- and puts it in perspective, doesn't it? It seems like I've been banded my whole life until I read that. It's interesting to see the juxtaposition of my old post with my current weight loss stats. I was so scared I was going to fail with the band...and here I am with a totally new life because of it. I have a new living arrangement, a new guy (yippeee) and a new direction for my business...all because my success with the band has given me the confidence to take risks and know that I'll be ok. I love seeing all the posts from the old timers- we were all so new back then!!! We've all been through so much together it fills my heart every time I check in here. The terrible accident that took away Blossom really reminded me how close I feel to all of you here and I just don't know what I would do without any of you. Donali- I so often think of you and how hard it must be to not have your band, yet your constant presence helping and directing others here is so valuable I'm glad you've had the strength to stay with us. You are such a cheerleader I wonder sometimes who is your cheerleader when you get down. "Just call my name, and you know where ever I am...I'll come runnin'...yeah yeah yeah just to see you again..." I'm serious...you need anything...you know where to find me. I'll step away from the Karaoke machine now. I love you guys! Megan

Hi everyone. I've been lurking in the shadows of this group for a few weeks now and finally decided that I should introduce myself. I've been amazed to learn all the stories of the brave people in this group. I'm just going to the informational seminar this next Friday so I'm really, really new to all of this. I know that I need some help with my weight and am hoping that WLS is the answer. My questions to you all: 1. if you had it to do over again, would you still choose the band over the bypass or other surgeries? 2. what has been the hardest part of the WLS, what has been the easiest? 3. what is the one thing that has helped you be successful? It's funny, I read all these posts (here and on Strugglingbandsters) about people being unhappy with thier slow weightloss. From my perspective sitting here in no-band land ANY weightloss is a gift. I guess it's all in your expectations. Well, thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I look forward to getting to know you all. Megan from Minnesota

I volunteer for a group called Mothers and Daughters. There are girls in the program who are between 12 and 14, and over half of them are obese. Most of these girls come from very disfunctional families and many have been in foster homes or in treatment or in other facilities. Most of them are being treated for depression and/or anxiety disorders. I watch these girls eat the Snacks we have at the meetings- and I feel like I am watching myself at their age. They eat and eat and eat and don't taste anything. One of the girls ate so many carrots that she was sick. We try to give them only healthy snacks but it doesn't matter- they eat handfulls of popcorn or fruit- it doesn't matter. I see in their faces the sweet numbness that I have felt when I used to eat like that. I envy them on one hand, and feel intense sadness for them on the other. I suppose it's like a recovering alcoholic watching other people drink. Megan

I'm so, so sorry to hear the news that one of my beloved LBT family passed away. It's been weighing heavily on mind since I first read about the accident. My condolences to her family and to those of you here on LBT who knew her best. Megan

OH MY GOD. Guess who just suprised me by stopping by? He wasn't supposed to get home from Denver until tonight but thought he'd suprise me when they flew home early. Am I dreaming? So, I told him about the band, and then we did it. I don't have the energy to type. Must rest. I'll fill in the details later. Oh, he had on a shirt that matched his eyes perfectly. mmmm Megan

I had my sixth fill yesterday. It was hard earned...the doc always has a hard time finding my port and he had to poke me quite a bit to find it. Just when he was going to give up, he got it. He gave me .25cc's and then I drank the barrium...I love seeing on the tv what it feels like in my stomach. We both thought it looked good..but just for good measure I always drink some water. So, the water gurgled down nicely and I am so happy. This morning I had three bites of yogurt and I was full. It's such a great feeling. I ate a small piece of banana bread for a mid morning snack and that went down just fine...I feel like I just ate the whole loaf...that's why restriction is so awesome. Let's hope this restriction level stays for awhile and I don't need to get poked (with a needle, anyway..hee hee)again for a long time. The doc did say that he should move my port so it's not so hard to get to. Has anyone else gone through the surgery? Can you tell me your experience? Megan

Thanks everyone! I was thinking of all of you while I was laying on the table getting poked for the ninth time. The doctor kept thinking he was hurting me and didn't want to continue- I looked at him and said that I know of a few people who have it much harder than me...Donali, Lisa, Penni...you guys all popped into my head and I was strong because I know your stories. Knowing that you guys have been through the port revision surgery makes me feel a lot better about it if it comes to that. Kyleigh- I have had 7.5 cc's injected into my port, but who knows how much is really in there after a year and a half. My band is the Swedish band so it's different than what most people on here have. And the amount of saline differs for EVERYONE. Good luck with your fill!!! Megan

I think I know what you're talking about Lisa. When I haven't been on for awhile, it seems like it messes up the New Posts thing for a little while. That just means you have to check in more often. Cause I'm sure you don't have anything else to do...I know I don't. Megan

Too funny...what a great way to describe a typical PB. I love that you talk to your food :-) Megan

Tricia- Don't give up on the fills! My doctor is very stingy with fills so I'm down 60 pounds in a year and four months with the swedish band. Keep getting fills- the band only works if it's filled properly! I'm glad you've been so tenacious!!! I get my fifth fill tomorrow. If it's like the others, I'll loose ten pounds in a month and then plateau for three. Then I'll get another fill and the same thing will happen. Don't let it get ya down...you're doing fantastic. Megan

You guys are so great! Ok, so the weekend was terrific. He took me out to a really, really nice restaurant that was way expensive...and I of course ordered off the appetizer menu and I'm pretty sure he thought I was just being courteous. Little does he know! No, I still haven't told him about the band but it's coming. I'm getting a fill tomorrow so it's going to be hard to hide the fact that I can't eat for days after I get one. After dinner we went to my favorite dive bar in the middle of no-where. We were all dressed up and it was so fun to drink and eat bar popcorn. We laughed and laughed. Then we came back to my place and were going to watch a movie but we didn't quite find the time. I have my period so noooooo we didn't have sex. We laid in bed and made out and talked all night. It was the best. He's such a sweetheart and he really, really digs me. I should change the name of this thread to "I know he really likes me". He couldn't keep his hands off of me...so I am no longer afraid he's going to discover that I'm really fat under my clothes :-). Ahhh...It's been such a week. He's in Denver for a couple of days, and then we are getting together for St. Patty's day. The guy makes dates with me a week ahead of time... He also left stuff at my house. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. I'm used to dating guys who leave no trace they were ever even around. I talked to my friend Kevin and he said, "Wow, he's planning on coming back. When I'm out playin' I don't even leave footprints out the back door". Yeah...Kevin has some commitment issues but he's always available to let me cry on his shoulder or to move furniture. WHat more could a girl want in a guy friend? OK...so that's my story. I've been dying to write you all a little note but this is the first chance I've had time to catch up with LBT. So...I am pretty sure he likes me. How cool is that! Megan

Cameron- I'm so glad your here! We can use your experience and if you have any questions about how to better serve your patients, you'll find lots of ideas here! I have a question that maybe you can answer- what are the current theories on why we need to keep getting fills? I've heard stomach tissue thinning, losing fat around the stomach, etc. What do you think? Also, some people experience sudden restriction weeks after a fill...I don't understand the physics behind the band...but couldn't it be that saline doesn't travel up the tube until later? Again, thanks so much for saying hello and thanks, too for helping give morbidly obese patients a new life. Megan

Again, I love you guys. I just can't believe I can come to a place and have so many people be so nice to me. Thanks everyone! I have discovered that I have some pretty nasty tapes that play in my head about what I deserve and what to expect. For example... I was trying on some clothes this evening at a store ( I seriously have nothing to wear for dates. I have a total of three sweaters and three shirts, two pairs of jeans, and some dress clothes and that's it. My closet is empty!!!). I caught my rear end in the mirror and I had the thought...Oh my god, I can't let him see how big my ass still is! Then I calmed down and thought...huh...his hands were runnin' all over it last night...sure didn't seem to bother him then. I have to work on these things I say to myself. This is rediculous! I agree that I should not make out in the refridgerator. It is exactly what got me here in the first place. Plus, I don't think he eats. He's a twig. The whole "Jack Sprat could eat no fat and his wife could eat no lean" has always been my favorite fairy tale. Megan

Babs- I can't believe how much weight you've lost since the Bash. You looked fantastic then! You're stunning! Megan

Before banding...no way. After banding...if we just move the milk, the yogurt, and the cottage cheese there would be plenty of room :-) Hee hee. Good one Jack Megan

Nicole- I get that when I drink a lot of liquids fast...you could try some Gas-X if it continues to bother you. Gas X has been my best friend since I was banded, I tell ya... Megan

Oh my gosh it looks like you guys had so much fun!!! This is exactly what happened to my sister, friend and I when we went out in Vegas after the Bash. I've never been flirted with by some many guys in my life! I got THREE phone numbers that night. That's more phone numbers in one night than I got from the years 1998-2000 total. VEGAS RULES!!! Ummm...are Stacy's you-know-what's store bought? WOW. Megan

You guys are the best! I so appreciate all the kind words and the advice. You've all given me lots to think about! I'm going to try to just sit back and relax and enjoy every moment. I have been listening to country music non stop and today I was looking in the fridge and realized I'd been staring into it for a good minute or two while thinking of making out. How funny. Thanks again for all the well wishes. Megan

This happens to me EVERY TIME I GET A FILL. I'm yelling because it makes me crazy. I get a fill, lose 10-15 pounds...then nothin'. My surgeon said that it's because we lose fat around the stomach so the band isn't as tight, also the stomach tissue can get stretched thinner so you need more saline to feel more restirction. I can eat Pasta, rice, bread, and everything else I normally can't when I have decent restriction. I can't eat very much of it, but it still goes down. I hate getting fills, and keep waiting for this last one to keep working- which it isn't. (can anyone say DENIAL?)..so I have a fill scheduled next week. I am probably at about 6.5cc's in a Swedish Band that holds 9cc's, I think. If you can't get a fill until Christmas...maybe you should just coast and not worry about it? If you're like me you will flucuate 2-3 pounds up and down but I try to remember that at least I'm not gaining. I also try to remember that I'm going to have my band the rest of my life so it's not like I have to lose it all RIGHT NOW. Just my thoughts...it's hard though...losing weight is such a high that you don't want it to go away. Megan

we would see this in a different light if we were the one this happened to. I agree completely, Paula. Everyone should be able to defend themselves. People don't have to agree or even respond. And maybe that's the way this can come to an end? Megan

Babs- What a fun time you had! I'm so jealous of your big hitter night. Do you think you would have been so brave before you lost weight? I always wonder what happens to me that wouldn't have, or that I wouldn't have done before I lost weight. What do you think? Megan

Oh, it's hard. What you're going through is really normal. You are taking a giant leap and it's scary. But, you're going to be ok, and I think sometimes the anticipation is worse than the part after the surgery...at least it was for me. Do you have any idea what it is that you are feeling? You say you are mourning something..what do you think it is? Uncover some of these emotions...let yourself feel them. Then they aren't so scary. Good luck...and like I said before, you are going to be ok. Megan

Right after I was banded I had that taste in my mouth too. I thought it was from all the artificial sweetners I was eating- in the Clear Liquids everything is "fruit" flavored. It really got to me. But, after I've been banded for awhile- I have realized that the taste, for me anyway, is Ketosis- or the burning of fat into energy. I have no idea what the scientific explination is- but I guess there are different amino acids or something like that that get released in Ketosis and it can make you have a weird taste in your mouth. Try to think of it as proof that you're losing weight...that's what I did and it helped. Good luck! Megan

Hello fellow vegas bash bandsters. My friend Brigid has a hankering for the chips and margaritas that Lisa and Carol made for the bash... Lisa- how did you make those DELICIOUS chips? Carol- is the margarita mix a secret or can you share it? They were FANTASTIC!!! Thanks in advance... Megan