Daisalana

My decision was also based on long term. I know people who have had GB and they essentially stretched their stomachs back out, and that's that. They can have another surgery now if they want, but I'd imagine that would kind of do it for me, if it failed (self-pay), that's it. Lap-band can be adjusted throughout my life, which is great. Also, Lap-band is safer according to statistics and I didn't want the higher risk. And kids, I want kids one day and lap-band sounds better with pregnancy... my doctor said he had several patients with GB who got pregnant and miscarried and they associate it with nutritional deficiency from the surgery. Oh yes, that's another biggie for me.. the nutritional deficiency problems that go with GB..

I went to a Christian school until I was in 5th grade.. I remember in 3rd grade (i've been overweight my whole life, and not just 10lbs!! I remember before they had trendy plus sizes, I use to wear mens clothes as a kid ) but.. I do remember when they talked about gluttony and I would ask my mom if I was going to hell for being fat. Also, I took a biology class in college a couple years ago, and the teacher was anti-smoking and anti-fat people. So I had 2 knocks against me. He liked to debate this stuff too, and I'm not a shy person so I called him out a lot of times. Luckily, I stilled passed lol! He would say smokers are fat.. smoking makes you lazy and fat. Well, I was fat since I was an infant, so hmmmmm. Anyway, he would blatently say, he would not befriend anyone who was a smoker or fat because he disagrees with their health choices. Sounds like a real winner huh? So I shot back, so since YOU drink alcohol at the bars, I wouldn't be your friend. Alcohol isn't a healthy choice. It was interesting, but it was weird during class when he's get off on a rant about fat people, and there's 3 of us in the class fidgeting.

Just went on smoke break, my uncle was out there.. he use to be a pro-body builder.. and he's in his 40's and he got fat somewhere 10 years ago.. but he goes to gym every day, does nutrisystem, he's been trying to lose weight. He said he's 230lbs I think.. and his ideal is probably 180ish. He saw an article in our paper this morning about the lap-band, rny, duadonal switch, etc.. was comparing benefits.. he said they ranked lap-band the best, due to long term studies, but he said it was studies from USA and Europe.. and I don't know how long it's been in Europe, but it's only been in USA since 2001, so I told him the studies might not be the best.. but he read how it cures diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. etc.. all of which he's been facing lately and struggling with.. he has high cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes as of the past year. So anyway, I told him I read in Mexico they do it as a preventative even.. he said the article was talking about how people who aren't massively overweight benefit from lap-band blah blah. So he was all interested, said insurance is going to start paying for it.. And I told him, BCBS of AL (which is what our company has) DOES pay for it as of April 1, 2007.. BUT.. our POLICY does not. Our company isn't big enough, so.. pffff. He asked how much I paid, I said it was 15k, so he goes 'I guess I'll just keep hitting the gym!'.. then I told him about Mexico... and before I could tell him anything, him and my brother were both saying 'I would NEVER go to Mexico for surgery blah blah', and they wouldn't listen when I was trying to explain Mexico doctors are the ones who taught OUR doctors.. in one ear, out the other. Oh well!

Kat- The past few months I've been getting migraines.. not sure what from, but Tylenol never helped. My dad gave me a lortab once, and that didn't even help.. so I went to home remedy websites looking for info, and the only thing I found that subsides it to be bearable is hot tea.. Very strong unsweetened hot tea, just slowly sip on it. Some reason it helps.

You guys definitely have more restriction than me. The only thing I can't get down on a regular basis (no matter what time of day) is hamburgers.. with or without the bun.. ground beef patties just don't like me. Some things I can have one day, but the next it won't work, or early morning/late at night they won't go down, etc.. -Hot dogs (with or without the bun) -bagels -toast -sandwhich of any kind -mac&cheese -sausage Hmmm that's a lot of carbs my band doesn't like LOL! Today for b'fast I'm trying to jump-start with protein. Having a shot of my 25g of protein, and I have a can of low-sodium V8 and a small milk carton (2%). Deciding which to have...will probably be the milk, not in the mood for V8 breath..

Terri- Thanks for the concern.. I do have MAJOR reflux lol. I've had chronic hearburn since I was at least 10 (youngest I remember it). I've been on Prilosec since it came out. I take it now, so I don't notice reflux unless I forget to take one (it happens). I have been trying to make myself eat after 7pm just because how they say if you eat late at night, it is more likely to be stored, etc. etc.. But with my OOMTOM, I have cravings overtaking me ;) I started taking the anti-estrogen pills like I'm suppose to, to stop it all.. No sex for 3 months!!

Barbie (et all) I'm in Huntsville, AL too Well, Madison.. same thing!

Jennifer- Don't worry about slipping right now. If you 'slip up', it's not going to cause your band to slip! I was as paranoid as you are.. I 'slipped up' once or twice.. and THEN in July (3 months post-op), I got food poisoning or maybe flu on my honeymoon.. and I spent a whole 24 hours, dry heaving ridiculously.. and I just kept thinking, with every heave.. there goes my band!! I felt miserable from being sick, but I kept feeling my band just ripping out (so I thought). I was so worried.. and then during fluero at my next fill I asked my doctor to look at the band. There it was, he said in 'perfect position' and doing it's thing. I remember during the healing process, anytime something felt 'rough' going down, I would panic that I was going to slip. It would seem it takes a lot more than that to slip

I've weaned myself down. I'm not 100% drink free.. I use to drink 3-5 glasses of coke or tea at dinner. I'm 100% coke free since 1 month pre-op.. but I still drink tea (with sweet-n-low).. I order a glass of tea with every dinner, and by the end of dinner, I've had maybe 2-3 sips. I drink sparingly and the sips are very small. It's one of the hardest things for me to give up also.. I'm getting there.. I can go sometimes only drinking my sips before the meal, and not having anymore during or after. I do find that when I take my sips while eating, it's an uncomfortable feeling.. so it's sort of self-reinforcing for me. Eventually, I plan to stop ordering a drink.

I think it would raise serious trust issues in my relationship if either of us did some sort of surgery without telling the other. This is just my opinion, because I can't imagine deciding not to tell my husband.. But it's better to tell him, fight about it, and say.. I'm doing it with or without you.. and that may be hurtful, but I would think more livable than to do it without even letting him know. God forbid anything goes wrong, you need to have the support.. and as your husband I think he has the right to at least know--even if he doesn't agree. The beginning is rough, you do need someone to take care of you at least for a few days. I was going to get RNY.. my husband and family were not behind me at all.. but I made the decision, I'm doing it. It's my decision, I'm tired of the life I'm living. Then I found lap-band and they were supportive of lap-banding.. but if lap-banding wasn't an option or if they weren't behind the idea of that.. I WOULD have done it anyway. Does your husband not understand why you would want it?

Ohh I made up a new recipe last night, thought I'd share. Since it's my OOMTOM... I've been craving sweets like crazy, I keep resorting to my 100 calorie packs, but I wanted cake last night.. cake is out, but I thought I'd make home made muffins.. I found a recipe that had stuff in it I actually have at home (I don't have a lot of baking stuff).. It was applesauce muffins.. 1/4c milk 1/4c sugar 1 tsp cinnamon (I used more like 1 tbsp) 2 tbsp cooking oil 2c of bisquik 1 egg 1/2c applesauce (I used more like 3/4c) So.. I replaced the sugar with splenda.. and the milk with skim milk.. They were pretty darn good. It said to dip the tops in melted butter and sprinkle with more cinnamon & sugar.. I didn't dip them, but I sprinkled a little more cinnamon on top (not a fan of splenda by itself, but baked in something or in a recipe is fine). They were good, satisfied my needs for something warm and fluffy. I ate 2.

I'm having a meal replacement smoothie from Tropical Smoothie for lunch. We start our bowling league tonight (YAYAYAYA) so we're just going to stay 2 hours after work and go straight from here to there.. and get dinner on the way. I went to Cato's during my lunch break to get some new shirts. Most my shirts aren't work appropriate because they show too much cleavage, or the tank tops that show my bra..so I go in.. and to recap, I was 26/28 busting on 30 when I got surgery.. I was wearing 22/24 shirts happily and 20/22 pants (last time I went shopping).. and this time, I found a clearance rack with cute shirts, but everything I liked only was in 18/20..So I tried them on anyway. YAY! THEY FIT! All cute and everything, and I'm wearing some 25 jeans today that do NOT fit anymore, so they fall constantly (I hate belts btw), and with the 18/20 shirts, I can see a girlie figure coming in!! Since I've been overweight my ENTIRE life, I've never had like, hips and curves.. I am top heavy, big belly and big boobs, small hips and thin legs. But now I've got a nice curve coming in on my sides, where my love handles are going away. Was neat, I was in the dressing room turning around and around wiggling my butt and being excited lol. So I got a bunch of 18/20 shirts that fit perfect, a new purse, and some girlie earrings. I put on a shirt and earrings and a co-worker came in and said "you're getting all preppy!" I said, what do you mean 'preppy'?? (The shirt I'm wearing now is gathered sky blue lace, scoop neck with puffy sleeves) and she goes 'I mean girlie.. you look all girlie'.. i said "I cant be girlie?!' she said 'noo!' and i said 'I have a husband, I have to be girlie SOMETIMES!' hehe. So I'm in a good mood right now..

Why are you doing a week of liquids?

Luckily (knocking on my wood desk!!) I have not lost any additional hair since surgery. I've been holding my breath, but I'm wondering.. I have those back injections, had my last set 2 months before banding.. and they put me to sleep.. so if anesthesia makes it fall out, wouldn't I have had it from these? I've never noticed it fall out from this before. My hair fell out when I did Atkins, and slowly 80% grew back.. now I have normal shedding I believe, with a thin spot I've had since Atkins. Anyway, I feel like I'm sabotaging myself. I do make good decisions more and more.. which is a YAY thing.. but, I don't only eat 1-2 cups. The doc asks me, 'Can you eat 1 cup of food in a sitting?' and I scoff and say 'much more.' when i told him I can eat AT LEAST 3 cups, he gives me a fill. Well, like I've said I'm frustrated with the rate I'm getting fills.. and I don't have the restriction I need, and it's a vicious cycle. I can tell myself (bless you Terri for your will power!) *DON'T* eat more than 1 cup, but I'm still hungry.. More so near the time I had my fill (but rarely now) I get stuck at certain times of the day on things.. like real early morning or late night. My sister and her gf came to watch a movie with me last night. We were up till Midnight (my bedtime is 10pm), so I was hungry when they left. I just made a piece of toast with jam on it. I was struggling with it. Every bite was getting stuck, so I stopped eating it. Why can't I be like this all day long? I think it would help.. anytime I get stuck it curbs my appetite. Yet, around dinner time, I can eat 1-2 cups of chicken casserole, about 10 brussel sprouts, and 1/2 cup of corn.. without feeling anything from my band. Sigh sigh sigh. What to do. Oh, so you gym nazi's know. I took out my ticker for exercise because it made my signature way too big... But I have been walking my dog regularly at night, and I just got 'Walk Away The Pounds' DVD version. I use to do the VHS ones, loved em, but then we got rid of our VHS and it was no more.. so got the DVD version this weekend and I love it. Yay exercise.

Terri- You think eating more protein less carbs will help? At the hotel yesterday I had 2 eggs and 1 piece of sausage for b'fast... I was still in the hungry all day pattern. Typically though, my b'fasts are yogurt, toast, or a banana all of which are carby.

Congratulations!!!!!

Oh, one more thing.. The Biggest Loser was having auditions in Tunica this weekend while we were there.. I almost went lol. I thought, I'll have a heads up, won't tell them I was banded. Hehe!

Morning Ladies! Sorry I've been MIA, we went out of town last minute on Thursday night.. went to Tunica (Little Las Vegas in Mississippi). I took $300 and came home with $800. WOOHOO! First time I can ever say I came up so ahead, normally I go with DH and one of us wins and other loses, so the 'wins' go to the loser so they can keep playing. DH didn't go, had his friends from TN come down and stay with him.. I went with my parents, sister and her gf. It was a lot of fun, nice little break. Room service and movies. Mmm. Ok, I am no longer calling it my TOM, its my OOMTOM. (One of MANY). Grrr. I've been afraid of the pills my gyno gave me to 'fix it', since they're anti-estrogen and B/C is estrogen, etc.. But I think I'm just going to have to make DH use condoms because this is ridiculous. I am bleeding way too much and my B/C is like it's not even affecting me. But because of my OOMTOM, I feel fat right now, like.. I'm gaining weight. Since I have no scale, there's no telling. I am craving bad food like mad.. I haven't been eating it, but yesterday I ate several of my 100 calories 'snacks' in one sitting.. well kind of, in 3 hours I had 4 of them. Also, I noticed a pattern in my eating, and I'm not sure what to do about it. If I eat food in the morning (b'fast), I will be hungry all day. For example, if I eat a yogurt or piece of toast at 9am, by 11am I am starving for lunch, by 2pm I'm ready for another meal, by dinner I am starving again, and after dinner I want to snack till bedtime. But, if I skip b'fast.. I'm not hungry till well past lunchtime. And when I eat, I don't want a lot.. and then I'm not hungry again till dinner, and then I have my snack cravings till bedtime. But if I eat b'fast, I eat a lot more throughout the day! WHY?! I know I'm suppose to eat b'fast, but I'm wondering if it's worth it. This is frustrating, what do you guys think I should do??

I can't view the video at work.. but in all honesty, if I could have had the lap-band when I was 12, it would have been the best thing my parents did for me!

Yes, enjoy it while you can. I lost 20lbs of my loss in the first week or so. Then I stalled for a while when I could eat again and before my first fill. And so on and so on..

Hey ladies! I just wanted to share this e-mail I got today. I had some laughs :confused: A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered herAltitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot airBalloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a Republican.""I am," replied the man. "How did you know?""Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technicallyCorrect, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Democrat.""I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?""Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault."

Congrats!!

This too shall pass :girl_hug:

Lap-Band for Life by Dr. Ortiz is a great great read. I learned so much in there that I hadn't heard my doctor or anyone else on the boards mention! I bought my copy from amazon.com

LOL! I was in the exact same boat. They took me off my BC which is what regulates me.. otherwise I bleed like a stuck pig 365 days a year! So, when I went off, I was bleeding horribly. I was emberassed, and asked them what I should do.. (I had to be completely underwear-less). They said don't worry about it. When I woke up in the hospital bed after surgery, they had put a bunch of towels on the bed under me (I still had 'nothing down there') I made quite the mess, but I immediately paged the nurse and asked for a pad.. then she brought me those big DIAPER LOOKING PADS.. grabbed underwear from my overnight bag, and voila. Depends on how they require you to be dressed, I couldn't wear my panties in the surgery. But someone told me--don't worry about it, they don't care about those things.. and I have to say, they were professional about it, they just told me not to worry about it and yadda yadda.