nightingale2u

I went out to lunch with my Lap Band Angel the other day... and I was left to wonder... When will be banded be less of a focal point in my life??? Sure... we talked about other things BUT... the way we ate... the slip of a sip of Water DURING the meal... the eventual need for a "to go" box... the look from our waitress of distress that we ate so little... all of that seemed so obviously present. It led me to wonder... will a time come that I won't think about my band and live without feeling banded? Do I want to stop thinking about my band? Will I forget that there is a foreign object stitched around my stomach and just live a healthy life??? My sister had the bypass... she says she rarely even thinks about the fact that her anatomy was re-arranged at this point... says she sometimes forgets that she ever had surgery. Hmmm... will I ever feel like that? I'm just wondering from those that have been banded longer than I... does the constant focus on being "banded" fade with time??? Darcy

Marie... Having my fill removed scared the noodles out of me too... the worst part was my fear that removing the fill would not take away the pain. I knew I could not live longterm with that type of pain and was worried that I might lose my band as well. I will have my fingers and toes crossed that removing some of your fill will take care of the problem and that your band will stay right where it belongs... snuggly hugging your tummy. (((hugs))) Darcy

OOOOOHHHHH Teresa!!!! I need one!!!! Here I am in COOOOOLLLLLDDDD Wisconsin and I NEEEEEEEEEEEED one!!!! I am helpless... Penni... Teresa... SOMEBODY... I am not above begging or buying. Can I order one??? Hmmm... perhaps a burgundy/gray one???? I'm on my knees here and they are snapping and crackling from the stress!!!! It's supposed to snow this weekend... have pity on me PALEEEEEAAASE. By the way... you look adorable Miss Penni... thanks for sharing a picture! Darcy "Cold Ears" Loeffler

Halarious... twas good to start my day with a belly laugh! Darcy

Willpower... I understand your frustration but as the other members mentioned... you are going through a very normal part of the process to be banded. I think that the only way to avoid the hoop jumping is to go to Mexico and pay for the surgery privately. Hang in there... this is a great forum and everyone here will support you as you go through the process. Darcy

HAT???? I wanna see the hat too????? Betty and I need a hat! Hey... will it go well with our Harley leathers???? Darcy

Welcome to the forum Roro! It looks like you have already gathered the information you need but just wanted to welcome you to LBT. Darcy

Welcome Sweetness! THis is an awesome forum and you will find oodles of support and gobs of information here to help you with your journey to bandland! Welcome! Darcy

Hey Greg... Good luck with your fill today! There's nuttin wrong with losing a pound... but I must admit... I sure love seeing the numbers go down in 2-3 lb chunks! Darcy

So sorry you are having problems... hopefully the swelling will resolve soon and this will all be behind you! I was extremely restricted post-op but was able to sip and get fluids down... I can see how more swelling could make even that a challenge. Hang in there... it sounds like they are getting fluids into your body and I'm sure you will feel better soon! Darcy

Oh Alex... I am right there with ya girl! I gave my hubby that sweet innocent "buy me ice-cream" look a few weeks ago after my unfill... he could not resist my charms. We purchased 3... yeah... that's right... three cartons of icecream! I can honestly say that I ate the majority of 2 of them. Sooooo... I told my DH... NO MORE ICECREAM IN THE HOUSE!!!!! TOld him he must be strong and resist my charms when I try to inlist his cooperation in obtaining the "goods". I go to Mickey Dee's and get a cone when I have a burning desire for icecream now. I don't even buy the "diet" icecream anymore... just leads to running to the store to buy the stuff that actually tastes good. Darcy

Congrats Blossom! A whole new life awaits you in bandland! Darcy

Carmen... It's pretty normal to have your fill really kick in a month afterwards but I don't think you should be so restricted that Water is difficult to drink. I think I would call and see about getting a wee bit removed. Darcy

((((Hugs)))) Marie... I know exactly how you feel! Hope you find that the unfill helps the pain as it certainly helped mine. Keep us updated. Penni... Stress has been your middle name of late... hopefully your life will settle down a bit and then I know you'll be back on track! Well... during my unfill I gained and freaked... all the way up to 216. I am thrilled to say that they put a 1/2 cc back in on Friday and I have wonderful restriction again! We didn't buy candy until yesterday evening and while I did pick up a Peanut Butter cup and inhale it's drool inducing aroma... I didn't eat a single one! We had 3 whole trick or treat visits and a ton of cany remaining. I threw all of it in a bag this morning... tied it up securely and ordered my husband to dispose of it! If I would have started eating it... I never would have stopped! So... I have been on a high all day as my official weight-in was 210... so... I had gained 3... and now lost 6lbs... YAY!!! Boy did I ever need to see that! Have a great week everyone! Darcy

Hey you sweet thangs! Well... a little fill goes a LONG way! Dr. Valledares cautioned me to start out slow even though I was BEGGING him to put in at least 1 cc! He talked me into 1/2 a cc and I am very glad I listened! I feel perfectly restricted at the moment. My fill was less traumatic this time... he was able to access my tilted port without digging a hole to China! The biggest news of all... I have lost the weight I gained Plus some! Yay! I was so darned depressed about the gain and all of you helped me hang in there! Becky Lee... a special thanks to you for all of your extra support... (((hugs))) You guys are awesome! Darcy

Congratulations and welcome to bandland! THis forum is growing leaps and boundds and there is a very good reason for that... it is awesome! Hang in there and like Leatha said... walk... walk...walk! Darcy

COngratulations! You are going to love your band! The wonderful thing about choosing the Lap Band is that it is very easy to keep it to yourself if that is the route that you choose! I am a blabber mouth to most people but there are a select few that I don't mention it to. THis is a great forum for support and information and friendship! Welcome! Darcy

Lainie, unjury is very good... mixes well and is sugar free, You can find it at Unjury.com. I also bought a whole jug of a different Protein powder that I couldn't even gag down... the Unjury chocolate is good and the unflavored mixes well with carnation or other things like Soup and such. Hope that helps! Darcy

There are a million supportive people out there and it sounds like the person you talked about is the odd one out! Perhaps feel sorry for her, as I would bet, that she does not have many friends in her life. It's not about being weak... it's about being human. Her lack of humanity is far more crippling than our disease of obesity... perhaps a sympathy card is in order? :dead Darcy

I remember feeling the same way and coming here to post... guess what... the wonderful people at this forum gave me great information and advice just as they are doing for you! Hang in there... the blues will go away and and the pain will too as your body adjusts. There is no "window of opportunity" for losing the weight with the Lap Band... it is there to help you lose weight over the long haul. (((hugs))) Darcy

Hey Miss Betty, I am going to try really hard not to disagree with your doctor... oh damn... that means I have to keep my big mouth shut! Whoops... not possible! Hey... I was encouraged to eat 3 meals a day... 6 30cc medicine cups of food for each of the three meals... PLUS... 3 Protein shakes per day. In my opinion... I do not think you will get all of the protein you need for healing with his prescribed diet. I didn't measure my food into little medicine cups but I was careful to only eat very small amounts at mealtime in the beginning. Grazing all day was FORBIDDEN by my dietician and my doctor... it was 3 meals a day with shakes for the Snacks in between. Does this help or hinder??? I just want you to get the protein in... your healing body really does need it! ((((Hugs)))) Darcy

What about setting up actual posted meeting times for chat???? Maybe we could even pick a main topic for each meeting???? I think it would be nice to utilize our chat room more often and if a meeting time is posted ahead of time... more people may be able to join in??? Just throwing out a suggestion? Darcy

Today is here Betty!!!!! YAY!!! You made it! I'll be curious to hear what your dietician adds to your diet... I'm all for following doctors orders BUT... I am also a sassy brat about healing and health. Good Luck at your appointment and you should be VERY proud of yourself! Becky... I love Betty's award! Awesome! Darcy

unjury has a very good amount of Protein and the chocolate is yummy... the unflavored is also good and without flavor for mixing into Soup and other beverages. It is available at unjury.com. Betty... carnation sugar free is really good but it doesn't have as much protein as they recommend post-op. I mixed the unflavored Unjury with my Carnation SF... you really need the additional protein while healing and while you are not able to have foods that are high in protein. Darcy

I'm here... just trying to keep myself busy and out of the fridge! Come on Friday... Mamma needs a fill! I worked out in the yard for 4 hours yesterday raking leaves... but spent today working on a quilt and surprisingly didn't even break a sweat. Lokks like everybody is movin and groovin... WTG guys! Darcy