hagerteresa

Oh my goodness that is so GROSS!!! But it does look a LOT better. Glad your healing up finally Lisa. Best wishes, Teresa

Your baby is so cute!!! What a wonderful family you have. Teresa

Hi Nicole, Congratulations on your banding! Hmmm... What's it like you ask... For myself I have lots of different new sensations. Most are pleasant but some aren't and other times it took changing my habits for it to be pleasant. If a meal goes really well and I feel like I can eat easily I can down a plate with child sized portions on it. I can't rush the meal but can eat it in that 20 minute timeframe and I feel comfortably full but not too stuffed. When a meal is being stubborn I might be able to get 3-4 bites down and now I've gotten better about realizing its not going down easily. If I stop then I'm ussually fine and it will go down okay without a PB episode. If I take just another bite or two I'm ussually sorry. I don't know if that situation occurs because I didn't chew well enough or ate too fast but I have gotten better about catching it at the right time. It is definitely a barrage of new sensations but nothing that would make me lose my happiness with the band. There are times when it is being difficult and I feel really frustrated and downright mad if its not going easily. I'll never forget an incident I had last month. My hubby and I went out for Breakfast and within two bites my band played stubborn. I was so cotton picking mad because I so wanted to eat all of my yummy breakfast. I was having hashbrowns, eggs and sausage at the time and it was the hashbrowns that gave me such a problem. Any sort of fried potato doesn't typically work well for me. Other things will go easily one time and more difficult later. I had steak at my father in laws house last weekend and I was able to eat 2-3 oz of the steak, 1/2 baked potato and a few tablespoons of vegetables and salad but later that evening I tried a piece of leftover steak at home and it wouldn't work at all. My band is a fickled thing. Anyway, there is a learning curve but it doesn't take rocket science to figure it out. You'll learn what all the new sensations are like. Best of luck, Teresa

It looks like the whole troop has tried to reassure you but I wanted to add my hugs and advice. I felt TOTALLY like you do and was a nervous wreck. It all went fine and I'm beyond thrilled I had it done. You too will feel the same way later on. Best wishes and good luck, Teresa

Hi everyone, I wanted to get ideas for what I should seek for medical damages in that auto accident I had back in december. I had soft tissue damage and will have had 12 sessions of massage therapy. My primary doctor doesn't think I'll have any other long term damage. I go in for a final check up from him at the end of the month and he thought I should try to start settling then. I was put on 2 prescriptions for pain and muscle relaxing. I have experienced numerous headaches since the accident, had to drive 200 miles to have my port checked out because of the accident and will have had about 20 doctors appts in regards to the event. I just have no idea what I should even expect. I'm sure they'll offer me some piddly amount but I have an attorney who is more than willing to help me if I need it. Anyway I've never been in this situation before and wanted to get some ideas. Teresa

Trust me, I want to get as much as I can. This has been a major inconvenience for me. I am truly lucky I wasn't more injured out of it but like Sue says about her daughter, I am totally a nervous wreck whenever a big vehicle is behind me now. I've even pulled over to let them pass just to get them off of my butt. I drive the speed limit and maybe go a few mph more but I hate it when vehicles try to push me along at faster speeds. I am built pretty sturdy and heal pretty easily so if the doc tells me I won't have any future problems its pretty likely he is correct. I'm not going to jump on the first offer they give me, thats for sure. I'll definitely go chat with the attorney some more too. Thanks for all the advice, Teresa

Hi Bright, There are periods of time that I think my restriction has taken a leave of absence but then it will surprise me. I don't know what you should do... I would give it a few days and see if it doesn't come back. Sometimes I can eat bready type things with no problems and other times its like trying to swallow lead. Egg salad is pretty soft and is probably not a good indication of restriction. Try some chicken or steak and see how well that goes down. Breads can also be chewed enough to go down fairly easily. For me solid Protein is still one of my biggest challenges. Anyway sorry if I wasn't much help. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Marie, My back is fine. I still get a little twinge of pain when I turn my head to the right but considering how it was after the accident it feels 99.9% better now. I still have several massage therapy appts so that too should go away. I feel like I was pretty lucky considering how hard I was hit and the size difference of our vehicles. I still have moments where I miss my old car but I do love the new one too. Teresa

Thanks for all the insights and suggestions. My own vehicle insurance company has payed all my medical bills under something called P.I.P. Personal Injury Protection. Evidently that is something I pay for under my full coverage policy and they don't expect reimbursement. I am basically out the time I spent driving and going to appts, the pain I have been in (bad at first but minimal now) and the basic shock of having to go thru all of this. Having had so many appts really has affected my work schedule and time. I have been unable to volunteer in the middle school since it happened because it seems like every week I have had appts on the days that I am available to go into the school. I just have no idea what to even ask for. The attorney I use is available to me thru my college and he is 100% free (expect for what I pay in my tuition fees but considering my hubby works at the college my tuition fees are almost nothing). I have used his advice and experience in the past with wonderful results. When I went to him regarding the loss of my car, he was very helpful and was willing to help me if needed for anything else regarding the incident. I was at a legal dead stop (waiting for a car in front of me to turn) when I was hit by that truck going 55 mph. It seems pretty cut and dry to me. The other drivers company hasn't offered me anything for my medical yet and their offer on my car was ridiculous. I ended up having to go thru my own company for that and was able to get what I wanted. Anyway I was just curious and wanted to get others' views on this. Thanks, Teresa

I agree with Penni. I love this sight and for a very long time things ran very smoothly. I personally believe that peace can be restored. I enjoyed LBT more before we had so many moderators. Small bickers might start then but never anything compared to present. I even thing the last day or two has seemed more pleasant. I don't know anything about people with false identities. I have not felt intimidated or anything and am obviously not understanding what all went on. I am ussually on here at least once or twice each day so not sure what/how I missed it. Thanks again for such a great supportive web site. Teresa

Hey Jack you just reminded me of one of my worst PB experiences. I was in Sweethome last summer for that big coutry music event and swung by that drive up DQ. I got a cheeseburger but of course they forgot the cheese and it had already taken forever to get our food. I was so hungry I just gave in and ate the plain burger and it was like CARDBOARD! It was so awful. I refused to think I was going to PB (I was still learning then). My husband kept insisting I pull over so I can do what I needed to do but I kept insisting I wasn't going to get sick. Needless to say I had to do an emergency pull over. It was terrible... Best wishes, Teresa

I'm in too. Group HUG!!! XOXOXO

Hi Julie, Congrats on your new band and no you did not make a mistake. I was hungry during the liquid phase but once I got on mushies and solid food that hunger went away. I waited 6 months before my first fill and had lost 68 lbs during that time. The worst mistake is getting overfilled or reaching your maximum band capacity before reaching goal. All kinds of problems arise from too much fill. I tend to like the softer approach of letting my body tell me when I need a fill. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Thank you so much for all your well-wishes. It meant a lot to me. I hope you all had a wonderful day too. XOXO Teresa

I told my mom last night about my plans to sleep in and have a nice relaxing morning...NOT! Lets see... my hubby woke me up to say hi when he got home from work at 1 am, I woke up again when he came to bed at 5 am (at that point I figured it was officially time to open my birthday card from my dad, it was driving me nuts and he said I couldn't open it before my birthday) I went back to sleep when my sweet darling dad called and woke me up at 6:15 am. I gave up at that point. LOL. I'm so glad I'm loved.... Thanks again for all the sweet well wishes, Teresa

Thank you everyone! What a nice surprise to wake up to!

I get a 24 oz. iced sugar free white chocolate mocha with carmel daily. It is so good...

Talking Rain makes this new low calorie (3 per serving) fruit juice with a light carbonation called ICE. It is really good. Costco had a coupon for it so I got a couple of cases. I was talking to my fill doctor and he doesn't actually have any restrictions about diet soda in his banding policy, nor the NSAIDS. It is so weird how every doctor is different. I love crystal light too. I think minute maid came out with a low calorie juice that tastes really good too. Sugar free fruit punch is another favorite. Best wishes, teresa

Hi Denise, Do you have the band too? I listed the fast foods I can eat in a prior post but like many others my fast food intake has taken a huge plunge since banding. It seems like I had a fast food something daily preband but it might be a once a week occassion now. My hubby works swing shift so sometimes I'm just not up to scrounging for leftovers for dinner when I am all by myself. I also am taking an evening class. By the time it gets out its 9 pm (it starts at 6) I tend to have a late lunch because I wait till I'm off of work so I'm not ready for dinner before class. By the end of class I'm hungry and am more apt to stop for something. I cant wait till this class ends. Only 2 more weeks to go... I don't personally have any problems eating bunless hamburgers. I laugh when I think I used to be able to eat a whole super sized meal and now can barely squeeze down a small bunless burger... I tend to feel like I get to eat all the good stuff and don't have to waste my time on the fillers. I made a stir fry a few weeks ago and decided I didn't want any rice but would just eat the meat and veggi's. My husband was even jealous. Why did I just get the good stuff... That is how I feel about burgers too. Especially home made ones right off the barbeque. I top it off with all my favorite toppings and it is YUMMY! Best of luck, Teresa

It is very common not to feel any restriction until your first fill. I was starving all thru my liquids phase but mushies and solids actually made me feel full and restricted. I didn't end up needing a fill the first 6 months. You may feel more full when your on more solid food or you may need to wait for your first fill for that feeling. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Carey and congratulations!!! Nice to meet you. I was fearful of my first fill too. It really isn't too bad if they do it under flouro. They initially tried doing a blind fill in the office but after a LOT of poking they couldn't hit the port. When they put me under flouro (like x-ray) they are able to hit it perfectly and avoid a lot of extra poking. I did get food poisoning once since having the band. Vomit just would not come up thru the band but fortunately the nausea passed quickly. No harm was done to my band. I keep meaning to get some anti-nausea suppositories from my doc but keep forgetting. Its probably wise to have them on hand for just in case scenarios. Best wishes, Teresa

I am a residential housekeeper going to school to be a math or science middle/high school teacher. My husband loves to play online games. He played world of warcraft for awhile but seems to like everquest more. I enjoy my two dogs, no kids yet, I love to travel but am limited by funds, I love to dabble artistically including scrapbooking, watercolor and photography. I love horses and dream of owning one again soon. When I get a teaching job, my first paycheck is going to buy me one. That is my promise to myself because I have been waiting so long to get one. I used to have them as a teenager. I really am interested in a Norwegian Fjord. I mostly just want something very gentle though. That is another reason I wanted to lapband, so I can be more fit and be able to ride more easily. I generally love all animals and grew up on a small farm. Teresa

I like it a lot too though it would be nice just to watch all the episodes back to back without commercials. I hope eventually they rent it at video stores like some other popular series.

Thin crust pizza Taco bell crisp tacos, bean burritos (minus some of the tortilla), quesidillas, pintos and cheese, etc. McDonalds double cheese burger without the bun, french fries are a challenge and I can only do a few. I love chicken wings of any kind anywhere. Salads of any kind.... Pretty much anything but less the bun. Tortillas can be tough to chew too so either be careful or remove some/all of it. Good luck, Teresa

Hey Lisa! ' Nice to see you back! I got your PM but hadn't had a chance to write back yet. I am not upset at anyone including you. Your still my crazy Vegas Band Sis. Anyhow best wishes to you, Teresa P.S. Marie did some very public apology on one of the threads. Not sure how sincere it is to you specifically though... LOL. And hell no, I'm not adding my weight to that repetitive weigh in scandal. I feel self accomplished enough about my success without having to re-add it to some list.