sascijo

You can ask your doctor if there is a liquid equivalent to what you are taking.

i'm working on it.

Delarla, You have the best spirit of anyone I know.... I love to read your posts and can't wait to meet you... Now the pressure is on girl! You have to be funny ............But it doesn't seen to be hard for you. I wish I was going camping with you... Everything you talk about is so close to the way I am.... animals, birds, weight, hubby, etc. But I guess it could be close to a lot of us. Is your husband quiet? Mine is... I am the talker, Miss personality, and he is quiet.. But he and I both like it that way.. it is natural and I guess opposites do attract. Keep posting.... We will keep reading. :straight :straight :straight :straight

I'm Terry, I will be 50 August 8th, 2004. I was banded on April, 8 2003. I weighed 301, now I weigh 207. I am 5' 2" - Brown gray hair @ shoulder- Green eyes married for the 3rd time- but has lasted 25 years 3 Sons , 30,28 & 28-(not twins, step son/ but mine anyway) 1 daughter 20, also banded same day as me 4 dogs- 2 pit bulls: Jordy and Blade 1 pekingnese - Sascijo (my internet name) 1 poodle - peke mix named: ZuZu (my favorite movie is: Its a wonderful Life" can you tell 1 peke mix I just lost 2 weeks ago, can't help it I still love her, named: Timber 1 Cockatiel named: Spike I live in the center of Texas, and tiny town called : Zephyr (about 300 people) I went from a size 26-28 to 18-16w Don't have to take diabetic medicine or half of the high blood pressure meds I used to My Doctors name is : Dr. Patrick Dillawn - Austin Tx (he is the surgeon that sewed up Darlie Routier's neck when she claimed someone came in her house and killed her sons in Rowlett Tx.- if any of you know who I am talking about. She is the one with silly string at the boys grave on TV having a party) first fill 2.o Small increments after that - need a fill now I think Had to have gall bladder surgery almost 1 year later - was told that did happen a lot NEVER BEEN HAPPIER IN MY LIFE......................... Oh yeah, I only knew hubby #3 for 2 weeks. What the heck! It's been 25 years.... I agree with the one that said , " when you know you know".

Hi Denise, Hey that is one day before my "50th" birthday... I will be thinking of you.... don't worry girl, its not that bad...

Nanny, Oh how I remember the liquid stage...But you do get past it. Hang in there, talk to us, or sew or walk or something....My doc gave me liquid hydrocodone and it took care of my needs. You might want to call and ask though. To be honest , I would take it if my head hurt pretty bad.

Hi Sandy, Wow, I'll bet you look wonderful.. Welcome to the group. I am new too, and these ladies are really nice. You will love them.

Roy, You will be an extrovert in no time at all. lol.....With all these women helping you, you may have found the right support group to get you kick started. But I hope nobody gets upset with me over this, but it sounds like you are eating too many carbohydrates...As I said before, I eat them too, but I was diabetic and if you can suffer through a story..... My sugar was 279 every day. I was told it would damage all my organs and blood vessels if I didn't get that sugar count in the normal range and keep it there. I started eating the Atkins way.. Strict at first and then of course you never keep eating that way.. But I did modify it to fit my life and my health problems and now I maintain a 85 blood sugar. I do not take medicine anymore and with the help of my band and my diet I no longer have symptoms of diabetes. Legs don't swell, go numb, hurt, etc. you get the drift. All I did was "cut" my carbs. I know, I know, but you love them... They DON'T LOVE YOU. You can still have a baked potatoe, just cut it in half. then someday, cut it in 1/4... eat it last. Eat the huge steak, pork chop, chicken, whatever 1st. Then eat some veggies, or even nibble them with your meat. But anything white as in flour, sugar, potatoes, rice.... were told to me to not be "good" foods. Turn to sugar in your system and the body had a hard time using it. Now I could be wrong, or be saying it wrong, but I proved "in my case" to work. Like I said, you can still have some of it, but smaller portions and larger portions of the Protein food. Tuna,or fish is excellent and it is heart friendly... Boiled ,fried, or scrambled eggs. you get the drift (you can even have bacon). Get you a little book at the bookstore on foods that shows how many carbs, fats, Proteins each food has in it... I have one, but I can't remember who put it out. I loaned it out. I think it was Dr. Atkins. I am not pushing his diet, or him, i am simply telling you what I did. Delarla, What an awesome saying, "if you are posting, you are not eating" except in my case, I nibble on sunflower seeds all day.. But it ain't candy or ice cream, cake or God knows what....

Roy, Can you eat bread? I know I can't. I would too if I could. It is a big weakness of mine. If you can, I am thinking you are not at the right restriction yet, and that is part of your problem. I don't know one single person with the right restriction that can comfortably eat bread. I think your choices in your meal were good. Did you get satisfied? Green beans seasoned with chicken or beef boullion and onions diced up in them are real good. Not quite as many carbs as the carrots and corn. However... those are still good choices so don't think I am saying don't eat them. I am going to confess that I wished I had gotten the gastric bypass at first. I truly thought that it would do it all and I would not have to deal with dieting or watching what I ate. I'm lazy. I wanted something to do it for me. Well, now I am glad I did the band. I think it was the right choice for me. I have learned so much about the gastric bypas that I did not know before and I am content with my choice. I hope you are too.

Hey, I want to meet everyone too.. So Vegas sound great, Sept or Oct (cooler and more time to save money) If each one of us that actually get to go brought something, then Delarla wouldn't be out anything... That wouldn't be fair to her... So we could either mail her money or show up with something. I would be interested in a discount ticket to fly, or I might not be able to make it, unless I can get the time off and drive, don't know about that since all my sick time and vacation time is used up with the gallbladder sugery in Feb...

kimber-lilly, I wish I had kept a chart, but I didn't. I started out in 26W that had to be altered to be "bigger" because I was NOT going to buy a bigger size... I gave ALL my clothes away as I got smaller because I didn't want a fat reminder... Now I wish I had kept at least one outfit. At one point when I was going through clothes to see what fit and what didn't, I tried on my oldest and biggest and walked up to Joe (my wonderful husband) and I didn't say a word. He turned around and looked at me and just cracked up laughing. They hung on me like a sack.... And I didn't think anyone would be able to tell I had lost any weight, can you imagine that. I now wear an 18 or 16W... So I have gone down , but I am still a chunky girl... But thats ok, I am not like I used to be... One thing I did do, was to take pictures every month whether I could see or feel the difference or not... Now I am very glad I did it because when I look at these pictures, I am amazed at my size... I didn't think I was that big... But at 301 and 5'2" I was BIG.... I was in denial..... I was sick...... But now I am better. I pray for you to get this done and have very good luck. Busy yourself with a journal, pictures, whatever..... I also did a journal, but the carpal tunnel in my hands slowed my writing down.... I just love to read it now... I wish I had kept it up.. I am really talkative today guys...SORRY

It really is a very good idea... At least newbies would have an idea of stuff that "could" happen.. We found out the hard way.. Let me know , I will send you stories..

Congratulations Tawn, I am excited to hear you have taken steps to better yourself and your health.. Keep posting.

When everyone in the house eats the same, your weight loss will improve. The motivation doesn't seem to be there, and In my opinion , it takes a while for the band to work. At least with me it did. The right restriction is imperative, but it takes a bit to get there. One thing I did, which you may not want to hear, is this. When I wanted to eat, hungry or not, because that is what obese people do...eat when they are not hungry... I would eat anything high in protein first. Meats, shakes (protein) or whatever. It would curb my appetite and keep it curbed.. The carbohydrates, and sugars (which are my downfall) made me hungrier and I was able to get more in... I still do this.... (when I am not binging) I eat protein first, then my veggies, and then if I still want it, I eat something sweet. I hardly ever want it when I eat this way. My surgeon said, "ANYTHING" you can do , even if you cannot walk, run, jump, or ride a bike, anything you can do, like arm weights, leg lifts , or even just stretching, is an improvement. They did a study with nursing home patients and they started the oldsters out on a minimal exercise. Some just sitting in wheelchairs. They did arm, leg, neck and chest exercises. The improvment in the people in one month was unbelieveable.... Not on the physical improvement, but their mental outlook was way better. I know I am preaching to the choir.... I need to take my own advice, but you did ask and you have not lost much and truly want to see you succeed. I will say this also, please take it the right way.... When the ladies of the house set their mind to something, like a diet or eating a certain way, the men and chlidren just follow. I think this is because in most houses the women do the cooking and planning of meals and also buy the groceries. So it is hard for you I am sure.... But it sounds as if it is going to get better soon. Hang in there... Keep posting... each person here has been so helpful and I know they will help you... I truly believe in the protein thing... I drink EAS rich chocolate fudge. It is GOOD.. It is at Walmart... you can get 4 cans for around $6.00. Or you can buy Atkins, it tastes better, but more expensive. Each of these are low in carbs ... I am not an Atkins freak, but I have found that the weight comes off if I limit the carbs...along with the band. I did not say, that I don't eat carbs at all. there is a difference. Keep us posted...

Wow, Leatha, noone knows where Zephyr Tx is.. I am impressed. Do you live far away now?

:laugh This is pretty interesting.... Lets hear more...

Donali, after reading your post about your 20 things you "will" do, I am really jealous. You really have your stuff together. I guess that is why you lost 100 lbs since January. I haven't even lost 100 yet and it has been 14 months for me.. If I were facing losing the band, I could not be as in control as you are. I am not in control now, I ate cookies, and ice cream and God know what for the last 2 weeks. AND I KNOW BETTER ......You would think someone that has had the band as long as I would be someone the new ones could look up to, instead I am reading you guys posts looking for new motivation. I just seem to have lost it... I got it in my head that I can't lose anymore and I have gained 12 lbs.....I have managed to get 5 of them off, but what the heck would i do that for......I can tell you this..... I need help... i have an addiction as strong as any alcohol or drugs.....My addiction is not illegal, it is everywhere, and i have money to buy it without fear of prosecution. But when I read your post, I felt new motivation... l think you are so strong, and I am extremely impressed with your attitude. I pray you will not regain the weight

Well, I have an odd story on that!! My sister and I were coming back from a dentist in Mexico, and she can't see well at night so she ask me to drive. I did and we had eaten. I knew I was stuck but she really didn't want to drive so I was driving and sipping on that darn Water trying to ease the food down. It didn't work. It made it worse.... really bad.... so I drive and drive trying to play like everything will be ok, it's not.... she keeps asking if i am ok, I lie, tell her yeah, just great. I can't lie anymore, I can tell its starting to come up with all that water, so I tell her, Just give me that napkin. I don't think it is much. I've done this before....So she gives me the napkin, I do my thing.......Woah!!! It was waaaaay more that I expected. Ok, I am driving mind you, I have vomit all down my bra, (it was hot too) all over my blouse, running out of my napking and over the side of my hand.. But I feel better!!!lol...So I pull over and tell her, I am getting a blouse out of my suitcase and i am just going to change here on the side of the road. It's really dark , right, nobody will see me..... I get my blouse off, and bra, standing in the dark on the side of the road, and my goofy sister forgets that i said don't open the door, and guess what she does.... that's right.... she opens the door to see if I am ok.... cars are coming behind us and i am standing there with no top on. I grabbed my shirt and shut her door and all i can hear is her cracking up.... I jumped in the drivers seat with no blouse on, but the clean one in my hand and put it on as fast as i can. So, I usually keep a clean towel in my car. It comes in handy for lots of stuff. Well, I hope you all enjoyed that. I know i think its pretty funny now. Wasn't then, but what the heck. I gave someone driving by the shock of their night!!!! :D

Well thanks ladies!

Now that I am as far out as I am, I realize that a lot of the stuff we try to do is not necessary. We put extra pressure on our selves because we are afraid that one more time, we will fail and if you girls are like me, that is too much to handle. But whether we drink, or don't drink, or when we do or don't do it..... will not make us fail. Water is the most important thing we can put in our body. It hydrates every organ we have, and helps flush the toxins out of them. It even gives our skin a more youthful appearance. So, DRINK... Anytime you want. However, When eating, try to sip instead of drink. That way you can do what everyone else is doing and not feel you have to be different. I have a tape that says, "The best exercise in the whole world is.................one you will do" Wow. How smart is that. So in my humble opinion, the best diet, or I hate that word so I will say "The best Way to eat and live" is one that you can do and be happy at it. Because if it is a struggle, I have found that I will not stay with it. It isn't something "I will do". I will for a while, and then I feel like I am not living or not getting to be normal. So I incorporate "diet" for a lack of a better word, with a non-diet world. Kinda like the mixed popscicle thing..... I really like that, by the way, and that way we get to lose weight, and still have a normal life. I freak out and eat 6 cookies, or real ice cream, cake or whatever. And I may do it for a week. Not Good ! But..........Then somebody will see me and say, Wow, Terry, you really have lost a lot of weight and I start realizing that the food I just binged on really wasn't as satifying as that one compliment was, or as satisfying as the blood work I just had that was awesome instead of being so bad they are worried about me. So, unfortunately, we are still going to do bad, but there will be something to shake us back into reality and say, You can have a cookie, but not a bag of them, or a piece of cake , but not 3 pieces. So this is beginning to sound like a lecture, so I will stop. But just do what is comfortable for you......... And at some point, you may decide that the water at a meal is not that important after all and realize you can do whatever you really want to, one way or the other.:laugh

I drink right up to my meal, during my meal, and after my meal..... bad girl, i know...... but I don't actually drink, I just sip... I may not get but half of a cup, (one like is in the bathroom to rinse your mouth) during the whole meal. To easc his own I say. It just makes me feel better to have a tiny sip. HOWEVER!!!!! I recently read something that is making me re-think and try harder not to drink much. I read that..... " If you drink during meals (banded or not) that the water dilutes the stomach acid that breaks down the food and the food will not be used by the body as well as it would have if you "did not" drink with your meal. Makes sense to me. I remember when I was younger and really dumb and had my first son. I fed him baby food from the jar and he would not eat it all so I put it in the fridge. When I would open it back up to feed the next time, it would not be solid as before, but gross and runny and I would have to throw it away. I was dipping the spoon back into the food after putting it in his mouth. Therefore the saliva from the spoon was going into the untouched food and breaking it down. If we drink with our meals, more food will "not" be broken down and used, and more will remain solid and turn to fat instead of being used by the body as fuel. Now if I am wrong, forgive me, but since I read this, I am trying harder to "not drink". Do as you wish. It is your journey. I did not drink with meals faithfully at first. Then I crept into the sipping thing. I have noticed lately that my food will go down more and I can eat more if I do sip. Good or bad to drink?..... I don't know...but I have lost 95 lbs. I have lost much slower than most also. Oh yeah, by the way, I cannot eat lettuce at all.... but my daughter can...I love eggs, but she can't get them down..... go figure... we are all different.

I had Unitedhealthcare PPO and it was not excluded. Also on the Smartbandsters board they have talked about a lawyer that has successfully fought insurances that have claimed exclusions and has won many, many times. You might want to join that group and ask some questions about him. I also want to add that I only had their insurance 3 months when they covered it and not only my surgery, but my daughters as well on the same day. So they were out a considerable amount right up front, and I have never had a problem with it other than proving my daughter was still in school, but that is taken care of now.

Well I have been reading what is going on and it sounds like you are having h_ _ _. But,,,,,,, it also sounds like you have lots of friends and a really wonderful man to help you through it. I think your cure rate will be 100%. At least I hope so. It is amazing how animals can ease the pain of ANYTHING. All I have to do is cuddle them in my lap, or let them lay with me and for some reason everything is so much better. They look up at you with those pitiful big eyes and they trust us so much and they just don't understand that they are the "giving" ones to us. I recently lost a pet that if I were not at work fighting tears, they would be streaming down my face. I loved her "almost" as much as my children. But, we have to face loss as bad as I hate it. I try to remember how much love and joy she gave me. ENOUGH, OR i WILL CRY!!! I truly hope you get to feeling better and find the right person to care for you. If it helps any, I honestly think Vets are smarter than MD's because if you think about it, Vets have to treat without the help of the animal saying, "Doc, my tummy hurts, or leg hurts or whatever" Regular docs ask what is wrong and go from there, and that is only if they are really listening to what we say in the first place. Anyway, the go through the same training, it is just on animals. But we have a lot of the same problems the animals do. Back to the problem you have... Hopefully now, you will be able to get this healed and started concerning yourself with losing the excess fat and not with trying to heal problems. I wish I could give you a big hug and pet your puppies with you....

Donali, I don't think I could be as brave as you. I am going to admit it. I would crumble. I am going to print your list to remind me how smart and determined you are. I have given a lot of thought to what I would do if my band eroded, and honestly I just don't know what I would do. I am so compulsive even now with food, that I am afraid I would fail miserably. The only other choice I would have is gastric bypass, and I probably would do that if I saw the habits and weight returning. God bless you and hopefully something else with happen and you can get the band back. Technology is changing as we type and they may have something to fix the eroding problem in the process. After your stomach heals and a few months have gone by, I would at least ask about it. It is to their advantage to help those of you that lose your band. If you don't mind posting it, what happened that you knew something was wrong? I am truly sorry for your setback, but now that you know the taste of sucess and how truly wonderful it feels, I pray that you are able to maintain or even lose more. Good luck to you... Terry Evans

Hello all, This is my first time to see this forum and I am really impressed. I have had the band for 1 year and 2 mos. I have lost around 90 lbs. I gain and lose..... I have never been happier. I do wish I could lose some more, and probably will , but I do look like a different person. I wish all of you the best of luck. It does work, you won't be the only person it doesn't work for. I thought all of this at first, but I was wrong. My journey has been slower than some, but it is still going.. It is just a problem knowing exactly what you need, (as in a fill or what) but I always seem to figure it out. I feel like this band saved my life and I will be forever grateful for it. I will be watching and posting ... Anyone can IM or email me....