lisacaron

I wasn't allergic to the glue, but there are some surgical tapes that I was allergic to and like you I didn't find out until I had surgery. Not this particular surgery but others I have had to have over the years. The best thing is really taking the benedryl or what ever antihistamine the doctor gave you and putting the topical cream to reduce the itchy feeling. Sometimes a cold compress can help reduce the inflammation and burning itch. I hope you feel better soon!! PS don't stress the weight loss, it will come give your self some TLC for a while and you'll get there.

Having your life partner share your life with you for the good the bad and the ugly is a truly amazing thing. I have to say I am very lucky to share my journey with my husband. We went through the trials and tribulations together about whether or not to be banded we went through the testing together and the surgery 3 days apart. While our journey's are different we are able to support each other when we have milestones and when we have set backs. Things that make my band tight just don't affect him, and things that make him PB don't affect me but we are there to support each other with love and empathy through it all and I am so grateful for that. I can tell you from personal experience that not having your partner be supportive of you no matter what your goals are in life can be devastating. Great post Thank you for sharing.

Shaz, Have you changed any medications? Were you recently sick and maybe took an antibiotic? My father had the same thing happen to him and it was from one of his medications. He had been taking it regularly and never had a problem then suddenly too much of it built up in his system and he was covered in hives and has been for month and months on end. Dr.s did all kinds of tests while he was in the hospital but never checked his medications! So I did...and I had them change the one sulfur based Water pill he was on and now magically all the hives are gone and the itching has stopped.

I like that idea Fred, and my husband will just LOVE it! Between work clothes and casual clothes not to mention the shoes....he'd be over the moon if I got rid of at least one thing a month!

The sleeve is a bit different then the band in that way. With the sleeve you really can't eat as much it has a smaller stomach to digest and it can and will back up on you. Some banders have only the band and then a regular stomach just under it. If we keep eating and the food keeps going smoothly through the band given enough time we can consume volumes of food. I have a plication under my band which is sort of like the sleeve without the removal of the stomach tissue. (The stomach is rather pleated into itself and stitched together) So I kind of have the best of both worlds depending on how you look at it. However...what I have noticed about this dual procedure is that the same applies. Since the band slows down consumption, it takes longer to fill the plication and over time if you keep grazing you can just keep eating. You really need to pay attention the band and the signals it gives and do not graze through meals. My Nut says that a meal should take you no longer then 20 minutes to consume. After 20 minutes you have already moved onto your next meal! That advice works for me, and if I have not consumed my meal in that span of time (and sometimes I am distracted and pulled away from eating when at work I try to prevent this from happening as much as possible though!) I will discard the leftovers. Sometimes they are so tempting...they beckon to me just like Terry explained, and I have to destroy them. So I make them inedible. I pour Water or pencil shavings on it so I am not tempted to eat them again. I've done this while out in a restaurant, to myself and my husband both just to save us from the Porcelain God.

I'm wallowing in my too big clothes still, not wanting to purchase new ones just yet. I have some things that are smaller and I have to get into my attic to dig them out. I'm so not the clothes person, but it does feel good to see how big my pants are now! Problem is I am going to have to take them to tailor soon or wear a belt (being short waist-ed this is a bit uncomfortable for me at the port site) before they start falling down. I no longer have to unbutton or unzip them to get them off!

Welcome! This is a great site, you will read some good some bad and even some ugly as you go through. Everyone has their opinions and not everyone has always had the easiest of times with their WLS. If you take the comments in stride and do your research have faith in your surgical team and yourself you will do great and you will find this is an awesome place for support. Congrats on your decision. I can honestly say that for me it was the best decision I ever made and I have not regretted it once.

Go, You have been through so much in the last few years, and this is an AWESOME NSV! The hair fall sometimes comes additionally from all the stress our bodies are under. Losing weight is actually a stress to the body, it's something the body does not naturally want to do. Our bodies were designed to hold onto and store fat for future needs when food was scarce. You would think that today with all the food that's available to us our bodies would change, but if you think about it how many of us though overweight were actually malnourished? We could eat volumes of food and most of it probably junk. I never realized how under nourished I was until I started getting sick. I went through a series of different surgeries as organs were failing and found out how under nourished I was at over 260 pounds! Since being banded, I keep a much better eye on what passes through my lips and I make sure that I get the proper nutrition now and that the food I eat is whole food and loaded with Protein and Vitamins. Go, you are on the road to fabulous! You are a true inspiration to me and my husband both. I'm so glad your feeling great, get yourself 2 pairs of earnings to frame that beautiful smile!

Lots of good advice here. I also use the group as my support system especially when I am away from home. My husband and I are banded together so we are a good support for each other, however I spend most of my time at work. It's not so easy to be here 9-10 hours a day and be mindful of what I'm eating, when I'm eating if I'm getting in enough Fluid and if I'm moving enough. When I feel a little lost or discouraged I check out the site and people here lift me up and help keep me on track. It's not just the veterans or those who have been largely successful that are a great support for me either. I learn from those who are new and those who are seeking WLS. Many times they have great questions, and sometimes their questions remind me that I may have forgotten the band basics and I should take a look at that in my life again and apply them. It helps me to be interactive and to share my experience with others as they share theirs with me along with their advice, thoughts and opinions. Ultimately just remember that everyone is entitled to their own thoughts, and opinions. Take what's offered and apply or not to what works for you and discard the rest. There are a great many supportive and helpful people on this site, and I value all of you!

I agree with you! We all have something in common and yet we are all different. Even those of us that are banded. Some are plication and band some not, some have had adjustments and some not. It's great that we can share our experience with each other and be a support for each other! PB's and slime...are gross but it happens and hopefully it won't happen too often and you'll learn to not do what ever it was that caused it. For me it's usually swallowing before I have chewed well enough, or eating too fast.

Sure that's possible. I am finding that since the weather has gotten cooler I am tighter in the evenings. I'm not having any trouble eating my meals, but I do find that I am not as hungry for it when I get home which is a good thing. Sometimes my drive home can take an hour or more and when I'm too hungry I eat too fast and then it's not a pleasant experiance.

2muchfun, I also worry about getting too tight. I know that once I get to a high fill level that even 1/4 cc can make a huge difference. My doctor is very conservative and told me that if I have to come in for an un filling, he prefers to almost empty the band and start over. Wow...My Dr. is pretty conservative also, but to start over that seems so extreme to me. How would I be able to find that sweet spot if I didn't know how much was too much, not enough or how much was just right for me. There doesn’t seem to be a one size fits all Fluid measurement for bandsters everyone is at different tolerance levels. To start all over...I would not like that.

I always worry when I have to go in for a fill because I compare myself to others and their loss and level of restriction. I know I shouldn't do that, but I think it's human nature to try and see how we "measure up". I thought I had a lot in my 10cc band at 6.5 but I know...still need a bit more Fluid to be at that green zone. I can and sometimes do eat more then band sized portions for weight loss and I'm not seeing the changes that I and I'm sure my Dr. would like to see. Knowing I'm not alone in needing more makes me feel so much better.

I wonder if you would be able to speak with your Dr.'s office if in fact you really do need to go in and maybe they can work with you on the visit and cover the cost for you...as follow up from your last visit....? Hopefully it's not something that you would need to have any tests for and just maybe a tiny unfill. I don't have that TOM issue anymore but the hormones are still around, so I do notice that at certain times the band is tighter then others. Let us know how your doing....and if your feeling better

Agreed, it takes sometimes several fills and adjustments until you get to that point where you are feeling satisfied with what your consuming. You’re doing it right though, keep track and yeah for a bit it feels like dieting but soon you will see it becomes a life style and becomes who you are. I'm fairly close to the green zone, but not there just yet...but what I eat, when and how has changed so much and today I don't even think about it much it's just second nature to make the right choices for me and my band. Good luck on your apt today, it's an odd feeling getting a fill but it becomes old hat after a while

So...how are you doing now? You got loads of sound advice from people here. It's not easy to hear something like that no matter if it's via e-mail or face to face. The bottom line to all of it is that you really need to answer this wake up call, and ask yourself the hard questions what do YOU want? What do you want out of this relationship or any relationship for that matter? When we feel insecure about ourselves we leave an opening for people to target and wound us. I'm sure you are a beautiful smart and amazing person, and if you don't see that when you look in the mirror or feel that way in your heart about yourself, then that's the relationship to work on. Cultivate some self-love my friend, and once you can accept and love yourself for all the amazing attributes only you possess you will see how fast this guy changes his tune and starts wanting you. Then you can decide if he is someone YOU want to share your time with. Most of all friend don't let anyone make you feel less than beautiful or less then worthy. It’s usually people that have negative comments to make about others are the ones that have the issue, so don’t let them make their issues yours. All the best to you, and we are here for support any time you need it!

I have never had a great immune system. I am always susceptible to the ills of those around me. They cough, sneeze and are better, and me I'm sick for a month! No joke. It seems that no matter what I do I cannot keep myself healthy enough to accomplish the things I strive toward. Since I have had surgery this is the 4th time I have had a horrible upper respiratory infection and bronchitis. It wears me down, exhausts me and if I even think of over exerting myself to go to the gym once I can breathe even a little better, it comes right back again with a vengeance or the next new BUG that’s going around grabs on for the ride and I'm twice as sick. I’ve been taking my multi, I take extra Vitamin C, Zinc, B12….what else can I do?? Anyone out there having or had a similar issues??? I’m ready to listen, and put some suggestions into action!!! I am trying to be healthy and sometimes I feel nothing but defeated by the green blob of sickness!!! There has to be a way to help boost the immune system so that I'm not so run down and sick all the time. Those that know me, they know I'm on the go 24/7 I have that high stress high output life style, I have been working on my stress levels and even taking the time to meditate Getting in my Zzzzz when I'm sick I can't help but get them in. I've been down for the count for three days! Back to work today, but ready to hang it up tonight and crash again! Any ideas....? Throw em out there friends!!!!

Be your own advocate! I have learned this the hard way more than once and not just when it comes to health care but that is the most important time to speak up! If you think something is not right speak up. Don't just take their word for it, even the best tests can be inconclusive and doctors all have different opinions so get a few if you need to. Don't give up till you feel comfortable and satisfied with the results. This is your health and your LIFE.

I think it's just that time of the year. So much to do so little time to do it. Travel, family, the dreaded "shopping".... So a big THANK YOU to everyone who makes the time to reach out and share their story to inspire and help others! You guys Rock!

The words do not do justice to the experience in my opinion. Stuck for a minute or stuck for an hour stuck is stuck and it's a dreadful feeling. The slime is just gross, and the one time I got good and stuck it took about 10 minutes of sliming and getting that gunk out before I could dislodge the under chewed bit of meat. (Yes I learned my lesson on chewing!) It was painful and disgusting. For me it was a short amount of time that felt like hours, but I can see how even a small something that does not go all the way through can be uncomfortable enough to want to bring it up but tolerable enough to keep trying to get it to move on it's own before doing anything more about it.

Thanks Fee you make an excellent point!

Awe...thanks lovie!! Your a great friend!!!

Hi Donna, You are a strong lady, and you have never given up on yourself and you have an amazing bunch of people here to support you and care for you. It is uplifting to see everyone reaching out to embrace someone with love and kindness when they need it. Donna you are a warrior, and I admire you and believe in you!!! Feel better soon my friend!