lisacaron

For me the best NSV so far was getting on the bike at the gym and being able to peddle without my legs hitting my belly up into my bust and knocking me off! It probably looked about as funny as it sounds, but it wasn't a whole of fun for me! Not having it happen was a great NSV for me and I stayed on for 20 whole minutes!

Sorry your having such a bad day! People at work that talk behind each other's back are horrible. You always feel like you have to be perfect around those people and then one mistake gets you sent right to the bottom. We all make mistakes, it happens you didn't do it to hurt anyone. Turn on some tunes if you can and tune those bunch of B**chs out. Maybe even take a quick walk to the other side of the office or another floor and just take a breather. I hope your day gets better and hey it's Friday!!! Hopefully you have the weekend off.

Hehehe, I get them too at the worst times! At least we can all laugh at ourselves

You look great!

Wow I love that, I didn't know they had those little cups! Now I am on the look out for them. The hubby and I love PB and find it so hard to bring it out places this is GREAT!

That sometimes happens to me and the hubby as well. It happens also if I eat too fast, I think air pockets build up and it can go either way...

Lots of people here complain about being cold also...summer winter spring and fall. I never had that problem...maybe as I lose I might, but then I have those lovely hot flashes that always keep me burning up. Can't win no matter what we do, I have winter boots and flip flops under the desk cause ya just never know how it's gonna be inside or out Stay chipper Carolina girl!!

You have just made a major change to your life. You underwent major surgery and you are not the same as you were before. You are better then you were before, because you took control of your life, and made changes to it for the better. That is where you are right now, you are at a cross roads where fear and anxiety are taking control over you and your life. You don't have to accept that. I agree with everyone here when they say speak to someone, and you are reaching out and we are responding to you, and we are all here to support you. Sometimes it takes a little more, and a councelor, therepist, or even your doctor family or friend can be there to hold your hand and help you make the next steps. Don't lock yourself in. Not in your house, or in your mind or anywhere else. Take back your control so that you can take the steps you need to feel secure and safe again. Get out there and shake a tail feather, let the world see how strong you are and it's great for weightloss too!

I will be honest with you, I feel the port. I am a belly sleeper also, and there are days when I feel the port and there are days when I don't feel a thing. I am about 2 months post op, and I have a very small torso. There isn't much to me, it's all bust, butt and belly so there isn't much room for the port to begin with. It's a bit annoying if anything. It doesn't hurt and once I fall asleep I totally forget it's even there. Give yourself a couple of weeks and you'll be sleeping naturally again. Time heals all wounds and in this case it's true.

I understand that being out of work can be a hardship, but I have to tell you friend take the time off! You only have one life and one body and work will still be there. Use FMLA to secure your job for you if you have to, it's a law and you are entitled to take the time you need to take care of yourself. You just had major surgery, and you are going to hurt yourself and that can put you out of work and out of commission for a much longer time and worse if your not careful. You cared enough about yourself to have this surgery and get healthy, so give yourself a break and start off the right way. Take that extra week off. Put your feet up, clear you mind and focus on healing and getting healthy. Best of luck to you, I can see you’re a strong person and you will do great!

That is GREAT! I have set that goal for myself can't wait to say I'm joining you there. Enjoy the feeling you earned it!

I understand how you feel. I think we go through this surgery and we want to lose the weight as fast as we see some other WLS patients lose it. Those that have the bypass etc. It's just not like that for us, and that might be a good thing given all the complications I have read and witnessed from other alternative surgeries. We chose to do this differently, and we chose the band for whatever our reasons were to choose this path here we are living it. I have been reading a lot posts where people have given up and don't make the life style changes. They go back to old eating habits, and let me tell you it is HARD to make those changes. I am only 2 months post op, and I have had those moments where I am right back to the old eating mentality. I try to catch myself and sometimes I get caught up in it. I want to give up, not be on a diet not care about what I am putting in my mouth, but you know the band doesn't let me give up! I love that about being banded. When I am at my most frustrated, and I just want to say the heck with healthy, the band steps in and says NOPE you're going to have to do it right or I am going to let you know you are doing something wrong and it does! I just had my first fill today 2 months post op. I don't have any discomfort and I am able to drink my Protein shakes just fine. Though I am noticing I am not getting beat up by the hunger demon as much, and that is a welcome relief. Right now I'm fighting with my fatigue and my conviction to do what's right for my body and forcing myself to the gym in the 90 degree heat to walk a bit on the treadmill. As my husband just said it's better than sitting in the car in traffic for an hour in the 90 degree heat. He's right about that..so I will go to the gym and muster up the energy to walk it out. It's a bit of a struggle every day, don't give up your doing great and you're going to keep on doing great! I just know it!

I just had my first fill today. Surgery date was 5/6/13. I travel a bit to see my surgeon, The office is near my work but about 30 miles from home. Right after the fill Dr. gave me a glass of water to drink and sat with me for a while to be sure that everything was going well and I was feeling well. After a few minutes of drinking and talking I was on my way. You have a long ride to and from the Dr. I would do what Missy suggests and stay at the office for a while if you can and make sure that your feeling A-OK before you head back home. Best of Luck!

I am right there with all of you. I had my surgery on May 6th. and have been stuck for the last month at the same weight. I am happy it's not going up, and I am working on following all the guidelines. My first fill will be on Monday, so I hope that helps to reduce some of the hunger that I have between meals and reduce the amount that I want to eat during meals. I have to start putting things on a smaller plate, I think that will help to keep the "extra" out of the way. Sometimes I feel as though I need to eat it because it's on my plate until I realize I'm uncomfortable and shouldn't have eaten those extra spoon/fork fulls. I want to learn to STOP doing that, just because it tastes good, and I want to keep eating it doesn't mean I should be. That is something I really need to work on. I do feel like I am making better choices of food, but still those days of stress can put me over the edge, and I will admit I have taken that step back into old habits a time or two. Though having the band reminds me that I have taken a wrong step and I don't get very far on that path to self-destruction for that I am grateful!

I think it's worth it to call your insurance company and find out what the requirements are for them to approve. There are different standards and requirements for different companies and types of coverage. Some want a 6 month supervised diet and testing for co-morbidity's done prior to approval and some don't require anything more than the Dr. referral and a certain BMI. Calling and checking on what your insurance company wants helps you be more in the driver's seat to get where you want to go. Through my whole process, I kept tabs on the Dr.'s, the testing and the insurance companies. I fast tracked the things I was able to, and asked for copies of all the test and clearance letters to send to the surgeons office so I did not have to wait for the Dr.'s offices to mail out letters or get around to sending the fax on my behalf. That helped to keep things moving, and gave me a back up incase the insurance company or the surgeon's office or the hospital was missing anything.

Eating my stress away, and meeting Mrs. Strange It's one of those days! Have you ever had one? Where you go to sleep early you wake up late your hubby has been up hours ahead of you and is in a bad mood because while you were sleeping the insert curse word here (kids) yes that's the word I was talking about, went around the house doing their own thing with regard to nothing and no one. So that ticked him off and rightfully so, if I wasn't so tired I'd be upset about it too, but good grief I am sooooo tired of the drama and the stress. It seems like it's my life really, it's not just since surgery though surgery has changed the way I think about it all. Before surgery it was easy to ride to the local pharmacy or corner store and pick up a bag of chocolate go home and eat my stress and fustration away. Today it's not so easy to do. Not because I don't want some, but because I think about all I have gone through in the last month, and it's just not worth it to go backwards. I want to move ahead, I want to be healthy and bag of chocolate is not the healthiest choice for me to make and I wouldn't be able to eat a whole bag and I might just end up not enjoying it anyway since I have no desire for it to begin with. This is were Mrs. Strange comes in, that's how I feel about it all. As if there was this insecure and scared part of me that has had to grow up and deal with these little every day and not so little but for me just about every day!!!! Stressors. She has had to grow up and can't have her bag of candy, she has to deal with the feelings and the issues and cope with them in another way. She's not doing a bad job if I do say so myself, but in these moments….it all feels so strange. I feel so strange. I am not used to floundering through my feelings and my emotions, I'm used to just dealing with it head on and medicating it later with a bag of candy! I'm not as familiar with Mrs. Strange as I am with Mr. Hershey! Though I am getting to know her a little more each day. Mr. Band-it introduced me to her about a month ago. Mr. Band-it and I bonded instantly the day after surgery, he was part of my life. It's this new Mrs. Strange, who walks away from the candy isle and heads to the gym to work off her fustration and stress. Who sits here and watches all her co-works come up to the desk to take cookies out of the tin, and pretzles out of the bucket and thinks to herself as they all complain about eating yet another cookie, it would serve them right if I super glued the container shut. At least I would have something to laugh at watching them fight to get it open so they could reach those cookies and pretzles! I shared that thought out loud, and my boss laughed but later gave me that sideways look before he dived into the pretzle bucket, I'm sure wondering if I actually did or would super glue it shut Mrs. Strange has a way about her, but I’m starting to like her better every day! She and Mr. Band-It are getting along very well and helping me to make a lot of positive changes in my life.

This is one of those very touchy subjects. If you take just one moment and read what you wrote, there are some insights there. I'm so upset right now he tells me I have to go see a weekly therapist, I'm not quite sure how he expects me to put me first I have a family!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know what to think right now I'm just sitting here crying ready to give up If you are feeling that way then there may be something to what the Dr. is trying to tell you. When we have a family it is VERY hard to put ourselves first in anything, but when you have a surgical procedure you HAVE to put yourself first. There are very strict guidelines and rules that must be followed, before and especially after. A surgeon is not going to risk performing a surgery on you if you are not going to make the time and commitment to taking care of yourself. It could spell disaster for him, but mostly for you and your family. Taking the time to see a therapist may just be the first step in the journey for you, don't be upset. We all have a different path, and it starts in different places and different ways. Don't give up, not on you or what you want if WLS is part of that don't give up on that either. You took the time to write this post, and to read the replies so take some time to think about taking the next step for yourself no matter what that may be. A 6 week supervised diet, a one year follow up with a nutrionist, a 2 week pre-op diet or checking in with a different doctor's office for another opinion or whatever it may be. Mostly make time for you, and you will make you and everyone you care for happy. I wish you the best of luck! Lisa Caron

It's never easy to lose someone you love. You are very strong to be going through all this surgical stuff and taking care of your family. I know it is hard to think about taking care of yourself when you are in the middle of so many things and emotions. I have been there and for me after it's all said and done and my adrenalin finally wears off I usually crash and end up sick in one way or another. So if you can find a moment, give yourself some love and understanding. Try to accept the help of others if it's offered, and get some rest as you are able. My thoughts and deepest sympathy are with you.

Great work! Keep your head high, and save the pity party for the jerks that don't know any better then to get drunk and act like Jack Asses. Your better then that!

Best of Luck! You will do great, and remember to move around. That helps so much after surgery.

Sadly that's what keeps hospitals in business. Sick people, so too keep business good and money coming in stands to reason they would serve food like that. I once had a professor who in telling a story about a surgery he had commented on how in the middle of this hospital he was in they had a "smoking room" where staff, visitors and even patients can go to smoke. Sounds crazy to be sure something so UN healthy in a hospital setting. I was taking a marketing class, so I commented that it was just more good business for the hospital. They are not "promoting" smoking but they are not stopping those who want to from doing it, after all that is their client base, and I'm sure they have a similar thinking when it comes to obesity. If you want to eat it here it is, but do so at your own risk. Kudos to you for not accepting it, and making your own wiser choice! That is not so easy to do especially when you are at the mercy of others.

You know I felt the same way for a second, after my surgery but we are losing. We didn't have gastric bypass we have a Lapland and we have to do the work everyone here is talking about. I am doing it right along with you and I want to say I am ONLY down 23 pounds but there is no only to it. I am down 23 pounds and proud of it and working hard to get that number to go lower every day. Sometimes I regret that people know about my surgery because I feel like they are all thinking oh she's still fat what is she eating? Should she have that? Really it's just me being self conscious but it's keeping me honest also. Some people do pointedly ask me "how I'm doing" but I just say great!

Greetings fellow Warrior! I'm right here with you! Been battling so much since surgery. Quick snap shot: Had surgery Husband had surgery Nieces communion that Sunday Pain in side Back to work 1 week after surgery Incision infected Drains for 2 weeks side sore wound is right in the waist where seat belt goes and work desk hits. Bad case of Bronchitis on 2 rounds of antibiotics Father in hospital for curated artery surgery 5 hour surgery touch and go ICU for a week. Son graduates from Tech School Guidance office calls to tell me if he doesn’t hand in report he will not graduate from High School! Father moved out of ICU Father in law has pulmonary blood clot and rushed to hospital Father in law in ICU Father released from Hospital on O2 24 hours a day at home now. Prom Father in law released from Hospital Graduation day is tomorrow night….(Sorry this is more like a portrait then a quick snap shot!) AND I am TIRED!!!!!!!! BUT I am still going to the gym, trying to get that 30 minute walk in every day at least and watching what I am eating. I am not losing the way I would like to, but the nutritionist says women's bodies are designed to hold onto fat when they are under stress, so that is something I am really trying to work on. Please count me in the Warrior club! I just downloaded the Couch to 5K app and will give it go this weekend.

Hi Missy, Thank you for sharing your powerful story. I feel as though you were writing that for me, it's something I fight with daily these days as this journey is just beginning for me. To take the time to do what I need to do for my health and not get lost in all the stress and drama life brings. To be grateful that I am alive and able to work toward being healthier every day and not let the stress keep dragging me down. Some of us have extraordinary stress, you are a Warrior my friend keep on being strong and inspiring us all to do the same.

Thank you all for your support. I know my husband felt really bad after he said what he did and we had a long talk about it later that night. It stems from his own frustrations about what is going on with him and his journey through this Lapland. He is so used to "seeing" large portions that when you don't you think this is not enough but it was more then enough for both of us. We are both newly banded just about 6weeks now. He could have spoken his concern in a more productive way then he did. I allowed it to get in my head and get me to feel like I failed. That is my error. I could have let the comment roll off and eaten my meal and walked away. That is a lesson learned for me. I am hungry and after seeing the nutritionist who also said she gives me permission to be mad at him for his comments and reading all your responses I feel better about things. She thinks I do need a fill and I will get one on my next visit in a couple weeks. I also am trying not to compare with the hubby cause he can lose weight sitting on a chair and I have to work for it. That's ok with me I'm committed he just is going to have to learn to pipe is comments cause if they are not productive and helpful or constructive I won't be listening to it. I always try to think about my impact on others when I do something or day something. I know when frustration and aggravation abound its not so easy to do but the consequences help us learn real quick. I think he got that lesson pointedly last night. We have to help each other not throw daggers that only hurts everyone. You all are the best thank you for being there when I needed you.