Bandista

Went to the doctor for arthritis flare-ups -- have a high tolerance for pain but it's been getting out of hand.......LB surgeon is fine with NSAIDS but I'm not, too many risks overall. So it turns out an anti-depressant medication, Cymbalta, is being recommended for arthritis pain relief (osteo) so I decided to give it a try. I have been sort of tripping the last 27 hours, feeling very weird after one 30 mg dose. Have ordered 20 mg replacement and think I will give it another few days as maybe it takes time to settle in -- plus I had grapefruit last night and that could have released too much at once. Original script was 30 mg for seven days then up to 60. Any one have any experience in this world? I don't want to put it out to the whole forum. Oh, also this is an anxiety-reducing medication -- I figure that can't hurt -- and even though I am not depressed I would think more serotonin is okay...just thought I'd reach out here too while I'm feeling so weird. Any other arthritis or fibro-myalgia people who have tried Cymbalta?

Congratulations on deciding to turn your life around! For me it was such a powerful thing to choose myself first and my healthy future -- that is the main thing, showing up for yourself in this way is quite amazing. Transformative! I feel like I pulled some kind of switch in my head -- not that I wasn't empowered before but I wasn't really going to bat for myself. I was seeing to every one else's needs first and kind of sinking under from that, using food as a crutch. I chose the band for many of the same reasons stated by others. I never considered any other options as I didn't want part of my stomach cut out, etc. And the reversibility appeals to me, although I sure wouldn't want it taken out now! I love my band. But knowing that it can come out should it need to is reassuring to me. The number of office visits in the first year is a lot (11?) but that helps me stay accountable. I like it that there are medical professionals monitoring my labs and so forth and that there's extra help there if I need it. Whatever you decide, know that you are deciding on yourself -- you are deciding on your happy, healthy life and that is a wonderful thing. Best wishes to you!

Way to go! So happy for you......you look fantastic and I'll bet you feel great, too.

It's fun to go out now and just have an appetizer....and to really take time enjoying it all rather than bolting down apps then an entree, overdoing and regretting. It's great being a dainty diner-outer. Exploring is fun -- taking an unknown street or road and just seeing new scenery, discovering other places. We live in a rural area and there are a lot of amazing ponds, etc. I always think date night must be so much easier in the city -- so much to see and do -- but the country is very beautiful and I'm always surprised by the changing landscape. Sign up for ballroom, salsa or swing dance lessons?

Are you eating healthy oils and nuts, avocados, etc.? This might be a good time to introduce those -- so good for you in every way.

I have arthritis and it can really flare up. My surgeon has no problem with patients taking NSAIDS -- I've asked over and over again but I hesitate because of all the side effects. Today I saw my beloved PA who I've not seen since pre-band and she totally agrees with my NSAID concerns -- bleeding intestinal tract, potential band issues, etc. She prescribed Cymbalta for long-term pain management. I just can't be in this much pain and function well, so we will see how this works. It's also used for anti-anxiety. I'm giving it a two-month trial.

I was cleared for a hot tub pretty quickly -- still waited a bit just to be sure (worrier).....

I just returned from my walk -- I have been doing an hour of fast walking every day and I'm feeling really good. I used to say I was going for a walk, or going to workout, etc., but now I say I'm going for my walk. I am headed to the basement for my workout. Things in my brain and my body have really shifted and now exercise is an absolute priority. It's not something I fit in if I can, and I'm no longer pretending I want to do it when I really don't. I want to! I own this now in a new way. It's my body and my exercise. Yippee!

178 pounds, wow! Congratulations on turning your life around. You have a lot to be proud of and that is something you have inside -- you own that. You deserve this success and you're working hard for it. I'm so happy for you! What we tell or don't tell others is such a personal thing. I am a little shy and definitely don't enjoy scrutiny, so I am just going to stick with this forum and my small posse of the people I elected to tell. There are a couple in that category I wish now I had not included, not because they aren't supportive but because I see that my loss has created a kind of tension between us. They are both women who struggle with their own weight issues. Who knows, maybe they will decide in WLS as a result, but for now I am losing so well while they are gaining and I know that's very hard -- because of course that was me for years and years working so hard with no result. Not anymore!

Congratulations both of you on your upcoming surgeries. I went the therapy route last summer as I was doing my research and going through all the hurdles leading up to my surgery. We really broke down the behavior all the way in order to find the specific triggers -- time of day, surroundings, etc. For instance a phone call with my mother would set off a certain response to go get a little something to eat, and then a little something more, etc. Or working, needing to be on my feet in front of people or on a conference call -- turned out that was a major trigger and I'd prep myself with food ahead then reward with food after. All the while beating myself up for it, of course. The therapy was a little tedious -- really, really examining the whys and wherefors when of course I felt like I had done all that already. I'm in my fifties. But this time it was different because I had made this enormous decision to have weight loss surgery. I was brutally honest with myself and in therapy, which is basically just holding up a mirror. I really looked into that mirror and admitted that I could not do this by myself. I had tried so hard for so many years and the failures were debilitating -- my self image was very low because I had a lot of evidence to support the fact that I could not succeed. As soon as I came clean with myself in this way I started feeling that happiness and empowerment of choosing myself first and my healthy future -- in deciding to have surgery I realized just how much I was showing up in my life in a new way. Absolute clarity -- I am worth all of this. I am doing it. And I have to say, it feels so good. That elation took me through the surgery, the discomfort and healing phase -- Cloud Nine because I was doing this major thing for ME. And I cannot express how marvelous it is to have the appetite dimmed -- that monster off of my back. Everything that was so hard before is easy now. I am not perfect, I'm not setting any records for weight loss but I'm fifty down in almost seven months and I feel great. I'm exercising like a different person -- I didn't know I had this in me. I choose good food and eat small amounts at appropriate intervals. Yes, I still have trouble grazing in the evenings but I'm getting there and it's not a big head struggle. It was kind of automatic. The work was there in terms of getting the new mode down -- the stages of eating and learning to really listen to the body -- but the rest was automatic. I automatically felt pride where there had been disdain before. Proud of myself for doing such a big thing, for giving myself this gift. You're doing that, too -- what a gesture of self worth. My only advice is to be patient as at times it seems like it's taking a long time or not really working, etc. We have all felt that when in reality it's all happening. I set aside a year in my head -- knowing it would be a year for my new lease on life to really be in effect. Best wishes to you!

@@2muchfun -- lol, more like Wonder Why I Can't Get There Land! Must be all this muscle I'm building....

Hi there and congratulations! I feel like my relationship with food is healthier than it's ever been. I eat when I'm hungry and if I'm not hungry I don't eat. It's so simple, whereas before I had constant chatter in my head about whether or not I was on a diet, off a diet, about to go on a diet, etc. No more! The appetite monster is off of my back and now I can make good choices. I still really enjoy my food, just in smaller amounts at appropriate intervals. Before I ate so fast and I was always thinking about what would be next -- now I am in the moment when I'm eating and I'm able to really experience it fully. But when I'm not hungry I'm not obsessing about food. It's pretty much a miracle as far as I'm concerned! Best wishes to you for a fine day tomorrow. Don't forget to walk all you can.

Happy Monday all! Summer has arrived here in New Hampshire. I've been gardening like crazy -- taking a day off as I can barely move. But I got up to the lake and did my one-hour walk. Have been accomplishing that every day, no matter what. Am still hovering at the gates of Onederland but it will happen when it happens, then 199, 198, 197 etc. A pound at a time. Meanwhile I am picturing the conversion of fat to muscle. It feels so good to be toning.

Yes, indeed! So healthy and happy. And isn't it marvelous to be able to have one piece of chocolate, to just to be able to enjoy the bite and let that be that. Amazing.

@micky29 at this stage I enjoyed cauliflower smush and I still make it sometimes. It's like a savory pudding. Steam up a head of well-washed cauliflower then food process it, or stick blender, whatever, adding in stock to make it smooth and creamy. Add salt, pepper and whatever you like for spices -- I love it with ground coriander and cumin, dash of chili. Very yummy and freezes well.

Follow up on hamburger: when I cook it for chili or red sauce or Mexican, I add stock and cook a long time. This breaks down whatever stringiness doesn't work for me now in eating an actual burger. I use a lot of stock in cooking and of course there's Protein there, too..... Just thought of lentils. So easy to make! I sauté an onion and maybe some carrot, etc., garlic, whatever you like -- celery is traditional for lentil Soup - add curry powder or cumin, chili, again whatever spices, then the rinsed lentils and cover with stock. They don't take long, especially the smaller French lentils. At the end I throw in several raisins -- people go wild for this dish, can't get enough. Nice protein. If you want it soupier or to make actual soup, just add more stick. Also check out Quinoa and. Buckwheat, both high in protein. There are some pretty yummy Quinoa dishes out there. I find myself adding a few walnuts to things, a nice way to get protein. And I have those 100 calorie almond packs in my purse and car. I don't eat in the morning -- just not hungry -- so sometimes I find myself out and about in need of a quick protein snack while I figure out my first meal of the day. One last thought -- chicken thighs work better for me than white meat. Coconut chicken, sesame chicken -- so many things can be done with chicken. Buck, buck, buck. Best wishes!

Hi there, don't order too many Quest bars delivered to the UAE before you taste one -- this from a woman with too much protein powder on her hands, lol. I don't like Quest bars at all but that's just me. And watch out for sliders -- shakes, etc., make sure you're not too tight. My sliders include yogurt so I chunk it up with chewy things like nuts, oats, etc. so it doesn't just slip through. We are all different, of course. I make chili frequently and also enjoy a meaty Bolognese but without the pasta. Tuna is quick and easy and for some reason I can eat a fried egg whereas a scrambled doesn't work for me. I would have thought it would be the other way round! Last night we had black bean veggie burgers and they were fab. I can't eat a hamburger anymore, too tough and stringy for me. Watch out for being too tight -- that's no good. Good luck to you!

Putting every one else's issues aside and choosing to focus on myself....ME, front and center.....this is my time. No one was stopping me before, but I didn't think enough of myself to focus in on my own needs. I thought I had to take care of every one else first. Now I choose myself first; getting the band was a big part of that and I am so happy now. Empowered. My insurance company required a BMI of 40 and that was an obstacle for me. Not fat enough for WLS? Good grief, I was plenty heavy, but I was just under and had to gain some plus fudge a bit. In retrospect I wish I had slouched for height measuring.

@@Averiex, you have made the choice to change your life and that is very powerful -- pat yourself on the back, thank yourself for having the courage to get weight loss surgery. This can be a hard time -- all the hoopla and excitement have passed and the band is installed but not adjusted properly yet. All I can say is hang on, be good to yourself, work on listening to your band and start exercising. You will be surprised at how much exercise you will be able to do months from now. This will help with self-esteem as well as weight loss and toning. Eat well, make good choices and keep every appointment with your surgeon. The two of you will get your band working properly and then the appetite will dim and you will have an easier time.

Happy birthday to you, one day late.....have a great week and good for you getting junk food out of your life. That's a nice present to yourself!

Yippee! So happy for you....and it just gets better and better.

Hi Sally, we have very similar stats -- Onederland is in sight! Sliders are a slippery slope, that's for sure. I rarely do protein shakes these days because of that, though it's a nice treat once in a while. Also I realized my beloved yogurt was a bit of a slider so now I chunk it up some. I add collagen, which I'm taking for arthritis, and that adds six grams of protein at the same time. Then a few walnuts or sunflower seeds, a tablespoon of gluten free granola or oats. Chia seeds. That makes the yogurt into something thick and chewy for me, plus a great protein hit. Also I think cheese is a slider food for me, and it's an old trigger food. So I have to watch out for that. I always want to be sure I can have salmon and very tender meat -- filet mignon, why not if I eat so little otherwise these days? Some veggies work really well, others not so much. I'm getting so I can tell right away. Best wishes to you! Glad you're here.

Hi Ashlee, finding the right exercise for you is what's important -- what is stimulating and works well for your schedule, etc. I find having an exercise partner really helps me do it. Same with walking partners -- I have a list of people to call and meet up for a big walk. The music at Curves drove me a little nuts because of the way the beats are made uniform, but that's just me. I have a lot of live music in my life so the canned stuff can be hard to take. Go have fun, make it work, and the yoga sounds great, too. I thought this post was going to be about how much to lose, whether to be a skinny bony person or a curvy one, lol. I'm going for very toned and a bit curvy myself.

Hi Terry, so glad for this positive outcome and for modern science -- hope you're feeling better and back to exercising soon. I am going to remind my husband to make that appointment.

Absolutely call your doctor so they can help you sort this out.....