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PamRN
LAP-BAND Patients-
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Everything posted by PamRN
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Monday 3/14 220 3 lbs off for me too
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Where is the first place you lost weight?
PamRN replied to Iluvharleys's topic in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums
face then boobs -
I'm a wife, mom of 3, new grandma to a 2 month old, mother-in-law, and nurse. I work part-time 2 to 3 days a week at a big hospital as a charge nurse on a medical teaching floor. I love being an educator (is it obvious?) I love poppit on pogo and LBT, and am also addicted to ebay. I play hoyle card games and board games on my computer at home, plant loads of flowers in the spring, and am going to buy a new bike this week so I can start riding again as it warms up. I love kids of all ages, and enjoy being with my family. I am sort of a computer buff, and my DH is a microsoft certified geek, so we do a lot of work on our friends and families computers. We got our first computer in 1986, so as computers have evolved so have we, boy do I feel sorry for people trying to learn it all from scratch at this point in the game!
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<diving into the group and giggling as we all fall down> weebles we aint!
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Excess weight can cause "Dysmenorrhea", usually because our fat causes hormonal imbalance. Uterine fibroids can cause it, polycystic ovaries can cause it. I'd bet a pretty large percentage of those of us still not at goal have menses issues. Nasty is right, I'd love to have my DH experience it for a few months!
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I have read in many places that fills are needed when you go 3 to 4 weeks without losing any weight. I have gone 3 weeks, then lost 2-3 pounds again the next week. Like you I haven't felt a need for additional fill even during those 3 week plateaus, so I waited it out, and I'm glad I did. Additional fills would probably make me too tight and I'd be miserable!
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Norma, you haven't been banded long, and it sounds as if you are frustrated, maybe you haven't learned your bands patterns yet. It is a fickle thing, something that you have to get used to. I hope you gain inspiration from here, and in time begin to find some of the positives of being banded. I am sad thinking of your misery, and wishing you strength to persevere. Ya know, if I had Oprah's millions and could hire a personal chef, personal assistants to monitor me, and a personal trainer, I might not have needed to be banded, and perhaps wouldn't have been...yet. Oprah looks wonderful right now doesn't she? Time will tell if she is able to stay that way this time, I wish her nothing but success in her journey. I would never presume to compare my own success and failures to her's, she is undoubtedly extraordinary in every aspect of her life. I am merely ordinary in most aspects of mine. My point would be that, well, I could afford a band. I can not afford a chef, nor personal assistants, nor a personal trainer, but the band was do-able. Prebanding, I have lost and regained more times than I could recount, with each regain larger than the loss had been. I have been skinny, very skinny even, and I have been very fat. I prefer fit and healthy, but couldnt seem to keep a hold of it if and when I found it. Among other attempts with other means, I have also lost weight with life style changes, and exercise, just like Oprah. The catch is there was nothing to keep me from falling back on old habits, nothing to keep me in check when my common sense about eating junk took a vacation, when my emotions hit over-ride on my appetite, or when the scale started climbing yet again. All the millions in the world won't protect me from self sabotage as well as my band does. It has it's uncomfortable moments, I hate the sliming and occasional PBing, if I eat too much or am too tight. I hate the feeling of discomfort when I think I must have swallowed a softball. I hate it when a time and place are such that a lovely meal is meant to be had, and I can only eat a bite or two because my band decides to be really tight. On the flip side, I love it when I step on the scale and it's down yet again. I like buying clothes several sizes smaller. I smile everytime someone says WOW! You really look great! I love that I sleep without a feeling of constriction around my neck from a roll of fat. I love how much lighter I feel on my feet, I haven't been short of breath in weeks from going up and down my basement stairs... this list goes on... Since banding I am learning that I am tight upon awakening, loosen up over the day, then tighten up again at night. I am learning that when I'm sick, or in menses, to go with liquids because I tighten up til it's over. I am learning that it's ok to throw away food once I've had enough, whether it's a bite, half or most of something. It's still kind of hard to toss it, but I'm finding that it's ok. The band is a tool, it hasn't been a breeze, but it's doing what I put it there to do. I am humbly grateful for that.
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Don't many of us here wish that sweet lady stranger had given our parents that advice? I remember sitting at the table all alone after everyone else was done and gone, staring at a plate of food I was not hungry for, but eventually ate anyway, so I could finally leave the table too... BubbaMe I hope the strattera works for your son. Human medicine is definitely not an exact science, because everybody is different, you never know how a person might react to any medication. Side affects are a risk with any medication. What completely cures one person might make symptoms somewhat better for somebody else, then completely make them worse for another. Medicine is a very frustrating science! I have heard a lot of positive feedback about strattera, and I've read good things about the ritalin LA too. Just so you know, if kids do need them and they make life better for them, I do fully support their use. I just sincerely wish that all parents were as careful as it sounds like you all have been before jumping on the pharmaceutical band wagon. You're doing this right, and being a great mom, smile. In case you couldn't already tell, I am a kid person, I'm always surrounded by them, & called mom by many of them. They all seem to like to hang out at my house, & LORD they eat me out of house and home!!, but I do love all of them, all ages of them, and wish I were in a position to protect them, and teach them to protect themselves one and all. Nothing warms my heart like sincere hug from a kid...except maybe when my kids and their friends try to group hug me and we end up in a laughing pile on the floor...
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Bubonic Plague here! <waving>
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It sounds like school makes your son nervous. Did he do this before he was placed with his current teacher? Just a thought... It seems so often that there are some harried/stressed out teachers that push to get kids on these drugs. Is it so they can have an easier day? It always makes me cautiously wonder who's best interest it's really in to medicate some of these kids. I interned with school nurses at a couple of different schools and the lines to the nurses office for adhd meds were longer than the lunch lines. Those lines literally wound down and back around the length of the long hallways. I'm not in anyway suggesting that some kids aren't really needing medicinal assistance for brain chemical balance, just wondering if some honestly don't, but get it because a certain teacher pressed for it.
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My husband was unable to go to Mexico with me so he was really worried while I was gone, and very VERY glad to see me when I got home. I had surgery on Tuesday morning and my husband Friday night. Just go with Delarla's advice, take it easy and make him do the work, and you'll be fine.
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I lost around 12 pounds initially, then went on to gain about 4 back in my first week on solid foods! Aside from the occasional plateau, I'm now losing at a steady rate of 1 to 3 pounds a week. I was banded in sept last year, so I'm now 5 months out, and I've lost about 45 pounds. I went 3 weeks without losing a pound in one of my plateaus, and was considering a fill, but then the weight started dropping off again. I have been very fortunate not to need a post surgery fill yet.
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When you've out grown size XXL and head for the OH MY GAWD ITS COMING AT ME rack
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Does your HUSBAND/ WIFE know your weight????
PamRN replied to Belle joufflue une's topic in The Lounge
Mine didn't until the band, he knew it was getting up there, but he had no idea how high it had actually gotten at one point. He knows now, and in the last month I've finally gotten to a lower weight than he is. I haven't weighed less than him in nearly 10 years! -
That's awesome Alex, now you can proudly wear 2 bands knowing both have far more significance than their physical presence.
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Mine too! :alien
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Experience with Dr Huacuz or the Molding Clinic in Tijuana?
PamRN replied to a topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
I saw this same post on other boards, and have seen some of the posts she describes, it's very sad, and whether legit or not, it does make the most valid point of all. You must research thoroughly. I've been blessed to have had a great experience so far. Others have not been so lucky, and that's the saddest thing of all. -
I was banded in Sept and have lost 44 pounds. I'm sure if I exercised more, and monitored what I eat better that number would be noticeably higher. I too started out looking at RNY. I went for the band, and have NOT regretted it. I went from a 24 to an 18 and will be buying some 16's soon. If any person were banded but changed their mind, they could always do the RNY later. If a person fails with the RNY, I believe that only a few could have a revision surgery and get banded, the rest are SOL. I chose the band because I didn't want my intestines removed, and that window of weight loss opportunity sounded too risky for me. The band stops me from over doing it, if I didn't have one, what would?
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Night bingeing was my problem too. The band gives me the control I didn't have presurgery to kick that habit, or the band kicks my a$$ if I forget and try to over do it!
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I haven't heard of them, but others here may have. Have you done a search on google?
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First I found LBT and began reading ('lurking'), later I got brave, joined, and began posting, as a newbie, I found acceptance and wonderfully priceless support. After I had surgery a different light was shined on my choice of doc's. Did I become suspect because he did wonderfully by me? Because of varying responses to my posts after banding, I kind of felt like that a bit, and l left the yahoo boards, and felt like maybe I'd leave LBT too. After about a month I realized I really needed to focus more on my band, and came back to see if I still could benefit or be of benefit here. I find myself much more band successful when I am involved here, and realized that I do need the support of those of you who share my journey because I am a rare breed in my physical community. While I answer tons of "what's a band?" questions, there's nowhere else to go for answers I need. So I find that, in spite of differences in opinions, (and how boring life would be without that), I need this site. So, now I read new posts, but only post when I have something I hope is useful to say, or need some opinions on my thoughts and feelings about things. I know that I'm posting to a wide and diverse group and in no way feel I have to accept every response as gospel. Every now and then the topics don't appeal to me, so I take a few days break from here. I usually find a whole new set of names, a whole new set of questions and experiences, and a whole new opportunity to give back some of the wonderful insight I've gleaned from LBT. Maybe you all will find a little vacation more appealing than completely leaving the site? I know Ryan that your words are often deep, uplifting and inspiring to many, many members and I for one would hate to see you go away forever. For all of you considering leaving for good, please try a vacation first, and see if you feel differently on a new day. I know I usually do.
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Absolutely could not agree more! I love the fact that I can say what I'm wondering, but can't ask anyone in the outside world who doesn't understand obesity &/or the lapband, and count on the either brutally honest or warped humourous responses from you all, that will either give me the answer or let me know that right or wrong, I'm not alone in this.
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This is cute Tree hugger: Peace Shamrock Dolphin Lover: Aquamarine Starlight
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That's a lot to think about isn't it? That's great info and great insight. Your research confirms for me what I've always believed. That we are only treating a symptom with our bands, not the actual disease. Finding what disease our weight is a symptom of is something we all need to look into. It may be different for all of us, even though the symptoms are the same. I am a caregiver, I always take care of everyone else first. For some reason my innerself thinks I don't need or am not worthy of my attention. I can not put my finger on where that comes from. I do know that the weight loss feels wonderful, and I feel so glad that I finally turned my spotlight on me. I still know that I have to resolve my issues on a mental level to be truely successful, and hope that all of us gain the strength and confidence to do that. I am forever thankful to this site for giving me/all of us, a venue in which to explore virtually everything and anything so we can truely heal.
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Dr Phil's wife did a show for him about the change and talked about some drops you can put under your tongue for hot flashes. Here, I found this info on drphil.com: supplements for Menopausal and Hormonal Symptoms Robin McGraw shares a list of natural supplements that have helped her put her hormones back in balance and ease menopausal symptoms. To Relieve Menopausal Symptoms Black Cohosh B12 and B6 Vitamins Folic Acid Inositol "These four items are very good for overall menopausal symptoms," explains Robin, "especially black cohosh, which is good for hot flashes. The B12, B6 and folic acid help with mood and to ease you through the transition. The inositol also helps with mood. You take it at night and it helps you to sleep." Essential Oils Flax Seed Oil Evening Primrose Oil Vitamin E Omega-3 "These are really good overall for hormone symptoms," says Robin. "Essential oils are good for joints because sore joints can be a symptom of menopause." Menopause and Weight Gain Robin goes on to explain that weight gain can be a symptom of menopause because menopause affects the thyroid gland, which helps regulate body weight. "When you get your blood work done, there is a range for the thyroid and your doctor can tell you if yours is normal. I bought a basil thermometer and every morning for 10 days, I put it under my arm and recorded my temperature. If it's even a degree below 98, then you are susceptible to having a low thyroid. Mine was 95. My doctor had told me I was fine, but mine was very low so I went on natural hormone therapy."