Marimaru

Hadn't thought of the balloon for Oprah. Definately something to consider. I'm always careful. I met my boyfriend online, but when we met in person, it was in a nice neutral public location . But it's 3 years later and all's well.

I can stand a couple of bites of thin and crispy pizza, but usually I forgo the crust and have the toppings off of a few pieces. I don't do this often anymore, but it's still good sometimes (my boyfriend is eating healthier now too )

I'll probably talk to him if he comes online again. I haven't seen him since that day. 12 step program entered my mind, either that or some severe counceling. Whatever was going on in his life, it sounds like he needed some help that he finally got. I've wondered about Oprah myself...

Funny story; There was this girl that I talked to for a long time online. We were pretty good online friends, and then one day she disappears. After 2 years, the other day she pops online and says hi to me. Then divulges that this whole time she's been a guy named Anthony who was trying to escape from reality, and he's really really sorry. Anybody can hide in the internet.

How did everyone do this weekend? I think I only had 2 servings yesterday (and one of those was my mom's cheesecake). Yogurt already for breakfast this morning, probably some more later as well.

Tivo all set

If you feel happy where you are right now, they I'd stay there. If you decide that you want to lose more later, you can, and, if you don't like yourself thinner after you lose, you could *gasp* gain it back to where you like how you look. You really are an inspiration to alot of us here

I was 22 when I was banded and I'm 23 now. I'm totally happy with my band

I missed this when it first started, but I'm game. I've been making smoothies with vanilla yogurt in them already, and I try and have milk with/for Breakfast. I'm snacking on some cherry yogurt now. I didn't get any cottage cheese at the store this time, but I've been having a good amount of that too. I'm not into the soy or rice milks. I've been considering the Carb Countdown or whatever it's called, but usually I'm with 1% (yucky skim).

I was self pay and went to Mexico. I found the doctor I wanted, but before I went, I saw my PCP just to make sure she didn't have any major objections (in which case I would have known I'd need to find a WLS friendly PCP).

I've had some really long plateaus. The first one was 3 months, and that was my fault because I didn't get a fill when I should have. I hadn't found these boards, and didn't really know the rules about it taking more than one fill for the right restriction. This last plateau was about 5 months long, but I couldn't get another fill because then I'd be too tight. I lost a few pounds a couple of weeks ago, but nothing since then. I'm actually going on Saturday for a slight unfill, because I've been so tight lately I can't eat much solid food. I think it's stress, but we'll see. It'll be good to have it checked out. I will say that despite all the frustrations I've felt, that if I hadn't been banded, I'd be going up, so going down slowly, or at least staying the same is worth having this done for me. If I lose the same amount in the next year that I've lost in the last, while I'll probably wish it would have been more, I will definately be thankful for it.

I just did a google search on it. I have no idea how complete this list of NSAIDS is, but hopefully it can give us a good idea.: http://www.lyberty.com/encyc/articles/nsaid.html

Well, you definately need more Water. I'm not sure if you didn't put it in some places, but you only list 8oz of water. I think at the very minimum we need 48, and more is better. If your urine is dark you are dehydrated. It should be practically clear. As for what you are eating, different banded folks do this different ways, but the way it's "supposed" to work, is that you eat a good 3oz of solid meat(protien, fish, whatever) and some veggies and that will keep you full for a good long time. If you *can't* eat solid foods, you are probably too tight. If you are losing weight this way, that's fine (although you need more protien and water), but then you are still going to have to learn to eat normally when you reach goal. Hope this helps.

I'm almost a year out and my scars are still kind of purple. There's no pain to them at all, they are completely 'healed' they are just scars. I've never had a surgery outside my mouth, so these are the deepest scars I've ever had, and lasted the longest.

Sounds like it's going in the right direction I'm very happy for you for that.

Hey there, At 5'2" and say 200 lbs, your wife's BMI is 36. Generally speaking, for the Band to be placed, you need to have a BMI of 35-39 with co-morbidities, or 40+ with or without co-morbitities. This is usually an insurance stipulation, and there have been people who were self pay and had the surgery with a 35-39 BMI with no co-morbidities. Your BMI is about 31, and I'm not sure I've heard of someone being banded that low, but probably out of the States would be your best bet for that. "While you have the band in place" the band is designed to be there for life. After abot 6 weeks you should be able to go back to whatever you did preband (except eat as much ). The band is adjustable, and this is done without further surgery. The port is attached to the band with tubing, and is placed closer to your skin so that it can be accessed with a needle so that Saline can be put in or taken ot easily. If you look at the 'logo' image for LapBandTalk in the upper left of the page, there is a picture of a band. The piece in the middle is the port, and the other end is the band that goes around the stomach. There's a thread around here where they talk about it being an adjustable zip tie My port is on my waistline to the left, but there's many different places where doctors put the thing during surgery. Hope this helps.

Feel better soon! I'm sure you will

Cool stuff. My boyfriend got new computer parts, so I got his hand-me-downs. It's like a new computer to me Lookin' forward to the new pic

I have 5 scars. My port bugged me for a good couple of weeks, and then after that it would tug a little as I was doing more and more things, but that also went away after another couple of weeks. Feel better.

I like the feeling I get with the little sigh, and I sit back from my plate a minute. I remember doing this plenty of times in the past before I had my band, and I associated it with "This is good! I want some more!" Now I have to change my brains association to the feeling. Unfortunately right now I'm a little too tight, and haven't had that feeling in a while. Going for a little unfill tweak next week. Right now almost every meal brings that uncomfortable tightness, and I hate it.

An ex of mine that I am still in contact with has that attitude. (He was my ex before I ever thought of surgery) When I told him what I was having done he flipped and told me not to have it done, because he'd known 2 people who recently died from it. I did the best I could to explain the difference between this and the other surgeries, but he still doesn't get it. A while back I thought I was having gallbladder trouble and he was saying "I told you you'd have all sorts of problems", and again I tried to explain the different surgerys, AND that lots of weight loss, with or without surgery, can give someone gall bladder trouble. It didn't even end up being my gall bladder but it was still irritating for someone to be that stubborn about not listening. I told him that he might find some research into the topic enlightening, but that I wasn't going to talk about it anymore. I would say you have to just let it go, and he'll come around if he wants to. And if he wants to see how you do before he decides to have surgery, tell him to keep his nasty comments to himself!

Wow... she's definately in my prayers...

I got to play with on in Dr. Rumbaut's office. I would not have compared it to a zip tie though, that's a really good analogy.

I used to be a big bread eater. I tried the atkins thing and failed because of that. Now I cannot eat bread at all. The fact that it causes actual physical discomfort makes it easier to avoid. Before my last fill I could eat a half a sandwich, but not anymore.

I was thinking that same thing; I didn't have surgery with Dr. Kuri, but I'm driving down there next Saturday for a little unfill. Are we all close together?? lol