Marimaru

Lauren, you sound a lot like me, in the 'in person' vs 'online' department. I'm actually in counceling to try and be able to just hold my ground, lol. Family having ammo is hard one. I avoid my entire family on my dad's side, because while they seem supportive to your face, it's the stuff you hear later that they said that his horrible. Either way, just hold your head up best you can at the gathering. At best you can say "Well, I just had the surgery, so I can't tell you much about how it's going yet" and leave it at that. And I can tell you what I think you should say to your dad, but there's plenty that I should say to my dad that I haven't, and you've probably thought all of it already.

My husband was very supportive from the beginning. About 4 months after surgery we had a rough spot, and I basically had to drag it out of him that he was nervous that I'd lose weight and leave him for someone else. I told him he loved me for me, no matter how I looked, and anyone that was going to give me the time of day since I was skinny, that wouldn't have when I was fat, wasn't worth my time. And we've been fine ever since (he was my boyfriend back then ). I have a friend who was kind of an eating buddy in high school. She has said that she could never do surgery, but is very supportive. We don't live close so we don't see each other often. When we do, she says I'm shrinking on her, and when I'm eating she makes little jokes about it, but there's no snideness about it. My sisters are also very supportive. My youngest sister has always had body dysmorphia issues, so we relate on that, even though she's thin. She had some pregnancy weight to lose, but that's all gone (although she doesn't see that). My other sister gained quit a bit of weight with her pregnancy (my niece and nephew are 3 months apart), and she had never, ever had weight issues before, so it's been hard on her, but I've been able to give her advice, and explain that she's going to need some patience. What's really tripping me out, is that for the first time EVER, her and I are the same size, in shirts at least. I've never been the same size as her in anything. It's partly because she gained some, but mostly because of what I've lost, but it's weird none the less. We had too much wine one night and that's when she told me how badly she was struggling. She also said that she felt guilty saying anything to me about it, because I've been struggling for so long, and because I've always had a bigger body, and she never did before, and she wasn't sure I'd see the difference in our issues. She *knows* what she's 'supposed' to look like, whereas I have no idea!

I'm not at goal yet, but I haven't been spending a whole lot of money on clothes on the way down either. My family made me buy a bunch of new clothes in my size so I'd have cute stuff to wear on my honeymoon, lol. I intend to have a VERY extensive wardrobe when I get down to goal.

It take my head a long while to catch up with my body after any significant weight loss. But it eventually does.

I would definitely go in for the unfill. You will have to be careful not to eat bad stuff, but that's going to be true no matter how lose/tight you are.

It's not about the large amount of protein, it's about the low amount of carbs. I don't know if you are doing a specific diet, but if you aren't, add in a few more (good) carbs to your diet.

There are a number of nurses on this forum who are familiar with various ports, etc who would not fill themselves, and would only unfill themselves (maybe) in an emergency. I'm not at all in the medical field, but I would highly discourage someone who was thinking about doing their own fills. I understand the frustration, but it's a risky thing.

I'll be 3 years out in July, and so far so good.

Brenda, I'm sorry your family isn't being supportive... It sounds like they were dishing out reasons that a doctor would tell you no, not actually reasons THEY think you shouldn't get it (unless that's in the group of reasons too stupid to mention ). I'm glad your hubby is rooting for you. There's a couple of things; your family is probably scared for you, and will either be more supportive after you get it done, or maybe take an above poster's advice and don't tell any of them. Personally, I couldn't not tell my family I was going in for surgery, but I'm 25, so my mom's opinion is very important in my decisions... but I see why people don't, if they are getting lots of resistance. Keep us updated in your process.

Aww, you're so sweet!! I'm VERY excited, and to be honest, kind of excited to have it over with, lol. I've been in panic mode all week for no particular reason. The wedding is a week from tomorrow, and then I'm gone another 10 days in Hawaii for our Honeymoon. I'll be sure to post TONS of pictures when I get back. I am SO PROUD of my dress. I designed it, and my mom made it, with some necessary modifications, and it's very, very cool. I leave on Tuesday to go down to the site with my mom, and everyone else involved comes down Thursday, with the guests arriving on Thursday and Friday. The final count is about 30 people, which is small, but that'll be nice as well, I think.

Well... it kind of sounds to me like you go most of the care you needed form your primary doctor, who also happens to be your friend and neighbor, like getting the results of your scan when you were in pain. Rather than the actual mistake he made, it's how he handled the after care that would make me think twice about it.

I think you definitely need to tell your doctor. I can see how being too tight could cause upper back pain. I have lower back pain more now than I did before I started losing weight, but that's because my whole balance is off now (like when a woman gets pregnant and her back hurts, same idea)

wow, what a nut job. I'm glad you got the green light out of her anyway. Good luck with all of the other hoops!

I absolutely felt that way. That's when I made myself just get on the scale once a week. That way my whole day wasn't affected by what the stupid scale said in the morning. Once you get to know your pattern, it wont be so frustrating. Yes, it's irritating that I've been stuck on the very edge of onederland for 2 to 3 months now, but I know that soon I'll drop below it, and that's good enough, and it's not so depressing anymore.

My fiance and I are both this way. We've had to make rules for ourselves, and we've been following them. We also have agreements. He HATES dishes, and while I don't particularly like them, I don't hate them the way he does, so I do them, all the time, every now and then he'll rinse something. But he does ALL of the trash. If I feel like taking a bag out I do, but it's his job. He feeds the cats, I do the catboxes (he lucked out on that one). If the laundry bin gets full, we go to the laundromat, etc, etc. I usually go to the gym after work, so I've tried to start a routine where I get home from the gym and run through and do all of my chores. It's a relatively new system, but it's working so far. I too am curious about how the OP is doing..

I second that, completely. I am constantly amazed by the lengths that people will go. And even more amazed at the lengths people will go to not own up to their actions.

Yesterday I was 201, this morning I was 198... but I just can't celebrate until I go at least a week without bouncing back up over 200. It just doesn't count for me, you know? BLARG Hope you feel better soon Jaqui.

Well, Splenda is still around, and this thread was started over a year ago, so I don't think it's going anywhere. I think all of the sweeteners affect people in different ways, and some people can handle the blue stuff but not the yellow stuff, or the pink stuff but not the blue stuff, or whatever. My mom loved splenda, but it gave here these wierd attacks... her doctor said they were anxiety, but they came out of no where (reading in bed, doing dishes, whatever), and they went away when she quit using splenda. I don't have that issue or anything like it, so I keep using it.

Not to scare you or anything, but I plateau for months on end, and then all of the sudden, I'll drop 5, 10, 15 pounds within a week or 2, and then plateau again... I've recognized it as my pattern so it's not as frustrating now as it was in the beginning, lol.

Hey there, here's a link to a whole thread of people in their 20s (and at least one 18 year old). http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/anyone-banded-who-thier-20s-34936/ I was 22 when I got mine, and I'm 25 now, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who sees the pattern starting with the trying to lose weight, gaining more, etc, etc.

lol!!! Seriously though, Firefox will spell check for you, no matter what you are typing in.

You can get a small fill. You may have to give up some of the things you can eat for a while, but it's probably worth it.

Getting hungry every 3 hours is fine if you plan on 5 or 6 meals a day, or meals and snacks. If you want to do 3 meals a day only, prolly you do want a fill to help with that.

It happens to me too. I couldn't tell you why, my best guess is that the stomach starts grumbling, and producing acid, and maybe you get a little swollen or something? No clue. On another note though, if you aren't eating anything all day until dinner, are you making sure you are eating enough?

I think you should stick to really thin liquids between now and whenever you are able to get to a doctor. I also think that you should drive the hour and a half to the doctor you've been to asap to get it taken care of, rather than waiting to find someone closer. If you have a slip, the sooner you are unfilled, probably the better chance the band will 'slip back' into place.... and you don't want to get dehydrated either...