aubrie

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1995. It went undiagnosed for years. I was miserable. As the years passed my dose slowly went up. After banding I went from .15 mg. to .112 mg. The doc told me that this hormone is stored in the fat cells. Since I'm losing fat, my body requires less. I lost about 50 pounds when my levels started getting to high. Low I'm leveled off, but may have to go down some more as I lose. It doesn't seem to be affecting my weight loss to much.

I'm leaving for San Jose on Wednesday! We're staying in Pacific Grove and doing the Hiway One thing as well. I too am worried about the fires! Looking forward to exploring the wine country. When I travel I always toss a couple cans of slim fast in my suitcase. I'm tight after I fly on a long flight at high altitude. I can't eat anything for a day or two. I also bring stuff like applesauce, tuna, pudding, just so I have something and it's portable. You're going to have a very long flight. If you tighten up try something like V8 juice. It's low calorie and a little thicker. In the airport, I had trouble finding something agreeable to me, but then I discovered some airports have smoothie stands and some will put Protein in their drinks. So I buy a smoothie and take it on the plane with me.

LOL LOL LOL LOL!!!!! Kizzie you just made my day!! I have adult boys at University!!! What did you think? I had them at age 10??? Good lord. The picture you saw of me was just horrid. All wet and sunburned with no make up. I MUST get you a more recent and more respectable photo....

Is the incision completely healed and closed? Remember the new skin on the scar will be tender. Salt tends to be drying. If you're wearing a two piece and the scar is getting sun burned, that is new skin!! Are you talking about getting tossed about in the rough surf? That could make you a bit sore. The Water has more force than you think.

Sounds like some of these docs are putting a port where it's easy for THEM and not the patient. That's not right. YOU have to live with it every day, and if it's uncomfortable all the time, that's not quality of life, and many of you know how I feel about that!!! Kizzie, even if he moved it two inches lower near your bandaide, it would help. Mine is near my waist, but the waist bands on pants these days are all over the map. High waist, true waist, drop waist. I get dizzy just thinking about it.

My father in law had the cutest saying.... I loved him, God rest his soul. "If shoulds and coulds were durable goods, we would all have something to sell!"

Don't put your life on hold. I never did. I even wore swimsuits and went to the beach before banding. F%$# It!! It someone doesn't like it? F%$# them!!! They don't have to look. I did the band for ME. NOT THEM!! You go and have a marvelous time. Next year will be more fun in some ways and less fun in others. It's all relative and balances out in the wash. Just LIVE!!!

Sure does a world of good for the ego doesn't it??? Sends that confidence level straight through the roof!! Good for you.

of ALL the Proteins out there, crab seems to be the easiest to digest and the best tolerated for me. This is what I often order if I go out to eat. It's on many appetizer menus, and is just the right amount. I seem to lose faster with ingestion of shellfish for some reason as well. We have a crab boil at the house about once a month, since we live on the coast. I could sit and pick crab for hours. I love it. I make my own crabcakes and bake them. I spray my baking pan with PAM. They are not quite as good baked, but still delicious. My recipe? 1 cup picked crab meat 2 tbls. finely chopped green onions and bell pepper sprinkle of parsley 2 tbls. fat free mayo 2 tsp. worchestershire sauce 1/2 cup ritz crackers crushed fine dash of cayanne pepper 1 beaten egg gently pat into round balls and then flatten on sprayed cookie sheet. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes on 350. YUMMMMMM

Hey KIZ!!! Sorry I wasn't around yesterday. I'm SOOOO sorry you're having a hard time. I'm so proud of you though... YOu're doing fantastic! 14 pounds in a week??!! Wow. Keep focused. You can do it. So the port is really bothering you huh? Do you think once the stitches are out it will improve? Is it over the top of your ribs or closer to the middle? I'm trying to get an idea of exactly where it is. I wish the doc had discussed it's location with you before surgery. I think a little patient input in this regard should be respected. I'll be thinking of you.

My doc numbs me. It's usually one poke through the skin. One time he didn't get it in right away, but he didn't pull the needle out and jab me again, with the needle still in, he just gently angled it a little different and it popped right in. I didn't feel a thing. I too have semi sit up and push like I'm having a baby, and push the port closer to the surface. Once the needle is in, I drink water through a straw with the help of a nurse. When it backs up, he begins slowing taking the saline out until the water passes through. I rest for about 10 minutes, then he has me drink several ounces of water again before I leave, just to make sure I'm not to tight. 1st fill 3 cc, 2nd fill 1 cc and 3rd fill 1 cc. I already had .5 in from surgery when he filled and emptied it and tested the band for leaks so I have a total of 5.5.

Glad you made mention of both options being a battle. It's not easy to be obese or worse. If I have to battle in ANY way, I at least want a positive outcome in the end. Staying morbidly obese is a lose - lose situation. For me it was a no brainer. Several years ago, my insurance did not cover WLS, and self pay was not an option. I was just delighted that they changed their policy and I was able to finally reap the benefits. Better late than never!!!!!

My insurance didn't pay for some of mine and I took out a quick medical loan. I submitted it on my taxes. My tax man said that was fine. Worked for me.

Like Renee Zellwegger in the Bridget Jones movies..... my DH calls my loose skin and squishy fat my "wobbly bits". Endearingly of course. He doesn't seem to mind at all. Not at this point anyway.....

My DH and I are leaving next week for vacation. Where???? To Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Big Sur area of California. We'll be touring the wine country!!! I enjoy white wine a lot. Red makes me ill for some reason..... ????? Not sure why. But I do have a glass or two on occasion. I seem to lose when I drink wine too, but I always thought that it was because I was slightly dehydrated from the alcoho. who knows. But, my doctor said he didn't have a problem AT ALL with a glass of wine now and then. So I do. I want to enjoy life, and this is something I enjoy. Will let you know how the wine country tour went...

I'm having the exact same thing happen since my last fill two weeks ago. It only happens in the evening. I eat three bites and I'm stuck for about 15 - 20 minutes. Sorry, but three tiny bites DOES NOT satisfy my hunger. Especially if I've just come home from a hard water aerobics session. It usually goes down, and then I can eat just fine. Matter of fact, I can eat quite a bit. It's just the first three bites. I've also noticed that every time I eat, about an hour afterward, my band area starts to ache. It doesn't hurt when I'm eating. It's always WELL afterward. What's up with that?

I'm the exact same. I just had a fill two weeks ago, and in the evening everything is getting stuck. Even with this, I haven't lost a thing. I'm so puzzled and getting more and more disouraged.

I guess I am in a bit of a rut. I'm doing what has worked so well for 5 months. Now it's not. Time for some change?

Okay. Here's the deal. I haven't lost one pound in the last six weeks. :thumbup: Only 2 pounds in the last eight weeks. :tongue: I haven't gained either, so I guess that's a positive. But, I had a fill eleven days ago and I still don't see a thing on the scale. I had my 3rd fill. 1 cc for a total of 5.5 cc in a 10cc band. I do feel some restriction. I'm getting stuck and sliming more than I ever have in the last 7 months, but no PBs. I'm starting to find foods, finally, that don't agree with me...... pork chops, grapes and chicken breast (deli or otherwise). I eat around 1000 to 1300 calories a day and exercise vigorously 3x a week (a bit over an hour with at least 45 minutes of intense cardio) and some walking in between. I did go clothes shopping last weekend and it seems I've gone down a dress size though..... I'm starting to notice shadows of muscle definition in my calves, upper arms and thighs. I can see my shins. My husband says he can feel my muscles and tendons now, where as before he couldn't. So, I'm probably replacing fat with muscle. I undertand that, but almost two months with nothing showing on the scale????????? For me a dress size is about 15 pounds. Can there be that much of a difference between muscle and fat?:sad_smile: While I'm thrilled with another dress size, not seeing it on the scale is a little frustrating.:w00t: I lost in stair steps the first 5 months. This is more than a step. It's obviously a plateau, and I'm doing everything right. I'm a bit discouraged. What should I try at this point? More exercise? More water?

That's why dating is called dating. You're getting to know someone and see if you're compatable with them. Leave some things to the mystique.....He doesn't need to know everything about your right away. Make sure you trust him with your intimate details and feelings first.

Yikes!!! It sounds like there is more going on here than meets the eye. Go back to your surgeon immediately. Something just doesn't sound right at all. Could you have possibly been dehydrated? Please follow up on this.

I too was required to go before surgery and once after. At first I HATED it. In a gourp of about 35 people, only me and one other person were banded. The rest were bypass. They were insulting and kept trying to get me to change my mind about a band. They were almost militant about it. I thought they were rude and insensitive. They kept telling me I wouldn't lose any weight with a band. I was very put out so I complained to my surgeon. His response was, "KEEP GOING and prove them wrong!!" If they don't have anything to base these opinions on, maybe they need a successful person to show them that it can be done. So I kept going. With my loss, within 7 months, they can't say that now. They don't say anything negative to me anymore, and now more people are opting for bands. I stay and answer questions etc. and it's worked out. I only go once a month as the time conflicts with my water aerobics class, but the couselor who runs it likes when I come.

I've been in those contraptions!!! They ARE horrible. Delighted to hear that your last experience was a lot less traumatic. It will get even easier from here on out!

That is WAY cool. I'm so happy for you. THAT is regaining your quality of life!!!

If you're not eating enough, then you may have slowed down your metabolism. Increase your calories and solid food just a bit and step up your exercise a notch. This will increase your metabolism. Change up whatever you're doing. Just a change will get you off center.