aubrie

Is anyone having as much trouble with this site since the update as I am? I used to be able to click and boom, my private messages would open. I have just spent about 30 minutes clicking on every button on the site trying to open my message. I went to Members area and clicked on messages. There is a partial screen there with just the first couple lines of my message and it's cut off. I've pressed everything trying to acces it. There is no simple button anywhere that says "open". I've tried numerous other things and I can't get to it. Can someone post some detailed instructions. It shouldn't be this difficult. When I first open the site now, I get a long listing of all the forums. The text on each of the forum titles is cut in half and you can't read it. Everytime I click on something it takes a LONG time for the screen to change. Is there a problem?? HELP!

Doc examined my mud flaps today. He said he didn't think I would escape the dreaded loose skin. I was so bummed. BUT I'm MUCH older than you. At 48 I couldn't really expect a miracle in that area....

EXACTLY!!!! After a workout, I'm actually ravenous. He told me I was eating dinner to late. Well I work. Duh.... I go straight to the club after work. My class is 6:00 to 7:00. I get home at 7:30 and start dinner. I get it on the table around 8:30. I could eat the ass hole out of a rat by then! I tend to snack while it's cooking. He won't allow snacks, so I feel guilty and I'm SO HUNGRY!!! He thinks I'm not eating enough at lunch, but I'm stuffed and uncomfortable on my little 3/4 cup of food. I can't eat anymore. My band is tighter earlier in the day. I REFUSE to get up at 4:00 AM to go work out. That's over the top, I'm sorry.....

WOW!! Looks like Victoria's Secret is out of the closet!!! Thank you all for your stories and support. After hearing them, I may just write that letter. In honor of all of you. That REALLY sucks. thank you tapshoes for your kind words and support. Guess a lot of us won't be shopping there anymore.

I was on metoprolol twice a day pre-op. After 2 months I lowered my dose to once. I had my BP taken today and it was 114/72. It hasn't been that low in years. I'm thinking another 10 -15 pounds and I'll be off it completely. Now that I think about it I have been a little lightheaded lately. Is that a symptom? I thought I was just hungry. LOL

I required a 6 month history. It was the pits. They required all kinds of stuff for me. I spent hundreds on all kinds of nutritionists, sleep studies, heart exams, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then the bastards denied me. I cried for 3 weeks, then got mad as hell and fought them tooth and nail. I was finally approved after ELEVEN MONTHS. So don't give up. APPEAL!!!! Have every doctor you know write a letter on your behalf. I did and it seemed to do the trick.

I don't even want to discuss the girls...... They look like two tennis balls in tube socks...... I need all the help I can get in a properly fitting cup. That way I can push, shove, prop up, plump up, support and redistribute what's left. How depresssing......

I've been a high school teacher in the past. High school kids can be so cruel. I had just finished talking to the principal and was coming out of his office. Three boys were in the hall discussing the tests I had just given back. One of them was cussing and said, "That f***ing, fat, nasty cow. I was one point away from an A. You think that oinker could have cut me some slack and given me the point." The other two boys saw me coming up behind him and their eyes got real big. I paused, and folded my arms until he turned around. When he saw me the color drained out of his face. I told him "it was safe to say that an A would NEVER be in his future if it now depended on me cutting him some slack." Like he was cutting me some slack? Little twit. After my recent 50 loss, I was feeling a little better about myself and was desperatly needing a new bra. My old ones are falling off me. I have been SO SICK of white, tan and black bras that I thought I would treat myself to Victoria's Secret. I heard they had started making a little bit bigger sizes, and they now had what I currently wear. I was SO EXCITED. I wanted to prance around and show off for my husband. I got there, told them what I wanted. They handed me a box of sample bras to try and left it at that. They wouldn't even help me. They just left me in the dressing room. I asked for her several times when she came back to help other, young, sexy, thin people, and she always said, I'll be back in a second. She would never show up for me, just ushering new people in the dressing rooms and bringing them bras to try. I was there for an hour with no help. I finally started to cry, got dressed and walked out. Sure burst my bubble!!!!! I gave all my coupons and gift certificates to my son's girlfriend. I'll never set foot in that place again.

cher, don't forget to see if there are any vendors who make band friendly products and vitamins, etc. that can set up booths for us to get familiar with APPROPRIATE products. (Non bypass products - like I mentioned with the 833% B-12 in a vitamin) I think things like hair care for those few who have thinning hair, protein supplements, vitaminstummy pillows, scales, single serving foods in appropriate sizes, soy products (including samples for those who are intimidated by it), FUN exercise equipment with demonstrations and videos, support garments for those who don't want to or can't afford plastic surgery, organic health foods and soups, band friendly condiments, full cut swimwear, herb teas for non-carbonated options. The list is endless but many don't know where to begin!

It could be SO MANY things. I'm glad you're in the hospital. Ask for a second opinion while you're in there. It could be an autoimmune response, a vitamin deficiency, a virus, electrolite imbalance....etc., etc., etc. Make sure they exhaust all the possibilities.

I have family in Plano, so I would love to come. I could wiggle in a visit with the sibs at the same time!

Try your local health food store. It also keeps your poo from being stinky. It's amazing how it works. It's all plant based. Very natural. Nothing harmful at all.

MIL can be the worst. Mine is a B&%$#ch. For years I put up with her crap and about two years ago she verbally attacked me in my own home. I turned her out and she hasn't been back since. I remind my husband when it's her birthday, Mother's Day, etc., I give him her phone messages, I encourage him to go and visit her, but I told him to leave me out of it. He HAS to deal with her. I don't. So I don't take it anymore. I'm sorry you had to be on the receiving end of her cruelty and very bad manners. Jealousy is a very ugly sin. I looked at your stats. You and I are about the same size, have both lost 50 lbs. and have a similar goal weight. So I know exactly where you are at. You have done a phenominal job!! Kudos to you. I know I have, and if someone is jealous of me, that's their problem not mine. The world is full of people with a total lack of couth and manners. Just pity them for not being raised properly. I didn't tell one soul at my job that I had this surgery. Just two weeks ago, I was asked to attend a luncheon for someone I didn't know. I protested, but this guy insisted. I was pretty puzzled. I took my lunch with me and figured I would just heat it up and sit on the edge and observe. I was there for about 5 minutes and this same guy announces that the honoree was having bypass surgery the next day (a luncheon??? He would be on liquids....idiots....). He then pulls me over to this person I don't even know and introduces us. He then announces to everyone that since I had surgery that I could help put his mind at ease about his surgery the next day. The room was dead silent, while everyone turned and stared. It was an invasion of my privacy and totally humiliating. I, like you, wanted to cry. I felt violated. I didn't say a word. I pulled the honoree over to the corner, told him I knew nothing about bypass as I had been banded. I was happy for him, and to feel proud that he was doing something good for his health and left. I locked myself in my office for the rest of the day. People are just rude. Pure and simple. I'm so sorry that they got the best of you. But I'll tell you this. I just felt sorry for them. And I DID NOT go out and eat donuts. I'm pretty stubborn. After I licked my wounds, I just got mad and re-established my resolve. Go get em tiger!!! Hang in there. We are all here for you. We know what you've been through. They are clueless. Ignore them. What matters is the people who love you. The sweet things they say and the pride on their faces so outweighs the negative crap from strangers and mean people. I happen to beleive in the law of karma. What goes around comes around, and eventually they will get theirs. Stay sweet and don't give up.

Band friendly products would be nice. I think a lot of us have purchased "stuff" that is more geared for a bypass patient without realizing and wasted a lot of money. For example, I just bought some "Bariatric" vitamins that were chewable for a pretty stiff price. I didn't mind the price if it was what I needed. After examining the label, it has 883% of the daily requirement for B12. Typically, lapbanders don't have absorption problems with nutrients and I felt like that much B12 could be downright harmful in our case. I think bariatric vitamins and supplement need to be more clearly labled for bypass or lap band. We DON'T have the same issues.

Hi Felicia, I saw your post on the other thread. I'm delighted that there is someone else out there in Corpus with a band. I have felt like the lone ranger for 5 months now. there is one fella, Ron, with a band from the Monday night support group, but he lives kind of far away and doesn't come very often. He and I email and keep in touch and that is nice, but I would like to hook up with some ladies too. Like I said in my other post, they bypass people in the group are borderline militant and I wasn't completely comfortable there all by myself. Send me a private message and we can hook up with email, etc. I'm doing very well I think. I've been successful and still going. I haven't lost my steam yet. I'm getting my 3rd fill on Friday. Keep in touch.

Well Halleluia!!!! I have FINALLY found some people from my town!! HOORAY!!!! I was banded in November of 2007. My doctor is Craig Chang in Victoria. I have gone to the support group in Doctor's Regional conference hall on Monday nights. Yes, you are right, it's mostly bypass patients. I've found some of them to be downright hostile about my band. It kind of pissed me off, but I kept going. Dr. Chang wanted me to keep going as a representative for the band, and that it works. (50 pounds in 5 months). But now they have changed the time and it's right when my Water aerobics class is. My exercise takes precidence. so...... I'm going to try and come at least once a month. I'm on this message board a lot, so we need to keep in touch. PLEASE post to my private message if you want more information, support, help. Right now I was going through my clothes and wanted to know if the group wanted to do a clothes swap. People start out at all different sizes, and clothes are so expensive to keep buying every month or two as we shrink. what do you think? I'd LOVE to meet all of you.

The weekend before last I finally broke down and went to buy some new clothes. We were going to Vegas for a few days and I felt like shining. I had some old clothes in my closet and have been going through them like crazy. I started out at a size 24 (3x). Over the last 5 months I was shocked to only get a few weeks wear out of my 22s, 20s, and 18s. My husband went shopping with me. We walked through the downstairs women's department and he got all excited showing me clothes he wanted me to try. I told him, no, I shop upstairs. We get up there and EVERYTHING was to big. We came back downstairs and went to town. I had so much fun. My husband let me model every outfit for him. I was in an extra large top and a 16 bottom. I haven't been that size since 1996. I was amazed at the choices I had. All the different colors. I got sick, sick, sick of the drab grey and brown at Lane Bryant. I hated that store. This weekend I started bagging up the big clothes and giving them to Goodwill. I held some of them up and couldn't believe that they used to fit. So I've had a grin on from ear to ear. What a great feeling!!!!

I'm like you. I don't do an Atkins diet. I personally don't think it's healthy. B vitamins are found in whole grains. These keep me from being moody and grumpy. While I don't eat a lot, and have cut way back, I have not done a low carb diet. I eat oatmeal. I eat brown rice. I have potatoes every once in a while, and if there is a special occasion, I do have a square inch of cake. I've lost 50 pounds in 5 months, so I must be doing something right. For me this was about eating healthy and being healthy, not starving, throwing up and being miserable for the rest of my life. I needed something I could live with. I don't want to be "different", just prudent and wise and make good choices. It's hard. It's not the easy way out, but I want quality of life as well as health.

My doc only flouroscopes if he is having difficulty or there is an emergency for that very reason. I have to agree with him. I've had two and he hit it right on both times. He also only gives fills if you stop losing and are eating to much. If you continue to lose 1 -2 pounds a week on one fill....then that's all you get. It would be a waste of time and money to do one you don't need. If the band is working, why "fix" it? It's not unheard of, but it's rare.

If losing your job "wasn't punishment", why the "corrective action"? YOU have a miscarriage, and that needs "correcting"? That's not only cruel, it's insulting. What THEY did need "correcting". I would have refused to sign it and it sounds to me like you need a lawyer. I'm so sorry for your loss. that is a lot of heavy, emotional, life changing stuff to happen all at one time. You have really had a rough ride and the last thing I would do at this point is add to the stress. A fill, especially one that doesn't go well and is too tight, can be stressful. Not to mention painful. You've had enough of that lately. Let your body and soul heal a while before you stress it out again. Get your fill when you get back. You need to totally relax and enjoy and grieve with your new husband. Focus on that right now. One thing at a time. when you return refreshed and healed, then do the fill. You know what to do and what to eat. It won't ruin your weight loss or undo your band to wait until you get back. RELAX. You deserve it. So does your husband. He's been through a lot too. Men just don't express like we do..... Enjoy that long leisurely breakfast in bed with him. It will also make lifelong memories. Memories you can't get back. Be gentle with yourself and congratulations on your wedding.

My doctor put 5 cc of fluid in my 10 cc band at time of surgery. He likes to test it and make sure it's operational and no leaks before he closes up. then he took 4 cc back out after the test and left 1 cc in the band. So I didn't have much restriction, but I didn't have much hunger either. I lost 21 pounds the first four weeks. He wants you to heal before he tightens it up. I got my first fill at 6 weeks. 2nd fill at 3 1/2 months. I'm 5 1/2 months right now and going for my 3rd fill. So I'm 5 1/2 months out and have lost 50 pounds. I've done good so far and doc says I'm a model patient, and right where I should be. HA!!! If he only knew the whole truth....... I have trouble sticking to it just like most others. But I don't give up.

CALL THE DOCTOR A S A P!!!!!!! It's supposed to be anchored down with stitches. Your stitches have come loose. Yes, this will need to be corrected.

I only do 30 minutes before and after a meal. It works fine for me. Sometimes if my stoma is full with something dense like meat, the water will come up in my throat, so I avoid it for that reason, not so I remain full per se. Well....that too, but more so I don't spew water everywhere.

Yes, I think it's normal. I too get the kerplunk with dense solid foods. It's a very peculiar feeling, but it sure beats being stuck!! It seems to be more pronounced with meat, you're right, but I have had it with like baked butternut squash, rice and eggs. It definately keeps you from eating to fast.

4 days clear liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks mushies, 1 week soft solids and then a regular diet.