marcyinak

Restriction - for me it's when I feel totally uncomfortable in my chest...almost feels like it's not even in my stomach! I have "tested" my band and I have actually felt that good 'ol full feeling, but I don't feel that often. I have to get used to a whole new "satisfied" feeling! NOTE: grazing doesn't do anything...don't get stuck, but I can eat a lot if I eat this way. PBing - a Productive Burp...usually, when I get stuck I get all flushed (like a hot flash and I'm only 34) and then end up in the bathroom. I heave a little like I'm going to vomit, but then just burp and out comes some "slime"...lots of saliva. Sometimes, not often, a little food will come up too - very little, but I ALWAYS feel better after this. NOTE: this is not a good thing...it is a sign that you are too full, ate too fast, or didn't chew well. This can also cause band slippage so be careful!

Denise - I'm self pay too and my surgeon "guarantees" his work for a year...port slips, band slips, etc. My surgeon is in Denver though and I live in Alaska. My fill doc is in Anchorage. He was able to find my port in one shot, just lifted my legs a little and out it popped! He also did not numb me and used a small syringe (usually they use a huge "hubert" needle), he said it just works better that way. He filled me to 1.5cc which was a "good starting fill" as he put it. I need more restriction.

Denise - my

Today is my anniversary - 10 years! Time flies when you're having fun! (So, apparently, does the scale!) I'm having issues when it's mealtime. Last night I noticed that when I finally had my plate in front of me (after cooking, setting the table, serving the kids, and our guests) that I just inhaled 2-3 bites...well that wasn't so good. I realized I've been doing this a lot, especially with dinner! Anyway, I was uncomfortable for about 7-10 minutes then was able to eat one more bite of my AWESOME (if I do say so myself) halibut and just stuck to some broccoli....I was dissapointed that I couldn't eat more fish - it was so yummy! Oh well. I've got to get a handle on myself!

Today is my anniversary - 10 years! I've been hovering around the same weight so I'm going back to shakes for two meals a day...they keep me full, I'm just eating the wrong crap! I'm looking forward to a fill that will at least limit the amount of crap I can consume! I find that I get stuck FAST when I eat too fast...it's like I finally get the dinner plate in front of me (after serving everyone else) and I take 2-3 bites WAY TOO FAST and then...BOOM...no more! It took about 7-10 minutes for me to get back to normal and then I just ate my broccoli and called it a night...it was halibut too, dang it!

Yeah Littleroo and Taynah! Congratualtions on your new life...take it easy and remember, this time is for RECOVERY not weight loss...walk a lot, drink a lot, and dream of the new you!

My triggers: Hmmmm...I hate to be a blamer, but when someone makes me mad I just eat to "spite" them. I also eat - more like graze - when I'm bored, but I'm getting better at not doing that. I haven't lost any weight lately, I'm going to have my fill doc tighten me hard core when I go to Anchorage in a couple of weeks. I figure since I'll be there for several days I can always have him re-adjust before I come home...sound reasonable?

Oh, hey, Anita...I'd go for local...you'll be awake enough to THINK! Anesthesia just makes me drowsy and loopy all day!

I'm sad that I won't be able to join you all....maybe I can get Andrew to transfer to Colorado State Police or something? Hmmm...just a thought! Halibut tonight...hope it goes down well! I'll be getting my next fill Oct. 3rd and I'm going to tell him to just make it tight, I'll be in town for several days and can get re-adjusted if need be before I come home...does that sound reasonable?

Michelle - Alaska?!?! I could hook you up with a plane!

Brandy - the straw can cause you to take in air...which causes bloating, burping, etc....it's like drinking a carbonated drink.

Oh sweet IndioGirl - I did not grow up doing this! Sure, I learned how to clean fish with my dad, but that's about it...I made the rest up as I went along! I also prefer buying things in the store, but I figured the experience would be great for the kids - and the fact that we have a fenced yard (quite a luxury here) that made it pretty easy. I give everything a try once...why not? (now that would be MY favorite saying)...although, I've "calmed down" a bit since having kids...there's no need to risk my life anymore!

want2bmeagain - Glad you got that hotel thing straightened out! What a pain! I feel bad for the folks who don't have the time or perseverance that you did...you'll do fine with the band if you're willing to put that much effort into a hotel! Jennifer - I'm so glad to hear from you and this all explains why I haven't had an email from you in a while. I'm so sorry about having such a crappy birthday. Maybe he just wanted to be with you on that day? I'm doing well, had a LAZY weekend though, which was nice and deserved! I DID spend a couple hours washing chicken crap out of my greenhouse...and I'm not done yet! It's some good, messy excersize at least! Funny - chicken gets stuck ALL the time! I consistently have trouble, regardless of the recipe. On the other hand, I don't have trouble with soda...I sip it, but don't even have issues...hmmm...maybe on the next fill? I'm in luck with that because a friend needs some help in Anchorage so I'll go in the first week of Oct. for my second fill...should be good and tight!

Dini - You missed my chicken slaughter...there's pictures a few pages back...something you shouldn't miss! :-) I'm jealous of your trip to Italy, it's a place I've always wanted to go. My grandmother gave me a trip "anywhere in the world" when I was a teenager and after nixing Russia and Egypt she CONSIDERED Italy until she insisted on Germany so I could utilize my German...needless to say, all I can say in German is "How much is this?" and "Where is the WC?"...see how that trip paid off? I have to say, I have stronger memories of the Hoffbrauhaus than anything else! Haha!

IRONY: it seems everyone else can eat chicken...this is the ONLY thing that CONSISTENTLY causes me issues...what a pain in the butt! Also, soda is not an issue for me...now, I don't gulp it, but I can sip it. Strange...

Thanks Mal...yep, only 21 lbs....I look in the mirror and think it SHOULD be more, but alas it isn't. I don't really care, it's just one indicator out of a zillion...it's obvious that I'm smaller...I just have to stay away from the mirror when I'm putting my socks on...that's what got me into this surgery mess in the first place! Haha! I'll be scheduling my second fill for the first week in October. A friend needs some help and has offered to help with the cost of airfare (which is a B$G deal). So maybe I'll reach goal in no time!

Good News! I have been keeping in touch with an old high school friend. I keep seeing pictures of her diminishing and kept asking if she'd had surgery, but she never said...until today. Really, with all the weight loss I was sure she'd had a gastic bypass, but NO! She got the lap band a few years ago! She's lost 170 lbs! Not only that, when she got to her goal weight she got a complete unfill and KEPT LOSING! She's not dangerously thin, but apparently just needed a kick-start to where her body really wanted to be! I'm so excited for her...and for us...what hope!

WOW! Where is everyone this morning? Well, it's afternoon for the rest of you, but geez....no posts for today?!?! Strange!

KYteacher - you seem to be filled to the brim...although some people need to be squeezed that tight. I have heard that sometimes there is a leak and I wonder if that's what's happening to you...especially since you were able to eat that whole sub with the bread (bread usually stops us up, or at least gives us a little trouble). I think you should go see your doc and have him unfill and see how much was really in there...it's possible that you SHOULD have 3cc, but may only have 1cc in there. It's worth the time to check. I have a 4cc band and 1.5cc in it (first fill a couple of weeks ago) and sometimes I have restriction and sometimes I can eat whatever! Tonight I had some dry chicken and that was just bad...I have to remember to keep the chicken moist!

Tennille - the card can be a couple of things...an actual card or a note form your doctor. I have my doc's business card with a note on the back that just says that I've had WLS and that I should order off of the children's or senior's menu since I cannot eat so much. I have not had to use my card, I just order what I want anyway (regardless of which menu it's on) and no one has questioned me...I have the card "just in case" though. ssankofa and NewCC - thanks! I thought you all might enjoy the pictures! Oh, do you notice those blue skies? It was a good day in Nome!

Here are some pictures from my chicken slaughter....my 7-year old son was my photographer and he wanted me to "pose"....notice my clothes are just hangin' on me! Also, here's my little girl with my BIG zucchini that I found in the greenhouse when I returned (I had two that size!)...imagine if someone had actually WATERED them while I was gone! I'm grilling chicken and zucchini for dinner tonight! YUM!:hungry:

AppleBlossom - I have enjoyed crab cakes in the past, but nothing is better than just boiling the legs (in ocean Water preferred) and killing your hands to get at the meat! Makes it all worth it. I don't like Dungeness that much, I stick to King, but Snow Crab can be good too. It's been a LONG couple of days. I've started watching a little girl and this is just NOT the job for me! I informed my friend today that this just cannot be permanent...two little ones is just to hard! I don't know how folks with twins do it! Here are some pictures from the slaughter this past weekend. My 7-year old was my photographer and wanted me to "pose"....notice how my clothes are just hangin' on me! Also, here's a picture of one of my zucchini that I found in my greenhouse when I returned from my trip - imagine if it had been watered for the week I was gone! I'm grilling it tonight! YUM!:hungry:

NM Sunshine - FROM Alaska? Well, I live here and can't get out!!! I tried, but then married a fella and convinced him to be a State Trooper, now we're stuck for 20 more years! Haha! I was a military kid and was born in Iceland! I've lived in Fairbanks, Bethel, and now Nome. Someday we'd like to go to Ketchikan where my DH's brothers are....we'll see. The Troopers are like the military, we move around to different posts. Fun Fact: Doctor who delivered me in Iceland also delivered all three of my children in Fairbanks, Alaska! Same Latitude! Haha!

Nicole - Sitka is WONDERFUL! That's where the Trooper Academy is. The only reason we'd go back there is if Andrew were to teach at the academy and I'm not interested in that....too many hours, not enough pay, and the housing is $pendy! We LOVE the southeast though and hope to get to Ketchikan some day...Andrew's got two brothers there and they are "connected" (one married a girl who's family owns a few lodges and the other is marrying her sister this fall! WAHOO) Now....let's see a new picture, eh! I'll try to post a new one of me!

mikesmom - I, too, have been ashamed that I haven't lost hardly anything since the surgery...most of my loss was the pre-op diet and to top it off, I GAINED weight after the surgery. I have to remember that there are a lot of NSV (non-scale victories) to look at....ALL of my jeans now come on and off without unbuttoning...they are usually dragging on the floor! I also have more energy and I don't beat myself up as much as I used to when I have a "bad eating moment". I suck at drinking Water and continue to eat sometimes when I know I'm satisfied. Hang in there...it does get better! I have fewer bad days now and I "suddenly" lost 5 pounds after not weighing myself for 10 days...try that and see what happens!