vinesqueen

the cramps from my period were worse than the surgery pain.

I would wait until your stomach is completely healed. Mayby six weeks or so, probably when you start on solid foods. If you have a concern, by all means post it. You might find that the Lounge area more approprate to some of you concerns, but that's the area for "off topic" sorts of things. This is definately a support issue. And heck, if I was worried about offending folks, I would never leave my house!

okay, I haven't posted because I've been discoraged. I decided the best way to combat that discouragement is to NOT GET ON THE SCALE. Yeah, I know, I'm weird. I haven't lost anymore weight, BUT I'm down a full size, half the pants I wore before my band will never be worn by me again!!!!!

Great work Darcey! Those are all wonderful NSVs! Not only do they inspire you, they inspire me!

Hi Jen, you will probably have a lot of trouble with beer and bubbly drinks, since many people cannot tolerate any sort of carbination. Other people have no trouble with bubbles. Many people just give it up because it is full of empty calories. Many people report that they cannot drink nearly what they used to, since our pouch absorbs alchohol much faster than the larger stomach. I personally haven't noticed any difference in the amount I can drink, I'm still fine after one martini, tipsy after two. I would highly recommend that you have a few "practice" drinks before going out drinking in public. If you are one of the ones who has a stronger reaction to alchohol after banding, you will want to know in private before you make a fool of yourself in public and start table dancing. Unless of course, you want to be table danicing...

Wow Sue, you've sure done great! I wish I has something constructive to tell you about your port or fill, but all I can do is send you some positive vibes. (((((hugs)))))

Hi Suzyj This is indeed a drastic step to consider. It took my DH a couple of years to finally decide to have the Band, and it took me a couple of years after he was banded to realize that this is what I needed to do. I can understand your anxiety, at the first support group I went to with my DH, I had a full blown panic attack. All these women where about my size asuming that I was there because I was banded or considering the band. I was freaked out because I didn't consider myself large enough to need something that drastic. I was happy with my size, or at least resigned to it. But I gained another 20 pounds, and I wasn't so happy anymore. I started having real problems with my asthma. Like collapsed lungs, needing oxygen therapy at home, and crap like that. The pulminologist said the cause was because I was fat. Another pulminologist said the same thing. Man, you think I wasn't pissed off? Long story short (too late!), I've been banded for almost 9 weeks. My asthma is completely controlled to the point where I have used my rescue puffer one day in 7 weeks. When you consider that 5 days prior to my banding I was in an ambulance headed to the ER because my asthma was so severe my friends couldn't drive me the 2 miles to the ER. There are lots of options open for you. There are also some very good support sites on the net for folks considering WLS. The band is absolutely the right tool for many of us, but really only you can make that final determination. You will find a wealth of information here on LBT to help you with your journey. Cheers, and welcome.

Jasper, that is nuts! Of course, I had a doctor put me on a 300 calorie a day diet (I was a size 14 but the scales said I was really fat). That diet lasted all of an afternoon... Perhaps he was reading from a document with a type-oh? instead of 500 it was 1500?

Man, have I been a bad, bad college gurl... It was finals this week... But I'm done so I can go buy that new Crystal-proof pedomiter after work today. (assuming there is no class...)

Wow, you've don'e great work! Congrats on your good works so far. I haven't set a weight goal either, I want to be a size 14 or so. If I weigh 180 at a size 14, then so be it, if I weigh 120, that's cool too. Welcome to LBT

Hi New Life, I'm 8 weeks out and still don't have a fill. It is my understanding that some poeple need more than one fill before they start feeling restriction. I believe part of it has to do with the size of your band, and how much they put in for the fill. Some people have reported that they will have no restiction initally after getting the fill, then WHAM! they have restriction. You didn't say how long ago you had the fill. I would give it a few days before getting another fill. You might be surprised, but then again, you might need the extra fill. Susie, as far as I know, no pre-fil special diet. I know that many people have said their fill doc recommeds liquids or mushy the couple of days following the fill just in case there is a sudden restriction. You don't want to end up with a PB. Be kind to yourself.

Well fine. Not even a little bit vain?

oh my gawd! I had visions of you taking a big bite of the wasabi! Sorry, but that was too funny! And I had to laugh at you sucking the stuffing out of the California roll... (that one has actual avocado)

Thanks gang! I had accounting at 7:30 and statistics at 10... The scary thing? I thought the statistics test was easy. Yikes!

I'm seen this litterally dozens of time, and it makes me laugh each and every time. "Cat, I'm a kitty cat!" http://www.30ishregs.com/kittycat.swf Do you have a favorite flash movie?

I'm going home in less than 2 weeks, and I'm starting to get home sick... I get to go home for the summer, yay! for me. I'll be getting home in time for my son's high school graduation, but I miss his prom. Of course, once I get home I'll be getting my first fill, 10 weeks out. I feel like I've done really well so far, 25 pounds in 8 weeks isn't bad by half. But it is definately time for a fill, since there are many days I doubt I actually have a band, just a port! The only bad thing about going home is actually a bitter sweet thing. I have a very old dog, his name is Astro, and we got him used 6 years ago. He was 10 when we got him, which is old for a lab, but now he's really old. I know that he won't see the end of the summer. Sigh Well, next week I have to finish packing up my apartment for the summer. Ick.

what a great gift to give yourself! I'm glad to see that you didn't do it for other people. (meaning the things we do for ourselves are sometimes the most important) If we don't take care of ourselves, how can we take care of others?

Well, I suppose it all depends on what you think your problems are. So far, it has helped with my little "not breathing" problem quite nicely. But I don't think my weightloss so far is going to help me pass my finals tomorrow! My DH's current weightloss has saved our marrage, so I suppose that is a plus on the losing side. I know there will be more challenges once he loses another 100 pounds though.

Just be sure you don't over do it, I would have been able to go, but I would have been very,very tired by the end of the recital. I had prescription pain meds, but they didn't affect my mind

Sometimes I get tremedous breast pain during my cycle, but I figure it is part of the whole stupid PCOS crap. Dunno about the hair loss though. I have almost no body hair, I believe only facial hair is part of the PCOS

Hey Alex, does this mean I get to be vain and self-involved?

Thanks for posting this xoxocat (in my mind I translate it to "kissy-cat" ) The part where they talk about people people becomeing more angular as we loose weight has me thinking. "After losing weight, some bariatric patients develop almost an angularity to their personality. It’s not just their jaws and cheekbones that leap out, but a certain sharpness and assertiveness of character" (last page, near the top) I don't know if I could get any more assertive... I'm already damn sure of myself. I think if I wasn't, I would have never stood up to the wolves.

Rena, my DH has lost almost 200 pounds so far. I can speak for myself here, I was a big baby and needed to whine. Couldn't even have cheese with my whine either.

I have to laugh Zoe, because Astro's new favorite food is Thai! I not sure what makes him happier... he knows when I come home he gets Thai food... not sure which he looks forward to more! He loves this one tempura dish we get, I don't like eggplant or greenbeens, but you should see my dog gobble up the veggies!

Welcome Lynn, I too thought it was just a hormon thing. I don't have the skin darkening though, but I do have the pad of fat on my back. Heh, and laser treatements keep me from being the bearded lady...