vinesqueen

Sorry, all I can offer is support, no real information. Sorry!

Hey you hot mamma, I too have been thinking that my journy isn't very remarkable, but it is because I am. And so is everyone else, of course. I just happen to be remarkable in a more flamboyant manner :mad: What about my NSV list? I don't think I've had more NSVs than most, I've just been more dilligent about recording them.

If you are in lots of pain, call your doc right away. Take your pain meds because there is no virture in suffering pain like that! Good luck and don't feel like you are pestering him or her. That's their job and you are the most important patient! :mad:

Hey you guys! Welcome to the Banded Gentry!

Diane, honey, none of us want to be a Turtle, we all want to be Rabbits. In 3 months you have lost more than I have in my 8 months! Okay, you are on a plateau. You might want to schedule a fill, and make sure you are tracking your measurements. It is quite likely that after losing those 30 pounds you body is saying "time out! regroup! regroup!" We see this a lot in the Turtle community where we will lose weight but then stop and compact for a while. Heck, we see this in you Rabbits too. So, go schedule your fill and change up your pattern for a week. Eat at different times, eat different things, change when you excersize, go dancing an extra night this week. Change it up!

Oh Whip, I'm soooo glad you are back, our poet laurate of LBT. Your words are ever graceful, with a simple phrase, a well placed pause, saying what I cannot, finding the words. I'm so glad you are back! Your words are a song in my heart, even when those words are sad and full of pain, they are still a song.

We are for the most part doing well, and we are glad to hear from you! Your sister has done awesome work with her band, she is looking really good!

I'm so sorry to hear about this! You have done great work while you had your band. Let's hope you'll be able to keep it off. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

I'm with 'Doll on this one. Since you have an apointment next week, go to it. I would march your cushy tushy down to his office and camp out. It it very odd. Since they won't make an apointment for you (weird, weird, weird), you probably are going to have to make that apointment to see your GP and all that rigamarole. Not sure why blood thinners would effect you getting a fill. Okay the other issue is the clot. GET THE SCAN. DO NOT SCREW AROUND WITH THIS. Loopylou, honey, you know that they are life threatening. One of the women I went to high school recently had a blood clot blow a hole in her heart and lodged in her brain. A 44 year old woman that I grew up with just had a stroke. It doesn't matter if you want the scan or not. Get it done any way. You probably don't want to die either, at least not from something that can be prevented. Before banding I was in very real danger of dieing from resperatory failure. Not a fun death.

Sarah, that makes perfect sense! Finding "me" again is so important and so very wonderful all at the same time. It's like looking into the mirror and seeing a friend you haven't seen in far too long. Finding that spark, that flame, that glitter. And wow! 35 minutes on the elipictical, you kick my butt! Megan, I'm so glad you are not taking your NSVs for granted anymore! Thise are so important. And Kelly, accepting yourself, and loving yourself is the name of the game! The fact that everyone loves you just as your are should be proof that you are wonderful as is.

Okay, I decided that I would try the ticker thing again. Instead of using the ticker to track my goal, I decided to track until I reach my next goal, 40 pounds since surgery. And yes I know that 13 pounds could very well take me more than 4 months to reach, but that's my next major goal. I would like to be 225 by New Years. I think it is important to track to these mini goals, all the more so for The Turtle Tribe. If I only look at where I want to be ultimately, it only serves to add to my frustration. I think by setting smaller goals, it makes the whole things easier to visualze.

You just answered your own question! You over did it, and you know you over did it. Your body is still at the sort of freaked out stage... OH MY GAWD, WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME???????!!!! and WHAT IS THIS THING?????!!!!!! Your port was stitched to the muscles so it will be very tender for a few weeks to several weeks. Take it easy for the next little while and be kind to yourself!

I think anytime there is sigificant drainage one should call their doc. I didn't experience this, but I urge you to call your doc. Never borrow trouble, and it's always better to be safe than sorry!

well, that's why they call it the "practice of medicine." Okay, you are a Mexico patient, probably self pay. Okay did you call your local follow-up doc before heading out to the ER? if you have not done this, you need to call that doc ASAP. So they never took a history? Does this hospital have any experience with banded patients? Did you demonstrate your amazing non-drinking abilities? I don't know if there are any standard protocols for dealing banded folk. I know that when I go get fills here in ID, I have been teaching the hospital about the band, the usual protocols for fill (making sure I stay and drink a small bottle of Water to make sure I'm not too tight from the get go). I think we need to check around to find out if there is something already. Anyone remember the name of the Band Docs that lurk here? Maybe they can help But, you need to call your followup doc as soon as their office opens. I mean it.

IT'S WHIP! IT'S WHIP! (doing the happy dance!) I've sure missed you lately, and have been hoping Patty was doing well. I'm sorry to hear that she isn't doing better, but she's still in my thoughts, as are you. Glad to know you are lurking, and glad to know you are sill doing well with your personal journy.

well Heather, if it makes you feel better, you have lost as much as I have in your month and a half of being banded as I have in 8 months. Holy crap! You've lost an average of 3.5 pounds a week since you've been banded and this isn't good enough for him???? HE IS SMOKING CRACK! 7-800 calories a day? He must be smoking crack! 1/2 cup is usually the lower limit, not the upper limit. It sounds like he is super agressive with his diet plan. I have been contemplating going down to 800 calories because I haven't been losing. I have had two weeks in a row where I've lost weight, finally, after my 3rd and 4th fills. I haven't weighed myself since Thursday, so I don't know if I will get another fill. I still don't feel like I have much in the way of restrcition, but I'm not hungry after the 4th fill. I went to see the school's nutritionist last week, and she was freaked out that I have gone to sub-1000 calories a day on most days. She was absolutely horrified that I was consdering going to 800 calories. Absolutely horrified. There is no way that we can get all the required nutrients that our bodies REQUIRE on 800 calories and below. Sure we lose weight, but at what cost? Damage to our bones, our muscles, our neurological systems and/or our lymph systems? One of the things that our brains require to operate are carbs. It is the prefered food, and we need fat to metabolize a big whack of vitamines. I'm the Spokes-Model for the Turtle Tribe. I'm a slow loser, but I feel great, better than I have in years. I would love to lose at the rate you are going, but I don't think I'll ever lose that fast. You are doing amazing, you Rabbit you! and again, he's smoking crack! There are so many different ways to define success, and not all of them involve the scale.

Hi Coco, I would say first things first, get a fill. I don't know what your after care has been like, but make that appointment! That's one o the great things about the Band, you can always get a fill! You might want to also start a food journal for a few weeks just to track what exactly you are eating, as well as an excersize journal to see where you are burning. Hope that helps, and welcome back to the fold.

Not sure how big a chicken finger is, what with reginal differences and all. I would hang out with the fill for a while before making that sort of decision.

Hi Jini, the greatest thing about my band is that I didn't die from resperatory failure. You see, before Iwas banded, I spent the last two years in and out of the hospital, on extra breathing treatments, on oxygen therapy, lots of trips to the ER, lots of extra treatments of prednisone. So, the best thing is that I'm still alive. Does it get any better than that? I have not seen the typical weight loss, but I've had more than 50 Non-scale victories. (check out my signature.)

Lone survivor. All your loved ones are dead, slain by the forces of evil. But you stand strong. Good work. You got 9/10 correct (I still think Godzilla could take out King Kong...)

Hi Amiefletch PBs are personal to everyone. I can eat sandwiches if I'm careful, but toast is a no-no. at least toast with Peanut Butter... chicken is really difficult for me, and hamberger meat is easy. My DH is the exact opposite. He has no problem with toast or chicken (usually) but ground beef and bread do him in. Hope this helps. And from fill to fill you might find you can tolerate different foods in a whole new way.

Woot! Here's hoping yoyr recovery was as rappid as mine!

very odd about the new fill. Maybe you need to have 4 small meals with sensible Snacks. This way you avoid the GET-THE-HELL-OUT-OF-MY-WAY!!!!---I'M GONNA EAT EVERYTHING feeling, which we know gets us into trouble. You might also try the "just for today, I'll make better choices" line of thinking

I don't think that the surgery is a direct cause of the thrush. It is more likely that having the surgery compromised your immune system and allowed the thrush to take hold. when I have to take capsles I do so with a hot beverage and I sit with the dang capsule in my mouth until it feels like it's practically ready to disolve. Then like Kathy said, I wash it down with more beveage (the hot tea or cold water).

Yup, I recommend keeping a food diary. At this point don't worry about counting calories, just write down waht you eat. Most importantly, DO NO JUDGE YOURSELF at this point. If you have a couple of cookies, write down that you had the cookies or what ever it is. Once you've kept the journal for a couple of weeks, then start counting not only calories, but food groups. Then do the same with excersize. Are you parking your car further away or are you constantly looking for the closest space? You know all the tricks for adding walking possibilities. Make an appointment with your local aftercare person, it is very possible that you need a fill. Good luck and welcome. Most importantly, be kind to yourself!