the best me

Pavarathi, I'm pretty sure Jodie was banded in the States but ended up being self-pay because insurance wouldn't pay. She can answer better though. Jodie? I'm sorry about your bf. One day you will look back and he will be but a distant memory. You will wonder what you were so upset about. Just move forward. Losing our weight takes us into a whole new world. Make sure the people going with you there are emotionally healthy and can handle what you have to give back. You are gonna be fine!!! Kim, I'm sorry this is hard on your relationship. I suspect it will either get better or worse. You will know in time, though. My mom gave me advice that, as I get older, makes good sense. I knew she was right at the time and, even though it was difficult and I had to make some tough decisions, I listened, heeded, and her advice has served me well. She said, "Hang out with people you aspire to be like. If you hang out with a bunch of losers, you will be one, or you will not be your best, at the least."

I PM'd you! Congrats!!!!!

Weel done MollyMolly! We need to remember this post/thread for others with the same questions. It certainly makes sense that major surgery which includes a huge change in diet that doesn't start producing hair loss until well after the fact is exactly what is happening to us bandsters. So, we have telogen effluvian. hmmm. Bandster hair loss. Makes sense. You sure are handy.

Hmmm, my feedback is that your loss of restriction is directly related to your miscarriage, or, better put, your increased restiction was directly related to your pregnancy. I get tighter at "that time of the month" when swelling, bloating, water retention, etc is going on, and last month, the good restriction lasted for about 2 weeks. Yay! I'm actually looking forward to Aunt Flo's visit this month. Did I say that? Lots and lots of women say this happens to them, as I'm sure you know. I'd say it's more due to water, fluids, increased blood supply, and all that was going on in your body during that time, and less related to any weight loss. Plus, take into consideration any stoma swelling relatd to getting filled, then getting PG, and now you have no stoma swelling and an unfortunate miscarriage. Don't you have the VG band? Yes, there's your stats. I'd like to think that 6ccs would do it, but maybe it really is time for another small fill? I am one to NOT get fills for several reasons. Cost is one, I'm self-pay. I was so terribly tight post-surgery I panicked and really don't want to do that again. And I want my band to last a good long time so I never want to be over-filled. It just causes too many problems. I would rather have a slow and steady weight loss that lose fast, be miserable, and risk band problems (reflux, slippage, erosion). That said, I realize that I should be working with the restriction I have, rather than wishing for more. As long as my fill keeps me fuller longer and makes it easier NOT to want to graze on empty calories, or high-fat foods, I'm good. It's definately much easier when I'm so tight I CAN'T graze and over-eat, but that doesn't mean I need a fill. Know what I mean? Crapola, it takes me so many words just to get a point across. Do you know what I mean? I would wait for at least one period cycle after your miscarriage before deciding. That fickle fill may come back a bit, and you obviously were able to think twice and put down the burger before it got out of hand. So you do have good self-control. And yes, it happpens to me that fast. Good restriction one day, wake up the next and I have to be a stricter bandster to keep that full feeling. Hope all that helps.

One more, and I'm done cleaning out my e-mails of dumb but funny stuff. Enjoy! Believe it or not you can read this. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

If you have raised kids (or been one), and gone through the pet syndrome, including toilet-flush burials for dead goldfish, the story below will have you laughing out LOUD! It is a story told by one father to another. It is not atypical as one might think. Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet. Here's what happened: Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room. "He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious, Dad. Can you help?" I put my best lizard-healer statement on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do. "Honey," I called, "Come look at the lizard!" "Oh my gosh," my wife diagnosed after a minute. "She's having babies." "What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!" I was equally outraged. "Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I accused my wife. "Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired. (I actually think she said this sarcastically!) "No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" I reminded her, in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth together. "Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed. "Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me. (Again with the sarcasm, you think?) By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it. "Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience, I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth." "OH, Gross!", they shrieked. "Well, isn't THAT just Great! What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?" my wife wanted to >know. (I really do think she was being snotty here, too. don't you?) We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. "We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted. "It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified. "Do something, Dad!" my son urged. "Okay, okay." Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gingerly tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results. "Should I call 911?" my eldest daughter wanted to know. "Maybe they could talk us through the trauma." (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?) "Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. "Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged. "I don't think lizards do La maze," his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for Pete's sake.) The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass. "What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically. "Oh, very interesting," he murmured. "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside. "Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked. "Oh, perfectly," the vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen... Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um ... um...masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back." He blushed, glancing at my wife. "Well, you know what I'm saying, Mr.Cameron." We were silent, absorbing this. "So Ernie's just...just... Excited," my wife offered. "Exactly", the vet replied, relieved that we understood. More silence. Then my viscous, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly. "What's so funny?", I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness. Tears were now running down her face. "It's just ... that... I'm picturing you pulling on its .. its ... teeny little..." she gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more. "That's enough," I warned. We thanked the Veterinarian and hurriedly bundled the lizards and our son back into the car. He was glad everything was going to be okay. "I know Ernie's really thankful for what you've done, Dad," he told me. "Oh, you have NO idea," my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter. 2 - lizards -- $140... 1 - Cage -- $50... Trip to the Vet -- $30... Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's whacker...Priceless

OMGosh, a picture of Jack. A REAL visual of the man behind the posts! Amazing! I love it! You are mighty handsome and not near as gray-headed as I had hoped Wow. I'm shocked and very very happy.

I think this one is 2005??? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=619 Happy Band Day everyone!!

Oh, and starving yourself the old fashioned way is not a good way to lose weight. Losing weight involves eating less, eating good foods, exercising, drinking water. The band just helps. It's obvious you have the skills and self-discipline to eat properly. Just give your poor ole beat up body a chance to re-nourish and you will do well.

This is the good news since your unfill. You can eat real food, hard protiens, good carbs , all in small quantities without it coming back up. Puuleeease don't worry about the 4 pound gain. I promise, I promise if you keep eating your 1000 calories of real food you will drop weight. Go to www.room42.com and put in your stats. That site is very handy for telling you how many calories, fats, carbs, and protiens to eat and either maintain, gain, or lose weight. You seem very dedicated and attentive, so this info would be very helpful. I'm wondering if you even need to increase your calories by 200 a day. Check on Room 42. What about gall bladder probs? Have you been vomiting or PBing at all since your unfill? Many folks with gall stones have trouble keeping food down. Just wondering if you think it was the band or if it could possibly be gall stones. Drinking your Water and getting in healthy carbs is the best way to deal with Kidney Stones. A very high protien diet without the veggies and fiber can really be hard on your kidneys. Eat your veggies. I'm so glad you posted this. I hope you get a really good response and good advice. I don't know what to think about Dr Kuri's office. I know that fill day in TJ is very very hectic and probably not the best time to discuss your banding journey in detail. So many people, so little time. I'm happy you insisted on a slight unfill, and your flouro showed no band probs like slippage.

Yippeee!!!! I'm so relieved Dr Bauman is taking good care of you. Yay Dr Bauman's office! OMGosh...here you all go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, stay away from the junk and work with your band. Also, make sure you use adequate low-fat food lubes. Add BBQ sauce to that chicken. Dip cooked veggies in something creamy. Don't get out of hand with added fat and calories, but if 2 ounces of chicken w/ BBQ sauce and some steamed broccoli with garlic sauce sits comfortably and you stay full for hours, that's perfect! This is the aggravating part of the band. It can really stop you in your tracks...which is good...but you do have to slow down slower than you think and turn a healthy meal into a small event. Embrace this love affair between you, your food, and your band. And indulge a bit if you know you have had a good food day. Pre-band=2 slices of cake plus the nibbles of the kid's leftovers plus the scraps from put-away and the knife and other nibbles, which makes it 3 sliices. Post-band=a few bites of cakes and a lick of frosting from the serving utensil and it's all good. No guilt. And weight loss! Another thought. All of us hit short (or long!) plateaus. Don't be afraid as your body adjusts to it's new and improving metabolism. Keep up the good bandster eating and be patient with your body. You will move down the scale again after a time. Be patient! You are doing great!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you , Daniela. Have a safe and successful surgery. I hope you are well under the circumstances. Take Care!!!

Happy Birthday ((hugs)) to you! I hope your day is just the best! 40 is a great age.

Aw, come on! You can do it! Call them back. Tell them you will take the date! May as well. What are you waiting for? Anyway, congrats!!! Nov 3rd will be here before you know it!

I picked up a 22 pound bag of chicken feed at the grocery store and walked up and down the aisle with it. Pretty impressive, since I have lost around 28 pounds. No wonder I trudged up the steps!! Another 50 pound loss and I'll be floating!!! I like seeing how much less space the muscle takes up. That's encouraging. Fat loss = inches gone. Yippee!!

Very funny! Well-written! Thanks for the smile. So glad you had success!!!

Aw, Rachel will be so happy to see these pics! I'll show her after school today. What a cutie-patootie! Editing: Paula, can you get sneaker skates from Wal-Mart? Rachel would love some of those!!

If this makes you feel any better, I was self-pay and went to Mx. The good: no insurance crapola and waiting. The not-so-good: 10 Grand in debt. Take your pick? I had a really good Mx experience, but if insurance had paid, well, I'd be staying in the states and have a good bit less debt right now. No regrets for me, just a bit of perspective for you. Hope it helps you feel better???

Teresa, I notice that when I get a bit stuck, my nose runs. I'm thinking that getting stuck...the pre-curser to the dreaded PB...causes your body to produce any and all type of slimy gross mucus from any source and as quickly as possible to loosen the stuck. Just a theory, but a pretty good one, I'd guess? Yep, it's all a good bit thicker than your regular saliva. Ew.

DD is Dear or Darling Daughter. DS is...well, Son. DH is husband. DW, wife. Here's a helpful link... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959 ain't it fun?

I suppose I'm ready to do one. Ya'll have seen my funny mug a time or two, but something about it popping up on EVERY post!! Plus, I like my Blossom-y wreath. It a kind of silent homage. Let me find a pic with my eyes unsquinted from smiling through buck-teeth and I'll see if I can stand it

OMGosh I saw that. Really? I might need to order that...

Keep being hopeful Krissy! Welcome to LBT!

Octavia, please please start a new thread. Cut and paste all this do your own thread so folks can speak to you there and speak to Dee Dee about Ketosis here. I'll be looking for you on your own thread. I'm worried about you. Dee Dee, and the rest of you, I guess I jsut don't understand what Ketosis is. You body is dumping sugar that was stored in fat? Right? 'splain please?