the best me

What about Denika and Sherrie? We have Ashville and Raleigh folks around and about these days...yoohoooooo!! Wavy I can't wait to see your mullet.

Hey Tonya! Welcome to LBT and the NC Forum! Have you found the "starting BMI over 50" thread for bandsters with higher start weights? I think it's a Sticky called "super-sized bandsters" or something like that. I'll find it for you if you need me to. I think you are getting around in here enough you might have seen it already. They might be very handy for info in that area. I have BCBS of NC and Lap Band was specifically excluded. I could have had RNY with them but I knew I wanted the band and I didn't have the time or energy to fight. I backed down real quick and went to MX for my band. I was self-pay and have no regrets, except that I wish I had insurance coverage. I would have stayed state-side and scheduled with Bauman since I didn't know about Voellenger at the time. ANYHOW, Kim (gordonfamily3) said BCBS is scheduled to review their coverage policy sometime this year and it may become a covered benefit for those group policies who choose to offer it. If you are willing to fight and wait, it might be worth it. As it stands now, it simply isn't covered so I'm not sure an appeal would do it? Not sure. Do what you gotta do to take care of your health. I don't care what anyone says, being fat sucks and I'm so glad I'm LESS fat than I was! I'm healthier physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If I can take a plane for my surgery, you can drive a few hours...come on! Charlotte isn't that far, and you can meet us all for lunch!!!! Yippeee! I went to school at Montreat...oh so long ago ('83-'85). I love the Ashville area. I'm so glad you are here! Welcome!!!!!

Small bites of smooth yogurt squished in the mouth alot before swallowing would be liquid. Swallowing a hunk of unsquished yogurt doesn't qualify, I'd think. Same with jello. Try your jello warm and liquidy. And since I'm the Aloe Vera juice Junkie, I'll recommend a few ounces of that several times a day for a few days. It's very soothing and healing, even though it doesn't taste...well, it tastes like crap. LOL Okay, it isn't horrible, but it's not grape juice either!!! Good stuff though. Leatha's right about the liquids after a PB. It also sounds like you have the "first bite syndrome" going on so if you can do a Search on that, it might give you some ideas. I'm pretty sure there's an entire thread on "first bite syndrome". Many folks sip hot tea or hot lemon Water 10 min or so before meals to "open up the band" and that seems to help. Also, they will take the first bite, then get up and walk around, wait a few minutes, then sit back down and eat fine after that. Read up on that... Don't get stuck eating soft foods. There's a soft-foods syndrome (a bad habit of only eating soft foods that go through easily) and a soft-foods technique (eating soft foods temporarily for a purpose such as easing back onto solids after a fill or at that TOM when many women are tighter than usual) Did you understand that? Keep yourself in line for max. weight loss and band health. Good luck! (insert Donna's discalimer here-that's a good one!!!)

good luck centerfolds! You will get the support you need, but you'll never find another LBT, for sure! We are special over here, so when you miss us, just come back for a holler. ONe gal on the NC forum here ended up getting the RNY and she still posts here cuz we like her so much we won't let her leave. It happens! Anyhow, good luck! Shout out if you need more leads. OH is pretty popular though. Yay you!

Wait, PRE-op, right? Well, when you get your band you will be totally surprised how full you will feel eating a yogurt or a 4 ounce cottage cheese. BIG difference once banded and filled properly. So hang in there. You can do this now, and you SURE can do it later! Here's some inspiration, I hope. Tonight for dinner I just ALMOST took one bite too many. I had 1 piece of baked Tilapia fish and left about an ounce of it, I had a very small baked potato with margerine and sour cream, salt/pepper, and I had about 2 cups of salad with green pepper and onion, sprinkle crunchies and some balsamic vinigrette dressing. That's it. I'm stuffed. I'll have some coffee (brewing now) with flavored creamer for "dessert" and I am done for the night. Stuffed! I say!!!! How cool is that? Pre-band, I'd have shoveled a large potato, several more pieces of fish, had cheese, egg, and Ranch on the salad, THEN had dessert. And I would have thought I had eaten well. NOT. Get excited. It's worth it!

Oh! And Mypo...I'm so relieved for you! Aren't you glad it was something silly?!!!! Better safe than sorry. Do your monthly breast self-exams! (note to self....I'm so bad about letting that slip....eeek. gotta go palpate)

Donna B, I'm thinking whoever did your mammogram didn't do it properly? I found a great facility where I have mine done and they are as nice and gentle...very experienced boob-grabbers, those gals. No, it isn't pleasant, but it doesn't HURT and it sure doesn't bruise. Find a Radiology Center place...they do loads of them and usually have it down-pat. Ouch for you! I hope your next one is better. Give it a shot...you need to get your mamo!!! (lady in my church is going through chemo and radiation because she put off her mams, didn't have time, didn't want to go, found a lump, and by then it was a much more complicated treatment. I know she regrets not going and catching it early. She'll recover, but it sure ain't easy now with no hair and getting sick to her stomach for days after her treatments. Cancer is no fun. I'd risk bruising. I'm sorry, I just felt so compelled to say that. She's just a few years older than you are)

You Rock! :rockon: Well done and cheers! Don't hold back now. It's okay to do da booty shakin dance!!!!!!!!!! awwwwriiiggghhtttt!!!

MelAnne, I have been wondering about you! You are sounding better...ice cream is a GREAT thing! Some foks can't go near the stuff. If you have enough self-control (I think you do) to limit it to a reasonable amount, you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. I think I told you on the other thread to drink a milkshake and check back in. It may not have been my partiuclar words that inspired you, but lots of folks told you to "eat!" Your body really needed those calories, so I'm glad it's working for you! Yay Mel! For my fills, I do a soft Breakfast and get plenty of Water in before noonish appointments (the 3 appts I have had-2 fills, one unfill) and then did liquids the rest of the day, 1/2 the next, soft foods for another day or two...I make a slow re-entry. But, like Alex said (and she's always right!) you might not feel any difference on this one. Hang in there...your fills WILL work when you get that level perfect for you! Keep burning the good coal! And don't be afraid of a little ice cream every once in a while! Good job!

So, you switched from a smaller band to the VG? Wow. I'm so glad you are feeling better. You mentioned this on another thread (the GFG?) and I'm glad you posted your own. Let us know what your doc says at your next follow-up!

Listen to your body. If it hurts, slow down. You WILL be able to drink more as time goes by, but if you are hurting when you drink or eat yogurt, you could be causing MORE swelling in the band area, which causes more pain. Concentrate on hydration, and if you aren't getting enough calories, stay on the sofa for a few more days until you are able to get more in. Also, pick up some Aloe Vera juice. Drink a few ounces twice a day or so. It's very healing and my band likes it alot. I'd imagine yours would, too. Wal-mart has quart containers that are berry flavored. Otherwise, aloe vera is kinda yucky tasting. But it's good stuff. Hang in there. It isn't like this forever and you WILL get through it! Slow down in every area, drinking and activity level. Good luck!

Please do, I'd love to hear all the scoop about the Vertical Gastrectomy, how it's working and how you are feeling. Thanks for checking in! I'll keep an eye out for you. Sooooo glad your back pain is gone! Did the doc say anything about why he/she thought the band was causing your pain? I'm very interested!

On THIS thread or another thread? I'm outta the loop! Someone PM me! I have been seearching the GFG thread looking for just WHO Heathergurl is harassing! Quit it Hearthergurl! You harasser, you!

Yay! There you are! Welcome back and I hope all is well. ((((hugs))) if you need them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I'm happy I'm not gaining. It sure is easy to maintain! No change for me AGAIN this week. I'm deleting my scorecard. I'll never get the sugar totally out of my coffee, and I'm pretty good at exercising my 3 days a week but not so good at wakling on my days off at Curves. Water is no problem. That might be what's helping me maintain. I'm just out of gumption. I was whining to hubby the other day and he was supr-supportive about how well I'm doing. This is the man who sees what and how I eat. He's pretty objective and said he's proud of what I've done so far, that I should take a break and not worry about the next 15 pounds just yet. Let my body and mind have a break. I know what he means, and I'm glad he's proud, but I'm afraid I'll go off the deep end if I'm not careful so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing for now and try not to beat myself up for not being a big ole Loser. Maybe I'll schedule a flouro fill. It's been almost 14 months banded and I've never had a flouro fill. I might choke up the funds and do it. I have pretty good restriction now. I can eat ANYthing slow and well-chewed. With a fill, I'll be restricted. I just wish I could restrict my own self. Maybe a small fill will help with head-hunger? Damn head-hunger. I hate that I need this band. I love that I have it, I hate that I need it. It scares to crap outta me to think of losing it. Can I just cuss some more?! LOL I'm surly this morning. I just looked up the spelling on that word and it means "imperious, bad-tempered, sullenly rude, uncivil" Yep, that'd be about right! I'll put a smile on now, promise!!!!! :biggrin1:

Yes, Melissa! Now is the time of year for all the fun stuff! Tomorrow is a Fun Day at a local church. All day they will be playing, doing crafts, eating outside in the picnic area...fun fun fun! I hate for her to miss class and then go to fun day! Her fever was non-existant this morning so she's off to school. Her cough is still yucky though. I'm pretty sure 1st grade doesnt' do any EOG testing. The upper grades at her school had them this week. She does have an Animal Habitat Assessment today but missed the in-class review yesterday, but I think she'll do fine. Forest, Pond, Underground, Desert. How hard can that be?! LOL I love this time of year for school. It's the stuff that makes school memorable! Yep, education is at a roaring STOP! I'm ready for summer!

Ugh, I hate the few days before Saturday LBT get-togethers. Hubby always has his work week planned, knows how busy it is, what he'll be doing on Sat, etc and MY lunch gets back-burnered EVERY time and I sweat it, not knowing FOR SURE that it will work out for me to come. Okay, I'm whining, but STILL!!!!!! So every time I carve it out and I'm able to make it so I won't panic and cancel. I'm willing to bring Rachel if needed, but I won't bring that crazy 3yo Tyler! He's fine in restaurants, but it's no fun for me when I'm distracted from him...you all know how it is! I may need to enlist some help from my sister but I'll git 'er done somehow! Pray for hubby, he's overwhelmed, has a spec house listed with work on hold while he's in the middle of an addition, and HAS to get started on a third remodel job by Wed next week. SIGH. 3 jobs going at once. Bless his heart. He works so hard. If/when he gets past all of this he has one more addition scheduled to start in June/July and he will be ready to concentrate on opening a granite shop in Mooresville. Yep. Granite. Big long story but it's all coming together and we are excited about having a family business. Great Scott!!!!!!!!!! Can I just whine some more? Rachel is sick. I don't know what she's got but it includes a fever (low grade) sore throat and cough with chest congestion. I kept her home from school last Thurs and today. She's going tomorrow unless her fever is back in the morning. I want her home! But she'll be so behind if she doesn't go and there really is no reason for her NOT to go...she's not herself but all she does here is play inside and watch the dumb ole TV. I made her take a nap but she can do that after school. Being a Mom is tough. My kids usually aren't sick so I guess I just hate second-guessing myself and being in limbo about whether or not to keep her home. Just 2 1/2 weeks of school left! Can't she just NOT be sick?!!!! Argh. What else. OH! Just kidding. Thanks for the shoulder gang. It was good to type all that out. I'll perk up, promise!!!! LOL

I just found the thread you started the other day about this...going to read it now...

Bunny, my sister has an extra Magic Bullet still in the box with all the accessories. Want me to see if she'll sell it to you? I have no idea how much they are...I think about 60 bucks for just the basic? Not sure. You e-bay...right? Find a competitive price and make her an offer? I'll check and see if she wants to part with it. We have been sharing hers and it's working fine so we really don't need the extra...lemme know if you are interested.

The work you are dong now is excellent preparation, in so many ways! You are doing so well! I, for one, am super proud. YOU GO GIRL!!! Keep it up. It will be a distant memory before you know it!

coffee and a ciggie. Oh yeah baby. The ciggies got to go, but the coffee is sticking around. I have tried to sub the sugar with artificial sweetners but, yuck. So I have discovered iced lattes. I can make them in my Magic Bullet. 8 ounces coffee, 8 ounces 1% milk, ice, 4 Splendas, and a squirt of chocolate syrup. I put the pitcher in the fridge and whip some up throughout the day and it does me great! Less sugar, less fat, I don't have to use the high calorie/high carb flavored creamer. And I got a good little shot of caffiene, which I like. BUT! there's nothing like a good ole hot cuppa coffee with sugar/creamer and a ciggie though. THAT is tough to give up!!!

Wow Vickie, I can't believe I missed this thread! I'm so glad you are feeling better. "trying too hard to get back to normal and over drank" is a chapter from my book. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you! You did so good!!! Hang in there. Slow slow slow. You won't keel over from sipping slow. You WILL be miserable if you don't. Sounds like you got it under control! Thanks for the update. Blissful sleep to you!!!!

Huh? Wait, hold on, I must have missed it this weekend. You had an endo and a gastroscopy? Your band is around your esophogus, not your stomach? I'm sorry, please fill me in!!!!

missymaxie, I agree, you are too tight!!!! Start a thread and drum up some advice...post your menu, eating habits, fill schedule with amounts and lets get to the bottom of this. If you live on Maalox, I can assure you, you are too tight and will NOT lose weight this way. You have to eat to lose weight. And not 2000+ calories a day. Real food in good portions. Rather than worry about whether or not this is some kind of Dr/insurance conspiracy, be willing to take a close look at what you are doing and how. Tweak what's needed. There are too many success stories for this to be a crock of "poop". Maybe the band won't work for you, but make sure it's for some medical reason, and not a lack of information needed to make it work. ((((hugs))) and YOU CAN DO THIS! How are you, MelAnne?

Holy Moly Pink! You look incredible! WTG, girl! And your English is wonderful...don't hold back, we understand you just fine! WOW!!!!!