the best me

LMBO!!!

You have US!!!! Say what you need, we can make it happen, just like a band of little angels. Meals for hubby? What? Tell us!!!

Bean, it's Bated Breath...I had to look it up! LOL Vines, as always, you bounce back with the right attitude. :hail: We are cheering you on from all over the world!!!! You go girl!!!!:cheer2:

:rockon: Spectacular! Rock ON! Diva! You are simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Wow, yes, take pics for future plastic surgery if needed! My scale hasn't moved in weeks (months?), but I keep getting comments from folks like "Wow...looking good!" "You look like youv'e lost" or "Boy, you are shrinking!" but not on the scale!!!! I think, in my experience, we lose and then our bodies take time to adjust...the fat move around, the dimples and wrinkles set in, etc etc before the scale starts moving again. My tummy is uglier than EVER!!! It's very wrinkly. ewwww. BUT, it's a sign I have been losng. So. There you have it. It's hard watching our bodies change. Especially when it seems worse than better. But the weight coming off is what gives us HEALTH! which is a heck of alot better than obesity. Some folks don't like the changes and eat back up to what's a more mentally comfortable size. Take pics and watch you change!

Awwww, now that's snoring I could put up with! How cute is that?!!!!! Glad your gurgling has become manageable!

What's your diet like these days? You are on normal foods, right? Okay, I'm no doc, but the fluttering may be your esophogus spasming after you take bites of food. The upper part of the stomach, above the band but below the valve at the bottom of the esophogus, squeezes involuntarily when there is food there. It's trying to push it down through the band. If it won't go, the food can get pushed back up into the esophogus, and perhaps that's happening and causing your fluttering and discomfort? Try taking smaller bites, use a toddler fork or a crab fork. That might help, and be sure to "chew to goo" anything you swallow. No chunks...chew it up good!!! Hope that helps. If not, call your doc!

I cracked up when I read your post...thanks for the laugh! And I just looked at my measurements...26 1/2 inches...ON MY THIGHS!!!! Yep, that used to be a waist measurement for me. Okay, in the 7th grade. But still. LMAO

Yep, good English, don't worry!!! Your walking is probably what is making your port area hurt a little. Keep up the walking and maybe use an ice pack on your port after your walk. Just for a few minutes. That tissue is tender, just be "nice" to it. Good luck, and Congrats!

Karen, I agree with Betty, you ae too tight. Seeing as how an unfill is problematic due to your flipped port, I would recommend (well, I'd recommend and unfill anyway!) but for now, stick to liquids and soft mushies and do your best to up your calorie intake. You need food! Take in an extra protien shake or two, see if that helps. Maybe it will help you shed some pounds and your fill will lossen a bit. This is not banded life, it's not how it's supposed to be, and you don't have to live this way! Your band is adjustable! AND, 45 pounds in 6 months is nothing to sneeze at, either. I have lost less than 35 since April. You have lost 7.5 pounds a months, or about 1.8 pounds a week. That is right on track, so quit beating yourself up about your weight loss! You are doing great! Get a few hundred more calories in each day and see how that helps. Go to www.room42.com and see how many calories you need each day to lose. Good luck!

You have lost 45 pounds, I'm doubting Wed will make you gain all that back. Eat up, you'll be on liquids again after your fill. kidding. Keep your Water handy and sip all day. Brush your teeth every 3 hours all day. Chew gum. Get rid of the choclate, or if you have to, give yourself 3 candy kisses and that's IT! The band is made to work properly when filled. Hang in there and be glad you don't have to wait 2 weeks for your fill!!! You'll be below 250 before you know it! Woooot!!!!

yay! You did it! congrats, so glad it all went smoothly!!

Nurses are there at night to help with trips to the bathroom and stuff. I know what you mean, but keeping them on schedule is better for everyone! Plus you'll be sleeping a good bit, I'd imagine? Especially that first night. That hospital in Concord is nice, I'll bet there are DVD players in the rooms, or you could get one to use without having to buy one...check into that before you spend the money unless you want one anyway. I say let hubby stay home with daughter. She can visit that evening and get a good night's sleep in her own bed. So can hubby, and he'll be available for you the next day. Yep, that's what I'd do.

I forgot to add...make sure you squish the jello and yogurt really well before swallowing tiny liquified bits. that should help. I PB'd jello skin on day 5 post-op and it was awful. Hurt like the dickens. Don't do that!! good luck!

I was blaming my dial-up...I'm having the same trouble!!

Michelle, slow down with your drinking. Take smaller sips. That tightness is your band telling you there's too much at once to get through the band comfortably. Don't worry, you won't always be this tight. As the swelling goes down around your band, you will be able to take bigger sips, and eventually chug with the best of them. right now, though, listen to your band telling you to slow down and take smaller sips. Start paying attention to the way your band talks to you...you'll need that info later on. Good luck!

Just the thread I have been waiting to see. Hang in there, Vines. It takes a minute to wrap your brain and emotions around it. Take a big long nap, then a big long walk, then a big long shower. (here's where I'm tempted to insert something trashy, yet funny...along the lines of "big and long" so lets pretend I did and see you grin ) I'm no medical expert, but the cortisol connection makes sense to me in regards to weight loss. You are on the road, now! And we are here with you. ((((hugs)))) and keep us posted.

How's Curtis? Update please! We are thinking of you and praying...

Congratulations to a proud grandma, a happy mom, and a very lucky little Sam who has these wonderful women in his life. I'm so happy for you!!!

Terri, you need to rule out slippage, erosion, or some type of port/tubing leak or disconnect. Your doc may start with a barium swallow, just know that an endoscopy is the only procedure that can tell you for sure if you are eroded. Some people have barium flow around the band on a baruim swallow, but just because it doesn't flow around, doesn't mean you aren't eroded. Call your doc, get some peace of mind, and find out where your restriction went! Hopefully your port/band discomfort is just from something you did...exercise? who knows, but I'm glad it's gone. And hopefully all you need is another small fill. How's your weight loss? Are you exercising? Is your doc easy to get to? Call! Let us know.

Okay, let me know your date. And we don't have to do it at the exact same time. I want to pick my date, and I'll know it when it comes. I'm going to my PCP next week and will ask about a prescription for Wellbutrin, or some other "aid" for the willies. Something to take the edge off. Last two times I quit cold turkey I felt like I lost my best friend and gained tons of weight. I need help this time. I'm too old to keep doing this! Time to let it go. I don't smoke alot, but regularly. sigh. Anyone else want to join us? When the time comes, we'll start a thread for venting and checking in. Let's don't lose any nipples, okay?! LOL

Yay You! Hope your day is the BEST! Happy Birthday! :banana

Welcome to Onederland!!!!! It's a great place to be. Congrats!!!

Excellent list and well done! More NSV's to come...Yay you!!!!

No drinking for a year because it causes erosion? Having a band is what can cause erosion...hmmm. So, I'd imagine that liquor is hard on a banded tummy. Beer is carbonated. Could you stick with wine at your gatherings? beverages, other than Water, are empty calories that go straight through the band with little to no restriction and do nothing to help with weight loss. Don't tell me I can't have coffee, though! And it's acidic and hard on a banded tummy, I'd think. I don't know what to say to that. And why a year? Will you NOT erode after a year? Noone here will tell you to ignore your doc's orders...BUT!!! you can make your own judgement based on the experiences of others. I think if you drink enough, you will still get drunk, banded or not. Alcohol won't help your weight loss, but if total abstinence is a huge problem, I'd say you might be able to find a happy medium? IMHO. Not sure about the green stuff...are you talking about wacky weed that gives you the munchies? Again, not good for weight loss but...happy medium. Wow, I live a pretty low-key life, now that I think of it. I think I'm wild having a ciggy and a cup of coffee! I rarely drink, and if I do, it's a sip or two of wine. I don't do drugs. Hey, Pav, you wanna quit the ciggy's with me? I'm thinking in a month or two...it's getting time for that.