NDPrairieLover

I am returning to this site after a very long absence. Two years to be exact, but I need to find some support and find out if anyone else is having the same issues I seem to be having. First of all, let me say, I have lost weight since my lapband (70 pounds to be exact), but unfortunately I have not reached my goal and have gained back 8 lbs. I am struggling with medications that are continually causing hunger issues. I am now officially in menopause, so doctor started birth control pills, and I take Paxil which also has increased my appetite. I have tried not to take either, but the non-treated symptoms are worse. I am constantly craving food eventhough I am full and I am afraid I have stretched my pouch. I am starting the 5-day pouch diet that was recommended on another thread, but I am feeling out of control and I so want to get back to feeling in control of this hunger thing. I noticed the minute the hunger started again, right after the increase in the Paxil for stress, and the birth control. Any way, just needed to vent and I am not looking for anything else but others' experiences in these past two years and how are you working through the tough times. NDPrairieLover

Hey Dini, just missed your quick message, but if you are already in the morning of tomorrow. Have a good one and thank goodness you are eating healthy and your co-workers will just have to watch you get better! Night.

Well, got to go get more protein down in this little bitty tummy of mine:D. I think I will go for cream of split pea opposed to the cream of potato (for the fifth time):bored. Definiely loved the SlimFast with Peanut butter shake someone recommended. It was heavenly. But, now it is the 8 ounces of soup and I am ready for it. You guys have a good night and do not think about bad thoughts. Tomorrow is another day and another shake and we will do this:eyebrows::eyebrows: Denise

OH MY GOSH You work at my school. I swear I eat more there than anywhere else. When I had to look at my eating habits to see where my food addiction was getting me in trouble, it was a hands down...it is at school. I also think that carrying around this weight was really getting hard on my teaching as I found myself wanting to get up front and roam around because my feet always hurt. The last straw was when I tore my ACL and ripped my Meniscus (knee) playing in the 6th grade versus teachers charity basketball game. I was so embarrassed when they could not pull me off the court. It was time! But, I think I will really be changing my eating habits and I will no longer be buying and eating those icky school lunches. HEY YOU MOMS OUT THERE Do you know what your public schools are feeding your kids? I am becoming really vocal at our school about the horrible food and at the same time they keep removing pop machines. I do not have a problem with that, but if you want healthy, nonobese children, get better lunch foods.

Hang in there Rain. I cannot think of anything worse than hearing those words, "this is boring" and I definitely lose it when they do the "this sucks" thing. Enjoy those little ones as they too start saying these things and by that time, you might be ready to start something new for yourself. I cannot wait for my grandkids, but my girls are still too busy in that other icky stage called college life. Oh well, guess I will have to wait.

I do not know how many of you are moms, but have you all experienced this almost as a pregnancy that has ended and now we have a case of the "baby blues"? I swear I feel like that feeling of being a bit depressed. Is this medical, because it sure isn't hormones is it? I have been a bit weepy all day. Maybe it is symbolic of a loss and a life change. Seems reasonable to me. Hang in there Ranier. I'm with ya' Denise

Ranier: I have two things about teaching I know are true. Both high school English teachers and Kindergarten teachers are going to heaven. No doubt about it! I teacher 5th and 6th. I am also Vice Principal. I love my job so very much, but am working on a Ph.D. so I can teach preservice teachers. No Child Left Behind is getting hard and unrealistic. I work more with administrators, tests and things that will never mean as much as the child themselves and what they need to learn versus what the administration thinks they should learn. Dini: I have never seen Denise as Denisa; however, it looks beautiful in writing. I was always called Deni. You have a beautiful name and live in a beautiful country (so my older daughter tells me). You can bet if I ever get a chance to go to Europe, Ireland will be my first stop and you will be on my list. I have always wanted to see and have a brewsky in a pub. But, now that the beer is taboo for the LBers, I will settle for something else refreshing. Your cruise sounds fun, but I have to wait for the next cycle as I am broke:embarassed:

I am going in for my first fill on July 31th. I will be attending my class reunion on August 3rd. When you have a fill, are you on liquids for two days? I will be meeting with my dietician on July 30th, so I am sure we will work out a plan, but I want to make sure and prepare so I do not cheat too much at reunion. I also do not want to be PBing either.

Absolutely! I started with an ice pack on the largest incision, the port. I have 5 small incisions and the port. I kept it on for 20 minutes and then off for an hour. After the third day, I put a heating pad on my entire stomach. I am on my 6th day, and I sometimes still put an ice pack on the port area as it is sore. I am not sure if there is a prescribed way to do this. I just was told to ice the incisions for the first couple days and then I could do either. It does help.

Hi folks. I am on my 6th day post-op and I notice sometimes I am bloated and other times not. Is this normal. WASaBubbleBut you say it is normal for it to take two weeks for the gas to leave your body? Is that the CO2 they used or is it just the gas that keeps producing itself. I keep taking my Gas-X and walking, but I notice the left shoulder pain and I keep thinking it is gas pain. Also, I have found I do so much better if I try not to be a "hero" and stay on top of my pain. I too have hydrocordone and I find if I do not take it when I need it, I get too weepy and I hurt without realizing it until it is too late. I really am working on staying on top of pain.

It is nice to see so many teachers on this sight. You suppose a lot of our weight gain is the staff room and STRESS? I will be looping with my last year's class. They will be sixth graders and I am excited to show off the new me on the first day. Our school has set up one of our school improvement goals as staff wellness. I feel I am really steppin' up to the plate and will be asking students to participate in a wellness program with me. I think we may take a walk for 15 mins. just to jumpstart our day. I may not get to do all the time, but it really helps those Monday sleepers. I have been thinking with all the obesity issues in children, maybe it is time I model better eating and exercising habits. Hope I am up for the task.

Thanks dmtjet. It doesn't seem as being the 6th day does it? Time flies when we are having a ball. Anyhow...Remember you all, how I told you I didnt' have a scale in the house for several years? Well, it is official. I bought a SCALE:omg:!!!. I immediately set it up and put myself on top of the thing and whala...it said "ERROR". That was scary. I couldn't figure out if I was over the maximum limit or what. I kept trying it over and over with no luck except that stupid "ERROR" code. So, when all else fails, read the directions right? Well, I did and guess what? I was not doing it right. I had to tap the left-side with my foot and then step on. Now for the good news...I lost another 5 pounds since Monday:clap2: That really helps because this over focus on food is really starting to get tiresome. Have I had enough fluids? Have I had enough protein? Have I had enough whatever? Now no more bit__ing and here are the good things, besides the weight. No more runs! I notice peaches9 you have been struggling, but I went through the same thing and it too shall pass. Of course, always check with doctor if you have any concern. I am just saying I spent a lot of time up until yesterday on the john. Now its over. So all in all, I guess the little crying spell was just a fluke. I took my pain meds (as of course I wasn't paying attention and port is really sore), took a shower and now I am all better. Thanks guys. Your replies have helped bunches. Denise