Chickie

Thanks Ladies... Susan, I have indeed posted pics http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showpost.php?p=225756&postcount=552 ETA; I know that the slender hips, and big boobs is what guys are after, I have been married far too long to a man I adore to worry about what men think, lol. I am actually kinda uncomfy with the attention that gets paid to me now (by men)... It is flattering, but disturbing at the same time. I have been overweight for most of my adult life, and to be "hot" all of a sudden is a shock. Its weird.

My family take their shoes off in our house. We do not expect people to take theirs off when they enter our home, but they do tend to offer to do so.

Hi Pat! I was, and still am an emotional eater. The band does not stop this, sadly. It does however give me more control over the portions I consume, and provided I make good choices (and exercise), I lose weight. At 16 months out, I am almost at goal. It can be done. It took me a few cancelled appointments before I finally got to the surgeon. And if you have any doubts, it is the right thing to do. This is a life changing surgery. I wish you the best of luck in your journey!

It is really hard to say if you will "hate" your boobs. Every one is so different. Some women I know who have lost weight have lost a lot of volume in their boobs, while others lost nothing. I am fairly close to goal weight, and still have massive (H cup) boobs. They are not as full as they once were, but they still look great in a good bra. So *I* do not hate my boobs. Only time will tell I guess.

Congratulations!! :clap2:

There you go.

Good luck! :clap2:

No, the one I was thinking of is Spironolactone. Nasty, nasty side effects.. But apparently it works, and the execess hair falls out. It is taken in pill form. It is not a cream. Maybe they don't give spiro for hirsutism in the US, I don't know. But they do in Oz. It works, but at a price. I think I will just stick with my bleach and tweezers :grouphug:

Golden words. Your regular doc may know little about PCOS treatment, and management, but an endo! Well! What can I say? All they deal with is disorders like PCOS. They usually have the most up to date info. So I say, do as you are, and do what your regular doc says in order to get a Dx, and get your referal to your endo. That is great!! :clap2: And on the subject of chin hairs.... 62kg (136lbs) down, and close to goal, I am sitting here tweezers in hand pulling stray hairs :bananadoggywow: I am afraid it gets no better with weight loss. I am told there is a medication (the name is on the tip of my tounge...) to stop/slow the hair growth, but it has some very nasty side effects. My endo told me to stick with the tweezers.. I would be better off in the long run *sigh* That said, weight loss has sorted my hormone levels, my insulin has gone from off the charts high, to perfectly normal, and I have a 28 day cycle (I was lucky to have 2 cycles a year). So there is hope.

Paula - you asked about alternative therapy for PCOS. http://www.soulcysters.com/symptoms.html That page has some great idea's including Flax seed oil, evening primrose oil and black current oil (as hormone balancing agents)

Ahh, ok. You *were* given Depo-Provera. I am not sure if I would take Depo. A lot of women with PCOS have very bad side effects from Depo. Not everyone.. But a lot do. It may be worth checking out www.soulcysters.net . There are a lot of ladies over there who may be able to give you some advice.

Provera is different to Depo-Provera. Depo is the birth control, and Provera is used to induce a period. http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/pro1361.htm

I am a woman, I have curves... Even when I was younger I was a muscular girl, not an ounce of fat on my body, but I was never skinny. I am just not built that way. I am weighing in at 160lbs now, and am wearing a AU size 12 (I think that is a US 10) I am starting to look like I did when I was a kid (but I have huge breasts now, I am a H cup :faint:) I look strong and healthy. I look like a woman. I don't really wan't to get into a size 6 (That would be about a size 8AU) On *me* that would look far too thin (despite only being 5ft 4in) I have bones sticking out everywhere already. I look great now (to me, anyway :dance:) And if I get slimmer from here, great. But if I do not, I look better than I have in my whole adult life, and am healither than I have been since I had my son. Being a bikini is not really a priority in my life.

Here are a few sites I refer to for recipes - http://whatscookingamerica.net/RecipeIndexDiet.htm http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/recipes/low_calorie/main_meals.htm http://www.low-fat-recipes.com/featured-recipes/index.htm I found that most of the recipes can be made "bandster friendly".

I was quoted $3800 by my band surgeon. Apparently, my health fund will cover my hospital stay, and part of the tuck. I have no idea what I will get back from Medicare, but even if I had to pay 100% of that $3800, it is still one cheap tummy tuck.

:faint: It has been a year? :faint: The day of my first consult I was 135ish kg(297lbs). Today I weighed in at 77kg (169lbs). Not bad for a year huh? I had my 1 year follow up today, and Dr said that some time in Sept we would start thinking about a tummy tuck, if I get this last 9-10kg off. I think I can do it :welldone2: I went from a tight 26/28 to a loose 14, snug 12. Yay me! :clap2: 10kg to go!

I was dx'ed with PCOS in 2000. I had all the typical symptoms (weight gain, cysts, acne, IR, infertility, hair, absent periods, and on and on) 13 months down the track, my 3000mg of Metformin is down to 500mg (I am comming of slowly, my insulin and sugars are perfect now) I am down to 77kg, from 135kg, I have perfectly clear skin (I get the odd sopt just before I get my period) and I have a 28 day cycle for the first time in my life! I still have some hair on my chin and arms, but there is far less than before. I hope that helps a little.

Hello all. The Sunday before last (feb 26) I was about 1/2 way through my dinner, and suddenly started feeling ill. I ended up running to the toilet, just in time to vomit. A real, honest to goodness vomit. My first in 12.5 months. After throwing up, I felt a little queezy still, but much better. I drank plenty of water, and called my GP in the morning. By that time I was feeling pretty darn good again, so she said to take it slow, back to fluids for a few days anyway.(she works closely with me, and my banding doc, so I can rely on her for good band related advice, she is a gem) So all is well, Tuesday I go on to mushies, and I felt tighter. I thought maybe this had more to do with the fact that I had been on liquids for a few days, and that the sensation was different. That I had forgotten how restricted I really was. Thursday I get back to solids. And yep. I am much tighter. I took it easy, had wheet bix for brekky, some tender chicken salad for lunch, and a thick pumpkin soup for dinner (I finished eating at 6pm, and only had a cup of tea, and 1 ltr of water between then and bedtime at 12) I woke up at 4 am on Friday morning with a burning in my throat. I have had acid reflux before.. But nothing like this. I had a tiny sip of water, more to wet my mouth (I am an open mouth sleeper) and went to the loo. I needed to cough, or so I thought. I PB'd, or vomited, I am not real sure all over the floor. Thick and clear, with brown/black/red streaks in it. I didn't get a real good look because I had not turned the light on. I had no sooner finished cleaning that lot up, when I needed to "cough" again, this time I vomited into the loo. Again, whiteish clear with black/brown/ read streaks. And lots of it. more than what I could hold in my little pouch I am sure. So first thing in the morning, I call my surgeon, and talk to his nurse. She was reluctant to say, or do anything to help me. In the end, after I told her about what I believe to be blood in the vomit, she told me to come in an get some Pariet, and make an appointment for next week. So I have made the appointment (It is tomorrow morning) But in the mean time, it has happened again, although this time without the burning in my throat. I have had nasty, constant shoulder tip pain, and a burning pain when I eat or drink. I think, even if it is not true, I need to hear "it will be ok" I know its not..lol, but humour me. Or if you have some insight into what it really could be, please share. Gee.. I need to get a blog, huh? LMAO

Thanks everyone... I am feeling so much better now I am unfilled. :clap2: Sooo much better! :clap2: I am quietly confident that everything will be ok. Thanks again for all the support. I will keep everyone updated :biggrin1:

As Alex said, the band is a fickle bitch. Go for the test to rule out any problems, and maybe talk to your doctor about a small unfull to give your band, and stomach rest?

I would, and will do it again if need be.

I am back from the doc. He said, it sounds lke a slippage. We did a gastrograffin (I think you in the US call them Fluro's) and yup. I have slipped. The left side has slipped up. So, I have no fill, and am on liquids, till next week. We will do another gastrograffin then, see what the band is doing and decide where we go from there (Re operation, or leave it... I think we will end up re operating to be honest, I just have a feeling) So thanks for all the prayers, and well wishes.. It has turned out really well , as these things go, and is totally fixable. Just a bump in the road :biggrin1:

I am only taking pain killers for the pain that I am having related to this mess... And it is only panadol. So nothining like ibupofin (sp?) or the like. I highly doubt that me taking 2 panadol every 6 hours is causing this, given it started before I began taking them (and taking them because the clinical nurse, and my dr said to if I needed them) And I am on an antacid. I am seeing my doctor. In the morning. He will run tests. I am dong exactly what I have been told to do.

I am having a bit of trouble right at this second, and am thinking the very worst (as most do) and have been thinking about what I will/would do if I need to be unbanded. I will do it again if I have to. If it comes to a point, where I need my band out, I will have another put in ASAP.

Congratulations!