lindata

If anyone could suggest a great doctor in Houston or north Houston who they recommend as an excellent surgeon, please let me know. I want my band removed.

I am SO glad to hear from some of the nymphs! Wow, it's been so long! I have wondered how everyone has been as well. I had been doing well. I didn't get to goal, but was okay with the weight I had lost, and then I got pregnant (3 years ago), had a complete unfill. I did okay and didn't gain too much during the pregnancy, then lost a lot of the weight again a few months after the baby was born, but THEN I started to put the weight back on. I have always been grateful I got the band because I know I would have gained and kept gaining without stop. The band stopped the weight gain and helped me get my normal body back (for a little while at least). I do have concerns about some foreign object in my body and what exactly is going on in there. I hope it doesn't give me cancer or something. I know, sounds weird, but I am a bit of a worrywart with things. I've gotten a few fills since the baby was born but honestly I have just been so tired with two kids that I haven't wanted to deal with getting stuck all the time. The band did get me to lose weight but not the way it should have - the way I lost weight was when I was so tight that I couldn't eat anything. I would get stuck, throw up, get an unfill, heal for a month, get a fill, get stuck, throw up, and the cycle would repeat. That is how I lost the weight. I guess bulemia would have been cheaper! lol! (just kidding of course) I just don't want to go through that again, although right now I don't know the alternative because I am back to my overeating ways where I can't seem to stop myself. Every day I start out like I should on "program" but by noon I'm throwing back the junk food. Once I get on program for a good week, I am always okay and do really well. It's just the starting I can't seem to get past. We are in the process of selling our house and moving to a new city which is extremely stressful on me because I love where we live right now. So just lately it has been hard. I wish I could hear from more of the November Nymphs!

Just in case this happens to anyone else, here is what helped me. I sipped a tiny bit of very warm water, then laid on my stomach. This helped to pop up whatever else was in my band, as in I threw it up. Then I didn't drink for a long time to let my stomach settle down. A few hours later I sipped maybe once every 15 minutes. The next day I was fine. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else because it's very scary to have a complete unfill and get stuck because there is nowhere to go but perhaps surgery.

Any advice is most appreciated! I was completely unfilled 18 months ago when I was pregnant. Today I got stuck on some meat, threw it up, and got stuck later on some soup, threw that up. I was throwing up saliva and still burping a lot. I'm scared I'm completely stuck and my band site is getting worse by the minute. Is there any way to get the inflammation down? Any tips? I've been trying to sip on warm water and holding a warm pack to my site. On a side note I'm breastfeeding and have no family here to help so I'm scared to have to go through surgery. I'm just really scared right now.

bumping to the top

Olgi, I have made an educated decision, thanks. I've heard lately there's been miscarriages linked to the H1N1 shot ... Just putting that out there.

I am 7 months and would never get any kind of shots while pregnant or before pregnancy. A lot of flu shots have mercury in them - we're talking hazardous waste which can affect the neurological system, at doses far above what the EPA deigns safe. Makes sense, huh? I did get the flu and it was mild. My son also got the flu and it too was mild. We did not die. Everyone is freaking out around here about how they all have H1N1. Well, they're all getting over it too. I'm sorry but this is my honest opinion about H1N1 - big whoop. The media has made everyone frenzied and panicked for no reason. Most people who die from the flu have compromised immune systems already or some disorder. If you're sleeping well, eating well and are generally healthy you do not need the flu shot. My doctor was appalled that I would not get the shot because 2 (yes, count them, two!) pregnant people died last year from the flu. (I'm assuming that was in my state). I believe the mercury in the shots will negatively affect far more people than the amount of deaths from flu. Don't buy into the media frenzy.

Hey everyone! I'm 7 months now and I'm not sure if I told you but it's going to be a girl. I am still in size XL!!! Yeah!!!! I only have one plus-size shirt. Last pregnancy they didn't have plus-size maternity where I lived so I had to just wear plus-size regular clothes which as some of you may know just makes you look really, really fat and not at all pregnant. So this time I'm able to enjoy my pregnancy because people comment on my bump - for the most part they are not assuming I am just fat! I haven't had to change clothing sizes since I started wearing maternity clothes and that is huge! Last time I went up a size just about every month. I'm really looking forward to having a fill again and starting my weight-loss journey with all of you - again! With the added bonus of losing 500 calories/day from breastfeeding I can't wait to see how fast this weight will come off!

Hey! I'm 7 months along now and it's a girl, although me and the husband can NOT agree on names!

You guys look AWESOME - and about 20 years younger too!

Wow Steph, look at you!!! I had to think who is this person. You are SKINNY! You skinny bitch! hahaha :tongue2: It's so nice to hear from you again. It sounds like you're having fun being single again - a new hottie in your life huh? I hear ya about the low-carb thing. I've jump-started weightloss with it too and stalled. That's a good technique - using it just once in a while. Have fun on your trip!

Hey everyone! Just checking in. I noticed there are 2008, 2009 and soon to be 2010 bandsters! Can you believe we've had our bands this long? I'm still glad I have this band (even though I didn't lose what I thought I would). It has helped me so much in losing what I did, helped me maintain now during pregnancy, and I can't wait until breastfeeding time when my metabolism gets to kick in, I can get a fill, and really go to town. (Sorry, TMI guys? haha) Anyway, I know I would weigh a lot more at this point if I hadn't had the band. Take care everyone.

Kissmygrits, it's hard to know which is better for the environment according to all the studies. Totally agree! My thoughts on the matter is that cloth are better since you're reusing rather than throwing something out that will be in the landfill for the next however many hundreds of years. Also, if you hang them to dry in the sun (or on a collapsible indoor rack) that will help the carbon footprint greatly since the dryer takes 90-95% of the energy use when washing/drying. The washer actually takes very little energy to run. The sun will naturally bleach the diapers too, so you don't need to use a chemical bleach. Also, you can use vinegar in the rinse cycle rather than a synthetic fabric softener. Vinegar naturally softens and there is no vinegar scent left on the clothes - I promise! Plus it will be better for little bottoms. I do this all the time with my clothes. Just some tips for any moms wanting to go a little greener.