piercedqt78

I do have lose skin, on my stomach and my inner thighs. I joke that I am skinny both way, thin and loaded with extra skin. I am planning surgery next spring, I want to give it a chance to firm up a bit on it's own. I spoke with a local plastic surgeon and he says that I should wait until I am at goal and have been there for 6 months. He also said that the surgery would remove between 8 and 12 pounds of skin. That would put me way closer to goal too. My goal is 150 without any surgery and then whatever I lose in surgery is a bonus. I know my ticker says 145, but I factored in skin removal into that number. I have another skinny person habit now too, I forget to eat. I used to hate people that would say "I was just so busy I forgot to eat" and now I say it too. LOL ~Mandy

bumping for updates

If you have a Sally's beauty supply near you they make a great generic to Nioxin, and they make the entire line at about 40%-50% off the regular price. ~Mandy

I was banded July 28th last year. I just saw the band doc for some brusing around my port and he made the comment that I was doing great, he then asked if I was happy with my weightloss and progress. I am estatic with my weightloss, not as fast as some, but not really slow either. I have gone from a size 22/24 to a 12/14. I actually bought a Medium in the jr department at Disney in March and they actually fit. I am in a Jr large top right now. I look and feel great. I only want to lose another 15 or 20 pounds and they are comming off slowly but they are still going and that is all that matters. I eat pretty normal stuff just much less of it and I work out when I have time, but I am not as committed as I should be. I also just bought a home and it has stairs, something I would never have even considered a year ago, my knes and back were just too bad. I have a tri-level home and love it. I also jog with my new dog a few times a week, it starts as a walk, but she is new to a leash and we end up running most of the time. ~Mandy

I lost a bunch of my hair in the beginning. I am almost 11 months out now and it has finally stopped falling out. I actually think it is starting to thicken back up, not that it was ever "thick" to begin with. I too cut it short and added highlights at first. I am letting it grow out now and have covered the highlights, too much work for me. I looked thinner with shorter hair, but it is time to let it grow back out. ~Mandy

I was warned by a paramedic friend that bracelets that look too much like jewlery is usually overlooked. Make sure it has a noticable medical (cadus?) symbol on it. Mine says Adjust. Gastric band with abdominal port No NG w/o scope Mushroom allergy ~Mandy

I did this last year and the bracelet is really cute when put together. I odered another one just now, I also ordered one for my mom and sister. ~Mandy

Sounds like an even better kid now that the history is out there. He has overcome so much and is still a great kid. Even more of a reason to be proud. I too came from a horrible child hood so that makes me even more proud of the person I have become. I am a good mother and wife. We have a nice home and are a very happy family, that is a major accomplishment coming from the background that I came from. I am sure he will be just as happy too. ~Mandy

Wow the 22nd that's late for school getting out isn't it? Our school is out already. I hired a couple of high school kids last week to help us move, they finished on Tues and Wed last week. The last district to finish here in Chicago land area is the 13th and that is because there was a teacher strike back in the fall. He is a great looking young man and I am sure he had girls lined up to dance at prom. You should be proud, good looks, brains and he sounds like a gentleman to boot. My husband is the exact same way and I wouldn't change him for the world. He will make a fine man, and that is mostly thanks to you. ~Mandy

Baby John is home, he is gaining weight and eating on his own now. ~Mandy

Little John's Oxygen level is improving and they are able to start decreasing the amount being pumpd into him. Please continue to pray for him, he is so small and needs God to touch him. ~Mandy

I would be to blame for this one....I LOVE this site...Mandy

no news yet. I am going to call this afternoon for an update. ~Mandy

When we were at Disney in March I had eaten part of a smoked Turkey leg and it seemed to have gone down just fine. We left the park and waited for a bus, I got on the bus and it was pretty crowded so my family didn't get to sit together. I was with a group of strangers (all staying at the same resort as me) I started feeling that dreaded feeling, luckly I had a gallon ziplock bag with wet wipes in it for my daughters hands and face. I dumped them into the backpack and PB'd into the ziplock bag. I had the bag in the backpack (which is clear) but it did help hide my bag. I am sure they thought I was reacting to the heat or maybe I had too much to drink. I was mortified, but got over it and enjoyed the rest of my day. I also have had to pull over 3 times now on the express way to PB, I carry a box of diaper disposal bags in my car, and several single bags in my purse. They are pretty leak proof and they smell like powder. I get mine at the dollar store 50 for a buck, but I know that toys ' us and walmart caries them too. ~Mandy

Please say a prayer for John Filipiak, he is a very sick little boy. He was born just 2 days ago and was 5 weeks early. To make matters worse he has Strep B and they are saying it can be fatal. Please say a prayer for this little boy. Thanks Mandy

You mean to tell me that coffee can come from somewhere other than a drive-thru? I would be lost without Star Bucks and Java Joes. Tell me more about this home-brewed coffee that you speak of...Mandy

Oh, and sticking with the kitty thing check out www.stuffonmycat.com ~Mandy

First off, DeLarla, did you find a fountain of youth? You lok like a teenager in your full page siggy pic. Ok my wiskers on kittens things are, waking up to my almost 5 year old DD saying "momma get up it's morning" she makes each day a great thing, she is so positive. And a good vanilla mocha frappe from star bucks. ~Mandy

I go into shock and my airway swells shut. I am a very picky eater and didn't try them until I was a teenager. I had a fairly mild reaction the first time but the second time I almost died. I had an allergy panel done and it was positive with mushrooms. ~Mandy

I have had my band for 9 months and have had the same amount of saline in my band since March with no problems. Until recently, I have had a strange burping, bubbling, popping sound while eating. I chew up the bite really well and swallow, then the noise starts. It continues with every bite and sometimes for 8-10 mins after each bite. I am keeping my meals down, and having no excessive PB's or other food issues. I have also hit a major plateau for the last month. Any thoughts? I am calling my doctor tomorrow as I don't feel this is urgent to warrant a weekend call, but as soon as the office opens I am calling. Anyone have the same thing? Any idea what it might be? ~Mandy

Thanks guys, I'm relieved to know I'm not the only party trick in the group. It's just weird that my throat is making this noise, it's not really my stomach. I was actually thinking about taking a dose of gas-x before each meal to see if that would help. I have had stomach noise since banding, usually at night laying in bed, when it is totally silent and then BAM, noise. It has been so loud that is actually scared our cats. But this is only during meals and is more throaty, like burping while I am chewing. It's loud, DH asked if my jaw was popping again (history of TMJ) but it's deffinatly air in my throat. weird???? Maybe more common than I thought. I don't feel the urge to burp, and I don't feel bloated or gassy at all. I'm a bit stumped, it doesn't really feel like anything, just sounds strange. I know I'm not too tight, I can eat steak with no problems and 99% of everything I eat stays down and I do feel hungry about every 5 hours or so. I don't think I need an unfill but maybe with the stress and everything else going on the doc will say otherwise. I didn't notice it with my shake this afternoon, but hubby was at work so I didn't have anyone else here to listen. I will let you all know what the doc says. ~Mandy

They know about my band, and would think I had lost my mind eating pop rocks. I have gone from one of the heaviest moms at school to one of the smallest in the 9 months they have been in school. Seems like yesterday I was posting my baby's first day of school pictures and now she is almost finished. Makes me sad but I am also relieved that the year is over. Now I can get the last minute things done before the big move. I love her teachers and so does she, I just hope her teacher next year is just as great as the current ones are. She really needs the encouragement that they have provided, and they have really worked with her. She is going into the new school, and I don't want to label her as special needs but she is and I hope they will work with her. The up side is that in the new district it is half day Kindergarten not full day like it is where we are now. That was a big concern for me, as I don't think she is ready for that, and she takes meds mid day and that's a big adjustment, all day at school and having to remember to take meds at lunch each day too. We have requested a special needs laison,we'll see if that request is granted. I am rambling now, must go to bed~Mandy

Something else to consider, check out Penni60 jewlery site for bracelets. I already had a Medical tag (oblong) and she made a perfect bracelet to attach it to. Now I have a basic silver one for everyday wear and a lovely beaded one for special occasions. I had my daughter, husband and my birthstones for the beads. She was not only reasonable but the piece is beautiful and has really recieved loads of compliments and it arrived in just a few short days. I know I would rather support an LBT member than a stranger and it is great quality and a great price. ~Mandy

Leatha, I know exactly what you are talking about. I used to be here several times a day and now log on when I have time to spare. I no longer make it a priority. It's sad because I don't have face to face support group to attend and I think that support from other bandsters is very important. BTW I posted a thread about a weird bubbling noise I am making while eating and was hoping you would have some input, think you could check it out and give me some thoughts? You always have sound advice and a level head. I look forward to your post and really respect your opinion~Mandy

Thanks 3loves, but I am not actually producing bubbles, I am just sorta making a bubbling sound. It is almost like a popping sound, hard to explain, sounds like little mini burps and only while eating. It's almost like my pouch or stomach is full of air and the food is forcing it to come up little by little. It's not unconfortable, I didn't even realise it was happening until hubby gave me the "Rock eyebrow" and started laughing at me. Now I am a bit selfconsious about it and I have breakfat plans with 17 moms from school tomorrow, it's our last day. They are all taking me to breakfast while the kiddos are at school for the last time. We are moving out of our area and I am really popular with the mom's as I am very involved at school and in the community. And now I have to sit at breakfast and worry about making this weird noise. Think it could be the stress of moving making me gurgle? This is just too weird. I'll keep ya'll updated. ~Mandy