Kelliebelly

Hey Alex, I am sooo happy everything came back ok, the relief must be enormous. So, on and foward now Hugs Ps Off to buy a fluro light and conduct an experiment

Thats what really irks me big time. I am a smoker and i pray for the day they stop selling them. Thats the only way I think I will make it giving up. All these things they pull because they MAY cause problems but it has been proven time and time again beyond a doubt that smoking KILLS you but they dont ban them or remove them...WHY?? I dont get it.

Hey Jess, Good Luck with the Tummy tuck and other procedures tommorow. Just wanted to get some well wishes behind you and let you know we are all thinking of you. You wont know yourself when you are finished. Anytime you feel pain in the first couple of days, softly feel your tummy and imagine how great you are going to look in and out of clothes now. Having little peeks at your perky new boobies will also help take your mind off the pain :eek: Hugs and feeling nothing but excitement for you right now.

One year ago today I was wheeled into surgery at 10.45am with a very rumbly, hungry tummy for a rather simple procedure that would change my life forever. 1.5 hrs later I awoke minus hunger pains. The next time I felt a hunger pain was about 2 weeks later. I struggled a little in the beginning putting some or most of the weight back on that I had lost immediately post op. I have the 10ml VG band and finding good restriction took 7 mths. I reached optimal restriction about 5 months ago but unfortunately reflux came along with it. I was reluctant to have some fill removed as it had taken me so long to get ot that point, so I went on reflux meds and havent felt it since. This operation has changed my life in so many ways. I was fat. My DH suffered and my kids suffered. I was paranoid and self conscious. I couldnt go to a restaurant or a fun park...basically anywhere without thinking everyone was looking at me and talking about me. Alot of the time they were. People can be cruel, some would openly look and stare...nudging their friends and laughing. I felt like a freak. I hated myself, thought I wasnt worth the time of day. I ended up anti depressants and even though they helped, they also helped me pack on some more weight. The crutch for me came when my Dh told me at times he was embarresed of me. You got to be cruel to be kind type of thing. I took it badly, I cried for days and withdrew into myself. It was then I decided to start researching things I could do. I came across the lap band and researched it till I was blue in the face. I had my mind set on it....as fate would have it a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I put banding on the back burner and when my bub was a few weeks shy on 1 I had my band. I have overcome so many fears since losing weight, fears that I have had for life. I am healthy...I am not starving myself, I have energy, I have confidence. I am a new person. Without this band I dont know where I would be. I really dont think I could have gone any lower than where I was pre op. I love my band and I think it is the best invention since sliced bread, even though I cant eat bread anymore :clap2: . Life is good!!! Hugs to all my banded and non banded friends.

Paul and I at the restaurant tonight...its 3am here now I really should go to bed :ban:

Susan, I really dont have any pain at all now. Occasional twangs as the nerves come back and the discomfort of major swelling, other than that I feel awesome! I went out for dinner tonight and had a ball. I am back to sleeping on my side and really have no restrictions in what I can do...I am going to push the "I cant hang clothes on the line" for as long as I can though :ban:

Hey Jerseytammy, Thanks sooooo much for my gift. I love it...the book that came with it is great. I sat down, started reading it and couldnt put it down. It has so many awesome quotes in it. Thanks again, you are tooooo sweet. Hugs

Jules, I know exactly where you are coming from because every word I read that you have typed could have been me. My DH used to beg me to go to the work picnics/BBQs. There was no way I would go to anything like that. I didnt want his workmates seeing how fat I was. Anywhere we had to go where I didnt know people or know I wouldnt be comfortable I wouldnt go. I didnt like eating at restaurants because I thought everyone would talk about me. The anger comes from within. We are angry with ourselves for letting ourselves get this way. We are angry because we are out of control. BTW, he hasn't threatened to leave if I don't lose weight - he simply says if our son weren't around he doesn't know if he could put up with the mood swings, the lethargy, the irritability, etc. That is exactly the same for me too pre banding. The mood swings, oh boy I actually questioned my sanity several times. I thought for these mood swings to be so bad I must have something wrong in the head. I remember so many times Dh saying he felt like he had to walk on egg shells with me. He was scared coming home from work because he didnt know what mood he would find me in. It all seems down now, p lease believe me life is about to change. It may not be for the better, because you may not like things you discover on theway, then again you might...know this though, it will change. After you are banded and you start losing weight, changes start happening inside and out. Only you will decide where you want the changes to take you, but again if you are anything like me...the energy will come back, for each kg you lose the self confidence will come back, the self esteem and self worth. All of a sudden you are fun to be around again, you want to do more. Life becomes happy again. Stop and smell the roses on the way. Read this when you feel down Jules During times of stress, troubles, trials one thing good to remember is to take one day at a time. We don't need to worry about the past. It's already done. We don't need to worry about the future, it's not here yet. JUST TODAY. If we can learn to make the best of each day and in really difficult times just make it through this day.. one day at a time.. we will make it.

Oh man, that is AWESOME!!!!!!! I cant believe how well you have done in such a short time too. I wish I could just give you a hug. Inspiration plus gurly girl...

Here is a pic taken tonight going out for dinner to celebrate!!! Before and tonight Ps Delarla, if I wasnt getting married 2 weeks after the bash I would be there in a flash, definately next year

DeBanded LBTers Debanded but not down Bandless Bandsters The band has left the building

I had my PS 3 weeks ago. I had my period 2 weeks before it. My periods have always been like clockwork. Well the day after surgery they arrived and I have had them ever since. I stopped for a day a few days ago but the next day they were back. My Dr said it is the body's way of dealing with the trauma of surgery. You will get back on routine once the bleeding stops. If it doesnt stop or gets really heavy and clotty (TMI)...call your Dr because there is some tablets they can give you to stop thebleeding. Just make sure you keep an eye on your iron levels while you are bleeding so much.

Jules, I keep thinking about you. You and I seem so very similiar and have been in similiar circumstances. If you are anything like me, your whole way of thinking will change when you start to lose weight. I know people will think we should love ourselves and respect ourselves no matter what size we are. Well that is just not the case with some of us. Focus for the time being on you...this is about you. I really do think once some of your weight comes off and your self confidence and self worth comes back you will decide whether or not you are willing to settle for anything less than what you truely deserve. Hugs

Forgot to add, defending her husband would be natural. Presuming she loves this man, excuses will be made for things we do. I do know when my self esteem was at my lowest and I was in an abusive relationship (prior to Dh), I could have made a million and one excuses as to why he hit me/emotionally abused me. It didnt matter what anyone else said, I defended him. I loved him or thought I did and would put up with anything he dished out...simply because I didnt think I deserved any better. I went through this kind of thinking for half my life and it is only in the last few months that I actually am starting to believe I can expect and actually demand more.

My Dh stuck by me while I hugely fat, but a few times letting me know he didnt like it/was embaressed by the way I dressed etc because of my weight. I have to say I think alot of how our husbands feel about us when we are big are reflected on how we feel about ourselves. I hated myself, thought I was the hugest most ugliest person in the world. I pretty much went off at him anytime he did give me a compliment because I didnt believe him. I dont agree with the Ill leave you if you dont lose weight, but I do think being big and the way some of us feel about ourselves is enough to drive our partners away. I was extreme and I cant put into words or stress enough that i dont know how my Dh made it through those fat years. The self loathing, the no self esteem and vicious seemingly endless cycle of up and down dieting. Feeling good for a couple of weeks when I lost some weight, then hating myself again when I put it back on and more. I felt so out of control, and I was getting bigger and bigger. I couldnt get a grip. If I felt like this and acted the way I did, how on earth could someone be expected to unconditonally love me. He did, but man, it must have been the hardest thing for him doing it.

Wow, I just posted something similiar in my 1 yr bandaversary thread. very similiar stories. Dh and I got together after one of my starvation modes. I was thin all of 5 mins, but it was in that 5mins I met him. It took me about 6 mths to slowly work my way back up to the huge weight I was before and the poor guy didnt know what hit him. With the weight gain came all my fears and demons again. It was a terrible 4 years or so before I was banded, I dont know how we survived, but we did. I wish you all the best and I truely know how you feel. hugs

OK, I hadnt lost weight since Christmas time before the tuck but thats not included. I had looked at these threads so many times thinking how yucky it would be checking in every week with no loss. It is just under 6 mths till my wedding and I really need a kick in the butt to get down to what I want to be for it. I was banded exactly one year ago today(Aussie time) and have lost just on 70lbs, slower than most but I am getting there. I have been big on and off most of my life and have never lost weight before without starving myself or something stupid like that. I have come this far without exercising very much so when I am able I am going to kick in some serious exercise. I am going to try and stay totally focused and get this weight moving again. Congrats heather on the huge loss, you are an inspiration!!!! Highest weight - 265lbs Current weight - 191lbs

Jess, Its all over and you wont know yourself right now. I have been thinking about you all day. Cant wait to hear how it went. Rest up and pump that pain pump like its never been pumped before

Well, I jumped on and immediately logged into the general forum and posted a thread for you. I should read evrything properly first. Oh well...2 well wishes threads can only be better for you. I wish you all the luck Jess and I know once you get through the initial discomfort life will be sooooo different, in a way you really cant imagine. Concentrate on that, especially when you start stressing tonight. Cant wait to hear how you go. Hugs

I never had reflux before banding except when I was in my late stages of pregnancy. I ended up having it pretty bad before I went and seen my Dr and he put me on Omperazone(sp). I think I might get him to check it out because if I am late in taking my tablet the reflux comes back full force. Thanks for the heads up! Ps Good to hear from you Delarla :eek:

I am doing great also. I am down 70lbs, slower than most banded at the same time but I sure am not complaining. My life has done a 360 turn since I was banded. I am so much healthier. I do so much more, my kids enjoy me more. Instead of sitting around eating and moaning I get out there. I have got back into sport. I love volleyball and I gave it up. I have taken it back up and I am loving it. A couple of weeks ago I had my TT and that was just the icing. I didnt know life could be so good. When one good thing happens other things seem to follow. I dont know what it is but I am one happy chappy at the moment. I love my band!!!!!!!!

It must be something about the scales not wanting to go under 200 because I have spoken to so many people who lose some weight but once they get close to 200 it just wavers for a month or 2 teasing them week after week. It did the same for me for weeks. Damn scales...

Its something we all look foward to, and it feels oh so good to get there. I went up and down for ages before hitting it. Relish it!!

I have been banded a yr and have done my best to improve my food choices. I have cut down the Take Away to once a month or so. I have converted to Light and low fat everything. One thing I just cant give up is choccy. I have to have some choccy every couple of days. I think with all the improvements I have made it my life and how far I have come that a bit of chocolate here and there is godd for me, after all it is full of antioxidents :confused:

I bet after that LBL the clothes look so much better on you though? DO not concentrate on clothes sizes ever, they are so innacurrate. Cut yourself some slack, I bet you look bloody awesome!!!