Cocoabean

Of course it's OK to post this! That is why we are here, to help eachother! It sounds as if you are ready for that upcoming fill. Getting hungrier is a sign that a fill is needed. I think most of us struggle with food choices. The band doesn't do anything to our brains and the foods we like. I am a junk food junky, and will always be one. It is something I fight every day. The band helps me with that by keeping my physical appetite under control. With that battle handled I only have to fight the head hunger. That is a huge win for me. It helps me to make better choices when I am hungry. Don't beat yourself up over it. Understand that this is the way the band works. In the future, when you find you are getting hungry (I mean physically hungry) between meals, it is time to consider a fill. Best wishes!

You are 5 days post-op! This surgery is about long-term weight loss. Not losses right after surgery. They pack you full of IV fluids during your stay. That takes time to work out of your system. This is the time for healing, not hopping on the scale. Now is not the time to judge your decision. You hurt, you can't eat, you are miserable. It won't be until you've had some fills and have proper restriction that you can fully appreciate your band. Then when the weight comes off and your appetite is under control, you'll know it was worth it. BTW--venting is totally allowed here, and I had similar feelings after my surgery. I remember asking why I wasn't losing as fast as I thought I should. But here I am, 72 lbs gone and 5 until goal, or maybe at goal. Haven't decided if I am happy where I am at or if I want to bust my booty for those 5 lbs. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

Glad to hear it is working for you. Keep up the good work! You and the band are a team, work it, baybay!!

Not all in your head. It is drier and not as tender. Many foods go down harder for me upon reheating.

I was ready to eat my dog during the post op phase! He was just lucky he could move faster than I. Just a couple more days til you see your doc. You can make it! Don't risk hurting yourself. Stick it out.

Have you considered getting treatment for depression? You might find your motivation increasing if you get help! I've fought it for years. You don't have to be miserable. Seek help. Go to your PCP to start!

Here's a couple recent pics of me with my sis, and me with the hub. From our trip to Sedona. That's Butters showing us his back! I added them to my album a few days ago.

Christie, the difference is amazing. Well done! It appears your relationship with Steve is a good one! :thumbup: I am on vacation this week, yay! We are doing an "around the county tour." Camping a three campgrounds over the course of the week. Barring any bad happenings at MIL's, all should be fun. Butters is all packed and ready to go! Bobbie, WHY are you puking? Even if you aren't making the best choices, stick to proper band procedures of small bites, chew chew chew, and paying attention while eating (I added the last one). I am a grazer, also. My doctor doesn't have a problem with me eating several times a day, as long as it is planned foods and not brainless choices. Not that I always succeed, but it is a good goal. Bob, we are going back to the fair today, maybe I'll try your liquid diet. :smilielol5: Humming Bird, thanks for the good wishes about the family stuff. I have always been a realist, and I hate to see people delude themselves. My oldest SIL is 67. She is just now losing her mother, how fortunate is she to have had her all these years? And this SIL is truly a wonderful person. She goes over to Mom's every morning for a visit, takes her shopping every weekend. They are best friends. So, I understand how devistated SIL will be, but she does need to see reality. My father was 67 when I lost him, my mother was 73. I come from a family of nurses (not myself), so there were no delusions that the end of life was upon them. I suppose it is different in a family without any medical understanding....? OK, enough rambling about my troubles. Here's a good story....I take ambien to help me sleep. Sometimes I sleep eat (ignoring band rules, of course)--you know how the commercials say, episodes of activity with no memory of the event? So the other night I got up and ate part of a loaf of nice SOFT French Bread. Well, guess who was stuck for over an hour! DORK! None of the usual unsticking tricks worked. I haven't slimed and urped that much since shortly after I first experienced restriction. So, had towels in bed for the slime. Hurled up a bunch of slime, MISSED the towels. Had to change the sheets at 10:30 pm. I had a little extra restriction for a few days. What a moron. Hubby says he's going to start locking me in the bedroom at night. And how was YOUR week?

Wow Bob, you look amazing! Good work! Unfill? I've been there. When I got stuck on mashed potatoes, I knew I was in trouble. Lost 7 lbs in one week. That was not good at the weight I was at. Rough week here, Mom-in-law was in the hospital again. two sisters-in-law very angry that the docs "aren't doing anything." I am sorry, she is 94 years old, has congestive heart failure, severe anemia (had her second transfusion), and is refusing to eat. Just what is it they are supposed to be doing? Ah well, I am thinking it is just a matter of time. Family time is going to be such a joy, NOT! Ah well, these are things we must go through in our lives. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Gum is against my surgeon's rules. Plus I don't like it, so that makes it an easy rule for me to follow.

HB, I love the comforter! Very nice. Christie, glad you can eat. Its so strange to think we'd ever WANT to eat But I've been there, where every bite is torture. Bobbie!! Tee hee! Yes, they are...I was very happy to cancel the appointment! I still have a few years til I turn 50 and get the screening one...whew!!

All right, I am mad... I posted yesterday but it went to la la land. I guess I didn't hit submit! drat. Leigha, yay for you! Woot woot! Bobbie, nice to see you again! Anne, counting down! A friend of mine is having RNY on 7/8. Bob, hope you are enjoying you liquid diet, I bet your babies miss you. My GI troubles seem to have resolved...yay! So with my PCP's permission, I cancelled the colonoscopy I had scheduled. We went to the county fair yesterday. It is our annual kick off to summer. I had deep fried mushrooms. Very yummy, very rich, and very not good for me. Hubby ate most of them. We also shared a BBQ pork sandwich. Very yummy and without the bread band-friendly. Then there was the beer. Oh yeah...lots and lots of it. But spread out over the day, so I did not get drunk. Just consumed too many calories. My BP seems to be creeping upwards, until this morning when it was 87/55. I suspect the beer and lack of water yesterday to be part of that. So, I am chugging water this morning. I hope everyone has a great Sunday!!!

Bob, hope you have a great trip! Your babies will miss you, I am sure! Anne, you must be relieved to have the decision made! For what it is worth, I'd have done the same. :eek: Well, I spent an hour today pouring over my budget report trying to find $5k before I realized I had transposed numbers! DOH!! What a dork. In the middle of that, the other manager I work for also asked for a budget report. Then a technician showed up with his travel receipts wanting me to help him with his voucher. My desk looked like a tornado had gone through. Can you say Karma for me going on a boondoggle yesterday? sheesh. Ah well, it's all good.

I am not an expert on Graves, but I had a hyperactive nodule that was treated with radio-iodine. I now take levoxyl daily. It had no impact on my lapband. You'll want to be sure you tell your surgeon. I don't believe the autoimmunity disqualifies you. Are they thinking of giving you radio-iodine treatment, or are you just goung with drug treatment for now? You'll probably need to adjust your dosage more often as you lose weight.

Yay Amy! Way to go!!! Anne, here's hoping! Do you know if your insurance covers a sleeve? At last check, mine does not. Please keep us posted. And like Leigha said, don't up and leave us for that "other" forum entirely! We are still in the same battle.

I am sorry, i did not notice the forum was Canada when I responded. My bad...

Mine was covered by my insurance.

I appealed the six months with bs ca hmo and won. I submitted weight watchers records from numerous attempts and also used information from Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies. They have some advice on appealing the six month requirement. Best wishes!

Nice! Love it.

I don't think it is so much a case of not allowing as full disclosure. What are the rules, if any? Do they allow the use of medications? Must you disclose their use? Same questions for WLS. Most people in a competition expect an even playing field. Yes, we have to work to lose, but I still think we have an advantage.

I consider the band an advantage. If it didn't help us, would we have gotten it? To enter without disclosing it would not be fair in my humble opinion.