giveyouthemoon

I cannot TELL YOU how glad I am to hear a medical professional say that. That has always been my impression of RNY and in fact, I expressed this at a support group meeting and was scoffed at for not being "committed" to the weight loss approach. Hunh? As tho the band is disposable. Thank you Dr Hekier!!!!!

Okay, I may get bashed for what I'm about to say, but I feel I have to say this. I don't know you or your in-laws so I'm not taking sides. But let's put ourselves in their crazy ass shoes for a moment. 1) They are probably worried. True, you've been to MX and back already but they are dealing with delayed worry. They care about you and I assume you have kids? They are probably worried about the health and well being of their son's wife and the mother of their grandkids. and 2) They feel like they were left out of a very major decision in your life. I'm sure they don't like the feeling of being excluded. They seem wacky close to your DH and maybe they don't like the idea that you two have things between you that they don't know about. This is *their* problem but they are taking it out on you. But you can understand it's hard for parents to feel left out. I'm sorry you have to suffer their issues. and 3) I think Vines hit it dead on about your MIL's weight issues. She sees this as now you are going to get healthy and she doesn't want to face facts. So maybe if you see through their eyes for a moment there can be compassion? I don't condone how they treated you but maybe I can understand at least. Stay strong. You made this decision for yourself with the added support of your husband. I'd just hate to see this cause a rift between you and your inlaws with your hubby caught in the middle.

lol! That's pretty funny. See, sometimes it pays to live alone! No one to BUST me out!! I *did* about two weeks post surgery chew a piece of beef jerky, didn't swallow any. The beefy flavor was HEAVEN to me. I sucked all the flavor out then spit the remains. That was my only cheat.

They emphasize HOW HARD you have to work if you have a band vs HOW EASY it is with the RNY. They talk about how MUCH weight you lose with RNY and HOW LITTLE you will with the band. They really put a sell job on on new people who are coming for information and I see them change a lot of people's minds in an evening. It makes me frustrated. Yeah, Dr Feng seems to be ESPECIALLY down on the band. He alternates the monthly meetings with Dr. Cirangle. For some reason Dr. Feng is really high on the vertical gastrectomy. I mean they REALLY are into that procedure. No thank you. I'm glad you stuck to your guns and got the band!! There is one other lady in the suppport meetings who, along with me, is trying to counteract the bad vibes that Dr Feng puts down on the band. He will say something great about the RNY or VG and we'll go "Yeah but with the band..." He doesn't like it but I think he's not giving the band a fair shake. To his credit, my surgeon (Dr Cirangle) didn't try to talk me out of the band. He seems to "get" it. He is, however, an arrogant man and can be downright rude. His bedside manner was TERRIBLE. He's not a warm man, but all my research indicates he's a good surgeon and so that was enough for me. So kat72 don't let that bad first impression ruin it for you. If you want this and you KNOW in your soul it is right, then keep strong.

My surgeon's office is also really down on the band. All of them except my actual surgeon. I go to monthly support groups and they ALWAYS talk down the band. It's mostly because they haven't seen enough experience with it. Stay strong. If this is what you want then stick to your guns. Yes, make an appointment with the actual surgeon. And when you meet with them, say with *such* surprise "you know, it seems like your assistant is very against the band, is there some specific reason?" and find out his take on the band. And if the surgeon is also down on the band, then find a new doctor. I'm sorry this had to happen to you. I had a weird first encounter with my surgeon as well but I researched him heavily and found that he's a great surgeon just not great with the bedside manner. Stay strong!

Bear in mind....my surgeon calls the band "surgical behavorial modification". You kind of need to have a PB to understand where the limits are. I had nary a PB until I got filled. And it took a week after I got filled and I was eating just as slow and easy as I had been all along....and WHAMMO. Out of nowhere I got stuck. And I learned A LOT from that PB. I think it's admirable to never want to PB, I just don't think it is realistic. In this life we learn more from our mistakes than anything. Don't invite a PB to your esophagus, but don't fear them either.

Wow. Wow. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is a HUGE NSV!!!!! I'm so proud of you!!!!! You rock, you just do!

Excuse me??? ONLY lost 49 pounds???? Are you KIDDING ME????? 49 pounds is amazing, unbelieveable, scream from the highest mountain top-able. That is wonderful and please don't EVER talk down your accomplishments! You are a strong, beautiful, powerful woman!! You are a wonderful perfect child of God right here and right now! And big congrats on going the Red Hat Ladies. You'll have a wonderful time, I just know it!!!!!

Note to self: Don't see The Ring II. I saw the first one and obsessed about it for weeks. Have ya'll seen "The Grudge"? It was creepy as hayull. Today I watched "The Brown Bunny"....yeah, I'll admit I wanted to see it solely because I heard that there was some on screen very naughty stuff, and there was. Weird movie tho. Thank you a lot for being concerned. It really matters to know I have people who care. Yes, I have a counselor and she's great. Mostly the answer is that with grief, you just have to go through it. I was finally on an upswing after my dad's passing and now this is dragging me back into it. I'm going to be back home in New Mexico in a week and a half and I plan to get together with my friend's parents. It will be hard but healing I think. I think you should!! I'm strangely obsessed by that show! I'd love to have a discussion thread.

Good job!!! I'm proud of your hard work!!!!

I think I'm most proud of you for taking a moment and REALIZING the work you put in, realizing how far you've come. That's how we rebuild self esteem. Great job!

Wow!!! You are beautiful!!! You look amazing and you are inspiration to me!!!! Wonderful. Ya'll make a beautiful couple too. How amazing to have such a wonderful built in support system. You are a band success story!!!!!

Oh clevergrrly, how sweet of you to ask! I'm going to be okay....This has been something of a rough year for me. My dad passed end of February and I was just coming through that only to find out last weekend my best friend from high school passed from cancer (she's my age and leaves a young daughter). Add to that I'm suffering really bad double vision (doctors don't know why) and some work troubles and it's all a recipe for sadness and lack of sleep. (sorry you asked now? lol!) Of course you are right but it was dumb.....and as I was eating I'm saying to myself "you aren't hungry, you are sad and lonely.....don't eat! This isn't what you really want" meanwhile I was eating away. Made my tummy hurt which isn't good so then I got depressed about doing damage to my band. Just a cruddy mood all around I guess!! But thanks, you are right...today is a whole new day. The slate is wiped clean. YIKES!! That is pretty scary!! I do love that show tho. I can't explain why, I just do. I hate the trainers though, esp the female, Jillian. She's not a very nice person. Did you see that one guy actually tore his quad, she was pushing him so hard. Yeeks! Here's hoping your friend does well in the competition!!

I usually drink some wine or a nice vodka martini. Alcohol is fine but it WAY goes to my head fast. I think it's mostly because of the reduced calories I'm eating. It used to take three or four and now one and maybe half of two and I'm blitzed. Cheap date!!! It's hard to find mixers without the massive sugar and calories. I've tried two brands of sugar free margarita mix and they both tasted terrible.

Hey did you watch it on DVD? See if they have a "making of" section on the DVD. I say this because I watched "The Grudge" and was freaked out of my mind but when I watched the bit about how they did the effects, for some reason, it took all the scare out of it. Just a thought. I LOVE scary movies but man they put me over the edge too!! And I'm not sleeping either. I'm too depressed and ate WAY too much today. Sad.

I am at 1.2cc's in a 4cc band and some days I feel restricted, others I don't. I want to have another fill soon tho, I think it will help. I'm starting to be able to eat way too much.

I'm also on HCTZ along with a beta blocker. Actually, embrace the BP meds, they will help you now and you will SOON get off of them!! Be strong!

Is your cousin a seamstress? If so then good. If not then GET THEE TO A PROFESSIONAL SEAMSTRESS!!!! I say this because these women can work magic....MAGIC I tell you!!!!! I have seen them do some flat out amazing work in matching fabric and thread color. Please....it's nearing your most fave holiday of all time.....DO NOT USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO BEAT UP ON YOURSELF!!! To are too precious, valuable and worthy for that. Seriously. Use the costume you love. Find a seamstress. Then frolic like the happy halloween chick that you are!!!

Armand Assanti...wow YES PLEASE! He was smokin' hot in "Mambo Kings" Benecio del Toro....ouch yes! Clive Owen (from the movie "Closer" and others...google him if you don't know who I mean) And a WHOLE variety of professional baseball players.....ya'll probably won't know who I mean...but Mike Hampton, Pedro Feliz, Tyler Walker, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, Kevin Millar....MEOW...and more.

Wow....they really didn't shave you......how did they get in there? Did they take a comb and part the hair and then make the incision? Is this a new wonder of modern medicine? And the question of the day is....how *jealous* is bobalooey that you got to keep your hair? edit: Wait..one more question...did they put tape on your incisions...because I can't IMAGINE pulling that off. Hopefully you had glue like I did because...well...ow!

Here's the thing...the body stores excess waste in fat. And this includes excess hormones. So if you were on the pill for any length of time, your fat stores have hormones built up in them. As you lose weight, this gets released back into the body and will make for some interesting challenges for a while. I too am already having trouble. My last period was late and lasted TWO WEEKS. Ugh. But I'm going to take it as a sign of "spring cleaning" in my body and work with it.

No. But I hope to go home today and see a UPS package at my door. It's supposed to be delivered today. Yay me!!! (I should be in a MUCH better mood tomorrow!) edit: no I won't...I just looked up the package tracking...I wasn't there to sign so no happy night for me.....:cry:

Is the UK too far for me? Yeah, just a skosh. Not that I don't LOVE UK guys...their accents make me want to do bad things! But girlfriend over here in the Bay Area needs some TOUCH!

eggs or no fat cottage cheese for me in the mornings. Although mushy it sticks with me MUCH longer. And me too on the one week to kick in thing. I only have had one fill but it was wide open for a week then one morning...BAMMO. Also, restriction is a funny thing...some days you have it...some days ya don't. It's not a contstant. Weird.

Ah welcome to the joys of banded life. Yes, that is VERY VERY normal. GasX...LOTS OF IT. Take double the dose and take it as often as you think of it. Take MORE than the package says to....just keep taking it. It never completely goes away, I think it's part of banded life...but it does get MUCH less in severity.