Parvathi

I weigh with my clothes on, shoes off. When I weigh at the doctor's office, I try to wear 'light' clothing lol.

Can't feel the band during sex at all here - but perhaps its cause I'm too busy feeling other things? lol

It's been quite warm here for a few days, so for the past 3 days I've worn my comfy long flowing summer skirts. I've always avoided wearing skirts such as these, because without stockings, my thighs rubbed together and chafed something horrible - often to the point of bleeding. Well, for the past three days I've been the most comfy girl in the world LOL. My thighs haven't touched even once. I'm going to go out and get a couple more of these lil gems because they're just soooooooo easy to wear in the summer and now I can hehe.

Thanks everyone I think this is the NSV I'm most happy with - well, right behind more self confidence anywayz.

On Thursday evening, out of laziness, we ordered pizza. Thin crust pepperoni to be exact (I can't do the thicker crusts now). I've had pizza several times since being banded with no difficulties. Anyway, a few bites into one piece, I PB'd. Normally, I get the 'soft stop' signals and call it quits, but this one snuck up on me with no warning sign. It wasn't too bad - I've definitely had worse. Since then though, I've had a hard time with anything other than liquids. Sticking mostly to Water, fresh veggie juice and Soup, but even that I'm not getting down too well. Last night I woke up at about 2:30 with the worst case of heartburn I've ever had. Up until then, my hubby said I was gurgling away. This morning, I got heartburn after a few sips of water. It almost feels as if something is still stuck, but that was Thursday night and its now Sunday morning. I've just never had an episode last this long. Is it normal for a PB to last this long? Any advice on what to do? Thanks in advance!

Hey Andy - this evening when you're having a fiddle (looking for your port that is *g* ), do it lying down on the bed on your back. It makes it stick out a bit more that way. Mine's about four inches over and two inches up to the left of my belly button, but it does tend to move around a bit depending on how much ab work I've done recently...

Oh Brenda - *hugs* - I can't imagine going through life without bluejeans!! LOL .. even when they didn't look good on me, boy were they comfortable. Wear those jeans with pride. That's a HUGE accomplishment. I bet you look stunning in them And 132lbs down? Amazing - well done!!!

Oops, forgot to post here yesterday after I went to the Dr, but work got in the way :/ We decided that I had probably irritated my esophagus and stoma a bit, so took out the 0.1ml that he had put in two weeks previous. I felt instant relief and was able to eat solids again as soon as lunchtime yesterday. Here's hoping that taking out a bit of the fill won't slow down my weightloss, but I'm definitely feeling better, so that's a bonus. He's also given me a new prescription for a reflux medication, just incase it happens again. I was able to sleep a full night last night, for the first time in several days, without being woken up by chest pains. I love my doctor! He always makes me feel better, both mentally and physically. On a side note, when looking at my chart we realized that I'm only 3kgs away from having lost 2/3 of my excess body fat. This was what they originally said they'd like to see me do in 2 years post op

1. Bread - Yes 2. Pasta - Yes 3. Pop - Yes 4. Tortillas - Yes 5. salad - Yes 6. Steak - Yes 7. Roast - Yes 8. Cereal - Yes 9. Hamburger - Yes 10. pizza - Yes 11. Apples - Yes 12. chips - Yes 13. cheese - Yes 14. Shrimp - Yes 15. Pop corn - Yes 16. pretzels - Yes I can have everything on that list, as long as I chew well and take my time eating it and watch for signs of fullness. The band, as you'll find, is a very fickle thing. One day you might easily be able to have a sandwich, the next, a bite might be enough. I tend to stay away from bread, rice, pasta, etc - but not because the band forces me to. I just don't enjoy them as much as I did previously and realize that I should have Protein first, then veggies, then whatever else I have room for. As for cooking for the family, I cook them the same thing I'm having. But I may toss a couple of dinner rolls in the oven to go with their meal or do one of those 5 minute pasta side dishes. I'm fine with just the meat and veg usually though. When eating on the run, if I don't have a packet of tuna available (I could live on tuna and crackers lol and now that it comes in those handy lil vaccum packs, I try to keep some in my bag at all times), I'll usually opt for a 6 piece nuggets from McDonalds (with sauce, as they're quite dry) or popcorn chicken from KFC. There's not a vast selection of fast food places here. I'm usually safe with either of those choices, even though I can never eat more than 3 nuggets or half of a small popcorn chicken box. I used to go to McDonalds for a Super Sized fries frequently. Now I may steal one of my daughter's fries and even that is more than I want. Just don't crave them as I did before

I chose 70kgs/155lbs, as that will put me in a healthy/normal BMI range. I'm not sure if that's where it will stay - I'll decide when I get there, but for now, it sounds like a good place to start.

This week wasn't too fabulous weight wise, but inches wise it was pretty good Monday, 17 October 2005:- Weight - 193 Under Bust - 35 Waist - 33 Hips - 46

Monday morning in Oz, so here goes nothing heh. Oct 17th :- Weight - 87.6kgs / 193 lbs Down 1.1kgs / 2.4lbs

Hi Jessie While I don't have any answers for why this happens, its always been the case for me as well. My magic number was 206. I've gotten there a few times, but never below it, since I had my daughter 7 years ago. I was sure that this would be the same and the closer I got to 206, the more nervous I got. But I passed that number .. and I'm not well on the way to 190. I still get nervous and wonder, will I ever actually make my goal?? But its going to happen, for me AND for you! Keep your chin up - you're doing fabulous

I had forgotten all about that part! I get the shivers as well and ended up with like 4 blankets on after the surgery lol.

Lisa - great start to your weekend! I always blow it on the weekends too, cause we have "picky nights" where I just put together a bunch of appetizers. And then of course I want one of each lol. You're doing great. I sure wouldn't be able to pass up the Vegas temptations on a regular basis!!

1. Ok so... I've never had surgery before. Not that I remember anyway. When I was 2 they took out my tonsils & adenoids, but that's it. Never had so much as an IV - heck, not even a cavity. So I have no idea what the experience of general anesthesia is like. Can someone describe their experience? (I've had tons of broken bones, stitches once... so local, but never general) From my experience, I went into the operating room. I was nervous as I don't know what. The anesthesiologist made a lame joke, I faked a giggle and then I was out. I woke up in recovery, really drowsy, but other than that, it was a non event. I actually quite like the whole losing time thing heh. 2. From my research I've learned that true vomiting (not PB) can cause band slippage. Anything else? How about things like sit-ups? Or "straining" your abdominal area (you know, sometimes you just have to do that...). I attend the gym 4 - 5 days a week and everyday work in some sort of ab routine. While it hurt a bit to do this about 2 months post surgery, now for me, its fine. I can do 100 crunches and not be affected by it at all. You just have to remember to take it slow at first, as the port is stitched into a muscle and that takes time to heal. 3. Can you feel your band? During every day walking around, sitting, whatever - not just while you're eating -- do your insides feel different? Are there any activities you're not supposed to do once fully healed - e.g. situps? Tight bending? For about the first week or two, you can definitely feel different. After that, (for me anyway), you forget its there. The only time I feel anything is when I'm standing too close to heat (the stove or something like that) and then I feel my port. It doesn't hurt, I just know its there. I've not been told of anything I'm not allowed to do anymore. 4. I had lunch with a friend who had RNY. I confided in her that I was thinking about lapband (she lost 148 lbs in 7 mos!). She said that now she wishes she had gotten lapband rather than RNY b/c with her procedure there are foods you're simply not allowed to eat, but with lapband you can have anything that your body will tolerate. Is this true, or are there no-no foods? I'd always heard that you couldn't have certain things at all, like carbonated beverages, "scratchy" things like chips, or things that could get gummy like soft break or cheetohs. Each doctor is different with his instructions, as is each patient with what they can handle. Quite a few doctors say no carbonation. My doctor hasn't said that. In fact, during the information night I attended when asked about drinking beer, the surgeon said beer after surgery would be fine, in moderation. I can still eat most things that I did pre banding. The only foods that give me any issues now are fresh breads (turn too doughy) and gnocchi (same as fresh bread, turns doughy). Other than that, I can eat anything and do! The band is a tool - you have to learn to make wiser choices - but it definitely helps to do that. 5. How big is the opening left by the lapband? I know it gets smaller with each fill, and I'd guess there are different size bands -- but in general, w/o fills, are we talking diameter of a quarter? Nickel? Dime? Smaller, like a pea? I honestly have no idea about this one. I've heard that its about the size of a golf ball, but I've never asked my doctor so I could be misinformed. The band has been, with out a doubt, the best thing I've ever done for me (not including of course my marriage and daughter lol, but I don't count those as 'things'). While I still have quite a ways to go before reaching goal, I feel better than I've felt in ages. My self confidence has sky rocketed. I have energy to keep up with my daughter. I'm starting to feel sexy and that's something I haven't felt in ages. Good luck with your research and whatever decision you might make.

Thanks everyone! I have my regular visit with the doc tomorrow, so I guess I can live until then. I'm eating Tums, but it just feels like instead of it getting better, its getting worse :/ I've sent hubby to the store for ingredients to make a nice runny bland homemade soup, so hopfeully that'll help a bit.

Happy Birthday, Becky!!! Enjoy a bit of cake - you're 96lbs down in less than 6 months. I reckon you deserve it!!

Wow - 9kgs from goal?!? That's super duper! I would be dancing naked in the streets lmao. Well done, Sammee

Honestly, I don't know how I would respond to that :/ Luckily it hasn't happened to me, yet. I would probably say, "I dunno, I haven't weighed lately..." I've had plenty of people ask how much I've lost and I'm more than happy to tell them, but I think my friends know better than to ask what I weigh LOL.

The liquid phase sucks for sure, but it's done for good reason. The less fatty your liver is, the easier the surgery will be for both the surgeon and yourself. I will admit that I did cheat once pre banding - I had a last meal, the night before surgery and damn was it good LOL. Not much longer to go now - you can do this! Good luck with it all

Since my last fill, I've had the gurgling thing going on alot. Normally, this wouldn't bother me, as I'm quite used to it. My hubby always gets a good giggle from it. But this week, I started training my replacement (I'm moving into a new section of the company). Her laptop has not come in yet, so we've both been working off mine, side by side. The gurgling is soooooooooooooo loud and embarrassing, that I feel like crawling under the table at times. I realize that this can sometimes be a symptom of being too tight, but honestly, I don't feel too tight - more, just right. So does anyone have any ideas on how to quieten this beast in my esophagus?

I don't really have anything substantial to add lol, but just wanted to say this thread has been a great read with lots of helpful advice and things to think about.

Hi BenetP, welcome to LBT I'm not a man either, but I like them lol, so that should count for something...

From what I was told at the Information Night, theoretically, it should last forever. But because its such a relatively new procedure, they don't have the research to back that up yet.