steph_co

I have to agree with Wheetsin. The original post sounds very much like, "Because it happened to me, it WILL happen to you - that's just the way the band is." While that may be true for SOME people, it will not be true for ALL people. The generalities and lumping everybody into one category is discouraging (take it from a newbie). I don't want to hear sunshine, rainbows and puppies all the time - that's why I read about the complications to prepare myself for the possiblity, but it is not an eventuality. The tone of the post can be taken wrong...I think that's all that's being said. And btw, I HAVE been addicted to food. I haven't addiction-hopped yet. I do have an addictive personality. I'm trying my best to find healthy activities to fill my time. I don't currently harbor an unhealthy addiction and I hope it stays that way.

Kristin - I think that's part of why I chose to not tell anybody about the band, I can't handle the questions! LOL That is so great about the cargo pants. I'm not sure that I'm going down in sizes. I'm scared to try anything on. Hope everything went okay with the ice storm...I'm hearing some terrible things on the news and it just breaks my heart - right before Christmas. Good luck at the Buffet-O-Death on Thursday (I'm exaggerating - I'm sure it'll be fine!). LOL Let us know how everything goes. I have another NSV to add. Like I've said before - I walk about 20 floors' worth of stairs at work. Well, I avoid the ones I can as much as possible. Tonight I just felt like giving it a shot and I jogged (yes! jogged!) up a set of about 20 and didn't feel like I was going to die!! The last time I remember going up those stairs before I lost weight, I had to stop at about 10 and regain my strength and breath. I felt GREAT at the top. Yes, a bit out of breath, but not dying! So I wondered how many I could do. So far I have "jogged" up about 290 steps (and back down). I love it! I'm getting some great exercise and it makes me feel so good physically (not to mention giving me a mental boost). I also am under the impression (if I'm not imagining things) that my tummy looks smaller in my uniform. I wear a badge on my belt and I looked in the mirror and it doesn't look like it's overshadowed by my gut anymore! I'm so excited.

I was there. I did okay up until the night before surgery and then I had a panic attack. I woke out of a dead sleep (even though I was EXHAUSTED) and stayed awake for about an hour just trying to calm myself down. Then when I was all prepped and just waiting on things to get going in my pre-op curtained area, I was talking to DH and started crying (out of no where!). Then when they wheeled me into the operating room, it was SO hard to not say, "Nevermind! I change my mind! I don't want to do it! Put me back and I'll get my clothes and get out of here!" LOL But even after all of that, I am SO glad that I did. So, so, so glad. It's the best decision of my life. You know, at that moment being wheeled into the operating room and wanting to give up, I had a thought, "What will the me of tomorrow think?" I realized if I gave up on myself, I would have been so disappointed in myself. I would have been back where I started and going nowhere fast (except maybe upwards in pounds!). But I also realized that by that time the next day, I'd be all done with the surgery and sitting in my own home re-couping. I had to think of which reality I could live with. You can do this.

NY Girl - My port digs into my ribs when I bend down to do something. I wouldn't say it HURTS, but it's uncomfortable. I try to avoid it at all costs. LOL Other times, it may not hit my ribs, but I can feel kind of a pinching feeling and it reminds me to take it kind of easy so it doesn't pop off of its stitches. I have no idea how long this'll last.

That's so great, Kristin! I can hardly wait to get into REALLY working out. I walk for work and sometimes do T-Tapp, but try to keep it pretty simple so I don't hurt anything! Congrats on the loss! That's fantastic. Unfortunately, I am addicted to the scale and have had to force myself to step away because I do feel that weighing everyday is excessive. I'm doing my best to cut it to once a week. So I'm not weighing until this Saturday, the 15th, because that'll be exactly 1 month from my surgery...and I'll measure, too. I wouldn't have enough control to stay away from the scale for so long. You go, girl. I think the scale has taken place of my food addiction. LOL I hope I didn't just threadjack. LOL This is about YOU and I am really proud of my fellow November buddy! Keep up the good work!

I'm there with you - which is INCREDIBLY surprising to me. I am the sugar addict to beat all sugar addicts. I used to eat all kinds of junk. I have been on diets before where I have had to cut out sugar or white flour. Yeah, I guess the cravings kinda, sorta went away, but I could be totally clean for a month and still feel bummed out on what I was missing out on and I would eventually slip. I don't even feel an urge at all for any of my former friends. It's SO weird. I won't complain at all, though! I love it. I finally feel free. As for dreams...yeah. I posted a thread about it in general or support, I can't remember, called My Latest Nightmare. But I had a dream that I got stressed out about something and rather than dealing with it, I went ahead back to my old ways and ate a bunch of Oreos! :faint:I felt AWFUL!! I was SO glad when I woke up and it wasn't true. Especially since I HAVE had some terrible stress since being banded and I really didn't have an urge to eat!! I was so angry that I chose that in my dream. LOL

Niiice, Holly! Keep up the good work. That's awesome!

I thought I had read somewhere (and it may have even been on here) that when they put on the band, it's possible to nick a nerve that runs all the way up your body. I can't remember, now, which nerve it was. The vagus nerve, maybe? If that's the case, it'll eventually heal if they didn't do permanent damage. But I agree with Lindsay that it wouldn't hurt to get a gallbladder scan if what's happening to you sounds similar to what happened to her.

and this is what the band does to me. I had a dream that something really stressful happened. So I freaked and ate a whole bunch of Oreos. I woke up thinking, "OH!! Thank goodness it was just a dream!" I had to LMAO, but that is too funny (scary!!). I have NEVER had a dream like that while being on a regular diet. haha I definitely don't want to go back to doing that kind of stuff. I haven't even had a REAL urge for sugar. So that's why the dream was so discouraging that I allowed myself to backslide like that.

I wanted to see that when it was in Denver and I didn't get around to it. I'm so blue. I hope it comes back some time. It sounds fascinating!

Yes, yes! That is exactly it. I did so much research in such a short amount of time, some of it blends together. LOL Pascal's Wager - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For anybody interested. Upon reading this, I chose to no longer live in my fear with "what if I burn in hell?" I say forget it. If God gave me a rational, reasoning brain and didn't expect me to use it, then I'd rather he sent me to hell. That is no God of mine. And I found this interesting, as well: Pascal's Wager

I am agnostic. I don't have a certainty that God does not exist, I just don't feel that we can be sure of the true nature of God. I find value in different religions. They are all (well...okay, most) trying to make people better people even if some people might twist that and use it for their own means. Some people need that something to hold onto. And before anybody freaks out, please go back and re-read each time I said "some." Thank you. Titslereux...I read an interesting quote and now I wish I could remember who it was by. I want to say Nietzsche or Thomas Paine, or somebody. Something about it being a wise choice to choose to believe even if you might not because what are you losing, really? If you believe and you're right - good job, you win. If you believe and you're wrong - no God to punish you, so again, you win. Kind of a survival instinct. I found that very interesting and I realized that's exactly what it was that kept me from taking that final step out of religion even though I had wanted to for a very long time before that. At the base of things, I'm Agnostic. But I also kind of dabble in Deism and Pantheism. I was really into figuring it all out awhile back until I fell into a group with a mentally-unstable individual running the group that acted like he was a freethinker, but truly was just a crazy person. I basically just marvel at life's beauty and I feel like I am a better person without my religion (I didn't say a better person than people WITH religion...before anybody bashes me). I value life more. I treat people better. I don't have to wonder if I'm matching up to anybody's yardstick - I just have to ask myself if I'm proud of what I'm doing. If I'm not, then I can make changes accordingly. I strive harder to learn more about myself and people in general. I feel free since dropping religion. I don't judge those that choose religion. That's your choice. That's your own road. Everybody has to choose the path that for them will produce the most growth in themselves. The only gripe I have about religious people is why they feel that their personal beliefs ought to be shoved on an entire nation of people. Before anybody jumps all over me...take a look at the abortion debate around this country. The stem-cell debate. The euthanasia debate. Gay marriage. If you have no interest in participating in these things, fine - just don't try and force other people to conform. By making things illegal, you're not going to stop people from doing them - you'll just make them go underground. I'm all for live and let live. It's none of your business what I do with my life and it's none of my business what you do with yours. You can't force somebody to adopt a belief...it's just not possible. And if anything in the previous paragraph does not apply to you, then there's no reason to get offended. I'm speaking of the ones that bring these laws into play, feeling that NOBODY should do these things and they should somehow be the parent of all the grown adults in this nation. I'm not necessarily referring to people that vote their conscience based on their religion...whatever...I can't say much about that without offending somebody. I was simply referring to those lawmakers that bring these laws up in the first place.

LMAO, Chiqui - that is so awesome. DH and I are dealing with a lot right now, so I think by the time we get around to sex, I'll probably be down another 10 lbs. I look forward to it. LOL

LOL...that sounds like something my mom would say. When she was a little heavier (and admittedly...depressed), she could pound a bag of peanut M&Ms, but she stuck with her diet coke! She has lost all of that weight, and I remember her making a comment about not wanting to drink Cold Duck (it's like imitation champagne...no alcohol) because it's a waste of calories. She says, "If I'm going to put those calories in my body, why not just have a cookie?" LOL

I had Dr Brown at Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute, Lap Band, Weight-Loss Surgery . He was excellent and I love all of his staff. His receptionist can be a little off-putting (a little short on the phone). But the social worker is great - I've emailed her. I was a self-pay so I ended up at Lowry Surgical Center. They were really great with the follow up. They called me the next day and I didn't answer, so they left a message. I called them back, let them know I was okay. Then they called me again on Monday to check on me again and they sent me a card from the staff wishing me well. LOL Somebody back in March was saying that she got no follow-up from Dr Brown's office...I would guess she probably had her surgery at P/SL. I have no idea if they have improved on follow-up for people at P/SL. But my experience as a self-pay was great.

Gee, Crispy - you're making me crave seafood. LOL I haven't had any (except tuna in the pouch) since being banded and I DO have some in the house. I'm gonna have to ask DH to defrost my shrimp so I can have some tomorrow! Mmmm. The Krab sounds good with mayo and malt vinegar, too! It's so weird to me to be drooling over real food these days rather than sugar! LOL How exciting to get to move to soft foods, LH!

I'm also for the Slim-Fast low carb shakes. Excellent source of protein (20g!), so it's perfect. I prefer pre-made to the powders because I'm lazy that way. I like to just pop open a can and there's my meal. LOL

Wow - WTG! You're doing awesome!! Welcome to the group, too!

I went back to work at 4 days post-op. I have a pretty physical job as a night security officer. Getting in and out of the patrol vehicle at least a couple dozen times per night, walking up to what probably equates to about 20 floors' worth of stairs, walking around properties, etc. I was a little weak at 4 days post-op but I think by 6 days post-op I was not feeling weak anymore. The port pain continued until *about* 10 days post-op, but that was mostly because of my belt and having to bend at the waist so much getting in and out of the vehicle. The portion of my job spent sitting at a desk between patrols, or even just walking in general was fine. Getting in and out of the vehicle gave me the most trouble. I think you'll do good. No extra precautions necessary.

I wish I would have gotten it when I first looked into it over a year ago!! I would probably be at goal already! This is the BEST decision I have ever made in my life. It feels FANTASTIC losing weight this time because I know it's gone for good!

OK, went ahead and took a couple with my cell phone. Not the greatest pics, but they give some idea. 24 days post-op (I WISH I looked as good as BansterNYC...WOW!): And close-up of my port scar since it's the biggest: It's 1.5 inches. I didn't realize how angry it looked until I took the pic. I really plan to get something help take down the scarring, hopefully. I may try that gel that was suggested. Excuse the goosebumps - it's cold here (Colorado)!

Alright...I guess I'll be brave enough to put my big white tummy up here...this was 2 days post-op: It's hard to see much under the steri-strips with blood on them. LOL I'll try and take another picture soon to compare since most of my strips have fallen off.

Call your doctor! Does not matter what anybody on a message board says. Your doctor was the one that rearranged your insides - don't be afraid to call his/her office! ETA - I hope that didn't come across as me disagreeing with you, FaithMD. I'm not at all. I hadn't even read your second post when I wrote what I wrote. LOL Then I read what you wrote about the clear Protein and I fully agree with the fullness factor and you made some great suggestions. And following THOSE recommendations does not go against the clear liquid diet requirement given by her doctor. Just wanted to clear that up.

I've tried both Prilosec and Pepcid Complete. The first time I did a round of Prilosec, it became my best friend. I did the 14-day course and rather than lasting just 6 months (I think that's what they promise), it lasted me NINE months. I was in heaven. When it came back, I tried to get back on a 14-day course and it didn't work at all. No effect whatsoever. I then did the Pepcid Complete for awhile until it stopped working. Then I went to Tums or Rolaids. Actually, the chewy Rolaids worked pretty well if I took about 2-3 of them. That whole acid thing got very frustrating. I hope it stays away! I don't want it. LOL

Love hearing them, guys, keep it up. It's really encouraging. My work pants now are able to be pulled down (and UP!) without unbuttoning and even with my extra insulating layer. LOL My goal, though, will be to hold onto them until I hit "overweight" with my BMI. That'll be my reward...new, skinnier work pants!