mousecrazy

It's all going to be fine...keep working on your "head band" as you go. The dr. probably said no protein shake because, if you were to only drink those, you would not stay full as long (solid protein is best for this), and you could have 20 a day, easy, which would be too many calories. I started solid food on week 3. Because of all the changes and fills, I never actually figure out what I can eat...it changes! Take it slow. Chew very, very well. Take small bites (be especially care on that first bite! That is the one that usually give me a lump in my throat). Choose wisely. Like, don't try steak first thing out of the chute (oops, Texas slang!). For the rest of the world: Dont try steak as the first solid food you try! LOL! Take it easy. You'll be fine. Cindy

You should get a prescription for liquid Lortab (or something like that). You should take it, because if pain gets away from you, it's hard to get it back under control. You'll know when you don't need it. The gas pain from the surgery was the most uncomfortable and bothersome part...it did take 1 1/2 weeks to 2 weeks to get over that. Other than that, turning over in bed was a little painful, becuse the prot incision is the most tender. Frankly, I barely noticed the other 4, they are so small. Getting the tape off the incisions is another fun thing, but only irritating, because the sticky is so hard to get off. Use alcohol, and be careful around the incisions. All in all, not too bad...just a few little things. Good luck, Cindy

Fantastic! You'll make it! Cindy

Please let Penni know that she is on our minds and in our hearts. Cindy

You are soooo right, Betty! I am laughing out loud because I didn't even think of THAT! Last year, I would have grabbed a bag of Hersey Nuggets, toffee/almond. I would have maybe brought along a bag of Cheetos, and a Dr. Pepper. I think I'm gonna count that as an NSV!!! Thanks for pointing it out, girlfriend! I wish I was in your kitchen helping you bake! It all sounds so good. Where are the new recipes for us? I've spent half my day doing productive stuff, and half goofing off. That sounds fair, huh? LOL! Cindy

Happy Birthday, Dianne! Hope you have a marvelous day! Cindy

Hi, just want to welcome you to the group. My insurance covered my Band...I paid my part, they paid theirs. Fills are how the band is adjusted to each individual; it's not one size fits all. LOL! Keep reading. Use the search button to find topics you are interested in. PM members if you have questions specific to them. You've got lots of info packed into this little site! Cindy

Hi! Glad you are here! You will learn so much from the people here...and get so much support! And, if you are being "silly", someone will kindly set you straight! This is a great group...enjoy! Post anytime! Cindy

Kathy, that's a very nice explanation! Atta girl! It is hard to explain that the weight loss isn't going to be instantaneous...and if you check the signatures you might see that those who had much more to lose will lose a little faster than those who didn't. It's not a race anyway; it is hard to cure ourselves of the old Comparison Test! Anyway, Kathy, nice job. Cindy

Hi, I haven't had this happen, but my gut-feeling is you are too tight. Were you losing weight before your fill? Maybe all that needs adjusting is your Patience? I ask this kindly, no offense intended... Maybe you are just really sensitive to adjustments, and sticking to liquids for a while will smooth things out. I'm glad you are seeing your dr. Take care of your band. Good luck to you and sorry you are having problems, Cindy

Congratulations, Tricia! It is so exciting to hit those goals, and know you will succeed! You're doing a great job of working your band! Cindy

There's are lots of ways to handle this, all of them good. I have noticed something in my weight loss that no one's mentioned here yet, so I'll put that on the table for ya. I track my weight on fitday.com...then you can see a little graph of your weight loss over time. I have a pattern: drop some weight, gain a little back, hold for a while (maybe even a week, or two), then whoosh some weight comes off. Repeat. My graph, while overall moving steadily downward, has little peaks in it where my weight goes up after it goes down. Now, I just consider the progress "interesting" and don't get emotional about it. It took 3 months to get the idea, and now I'm almost 5 months out from surgery...I like analzying things, so I like to watch the pattern. Probably just me. Do whatever works for you! Cindy

Hi, all! Patty, hang in there! Some days are like that, but they are never fun! You didn't get that job because that's not where you are meant to be. You ought to work at Disneyland! Eileen, to answer about the fill. Yes, I find I have a good amount of restriction. I am not one to want extreme restriction where I have to crush pills to take them, or grind food in a blender...no offense intended to anyone who does, but I don't want that much. I am tighter in the morning, but can eat my protein bar. I have a decent meal in the evening. I've never PB'ed, just had that golfball feeling. So, for now, I am satisfied with it, and will just plug along like this for a while. I was excited this morning, when I weighed 239! Out of the 240's...at least for today...usually a loss is followed by a gain, then a holding pattern, and then another loss...at least I'm used to it now! But, now I'm a 230's person, and on my way to completing my 50 lbs lost goal. Wow. Especially after reading about so much erosion, etc., I'm thinking less restriction and more patience and control might be the best way...anyway, that's what I think for now. We are home today, school cancelled for all three of us. Bonus! Everyone stay warm, and be careful out there! Pat, whatcha doin? Beanie, are you frozen, or just traveling? Hugs, Cindy

Hi, sweetie. Everything you have written is familiar territory...you see how many people have written to tell you you are not alone? Whippledaddy, in his own beautiful words, has shown you the key to the prison. He can't hand it to you, because you already have it. Try to unlock just one lock...go buy one pair of slacks that fit. Do your nails, if you like that. Put on a touch of make-up...just mascara, or lip gloss. Do one thing. Do it every day. Then go on to the next one. Are you banded? Considering it? I couldn't tell from your post. There are several people on these boards that are waiting for surgery, and are losing weight and getting support here while they wait. We'll be here for you, too. Do one thing. You'll be amazed how one little step can start a whole journey! Post anytime! Cindy

Honestly, I had rejected any type of WLS, until an orthopedic dr. frankly told me that if I was going to weigh 285, I wasa never going to have relief from ankle/other joint pain. The end. He suggest LB. I didn't research other types because I have a couple of family members who have had the more invasive types, and I wasn't impressed with their long-term results. LB fit for me, because it was adjustable and reversible, and involved a slower and (to me, anyway) more natural type of weight loss. Ciindy

Hi! Glad you found us! It is a wonderful place to get support and advice. There's lots of great advice on this site...start with the "search" button, and type in "pre-op" or "surgery" or something like that, and just start reading. When you read a while (if you haven't already) then just ask whatevery ou want to know. It's like one of those magic balls where you can get an answer to any question! Good luck, and welcome! Cindy

So I have a protein bar, and Beanie has a puptent!!!!! So funny! I can explain, really....I had a 5 hour drive home from work, on ice, a couple of years ago, and a protein bar and a bottle of water sure would have been nice! So, that's why.... In my neighborhood, if it is slick on the roads and no school, we'll have 4-wheelers and pick-up trucks dragging kids behind them on all kinds of dangerous stuff! We have one of the innertubes with canvas stretched across it, that DD can "ride" down the drive way. Our driveway is really long, so plenty of room to goof around on. Cardboard gets soggy after a while, and we've tried the trash can lids, too! We'll see what tonight brings...I can't imagine it will be much better in the morning...so not planning on driving down to Carrollton. Everyone be careful...and to my Jersey Girlfriends,NYC gal, and Virginia pal, enjoy your heehaw about us ridiculous Texans and our "snow"! hugs, Cindy

Good luck! You'll be fine. Put your patience hat on and be good to yourself! Cindy

Hey, Betty, Beanie!? Are you warm enough? I've been out on the roads, and it's not pretty. So, here's the story... I am home from work today, sinus infection...trying to rest. Just went back to bed for a little nap around 10:00 and the phone rings. It's DD's teacher, her school is closing for the day. Oh yeah. So I call Dh, who is at work (teaching in the juvie) so he's hard to get. Left a message, no call back. Decided I better go get DD...I promise, she's the only thing that would make me even put rubber to ice...hate driving with the crazies out there. (Quit laughing, Jersey girls. If you've been here with ice on the roads, you'd know it wasn't funny. LOL!) On with the boots, grab some pants for the DD, take a bottle of water, a protein bar (oh, I take all this in case we end up in the median or ditch). 5 MPH to the school. Drive back home (about 10 miles) with an 18-wheeler way too close to the back bumper. Home now, with 8 year old ready to be active...great. That's the story of my day off. You gotta laugh (maybe a bit hysterically, but, hey...I'm trying!) Well, gotta go for now, DD needs her computer "fixed" and is whistling just to annoy me! Cindy

A fantastic idea, and a good one to keep in mind as a New Years' Resolution. Make someone's day today! Cindy

Oh 2 Be Free, that is the cutest house! And the deocration are beautiful! Thanks for posting those...CO. is so great! Good job! Cindy

We've got sleet/snow showers here in N. Texas. I just had to go pick up my DD, because they closed her school. I was home today because I have a sinus infection. Somebody up there just does not want me to have a day of rest! Still, it's exciting for here. Those of you up north who are vastly more experienced with ice and slick roads laugh yourselves silly at us inexperienced Southerners...I know you do! And with good reason. People drive like idiots, and there are all kinds of wrecks due to it. A slick thin covering of ice shut us down for days! (quit laughing!) Cindy

This is just the "good news" kinda place to be tonight! What a joy! A Bandiversary, an approval, a buddy get together....and....ya might wanna sit down....SNOW IN TEXAS!? Of course, this might not happen (the snow) but I'm just repeating the forecast. Beanie, keep those warm amd fuzzy clothes out, because you're gonna need them here, and then you're gonna need them there! You are SUCH the social butterfly! Pat...more details, please, on the new ride! Eileen, how's the week going? Lisa, congrats again! I posted on your other thread! Betty, hope you feel better, too! I have heard of Airborne, and even saw it at Sams, but didn't'know if it was any good. I'll get some next time. For now, I have a Z-pack, an antibiotic, and that should clear up any infection. I'm staying home tomorrow. Eileen, also you asked if I was doing anything with my kids for the holidays, so I figured you meant my students? Yes, we have a traditional "pot-luck" holiday (can we say Christmas, folks?) lunch/feast. The school makes turkey, dressing, etc., and we all sign up for other dishes...the kids always come through big time, and enjoy eating all together ( we normally do not have a lunch period...I'll explain that sometime). We have holiday (Christmas) music, a holiday (Christmas) tree, and the kids decorate the cafegymatoriam. It is just a great time, and for our students, who do not always get this kind of thing at home, it is even better! Well, I'm off to bed, and staying warm...let it snow, let it snow, let is snow! Cindy

I wish I could hug your skinny little waist! Congratulations! Don't hide that light under a bucket! Give us your speech! You know I love you, my dear Virginia friend. I am so proud of you! Cindy

You GO, girl! I'm so excited for you! Cindy