Scarlett O'hara

Hi, I am currently waiting for approval (hopefully only 3 months to go)! Besides a weight problem, I also have rhumetoid arthritis-I was wondering does anyone else who has had lap band surgery have a disease that can be aggrivated by your weight? How did you cope with the disease and its problems after surgery? did loosing weight help ease your other symptoms? I currently take a drug called enbrel to control my RA and will have to stop taking it a few weeks pre & post op. I am afraid not only will I be dealing with my new lap band, new eating AND have to deal with a severe flare up of the RA.

Hi Cherilynn, I am happy to answer your question! I had my surgery a year and half ago and have lost 50 lbs. Slow going, but it took a while for me to find my sweet spot with the band! at first I was loosing 2-3 lbs a month (or nothing at all) the last 2 months I lost 7 lbs each month! So I think things are beginning to move along now. I move alot when I can (walking with the kids, doing physical therapy) anything I can do when my joints will let me. I have even been thinking another 20 lbs and I will be ready to get back on my bicycle! I was a size 24 on my surgery date and now my size 20's are getting loose on me. Oh yeah, an extra bonus, my feet shrunk 1/2 size, dont swell anymore. my blood pressure is normal and my cholosteral is good. the weight loss has helped much with the pain in my joints. I get around better than I have in 7 years! Of course I would love to have lost faster, but in reality I would not change a thing. Make sure you check with your r/a doctor to see how long he wants you off your meds before and after your surgery ~ that was really one of the hard things. But you do what you gotta do right? Hope this helps & best of luck on your journey!:thumbup:

Before my band I was a total fast food junkie, I could barely drive by a fast food place w/o going thru a drive thru. Now, I rarely think about it at all! I don't know what changed, but something clicked and I don't have those ff cravings anymore. When I do go & need to eat in the car I get the small order of chicken nuggets (4-5) and an ice tea! If I go inside to eat, maybe a salad or a kids cheesburger & take off half the bun ~ maybe swipe a couple of fries from one of my kids when they are not looking! Its true what everyone says here, eat protien first & it really does help with hunger. I keep a lb of lunchmeat turkey in the fridge & roll up a piece when ever I want a quick snack! Good luck to you!

I have had this happen too, just in my bottom lip and only for a minute or so. About 3 times in the last 6 months, did never stopped to think it was band related. I will be curious to find out if it is!

I went in for my 3rd fill last Thursday, the nurse weighed me - only lost one pound. So the doc comes in and tells me no fill, come back and he wants to do it with x-ray so he can fill me to my max b/c I am not loosing like I should be, and I really dont have much restriction at all. I am just wondering, is this a good thing? Of course my mind goes to what if they find something wrong!!

Did I miss something? The way I have read this, HE is the one with the sex (not intrested in it problem), HE has difficulties maintaining erection, HE's going at himself next to her in bed instead of going after her! Miz has not mentioned once that she's got the intimacy problems.

Great post Tom. I had surgery april 30, lost 18 the first month and now am slowly gaining. I have very little restriction right now, but this post has reminded me that the lap-band takes work, and time! Its not an overnight fix! I go in for fill # 3 tomorrow and am praying for more restriction!

Follow your gut. He gave you the first lie that came into his head about them always being in the suitcase ~ then he tried to cover it up with another lie about wanting a party with you when he came home. Don't let him make you feel like a over-reacting fool!

Emily's Dad, I agree, go to counseling by yourself if you have to. If your wife sees you improving, feeling better about yourself she may follow. Your post was so well written, I think you should ask her to read it. Seeing it in writing may open her eyes a bit. I have been cheated on (see my post many pages ago) while living a life similar to yours. I wish my husband would have shared something like your post BEFORE he took the jump towards someone else. It would have saved us from an awful mess.

Thanks lulac! I checked it out :thumbup:

Hi and HELP! I need some quick, easy summer meal ideas to feed my family of 4. (kid friendly). I am almost 3 month pre-op and old habits are returning!!! I lost 18 lbs before my 1st fill, but when I went in for my 2nd, had gained a pound and a half! I know there are alot of creative people on this site and I could really benefit from some good receipes!

I am almost 3 months post-op and have had 2 fills. Sometimes I can hardly eat anything ~ right now I am having a weight watchers rice bowl and can barely finish it. Other times I can eat and eat and eat..... almost like old times.. I have seen many threads about this before, but I am wondering does the amount of food you can eat always flip flop? Or is that how you know when you have hit your 'sweet spot', when a WW frozen meal makes you full? anytime, all the time?

Hi, I have had only 2 fills so far. The rule at my Dr.s office is only liquids for the rest of the day after the fill. anything goes before. But my personal experience was this ~ 1st fill, I did not eat anything before (did not have time that morning), ended up being so hungry the rest of the day, but made it through. 2nd fill, made a point to eat a sandwich about 3 hours before, just so I would not be so hungry after. My doc fill me, had me drink some water and I (excuse me) threw it up and had what I guess is a PB. So he unfilled me, and filled me again with less. Its been 3 days since that and I don't think the fill was enough. I really think that 1st fill would have been o.k. if I had NOT eaten solid food before. My next fill, I am going there on an empty stomach!!

Well, I just need to vent. I just found out today that ANOTHER family is ditching their home on my block. There are 9 homes on my street and when this guy leaves that will make 5 empty homes. I just don't get it, can't wrap my mind around how SO MANY people (on one street) can just walk. 5 years ago I became ill and had to give up my job. First thing my husband and I did was call the mortgage company to see what they could do for us. Our thinking was we are not going to loose our investment!! (They did help us by cutting our payment in half for 2 years). 3 of the homes have been empty for 2 years, the prices are so low I could throw up. The homes are 1500+ sq ft brick colonial's built in the 1950's - all really beautiful. I saw one of them on line selling for 54,000 ~ we paid 148,000 8 years ago. My formerly pretty block looks like an abandonded field with all the overgrown yards. I can't sleep at night b/c I am so worried that we will be broken into. I am becoming embarrassed about where I live when I used to be so proud. I'm wondering if we should just pack up and leave too - why not - there is no way we will ever get our money back!! In fact we are loosing money every day we stay!! I know its really hard right now. So many people are struggling with money (including my family). But the first thing we do is pay the mortagage! (one family who left bought a new car instead of paying for their house) I am just so angry!! Angry at the people leaving, VERY angry for the mortgage companies for handing out money to people who could clearly not afford these homes (or the up keep of them) and angry at my city for not going after the banks to get them to take care of these overgrown yards!! Everytime I think things can't get worse, they do!! Thanks, I just needed to vent (my husband is tired of hearing about it). Anybody want to buy a house?

It is a sensitive subject and although it is not personally happening to me, it is a part of me, of all of us. Sometimes you feel like your the only one ~ I am glad to see everyone reaching out, sending kind words and maybe even helping some!

If the gas prices would just go down ~ how much relief would that give us all ~ I know I would feel rich!!

Maybe I should have explained a little more. People seem to be giving me a little beating. Some of what I said may have been taken the wrong way and I did not mean to offend. Please believe me, I am not passing judgement on anyone. I have been close to loosing my own home due to illness/loss of job. Maybe I was 'lucky' because it all happened 5 years ago when the mortgage company was not taking 1,000's of phone calls a day asking for help and they had time for us. I am sorry that those compaines don't have the balls to hire more people to take the calls now and maybe do a little good for some. I have gotten alot of comments about the overgrown yards. I am not blaming the former owners who left! I am just plain tired of looking at overgrown lawns, weeds, bushes ect... I have RA so I can't push a lawn mower, and we also have 2 young kids and not alot of free time to become gardners for 5 empty homes. When it was 1& 2 homes, we did quite a bit. Now we are just plain overwhelmed. I pay taxes that are supposed to take care of these things. I am genuinely concerned that the banks and my city are letting these homes fall to ruin. I am constantly contacting my city rep's and filing complaints to not much avail. Anyone ever drive by or through a city that used to be a nice decent place to live with decent homes that are now abandoned ~ burnt out, never to see their glory days again? Maybe one home on the block with a family in it trying to keep it together? I live very near to Detroit and I see it everyday. I hear stories from my grandparents who lived downtown in its heyday and they talk about how beautiful and alive it was to live there. That's what I am afraid for! 5 out of 9 homes ~ only 4 more of us left. I have a right to feel pride in where I live! I can worry that these empty homes are going to attact crime on my street. Thats not saying its the Jone's fault for leaving! And yes, everyone has their own story. Am I so very mad at the family who bought a car instead of paying their house payment? YES I AM. They told me that was the plan & I just stood there and bit my tounge. They were "tired of owning, renting is easier ~ besides we want a new car" Then they proceded to GUT the house ~ all appliances, fixtures, copper pipes, doors. Just lovely to live next too. Thanks guys for leaving us with that. People are beating the (former) door down to buy that one. We have also had some forced to move out of state for work, and divorces. Those, yes I feel sorry for. Made sure I said good bye too. Miss them everday. Am still in touch with one of them (they are doing well in Florida). That's what's going on over here! p.s. I think when people are talking about the Gov. forgiving these debts ~ In the 1940's this happened and that's what the Gov. did. This country cannot survive with such a huge population having forclosed homes on their credit like that b/c this country thrives on people living off credit.

There were articles last year in the paper about how drug dealers were giving that up to go into the mortgage businnes b/c the banks were handing out money to anyone and they could make more $ writing mortgages than selling drugs!! If someone did not have a job/income that paid enough to afford the home, the former drug dealer would tell them to lie about their job position, or actually deposit some of their own $ into the buyers bank account for a few days to make them look better. Some of these guys are doing time in jail now (I'm sure the others are back to drug dealing). It is sad to see these families loose their homes ~ I do AGREE with that. I just have to wonder, do they give up to easy? WHY are these mortgage companies letting people leave? Why would they want another empty home on their hands? Can't they work with people? And yes, I am going to be pissed if the gov. steps in and forgives all these debts. Oh yeah, we have cut lawns, trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, saved stray kittens from empty yards, called the police about stray dogs roaming, picked up empty beer bottles and garbage on these lawns, AND said many sad good byes. We have more than just an investment in our own home.

Hi, my first fill was pretty much the same. Nothing to numb the area & my Doc had to poke me with the needle 2 times to get it!! I DID see the needle & can tell you it is loooong!!! Lots of sweating going on for me too! I lost 18 lbs. before my first fill, but will be surprised if I have lost much more when I go for my 2nd on July 22. Looking back on my 1st fill, it was not so bad.

Hi, I was just banded on April 30th '08 & am finding the same things that you do. I cannot eat much in the morning's and as the day goes on, can eat more. What I have been doing is drinking protein shakes for breakfast and with lunch, then I find I am not so extremely hungry by dinner.

Its one month for me too! I just realised it :biggrin2:. I do not get my first fill until june 17 & I need it! Besides having scars on my stomach, I do not feel any different, although I do eat alot less.

Hi I was banded on 4/30 and can eat just about anything too. I dont get a fill until June 17!! and I can't wait!! I really need it. Overall, I am still eating less than before surgery, but not enough to loose. I do find the protein drinks help if I have one in the am, I am not so hungry and not nibbling thru the day. Tonite I only had 2 pc. of pizza for dinner instead of my normal 4-6.

I agree with BooBoo. No sense in telling him, and it won't make you feel better. Making your marriage better and stronger is the best revenge you can get!

Hi, I was banded on 4/30 and did/do have feelings of depression. I talked to my therapist about this on Monday and she said it is totally normal. There are alot of things to consider, of course missing your food is one of them!!, but also all the emotions you go thru in the weeks leading up to surgery, then afterwords you don't have those thoughts/worries anymore - its like a huge build up and let down if that makes any sense? I think your brain is saying 'hey, where are all those crazy thoughts and feelings?' Everyday gets better and easier. I honestly had not felt the depression for the last 2 days (until I saw this post)!! Try to keep busy!! it helps :cool2:

I had my surgery on 4/30 (3 wks today)! Honestly, it was not bad at all, the pain only lasted about 3 days like glorybee said. Keep on time with the pain meds, and its tolerable. As far as sagging skin (which freaked me out too), I finally thought either way banded or not, I must loose this weight and my skin will sag. The only way for it not to sag is stay fat. And the liquid diet is not too horrible, the 1st few days you don't want much anyway. Sugar Free popsicles really help & the protien shakes are not so bad, I have one every morning with 1% milk (I think they are gross with water) and it gets my day going and helps curb my apetite for the day. keep in mind how many weeks/months/years have passed you by and how fast they have gone. A few weeks of getting used to your band are nothing!! Time truly does fly! You will do wonderful! good luck!