Skinny_Jill

Cindy, TX Archer and Sades, You all look great! Isn't it wonderful that we are all shrinking. I can't wait to see more pictures.

Excellent work Michelle! You look great! Keep up the hard work and you will fit in that dress in no time. :thumbup:

The important thing isn't what you can eat but how much you can eat. I can eat just about anything but smaller portions than before. Bread is my only problem food but I can still eat a little bit of it. The band should help you control your portions. You will have more restriction after you get a fill or two. Don't panic because what you are going through is completely normal.

I am not an insurance expert but I don't think they can cancel your insurance while you are off work for a worker's comp claim. That is wrong.

Your boss can not tell you what you can or can't do on your vacation. However, most companies do require supervisors to approve vacation time and if he doesn't want to I'm not sure if you can do anything about it but I would check with HR. I think if you tell HR you are having surgery they will help you and you do not have to tell anyone including HR what kind of surgery you are having. If it were me I would tell my boss that I need that week off and leave it at that. Tell him you will be back the following Monday. If you some reason you can't go back on Monday he can't fire you if you have a note from your doc. Good luck and let us know what happens.

There can be many reasons for it but probably not related to the band but maybe the anesthesia. Call you doctor and ask. I've been spotting for the last 6 months about a week before I start. Your cycle can change with age and for many reasons.

I've had my BB for a week and I love it. It has really changed my attitude about counting calories. Now I know what I burn and I know how much I can eat to keep losing weight. I'm lovin' it.

I like Unjury chocolate. I haven't tried anything else because I really like it. I think it is more expensive so I may try some of the others.

I get the hiccups too and I know it is band related. It's not the type of hiccups that you can't get rid of, it is my warning sign to stop eating or if I am really tight I hiccup once or twice even when not eating. We have a very interesting little tool in our bodies. It is so interesting.

I like Nioxin. I use the shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment. I actually had new hair growth when I first started using it which was a long time ago. I stopped using it for a while because I wanted to use something new and my hair appeared thinner so I switched back. I'm not sure how well it works since the hair loss isn't due to the strength of your hair but it certainly can't hurt. I agree with Wheetsin that this problem is due to internal changes but I would still try the options you listed. Also, be sure to take your Vitamins everyday. The nurse at the surgeon's office told me to be sure to take the vitamins everyday to help prevent and slow down any hair loss that may occur. Let us know how it goes. We are all getting to that point where the hair loss starts. You've lost a tremendous amount of weight so that is probably why you are first. Of course, I would love to have been first if it meant I had a huge loss. LOL By the way, I am always so impressed with your weight loss. I was telling my friends and family how much you've lost and they were also very impressed. You are inspiring.

I used Microsoft Office Picture Manager and in the Picture menu there is a resize option. I played with it until I got it to work.

Thanks Cindy!

Progress pics of me. 08/04/07 Christmas 2007 1 month and 4 days after surgery Today 03/28/08

I am going to try this again. Christmas 2007 - 1 month and 4 days after surgery Today 03/28/08

I am having trouble resizing. If TXArcher checks in I know he can help me.

See Below. Re-sized pictures.

Cindy, I am so sorry you are losing hair. I haven't lost any yet. I hope that I don't. Some say it is from anestesia (sp?) and some say it is from rapid weight loss. If it is from the anestesia I should be okay because I've had surgery before and never lost any hair. I use Nioxin anyway because I naturally have very thin hair. I would so exactly what you are doing. I hope it stops soon. Big Hug! Jill

Name............Start.............Current...............Goal.......... ...To Go Momto1plus1....223...............220.26.....................210....... ...10.6 Hollyberries......267...............267.........................257... .........10 Skinny_Jill........180...............177.........................168..............9 The exercise is really helping. I've been losing slow and then this week I've lost 3 pounds. I love my Body Bugg and my trainer.

PB = Productive Burp, which is when food gets stuck and can't get through the stoma and comes back up. This is why you must take small bites and chew well. There will be time that you do chew well and take a small bite and it will still happen. You will learn which foods cause problems. I am lucky and I have not experienced it yet. I almost did on a fudgecicle. I got the pain and felt it coming and then it went down.

I've been banded for a little over 4 months and I still get a twinge every once in a while. I think it is pretty normal.

You should definitely find another doctor. Have they looked at the band under flouro to see if everything is in place? Maybe the band slipped. I would stick to liquids for a few days and then try soft foods and then work up to solid food. I'm so sorry you are having these problems. Let us know what happens.

The reason weight loss is slower with the band is that we absorb 100% of the calories we eat. GB patients only absorb 50% of the calories they eat. Both work but GB has additional healthy risks. The lap band does not stop at 50% of excess weight loss. However, to get to goal you will need to change your lifestyle. Exercise, eat healthier foods and follow the band rules. If you are willing to do that you should be able to lose all excess weight. Some people don't even lose 50% of their excess weight because they make bad choices and eat food that goes right through the band and don't follow the rules. Being successful with the lap band is up to us. The band won't automatically make you lose weight. Same goes for GB patients. If you don't change your lifestyle you can gain all the weight back. I've seen it happen. No matter which surgery you choose you must work with it to be successful for life. It is a great tool! I love my band!

This is the funniest thing I've ever read. I had no idea that DS had such horrible side effects. I have bad gas but nothing like that. I am so glad you posted this. What an eye opener.

What you are going through is totally normal. I felt the same way. Before my first fill I ate pizza and wings and things that I shouldn't. I did eat less than before and still lost some weight because I was scared that I was going to fail at this too. I also ate too much at Christmas which was also before my 1st fill. I ate turkey and dressing, tamales, brisket and some sweets. I am not saying that it is okay do this but I want you to know that you are not alone. The fill will change things for you but be prepared that it can take several fills to get to a good level of restriction. It is important to remember that we have to work with the band and make good choices. I've lost 32 pounds since I was banded and I do eat "bad" foods but I eat much much less of them. Don't panic. It will get better. Try to follow the rules even if you do make bad choices: Chew well and take small bites Protein first (before the fries) Veggies Then carbs if must DO NOT DRINK WITH YOUR MEAL. Wait 30 minutes before you drink anything. Add small amounts of exercise. Get up and walk around more during the day. Even if you take several 5 minute walks during the day it will help. Drink plenty of Water during the day.

I am 100% thrilled with all aspects of the band. I don't regret it at all. I would definitely do it again. It is totally worth it. I wish I would have done it sooner. I fought with insurance for 2 years before I gave up and got a loan to pay for it. Even with the loan payment each month it is worth it. I save a lot of money on food now. It is funny how the food I buy has changed so much. I used to buy Diet Coke every time I went to the store and now I buy milk. What a shocker. The band has changed my life for the better.