WLSResources/ClothingExch

Maybe it will help to think of tact as a pyramid sort of quality?. It could have been much worse. Your mother could have held up those items and said those things when you still were that size. Here's a kiss on her noggin.

@ I have no experience with it myself, but has your regular doctor or the one who prescribes for sciatica ever suggested a pain management program? Beside meds, they provide alternate techniques that I understand are effective. They may include meditation, yoga and, I believe, some other methods.

This NSV goes deeper than you realize just yet. The fact that you so fully appreciated it, all the way to an emotional response, is golden. You'll have many more.

Happy anniversary, Jane. You are a champion, a woman among women, a person among people, a magnet for good things and admiration.

@@UKSteve, I'll make four suggestions. One -- Change vocabulary. Try "I've lost nearly half of my goal" instead of "...there is still a long way to go." How does that feel? Two -- Use a food tracker to record everything you eat and drink. To say "...a bit of chocolate here and some ice cream there..." means quite a bit of chocolate and ice cream, each more often than you want to know. If you already are using a tracker, I'll wager that you fill it in, but then pay no attention. The tracker not only lets you know where you stand for the day, but serves to show where you may get in your own way. The entries further help identify periods of ambivalence or out and out debauchery. Three -- More vocabulary change. Not "weak," but rather "ambivalent." In no way are you the only one. Despite choosing surgery and having an excellent start, plenty of people run into things they may not have considered during the decision-making stage, i.e., being human. Each of us has a view of who and what we are; uprooting its foundation can be unsettling. Start a journal of what you do, how you feel and what you discover about yourself as you go along. It's another great technique. Four -- If the above don't make an eye-popping difference, consider some therapy, preferably with someone knowledgeable about eating issues. It can go a long way toward changing behavior and taking pleasure in what you're accomplishing. P.S. I'm not sleeved, but have the impression that a true tad of chocolate or ice cream truly now and then is permissible? The trick is in pre-planning such treats into a day's eating. Which takes me back to a food tracker. It helps greatly if also used to plan meals a few days ahead. That's been my habit and is not to say that I don't make changes -- each a good one -- after the fact. P.P.S. Attending your surgery practice's support group is a good way to go. If it doesn't provide a group, check other hospitals in your area. They probably welcome patients not their own.

People experiencing left-shoulder gas pain often think heart attack because of the pain being on the left side. I have no guess about nausea and dry heaves. Blood pressure changes on a dime and it's not uncommon for it elevate when we're upset. That said, I'm no physician. There are times that I think "heart" when I have left-shoulder pain. You're concerned enough that a call to your surgery practice might be a good thing just to put your mind at ease. Peace of mind goes a long way, especially since you seem to be newly banded.

What he said. Plus: Excess skin is a cosmetic matter. There is surgery should one so choose at an appropriate time. You have to decide between obesity and excess skin. Plus plus: Part of a wise weight-loss program is wise exercise, cardio-vascular and strength. It's not necessarily the full answer, but excess skin looks better over toned muscles than untoned muscles. As said by a wise person. Whether you choose bariatric surgery is up to you. You won't, however, be able to make a wise choice if you're having hysterics over excess skin. So far I've seen three topics begun. For your sake I hope more don't pop up. Try pen and paper, two columns: Reasons to Lose Weight and Reasons to Stay as I Am or Continue Gaining.

I have no info on coverage for revision surgery, but would guess that it depends on whether the problem is band failure rather than patient "failure." Your being at your goal and a good BMI now will probably be a factor unless you have co-morbidities. Take it up with your surgeon's office. It seems you have many factors at play. The reason I'm stopping in is that I can't help but wonder why your band hasn't been removed? It makes no sense, as it does seem that the band is has been the problem.

@@banded_jem, drink/sip slowly and let the way you feel guide you.

@@jerandlaur, you posted only a few days after surgery. The absence of vomiting and gagging are good signs. It's common to have no interest in eating when your innards have been invaded and mucked with. As @@gowalking suggests, you may have swelling. There may be other factors for the lack of interest and stuffed feeling, too, none of which are problematic. Example, your band may have just enough Fluid (I understand that since my surgery, it's become pretty common for bands to be installed with some saline rather than empty; I hope people who stop by here will confirm) to be squashing your appetite. For boredom, why not go out for a walk as long as the street isn't iced up? Take it easy and let your body tell you when you've had enough. Read. Take up knitting. Soap operas. Look at the available food trackers, choose one that's to your liking and learn to use it to advantage so that you don't waste time when you're making your own choices for real, solid food again. (A lot of people use My Fitness Pal because they find it easier/quicker than some others.) Keep in mind for when you're healed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling physical hunger. In fact it's desirable and healthy. What will be important will be to stop eating when you reach satiety. It does take some work to learn to distinguish between true, physical hunger and emotional hunger and old, bad habits.

@@Green1 -- I agree with JWM. You should have a checkup. You make it sound as though it's been a while, anyway. I don't understand at all what you mean about breathing.

Left-shoulder pain after overeating or eating too quickly, etc., often is gas.

@@Julie norton, I'm just now browsing the band area for the first time and spotted your topic. It strikes a chord for me, as I know the significance of losing parents. The 21st anniversary of my father's death is coming up in a few weeks. This one is looming larger than it does some years. That you cared for your father at home is important for you and him. It sounds from your last note that you're finding some peace and comfort. I offer condolences and best wishes for continued healing and relishing the good memories and love you shared.

@@Bandista -- Nothing comes up with I search "Banders #7." Will you provide a link?

Are you kidding, Chelle? I want advice from you. Look at you! You're doing something right. Beside, you've given yourself the answer (now in underlined bold italics).

@@Liability -- Your surgery was only a few days ago and you're still on Clear Liquids, right? Jello is not food. It's clear liquid that we pretty much mash with our tongues. Continue taking the clears on the list you were given, as hydration is essential. It's understandable that incisions will still be sore. @@tera1982 -- Lapband concerns are not the same as sleeve concerns. @@Jack -- I'm not sure that Liability is actually talking about eating food at this point. Have we read him differently? Hey, this is the first topic I've seen outside the "men only" forum that is chockablock with males. Is there something in the Water this morning?

@@gowalking Fun Home is on my list. I think you'll like this: Decades ago I spent most of a summer in Cheyenne. Before going I subscribed to the Sunday paper for a few months as part of my local-color soak-up and pre-planning. What a surprise to see a review of an American Ballet Theater performance, one I'd seen to boot. It must have been a slow news weekend in Wyoming.

@@WalkOnWaking, What you do about the relationship is up to you. Perhaps it wasn't all that important to you anyway. It sounds, however, that you and she haven't talked about her text or email or whatever it was. Often friends have negative responses for fear of being left in the dust. That's usually because the negative friend is obese. If that applies to yours, you may want to have "the talk" with her if she confesses fear: I love you...your friendship is important to me...I need you to support and be happy for me...blah blah blah. Otherwise, let her slide. In short the negativity may be about her and not you.

Fitting into a theater seat with some shoulder and elbow room to spare is a very nice thing. You didn't say which play you saw! Please tell.

@@spartanmatina, you look amazing. I must disagree with @@Julie norton, my esteemed colleague across the aisle. Sometimes a "great healthy body" is what it's about. For the one evening, however, healthy-shmealthy, it's all about hot and sexy. May I ask when you had surgery? Your starting and current weight? Why you chose surgery?

@@andromache, do you really want this to be your troy? Whether you rant here or fly at the perpetrators, you'll always go "nuts." People either don't understand, don't look or don't see. They just want to have their say regardless of location. At least their topic titles let you know you're not interested. In a perfect world those whose titles are vague or misleading would be banished. The best you'll ever do here is pass them by.

@@jennaggie A "mess?" How harsh you are with yourself. You're really no mess, just a goose. A year from now you'll laugh laugh laugh about it and flap your wings over all the weight you will have lost.

@@wannaBthinsoon -- How does one not remember an immortal? Only the poor, deprived creatures.

In the style of the immortal Ogden Nash: Colonics? No, thonics. Alternately, in the words of the immortal Stephen Sondheim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRSawe33sA Stay away from the cockamamie stuff. Refute Barnum.

You may be cheating yourself without knowing it. Since the time of the Romans, phrases such as "here and there" and "but..." have been give-aways. Vagueness = understatement and "but" = excuses. You'd not be alone in this. If you don't use a food tracker to keep detailed records of what you put in your mouth, start now. You'll be amazed at how much you probably eat with no awareness or recollection. Eat properly and exercise and the rest will catch up. If you don't start to see the scale moving downward in another, say, three weeks, you can make an appointment with the RD to review your food trackers (take a week's worth) and your overall patterns and choices. You're far from done.