Apples2

Holly...happy to hear that you are feeling better. You just wait until you lose the next 47...you'll be running circles around everyone. Ear aches are no fun and happy you are done with that. Hi everyone........stormed in here. Did get out for my CAT scan this morning and right back. About 1/4 mile visibility and now I can barely see across the yard. We are supposed to get 10-11 inches by 6pm. Just part of living in the north. Gives me a chance to get my baking done and maybe some cleaning. Maybe watch a movie with DH this evening. Take advantage of being stormed in with him cuz he's already deep into getting ready to farm and might not really see much of him till Dec.

It really is difficult to tell right away, PJ. And, what I notice is that even though I know I am at my sweet spot, I still have days where I am very hungry. I might have two weeks level and then a day pops up where I could eat anything (but I don't). I eat cooked steel cut oats with raisins or high fiber cereal for breakfast. That will take me about three hours. About 10am I will have some kind of snack (jerky, protein bar, soy nuts), lunch is usually 3-4 oz of protein and veggies. Another snack in the afternoon about 3pm and dinner is about the same as lunch. You have to realize that I am on maintenance so I am getting more cals in right now. But even during the weight loss phase I was hungry about every three hours. Hope that helps

Lucy...fingers are crossed for you that the scale is where you want it to be in the morning. I think it's cute that you do the little circle thing on your tummy. Maybe it will catch on with all of us other bandsters? Maybe you've started a quirky trend?????????

Hey Julie...(Mrs. Bubba)...looks like we are really gonna get hit tonight. Bet I won't make it for that CAT scan tomorrow and am scheduled to volunteer from noon till 6pm. From the look of the map on the weather tonight, it will be a wicked one. Time to hunker down!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't have the heart to tell DH until after we got home the night of the party. He put soooooo much work into it with food and drinks and karoke, etc. My honey is the best and does pay sooooooo much attention to me (when he isn't farming...then I'm on my own for 9 months). He always has the sweetest gifts and has never forgotten a holiday gift, bday, anniv. or anything. I'm pretty lucky. You just have a great day tomorrow. You only turn 39 once (or are you going to be one of those that use the same number for a few years?)

Allie........posting your happy birthday tonight just in case I miss you tomorrow. HAVE THE BEST BDAY EVER!!!!!!! You have accomplished sooooo much and should be very proud of yourself. Such a young chick. I remember 39 very well....DH threw me a HUGE 40th bday party. Yep...a year early and not one person questioned it. About 150 people were there and I wasn't even 40! Treat yourself to something nice for your bday! Loves, Karen

Just going to post one more time cuz I'm showing off my new face and think that three post in a row is just not sufficient!

Good Evening Ladies....I feel like I've been away for soooooo long after reading all of the posts I have missed the last day or so. Wanted to respond to some of them but will just start over fresh. I DON"T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, JANET. You are a Godsend to so many and you take soooooo much time for each person. Thank you for that. First off...want to thank everyone for the compliments on my "real" avatar. I actually slept pretty good the other night when DH was gone. JoAnne..my big mean 100# lab sounds like your Jack. He would lick an intruder to death. He is afraid of so many things...white garbage bags (not black), white floors, shadows out in the yard, etc. We love him to death though. Janet..I wouldn't be using a gun. I have a huge fire extinguisher and a steel bar. I'm quick and I'm mean. Any intruder would be on the floor saying "Uncle" in a few seconds flat! Spent the afternoon at the clinic. Have had three bouts with kidney stones in the last five weeks. Doc thinks it's time to laser them again. Have a CAT scan in the morning to determine how many (hopefully none are left up there) many more I have and where they are sitting. All that info will determine what to do next. As I've stated b/4, have had them since 1994 with a frequency of about 2-3 months apart. I pass them at home unless they get stuck in the V of my double ureter. If there are any left up there and they are able to get at them, I am going to get them blasted. So tired of the pain and the life interruption. I have always kept my body very well hydrated so is not caused by that. Body just produces them. That's my story for the day. Have a big weekend ahead with company coming, 50th bday party for a friend, a big open house for friend's business, etc. Gotta find time to dust, etc. soon. Hey....thanks for listening. All in all...life is good.

Awwwwwwwww...what a nice thing to say....I think most everyone on this thread can answer a few of those questions. Keep 'em comin'!

Wow, Julie...thanks for the info. So nice to get to know you. B/4 I read this I had PM'd you to see about getting together for lunch some day if it works for you. I can knock off a day of volunteering and drive to meet you!!!!! Wouldn't that be fun??????

Flowers...as I stated above...I have not had acid reflux since being banded. I really worry when I read a story like yours about having weeks of misery. Cannot be good for you. At least your problems subsided. I guess if they come back, I would go to the doc for a slight unfill. Heading to see GP today. Just dreading it but know I need to take care of this problem I have with kidney stones. I had them lasered about 10 years ago and have a feeling that I will need to do that again. When they did it last time I did not have stones for two years. Was a nice reprieve. Need to see GP so that I can get a referral. I am sure I will need to notify my LB surgeon if I need to have this procedure done. Anyway, dreading the thought of going through this again and having a sore back for a could of years but better than the stones. I have had three bouts in a five week period of time. Very taxing on the body and takes many days to feel right again after passing. Wishing everyone a Happy Hump Day!!!

I had a huge hiatel hernia and surgeon corrected it when he did the lap band.

Katy...all I can say is that I'm sending hugs your way and in hopes that everything works out and you regain your health

You know it just doesn't seem fair sometimes. I am unsure why I only needed 2 fills. I did starve (or thought I was starving) for three months b/4 my last fill. After the second fill, I struggled wondering if I should get another. My fill did not kick in for at least a month or more. So happy I didn't get one. I think I would have been way too tight. I sometimes think that when people have trouble with being too tight that they did not wait long enough between fills to see what it would do for them. No expert here...just a guess. We are all so different and is interesting finding out about each of you and what the rest of you require as far as fills and food. I have a feeling that there will be a time that I will need another fill. But, my doc would not fill me now (if I needed it) because I am a little below my goal weight. I like to stay on this side of hungry though. My biggest fear is to be too filled and start having trouble. I lived with acid reflux for so many years and surgery corrected that. I never want to go back there.

Yep, that's me. Lipstick in hand and face in the mirror.

Hey...did you girls notice that I posted my "real" photo as my avatar. That's really me. Really it is!

Janet...the pain was definitely in the band area...not the port. I have never had ANY pains in that area or the port area. Took it easy and ate soft food all day yesterday and today was a little better. Was very tender in that area until later today. Ate solid meat for supper and it went OK. I believe it was the corn I ate the night b/4. Truly think it was stoma spasms caused by the corn. I will be taking it off of the menu! Thanks for asking. If it would have continued, I would have made an appt. with doc. Will just keep an eye on things. No reflux or any other symptoms. My post to Sharons is still bugging me. Don't think my post came across the way I wanted it to. Didn't mean that she shouldn't rely on people for support and certainly did not mean that she should not admire Janet and want her approval. I just wanted to make Sharons see that SHE should also be proud of her accomplishments...just as we are all proud of her. Hope this clears it all up. DH went into local hospital tonight for a sleep study. Have been trying to get him to do it for years. He is of normal weight. 5'10" and weighs 184lbs. He had his physical about six weeks ago. Showed high number with BP and cholesterol. Also, showed enlarged heart. This can be caused by intermittent high BP but also from sleep disorder. 27 yr old DS was diagnosed with rare sleep disorder in 2008 and already showed signs of enlarged heart and uses CPAP. He is also a normal weight. He was warned that this type of rare sleep disorder can kill. He lives alone and would wake up just barely able to get his breath. Anyway, hoping that there will be some answers with this test. DH has always watched his weight but not what he eats. Does that make sense to you all? He would push himself back from the table after one serving but would drink 1/2 gallon of milk and a dozen Cookies b/4 bed. Wrong choices and cannot have his favs in the house. He has no willpower when it comes to sweets. Fruit is always available around here. It's just me and the dog tonight out on this lonely farm. All the doors are locked and rechecked and relocked. Do I sound a little paranoid??????? Do not sleep good alone in this big farm house with no DH. Anything ever happened to him I would have an apt. in town the next day. Get way to scared by myself. Never used to be but had a scary incident 5 yrs ago when someone tried to rob the place when DH was gone and I was here alone. OK...going to stop thinking and grab my book and head for bed (with the bedroom door locked also). Good night, girls.

AHHHHHHHH...there are Lap Band Ferries.... I happened to have 6 co-morbidities and ins paid for my surgery. I lucked out in a way. I admire self-payers for finding a way to do what they need to do for themselves. If your credit is shot and you have no means to pay...well...maybe time to work on yourself and what is important. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Lucy...I LOVE Pampered Chef. About the only party I am invited to and don't mind going. Tupperware isn't too bad either. Hope you had a good trip. Did you fly? Does your band get tight when flying? Mine certainly does for a few days after. Had one of my first band complications on Sunday. Tried corn...bad deal. Had stoma spasms a couple of times. Thought of going to ER it was so bad. It cleared up on it's own but was tender all day today. Corn is off my list of things to eat. UGH! This experience just made me appreciate and respect my band more. I am a band rule follower but believe in trying new things. It came back and bit me in the butt!

Melody....you sound sooooo excited. Yes, it's sometimes difficult to know if a fill is doing anything for you. I have had 2 fills. Took a month for the second one to kick in and then I was at perfect restriction. That was back in Oct and have not had the need for one again. I hope you notice more restriction with this fill. Good luck and keep us posted on your success.

Happy to hear that you are feeling better, Phyl. There were a couple of days this last week that I did not get exercise and I felt sooooooooo sluggish. Once you get used to being active, you tend to rely on that exercise to make you feel better about everything. 18 months ago I couldn't walk more than a mile on the treadmill and walked very slow...now I'm doing 5 miles and it doesn't seem like work.

OK....just re-read my previous post. Sharon...sorry...hope I didn't sound too "preachy". You are only a few weeks out of surgery and just hang in there. It will all fit together.

Sharon....I do know that one of the keys to success is to share your struggles on a daily basis. Helps keep things in check. We are a great support system but one thing that I have to say to you....you talked of wanting Janet to be proud of you...she's great and does not mince words when you ask for her help. But, you need to be proud of your accomplishments too. This is all about you and the goals you have set for yourself. If you are struggling, definitely come here for support and ideas. There's always someone that has been through the same things you are going through. I guess my main point in this post is to say that maybe posting on a daily basis would help you most. I know that if I did not keep a daily food journal I would have struggled and if I would not have come on LBT each day I would have felt as if I was on the "weight loss island" all by myself. Please keep us posted on a daily basis. We all love to hear how everyone is doing and look forward to everyone's daily posts. Take care and hoping that you can take control and continue your success with the band. YOU CAN DO THIS. (Hugs)

Oh JoAnne...I bet you cannot wait to love them all up in person. We used webcam when our son was in Iraq. It was just great to see him. We tried to do it at least once a week if he was available to do so. He is quite the card. This first time we got on and were able to see him he came on in the Iraqi headdress and garb. He said "Just that I should tell you that I converted to Islam and changes my name to Aukmed. Hope your DD and family will be able to be stationed where you do not have to travel too far. I always figure if they are in the US, we're good to go!