Desdemona

Hi All --I'm SO frustrated! I've been intensively reading about supplements. 2 days ago I decided to start taking significant amounts of fish oil, acetyl L-carnitine, CoQ10, and chelated magnesium. Some are to try to address painful muscles/joints and some are to try to increased fat burning.

Tess ---Congratulations. That's a nice loss. Fenton---I'm really glad you're back. I was also deeply moved by your words regarding your loss. Although she was referring to death---Emily Dickinson said, “parting is all we know of heaven---and all we need of hell.” But when we lose people we love – it sure feels the same as death. If I can help—email me. ------ formerly Rugman.

My support group gives a cocktail fork to members as soon as they get their banding date. I thought that was a nice thing for them to do. I keep it in my office desk drawer. I bought a set of sterling silver ones (ebay) that I use at home and I use a fine china luncheon plate for dinner. I decided that rather than consuming a lot of food with my mouth --- I'd "consume" lovely dinning presentation with my EYES.

mominly13---Carol----Lori. You are all doing great!! I'm so proud of all of us!!!

Heather----What a wonderful spiritual effort you are making! It is beautiful. I just want to say that when you were talking about the swelling, reflux etc --I was concerned that the basic problem may be dehydration rather that food. I do believe that those of us who are banded need to be extra careful about dehydration. Do you wear any rings? If so--are you noticing any tightness of rings when you wake in the AM?? If so --that is a sign of dehydradtion. It may be that you could continue a modified fast that at least includes a safe and healthy amount of Water during the day. If that doesn't work---perhaps a purposely bland supplement of Protein drink during the day---some sort of drink that you will not enjoy or that will distract your spiritual intentions---just something that will nurish your body enough to allow you continue to focus on devotion. Best wishes.

teena--great story!! So you are on the brink of onederland!! Congrats. Keep on truckin'!!

Diva78-- It's very hard to know without you sharing more info like---what type of eating/adjustment plan did you MD put you on right after surg? What was your beginning BMI? What is your eating plan? How old are you? Do you have medical conditions or are you taking particular medications. Were you required to lose weight before the surg and if so how much did you lose in what period of time? There are many factors that determine how fast we lose.

Janet---GREAT PICS!!!! I especially like the 3rd, 5th and last ones but they are all very nice. I can’t wait to get to the point you are at with buying new clothes. Today I did go out and FINALLY broke down and bought just a few new outfits even though I’m not at goal weight. I have to go to 4 professional events in the next 6 weeks and had nothing proper to wear. When I went in to the fitting room to try on the clothes ---I could not quite believe it. Now I’m excited because I’m dreaming of the day that I reach my goal like you. You GO girl!!

Hopein April----You are doing wonderful! Amanda----Congrats!!! It does feel SOOOO good passing that half way mark. I just keep saying to myself ---“If I can do half, I can do the other half!” Christine! You ARE losing hair?! Have you been losing a lot of weight lately? Hi Kathy!!! It’s great to hear from you! I find the same thing with my band. At first – I thought it was just my imagination that the band seemed much tighter when I was stressed but after several events --- I decided it was really happening. So –now I’m thinking that this may actually be a GOOD thing because ----first of all ----it keeps me from old bad habits -(like eating as a response to stress or eating too fast). My band really is coming between me and a number of bad eating habits. WCM!!! --- Glad to see you back! Re: the reflux---Recently I had a nurse who got the band tell me that we should be taking an anti-reflux med for the first year after banding because it helps us swallow easier after surg? Has anyone else heard that? I never heard it before and I don't know if it's true but I think it's worth trying. I am wondering if many of our friends are just taking a rest after a busy summer. Or perhaps summer vacations (or getting kids back to school) has been a bit of an interruption. Hopefully many of them will return as the weather cools and we all get back into our schedules. But we can all keep the home fires burning until they get back. And –WE are going to keep truckin’ along so we can lose the rest of our weight!!! When the going gets tough ---- the tough gets going! WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

Little bit!!!!!!!!!! Hooray!! I have a friend!!! OK!!! So WHO was YOU'RE favorite singer from the early 1960s??? Was it the same as mine??? Initials BL?? As far as a liquid diet --- I had an experience a number of years ago that made 3 weeks of liquid fairly easy for me. I was on 4-Optifast drinks a day for 12 weeks! What I found out was that the first few days to week was the hardest and then it was not hard. When I did the 3 weeks of liquid after banding I really did know by then then I could go much longer without solid food. In addition, it seems that many people on the board felt pretty chipper within a day or 2 after surg. but I did not. I slept sitting up straight on the couch for about 10 days! I was sore. That was actually a blessing for me becasue I really did not feel like eating. In any event---you will do well. We are here. You can just come on online and talk with us and we will keep you company. I use the Atkins dark chocolate protien drink -- which is already mixed. I think it tastes pretty good. I know there are other drinks and I've heard that some of them are pretty good.

By law you have the right to call your old MDs office and tell them you are coming in to pick up photocopies of your file. They must give it to you and can only charge you a "reasonable fee" for making photocopies of your file pages. Although you can't expect them to copy them in 10 mins notice --they should plenty of time to comply with your request in 24 hours.

Well said Tess! And I would add one more thing. It did occur to me that my band would not last for my lifetime too. However, I expect that there will be discoveries and improvements in the future (near future) on WL. I think WLS is just the beginning of some real breakthroughs. If I had gotten the bypass -- I'd have to live with the consequences of it when I got older. With the band I will still have the option of fully accessing them if the band becomes ineffective for me. I also like the fact that the band does not forgive "bad behavior." If you want it to work--you must "mend" your ways. I do believe that --in time--people will gain weight on EITHER of the methods IF they don't eat differently. The body will learn to adapt to a bypass. It will learn how to handle food differently and start to absorb all those calories if people still eat them. On the other hand--the band doesn't allow us to swill it down anymore. We have no choice but to learn to eat differently. I think we are more incline to chance our eating habits than bypass people.

You ARE doing the right thing. When I began I had 100lbs to lose too. I hurt so bad from being overweight that I couldn't even stand to wait 2 more nights for a New Years eve bash before starting my pre-op diet. Now--I'm thrilled to say I only have about 46 more lbs to go --and I feel like a new women. I now know that I would never have lost this weight without the band. And I also now know that I WILL lose the 100lbs (and that is actually below a 25.0 BMI). I WILL be at goal weight --- and stay there---for the first time in 30 years. Make SURE you do everything your MD tells you to do. If you do that --- You WILL do it too! I wish you the very best.

Beckn—I’m with you. I decided even before I got the band--- when I was losing pre-surg. --- that I was going to start off doing whatever I could do and not try to be a superhero for once in my life. I have found that as my weight dropped, my energy levels lifted, my pain subsided, and my strength increased, I was able to do more and more. All I can say is ---some people do better just diving right into a cold pool and other people need to ease in gradually. Everyone is different. Little Bit----My surgeon was very strict so I could only have clear liquid for 2 weeks and then I could only add in some skim milk the 3rd week. Even the 4th and 5th weeks were very limited soft foods. The one thing that got me through that was sugar free freezer pops----not the real juice ones---just the 15 cal/4carb ones. I ate them constantly! Hi nana2three! Welcome! Denise---May I ask how tall you are? I’m only 5 feet and I do think that having a small frame means that I just will have to be very careful about food. Are you small? I have something interesting going on that so far –I haven’t heard anyone talk about. One of the things that made me decide to get the band was the amount of constant pain I had from head to foot. I really felt like my life would be a lot different if I could just get all the darn weight off my joints. I had to take it easy when I started with exercise because I was in agony. Now I have been going to PT and I have been told that I have very little arthritis but I do have tendonitis “from stem to stern.” They have almost finished with my upper body and I just can NOT believe the difference! Now we're going to do the lower body and I actually believe that I will be almost pain free for the first time in years! My mobility is also greatly improved. I keep wondering what in the world happened? Do you think – I got all this tendonitis from being overweight?? I was 222 and I’m only 5 feet. Maybe I had too much strain on my muscles and tendons?? Does that make sense? Has anyone else had that –or heard of that?

Hi All--- I have found that as my weight loss has slowed down -- I'm not losing my hair anymore. And I'm also finding that as the weather here in the Northeast is getting cooler --- I'm FREEZING!! Are other people finding these things to be true too???

Well, well, well----it certainly does look like we are finally cooking with gas (excuse the expression!). We are, indeed, back in the grove! I have also been seeing my clothes cupboard going bare and I will have to breakdown and buy something or I will be the same! I’m on ‘round 6’ on the Goodwill path. I never thought I’d feel sad to see any of my large size clothing go but there are some things that I liked. But –then when I think about it I remember those clothes looked great on a hanger and but NOT on ME! I look far better in a cheap polo shirt at my current weight. I’ll limp along with neutral basic clothing that I can mix and match until I get to goal weight. beckn – you are doing well! I may be down 55 but I began losing that Dec 29 at 43.4 BMI during pre-op. I’m only 5 feet tall. As my BMI gets lower --- I lose more slowly. For your beginning BMI you are doing wonderful. Denise---Oh yes!!! I get disoriented every time I go to look at clothes. I keep walking in circles and keep finding myself in the plus sizes because they look like ‘home.’ But then I keep figuring out that they are too big and I have to go look for smaller sizes again. But when I find them – it so unfamiliar to me that I seem to stray away again until I’m back in the plus sizes again. Like I say ---I better buy SOMETHING or I’ll be a bare as my closet! :redface: Elayne--sorry to hear about all of this. I think if I had that happen --I would . . . . wellllll . . . . we won't go there. But I really am sorry. Please stick in with us. You CAN do this!

jbflordia---yes. I have had that happen too. I think it has something to do with my band temporarily tightening (tension) from either physical activity or excitement. Lynn--I'm really interested in what happens when you go to your MD. It does sound weird. I wonder if you are just a smidge over filled? Or -- do you get excited easily? Is it possible when you feel more anxious things tighten and then get better when you are more relaxed? Even though that didn't happen before 8/8, maybe a combo of the last fill and your natural body response to tension tightens you just a tad too much at certain times? But --whatever the answer turns out to be ---you have done very well. We were banded on the same day. I know I have done comparatively well (for my beginning height and weight) with those who were banded around our time --- but YOU have been doing the best of all of us. You have been a steady loser. I hit a couple of plateaus but I did find that I started losing again. I finally accepted the fact that this normal for my body. It may be that your body just wants to rest (plateau) a bit after your amazing success. Who knows----but You really are doing GREAT!

Busy---I agree with Special K---Congrats on that Ice Cream! I think I have been darn good (great) on food choices since I began Dec 29 to diet -- but I don't know if I could have passed up homemade ice-cream. You are doing great! Special K -- I have actually done tons and tons of reading in medical journals about things related to our weight loss (i.e. effects of different types of foods, types of exercises, types of bariatric surgeries, hormone effect, factors in weight loss etc. etc). One thing I can say is there is a lot more that they do NOT know or understand about it than what they DO know. One of the realities that I have come to accept is that we have plateaus or slow downs even when we are doing everything right. They don't really understand a lot about it but it happens to most (not all people) especially women (we have 1 more layer of fat than men do). My plateaus have lasted for a few months and it does upset me -- but at least I can also see that I do finally start losing again if I just stick with my program. I have also found that getting a fill sees to get things going again. You have been through a stressful time and stress is 1 of the factors that can actually cause a plateau. You are doing everything right and in another 6 mos we'll be even happier than we are now.

I was walking most of the day with a friend through an extremely large flea market and I was struck with how unhungry I was. I had a small omlette for Breakfast. All I had in the afternoon was Water and an iced-coffee. I could have had some lunch but it just seemed like too much so I waited for dinner. I didn't have that much for dinner either. It didn't take much to fill me up. It is raining quite hard here and I'm wondering the same thing as Lynn. It was humid all day and then the pouring raining tonight. I was thinking about all our statements about how we all want to lose faster or that many of us thought we'd lose more by now. But I have to say that I felt very good about the way I walked around so much all day. I really was not that tired. This particular flea market is held 3 times a year and is the largest 1 in the country. It goes on for miles. I have avoided it for years because it was just too much to park in a field and do all that walking. I never lasted for very long and would have to walk all the way back to the car after only seeing a little bit. Today I went all day and I enjoyed it on only water and coffee!! Now THAT is weight loss! It's days like today that really show me how different my life is today than it was only 8 mos ago when I was at my highest weight. Funny ---but before I lost this weight--the idea of losing 55 lbs seemed incredible to me. Now I look at losing 55lbs like it's not a very big deal and I can only focus on what I still need to lose. Well -- today I have decided to really enjoy what I have done and appreciate how we'll I'm doing. I figure if I can lose 55lbs--I can lose 47 more. And I think you are all doing great too!!!

Scrappy --- you are doing just fabulous!!!! How long has it been since your last fill? I know that we need more after we have lost a certain amount of fat around our stomachs. mscathyl---How are you doing? Are you feeling a little better? Are you sleeping OK?

So Sharon and Special K---- How much do you have in your band now? What size band do you have? I have a 10cc band and I had 1cc put in about 2 weeks ago. That brings it to a total of 4cc. I know that everyone needs a different amount but I'm wondering if we can at least see if there is a "ball park" figure among us. I'm also wondering if I (we) can find some kinds of pattern of how long a fill is good for. In other words----how many lbs of weight loss can I expect to get on a 1 cc increase.

Lynn---Wow! Now that IS what I call a fickled band!! I was just saying on another thread that I see so much difference between days on what I can and can't eat or how I feel on the band but you have me beat. I remember you saying that it seems strange after so long being banded. Did you notice if it started happening at a certain fill level? I'm wondering if that's it.

Sharon--ya. it's hard to know how we are SUPPOSE to feel. What is the "sweet spot.?" I hear it described but that still doesn't work well for me. My MD asked me if I find that it is a little difficult to swallow steak. I think that means he thinks --that this would be the right adjustment. But my answer to that is--it depends. There are times I can swallow steak easily. Other times I have a hard time. It seems like it depends what time of day -- how much stress I'm feelings---how fast I tried to eat it. Other people say--you should feel full for 4 hours or so. Well---sometimes I am and sometimes I'm not. Some people say a fill helps with craving. For me --sometimes I think it does and sometimes I think it doesn't. But I do think I'm fairly close. I have had an overfill. It's NOT fun. The MD had to take 3cc out and let my stomach rest for a whole month before giving me a fill. During that 1 mo I didn't lose any weight (even though I was very careful with eating). It is also upsetting (and a potential band slip) if we are overfilled. I think I could use a little more but I'm just going to hold on at least until mid Oct. I do seem to be losing again and I think I'll just go with that. Anyone else got any reflections on how to tell when we are at the "sweet spot?"

lynn1215--- You were saying a few pages back that you were having problems with food? I wasn't sure what you meant. Are you finding that you can't tolerate food?

Excuse me??? Well ---- OK. So if a person was NOT in the military then they can NOT be a good president??? Hmmm----let's see . . . Then I guess that leaves out Lincoln, FDR, and pretty much all women for president. Come to think of it Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson nor John Adams were in the military. Maybe that's why they did NOT included military credentials for the president when they WROTE the United States Constitution. Oh those good-for-nothing LIBERAL Federalists!!! They were ALWAYS stirring up trouble against the government! Maybe if they had learned to be good soldiers they would have had the maturity to be loyal Englishmen instead of a bunch of LIBERALS!:thumbup: