DonnaMarie

I totally understand where you are coming from Char! People think that when you have lapband surgery, you will drop all the weight instantly. It takes time and everyone is different! I have lost 45 lbs since surgery last July and I always get, thats all? What the heck? I think that is pretty darn good! One thing that is coming back to me was when I first stated working for my company in a different office. This woman informed me that I should get a "bigger" chair because I am so "tall".. yeah right.. that is why you need a bigger chair.. granted.. I was about a size 20 or 22 at the time and I am almost five nine.. I wasn't gargantuan.. I told her that I fit in the chair just fine and if I go crashing to the floor she would be the first to know about it.. she turned beet red and never mentioned it again.. some people.. sheesh.. LOL DonnaMarie

Hey everyone! I am doing ok.. the scale keeps going up and down but AF is here so that explains it. My fiance got me my ring this past weekend! It is SO beautiful! 1 carat triple stone, princess cut.. set in 14K white gold.. very pretty.. He did a good job and I was very surprized and happy. We have been engaged since last summer but he has been working alot of overtime and wanted to buy it out right so I am very very proud of him! Now we are just waiting for our trip to Vegas on May 27th! I am having a helluva time with this anemia. I am so run down.. especially this week with AF here. I had to get some blood work today and the lab tech asked me if I was anemic and I told her yes.. just found out a couple of weeks ago. She told me she could tell because my lips were blue! I have had a 1 month cycle of iron pills but not sure how long it will take to kick in. I am also B12 deficient so I have just regular vitamins that I take for that. To top all this off, I have depression and when you are anemic or B12 deficient, the symptoms get worse.. SOOO I have zero motivation and feel run down.. I see my surgeon in a week and my endocrinologist on Monday so hopefully we can figure something out. OH.. and the bruises!! my legs look like I was beat up! UGH.. Well, that is all for now ladies and gents.. I am trying to relax today and get some stuff done around the house. Spring cleaning and what not. Oh and I think I need a little bitty fill when I go next friday.. I can eat a little more then when I first was filled.. Hope everyone is well!! Luv & Hugz, DonnaMarie

Way to go Steph! Good Job! I am down about 4 more.. Yay!! 265.. I want to be 250 or below for my Vegas trip when my fiance and I elope so I am well on my way.. Don't know if I can pull of 15 lbs but as long as I am getting there.. that is all that matters! I have been so bad with the exercise thing. I cannot for the life of me get up in the morning to get to the gym.. It is driving me nuts. Anemia is something that I have never had before but boy does it make you tired!! I have been staying active in other ways.. eg. taking the stairs, parking far away, walking the dog but just not getting to the gym. The doctor says that the symptoms for anemia may take about a month to subside cuz you have to build your iron stores back up but I feel so guilty!! Grrrrrr.. Hope everyone is well! Hugz, DonnaMarie

You guys are all great. Thanks so much! We are definately going to go as planned cuz I ain't gettin any younger! Here's to a great wedding/honeymoon and maybe a baby.. *grin* ~DonnaMarie~

Hey everyone.. Also checking in.. I am stuck too cuz I can't get my butt to the gym.. I struggle so bad with exhaustion due to this anemia.. grrrrr I am getting a little better each day though. Plan on jumping back on the exercise horse on Monday. I have not gained and have not lost.. just stuck.. still very restricted.. no fill for me for sure! Hope everyone is well! ~DonnaMarie~

Thanks everyone! I think for our family the one year mark is going to be it.. I feel that I am more than likely going to battle my weight always so having a baby isn't going to hurt anything. I will just open her up, eat healthy, have the baby, close her up and continue my band journey.. Thanks again everyone! ~DonnaMarie~

YAY!!!!!!!!! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: I knew the sunshine was coming! Congrats Band friend! ~DonnaMarie~

I agree Ericsmom.. I gotta get back to the gym on monday.. I have stalled as well.. UGH.. Nothing new to report right now.. I am doing better with the Iron pills I have some things going on this weekend but I will check in with my weight on sunday.. Love to all! ~DonnaMarie~

Thanks Molly! We are very excited.. for sure.. and we want to start a family soon. We have the house, the good jobs, and the "family car" so we are ready for the baby! LOL but we are traditional and will be waiting until I have his last name! *grin* I am eager to be a mom.. and I think just dropping the weight I have will help immensly! Thanks for the responses everyone!

wow! no body has insight on this.. thanks anyway! ~DonnaMarie~

Ok.. I was going by the post earlier where she said she had a 10 cc band and it only holds 4.5ccs.. I was confused with what she was saying.. Not hard to do to me being blonde and all. ~Donnamarie~

That is crazy! 40 BMI or higher with my doc.. sheesh.. now everyone is gonna have the surgery and some that dont need it! Yikes.. hopefully "heroin sheik" doesn't come back in style.. I hated looking at those sick skinny models..

Wow.. so sorry you went thru that! I didn't have to have that thank God.. I just had an endoscopy and that was cake.. I was so drugged they could have paraded me around in a penguin costume with my butt hanging out and I wouldnt have cared! I remember gagging once or twice but nothing major.. then it was over.. ~Donnamarie~

Lexapro saved my life.. seriously.. I feel so much better on it.. sometimes I have mine paired with wellbutrin in the wintertime cuz I can suffer from seasonal depression and that helps but wellbutrin can also make you gain weight. I didn't take it this winter and Lexapro was enough. I had no side effects at all.. Love the stuff! ~Donnamarie~

I thought when you had a 10cc band, it holds 10ccs.. I have a 10cc band and just finally had 8ccs.. now I am losing and restricted.. am I missing something? ~donnamarie~

Hey everyone! I am doing pretty good. Having a HARD time with the Iron pills. They are so hard to take. I break them up in like 4 pieces. Also have to take more Fiber cuz iron can stop things from movin if you know what I mean! Today I had the feeling of the munchies but I got past it. I have a hard time eating in the morning.. very tight.. so sometimes I skip and that is bad cuz I get hungrier later in the day. So, I am going to get back to at least drinking a Carnation IB in the morning. I should be able to tolerate that. Can I just tell you guys.. and sorry if TMI.. but lately, romantically, things have been GREAT with my fiance and I. I don't know but losing the weight and inches has increased things! *evil grin* Sorry if TMI again but just thought if anyone would understand, you guys would!.. My honey wont leave me alone!!! Well, I am off now.. gonna read some and then head to bed. (and will be sleeping.. LOL) Love to all! ~Donnamarie~

I had the stomach flu about 3 months ago.. I was scared to death.. plus I am the type who do whatever it takes not to vomit so I just laid down and hoped it would pass.. no such luck.. I only got sick once and it was just like every other time. My surgeon never said anything about "you shouldn't throw up".. I was fine and once I did, I felt better..

Amen lapdancer! The best thing you can do is get up, get dressed, put some makeup on and get moving! Do things around the house that you have been meaning to do.. a project etc.. pretend that is your work or job.. turn off the TV! I am a sufferer of depression and that is exactly what you are going thru. A milder form.. I understand how you feel. Doing the opposite of how you feel will make you feel better. That is how I got started. My depression got severe though and I needed some medical intervention but I think you will make it! I KNOW you will make it. TV is the devil.. all those "shiny happy people" on there LOL .. and limit your computer use if possible.. go for a walk, call a friend, go to the local humane society and ask to see the animals and pet them! LOL I am serious! These things can cheer you up! Take care hun and things will get better..you just have to DO it! ~Donnamarie~

Sounds to me like you didn't give it up so now he is thru with you. GRRRRR! I have been out with men in the past who thought I was good enough in private but not good enough in public. Thank GOD I have found my fiance who loves me unconditionally. One time I said, "Look honey! I am getting a shape and I am not just round!" (I made this remark after losing weight).. My honey said to me, "Round is a shape! and I love you no matter what!".. that clinched it even more for me. Trust me, you should email this guy back and tell him everything that is wrong with him! Something like, "That is ok that you feel that way cuz I think your nose is too big and when you eat your nose whistles and I think your arms are too skinny".. LMAO People who are superficial like that will never truely be happy.. quite sad actually.. ~DonnaMarie~

Patience my bandy friends.. Patience.. I know.. it is HARD! I am just now seeing a difference and feeling restriction and I am 8 months out! Sometimes it just takes a bit for your body to kick in. I found that uppin my exercising just a little bit, jump started me. Good Luck!! ~DonnaMarie~

You will definately catch up.. I was banded in July of 2006 and am just now starting to get the weight loss. I have a 10cc band and finally was filled to 8ccs.. Let me tell you.. I am NOT hungry. The bigger band takes alot of adjustments and sometimes takes longer to kick in with the weight loss. It will happen.. but the hardest thing is.. patience. I have learned to have it! ~DonnaMarie~

Well, the nurse gave me Iron pills but said I could break them up. I shouldn't have too much trouble. I start them tomorrow. I already take 2 pills a day for high blood pressure and PCOS.. so I will just make the iron pills the same size as those. I can't wait to be feeling better. Who knew all this exhaustion was from being anemic?? Night all! Donnamarie:)

How long have you been banded? 8 months April 5th What have you learned from this experience? Patience! For me it is slow and steady wins the race.. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? Putting on a pair of jeans that have been hanging in my closet forever. Wearing them today!! What is your biggest challenge? I am a carb-o-holic and HUGE boredom eater.. gotta keep busy! What tips or advice would you pass on to newbies? Everyone is different and you have to find what works best for you! What is your greatest fear? That I hit a plateau and don't lose anymore! What goals do you have for the future? Keep losing weight and being healthier, start a family with my fiance (once I get married in May!), get my degree so I can teach How has your life changed? I have more self confidence, happier, feel like I am in control for the first time in a LONG time.. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? DEFINATELY.. best decision I ever made for myself If you could talk to yourself prior to being banded, what would you say? You are worth it and what are you waiting for??!!

Okay.. update on me.. I show a weight loss of 18 lbs since Feb 23rd.. I have a brand new digital scale and weigh myself nekkid.. the doc's office shows 15 lbs. Either way.. very good.. but you know I am going by the nekkid weight.. LOL Anyway, no fill needed since I lost so much but I do have some issues.. first off is I am very anemic.. probably why I am so run down lately and it took sooo long to get over my bronchitis. Also deficient in Vitamin D and vitamin B12.. the B12 amazes my doc because that is usually happens to bypass patients. But he said I may have been deficient before surgery or am just the type of person that cannot absorb it as well as others. sooooo prescription Vitamins for me. If the B12 doesn't come up, I have to have shots.. YEOUCH.. NO wonder I am so tired!!!! I work out and was waiting for the "energy high" that one gets from regularly exercising and I just kept getting more tired. I am also supposed to eat more red meat.. I typically eat red meat once or twice a week.. My fiance will be happy with that! He is a meat eater. *grin* Anyway, I am off to work.. hope everyone has a great day! ~Donnamarie~

I am so sorry for your loss.. I have 3 angel babies.. I had 3 miscarriages in a year. You are right, everything happens for a reason. In my situation, my ex ran off with my best friend.. so it was a blessing that I didnt have to bring children into a failed relationship. The miscarriages also made me stronger. I did not have the band when I miscarried.. I do not have any children yet. It is VERY common to lose your first pregnancy and alot of times, women don't even know they are miscarrying. They think it is a late period. Hang in there.. it isn't your fault. Sometimes these things happen.. even under PERFECT conditions. Please take care of yourself and pamper yourself.. you deserve it.. and your partner will come around.. he is hurting too and men often use anger to get thru it at first.. he will realize he isnt getting anywhere with it. Hugz, DonnaMarie:)