adorkbl

I had my gallbladder taken out about a month ago. I have really struggled the past two weeks and have put on about 5 pounds. I too have joined a gym and increased my activity level, but my restriction is gone gone gone. I am scheduled for a fill on the 17th though. My insurance doesn't cover it either (I was self pay) but I knew going into it that fills were out of pocket. I don't really have an answer to your situation if you are not willing, or can't financially go in for a fill. The band is designed to work with restriction, if yours is gone, you need a fill. Good luck!

I think this is a very accurate statement. I deal a lot with head hunger. The band doesn't make me feel full longer, it just forces me to eat less when I am sitting down to a meal. That is a HUGE help. I also think less about food between meals for some reason.

I chug still. No issues with it here. I drink right up until I eat and then wait about 45min-1hr after. Wow... that is sucky. I would be upset as well. Thank your sister for me for her service. I am sure her decision was very difficult. Wow that is awesome. What a neat way to pay tribute.

I think that sounds like a HOOT! Go for it!!! =) Hubby and I have joked about doing the RV thing many a time. We love traveling and wandering so much. YEAH Tucker!!! Good to hear!!! Congrats on the 20 pounds!!! AWESOME! :thumbup: I watched the first 2 seasons and then lost interest. I LOVED love LOVED the show... but it lost me after the second season. ((hugs)) hang in there I just booked a flight home for a few days end of Oct. I actually fly out on Halloween. Wouldn't it be AWESOME to make my goal and be 100lbs lighter when I fly out to see friends and family I haven't seen in over 2 years!!! I am so excited!!! Re-motivated for this challenge.

NSV for me. Went shopping at the Avenue for a huge huge clerance sale they were having. I am now.... drumroll.... a 22/24 top and 24 bottom! :eek: :w00t: I WAS a TIGHT 32 top and a 32 bottom before. I can now cross my legs... and I do it ALL the time. I also went out to eat with hubby on his birthday and slid in the booth like butter. :w00t: :wink: So even though my weight seems to have stalled, I am definately reshaping my body with recent gym activity. I also had my first session with a personal trainer this morning, so I am going to get moving on core training. I am going to take strength traing classes on Tue & Thur and I am going to give Yoga a shot on Sat's. :thumbup: Favorite healthy snack right now, Trader Joes Eggplant Hummus with carrot sticks. Bad new habit I have to break... Venti Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks. :drool: Oye. I get them non-fat without whipped, but it is still 340 calories a pop. :thumbup: :thumbup: Probably to blame for my stall. Favorite new toy... Sigg Night Whispers water bottle. I got a smokin deal on it at Whole Foods (only $20). So I bought two! haha. Now I don't have to worry about giving myself cancer from leaving my plastic water bottles rolling around in my hot AZ car.

Denise~ AWESOME job on the deals. Woot! I would have shopped early for prom if I got smoking deals like that! As for your fill level, it sounds to me like you are too tight. You are getting full too quickly, so you are not even getting enough in to sustain you for 4 hours. It also sounds like you get stuck a lot. That has got to be frustrating. What does Tom say when you go in? Iknow you have skipped the last few fills... but does he think a slight unfill might help? At least give it a shot. If it gets you rolling again then awesome. If it isn't helping, go in for another tweak. Must be nice to be able to take advantage of the $15 fills. :thumbup: I just wanted to add... so no one yells at me... lol... that I still love Dr K! He was there for me when I started having pains (gallbladder) in the beginning and called me right back, talked with my surgeon in flagstaff via phone, and called on a Sunday to check up on me. He is a VERY compassionate Dr. A very skilled Dr. I knew when I made the decision to go out of state that I was going to have to be very proactive about my care here if I chose not to fly back to Denver for follow-up. I also knew that by being a self pay, and bypassing pre op testing, psychological testing, support groups etc... that my journey was going to be a bit harder. Guess I didn't realize how easy it was going to be to feel so alone sometimes.

Oh... and on a side note... I got new glasses and I just LOVE um! =)

Deb~ YEAH! So glad to hear Tucker is home and he ATE. Woot!! Hopefully his recovery will be speedy from here on out. Again on the pills subject. This is the one thing that really bothers me about having surgery out of state. I do not feel like I have been informed 100% on what I can and can't do. Can I use a straw or not? Can I have carbonation or not? Is popcorn bad or not? Should I crush all my pills or not? Etc.. etc.. etc. Finding the answers on here is NOT how I want to manage my lap band. Every surgeon is different and every one of my questions would receive a different answer. I know it is as simple as an email or phone call for an answer, but I really feel like there should have been a packet that was handed out that covered EVERYTHING. A 20 minute consult prior to surgery that covered the surgery did not, and does not, cut it. I do feel a bit like I was left hanging. Right now my fill level is still open enough that pills do not bother me. I am going to ask my new surgeon his policy when I go in for a fill on the 17th. I can see how if I got tighter, pills could/would be a problem. I am thankful that I finally found a surgeon local who will do my followup care and he seems on the ball. I think I will have to write down my questions on a sheet of paper and fire squad him next time I see him. Sometimes I really feel like I am floundering around. If it wasn't for this support thread, I would be SOOO lost.

Hang in there girl. My third day was the worst! It only gets better!! :lovechoc: I swallow all mine whole as well and have had no issues. Actually when I had my gallbladder surgery... Dr Monash precribed Vicodin that were huge. I yelled at him when I went in for my post op. I asked what he was doing prescribing such huge pills to a lap band patient. lol. No one has ever told me not to swallow pills. Not Dr K. No one at his office. I only read about it here.

Good luck with your fill! I hope you don't regret it either. That is how I feel too. I don't want to be too tight that I am miserable. I will discuss it with the good DR and see what he thinks. My fill isn't until the 17th so I have some more time to see how it goes.

Fill level advice needed. Some things go flying right through and I feel like I can eat way too much. For example, had a hamburger patty with grilled onions and mushrooms and was able to eat it all no problem. So I scheduled a fill. Then I got stuck on chicken yesterday (eventually went down) and salmon is creeping down at a snail's pace today. So now I feel like I shouldn't get a fill. Argh. So frustrated.

You girls are cracking me up. My girls are deflating horribly. I am so sad. At least they are lighter now so my bra can hold them up higher. Brandy... how close to goal do you have to be before you can go in for a consult. I have bat wings the size of a 747. I am sure I could fly if I flapped fast enough.

LABOR DAY 4 WEEK CHALLENGE (monday weigh-ins) adorkable | initial 314 | wk1 307 | wk2 299 | wk3 302 |wk4 299 Amieru | initial 249 | wk1 247| wk2 245 | wk3 244 :thumbup: bahotmomma | initial 146 | wk1 145 | wk2 144 |wk4 142 brandymom1234 | -2lbs BellaPerdente |initial 259 |wk1 257 |wk2 256 |wk3 251|wk4 248 deboregon |316.5 |wk1 313.1 |wk2 307.8 |wk3 301.2 |wk4 296.6 DenverGirl |initial 239 | wk1 237 | wk2 237 | wk3 237 | wk 235 GreenChrysalis |244|wk1 243|wk2 240.5|wk3 238.5|wk4 237.5 lap_dancer | initial 307 | wk1 305 |wk3 304 lifesaver |178|wk1 175|wk2 173|wk3 175|wk4 171 lotzasunshine | initial 294 | wk2 297 |wk3 293 minidriver |204.8 |wk1 205.2 |wk2 203.3 |wk3 198.4 |wk4 197.6 munchkin392 |initial 189|wk1 186| wk2 187 | wk3 185 |wk4 180 PrtyAntOvrYt | wk1&2 -5.2 | wk3 -6 | final - 11.2 ShelbiCallie |initial 189 |wk1 188 |wk2 187 wk3 186 |wk4 187 Sidann | initial 223 | wk1 221 | wk2 220 | wk3 219 | wk4 218

Oh yea! So glad youy have been PB free. I can't believe your fill DR argued with you about removing fill. Jeesh. It is YOUR body and YOU know how YOU feel. So glad you stuck to you guns!!! Ouch on the finger! The radiologist was in and out. Dr Monash won't get the results for a few days, and I bring the films with me when I go for my fill on the 17th. Fluoroscopy is pretty cool. I have had all three of my fills under fluoro. That is how my Dr Berger discovered I had reflux. I am going to miss having fills under fluoro.

Had an upper GI done today. Dr Monash wanted to know exactly where my port was and how my band is placed before he takes over my care. He wanted the films to review, not just the report from the Radiologist, so I got a cool CD with my Xrays on it. Yeah, I’m a dork. Anyway… probably the most disgusting test I have had to date… and trust me, I have had quite a few this year. Drinking a cup full of heavy chalk was just disgusting! Painless… but disgusting. Just want to share a pic of my innards. Bwahahaha

Congrats on your success missy!!! Thanks for joining the challenge. You did great! :thumbup: lol... thanks! yummmm homemade ice cream. Awesome job on the 4 pounds. Being so close to goal, that is a great accomplishment! :thumbup: Awww Deb my heart just aches for you and Tucker. Still sending lots of happy tail wagging htoughts your way. ((hugs)) Your missing me!!! :w00t: I am still trying to come up with a number. I need a fill again. I can eat almost anything. Grrrr. For now put me down for 15 since that will get me to 100 pounds lost! Bad choice for wine??? Why? I love it and didn't think it was a band issue??? Glad to hear Tucker is hanging in there. Breaks my heart reading your posts. I would just melt into a puddle if one of my furbabies had to go through all that. :huggie: OKAY... this is what I have so far. Still missing some final weigh ins. Once I get those I will post a final tally. Again, great work girls! LABOR DAY 4 WEEK CHALLENGE (monday weigh-ins) adorkable | initial 314 | wk1 307 | wk2 299 | wk3 302 |wk4 299 Amieru | initial 249 | wk1 247| wk2 245 | wk3 244 bahotmomma | initial 146 | wk1 145 | wk2 144 |wk4 142 brandymom1234 | -2lbs BellaPerdente |initial 259 |wk1 257 |wk2 256 |wk3 251|wk4 248 deboregon |316.5 |wk1 313.1 |wk2 307.8 |wk3 301.2 |wk4 296.6 DenverGirl |initial 239 | wk1 237 | wk2 237 | wk3 237 | wk 235 GreenChrysalis |244|wk1 243|wk2 240.5|wk3 238.5|wk4 237.5 lap_dancer | initial 307 | wk1 305 |wk3 304 lifesaver |178|wk1 175|wk2 173|wk3 175|wk4 171 lotzasunshine | initial 294 | wk2 297 |wk3 293 minidriver |204.8 |wk1 205.2 |wk2 203.3 |wk3 198.4 |wk4 197.6 munchkin392 | initial 189 | wk1 186 | wk2 187 | wk3 185 PrtyAntOvrYt | wk1&2 -5.2 | wk3 -6 | final - 11.2 ShelbiCallie |initial 189 |wk1 188 |wk2 187 wk3 186 |wk4 187 Sidann | initial 223 | wk1 221 | wk2 220 | wk3 219 | wk4 218

LABOR DAY 4 WEEK CHALLENGE (monday weigh-ins) adorkable | initial 314 | wk1 307 | wk2 299 | wk3 302 |wk4 299 Amieru | initial 249 | wk1 247| wk2 245 | wk3 244 :laugh: bahotmomma | initial 146 | wk1 145 | wk2 144 brandymom1234 | -2lbs :cool2: BellaPerdente |initial 259 |wk1 257 |wk2 256 |wk3 251|wk4 248 deboregon |316.5 |wk1 313.1 |wk2 307.8 |wk3 301.2 |wk4 296.6 DenverGirl |initial 239 | wk1 237 | wk2 237 | wk3 237 | wk 235 GreenChrysalis | initial 244 | wk1 243 | wk2 240.5 | wk3 238.5 :w00t: lap_dancer | initial 307 | wk1 305 |wk3 304 :tt2: lifesaver | initial 178 | wk1 175 | wk2 173 | wk3 175 } wk4 171 lotzasunshine | initial 294 | wk2 297 |wk3 293 :thumbsup: minidriver |204.8 |wk1 205.2 |wk2 203.3 |wk3 198.4 |wk4 197.6 munchkin392 | initial 189 | wk1 186 | wk2 187 | wk3 185 :thumbsup: PrtyAntOvrYt | wk1&2 -5.2 | wk3 -6 | final - 11.2 ShelbiCallie |initial 189 |wk1 188 |wk2 187 wk3 186 |wk4 187 Sidann | initial 223 | wk1 221 | wk2 220 | wk3 219 | wk4 218 I weighed in at 299 again today. So I made my goal. I am VERY happy. I even weighed in at 296 at the gym the other day. I can't believe the 300's are really gone. :thumbsup: So sorry you are having a rough time. ((hugs)) Congrats on your three pounds! Congrats on your 7 pounds! Woot!! And a Halloween Challenge sounds great! I am totally in! :thumbup: You should be!!! 11.2 ROCKS! :biggrin: Congrats on getting to onederland. That is a pretty fantastic goal to make!! AWSOMO! WTG! Happy Birthday! :w00t: HAHA! Thanks for keeping track this time. :wub: WOOT woot! Way to go! :scales:

:party:HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! Sounds like you had an awesome day! Congrats on the new puter... I am JEALOUS! You are looking HAWT woman. Thanks for sharing some photos. Love the butterfly! I have a dragonfly on my shoulder that I just love. I want to get another tattoo when I reach goal.

Munch~ Oh my.... I hope you are feeling better. Please update us on what your PCP says. I am worried for you. Deb~ Awww poor Tucker. I am sending all my healing vibes his way. I hope he is strong enough for the surgery and that he recovers quickly!! Dee~ Congrats on the NSV's!! Those are the best!! Sometimes we all tend to focus a lot on the numbers, but how you FEEL is SOOO important. Yeah you!

Oh sweetie. Sorry you are in a funk. They are the worst. I am sending you a giant smile and lots of huggies!!! :crazy: :biggrin: :biggrin: :wub: If you need to talk... call my. My cell is on the phone list. * * * * Thanks all for the congrats. :wub: Our roof situation has taken another weird turn. Long story short, my claims adjuster from my insurance company totally slandered the owner of the restoration company we have working on our house right now. What he didn't know as he was mouthing off to me on the phone (totally floored me the shit he was saying to someone who he doesn't even know), was that the owner is a friend of mine. So I called my friend, he called his attorney, his attorney called me, and tomorrow morning when the claims adjuster comes out I am going to tape record our conversation (legal in AZ) so my friend can hopefully start legal actions against him for slander. Guess there is some long history there. Don't know... not sure I care. Really don't want to get involved but I am stuck in the middle. I just want my house fixed. *sigh* Here are a few pictures of our lovely walls... or lack of them. Ha ha. The paint peeling was my first inkling something was up!

Sooo update on why I have been MIA... or abducted by aliens... :thumbsup: bwahahah. I sit on the Awards Committee Board for my Police Department. We had our annual awards ceremony on Saturday. So I was busy busy organizing the raffle. We had over $20,000 worth of goods/services donated by local businesses and ALL the proceeds from the raffle went to Arizona Special Olympics. :thumbsup: So I was busy making placards describing packages... etc etc. I was also the recipient of an award this year as part of a Unit Commendation for Communications. One of the Lt's nominated us, and it was really a nice thing to be recognized. :crying: AND.... I actually won a prize at the raffle this year!!! Y'all won't believe what it was!!! I won A ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP TO ANYTIME FITNESS. ONE WHOLE YEAR! :eek::hurray::thumbsup: Needless to say it was the PERFECT prize. I am SOOOO excited by this!!! So I ended my weekend on a high. Until Tuesday morning. I was awoken by a loud crashing sound. I ran to find out the source and discovered some shelves had crashed off the wall in my scrap room. Seems we had a leak in our roof that had finally gone down the wall with the heavy rain we had Tuesday night. *sigh* So right now half of my scrap room is ripped down to studs with blowers running to dry everything out. Thankfully one of my friends owns a restoration company... so I got quick service. lol. They also patched my roof for now; I am hoping it holds through the next few days of monsoons we are supposed to get. :crying: We are anticipating a quote to fix the roof around $5-$7 G's. *choke* :thumbsup: But what can ya do right? Our home warranty expired last month, and my mortgage company forgot to pay my insurance renewal, well they said they did but the insurance company is saying they never got it, so we are hoping they will actually pay for the repairs inside. The previous owners fixed the roof 3 years ago, same spot. I called the company to see if it was still under warranty. Nope. Then the receptionist had the gall to ask if I wanted them to come out. BWahahahah! Uh, no. Obviously they fixed it WRONG... that is why half the ceiling and drywall is now ripped out of my scrap room. Silly lady. :thumbsup: So I am trying to remain positive. It will work out. It will work out. Today I interviewed for a new position at work as a Lead Dispatcher. 5% pay increase... would be nice right now. I was pretty excited about the new responsibilities, etc. I interviewed... it went well... found out pretty much right away that the Oral Board voted unanimously for me. YEAH! So I got the job!!! WOOT! :smile2::willy_nilly: Also found out our retirement plan was taking funds based on overtime pay which they weren't supposed to, so I got a nice refund check from them that will almost cover the deductible on our home insurance. Yeah! So it has been an up and down, busy chaotic week. But life is good. :thumbsup: I have a wonderful family that took me out to dinner to celebrate. Both my sisters were able to come last minute, along with my in-laws. Great end to a crazy day! :thumbsup:

Deb~ Congrats on a successful surgery. Welcome to the losers bench. Woot!!! :smile2: Munchkin~ So sorry about all the neighbor problems. Lap had some great advice for you. I hope it all works out. And you had me cracking up... I was not abducted by aliens. :crying: lol. Silly girl. :eek: jmegirl~ Congrats on scheduling your surgery!!! I am so excited for you and your journey. It is the SINGLE BEST THING I have EVER done for MYSELF. I think it ties marrying hubby. Shhhh don't tell him! BWahahaha. :crying: Shelbie~ Wow... what a dilemma with the meds situation. I can totally feel your conflict. I am so glad my anti depressant does not affect my appetite. If it caused me more hunger I would be so torn. Once you find one that works it is SOOO hard to even think about letting it go and trying another. Honestly the ides of getting another fill to compensate makes me nervous. I would hate for you to get too tight or run into problems with your band. How many other meds have you tried? Are you open to giving something else a shot??? Zoloft works wonders for me. Have you tried it? Good luck with your decision.

LABOR DAY 4 WEEK CHALLENGE (monday weigh-ins) adorkable | initial 314 | wk1 307 | wk2 299 | wk3 302 Amieru | initial 249 | wk1 247| wk2 245 | wk3 244 :crying: bahotmomma | initial 146 | wk1 145 | wk2 144 brandymom1234 | -2lbs :crying: BellaPerdente | initial 259 | wk1 257 | wk2 256 | wk3 251 :eek: deboregon | initial 316.5 | wk1 313.1 | wk2 307.8 | wk3 301.2 :thumbsup: DenverGirl |initial 239 | wk1 237 | wk2 237 | wk3 237 :thumbsup: GreenChrysalis | initial 244 | wk1 243 | wk2 240.5 | wk3 238.5 :thumbsup: lap_dancer | initial 307 | wk1 305 |wk3 304 :thumbsup: lifesaver | initial 178 | wk1 175 | wk2 173 | wk3 175 :thumbsup: lotzasunshine | initial 294 | wk2 297 |wk3 293 :thumbsup: minidriver | initial 204.8 | wk1 205.2 | wk2 203.3 |wk3 198.4 :thumbsup: munchkin392 | initial 189 | wk1 186 | wk2 187 | wk3 185 :thumbsup: PrtyAntOvrYt | wk1&2 -5.2 | wk3 -6 :thumbsup: ShelbiCallie | initial 189 | wk1 188 | wk2 187 | wk3 186 :thumbsup: Sidann | initial 223 | wk1 221 | wk2 220 | wk3 219 :thumbsup: I LOST my whole dang post. So sorry for just lumping all the numbers in. I did have personal messages for everyone too. :frown: Everyone is doing so awesomely!! Keep up the great work!!!! I am back up 3 pounds. Phooey. does this mean I get to Celebrate TWOterville all over again. Bwahahahha. :panda: THIS IS OUR LAST WEEK LADIES!!! LETS MAKE IT TO GOAL! WOOT!! :smile2::willy_nilly: CONGRATS ON ONEDERLAND!!! I am reflecting that in your total. Screw Monday weigh-ins! lol. Woot Woot!

I JUST LOST MY FREAKING WHOLE POST!!!! ARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH :eek: :smile2: :crying: :crying:

LABOR DAY 4 WEEK CHALLENGE (monday weigh-ins) adorkable | initial 314 | wk1 307 | wk2 299 Amieru | initial 249 | wk1 247| wk2 245 bahotmomma | initial 146 | wk1 145 | wk2 144 BellaPerdente | initial 259 | wk1 257 | wk2 256 deboregon | initial 316.5 | wk1 313.1 | wk2 307.8 DenverGirl |initial 239 | wk1 237 :thumbup: GreenChrysalis | initial 244 | wk1 243 | wk2 240.5 lap_dancer | initial 307 | wk1 305 lifesaver | initial 178 | wk1 175 | wk2 173 lotzasunshine | initial 294 | wk2 297 minidriver | initial 204.8 | wk1 205.2 | wk2 203.3 munchkin392 | initial 189 | wk1 186 | wk2 187 PrtyAntOvrYt | wk1&2 -5.2 ShelbiCallie | initial 189 | wk1 188 | wk2 187 Sidann | initial 223 | wk1 221 | wk2 220