losing it in ne

Are you still taking any pain meds a lot of time they really mess with your sleep. Some times for days after you stop taking them.

Has anyone managed to get the insurance to pay for any plastic/reconstructive surgery?

Another great way to reheat meat is to wrap in a wet paper towel and micro for a min or so depend on the size and thickness but you can always add more time. I do this all the time.

Fortunately I have only a had a very slight experience with it but my doc suggest ( because it's usually involves meat) a to damp your finger and roll a pea size ball of Accent and swallow it. I know sounds gross the both nurses in his office swear by it (they have had bypass and band). It makes since because Accent is used to tenderize meat by breaking it down. It won't work instantly but it's better then 3/4 hours of misery.

I agree with everything the others have said but I would really like to know why you are waking up at night. that alone can slow your weight loss and is usually indicative of a emotional issue unless it is health related. A visit with your PCP and/or a therapist might be a good choice. It sounds like your family supports you so there may be something bothering you that you are not consciously aware of. The fact that you feel you are failing says something as well. We can help here but a more professional counselor might help you more then you know. Good luck to you. Just work one day at a time and if you slip, be honest with yourself and get back on track right away but don't keep waiting for tomorrow. It will never come.

absolutely you have to have the hole in your stomach repaired. That seems like a strange way to remove it but I have not researched this much. You have to take care of you. Did you insurance absolutelly refuse to pay? You must have it fixed though or you will get deathly ill and I do not say that lightly.

A hysto is not the answer either. Back then HRT was not the thing to do especially if you have maternal history of breast cancer & I did. I went through all the things that women in their 40-50's go through. It was no picnic especially with young children and I had already lost my mom so I really didn't know what was happening to me. Duh!! I continued to gain weight all those years anyway. Hang in there they get better treatments all the time.

I guess I don't consider my self a long timer yet but I have been banded since 4/11. If I want to do things I do them. I still lose weight but I want to live life also. You need to remember at this point indulging to often will slow your weight loss so don't get off track because of that. I do not have a fill yet since a I lost my port due to infection, however I'm not sure I would want one at the point either. It helps to have a plan before you go out so you aren't too hungry and therefore really go over board. I found that like with pizza most offer a wing appetizer so we order those and I have one or two and then I usually just eat the topping off my pizza or just a little of the crispier out side crust. As to drinks you have to decide just because you go out to a bar you can always have a water with a twist of lime and no one really thinks anything of it anymore. Its the company not the food or drink that should be your main enjoyment. Also be really careful about cutting and chewing when in a group. It is really easy to be laughing and talking and take to big a bite or not chew well & then you have something stuck and that would really ruin your evening. I'm going to enjoy my life but in a thinner form. By the way I have lost 72 #'s since surgery, enjoyed 2 family reunions and several other social events.

Sounds like it could be amild staff infection which is not all that uncommon. Do you have any other symptoms like redness, warm to touch, or a temp. I would probably call my doc. You may very likely need an antibioic. Good look to you.

Are there no other options then losing your band. Like maybe some steroids and antihistamines or something like that to help your body normalize before taking such a drastic step. You are in my thoughts. Best wishes.

I thought that is what it was. I was diagnosed with it in 1976 little different name and led to a hysterectomy in 1980. I have struggled my entire life with weight and these problems probably there in my teens but not diagnosed until early 20's. They know so much more about it now then they did back then. Surgery was my only option.

Ok color me stupid but what PCOS?

How interesting. I spent a week in the hospital and a month in pain with left side pain under my ribs. I had every test in the book and nothing. they said it was mucsle but nothing I did made a difference. Last week my grandson accidentally bumped my back and the pain returned as bad as it was in the hospital. I realized then that I had a rib out of place. 2 visits to the Chiropractor and I am good as new. I have never had that happened before and I didn't do anything to make it happen. I was beginning to think I was just going to have to live with this horrible pain for the rest of my life. I don't know if it is your problem but it is just a thought. I hope you find relief because I know how bad it can be.

Sure it can. I think the general dizziness could be a lot of things. Good idea to see your dr for that. Leg & muscle cramps may be that you just need a few more minerals like potassium, magnesium & calcium. You most likely will need to add a supplement since you probably won't be eating enough to get it. I had a little skin out break on my legs and needed to add C and more multi vits. Good luck to you.

You said something that startled me. If you mom & sis are aneorexic, are you afraid you will be also. You said you don't have the traits but how do you figure. An eating disorder whether you stuff or strave all come from the same place, emotional issuses frquently with self esteem. I would strongly suggest you seriouly consider a couselor before you take this major step. Either surgery is not a quick fix, Just a helpful tool. You need to take a look inside you and work out some of those issues. Being thin won't change those things.

Way to go. It is so exciting to hear weight goals being met.

think outside the box. I have grilled fish, chicken, chops or steak anything you like can be a breakfast food. We tend to think of only cereals, yogurt & eggs. Break free and enjoy. :smile2:

I haven't had a lot of trouble with it but after my last surgery I lost a lot of hair. It finally came back but I don't want it to happen again. I have started taking a good quality Hair, nail & skin vitamin along with my multi. GNC & Puritan Pride bith have good ones that came highly recommended. My daughter used the it due to hair loss & other hair issued from her thyroid. It worked great for her. I just decided to add it to my routine and maybve miss this problem.

Haven't been on for a while but I also had a port infection and ulitmately had mine removed. Still waiting for the last of the wounds to heal. It can continue to ooze for some time. As long as the drainage is not pussy looking and has no odor just stay on the antibiotics. Eat as much protein as you can for healing. Do not use peroxide or ointment as both can cause other problems. Peroxide can burn new sensitive healing skin. A dry dressing is best. It is better for all that liquid to drain out rather then pool inside so don't be dicouraged with that. Pussy, smelly, increasing pain & fever are the things that tell you go see the doc again. Good Luck. If you have more questions you can pm me any time.

It is interesting that you don't read a lot about these things here. For me WL has been and very long and emotional journey that I have not compleeted yet and most likely will spend the rest of my life on. Unlike you I had mostly conquered the emotional aspects of my eating. All though once in a while they rear their ulgy heads and I really have to work hard and the positive self talk and get myself back on track. I think so many people go into this surgery looking for a quick fix for a long term problem which has less to do with food as with emotions. I hope you keep trying with the band and get yourself some support and therapy. I lost so many good years with my family because of my weight and my inability to rcognize what I was doing to myself and to them. Now in my mid 50's it is finally all coming together and I know that it takes a lot of me to do this, not just the tool I have around my stomach. My band has helped tremensously with my real hunger but I have to be in control of the head hunger. So far I have lost 96 #'s (60 with the band) inspite of complications with the port(lost it) so therefore I have no fills. I have gained a couple of #'s during a few really rough times, but I have fought back and I olan to win this war. I will be at a healthy weight. I had my surgery 4/11/08. but as I said before it has been a long and emotional journey to this point in my life. Mostly recognizng and working of the very things you talked about in your post. I encourage you to keep going and find out and take care of all the ugly things that make you do the things you do but don't give up on the band in the process. You will just be that much further ahead when you do finally wade through the emotional mud. Good Luck to you. Just keep taking one step at a time and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel eventually.

I was banded in april and I have not had a fill due to infection complications that forced the removal of my port. I have lost 50 #'s so far. Even when I get my port back I don't plan to have a fill unless my hunger is totally out of control. Everyone here talks like hunger is a bad thing and it isn't. It just means our body needs some fuel. Like you I only portion what I should have and I always wait 10 mins if I 'think" I need more. Seldom do I still want any more and am usually glad I didn't eat any more. The few times I have, I ended up with the shoulder pain you hear so much about. I try not to be 'full' only satisfied with my meals. If it has been 3 hours and I am feeling a little hungry I eat a small protien snack (usually protien only) and I am fine. A lot of people wamt the band to do all the work and it can't. You still have to make good food choices most of the time. Can you indulge occasionally, Absolutely but this is where the band helps you eat much lest then you did before. I find I don't have the raging hungry I ha before with just the band and I probably could stuff myself with more but Why would I. We all know going in that you have to make changes so why do this to ourselves. NOt me.

I have had to have my port removed because of infection but if the drainage is in the port area that doesn't mean that the band itself is infected. I had to be on about 3 weeks of IV antibiotics and just bloody fluid is normal from a wound. Did they leave you open? I still have small wounds that drain a bloody watery fluid and will until they heal completely, its just normal. My port was removed 5/23 and the wounds are not quite healed yet. I think I'd find a good doc stateside and bite the bullet. I hope all goes well for you.

If I understand this right it means that the state of OK excludes WLS. Most Ne is the same way but there are some law suits out there trying to get it changed. I hope that is not your case. I live in Ne but luckily our insurance is BCBS of Iowa. They were great. I had the bet luck getting on the insurance Web site and our offers a case manager and I used her to really get the inside track on the insurance. Good Luck to you, even though I have had some infection isssues this is the best decision I have ever made for myself.

I have dierticulosis and have had 3 bowel resections from perf's. I was banded in Apr and have had no problems. I have added my metamusil caps back and I use ground flax as an additional fiber. Just be sure to take some stool softners a few days before and several days after to combat the constipations from the pain meds. I really don't know why this would keep you from lapband surgery, maybe the bypass. Let me tell you it will be much better to be a 150#'s and have bowel surgery then over 300#'s. A whole lot less risky. Any one can perf a tic anytime so this is a much better choice. If you were "eating" all your fiber before you will probably have to switch to something like psyllium husks etc to get enough now. An added plus is the liquid diet gives your bowel a break and let's it rest more. I only had to have liquids for 5 days. I have had absolutely no problems with this since my surgery.

I use gummy vitamins, Just chew well and I usually have them with my 1 cup of coffe in the mornig. I'm sure that helps melt them.