Cheri

Hey, I've been banded since 05, with my lowest weight being spring of 06... I have gained consistently since (almost 50 lbs of the 60 something lost). I've had 2 complete unfills due to hpylori and a blockage, but we can't get more than 1 cc back into my band! Anyway... here's my question... I have been having really bad gas pain and localized sharp left ab pain for about a week (I was thinking ovarian cyst), but now the pain is gone and I have INTENSE itching in the same area!!! Any ideas as to what may be going on???:thumbs_up: I would talk to my doc, but I wasn't covered on insurance and my hubby's hours have been drastically cut since the recession has taken down the auto industry... I just don't have the bucks to fork out right now.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're doing poorly! I was hoping that you were feeling better... I'm glad you know your body well enough to see warning signals! Now that you know what is happening to you is not the typical post-banding issue, you should feel a-okay really soon! Get that IV in and tell them to take good care of you!!!!

Just an FYI - My doc said to take NO anti-inflammatories - ever. Ibuprophen (advil, motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve) are both anti-inflammatories. He told me that they can thin the lining of your stomach, causing it to bleed, which can lead to erosion. I'm not trying to be a bummer or anything... just wanted you to be aware of one doc's advice. As always, you should call your doc to see what he/she says about it. HOw are you feeling now? Hopefully better. I'm starting over (again) and I just want to let you know that I lost weight and really did well when I logged on here daily - it just keeps you motivated! So, I'm back to get the support I need - remember we are here always! Good luck, dear - it will get better!:confused:

This too shall pass...:thumbs_up: I know those words suck right now, but it really does get better! I thought I was literally dying from the shoulder (gas) pain for about a week. My pain slowly subsided, not over night, but the next thing you know it's gone. Be sure to keep up with your pain meds (it's okay to be a junkie for now), get some good liquid anti gas meds (maybe call the doc's office for suggestions), and try to walk as much as possible. Walking helps dislodge the gases and gets rid of it quicker so you can start concentraing more on the wonderful choice you made for your health!!! Congratulations, and the best of luck!!:thumbup:

What is a body bugg?

I would really, really, really like to see a sticky of stickies. Stickies are important threads on this forum, and it would be nice to be able to access them all at one place!!! I have been searching for a specific sticky all morning, so coming to one spot to find them all would help with my efficiency (a new year's resolution:redface:)!!! What do you think? Thanks! ~cheri

Recommitting here, too! I have been off the bandwagon for almost as long as I was on it!!! Lost almost 60, but regained almost 40. Time to lose that 40 and 40 more!!!!

Hello again! It has been a VERY long time since I have posted (I've come and read a post or two in the past year, but have hidden away for the most part!) My history - I have been banded for 18 months now. Started out at 266.5, got down to 208 earlier this year, now I am back up to 228. I suppose in a perfect world I should be roughly the size of Paris Hilton by now... I ended up with H.Pylori somehow, which the doc says is caused by injesting contaminated fecal matter?!?!?! I do have 3 kids and teach 4 yr old kindergarten, but I am still amazed at the fact that I could injest something like that without knowing it! Gives a whole new meaning to the term "eat sh!*&%", ya know?! Anyway, I had to get completely unfilled and go on a big course of antibiotics, prevacid, nexxium, carafate, anti-viral drugs, etc, etc. That was back in late March/early April. I am headed to the doc today to hope for some fill again. I am afraid it isn't going to happen for me though as my symptoms are back with a vengeance! I had to wait eight weks for the infection to clear up completely, but I am so worried that it isn't gone! So, why have I come back? Besides the fact that I miss the daily dose of laughs, cries, and support... I am asking for everyone who reads this to pray that my doc has mercy on my quickly reinflating body and allows me some fill in this tool to hopeully slow down the damage I am re-doing to myself!! I am glad to be back, and I hope y'all will feel the same!!hehehe Cheri

:faint:EWWWWW!! Sometimes my breath is stinky, but OMG!! hehehe

Hey QT~ I had a pretty intense case I guess. I was on something called the Prevpac, it has bunches of meds + they put me on nexium and carafate for the heartburn/tummy aches. So glad it's gone!! I just got back from Disney on the 11th!! I miss Mickey already! It is the greatest place on Earth as far as I'm concerned. Disney is for everyone, even my father had a great time! WE went with 11 of us - I don't recommend it! Do you live near or is it a big trip? Do you pin trade? If you need any info, I've got tons of Disney suggestions for you!!! Just let me know! ~cheri

Well, my poopie infection is gone! I am now the proud owner of a 2cc fill in my 10cc band - and my insurance is now covering fills!!! WOOHOO!!!!

I lost 25-30 during the liquid stages. Since then, I have lost like a turtle with no legs trying to get upstairs...hope this helps!!!!:faint:

I am curious to see why everyone here is, well...here. We all have a different story to tell, a different life led, so why are we gathered together in this one place to offer love and support to one another? For me, I have a mixture of contributing issues. You know the childhood "eat all of your dinner or no playing/tv/swimming/etc", unhealthy body issues in adolescence, bad food choices consistently for years, and now genetics (everyone in my immediate family and beyond is morbidly obese!) Just thought it would be interesting to see the most common factor we all have to deal with! ~cheri (by the way, you can choose as many as apply to you - and this poll is anonymous!)

Hey Kat, sorry about not responding to a PM, but I don't have any. I couldn't even find this thread to thank the Lovely Three Loves for yet another AWESOME gift!!! I am apologizing as well to my ss, jorjet, for not being in touch with her. I looked for this thread (on the new posts list) last week sometime, but it was not to be found!!! Hmmmm, missing threads, disappearing PMs.......I wonder if it is the computer ghost messing with me????? Speaking of ghosts, when is the Halloween gift exchange????? ~cheri

Thank you thank you thank you, Three Loves! I can SOO use the care package you sent me! I'm glad your family enjoyed picking it all out!!! Mine thought it was for them. I let each of them have a pair of scissors and some crayons, but the rest is going straight to my classroom!! Sorry I didn't get a picture - packages in the mail rarely make it to the recipient, let alone make it there in one piece! Thanks for the goodies!!! Love ya ~cheri

Hey! I know this is probably a repeat, but it's something I wish I would have known to do early on in my band journey. Take your measurements!!!! I'm talking EVERYWHERE - waist (I personally have 3 distinct waistlines...pooch1, pooch2, & navel), upper chest, breast, ribcage, thigh, neck, hips, saddlebags (if you've got them), ankles, wrist, bicep, calf, even your head if you want to!!! I didn't think to take my measurements before surgery. As a matter of fact, my first set of measurements were done 1 month out and 20ish pounds later! And then, I only measured some areas. I added others in February, and I have just updated my list of measurements again! I really wish I could go back and have all of my important measurements from pre-surgery to the present. Doing the inches lost math is a GREAT motivator, and it gives you another tangible victory besides that dreaded scale!!! Here's a list of body areas to help you track losses - since we are all different, some of these areas may not be of concern to you: Neck (center of neck) Shoulders (around the top of your shoulders) Upperchest (underarms,above breasts) Biceps (measure with arm hanging at side) Forearm (same as above) Wrist (on wristbone) Chest (the biggest part of your breast area) Ribcage (at the bra line) Above waist (for me, pooch #1) Waistline (for me, at navel) Below waist (for me, pooch #2) Hip (at natural hip) Saddlebags (around largest area of hips/thighs) Thigh (thickest part) Knee Calf (thickest part) Ankle To get an accurate measurement every time, wear as little as possible. I do my measurements in the morning before shower in my birthday suit, but I'm sure undies and a tee would be accurate as well. Hold your measuring tape tight, but not cutting into you. Always conduct measurements on the same side (ie. always left arm, thigh, etc.) ***If you have someone do your measurements, always have them do your measurements. I had my hubby do mine once, and I had measuremts way off from the way I did them, so just stay consistent!! I try to do mine once a month, but sometimes I forget, and sometimes I do them twice in a week! Hopefully, you can be more consistent than I am!! Well, I hope this helps someone out there in Bandland!!!! Best Wishes! ~cheri

Hey all! I'm in...but I am sooo busy right now!! I will get all of my stats updated when I get back from the BEACH on Monday! Lapband - $14,000 Protein shakes - $30.00/month Gym Dues - $50.00/month Going from a size 24 to size 16 swimsuit - - - PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

Greg, thanks for the information. Please keep us updated as much as possible! Whippledaddy and momma, you are in my prayers! Stay strong and positive! ~cheri

Jack! I have one of those too!!! hehehe You are such a nut!!! Off topic: How do you overcome ice cream???? I am truly believing that ice cream comes straight from the devil!!!!!!!!! OH, about the topic - I would have this surgery again if something went wrong with my current band. I was self-pay, so that says a bunch!!!!! I can attest that the work you do is all yours, the band just helps with portion control, and mine doesn't like certain foods (she throws them back at me in the form of a PB). I hope I don't have to go through it again, but I definitely would!!! ~cheri

How sad - boy I hate guys (at least the typical guy, anyway) Here's mine, similar to one of yours, but funny! I was at a fair with my extended family and we were riding the "extreme" rides. The one were getting ready to ride was like a mixer. It flipped you upside down, sideways, backwards, frontwards, every way you can be flipped! Well, I got on, and the carnie came over to lock me in (this ride had the two shoulder harnesses that come together in the middle), and he couldn't get it to latch over my boobs! I was breastfeeding at the time, so I was a bit engorged from spending the day out (I was a closet breastfeeder). Soooo, I had my niece come push my boobs so he could lock me in!!!! Well, after a thrilling (albeit embarassing) ride, I came off the ride exhilarated and soaked in breast milk!!!!!! I have not been on another thrill ride since...although I hope to ride them this fall when we make a trip to Six Flags!!!! No breast issues though, since I have gone from a 44DD to a 38D!!!!

What an awesome victory!!! If you've made it this long, you can consider it a life-long victory!!!!! I'm sooo proud for you!!!!

C - 214 Now my ticker is right again...maybe it will actually start heading toward the goal line again!!!! ~cheri

You're in my prayers!! ~cheri

Hey! I try to exercise (with 3 little ones, I am always up and about, but it's not good sustained exercise), but I need to get into a routine as I'm starting to see saggy skin. Are getting in your daily Protein requirements? Please please please make sure you get enough protein daily. If meat is a problem for you, get some powder protein (I use unjury unflavored). I mix mine in with a strawberry carb control yogurt smoothie and some skim milk each morning - yummy (did I mention that is has about 30 grams of protein??) take care! ~cheri

I'm in....again! I keep joining the onederland challenges, but keep missing the boat! Since you are offering us 6 weeks, I should be able to get close to onederland. Right now I'm 215, no, 217, no, 213, no, 219.... so, anyway.... you get my point! I'm in need of a challenge to get over this hump!!!! Thanks~ cheri