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That is sooo cool!!!! Congratulations!!!

What a great thread! I am so thankful to have had surgery. I'm 5 1/2 weeks out and have been losing really well, 13lbs since surgery. BUT in the last 2 days gained back 2lbs and I'm actually OKAY with it! Not thrilled by any means, but I get a fill on Tuesday and I know I'll get it back off again. I've been hungry the last couple of days and have been eating more than usual but NOTHING like before surgery! To me, that seems like a miracle! And even though I'm hungry, it's not like before surgery either! I'm also thankful for my DH and DD. I love them to pieces!!

I agree with both of you. It is amazing. And it's so confusing too! I just wonder if that has anything to do with increased slip rates. I only needed to do 2 weeks of liquids after surgery before going to soft foods. I'm 5 1/2 weeks out and now on regular foods after slowly introducing new proteins every week. Hopefully I'll be okay but if I ever have a slip, I'll probably wonder if it wasn't the quickness of the food stages from my surgeon.

I don't have an ideas for you but I wanted to post my sympathies. It must have been tough to have that fall through. Hang in there and check out what some of the others have said. Good luck!

Woo Hoo! Thank you, Alex!!

So yesterday AM, as is my normal, I get my glass of milk and all of my supplements ready to go. I don't even get a 1/3 of my milk down when my throat starts closing up! WTH??? Of course I stop immediately but it's not going away anytime soon. It took probably an hour before it settled down and I could then drink my plum juice. I tossed the milk down the drain. I've been banded 5 weeks and this hasn't happened before. My throat has felt funny before this, both before and after surgery but it's never done it to this extent. If I drink a lot of milk, my throat will also feel funny and I'll get a little heartburn (which also happened yesterday AM). I did drink my plum juice this AM pretty cold b/c I wanted to see if it would do it again. My throat again felt funny but it didn't start to close up like yesterday. The only difference yesterday was that I added ice cubes to my milk b/c it just wasn't cold enough for me. Usually I don't add the ice. Other dairy does not do this too me! It's only happened with milk and maybe too much ice cream. Hmmm, I think I'm seeing a theme here. I can't drink warm milk. It has to be very cold. If it's not an allergy, are the spasms more prevalent in the AM? Can you tell me about your experiences with spasms? I see my surgeon on the 7th so I'll definitely be talking to him about this but wanted some of your opinions. Thanks.

Oh and I just re-read my last post and it sounds like I'm pushing surgery! I'm not! Sorry if it comes across like that. I never thought I'd do surgery but between the constant hunger and my portion sizes (because I was so hungry), nothing else worked for me. I guess I just wanted you to know about the sleeve in case you need to look at surgery again. I'm REALLY hoping this works for you. I know a lot of us wish we didn't have to have surgery. Again, sorry if it sounds like I'm pushing. I'm really not!

Hang in there, Micatee. Thanks for the specifics you feel comfortable giving. I agree with you about getting too specific. This really should be supervised. I do really, really hope this works for you. There is a sleeve forum on here now if you wanted to look into it further. I'm hearing good things about it. Better even than banding. Yes it does take some of your stomach but it's not re-routing things like bypass does. Take care and let us know how you're doing!!

Actually, they're not pills (I do know better). And I never got that far. Had to take my supplements later (all liquids or chewables). I hadn't had anything but the ice cold milk. The reason I'm asking what a spasm feels like is because this was so sudden and the milk was really cold and I don't have a problem with other dairy. I ATE other dairy yesterday. Nothing. Just the ice cold milk. Again, I'll talk to my surgeon on Tuesday. I had just wanted to know what other's experiences were with spasms and what they felt like. Thanks!

Chica, I'm just glad you're okay now! What a relief!

Best wishes to you, Micatee. I really hope this works for you. Has she said how this works for long-term WL? I'm sorry that you have problems that hinder you getting the surgery you want. Unfortunately the band can't be an option for everyone for one reason or another. Was the sleeve an option for you? Take care and again, lots of best wishes to you!

We're the same way. We have our moments and there are certain we just have to go out for sometimes (pulled pork sandwiches at the local BBQ joint!) but for the most part it's healthy. My portions and my hunger were just out of control!

Oh. I didn't see anything that said profile page or anything! I'm glad you found out! LOL! I would think there was a way to add this feature too. Alex?

If you mean your PCP, there isn't really anything about it til you get into the program. You talk to you PCP and ask them to refer you to the seminar. His/her nurse can sign you up for the class. You can't do it yourself (at least that's how it worked for me). Once you go to seminar and start the class, then things start to move a little. Like Riley said, seems like you're in a quagmire. Things will happen fast then practically stop for awhile. The only constant is the classes! Some surgeons will go to the seminar but in our area they don't. You don't see the surgeons til they either come speak to the class and/or you see them in their surgeons' seminar before you have surgery. Not every place does the surgeons' seminar. Some just have appoitments with patients. Depends on how many are going through at the same time and how often they do them. If you have any more questions, or I totally didn't answer your original question, please holler! have a good day!

Congrats, Mac!! I hope you have a wonderful recovery! Take care!

I have to say, also, that this has been the hardest for me. I get so dry that I just have to have a sip. I find myself sipping throughout the meal. I do wait to actually DRINK Water until about 30 minutes after but the during has proven very difficult. I'm only 5 weeks out so as far as long-term WL, I have no answer for that yet. Up until this week I was still losing fairly large amounts every week (3 and 4lbs the last couple of weeks) but I'm really hungry today and eating more than I should. Don't think I'll have much of, if any, loss this week. I go for my first fill on the 7th. I really think the drinking is the hardest for most of us. It is such a habit for most people. Habits are hard to break!

Response: "Hmmm, last time I looked, it wasn't any of your business!" Granted it's not subtle but it gets your point across! They aren't being nice or subtle, no reason for you to be either. I think they're being down-right RUDE!! And congrats on getting to goal!! That's wonderful!!

I've wondered about that too. Couldn't find anything in the user stuff. Looks like you can change fonts and colors for other stuff but don't know what all that other stuff is!!

I'm so NOT single and haven't been for almost 22 yrs BUT I wanted to say that with all of the garbage you've gone through, I REALLY think counseling would be an excellent idea. You got a lot of mental stuff you need to deal with in order to help get yourself healthy. A counselor can also help get you prepared for the "new you" and dating and help get rid of that "sucker" sign off of your forehead! It really comes down to how we look at ourselves and teach people how to treat us (me included!). I'm one who hates making a scene. Well, sometimes, you really just have to. I hate it though! Anyway, that's my 2 cents! Take it for what's it's worth! LOL! Take care and best wishes on your journey to a new and healthy you!

It really doesn't matter what WLS you have, if you don't change your attitude about food and your eating habits, you may be able to lose in the beginning but you will not keep it off. I've seen this in my own family. My sister had bypass about 8 years ago. She's since had 3 kids. She's doing great! Her DH had the surgery after she did. He lost a lot of weight. Then started eating til he puked, then went back for more. Disgusting. AND he's gained most of his weight, if not all, back. My mom had bypass about 5 years ago. At the age of 61, her chiropractor says she's working out too much at the gym at an average of 12hrs a week! She just did her first bike race in August. She and her boyfriend are heading out this weekend for a hike they signed up for. She's back to horseback riding, which she hadn't done in well over 40 years!! Between the 3 of them, the difference in attitude is huge. Mom and sis knew they had to make changes in order to make their surgeries work for the rest of their lives. Sis's DH expected the surgery to do all of the work and now blames the surgery for his weight gain. (Of course, that's how he is in real life anyway, never his fault, it's always someone else!) I've also been on this site for awhile now and have seen the stories of people not losing and/or gaining and come to find out, they're eating too much, have no restriction or are eating a lot of garbage. Now there are truly people on this site struggling and I'm NOT talking about them. I'm talking about the ones who aren't using their tools and then wonder why things aren't working for them. So, like I said, a really long time ago (above!), it's all about changing your attitude and how you look at food. Doesn't matter what WLS you have.

Hi Riley! I don't know about the way you're having to do it. Seems different in a small way for all of us. I saw my PCP, he sent me to seminar and then I started a 20 session class. We were weighed at seminar and that was our starting weight. I can't see it being much different for you. That's when you start working on your 10%. Don't start before they weigh you! Search on here for vegetarians. I know there are a lot on here. I'm pretty sure I've seen threads for it. You should be okay as long as your getting your protein in. My classes were all about teaching us all over again, how to eat, count calories, etc. In my area they put you on a 1200 calories a day diabetic diet. We had to work to get down to the 1200 throughout the class and they weighed us each class and that's how they tracked how we were doing. Best wishes!

I am so incredibly shocked, surprised, thrilled, excited, etc!!! I thought it would take longer than this. I haven't seen anything below 200 in almost 5 years!! I had lost a lot of weight, once again, and promptly gained most of it back again. Now I'm going down again and I can actually see me DOING THIS this time!! The last time I lost a lot of weight, I'd gotten down to about 185 so I'm looking forward to seeing that number again, on the way DOWN! LOL! Anyway, I'm just so excited I had to share! Have a beautiful day!

Hang in there, BBK! You CAN get through this! You are a very strong person, don't forget that. There is a reason we get the band, we're fat and we have food issues! We're hungry! Being completely un-filled is like never having had the surgery to begin with. You remember what that was like! That's what pisses you off! I know you don't want to go there or be there but right now you have to be. At this point the only thing you can do is go by sheer will-power and strength to do what you need to do. I don't know if it'd help but can you increase your veggie intake? It would help fill you up with a smaller calorie load. Considering where you started and where you are now, it's polar-opposites. You aren't that person anymore. You will NOT gain all of that weight back. You just plain won't. It will piss you off too much to allow that to happen. In all honesty, considering what you're going through (had NO idea about the broken nose! Please be ok!), 11lbs is really not that much in the grand scheme of things. You will get your tool back and be able to drop that weight in no time. In the meantime, try to give yourself a break. You've got enough stress right now without intentionally adding more to yourself. We are our hardest critics (except maybe your mom!! Sorry, had to add that! Please laugh!). We need to let ourselves be human. We allow everyone else to be! Take good care of yourself. Eat as healthy as you can right now. Don't give in too much to the cravings or the f' its and get carried away. We can all do anything for one week! Remember liquids??? Hang in there and lots of hugs!

I don't watch Desperate but I, for whatever reason, clicked to read your thread and am glad I did. I have a 2 year old DD. She was adopted when we brought her home from the hospital at 2 days old. I just got the band last month and am on my way to a healthy weight. DD picking up my bad habits was/is a big fear of mine. But I have to tell you that I think she'll be okay. Not to say she will never have a weight problem. I don't know and can't predict it. BUT I am doing my best to change how our family looks at food and acts about it. She has turned out to be a great eater. She will try just about everything. We get fresh, organic veggies from a local farm every week and she will always try stuff. She LIKES bok choy and spinach!! She does get chips and fries sometimes but it's not a staple in our house. If there's dessert, it's usually a full-fruit squeeze pop or SF pudding. The Cookies we have in the house are Kashi's Trail Mix cookies and she can only have one in a day. Now, when we're out, that can be a little harder. She loves her potatoes and fries are always at the top of her list. I usually order something and then get a plate for her so we can share. She does pretty good. She's also really active and loves anything to do with balls! We went to a b-day party for a 4 year old friend at a bowling alley last weekend and she had a blast! Actually did better than the older kids! We weren't even sure she was going to try it, let alone have so much fun! There are only so many things you can control. You can't control how your and your DH's genes are going to work themselves up in your new little one. BUT you can control what you bring into your house and what you order in an eating establishment. DD's grandma gives her more candy than I like BUT she doesn't get candy very often. That kind of stuff. You can control how active your family is but you can't control the local school eliminating recess. We've been taking DD into the woods (we live in the mtns near Yosemite) and going for walks. As she gets older and I lose more weight and get into better shape, we want to do more hikes and instill in her a love of the outdoors. We like to go camping but haven't been in awhile. I'm hoping we can go this next month. But I think if we show her a love of the outdoors and the activity it involves, she'll carry that through her adult life and even if she does have a weight problem, I hope it's minor and that she can stay active. You really can't stress or worry about the genes side of the equation. There is NOTHING you can do about it! You can take lessons learned from your mom and the lessons you've learned as a healthy bandster and change things that way. Your baby eats what you do. You don't have "your" food and "child's" food in the house. It's family food and mostly healthy, good stuff! Sorry this got so long. I just sounded a lot like you not too long ago and wanted to let you know what I figured out. Take care and congrats on your new baby!!!

Congratulations!!! You're doing a fantastic job!!