amsderb

Well I had to go 2 times to the study because I only slept like 3 hours..:wink2:. the first night and then they didn't have time to cpap me.... The second time I went I started with the cpap...getting used to that was ok. :smile2: The funny thing was the fist night all the probes and things bugged me more then with the mask those were the least of my worries!:tongue2: Anyhoo..I NEVER got into REM either night!:confused2: Funny thing is, I told them I only slept in short bursts... On my side I only had like 3 events but on my back I had like 10 so they said I had mild apnea...now I have a full mask for apnea.:sleep: I just went for my month follow up and was totally honest with the doc.:tt2:..I have yet to sleep all night with the mask on...I fall asleep fine with it on, I just can't stay asleep... She said, my setting maight be too low (8) and then in REM I have an event and that wakes me up??? I don't know...so she put me on Ambian to see if I can sleep all night. I slept great last night but when I woke up I did not have my mask on..:wink2:.I don't remember taking it off....oops...I'll keep trying! :ohmy:It scares me to think I have APNEA but then again...better treated than not and I know what you mean about it helping to qualify with insurance...I'm sure it helped me... When I go to get banded I have to bring my mask and tubing...my doc makes you have it in recovery... The scary thing is I am sure I had it last year and I was put to sleep 2 different times (Dec '06 and June '07). They say that it isbad to have apnea when coming out of anastesia because you are lying on your back and may not think to breathe! :w00t: :crying:SO I AM GLAD I HAVE MY MASK...HOPEFULLY I'LL LEARN TO KEEP IT ON!!:thumbup:

Good advice Angelic 1... Welcome jbflorida...there are several other lucky 13's! May is almost here! anyone practicing their breathing exercises? I need to!

Wow May Flowers...so much has been going on on here.... I know the feeling of the Reunion thing..see, even though I thought I was fat in High School...compared to all the twiggy girls...I was in the pom line all 4 years so I kept in shape. I remember I got voted "roundest butt" by the guys one year and I thought...great...I'm fat! Now I realize it was actually a compliment..LOL.. Anyway, I only went to a bit of my 10 year reunion...yes my weight was an issue but at that point I had just had a baby and I weighed like 180??? I'm 5'6 so that was not too bad but I of course thought I was HUGE!!! Then to add insult to injury...a tiny old Nun came up to me and said, "Oh dear! You did always fight with your weight!" Thanks! Then last year was my 30th Elementary Reunion....and all 330 lbs of me went! I was a bit...sad about my weight but I felt good about who and what I had become in life and figured...Hey, it is me and that is life...I was at least Brave enough to show up!! I had a great time by the way!! So, now when my 30th High School comes along in 2010!!! I plan on marching in as loud and fun as I used to be!! Hey, I still have a pom outfit...think it will fit??? So, Hurry up May 28th! BTW...had all my preop appointments today,,,,EKG, abdominal ultrasound, chest x-ray, blood and pee! I hope it is all OK...I don't go back until May 20th! Also saw the Sleep Doc...She gave me Ambien for sleeping with my very bothersome cPAP machine... So...TTFN Shelley

There is another thread called Thinking of cancelling down in general discussions..check it out! Keep in touch!

:redface: Wohhooo!!!:rant: I just found this thread and was anxious to see what happened!!! Yea for you Ceinman!! Now I am awaiting my surgery!!!!:hurt: If I get cold feet, I know you all will be there for me...Oh and it may be Elective but...not really...we are just taking charge of our health and bodies and not being the victims of Obesity anymore:wink2:

Mavy...don't cancel it is natural to be nerveous! There are many guys on here too! As for the horror stories...I read some too and decided enough is enough!!! There is risk in driving down the street..we have to trust that this will all work out and we will be healthier and happier in the end! Hang in there.....we are going to be just great! Remember...a positive attitude is key to a great recovery!!! Keep reading good posts!

mklady63...I'm thinking about you...you should be resting from surgery!!!! YEA!!!

Thanks...I was wondering about that...except...right now I drink one for breakfast and it does keep me from eating until lunch???? I am allergic to eggs so I don't know what I'll eat for breakfast...also, I am not used to really "sitting" down and eating unless I have breakfast at my desk first thing in the morning...I guess I am not a big eater in the morning....that is why I have a protein shake because then at least I am not skipping breakfast...I teach so I have to be at school pretty darn early....lucky for me, I have a small refridge, microwave, and a blender too at school in my "office". All the comforts of home!!!

Hang in there everyone! I go for my gall bladder ultrasound this week. Also, back to the sleep doc for a followup and pre op bloodwork, EKG, and chest x-rays.... I hope it all turns out ok..

Great advice girls....I think if y ou are hungry the best option is to up the Protein which will up the cals a bit too. I am not banded but I use Protein shakes a lot as my routine...does anyone who is banded use shakes after the soft stage as a routine??? My nutritionist said if they fill me I could use like for Breakfast...

OK...lets talk about something new? Like....how do we cope with Head hunger? You know the idea that we should eat more?

Wow! The Byetta does not seem to affect me that way...I did forget to shoot it last night before dinner...we went out...and this AM my sugar was 122! usually lately it has been like 107 ish....I can not believe that with all the dietary changes, my 25lb weight loss, exercise routine, and Formet ER 1500mg....that my sugar is STILL so high...I was always under 100 about 5 years ago at a higher weight than now??? I guess that is why I need to be banded...my doc has not decided what to do about my Byetta after the surgery...I think I should stay on it until my sweet spot and until my sugar drops???

Welcome Di4AU!!!! Lets Go Mayflowers!!!

:biggrin: Thanks for letting me share my story! Tina Yours and my highest weights are alike! I also was down to 123 at 1 point in my adult life! I thought back then since my dad was military...why didn't I join the army then I would have to stay in shape....but I never did...considering I'm a teacher...I also wondered if I should have been a PE teacher so that I didn't sit so much!!! I'm sorry about your foot surgery...but hopefully this will save the other foot or at least make recovery easier if needed? Good luck to you and stay in touch!:biggrin2: Shelley

I don't know what to tell you but I sure HOPE and PRAY that no damage was done...It sounds like it will be OK...I think I am on those foods after the first week...I have a class the week after banding and I think that is when I get the info/?? I'll let you know!

:thumbup:OMG...I just e-mailed my cousin about my banding coming up because she is coming to town the same week:redface: So, I was very short and positive about it etc...so she mailed me back with her concern that it could be wonderful but that she had heard of many people using alcohol as a substitute for food when emotionally eating... so I wrote this back..:thumbup: I wanted to know if this sounds like I am in denial or if it makes sense??? I thought is was pretty concise...do any of you relate to this? Please let me know because I'm just thinking that surely I'm not the only one that feel this way??? Thank you for your concern and support! In one of my support classes they did talk about transfer addictions. I am never going to say never...but I truely do not think that this will be an issue for me...coming from the very alcohol environment that I have...if I was going to drink to cope it would have happened by now!!! As an adult....well even as a teen and young adult....I have always been a very occasional to light drinker...mostly having a glass or two with my family at holidays. I have dealt with MANY situations, like divorced twice etc..., and never needed a "drink" or even food to cope. It is hard to say if food is really a comfort to me because I have had such a terrible time since High School with trying to control my weight. I do feel that it had more to do with my PCOS which we never knew I had until about 3 years ago.... Yes, I do LOVE good food and sweets have always been a downfall...raised with too much good stuff...then married to a gourmet chef....etc.... and a family whose entire world revolves around "happy hour" and three square meals a day....I know I can eat!!! But when I am sad or mad do I turn to food? I just can't say that has been the cause of my obesity...Have I always taken care of myself...no...Have I always made healthy food choices...NO....equally, have I always made being active and exercising a priority...NO...work was the priority in my life...convience...and at times on a tight budget...cheap carbo food. So I truely feel that my current situation has been a combination of genetics,lifestyle, poor choices even at times uneducated ones (we know so much more about carbohydrates and their negative affects especially with insulin intolerance like I have had...and the importance of balancing a Protein rich diet) and the simple fact that some people can live the type of life style I did without the same result of weight. I also will say very loudly...SOMETIMES I JUST SIMPLY GAVE UP TRYING BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A VICIOUS CYCLE..LOOSE...GAIN FASTER AND MORE ETC... As you can see, I have been working on identifying all of this. The program I am with has a ton of education and psych eval etc...it was a requirement of my insurance too. By the way, before I even knew I would be making this decision...I had gotten remotivated in the fall..after not bleeding my months away...and I joined an exercise / diet program which is only going to continue to compliment my procedure....I joined December 4th and since then have lost @25 lbs (it goes slow) and 35 inches!!! Of course, my docs are happy and it will make this new transition so much easier because as far as behavior modification goes...I've been practicing since then.... So, dear cousin, I know that was a mouth full...please know I do appreciate the support...the funny thing about me as a "fat" person is it never really stopped me from being me....I will still be the same person...It is just that now I will have even more energy and desire to get more out of life...in a sense my expectations of fun will increase...and my health will be better for it. Honestly, I had to get that damn uterus out of there so that I could get back to life...it has been a journey since last June and now the journey will continue with a better tool to fool my body...and mind a bit !

PIX Sounds like you have a plan....Good Luck and keep us posted! Wohoo...17 more days for you!!!!

HI everyone.... Hey Tan Bandfan1!!! I thought about getting some sun preop but so far I have been too busy to "lay" around...that is NOT a slam....I am glad your vacation has been fun. Mine will be here soon!!! Tic Toc Tic Toc....it is getting closer for some of you!!!! Kamicola....I am an elementary media specialist...there are about 650 students preK - 6th at my school. I will only have this job "assignment" for 2 more school years as they have axed the budget and my position with it! OH well, good thing I was a classroom teacher before! This is my 24th year teaching!! I have NOT decided what I will teach after May 2010 but I do know that I will have several options...so I'm just gonna NOT WORRY about it...spend my time getting skinnier and healthier...and see how it all pans out....maybe they will open an early retirement window???? This is my 24th year teaching in this district! Been at it a long time!!! I just want to tell all of you that this has been a great way to meet people and I have felt so much support from all of you. It makes the world a much smaller place! Hey Allison....did you catch some zz'ss? TTFN (ta ta for now)

I think we have to try not to focus on deprivation but on health and a new found sense of self...the more you think about food the more you want it... I am not a guru of this yet...but I am trying! I agree...if we just didn't have to eat again it would be so much easier!

Sorry you all are feeling so YUCKY!!! Remember to keep walking as much as possible.. Heating pads and recliners are good friends to have too...so I hear???

:biggrin: So...we just went for a special dinner at the Melting Pot which is my FAVORITE fondue and special place to eat!!:biggrin: It was to celebrate my daughters graduation and she picked it but also I know it will not ever be the same once I am banded...It took us 2 and 1/2 hours to have our 4 course meal! so see....no 20 minute small dinner for me!:biggrin: As we enjoyed our evening I realized if we ever go again. :biggrin:.The first course with the cheese would be my favorite to have and I could just ask for my protein at the same time for another hot pot...:crying: So, yes I may go again...NO it will never be the same....and that is OK because frankly, I can handle it..:biggrin:. Besides they got rid of my favorite salad on the Menu!:cry_smile:

OK so I picked my date the same way Shelly aka Bizzy Bee did....I teach and school is done on May 23rd and my surgeon does the surgery on Wednesdays so May 28th... However, this year I am NOT being in charge of summer school or teaching it!!! Actually, because of my hysterectomey last 6/6/07 I did not do summer school either...YEA someone else had to be in charge and do it...that let me be free of it in 10+ years!!!! Last year I remember thinking...if I get through my hyster fine then maybe next summer I'll do weight loss surgery...HERE I AM!!!! I am so excited too...YEA!!! Allison, don't worry even if it takes longer to schedule...we'll still let you be a May flower!!!! You'll just be a really LATE BLOOMER!!!! I think I am the last scheduled in May anyway so...so far I am the Late Bloomer! Have a great one...Shelley (Just like Bizzy Bee but with an "e" before the "y"!

Good Luck and Welcome NEW Mayflowers!

I agree with everyone that we need to follow the orders....:tt2: I think there is a bit of a mind game going on here:confused: I think that people need to feel like they are in charge and maybe cheating is part of the game. I KNOW I AM NOT BANDED YET....BUT.... I have certainly done my share of diets...with some success...it just eventually ends but...:tt1: I do know the minute I say, "I am not going to eat ....." then the deprivation starts in...and my mind says, "Oh, just this time:mad:" "Next time I won't.....:sneaky:" Well, instead...they say you should CHOOSE to make a healthy choice so, "I want my band to be as healed and perfect as is in my power... so I choose to follow the prescribed foods list!":lol: OKAY so remind me of this in June!!

Good luck Allison...I went to the sleep eval twice...I didn't sleep much both times...never even got into REM sleep...LOL.... I have heard unjury is good but never tried it...let us know!