amsderb

I gave up carbonation in 2000 just to get healthier. I have to admit, I still miss beer but I don't want to chance a slip. So, my advice...be done with old habits. Good Luck

Hey everyone! I have finally been able to control this issue. First of all, let me say that I was diagnosed with acute psoriasis and that was a huge ordeal. I know this contributes to what I think is a skin yeast infection. For me, it was a combination of things. Now, this sounds strange but for about a year now I have been keeping it at bay mostly by taking what I call a "bleach bath!" I read about it on the Psoriasis web site and thought I'd try it. Basically, a few times a week, I take a bath where I pour about a cup of bleach in with the water! May I remind you, I have sensative skin and I can do this! I soak at least 10 min. and then dry off. That is it! Occassionally, I still take a difflucan Rx but the baths really help. My skin has never been better and it sags even more now that I have lost more weight! I am at around 100 lbs off....I can't get my ticker to change (forgot pin #) so I will make a new one eventually! Good Luck!:smile2:

Hi all you CPAP friends...:regular_smile: I am still trying to get used to the dang thing...I am on the mild APNEA side, my setting is 8. Yesterday I came down with a chest tightness and drainage- post nasal which makes me cough... Should I still be trying...I emphasize trying since I've never made it through the whole night with it...?? My mask is my full face...Martian man...so I can open my mouth but??? Help please:sad:

The thing about the pre op diets is that you are getting some of the fat off the liver... I actually ate until about 2 days before but I dieted for 5 months before and lost about 40 getting ready! Best to follow your docs regime though! The liquid thing is really in your head which is how this whole thing works...I mean...the band as they say is a tool and you can eat or drink to defeat it at any point.... You have to make the effort and dedicate to changing those habits....your first "test" is the preop diet...then it will be post op diet then after fills etc... What I am saying is...if you want it bad enough you will be positive about any challenge they ask you to do... I have certainly had my moments that I did not meet the challenge...and for that you have to say, "ok...get up and try again.." It will always be up to you but don't get down on yourself and say, "I can't do this!" you will have baby steps along the way and the band will help you too. Ultimately though, YOU have to change both mind, body, food and drink choices, and exercise. I am listening to myself right now too, and know I still am in that process...but it feels good to be 90 pounds lighter..fitting into clothes again etc... So, Stick to it, be forgiving if needed and work on being happy with a new chance! Good Luck!

Trisha...my banding was almost one year ago! I have been extremely happy with Realize band! I think 2 surgeons is great and it is really the port that is "installed" differently/ Instead of being sewn on the muscle fascia...it has a tool (think of it like a "bedazzler" which stamps the claws onto the fascia!) I have had 2 friends need lap band port revisions because they flipped...never heard of a realize port flipping....not to say they can't but hmmm... I will be thinking of you! Good luck and be happy!

NOVEMBER UPDATE... I can not believe it is the 11th month. What a year for docs for me....I am glad I was banded, sad that I have just been diagnosed with psoriasis...and now will have to try even harder to live healthy and STRESS FREE....can i move in witn one of you and leave my family? Oh, it is how you deal with stress, well I thought I was good at that.... At least clothes fit me when I try them on! Well nie nite for now, Shelley

Yea for No more drains!!!!

Wow Jacquie! I just caught up on the thread and saw your pictures! What a change....thank you for being so brave! I am so amazed at how much they can "take" off! I hope your healing is better everyday! I know my pannis will cover my privates too! I'll just deal with that someday too! Congrats! Keep it up!

Wow!your poor skin...I have anew found respect for our largest organ... I hope that the fluids keep on draining away and some fat cells too.... I try to visualize that every time I drink water and then pee.....cleaning out the fat cells... OK...that is a weird thought but it is true! Shelley

BBK, I am glad you have some restriction and are on the band wagon again... You know, it is interesting that you notice just the difference, because I think until you know what restriction feels like and all, you can detect it sooner...More specifically, I have been WAITING to get to restriction but since I do not know what it feels like, I keep thinking....am I there? Is this it? Now, after my fill Friday 8cc's out of 9cc's...I can tell a big difference the past few days. I remember my first weeks on food after surgery and I "thought" oh, I'm full...but most likely that was ME hoping to feel that way. Banding, being new to me, was a mystery. Now tonight, I KNOW I ate much less than what I had been pairing down to and I was full! So, I think...am I there? so far, yes...but lets give it a few more days, weeks...etc...It is just starting to sink in that this is NOT a new fad for me...this is my LIFETIME of eating, as long as all goes well. I remember before surgery thinking...How is that possible...now I am living it... Does any of this make sense? So, you know the early signs that I was too busy trying to feel.... OK...my ramble for the night..Take care you lovely lady...and all you lovely bandsters! Shelley

Jacquie! Thank you so much for your candid discussion and encouraging words! :redface: I had to laugh at the last part about what makes a person go into that specialty because I almost asked him last week!!!:w00t: I trust him, and you are right, early detection is the best....I truely think that he is being proactive...however, I do have issues so maybe there is an easy answer...I will think positive....and I will pm you...you are so kind! How are YOU feeling today? Shelley:rolleyes:

Thanks Judy...I just saw above how much you have lost in the 5 months...WOW!!!!! You go girl! I have to admit, I do not hard core exercise enough...what I do is isometric and core work...still working on the Cardio part.. It is slow going because on top of EVERYTHING else, I broke my foot in late July...so I still have to be careful... I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE jazzercise....I was on the pom line in hs.... Anyway, I see some fun cardio in the future when it will not stress my foot too much..I am going to try water areobics soon too.. So Keep it up! Thanks again, Shelley

See what a positive person you are Jacquie??? I do believe we are humbled by that which we go through...and then have a lesson attached... That being said....I just think you are the person to tell me how silly I am at this moment.... I have been having many skin issues (pannis rash, fungal, etc...) for many months....anyway, I started going to a colon/rectal surgeon because my doc said too...and that is where some of the problem is...so the butt (ha ha) of my concern is... After seeing him and trying various creams...for 2 months I am now scheduled for a colonoscopy and a biopsy of some of the surrounding skin... I guess there is a very rare pre-cancerous condition...skin cancer...that presents itself in places the sun never sees....also, looks like psoriasis or exzema...so did the Derm ever want to biopsy this??? Of course not...but the colon doc wants too..and also so a colonoscopy while he's there...OK. so I am a bit scared??? Now, with EVERYTHING you have dealt with, I feel silly being a baby.... I know I would have had a colonoscopy when I turned 50 so I am about 4 years early...I know he is being overly cautious which is good...and what is will be...but I am...scared?

Thanks Denise! I hope so too, I am ready to get this weightloss journey kicking in again! I keep reminding myself of what you told me and that you did well once you hit the sweet spot...I hope that I am there! It takes time considering my surgery was May 28th! By the way, my hair has started to "shed" faster lately...4 months out is no joke on that one...LOL I hope all is well with you...fall is such a beautiful time of year!!! Shelley

Hi everyone!!! So glad to hear from Bizzy Bee and Kammi....ok...you too Bandfan...ha ha...just so you others know, we talk on the phone with each other! Anyway, I was starting to get frustrated with this because I did so well before surgery...I kept saying I knew the "tool" would not be fully there for awhile until restriction etc... Well, today, after being on liquids because of my fill friday....I finally think the scale is going to move, and I am going to get this going! My ticker has been sitting at the same place forever.....some days I would go down - then others up....well, I do believe that in the morning I will be at my all time low since 2000. This will help me be motivated and stay on track! I also think I am going to have some restriction finally.... As for life in general, I do still have skin issues...so, still trying to find the answers to that.... School is going...I can not believe we are on Fall break on Wednesday and the first quarter is over! Only 3 left!!! What I find amazing is that I started this journey basically last December when I told myself, "This is it...it is your body and life...etc" That is when I paid for a full membership for my "program" at inches - a- weigh.....I am paid up through like next year...then I went to my endocronologist in late December and we decided that I should look into weight loss surgery....did not even know if banding was an option with my insurance and school district (they only just started covering banding in March of 2008! Talk about timing...my file was ready Feb. 26th to be submitted!) So, what I am getting at, is here I am... One year ago today, I was frustrated and ignoring that I needed to loose weight...wanted to, just did not know how to even begin....I had tried Jenny Craig in Aug/Sept of last year and by October was just FRUSTRATED!!!! Over October break last year I remember thinking...it was hopeless... So, here I am....50 plus pounds lighter from last year...just now reaching restriction (I hope!) With many good habits instead of the old ones... Yes, I am happier...a bit itchier.....BUT...I am proud that I have come this far and I know...this really is only the beginning.... So THANK YOU to all my Band Buddies for your love and support because as we all know, it is the support that makes this work! Be Well! LOVE Shelley

jjsmiles...I can not imagine what you have been going through! I think your positive attitude has helped.... I hope you continue to drain and heal soon...I do believe that you have gone through the worst of it all...Take care!

HI you all! I just had my fourth fill..I am at 8cc's in a 9'cc band... I am back on the liquid phase for a few days...I know I started to feel some restriction for a few days and then it was...gone.. So, I am sure this will bring me closer..I hope! I just need to follow the "rule" eat in 20 minutes etc.... TTFN, Shelley Nice Picture Band FAN 1!

BBK...totally cool!!! So many pretty pictures how's a girl to choose? I do like the legs up and frilly dress...Have Fun and keep celebrating your beauty! Shelley

I too have had hives, mystery rashes etc... since my surgery in May! I have had creams that sorta work...then it comes back...this week, I am going to the tanning bed to see if UVA light helps...so far it is helping...I think! Good Luck and HANG IN THERE!

Well, fellow itchy bandsters! I went back to the derm today and he gave me generic cream called Ciclopirox Topical .77%....who knows... I feel for those of you going crazy because I was there after banding until my steroid shot...I am not AS bad as then but I am not perfect with the hives/rash either.... So, he said...it all was a lot of stress on my body...it was 3 months ago! Then he said that it was the fact that I lost 50 ish pounds too...I started counting in preop phases..... Bottom line..They do not know.....I am changing my soy Proteins to see if that helps...I am just hit or miss with all this but...hang in there...I take a lot of epsom salt baths to calm it down...

You look great...good for DH for making you wear the dress!! U keep giving me hope for myself! Thanks!

I am still dealing with this stuff....My newest area of concern is my butt smile....it has irritated me so much I even went to the colon/rectum surgeon! It is called periitis or something like that...Burn baby burn...he gave me a cream like a diaper rashe one!!!UGH.... What I don't get is my sugars are good and I weigh less...why the problems???

I just revisited what I wrote last..about the psoriasis...now they say it was not that! So, I finally got a steroid shot and over night tey got better! Then, a few weeks ago, I broke out again!!! The only thing I could think of was I had just started taking Zyrtec again for my allergies! (I had been on it for like 2 years...then went off it when we couldn't figure my hives out in June...well, I went off it and the Patches on my face went away but I still have some dermatitis on fingers and my Butt smile too! UGH!!!! Who knows, I am sick of going to the doctor and sick of itches and assorted creams! I just want normal skin again... Good Luck everyone!

OK...my doc is very conservative....clear liquids for the day of the fill (day 1) and two more days! Then mushies or food...I was soooo good this time...last time I had cream of tomato soup at lunch day 3....The NP actually had said I could try mushies that night, so that wasn't too early... This time I made my own chicken broth from a family recipe which I LOVE so I drank that a bunch of times and had some isopure, and prune juice...for obvious reasons...