HeatherO

I agree with restless monkey, this is definitely something to see the doctor about. Hormones can be off after losing weight, it is common and people can be affected in different ways such as ultra pms, menstrual cycle changes, becoming extra fertile, etc. Hormones are also stored in fat and are released as the fat is being reduced. Simple tests by your doctor can probably give you an easy answer that can help you to find the means to address the issue.

You are already doing everything you can do by having anti-nausea meds near and sticking with liquids. Hopefully you can avoid it if you keep disinfecting everything and avoiding kisses or snuggles :0) Good luck.

While in Turkey, I discovered that they have circumcision parties for a boy when he is arond 6 or so. They dress him up like a prince with a crown and he receives lots of gifts. Although there are positives with the experience . . . can you imagine telling a 6 year old that someone needs to cut off a part of his wee wee??? The simple procedure in the hospital at such a young age would definitely be less memorable but I think preferable, lol.

Laura, I can't wait to hear the news about Carson arriving. He is already a good size :0). I also wanted to mention that I remember being half scared to death of labor and childbirth with my son . . . but this time I am not nervous at all. In case you are nervous, it is really not so bad. I will send my cell phone number around to everyone. I hope someone will text me as well when the time comes :0). There's no place like Hawaii, there's no place like Hawaii, there's no place like Hawaii . . . darnit, I can't remember where I last packed those ruby slippers - perhaps in one of the gazillion boxes out in the garage???

I was always a pear before. Most of my weight was in my butt and thighs but of course I had some extra padding all over. I started as a 1X/2X top size 18/20 pants. Once I reached goal of a normal BMI (but before I got preggers because that also lends itself to a different shape, lol) I found that I did not really lose my breasts and they retained some shapeliness and are currently a 36DD. My belly went away completely although I did have a little excess skin at the bottom of my belly which could never be seen in clothing or even with supportive undies. My butt is still round and I now have a curvy shape with a smaller waist. My pear has transformed into an hourglass. One thing I have noticed is that my thighs look trim when I am standing but I have a little excess skin there too. So when I sit, my thighs appear larger because of the way the skin is.

Oop, I didnt read your last post before I responded because I left my browser open. I am happy you got an answer from the doctor :0)

I have also had this lately but I know it has nothing at all to do with the band or surgery. It happens every year at this time when the weather changes. I agree with using a little saline to moisturize and you should be good to go. If you are worried, call the doctor just to be sure. However, I think this is just a common issue for those of us with sensitive noses.

I found my sweet spot and that is where I lost most of my weight. However, before I got to that spot it was almost like I didn't have a band and it was just a diet. The thing about the sweet spot is that once you are there, you know it. There is not much of a question because you can feel it and eating more than a little food is not really possible. Proteins can be difficult and you have to take your time and chew well. I also eat softer things with the Protein to help them go down such as plain yogurt or a low-fat, low-calorie sauce which really helps sometimes. You also mentioned something about not signing up for another diet where you can only eat 1/2 cup of food. Once your restriction is good, you will not want much more than 1/2 to 1 cup of food, and you will stay physically satisfied with that amount of food. That is what makes banding so different than previous diets that we have all bee on in the past . . . the ability to actually be satisfied with less. Give it a little more time and please don't give up so easily. You were only banded a little while ago and you have to give this journey time. There are many people who start off slow and pick up afterwards who do manage to lose the majority of their excess weight by following through over the long run. It is also important to remember that aftercare and support can make a big difference in success. If you haven't visited this site in more than a month then you must be discouraged. I am not sure if you are attending any support meetings in your area or have banded friends to help you along the way. It is so much easier to do this if you stay in contact and get the support you need. Jodi had a point on asking what you are eating. Are you charting your food intake so that you can analyze it? Are you exercising as well? Good luck and hang in there.

I was having trouble at first as well when I finally got good restriction. I thought maybe I was too tight but later realized that I just wasn't eating slow enough or chewing well enough with the new restriction level. If you can get liquids and mushies down just fine, you might just want to spend more time working on chewing and eating slow. It takes some dedicated time and practice to get it right in the beginning of banding. Also make sure you are not distracted when you are eating with tv or too much conversation . . . this can cause you to forget to focus and maybe take bites that are too big or swallow too quickly. It gets easier to follow the rules once you have been doing them for a while and it becomes habit. Almost every office can allow you to get a fill under fluoro (X-ray) but it is generaly a little more expensive.

I had to laugh . . . my dh does this to me every night. I am sooo hot at night, I need everything off and he is also bundled like an eskimo. What is worse is that he is a light sleeper and wakes up several times during the night . . . sees me uncovered and then "fixes" the situation by turning me into an eskimo as well. They I wake up in a sweaty funk and kick it all off again. Needless to say, this repeats repeatedly, lol. The tattoo is absolutely adorable by the way and I think the size and location are perfect. I love the colors. Thanks for sharing the pics of the wedding as well :0). Kat, I am really happy you decided to take the job. He does sound like a good boss and being African can make the job more interesting. No one is difficult to understand after you adjust to their accent and have worked with them for a little while. Also with the economy being the way it is, you are really lucky to have a job fall into your lap. I also have to say that there is something pleasant about working as well. The day passes, you feel productive and then you can really enjoy your time at home. It is also much easier to lose weight when you are not home all day (as evidenced by my weekday losses being offset by inevitable weekend gains, lol). The timing could not have been more perfect with the question of layoffs . . . it sounds to me like a blessing in disguise. Manda is also doing sooo much better and it sounds like life is going so much more smoothly. Just think, had this opportunity come around over the insanity of the last couple of months it would have been really difficult if not impossible to start a new job on top of it. I also haven't heard much about hives lately, so I assume they are better and your stress level is going down (and will reallllyyyy go down once you kick the mooch off the premises, lol. Just make sure you lock all the doors before you leave for work). TracyK & Judy, I hope you have absolutely fabulous times on your trips :0). I hope you take a couple of good pictures to share for those of us who aren't quite as lucky to have an opportunity to get away. Everyone else, have a lovely and enjoyable day.

I agree . . . you have made excellent points. :tt1:

Congratulations!!! It just goes to show that slow and steady can win the race. There is no reason why we can't all meet our goals if we are willing to put the work in. You look fabulous!!!!

I think the history of alcoholism in a family is most likely linked to a genetic predisposition towards addiction. You are right that it is more than just he history . . . but the history may well be caused by the genetics. My family has a strong history of alcoholism running through it so I am sure the genetics are there. However, I am not really a drinker and I could count the average # of drinks I have had in a given year on my fingers. I haven't drank at all for the last two years. I think I might just be naturally high, lol. I am certainly ditzy enough on occasion that you might think I was imbibing in something a little stronger than Water. :0) So somehow, I managed to not pick up an addiction thus far in the realm of drugs or alcohol and I don't think I will since I don't partake. However, addiction has reared its ugly head in my personal life in the realms of food and caffeine . . . hence the need for a band. It may be this genetic predisposition and/or family history coupled with the way I was raised that got me to obesity. I do agree, there is no excuse for driving if you have been drinking. Even if you are only 1/10 over the limit, you are still capable of causing someone else harm. Then of course there are those people who are naturally high . . . perhaps they shouldn't be driving either, lol.

I have not qualms at all about the president appearing on Leno. I also think it makes him more accessible. The more I think about it, the more I think that this supposed "oversight" by congress was not an oversight at all. Perhaps it was deliberate attempt to throw someone under the bus and give us an evil scapegoat so that Article I section 9 could be shredded. Without demonizing AIG, I don't think they could have gotten away with it. I don't agree with the AIG bonuses at all and they are indeed a travesty, but I think someone turned a blind eye that wasn't really blind at all.

This is my second baby but my first is 16 and almost grown. You might just find that you start gaining a little now that you are further along . . . but keeping a fill will make a difference. I think cherryblue is also going to deliver around the same time we are, give or take a week. It is nice to know a few other bandsters that are at the same gestational phase. :0)

I am due June 9th so just a few days before. We are almost on the same schedule :0). I am trying not to let the gain stress me out too much. I have to admit, I put my scale away because I was paying too much attention to it. I now don't get weighed unless I am in my ob's office. Your right on it being hard to lose. The last 20 pounds were very, very difficult to take off and took forever. What is milo by the way? I have never heard of it.

I like both Sebastian and Graham as first names more than middle names. They are very cute and different.

The 26th is almost here. Congratulations and good luck on banding. Please let us know how it goes.

Wow, that seems ultra conservative. A year is a long time to wait.

I am doing good. Definitely getting a bigger tummy which is rather nice . . . occasionally uncomfortable, lol.

If you did the diet and have appropriate documentation including weights for two years, then your appeal should be successful. I wouldn't be too worried if you have your ducks in a row. Tons of people have an initial denial just to find success just a short time away. Good luck.

I also used a very low interest credit card.

What . . . you need a plan :huh2: Babies make their own plans, lol. Mine will be simple this time around, drugs are good, pain is bad and my dh wants to cut the cord. April 23rd is less than a month away, you are so lucky - it won't be long now.

Hey Ya'll, I have been sooo busy I have not kept up on posting, I've been a bad, bad girl. I had a dinner party on Friday night, had class on Saturday and spent the afternoon at a friends house, had friends over for a big cookout on Sunday that lasted for the whole second half of the day. On top of that I have midterms this week, two papers due, homework problems out the wazoo and 4 chapters to catch up on (economics, which I love, but isn't exactly light reading when I have to do the math as well and really understand it). All this work needed to be added into my full time + job, cooking and cleaning, and looking after my dh who has been feeling neglected with my inability to keep my eyes open past 9:30 PM in the third trimester of pregnancy, lol. I am not just tired when I go to bed, I am utterly exhausted like as if I ran a marathon every single day now. Even with all that, I am still alive and kicking although a little cranky and tired, lol. Michelle and Kat, I am so happy you got your fills. I am looking forward to it myself. Kat, The OB man has got to goooo . . . I am surprised you are holding up as well as you are. I would have had a complete hissy fit by now, especially if he is going into your house when you are not home and taking liberties. The chemicals wasted are a shame, but much, much worse than that is the invasion of privacy. I want to go to Hawaiii tooo, darnit. I need some sunshine, sand and surf. Pamela, I missed out on your pics but I am sure they are something to see. I hope Laura, Carson and Russ are just busy enjoying their days and will be back online soon. Jennifur, I take liquid Motrin occasionally because it works (prior to pregnancy anyway). I have gotten the OK to use it on an occasional basis by my band doctor. Tylenol doesn't do squat for me. Hello to everyone else I have missed. Make it a good one, my darling Vi's . . . :0)

I had the morning free and finally read up on the rest of this thread . . . which is a gazillion pages long, lol. Anyway, this quote really struck a chord with me: I think BJean was really on to something and she said it all. I think this speaks volumes about why octomom happens to be the way she is. Even though her parents have supported her in every way possible, she shows no appreciation whatsoever and is still feeling the need to make up for perceived wrongs in childhood. She is gifted with babycare services for her preemies by medical professionals at an overwhelming cost based on donations by good people who care for the health and well-being of the children . . . and then promptly fires them for questioning a situation that is not healthy for the babies. When has she ever shown appreciation for the freebies she has been given? She also seems to feel the world owes her, and appears to be more concerned with personal appearance than her own children. I am sure that the people who have donated money to the cause are thrilled that they are getting manicures and MAC cosmetics instead of child care items. Not everyone deserves to be gifted with something as precious as a child. After being a foster care provider for years, I can tell you that just because some people are stay at home moms, have many children in a large family, or are homeschooling in no way necessarily ensures that a child will be loved or have their most basic needs met. The 911 call where she is carrying on that she is going to kill herself repeatedly in front of her other children when her small child goes missing after being unattended outdoors for an hour told me most of what I need to know about her parenting abilities. Do incidents like this happen where a child has temporarily wandered off when you have a lot of children? It is a possibility and doesnt always mean you are a bad parent. I think the real test is in how you respond to it. She did not respond in a healthy or even sane manner.