HeatherO

I think you can ask for a reassessment of your property value. Considering that the housing market has taken such a plunge recently, especially in California, it is worth looking into.

My first question would be where are you feeling the pain. If it is in your left shoulder/neck area and feels like a knife stabbing, then there are certainly others with the same pain. When I first had it I thought something was seriously wrong. It hurt like a horse kicked me or something, nothing light or easy to ignore. I had a hiatal hernia repair and had this extreme pain until about 5-6 weeks out. Tylenol did nothing for it. Massage helped a little bit and laying in a bathtub (taking care not to run enough Water to cover any belly incisions but enough to soak your neck/shoulder area helped much more. It went away over time. My surgeon said it was common with hernia repairs and was referred pain that was actually originating from a nerve in my diaphragm. There was nothing to really be done about it, just waiting it out. Does this sound like it could be your issue?

I have yoyo dieted forever. I could successfully lose, but only through feeling deprived and hungry, taking the weight off, starting to slip and getting back into old habits again. Every diet eventually left me a little heavier than before. I knew that if I didn't make a change, 225 would eventually become 325 . . . it was just a matter of how many years of unsuccessful dieting would get me there. At 32 I finally got the band at 225 pounds. I have lost 100% of my excess weight to get to a normal BMI in less than a year. Why is this any different than dieting . . . because I am not excessively, compulsively hungry all the time. I was a chronic overeater. I would eat and 30-60 minutes later I was hungry again. The band worked for me and I have exceeded my goals. I still had to eat the right things and get the exercise, but it was easy to stay motivated when I was compelled by hunger and the scale kept moving in the right direction. Also excersize became easy and fun once I peeled off some extra weight. For me there is never any comparison between diets and banding. Banding is 500% better, at least in my case.

Hello and wecome, Sita. It is great to have another veteran bandster to share with. You have done wonderful and will certainly be an inspiration to others. As far as making goals, I think they are what you make of them. You can always commit yourself to doing better than average, putting in the work and reaping the benefits. Above average weight loss is definitely attainable. Congratulations on your success, you have certainly come far. I look forward to hearing more about your journey. :0)

I have had flights affect me in this manner. I flew to the middle east and back in November and I can tell you that I definitely PB'd during the flight and after. My band had to be tighter because I was fine before. There is also a phenomenon called first bite syndrome. If you take a bite or two and then wait five minutes, you can then eat relatively normally. However, if you start eating and don't stop to give your stomach a little time to adjust, something that usually goes down fine may cause you to pb. That is also sometimes the reason that some of us have trouble eating in the morning or feel the need to drink a warm beverage first. I think it is perfectly normal and I have had the same issues. Not everyone is affected this way, but some of us definitely are.

Lol, I had my nails done when my son was born. At the end of pregnancy, a manicure and pedicure where like shear heaven in the last weeks. I was also naive with the first baby, you never really know what you are doing the first week unless you have lived it, even after all the preparations. Then when he came, I scratched him when I was putting on a diaper when he was about a week old. Not to mention that it is a lot harder to keep long nails sufficiently clean and sterile underneath than short (especially when you are dealing with substances that come out of babies). It took me all of one week to realize that long nails and long hair do not work with an infant, lol. Better sense finally took hold and I got rid of them both. You would think that after 6 previous children, she would know that . . . or does she???

You make a great point. I have mixed feelings on this too. This seems to be a case of bad decisions on someones part who does not seem to be mentally stable. Talk about finishing up her degree soon after so she can make enough money to support the kids is a bunch of malarky because unless she is making 6 figures at a bare minimum. She would have to be making very big bucks just to afford childcare for 14 kids. I have a baby on the way and I was trying to figure out expectations for childcare expenses . . . best case was $150 a week so far. $150 a week for 52 weeks a year for 14 kids is $109,200. She may be able to reduce it, but I am pretty sure that she is going to need help even when she is home after hours. It is wrong to live off the public taxpayer and I would prefer that she didn't do this. Unfortunately, we have millions of people with quite a few children living off of our dime. When it is temporary to get through hard times, I am fine with this especially because that is the way it is intended to be used. But when it becomes a lifestyle that can produce further generations that will do the same, I have a problem. Then again, she may be able to support them on books, interviews, movies or tv deals, etc. I don't like this option either because it seems to justify the behavior. Would this encourage other people to attempt to the same? I am sure that if anybody could have 8 babies and cash in on it, there would be plenty of people willing to do so. I have to also worry about this women's mental state. She is definitely into conception, pregnancy, new babies and all the attention it brings. I am not so sure that she is into her older children. It seems like she in unhealthily fixated on child-bearing. What happens when these babies are a little older . . . will it be time to go back to the clinic and give it another shot, or two, or eight for that matter?

I agree. The problem with drinking is that your inhibitions go away and it allows you to make poor decisions. So why even go to a party or bar and take even the first drink if you know you don't have an alternate means of transportation? I find that I never like driving after midnight because I am always nervous about other drivers on the road. Who is to say that they have not been drinking? I just never want to put my self in a situation where I am part of those statistics.

I feel a little sorry for him when taking the news at face value. However, I feel much more sorry for us as taxpayers supporting a government that would give so much money in bailouts but not even take the time to put a few stipulations in place about how the money would be used. How is that fair by any stretch of the imagination . . . especially considering without that bailout money those people would have a heck of a lot more to worry about then whether their hefty bonuses hit their bank accounts.

My first pb was also chicken before my first fill. It was awful, but definitely a learning experience.

Spring has certainly sprung . . . yet, why oh why did I see snow on my car this AM when I took my son to school???? It has been beautiful for days and to physically see snow on the official first day of spring kinda sucks. My car also told me it was 24 degrees, blehhh. Laura, that is too funny but I understand where you are coming from. I haven't been there and done that yet, but I swear there were a couple of times that if I would have been 2 seconds slower getting my pants down I would have had wet clothing. I can go from not having to pee at all until 5 minutes later when I am racing to the bathroom. By the time I am 34 weeks, who knows??? My dh and I dont keep secrets . . . until about a week ago. Our best friends own a middle-eastern grocery store. Recently, someone has been cooking for the store making things like baklava that my DH keeps bringing home. Anyway, I asked him who was cooking for the store out of curiousity and he said it is a secret, I can't tell you. Really, I didn't care too much who was cooking, it was more like idle conversation. The same kind of question I would have asked if he said someone called off work today. When he said he couldn't tell me and that it was a secret, all of a sudden I HAD TO KNOW. I really didn't care in general, but it was the whole secret thing that got my goat. I was also instantly annoyed and aggravated with him for having a secret, even if it isn't even important. So I eventually found out through my friend, but I am still annoyed, lol. Whatever happened to "this is a secret but don't tell anyone." I can keep any secret, I just don't keep them from my DH . . . phooey on him.

Thanks for the video, Beth. That is just crazy and uncomfortable. I can't imagine the circus atmosphere is good for any of those children.

Go Dan . . . Go Dan . . . :thumbup: Welcome to the land of the banded . . . may your posts never lose their edge, now we can start some newbie bashing :tongue_smilie: Anyways, I am really happy for you. Life is definitely more interesting after banding as you are rapidly learning now that you have joined the land of the snobs.

I always take my shoes off unless the house is particularly unpleasant, but never go barefoot. I always have socks, or in the case of sandals, I carry a pair with me. It is a cultural thing in my case, I just think it is a courtesy to do this. People do the same when the come to my house as well. White carpeting throughout makes it a necessity, but even if my carpet was black or I had hardwood floors, it is still cleaner to do this.

Wow . . . those look nasty. My stomach is sick just looking at the pictures . . . Ewwwww!!!

It doesn't bother me when people post that they can't afford it but wish they could. I just consider it venting. My vent . . . I wish everyone that needed it and was willing to make the necessary changes in lifestyle to support it could have it without it being a financial issue. I know it is wishful thinking but after struggling with obesity myself, I don't think anyone should have to suffer through it if there are reasonable options to combat it. People with no credit, no insurance and limited job prospects need healthcare services as much as anyone else. My vent #2 . . . I was self-pay, but have good insurance that both my company and I pay alot of money for every month that happens to have a WLS exclusion. In some ways, it feels like I am paying double and my insurance will now benefit from my improved health by less claims.

It is hard to start over again from scratch. I think the best part about banding is that it is still there and ready for you when you are ready to start using it again. it is definitely worthwhile to put any embarrassment aside and go see the doctor so you can let the band start helping you once again. Evaporation does happen according to my surgeon, but it is very, very small amounts over a long course of time. my surgeon explained that it is one of the reasons why it is helpful to get yearly check-ups even after you have lost the weight and are in maintenance mode. There is a 5 day pouch test diet that is really helpful for getting reaquainted with the banding lifestyle and taking off a few pounds. It helps most with just getting back into the right mindset . . . because I think that by far, the psychological aspect of taking the weight off is the hardest and most trying part of the whole journey. I have used it in the past when I start creeping back into old habits.

It is perfectly normal for you to want him to feel jealous. Perhaps it isn't great to feel this way, but it is a normal human reaction. It sounds like he was just interested in friendship and nothing more . . . he just had an odd way of letting you know. I would just move on and not worry too much about it. Even if he changes his tune later, he stood you up twice for coffee. If you were not good enough before but become good enough in the future, he just doesn't sound like he is that great of a catch under that scenario. There are plenty of other fish in the sea once you build up a little more confidence. It would be much better for someone who likes you for who you are and will treat you with respect.

If you are pb'ing a lot and having problems, then it does sound like another fill is not the answer. I agree with crzytchr in that you should look at what your eating. Charting it out along with calorie intake is a good start. Are you following the banding rules of proteins first, followed by veggies, later fruits and if there is any space healthy carbs? Eating slider foods can either cause you to maintain or even gain weight. Are you getting regular exercise? Exercise really makes a big difference. Most of us who have met and/or exceeded goal have incorporated exercise into our daily lives. Are you tackling the demons of emotional eating or overeating? This is the hardest part. Getting involved in support groups, counseling, etc can really help to make a difference. Good luck.

Congratulations!!!! You have done wonderful and I am really proud of you.

That is crazy and I am sorry you are going through it. Also, how aggressive would they have to be in removing a breathing tube to chip a tooth??? I would think under normal circumstances, anyone using a little care when removing it would never chip a tooth. I would certainly pursue it. Good luck.

Congratulations!!! I didn't gain either until about a month ago where I started a very slight increase. However, I am still at a net loss for my pregnancy as a whole. My OB said she would be concerned if I don't start gaining a little in the third trimester . . . and I am since I had a full unfill, so I think I should be OK. By the way, I saw your preggo pictures on your profile, and you look absolutely adorable :0). You have the perfect baby bump and are definitely showing more than I am. I am near to 29 weeks, due June 9th. When are you due?

If insurance won't pay for the fills, perhaps you should ask for a self-pay rate for fills that is more affordable. it could be that they are just billing insurance for that high amount but it is much cheaper for a self pay. If they won't accomodate you, I would definitely look elsewhere such as fill centers USA or just start calling around to local bariatric surgeons until you find something.

I would go on liquids for the rest of the day such as broths, Jello, Protein shakes etc. I would also consider only liquids/mushies tomorrow and tread carefully. If everything goes well, you might be back to eating normally on Saturday or Sunday.

I was too scared to try them pre-banded, lol. Now I wouldn't have the heart. Sometimes with foods I am not sure about, I just cut them up into pieces. It might be a little messy with oysters and they may not look any more appealing chopped . . . but it could be a safe option and they would taste the same.