Great2BThin

I've been noticing the seat belt in the car riding up over my boobs and coming across by my neck. Couldn't figure out why. But it can adjust in height and before I had to have it at it's highest to compensate for my large stomach and chest to go around. Now it just slips up high and almost strangles me, must be because I am smaller and I had to adjust the height and now it's fine. Also the steering wheel is getting further away. Hubby is 6'5 and I never readjusted the seat after he drove as it worked for me at 5'9, but now it's getting further away and I have to adjust my seat too. Oh and I crossed my legs last night!!!!!

I have a 14cc band too. When he initially placed the band he prefilled me with 4cc. He said I really needed a 10cc band but it just wouldn't fit right, so he made it that way. My first fill was 3cc's, 2nd was .5 cc's and yesterday I got my 3rd and it was 1cc so I have a total of 8.5 cc in there. Though it could be 9.5cc's as I'm not sure about the .5 if it was .5 or 1.5. I had liquids until evening and then had a pudding so far so good. I can have solids today but so far have only had eggs. I am really hoping this is my sweet spot as well. I am self pay too. Though with the self pay I get free fills for the first 3 mos which are up in 2 weeks. Hopefully you are just irritated or swollen and soon can get refilled.

Oh no way do I regret it!! I was very scared and nervous a few days before surgery and almost talked myself out of it. Am so glad I didn't. It's been the best thing I've ever done for myself. I am down 57 lbs in a little over 2mos. I have more energy, I am off my blood pressure meds, and just feel much better over all.

The whole process was relatively quick for me, but I was self pay so had no delays waiting for insurance approvals. I attended my seminar on 4/26, had my initial consult with the surgeon on 5/14, had surgery on 6/5, and that probably could've been sooner but I went on an Alaskan cruise in there and then the surgeon attended a conference the next week. My only complaint is the same as a previous poster's. I'd think I'd have everything done and then find out I needed another screening. I had a psych., pulmonary and labs done thinking that was it. Then he wanted a cardiologist screening. I went for that and then he wanted to do a stress test. Each time had to wait for those appts. When I had all that done, it was getting ahold of the gal who schedules the surgeries. I had to get pretty persistent there. But all worth it in the end, and I fetl much safer going into surgery having had all those screenings. Luckily my insurance did pay for those. Ironically 2 mos later I needed gall bladder surgery and that process was super fast. I had my post op for my g/b yesterday and all checked out well. He also gave me a fill of 1cc so think I am up to 8.5 in a 14 band or something like that. I was on liquids last night, mushies (eggs) for breakfast and then solids by lunch. So far so good. And I lost another pound!! The dr wants me back in 6 weeks and to lose 6 lbs by then. That seems totally doable and now I only have 5 to go!

Drats I had a long post typed and lost it in cyber space it looks like. Anyway, there is another test they can do on your gall bladder. My nurse mentioned if my ultrasound came back normal they'd be ordering it as many times it doesn't show on an ultrasound but that's the easiest test to do. It's called a hyda somthing, maybe hydascan?? She said she had g/b issues and her ultrasound was normal and this other test showed how bad it was. So you might want to check that out. I had my post op visit yesterday and am doing well. Still sore in the side and he said that was to be expected since it was major surgery after all and they move things around a lot during surgery. I go back in 6 weeks, and he wants me down another 6 lbs. That's totally doable and I hope to blow past that. He called me a star and said I was doing fantastic in the weight loss and also gave me a fill. It will be 2 weeks since surgery tomorrow. Time flies when you are having fun. ha ha

Congrats!! Welcome to the 50+ club!! I agree, it's the best feeling ever!

I got a fill today too!! I got 1cc for a total of 8.5 cc in a 14cc band I think. So far so good. My dr. said I was doing fantastic and called me a star, that felt good!

You mean I have to read the book they gave me? I have skimmed so far and don't see anything about pills. However, I am fresh home from my g/b post op appt and he said I could take allergy pills. He said my g/b was in rough shape and good thing it came out it was infected and inflammed and stones. All the ducts were clear though. He wants me back in 6 weeks with 6 more lbs gone. He said I was doing fantastic and called me 'a star'. Made my day!

You look amazing and deserve to feel happy!! 14's!! Awesome!!

Just curious and I am very confused now. What exactly are we allowed to take medication wise and in what forms? At first I thought it was no pills only liquid forms of medications, then was told some pills were okay but not capsules. Now I am so confused. Iplan on asking at my next dr. visit this afternoon, but am going crazy the past few days with hayfever. Can I take allergy pills? I take a chewable vitamin but my calcium is a 'petite pill' that I swallow. When I took b/p meds the nurse told me it was okay to take that in tablet form. I don't know why or how I got this so confused, maybe because most of it at the time didnt' apply to me and I didn't pay close enough attention!! :thumbup:

Thanks for asking Joann. So far everything is good. The reason they called is when she took the blood she used the wrong vial or cylinder for the 'vitamin B test' and I had to go back and have it redrawn at the lab at the hospital downstairs as she didn't have that tube. So off I go this morning, I had to register at admittance just for a blood draw. Get there, get it done, then as I am getting to my car, they are chasing me down in the parking lot, she said they used the wrong cylinder again, they used lavender and they should've used green, I needed to be redrawn AGAIN! I was fuming by now. BUt back I go, I get there and the other gal in there was on the phone with Quest labs. Turns out as long as they noted it they could do the test on the lavender topped cylinder. I asked why they couldn't just put a different color cap on or pour it in, but I guess those tubes have different additives to them. She said it was only the 2nd time she did this test. I know my surgeon is checking all my vitamin and nutrient levels. So I am sure they won't have the results tomorrow when I go for my gall bladder post op so will keep my band 3 mos post op appt next week to go over all the labs. just means another trip. Oh and I have no more meds to get off of!! I got of my b/p one a week post op!!!!!! Linda, same thing happend to me only 1 week post op. I thought something was seriously wrong from the surgery as I was so dizzy and weak. And it turned out to be the b/p meds as well. My b/p was 80/50 and my pulse was 42. They had me go off totally and it's been good or borderline since. That's $75 every 3 mos I was paying for those pills. I want a Coach purse so bad maybe I should bank those $75 payments and save towards it!

Do you folks who have to do liquids so long after a fill have big losses at that time then? Just curious. I have to do 5-6 HOURS of liquids then mushies by evening if the fill was the morning. And next day solids. I promise not to complain about it anymore, I don't know if I could do 3 days of liquids again either.

Have you tried putting your hands up over your head kindda like you are doing the wave in a stadium? I've heard of people saying that helps. I've not had the lasting stuck yet, just the kind that goes away in a few minutes or comes back up. Doesn't sound like something I want to experience. Hope it passes soon.

I know that feeling of which you speak!! Though I am still considered obese, I am getting better every day. I have more energy, I am feeling more 'normal' in the sense I am not obsessing about my weight so much anymore. However, I am still leaning on the shopping cart. Have a bum knee, bone on bone, and sometimes it just helps. But it's not even as bad as it was and I'm not dreading going to the mall anymore or looking for the absolute closest spot to park.

Thanks so much for clearing that up OH and D!! I really appreciate it. I am anxious to get back out there on mine. I go for a gall bladder post op tomorrow, maybe he'll lift a few restrictions. I've been walking or riding a recumbant bike at the gym. But I need to do more.

Anyone have an answer to my bike question? As to what's a road bike, vs a hybrid, etc.???

Good afternoon. I had a disappointing shopping trip this afternoon. After being able to buy a few things in XL in regular misses depts lately I thought I'd shop those. Dillards was having a huge clearance sale so tried on a couple XL's and they were too small, so I came home with a purse. :thumbup: I didn't want to go to the Womens dept because they are going to be too big soon, so I hope! Had a very interesting evening last night, went to my hospital/surgeon's 3 mos post op class. I got a whole new binder of info from this point on, my last one dealt mostly with preop diets, hospital stuff etc for surgery. This got into the nitty gritty of nutrients, vitamins, supplements, etc. I need to up my protein I am too low on that, and eat more often, I eat 3 or 4 times a day they want us to eat 5 to 6 times. Also they are starting so many new groups that sound fascinating, some bariatric personal training, some nutritionist classes and some psychologists classes, there's a small fee for some and many are free. The after care is one of the reasons I picked my surgeon and I am so glad I did.

Your welcome, I hope it proved helpful. I just discovered it myself not too long ago when I was reading posts about gall bladders. There's also a handy tool there to bounch from thread to thread without having to go back to the index. I went to a 3mos and out class at my hospital last night and the nurse giving it mentioned the first few months being crazy with the fat loss giving off estrogen or something to that effect so sounds like there's definitely something to it. Maybe since I am in 'the change' I didn't have as much to give off or something. Interesting.

I hit 56!! Since my gall bladder surgery the weight loss has really kicked in. AT least there was some reward for going through that! :thumbup: Well that and the no more deep pain in my right side! :biggrin:

Good morning. I think my gall bladder surgery has done something to speed up my weight loss as it's really going down lately. I see a big plateau in my future soon. I must remember this time! I am now down almost 57, that's 8 lbs in less than a week. I had been stuck at 49 for weeks them VROOM! the ol' bod kicked in. Last night I went to the 3 mos and out post op class my hospital/surgeon provide. It was a great refresher in my nutrition requirements etc. Right at the time of surgery it was all so overwhelming, plus the nurse teaching it said they just give you the basics. Now is a time for tweaking and making sure I am meeting my protein, carb, fat, & vitamin goals etc. She said it becomes even more crucial because by now you have used up most of your body's sotres of these things. I was a little short on my protein daily and actually need to maybe get a few good carbs in there. It was a 3 hour class and I am very glad I went. Hubby went with me so now he understands it all better now too. Plus they had lots of samples of products from Bariatric Advantage of snacks, vitamins and supplements as well as info on upcoming classes, support groups etc. There's so much to choose from. I got a whole new binder of info. on going forward in this journey. I'll be busy reading today. Grey, I find if I keep my hands busy that helps too, I am trying to teach myself to knit. Cathy, hopefully your fill will give you some help. Are you stil out riding that bike? i've had to park mine for a bit due to the 2nd surgery. Apples, it's rather scary to not look back and only look forward. It's been so long since I've not had the identity of a fat person vs a normal weight person it's like going into the unknown. She talked in the class last night about the head catching up with the changes. When I say the identity of I mean in my own head and how I see myself. It's been a journey of self discovery that's for sure.

Sometimes the only way a person learns is the hard way instead of listening to someone who's been there done that. But I wonder is it a lesson better learnt if one has to learn it the hard way. And while there's nothing wrong with having to learn things the hard way what I get tired of on the boards is when someone is trying to help someone else, possibly sparing them 'the hard way' the anger the person asking for the help lashes out with at the person trying to help them. I mean really, one posts asking for help, gets it and then doesn't like it and gets angry. That doesn't make sense, if they genuinely wanted help in the first place.

I've not experienced it, but wanted to point out that if you scroll to the bottom of the page when you have this thread open on your screen, there are links to 'similar threads'. Maybe one of those would have more info., since someone mentioned reading about it here. That might be a start. Hope it gets better.

Please do check in tomorrow as I am very curious. I'm losing at a great rate, so not sure they'll give me one or not, but think some of my big losses this week are due to recovery from gall bladder surgery. I just hit 50 lbs lost on Thurs. the 14th and today am at 56. But as I sit here typing this I am hungry and just ate lunch about an hour or so ago. Last night I PB'd on watermelon of all things. I'd think that would go right down. We were at a party and luckily I could feel it coming and was able to excuse myself to the restroom just in time, luckily no one was in there.

I've been reading a lot lately here about road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. What are these? Of course, mine is a standard Scwhinn right now from Walmart. I needed to see how I liked this biking before spending big bucks. It was called a comfort bike. Hopefully I'll be back on mine soon. I go to the surgeon for my post op gall bladder appt on Wed. since that surgery I'm dropping like crazy at the scale. I like it but am also wondering if I am going to hit a wall. I had gained 8 lbs in the hospital, I imagine from the fluids, swelling, etc. I lost that and 8 more in less than a week. D, any news on your gall bladder and attacks? I seem to remember reading that your tests were normal, do they know what it is?

Welcome Marie!! I sure wish I knew you DE gals when I lived there! We lived there for only a year and a half sortta off Naamans road and Concord Pike area. We moved back to CO which was home about a year and a half ago. But I was so lonely back there as I didn't know anyone. Loved the area though, just missed family a lot!