legallyKristin

Hey guys. Long time no see! I've been staying off of LBT trying to get better. I've had a lot of episodes in the past month where my band has completely locked-down on me and I haven't been able to get in anything...not even water. One of those was a 6 day period over July 4th weekend. Anywhoo...so now I have no fill (as of today) and am still swollen to the point of no liquids. Hopefully tomorrow will be better or we'll have to do an endoscope. So please keep me in your prayers. As a good note, the wedding planning is going great. If you're around the DFW area, we picked the Tribute Golf Club. It's a golf club modeled on old scotland courses. Very beautiful. Anyway, glad to see that you're all doing so well and congrats Tricia on the amazing loss!! Love to all, Kristin

LOL. Thanks for educating me on the FUPA. LMAO! I went to my surgeon yesterday for my (late) 3 month follow-up. He said I've lost 1/3 of my excess weight already and that he was really pleased with my success! Just thought I would give ya'll an update since I've been so scarce on here lately! I hope ya'll are all doing well, ya'll are all losing so much weight!! Oh I did pick out a wedding dress. YAH!! Here's a pic:

Oops I forgot yesterday was Wednesday!! Here are my stats for yesterday! C 217.8 (-5.2 this week, -80.2 total) YAH! And hopefully I am the one getting married! I didn't know it was this much work though! Geez! Kristin

Welcome home P'Nut! Glad you had a good time and enjoyed the okra! Fried okra is my favorite. And it looks like my weight loss is picking up steam again. Thank GOD! I've decided I don't want to buy a wedding dress unless I fit into a size 12! I have about 4 months to get there from my current size 16. Hope everyone is having a great day! Kristin

I've still only told my close family and 2 close friends. I just don't want people to scrutinize me and what I eat. It is something I did for myself, not for anyone else. Kristin

A girl in my law school class asked me about when my fiance and I were going to get married. I thought I knew this girl well enough, so I replied that we were waiting a little while because we both wanted to be in good health. I was referring to my sinus problems, but she replied, "Yeh, I've noticed you've gained a lot of weight this year." THAT was it. It was time to take back my life. I got into the doctor that next week and had my surgery 2 months later. Kristin

Being too tight definately causes lots of problems. I went to the ER for throwing up blood 2 weeks ago. I couldn't even get water down for about 3 days. NO FUN! But I think I've healed, I got my fill back (only 1.5cc instead of 2.0cc in a 4.0cc band) and it seems to be a great level of restriction!! I hope I keep losing weight at this level because we just set a wedding date of January 2nd and I would really like to be close to goal by then!! Anywhoo. Hope everyone else is doing great! Kristin

Hey guys! I got 1.5cc back in today! YAH!! Let the weight loss continue BECAUSE.... we set a wedding date!!! January 2, 2007 at a vineyard near Dallas. I'm so excited! I want to be in a size 10 by then!! C 224 (No change this week, 74 total) :cool: Kristin

I LOVED the wishcenter here in San Antonio. :cool: Kristin

Here are Kim's Pics! GIRL You are looking good!!!

Wow thanks for all the info on the Breast Implants and TT! I'm going to ask my doc about them tomorrow, hopefully I can at least get the TT covered by insurance. A little about me (if you don't know!)...I'm 24 and am in my second year of law school at St. Mary's in San Antonio, TX. I'm originally from a little town in East Texas, Marshall. I got my lapband just over 3 months ago. And it was definately the best $11,000 I ever spent. Well, maybe my education will be worth it some day! LOL. I was too skinny as a kid and I used to model for Dillard's and JCPenney's until I was diagnosed with immune deficiency problems at 10 years old and put on Prednisone. I gained like 75 lbs and it just kept going and never came off. That and my grandmother would sit me down with a gallon of Blue Bell coffee ice cream just to tick my mom off. Yes, I have a crazy family. I'm engaged to my childhood sweetheart and we're planning to get married January 2, 2007. So I have to be in at least a size 12 by then. I'm in a 16 or 18 now so I think that's pretty realistic. No children, other than my pekingese and 2 cats. Besides playing on www.lapbandtalk.com I am an avid scrapbooker (when I have time now!) and used to teach scrapbooking classes. That's about all there is! It is definately nice to have a little group of people close to your own age! Nice to meet everyone!! Kristin

Hey guys! I'm back from Padre Island and we had a great time! I think I gained a few pounds since they took all my fill out last week during my ER scare. But at least I've convinced the doc to put some of the fill back in tomorrow 'cuz I'm starving all the time!! Amy, that diet sounds pretty neat! The soup recipe actually sounds good. I think I'll try it. I never could do the cabbage soup one because I HATE boiled cabbage! Thanks for sharing!! Here's a pic of me in my SIZE 16 dress that I wore for the wedding!! Now if I could just get these arms to look buff!! Hope everyone is having a great day! ;)Kristin

I was self-pay but I've been on a cycle of PB, swelling, liquids, etc that has culminated to today not being able to drink anything since lunch and now throwing up blood. Not a little, since like 8 p.m. Will my insurance cover a trip to the ER? I can't sleep and in a lot of pain. I'm supposed to have an unfill at 2 pm tomorrow, but I don't think I can wait. Thanks. Kristin

223 (-75 total, -1 this week) I'm hoping that the small loss this week is due to the IV fluids they pumped into me because I was actually down 4 lb before going to the ER. But I'm not going to complain because I'm pain-free!! YAH! Nice Job FunnyDuddies!!! Keeping off "sick" weight is hard, but to add a 3 lb loss on top of that is awesome!! Kristin

Thank you all so much for the kind words and concern! Yes, I am definately going to write a letter to that doc and maybe one to Inamed. I'm not sure yet. DonnaB, after PBing I had nothing at all each day that it happened, then did liquids for 2 days after. But each time I got to mushies it started hurting again. I never made it past mushies before I would PB again. My doc described it as a vicious cycle. Honestly, my sternum pain lasted through last night and I woke up and I feel 90% better. I am still swollen because I did have trouble eating a solid Breakfast and am still able to control portions without a fill, which is definately good. I know it's scary to get unfilled, but I think I did learn through this to get an unfill as soon as you think you might need it. Don't wait, or you could hurt yourself and end up losing all of the fill. And I'm sure some others would interject that you may lose your band as well. I was lucky, CT scan and Upper GI showed my band still perfectly placed. Kristin

Hey guys. Thank you all so much for the prayer and concern. I went to ER and they gave me a drug coctail to keep me from throwing up anymore and I went through 3 bags of IV Fluid I was so dehydrated. They kept me stable until my lapband dr could get there this morning to unfill me. INSTANT RELIEF! As it turns out, the doc that I paid to do a slight unfill while I was on vacation apparently didn't take any out (even though I paid $100 for it) because my doc gave me the syringe with 2cc in it that he originally put in. So thanks to a small town doc not knowing what they were doing (yes they were lapband certified) I had to go through another month of pain. Anywho, my band is completely empty so that my stomach can heal for now and I'll get pumped back up (not quite as much) in about 3 weeks. AND for future reference, as long as you have Emergency Room coverage with your insurance, it doesn't matter what the problem is related to, it IS covered. WHEW! Thanks again everyone, ;)Kristin

OH my goodness. I cannot believe that someone would act so callously. I know more about the lapband than many of my doctors (not my surgeon) and have explained it in its entirity to several other physicians. I'm glad my doc shows me the syringe he uses and shows me how much he puts in. Wow, especially at $205 a pop!! Kristin

OH MY! YOU are not alone. My first fill was on 4/20 and it was 2cc in a 4cc band. I got a slight unfil on 5/17 to 1.8cc and I have tried really hard make it work but the past week I have been living on Gatorade on days when I can even get it down. I too am terrified of not losing the weight and wonder if I can just tough it out and be miserable for a little while longer. However, I don't think I can do it anymore and I'm going in tomorrow for an unfill. I'm tired of the reflux, the pain from breathing, etc. I just keep telling myself that since I'm not in pain, I will be able to eat good things (like chicken breast, etc.) that I'm unable to get down at this point. Make sure to track your calories (I use www.fitday.com) to make sure you're getting in the number you need. I've been averaging 500 calories for 2 weeks, so I think it's time to go in. Feel free to email me anytime- kristinrglee@hotmail.com . Don't kill your body and hurt your band, get the doc to adjust you to an appropriate level. You want to be strong and healthy when you get to that size 12, not pale and puny!! Kristin

DonnaB I hate that you are going through such an awful time! That sounds horrible! I hope things get better for you. On the PB note, if it happens to me...my body will not let me drink or anything for the rest of the day and only liquids the next day. That's what the doctor prescribes, but my body will absolutely not let me cheat even if I try. I've PBed 3x in the past week so I'm getting an unfill tomorrow, I'm tired of not eating. I'm keeping you in my prayers DonnaB! Keep us posted! Kristin

Additionally, I was kinda freaked out about having a port. But now I'm so glad I have it because the simplistic nature behind it. Because it's there, it can help me lose weight or be more comfortable when I get sick. It's worth it. And I don't even think about it unless I'm getting a fill.

LMAO Bandedmama! I love those banana-women! HAHAHAH! Kristin (the other one that also spells it correctly!) heheh

LOL! I miss croutons so much! hahah! Too funny! And if you're concerned about fiber, I tried some fiber stuff that you sprinkle on anything that you really can't taste or tell is in your food. There is a commercial that they show for it all the time where they put it in spaghetti sauce. You really can put it in ANYTHING without being able to tell. You should be able to get it at Wal-Mart. Hope that helps!! Kristin

BeacheeGirl!! Those babies are too cute! I'm sure it's a lot of fun around your house these days! Kristin

LOL HeatherGurl! Better watch out or he'll send you out with one tomorrow!! And I'm from Marshall (East Texas) but live in San Antonio. The wedding is at South Padre Island, which should be lots of fun!! Welcome to Trip2beme and dcprincess! Glad to have you aboard!! Kristin

HAHAH! I love the look on Baldrick's face, DonnaB! Too funny! Kristin