marys

Helen, I know you don't want to hear this but if you can't drink water (can you keep your saliva down)? you definitely need some fluid out - just a teeny bit will help. maybe don't put anything in your mouth at all for a few hours and see what happens but i experienced this once and it was an unfill for me. hang in there.

My wonderful loving relationship of 15 years is ending! I'm so sad but trying to be happy for all the great times we have had. It's always been a bit of an unconventional relationship but most important in my life. How will I deal with this without eating and food, my other good friend - i just don't know. But I will get through this!

hey lynne, do you think you could make some audio/video tapes of your mom - maybe something you can share with your children when they are older? I made some tapes of my grandparents a long time ago and they are so treasured now. take care

What a wonderful time to explore adult novelties!

oh my! how have I missed this entertaining thread for so long? One of my first sexual partners had a huge one and he was also a bad lover. He thought he could just whip it out, wave it around and I'd be aroused. No. My wonderful lover/partner now is I guess normal sized and regularly sends me over the moon. He's also the first guy I've dated that didn't name his penis (not that there's anything wrong with that) tee hee.

I can't imagine how horrible that would be for a parent. i don't have children but love them - whenever my nieces and nephews have even a sniffle it almost kills me. To see children hurting or worse to have a terminal illness is beyond comprehension - it seems so unfair and cruel. Alexandra - I can't imagine either. They will be in my prayers for sure.

I'm sure none of us are perfect on following rules or we wouldn't need to be banded. But one rule I did follow to the letter was my doc's postop instructions re: eating (clear liquids for 7 days, full liquids for 14 days then solids). I'm CONVINCED that is why i still have my band because i have pb'd more then most report at least on this site. My pbing is a combination of hard headedness, trying lots of foods, sometimes being too tight etc. and mostly LEARNING. My problems with obesity and eating are very deep/ingrained but I swear I am learning and changing. Now - to my point! For those that eat early etc.....think of your band like a cut on your finger.... Yes, it stops bleeding pretty quickly and you put a band aid on it and it starts to FEEL Better - but its still not healed completely for some time. What's going on inside our bodies is not always felt / realized and you really need time to let your stomach heal and THAT BAND ADHERE IN PLACE. Post op is not the time to 'cheat' - And i do have empathy for thecascadian - I really do - we all have our demons but he did ask for advice....

i love the blue color - thanks for the change - that green sort of made me ill! p.s. i would pay too for no ads - but i don't notice them as much either so I guess that doesn't matter so much now. i did notice DC wasn't listed under the states - yeah i know it's not a state but it is the US capital and since i'm moving back there soon - would be nice to have that included. thanks for all hard work

hey nikswife - congrats on being banded. My opinion is don't tell anyone other then your significant other - I told mine and now two friends and both of the friends don't live near me nor do we have any common friends. Point being - you can always tell people LATER - once you tell them thought it's done and you can't control who they tell, what they think etc. The band is only a tool = you will still be doing 95% of the work so just say diet and exercise which will be true if you lose weight. You will just be omitting one detail. I've been scruitinized my whole life - everyone feels like they can tell you what to eat, how to eat, everytime I ate as a kid/young adult my dad would say 'Is that on your diet" ugh I just don't think it is anyone's buisness. plus god forbid you are a slow loser or almost no loser like me the pain of everyone knowing and wondering why the heck you haven't lost will be HELL. lastly - my scars are almost non existent and if anyone sees them tell them you had your gallblader out or none of their business. just my 2 cents.

or for anyone who wants a little laugh... http://www.zefrank.com/predate/index2.html

I like the Davinci syrups a lot although I mostly used them just in coffee - you can bake with them, mix them in yogurt etc. I almost got the cinnamon but read a not so great review - I was on the fence so passed on it but I wouldn't worry - everyone's taste is so different. I will say - if you don't like it - try to return it and don't be afraid to try the other flavors - i like the hazelnut and vanilla. Also, read some of the reviews because they give lots of other uses for them that I never would have thought of

I've ordered from them several times before and the service was good (quick shipping, nothing missing, etc.). I also like the customer reviews on the food products

Thanks for checking on the EBAY bodybugg connection - that's good to know they can be reprogrammed (for a charge, of course)!

Betty, you only have 8 lbs to goal? that is awesome!!! You must be thrilled.

Julie, poor thing! I know you must be hurting (and probably hungry)... good idea to stay on liquids and maybe start on maalox to get the swelling down. When I had my first unfill I couldn't even swallow my spit and he didn't take the entire fill out. Just taking a little out sometimes helps immensely and you'll feel it immediately. It is probably best to only take the minimum (of course doc knows best) because you'll start back adding Fluid slowly so you don't want to go toooo far back if you can help it. take care! mary

I've been dying for a body bugg too and just wanted to mention when i checked on ebay - a guy selling a NEW never used one made it sound like if you get a used one it could be programmed for someone else and couldn't be changed - obviously it couldn't be used (say a guy bought it and programmed it for his body weight etc. ) then a woman bought it with different stats.... so be careful

My doc has always said ' if you can keep the band for three years your chances of keeping it for life are good' AND it is meant to stay in 'for life'. I think he just meant most problems with erosion/slippage tend to show up within the first three years. I'm praying I can keep it for life - it's awful clear to me I am a food addict and while some of my behaviors are changing I'm sad to say if it came out I would probably be eating again like before. I am open to that being different but it's been almost 2 years and I still find myself fighting lots of bad habits, unconscious behaviors etc. I recognize this is not true for everyone but I'm a nut/hard head case.

hey melissa, You are so right about the future. It sounds like you have a 'keeper' of a fiance! Good luck with your upcoming banding - you are already ahead of the game with your attitude. And I DID have a pretty good day today - I ate a healthy breakfast (maybe a bite or two too much) and a healthy lunch and I'm not so hungry but have tofu (not sure that will work) set aside to make for a lite supper if I want it. I ate more then recently but i stayed fuller longer and felt better. I think i am through the worst of this and as always my lap band buddies came to the rescue. I don't know where I would be without this site. Take care, mary

My doc's nutritionist prescribed it for me 15mg/30 days and i liked it- it really took the edge off my hunger without feeling any bad side effects. I prefer not to take diet pills but was desperate for awhile. Most people here seem to feel it shouldn't be needed but you have to do what's right for you.

OK Kat - I promise I will be nicer to myself. PMS this month has nearly wiped me out. I read your message and started blubbering and crying and my boss ran out of the room (too funny). I do believe I am still a bit emotional:) but I also know it will end soon. Damn hormones. I asked a few nurses here about hormone balancing and didn't get a good response so the endocrinologist IS my next step. I could even scrape up the money now but want to wait until I move so I can stick with one doc. Until then I will be nice to myself - I will eat better and more - I will go to the gym and just keep plugging away. As I've always said - at least I am not BIGGER than before surgery - that really is something considering my history of yo yo dieting/weight. Thanks again for the support!!!! Mary

Hey Tann & Paula NO WORRIES I always appreciate any/all advice. Paula thank you for thinking of me. Yes, I have about 16 months of food diaries although the last few months have been sporadic - kind of gave up on it so should be doing it. I will figure out what is wrong with me one day and I will post my whole story so it might help someone else. Thanks again for caring - i am much better today. i ate two egg whites for Breakfast with not the healthiest luncheon meat (about 90 calories for 2 oz) and I'm waiting 1 hour before drinking - back to the basics. i may actualy need another fill since i got that much breakfast down... hugs to you both! mary

Hi Tann My ticker is right - hence my ongoing depression, frustration, absolute at my wits end .....I can't go into it all again because my story is all over this site but I have tried everything and my doc doesn't have much more to say - i've been unfilled to try to eat more, i've eaten calories between 600 and 1500 and have years of food diaries, i exercise strenuously although now at 600 calories i don't do much as i have no energy. my latest is considering a natural hormone doc (1000), or an endocrinologis (i had my thyroid tested and it's smack in the middle normal 2.0) but I'm holding off on the endocrinologist until i move middle of the year and have insurance again. The band has helped me not yo yo up as i used to do about a 50lb gain/loss a year but other then that I am more insane and crazy feeling like what the hell is wrong with me - is there anyone that can help me. I don't think so - it is lonely lonely lonely.

Hey Donna, I agree with Lapbandit in maybe a counselor would be helpful. It sounds like bulimic behavior to me and that is a vicious cycle compounded by what will happen to your band - throwing up all the time is just a waiting game for the band to slip because no matter how well it is stiched in - it probably can only take so much. I know you want to keep your band and I think you can do it without it being so tight. Thanks for posting - i am sure there are others just like you and it always helps to know you are not alone! Please hang in there and try to make just one tiny change a day - you CAN do this. And, I don't think weight obsession goes away either - we learn to cope and live with it for the rest of our lives - sometimes we need professional help to do it. Good luck. mary

Yes - most of us can relate. It was about 6 months before I could sleep comfortably on the port side (and by then I adjusted to the other side!) and while most of the times I don't notice it at all...occassionally it will just 'hurt' like an achey feeling - sometimes if i overeat that's where I feel it - sometimes it feels like it is coming out of my belly and all sorts of things. It never seems to last so I just go with it. As long as it goes away I think it is pretty normal - some people put a heating pad on it and you might try that but i think you are ok/can relax.

Melanie - You have proved the band is a tool because you did the work - what wonderful results you have had - you deserve it - Congratulations and happy anniversary.