Who'sThere

Thanks, folks. Actually, the goal in my ticker is my first goal which is to get under 200. I actually have 79 pounds to be at my final goal. I think I will keep my appointment and talk to him. I just want to make SURE everything is okay... Also, I have been PBing a lot...almost every day...another reason to talk to him, I suppose! Thanks...sometimes I just need reassurance. I don't have anyone else to talk to about it since no one close to me has had the band.

So here is my story: I had my last fill about a month ago. Immediately, the amount I could eat was greatly restricted. That's a good thing. However, I soon started PBing quite often--like almost every day. In the morning, I usually can't handle anything, even liquid. By about ten or so, I am starving. At this time I can handle yogurt usually. My lunch is at 11:25. At lunch I can usually eat a few bites of solid food. Then I am starving again by like 3:30. At supper (which is about 4:30 at my house) I can eat a little more solid food, between a 1/2 a cup and a cup. If I were to eat later than that, say 9 or 10, I could eat substantially more. I usually don't though. What I eat at 4:30 usually keeps me from being hungry for the rest of the night. It doesn't keep me from wanted to eat, but it does keep me from being hungry. I do have to try really hard to get all my Protein in, but I usually do. Now, if this were all of the story, I wouldn't be worried. I also have a hard time drinking throughout the day. When I can drink (not too soon before or after meals), I have to sip which makes it hard to get all my fluids in. Well, today, I woke up with a fever of 101.6 and very bad pain in my lower back. My mother-in-law who is a nurse said I am probably dehydrated. So, I have stayed home, rested, and tried to drink today. Since 7 AM I have drunk 32 ounces of tea. At about 1 PM, I drank a Protein Drink (about 12 ounces). I had a hard time getting that down. So, I called and made an appointment to see my doctor on Monday. At about 6 PM, I ate the inside of a frozen burrito (I know it's not the greatest choice, but it was the softest protein source other than a shake I have at home) and got that down. It amounted to probably less than a quarter of a cup of meat and Beans. So, here is my question: Is this normal? Do others have days like this or do you think something is wrong? I had been at a plateau for quite some time, and I am just now breaking that. Now, I am wavering on whether I should keep my appointment or not. I have lost five pounds since my last fill and prior to that I had lost five pounds in about three months. I hesitate to get an unfill, but I definitely want to be healthy. Any opinions, comment, and personal experience would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!!!

I agree with HiMow...this diet is to heal. Don't fret. Give it a while. And remember, as hard as it is, this too shall pass. It sounds like you are doing great to me. Chin up!

Does anyone use this app? I just found it today, and it's a free app. I put in my current weight, goal weight, age, and such, and it gave me a calorie budget for the day. Then, you can input your food and see where you are on your goal. So far, it's pretty cool. If you use it, let me know your take.

Thanks, folks! I wish our cousin would send me the pics so I could post them. It was a lot of fun and really gave me a renewed sense of purpose. I enjoy living!!!!

Glad you got it adjusted! I am pretty tight with my last fill, and the belching is horrible and potentially embarrassing! However, mine doesn't sound as horrible as yours. You have really had a rough go, but I totally admire you for sticking with it!

I'm there with you, sister! I've lost 60 pounds and I'm completely stalled. I am a teacher, and I haven't lost much at all since Christmas and I attribute that, in part, to the fact that I haven't worked almost any at all since Christmas. We have missed 13 days for snow since Christmas break. Aside from missing the daily activity of work, I exercise after work with my friends/colleagues, so since I haven't been at work, I haven't been exercising either. I know that the decrease in my activity has to be an issue. Probably THE issue, but I'm hoping next week's fill will help, too.

I wish I could help, but I don't have any ideas. I just wanted to post to show support. Keep us posted and let us know what is going on. Best of luck!

Thanks...he does have regular bloodwork and, surprisingly he has never had trouble with cholesterol, thankfully! (My dad had lots of heart problems, so this is a close issue to me.)

I know what you mean about this weight sounding so tiny. I'm 5'3" and my doctor wants me to weight NO MORE than 140 which is the highest weight that will put me in the "normal" BMI range. When I tell folks I still have 83 pounds to lose (my ticker goal is my mini goal--under 200) they gasp and tell me that will be way to thin. Even my husband is afraid I will be too skinny. I weighed more than that in middle school. With that being said, I asked a girl at work who is 5'2" to be frank with me about her weight (she knows I wasn't asking to be nosy) and she was glad to help. I asked because I think she looks great...not to skinny and certainly not too big. She currently weighs 125 but said that she has put on a few pounds recently (which I can't tell) and that she normally weighs 116-118 and that is where she is comfortable. SO...based on that, if I get down to 140, I think I will look very similar to her since I am an inch taller and much more busty. When I look at it that way, it sounds okay.

Great thread! Starting sizes: Pants 24/26 Tops 3/4X Current sizes: Pants 16/18 Tops XL/1X I feel: almost normal...LOL I need to work on: exercise On a side note, I've been trying to walk with a group of friends, but every time I do, I get HUGE blisters (like larger than a silver dollar) on the balls of my feet. Does anyone have suggestions?

I'm with crzytchr and kkarryall...I've only lost 60 pounds but I've gone from a 44DD to a 40G or H depending on the style of the bra. However, I was a D cup in middle school, so I knew mine wouldn't go anywhere. Mine have never been perky, and I know they won't be when I lose 80-some more pounds, so I expect to have a reduction and lift when I am at goal. I want to be proportionate.

Don't worry about the age of the thread...I still check in from time to time. Good luck to you! I'm sure you will do well.

I am in Rogersville, TN (Hawkins Co.) and wanting/needing to be banded. My doctor admitted that the nurses usually know more than him as to who is good. The nurses at my doctor's office suggested Dr. Kapplan in Kingsport. I haven't heard anything about him. The only local doctors I have heard anything about on this forum are Drs. Watson and Hodge in Johnson City, TN. My doctor also mentioned a surgeon in Chattanooga, but didn't give a name yet. That is a little far for me, but I'll go wherever I need to get the best care. (Heck, some folks go to Mexico from what I'm reading.) If anyone has any advice to offer, please let me know. Thanks in advance!

My hubby doesn't like music...which sucks! That is one of the only areas in which we are incompatible, so I suppose it's okay... Mine would probably be a mix between the two but lean towards the Motownish side.

Thanks, guys. And Jim, thanks for your comments. They were exactly the kind of suggestions I was looking for.

I have read posts on here about people who have said they needed to have a hernia repaired.

You are right...you CAN do this! Just don't let bandster hell get you down...best of luck!:thumbup:

I am a teacher also, so I have to have clothes that at least look decent for work. I knew I HAD to buy clothes because I was working in my classroom one day before school started and my short literally fell to my ankles. Since I had my surgery over the summer, I had lost a fair amount before school started back. I bought several dresses on clearance racks along with a few pair of pants and some tops. I wore teh dresses until they literally hung off of me. For me, I can wear dresses longer that pants if they don't fit just right. I only shop on the clearance racks, though. Sometimes I feel like a cheapskate, but I refuse to pay full price for something I won't be wearing long. I'm already getting rid of some of the things I bought after surgery. There really aren't any good second hand stores around where I live or I'd be all over that.

I'm with them. I no longer have a gall bladder, and since I had it removed, I used to go after almost every meal. I also have IBS, with a tendancy toward the loose side. However, since I've been banded, that has virtually stopped. I'm regular for the first time in my life!

Well said, Adagray! I will add that there are some things that are no no's forever, at least according to my surgeon. Those include chewing gum, carbonated beverages, and using straws. The gum is because if you were to accidentally swallow it, it could get stuck and cause you to possibly have to have surgery to get it removed. As for the carbonated beverages, this is something that some people do, but I haven't tried it. I did accidentally drink out of a straw once (was using it to stir tea and forgot) and it did hurt, so I'm sticking with his advice. If a straw was painful, I'm not taking a chance with soda.

The goal in my signature is my mini-goal, which is to get under 200. My final goal, set by my surgeon, is 140. I'm 5'3" and that is the top of the healthy weight range for my height. It seems really low to me, since I didn't even weigh that in middle school. (I have very large tatas that don't go anywhere when I lose, and very muscular legs.) However, I'm not going to sell myself short. If I can get there, I'll be thrilled! My gyn, on the other hand, told me that my body's "happy weight" with PCOS is around 220 and he would be thrilled to see me maintain any number below 200. I think he is letting me off too easily, but he is personally and professionally linked to Dr. Thatcher who literally wrote the book on PCOS. Either way, I will do my best--my honest best--and let the scale fall where it may. For me, this journey is all about being healthy. I want to be able to run and play with my kids at school (I teach grades 4-5) or my own future children. I want to be comfortale in social situations, and I want to avoid diabetes. I have lots of other goals that are not dependant on what the scale says. When I meet these goals, I'll be happy!

So, I'm basically doomed, huh? He isn't interested in making any changes, so I don't think he will lose any weight any time soon. This doesn't bother me. My husband is a very attractive man despite his weight...sexy in fact...tall, broad shoulders, nice arms...I could go on, but I won't...you men don't wanna hear what a hunk I am married to. I just wish he would "ravage my body" like he used to. I suppose I was hoping for some magic trick you guys could suggest that would really flip his trigger and make him the old horn dog he used to be...I suppose I'm getting a very strong libido with my weight loss and just wishing my hubby would have one, too. So, if any of the rest of you have any naughty suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Congratulations and best of luck!

Like mentioned before, it will all depend on the amount of your fill and how your body tolerates it. I've had 3 fills, and that would be no problem for me. With that being said, I do have one concern for you. Are you getting enough Protein with cereal and two Smart Ones? If not, that may sabatoge your weight loss and leave you battling hunger more than you should.