Huskerette

Been banded about 1.5yr. Having pain trying to come out my belly button. Can't see doc, was let go from job, no insurance. I'm VERY careful about what I put in. Haven't had a fill in over a year. 3.75cc already in. Need suggestions from anyone. It's almost like gas pains, but it won't go away, I can't burp or fart.:glare:

I would love to talk with someone who's been there done that with the lap-band. There are 5 of us so far here at work that have done it, but I'm the longest running (7 months), and they're asking me questions. I have my own questions/thoughts. Am I being selfish? I love answering any questions that the girls have, but I'm crying myself to sleep every morning when I get home from work, because I'm just so frustrated. Can anyone help?

Sorry if ya'll have done this already & I'm on the slow uptake, but I thought that since we're all approching our 8th month, we'd have some recipe's we could share with each other. I'm particularly interested in Slow Cooker recipes. But here I'll start off... 1 lb. boneless brisket or chicken/turkey breasts (6) 1 package of DRY spicy jalapeno salad dressing (I got it at the $1 store) 6 potatoes (skinned & cubed'ish) 1 small package of frozen carrots 1 head of celery 1/4 c milk 1 T Butter/Margarine In fridge (overnight) marinate the brisket/breasts in salad dressing package & Water (enough to 1/2 cover) turn midway through marinating Next day, cook ALL DAY on low the meat, marinade mixture, potatoes, carrots & celery. Make sure to cook the brisket (fatty side up). The potatoes, carrots and celery will be really really soft. If desired & u like taste: take out all veggies and place in bowl. With electric mixer mix veggies together w/a little bit of broth from cooker, very tad bit of milk (use more if needed for bigger veggies) & "I can't believe it's not butter." To me it's really really tasty. You get ur Protein & veggies all in one, and the slow cooker keeps in all the minerals & Vitamins that you would lose in boiling or microwaving. Tell me if u like it or not.

My favorite author is Lillian Jackson Braun. It's called the Cat Who...series. They're very easy reads. One of my mom's patients gave it to her for being a wonderful nurse while she was in the hospital. She lent it to me, and I've never given it back. I have the whole series now. It's mysteries, and Qwilleran, the narrator and his two cats, Koko & YumYum help him solve mysteries. It sounds stupid, but it's quite interesting to me.

Hi! I'm Jaime. I'm 30, single & I was banded on Nov 8th, 2007. I had my surgery at the same place that I'm employed as a Heart Monitor Tech (Nights). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. When not working with patients heart rhythms, I float as the House Hospital Secreatary for the Nursing staff and doctors. Don't so much like that job, but it's money. I was born in Los Angeles, California to a Polish mother & American Indian father. They moved us to a tiny town outside Lincoln, Nebraska when I was 9 years old. I have 2 older sisters, Jackie, 42 & Mary 37, and a brother, Jason, 29 (they're all skinny, built & beautiful). I moved to the Kansas City area when i was 22. I have 3 cats who call me mom: Zoey Anne, 9; Chloe Isabelle, 5 & Daphne Clare, 1. And a TON of neices/nephews & babies of friends' that call me their own. Dr. Stephen Malley, in Overland Park, Kansas did my band. He's a wonderful doctor and he has the greatest staff in the world!! But most importantly I love my band!!! However, i'm a little frustrated by it right now. So far I've lost 55 pounds. Apparently after reading some posts, I have a weird frame & body. I'm 185 lbs & in a size 16. I've read that some lap banders are bigger & in smaller clothes, it's just so frusterating to me. I've lost my butt (J-Lo bootie), wings (upper arms), my double chin, and my face...but still my middle remains! I haven't had a fill since the beginning of April. I just don't have the funds for it as need be, as there are family issues & bills that need paid that come before my band being filled. I'm now getting my next fill on 7/3...hopefully a good one, where I won't have to go back to get it unfilled. That's been a problem since day one. I don't go to any support groups, as they're all on nights when I'm working so I'm going to start looking to this as my support, I hope that's o.k. I have some support from my Aunt & cousin, but as they're small, they don't understand. I have A LOT of support from my co-workers, though. Everyone tells me how great I look, and how the pounds just melted off of me so far. I don't think I look any different though. So far I know of 5 of us here at work that have had the lap band done, and 3 that have had gastric bypass. Only 1 of the 3 bypasses have "worked" and us "banders" are still in the "new throws" of being banded, as I'm the longest banded co-hort. A very good friend of mine had the gastric bypass, and lost a ton of weight, but her doc put her on the wrong meds & had to have surgery to repair a ulcer in her new tummy. That was a month ago, and she's still in the ICU. I'm soooo glad I made the decision I made. I switched Pcp's because my physician was not supportive of my decision either. She wanted me to have the gastric bypass like her and her husband. She doesn't understand why anyone would get a band and have to go in for a fill when they're 80 years old, when you can just get your stomach cut and be done with it. She refused to see me in the hospital, so, I'm done with her. My new PCP is AMAZING!! And her office is here in the Medical office building at work and she takes early morning pts too. My boyfriend broke up with me on Valentines day this year. He was with me before I had surgery, but couldn't hang on. So I'm focusing on going back to school, as I start Aug 20th. A 30 year old college student. What the hell am I thinking working full time & college full time. But still...I can't wait!! So, Nymphs, here I am in all my glory. Nice to meet you. If you would like to get better aquainted with me I have a myspace page where there are pictures of me (before & after-as of 5/3?) and my family. And there's a better description of who I am it's www.myspace.com/zcjjb. Thanks for letting me in the "group". Husker-ette (Jaime)

One of my co-workers (who's a doll) mentioned to me (she was banded 1/08) that she could now put leg on the other leg. I was smiling and happy, as I could do that too. For me, that wasn't much of an accomplishment, but for her it was awesome. I was so happy for her. But tonight for the first time, I can put my left leg across my right leg &...IT DANGLES DOWNWARD!! Not just straight across, but down straight, sort of. I don't have to force it down, or sit weird. I'm sitting straight up, typing this, and lo and behold my right leg is over & down my left leg. I'm soooo stoked!! Just thought I'd share it with my fellow Nymphs. Hope you all have a GRRREAT 4th. I will be in the middle of BFE Nebraska & won't get to a computer till the 8th. Talk to you soon!! Your New Nymph, Jaime

Hi. I was banded on 11/8/07. I'm going to try and read everyone's posts, so I can get a clue as to what everyone is doing and feeling. As for me, I'm 30, in KC, and have a 10cc band, w/only 2.25cc's in it so far. I've not had much luck keeping the fills in. Is anyone burping still -all the time?? What do you have to do to join the Nov Nymphs? Is it an exclusive club? Or do you just have to have been banded in Nov? So curious for support. Thanks!!

Thanks. I don't actually start school until 8/18. But I'm studying ahead of time, cuz I'm not all that smart. Smart enough to get the band though!!!!! Anywho, I get a fill 7/3 at 10 am. I'm so excited & nervous. Hope u have a great 4th. Thanks everyone for your support.

Good luck Sades. I'm going in for a fill tomorrow a.m. I'll keep you in my prayers if you keep me in yours!! First fill since April.

Oh, yeah, instead of water you can substitue that with chicken or beef broth. I did that last time, and forgot.

Can you all really eat snacks? My doctor told me no snacking what-so-ever, just water and stuff. Which of course doesn't stop the snacking, cuz I'm still starving. I can't wait to try this drink. It sounds WONDERBARR!!

I LOVE to read as well. I'd definatley be a part of a book club. Anything that gets my mind off of my stomach growls & burps!

Name............Lbs Lost........% of wgt lost.......BMI QatarPhil...........55......................19%...............32.2 (39.6) Foofy...............43....................15.5%..................37.2 Sades...............35....................15.2%...............35.6 Shalee04...........66.....................26.6................30.3 Bandpal.............77.66..................27%................34.1(47) Skinny_Jill..........50.....................22.5%..............32.7 Stephanie..........60.....................26%.................27.1 Hollyberries........106.....................30%.................36.6 linda.................52......................23%.................29.9 5 Abbisgood..........53.....................23%.................?? want2lose..........76.4...................26%................33.5 kandiceb............63.....................26%................27.6 Momto1plus1......67.2...................24.9%..............31.7 MollyBrown.........36.....................12.5%..............36.5 TxArcher............101...................25.25%.........52.8 to 39.4 Cindyg...............50.....................20%.................36.5 Close.................50.....................20%.................33.1 Tmusicmaker123..73.....................19%.................60.1 to 48.7 plump_princess....57.....................22%.................36 Mariegabrieleee....73.....................24%.................51.3 to 39.1 gabeekeeper.......101.....................30% ..................40.2 stranger138........41......................17.8%.................33.5 shortgal..............40......................18.5%..............33.8 Robin_Bird............88.....................28.8%................33 Staysee..............70.....................20%................48.4 Hajohnson1..........49.8....................18.2%..............39.8 lindseyann2u........63......................?%.................? Cherlita...............44.......................20%...............65 to 57.5 BandChick64..........90.....................30%.............33.9 tyman311..............61.....................31%...............41 to 28 (so far) BarbBee................69......................23%...............39.4 Huskerette............54..(i gained)..........22%...............30.5

Thank you so much for all your support. Austrailia next summer? Really? What a great goal to look forward to!! I better start saving!

I'm frusterated. I'm in a rut, and can't seem to get out of it. I've been at the same weight for 6 weeks. I can't lose my middle. AHHHH.

CindyG...........204...........203...........184...........19 TxArcher.........299...........299...........280...........19 Hollyberries.....253...........251...........238...........13 Momto1plus1......203...........202.2.........185...........17.2 Lindata..........176.5.........176.5.........160...........16.5 Sades............194...........194...........185............9 Mariegabrieleee..235...........235...........215...........20 Skinny Jill......167...........167...........157...........10 Foofy............233...........233...........220...........13 Kuchiegrl........251...........251...........235..... .....16 Peaches11........203...........203...........183........ ..20 Huskerette 180................180..................165.................15 Is it too late to start with the challenge? I'm new to LBT, but I was banded 11/8/07. I would love to join the challenge with you all.

Congrats girl!!

No. I have the HCA benefits & it's $57 a fill. The first 2 where included with my surgery, but it seems that everytime I have a fill, I have to have an unfill. My first fill was 1cc, they took .75 cc's out, then they filled .5cc's, had to take .25 out, then I got furious and made them put in 1.5cc's, and they took 1cc out. So to me, it's almost not worth getting a fill for so much $$ then having to pay again for the unfill the next day.

Hi! I'm Jaime. I'm 30, single & I was banded on Nov 8th, 2007. I had my surgery at the same place that I'm employed as a Heart Monitor Tech (Nights). I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. When not working with patients heart rhythms, I float as the House Hospital Secreatary for the Nursing staff and doctors. Don't so much like that job, but it's money. Dr. Stephen Malley, in Overland Park, Kansas did my band. He's a wonderful doctor and he has the greatest staff in the world!! But most importantly I love my band!!! However, i'm a little frustrated by it right now. So far I've lost 61 pounds. Apparently after reading some posts, I have a weird frame & body. I'm 179 lbs & in a size 16. I've read that some of you are bigger & in smaller clothes, it's just so frusterating to me. I've lost my butt (J-Lo bootie), wings (upper arms), my double chin, and my face...but still my middle remains! I haven't had a fill since the beginning of April. I just don't have the funds for it right now, as there are family issues & bills that need paid that come before my band being filled. I don't go to any support groups, as they're all on nights when I'm working so I'm going to start looking to this as my support, I hope that's o.k. I have some support from my Aunt & cousin, but as they're small, they don't understand. I have A LOT of support from my co-workers, though. Everyone tells me how great I look, and how the pounds just melted off of me so far. I don't think I look any different though. So far I know of 5 of us here at work that have had the lap band done, and 3 that have had gastric bypass. Only 1 of the 3 bypasses have "worked" and us "banders" are still in the "new throws" of being banded, as I'm the longest banded co-hort. I switched Pcp's because my physician was not supportive of my decision either. She wanted me to have the gastric bypass like her and her husband. She doesn't understand why anyone would get a band and have to go in for a fill when they're 80 years old, when you can just get your stomach cut and be done with it. So, I'm done with her. My new PCP is AMAZING!! And her office is here in the Medical office building here at work and she takes early morning pts too. My boyfriend broke up with me on Valentines day this year. He was with me before I had surgery, but couldn't hang on. So I'm focusing on going back to school, as I start Aug 20th. A 30 year old college student. What the hell am I thinking. So, LBTers, here I am in all my glory. Nice to meet you. -Jaime:biggrin:

It's been 7 months since my surgery, and I have the worst burps in the world. My co-workers & family think it's funny, but to me it's embarrassing. The burps seem to come after I eat, and after I drink, which is all the time. I try to keep them to myself (when I know they're coming) but you can still hear them. Good luck.

I just joined LBT, and did my introduction thread. I'm really new to how all this works, and couldn't figure out how to do the ticker thingy at the bottom, but I'm 1/2 way to my goal. I was banded 11/8/07. I've lost 60 lbs so far and seem to be holding. I've been at 180 for 6 weeks. I can't figure out how to get over this rut. AND...does anyone crave crap food like I do? I crave PB M&M's, Twix's & potato chips & icecream like nobody's business. And what's worse, I can't seem to get full. I have a 10cc band, and there's only 2.25cc's in it. It's quite a co-pay for me to get filled, but EVERYTIME I get filled I have problems eating afterwards, and they have to take some Fluid out. It's so frustrating. Any suggestions?

I have the same problems. I can't eat soft bread at all, but I've found I can eat croutons with my salad. But if I put a bit of dressing on my salad, I can't eat it at all. I've been slow cooking everything in my crockpot, but I can't seem to eat brisket any more at all. And when I get up for work and take my meds, I have to wait a while or it'll come back up. Does anyone have bad restriction after getting out of bed?

I'm frusterated. I'm in a rut, and can't seem to get out of it. I've been at the same weight for 6 weeks. I can't lose my middle. AHHHH.