kirafiki

Hey there.... I haven't been here in a while.... I was wondering, does anyonw know of a doc who has experience with removing some saline on a person in San Diego, CA with a kinked hose? Removal is tricky. Responsible docs should offer psychotherapy with this. Physically I am a 'success" story, however mentally there should have been more support. Still would have been banded. It saved my life.

Yeah, most of them do care. I guess my response comes from a lifetime of being berated about my weight. My first memory of one of my grandmothers was at three years old. She plopped me on the kitchen counter and started poking my belly and telling me I was fat. This caused a lifetime of binging and food hoarding and hiding. Then there was my junior high nickname: Earthquake. My best friend at the time was called aftershock. Or there was the atkins diet I was put on when I was 9. Oh, and the weight watchers meetings I was forced to go to by myself at 11 while the rest of the family went out for dinner. These are just the instances that stand out to me... I could go on forever. I may be snotty about it, but I have lived with others being snotty about it since I was a child. Sometimes, reclaiming your power is important. And no, having been the subject of everyone's opinions about this since I can remember, I learned not to make judgments about others since its not my business.

I don't want to start any arguments here, but here are my thoughts. Last month I had a cancer scare. I am uninsured. When this came up I started scrambling to find insurance, regardless of cost, as the cost would be less than what I would have to pay for cancer treatment without it. I found I was unable to get insurance because my band was a pre-existing condition. Not that it would be excluded from any coverage I might get, but that I wouldn't be able to get coverage at all. I do not have cancer at this time, but am highly likely to test positive for it in the future. Without health care reform, in the future when it does come up I would not be able to get insurance then either. This is my personal story. There are many others out there like mine. Couldn't get insurance at 315 pounds because I was morbidly obese. Couldn't get insurance at 165 pounds because I had a device installed to finally cure my morbid obesity. Sure there are parts of the bill I don't agree with. I also believe that every person in the United States deserves the right to be treated humanely. I believe this is a step in the direction of humane treatment for all U.S. residents.

Emjay... I apologize, I do know (now) this sounded like I was making a global statement, and I did not intend it that way at all. When I was writing it my head was thinking specifically to those on the fringe who think such statements would frighten the masses into their way of thinking. I can't apologize enough for my inadvertent blanket statement.

I really didn't mean to start something huge... I was just saying how happy I am that since I chose to be banded and now can't get insurance because of it when I do get the cancer diagnosis that is nearly guaranteed I will get some day, I now might have a chance at not going bankrupt. I will add, I borrowed the money for being banded, I pay my taxes, I work hard, and just can't get insurance. Above all, I am ecstatic I am no longer morbidly obese. But no one told me to expect to be unable to get insurance after I did get the band.

Well, this is about the bum on the street corner. S/he's human too. Many of them have psychological disorders, and with psychological health care would have a better grip on being productive members of society. We pay the least in taxes here. Compared to most European countries who do have universal health care. Not one of my friends who live in countries that have universal health care say they get bad care. Yes, the system will have its problems, all systems do. Just like passing a bill now, if we are not happy with the results we can democratically change that. Something is better than nothing, in my opinion. I really was only commenting on my own situation. I was scared out of my mind a month ago. I will point out, I am an VERY liberal democrat, and I believe in paying taxes for services.. as long as those services are rendered. I do realize it will take time to see how this really affects us. Change is scary to a lot of people. But, screaming "baby killer" and the "n" word at suppporters of this bill surely speaks volumes to the mindset of those opposing. I am proud to be a part of the group who supported it, especially since we don't stoop to such incindiary tactics. Oh, and I was amused with the accusation that supporters were trying to make America the new failed Soviet Union socialism/communism. They don't even know that socialism and communism are two different things.

Thank you Betsy and Larraine. Had it not passed, I was going to devote my free time to getting it passed in the future, given that I have a story that exemplifies why it is so needed. And mine is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are far more dire situations out there than my own. I was willing to go to congress and testify. I am sort of relieved that the nation doesn't have to know my starting weight now.

I personally believe that the getting hit on had more to do with your new found confidence than your actual, awesome weight loss. That being said... YAY for 43 pounds gone! Way to go!!!! Congratulations on the new you and the new confidence!

I was Realized... but a band is a band, and we all are going through the same process. No discrimination here!!

Yeah, its happened to me before. For me it was tuna. All of the sudden I couldn't eat the stuff. Try a different Protein. At least during your period. My band is funny, it changes what it likes and doesn't like pretty regularly. But yeah, the period changes weren't always an issue for me, and then BAM, fussy period band. Hang in there!

Yay you! Congratulations!!!!!!

I did lose a considerable amount of hair, but I can't remember when it was. Its only temporary, mine is coming back. I just took it as an opportunity to play with my hair a lot and get different cuts and colors. I found taking Biotin helped with the hair loss, and kept my Protein intake up, and it didn't last long. I have a lot of hair to begin with, and it really was shocking how much could fall out and still leave me with a full head of hair. No beef? Must be pretty unique to your doctor. I was told no carbonated beverages, and that I might have an issue with popcorn, and I do. I can eat about 5 pieces and then the band tells me to stop. Oh well, I love popcorn, but I kinda looked at it as 'so I live without carbonation and popcorn, anything is better than what I am living with now'... and I have never regretted giving them up. Except now and then I think back to the good old days when I could slam a full-on coke down, with all its carbonation, sugar and caffeine, but I get over that quickly once I look in the mirror or get up from a chair without using my arms to assist my legs in the effort. Congrats on having the band installed! Work with the band and it will work for you!

I am being lazy and cutting and pasting this from one of my previous posts... but I think it applies and I have put in parentheses some adjustments for this situation... its just what I do. Here goes: I might be a bit more militant than others, but I always say that just as my weight (choice of clothing) wasn't something they could discuss with me before I had surgery, it is still an off-limits topic. I follow that by saying, I don't obsess on your weight (clothes), why is it that you do on mine? Congrats on the successes you have had!

For me the pouch test works. But I have had issues of slipping into a dependence on carbs now and then, and it helps me kick that. It also helps me get more in tune with my band, reacquainting me with the feeling of full. I am sure it's not for everyone. As a side note, lost 10 pounds the last time I did it, and it got me to my "original" goal weight. That has since been adjusted down, as I realize now I am not done with losing. I do mainly use it for the getting to know my band again aspect though. The extra weight loss is just a bonus for me.

Ditto to LeighaMason... although I don't have a 15 year-old to impress. And all totally worth it.... I am just more melodious now!

Sorry, didn't read the part about the thickness of milk as something you didn't like... I would then go with rice milk.... much thinner than soy or milk.

Not a cow's milk drinker myself... have hated it since I was a small child. I use soy milk. I find the additional texture makes the shake thicker and more satisfying as well. Good luck!

BestyB always has such kind and insightful things to say... thank you for contributing!!!!

I genetically have a larger frame. So my thighs will always be bigger than other's. My real problem is extra skin. I was bending forward doing some cleaning the other day and was rudely said hello to by the enormous amount of extra skin on my thighs... I knew it was there, but had only seen it in the standing position. It is hideous in this new position I have found. Still, anything is better than still having the fat that used to be underneath it. I have decided to consider my extra skin my battle wounds from the last 30 years of dieting. Someday I will be able to afford to remake my skin through plastics, but until then I am going to learn to love what I have. By the way... on surgery day I was in a 30/32, tight. I am now in a 12, loose. Jeans fit fine, and clothes do wonders for hiding the extra skin.

The five day pouch test is liquids for two days and then progress to solids again over the next three. You can find it if you google it! I sometimes use it to break carb obsessions that I have developed which get me off track, or just to revisit my relationship with my band as well. It is good for times you are worried that you have done something to your band... mainly because it does re-establish your relationship with your band. Good luck... its been two months since you were banded and you are still in the learning period... I think we will be forever really. But the first half-year can be especially anxiety producing. I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize my band. Hang in there. As you get to know your band more and more, it gets easier to relax. :wink2:

In junior high. Maybe even younger. I can remember BARELY fitting into clothes in regular stores when I was 12. I shopped at Sears in the Pretty Plus section, if anyone remembers that. I remember it as a nightmare more than anything else. I am not done yet. This is uncharted territory for me. Its weird, but really good. Congrats everyone!

Nicely said~!

Both previous responses were right on! As a matter of fact, my doctor's office said the same thing about the 50% excess weight loss as the average. When I went in to see them as I had just passed the 50% mark, they said "the rest from here is all gravy" and I just kept going. Everyone's goals are different. Some want a weight at which they don't have the same medical conditions they did before the band, like high blood pressure, adult onset diabetes, etc. I have always considered any loss a success, as long as the individual is happy with what they have done. I was asked my goal weight when I started this journey, and I said 165. I had no idea what that would be like, since I hadn't been there since junior high. I made that goal last Saturday, and now I am aiming lower. There are as many different success stories as there are people. If you focus on your goal, work with your band and not against it, learn to live and entirely new way then you will be successful, whatever that means for you. My expectations are high for myself.... otherwise I wouldn't be down 152 pounds. Your success is yours to define, no one else's. Good Luck!

I do. Does this indicate I have some sort of problem? I have tons of extra skin, so I know I am carrying at least 15 pounds of it, and if it weren't on me I would be in the "weight appropriate" range for my BMI, but I want the scale to reflect weight appropriate. Any one else?

Well, hello stubborn plateau! I had one of those. Around the middle of my loss. When I took the time to think about it, it was a weight at which I had spent considerable time earlier in life. I was once told that it was a 'set point', a place my body knew well and which it felt comfortabl. So, I plodded on, kept exercising, experimented with different foods, got a tiny fill, and after a really looooooooong time it broke, and then started falling off again. I have had little plateaus since then, usually every ten pounds or so my body takes a break from losing. Now is the time for honoring yourself to keep the hard work with the faith that it shall break! Good luck!!!