mimi 22

Hi Everyone---I have been reading everyone's postings in this thread and you all sound like such nice people. I was banded on August 27th, 2008. I am so happy that I made the decision to have the LB. I have lost almost 40 pounds and feel so much better. I am 54yrs old (until January 14) and have 8 children. Ours is a blended family (3 his and 3 mine and 2 together). Thankfully, my DH adopted my girls and we have been able to raise them all under 1 roof. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last June. Six of our children are grown and raising their own families. Our 2 youngest are 19 and 21 yrs. Our 19 yr. old daughter is getting ready to go back to college in January. Our 21 yr. old son is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. He has not gone to college, and that is ok with us, but he needs to find a steady job. He is not living with us. My father is in a nursing home at this time. He is diabetic and has kidney failure. He can't walk because of poor circulation and the kidney problems. He refuses to take dialysis,so the DR said he would die without it. We do hope to bring home in a few weeks. We will get home health care and Hospice for him. This will help my MOM. We visit DAD every day and treasure each moment we have with him. We also are the proud parents of one Lab, 1 Am. Bulldog, 1 spoiled Dachshund, 1 part chihuahua, and 1 full blooded chihuahua. Bear in mind that all the dogs originally were our children's. We also have a deaf white Cat. I love our animals a lot, but sometimes it does get a little overwhelming:ohmy:. I am not too computer saavy, so you may not ever see the cute tickers that everyone else has along with their messages.:laugh: I'll catch on one day. I live in a small town in Texas. My husband and I retired from our jobs this year. He is a special ed. teacher and I worked for 25 yrs. as a banker. We love to take our 5th wheel and go camping. We have joined a group of Christian campers and try to go camping once every mo. Well, I know that I have rattled on way too long. I just wanted you to know about my life and I really look forward to hearing from y'all. Thank You---- :laugh:

Hi everyone in the 50 and over gang--- I was banded on August 27th, 2008 and for the most part I have had a real good experience. My surgery went very smoothly and since my 2wk pre-surgery diet, I have lost close to 40 lbs. I have enjoyed reading your posts on this thread. I hope you will allow me to join you. It is so good to find a group of like minded people who are going through this adventure together. Thanks--mimi22:smile2:

Hi everybody---I haven't been able to get to the computer for awhile. Hope everyone is doing well and continuing to lose weight. I had my first gain at TOPS last week(2lbs). I was so upset. I had been camping a few days beforehand and guess I endulged in too many goodies. Last Monday, I had an appointment at the Dr. and I think he overfilled me, as I have not been able to eat much at all. In a way it's good, but I am a little uncomfortabe after I eat. Tonight, I actually got sick and have been upchucking. I may have to go back to have a little of the saline taken out. Good Luck to all and keep in touch.

Jolinbrown--Keep up the great work. Let us know how you are losing so well and quickly. I could use a few hints----

JGCraighead---I belong to TOPS way down here in Texas in a small town named Bastrop. It's about 30 miles SE of Austin(our capitol).Who knows maybe we will run into each other at IRD some year. I've never been to IRD,but I hear it is fun.

Yes I do. I have been a member off and on for the past 26 yrs. I am now going every Monday night. I need the discipline of having to weigh in and be accountable. We have a lot fun at the meetings. So far since my lapband, I have lost or stayed the same every meeting.

Just got home from TOPS and I wanted to tell ya'll that I weighed in and I had lost 4 lbs. I was so excited. Thanks for being so supportive-----

DAnna---Thanks for the info on the protein shots. I went to GNC today and picked up 2 just to try. Do you take 1 shot each day? I thought it was rather expensive. Although, if you take 1 shot you do get a big dose of protein. I guess one could drink 1/3rd of the vial at each meal. Anyway, I will try one tomorrow. Are we supposed to take the protein powder in place of a meal or in addition to a meal. Same with the protein shots? Good for you on the exercising. You sound really excited about it. You will have to keep me updated on how it all is going. Need to run, I am making stuffed cherry tomatoes to take to TOPS tonight. We don't usually eat at these meetings, but one of our members is getting married and everyone wanted to give her a little shower. Take Care-

Thanks memom---I certainly stayed away from the candy, today. I have been sort of down today. Guess I'm beating myself up for the candy rampage I went on. I Still am not excersizing like I should. Will try to get a little walking tomorrow. I can walk to my TOPS meeting tomorrow evening. It's only about 2 blocks down the street. It's a beginning any way--- Thanks for the encouraging words---

You are doing great, memom ! Keep up the good work and before you know it, you will be a new woman. Can you imagine how you will look and feel??? Hope you made it through Halloween without any candy. I sure didn't. I am so mad at myself---It was like opening the gates and I couldn't stop eating. I was just craving it. I had hoped it would make me sick--no such luck. I did tell DH to put it away and not to tell where he put it. I had done so good since I got my band. I am really ashamed. I certainly have not gotten my binge eating under control. Please pray for me-- Take Care and keep us posted as to how you are doing----

DAnna---I was glad to see your posting. I guess everybody has to find out the hard way about the protein thing. I thought I was doing something wrong because I couldn't figure out how to get all the protein in me everyday. I had never gone into GNC and asked for protein powder before. Through my lapband, I am learning lots of new things. I thought you would not lose your hair with the lapband. Either I didn't listen very well,or I wasn't told these things before hand. I still would have the procedure, anyway. Let us know how things are going for you----

Yolanda--Your hairloss is probably because you may not be getting enough protein in your diet. I have long hair,too, and I have noticed that I am Shedding more than usual. I talked to my Dr.'s nurse during our group meeting and she said that I needed to get more protein. She said that Not getting enough will cause not only hair loss,but it will affect your skin and bones. I knew I was not getting the required amount of protein, but I could not figure how I could eat more. I went to GNC and picked up a can of protein powder(chocolate) and am going to start using that. I just do not know how anyone can get the right amt. of pro. when we eat such a little amt of food. You may want to chkout AZLIFE'S email. She discusses a formula for how much protein we need. Hope this helps and good luck on your journey to HealthyLand---- P.S. One of our group members said she takes BIOTEIN supplements for her hair(long). I haven't tried the supplements. I think your would want to check with your DR to hear what he thinks,also.

Thanks Azlife for the info on the tracker set up. I went to the website and am eager to try to set myself up with the graph. I am going to wait until after I go to my TOPS meeting tomorrow night so I will have a correct starting point. I may have to wait until I get a picture to do the pix thing. I am one of those people who do not like to have pix taken of me. Keep up the great weight loss. Any tips on how you are losing your weight so quickly? lynnlynn--I think you gave your friend the right advice about getting on the LapBand forum. I hope she will---it sure has helped me. Although, I have had a hectic weekend and didn't make all the right choices on my diet. I know to get back on that horse and try again. I have really enjoyed hearing from some of our bandsters and hope to hear from everyone out there---Take care and look to a better future----

Hi Fellow Bandsters---So good to hear from you. I was suprised when I checked the mail this PM and saw your responses. lindar172--It IS good to hear from others and how they are doing. almatha--I think we have a great support netwk. too. Any of our lapband issues can be told and someone out there can eit- her identify with the same problem or answer someone's questions. lynnlynn--You must live up North. I am in Texas and it's cooler now, but tomorrow it may be in the 90's. Who knows, Texas weather is so unpredictable. I am with you on the track- er. I am not too computer saavy. Ya'll are doing great and I am so thankful that you responded to my email. Keep up the good work and stay in touch. I hope we will hear from all our August Bandsters and catch up on how everyone is doing.

YooHoo--- Where is everybody? Haven't heard from a lot of you lately. :sad: Hope all is well with everyone. I know how busy we all get and we can lose touch easily with our friends in kind:huh2:. I really enjoy hearing what everyone has to say about their lap-band experiences(both good and not so good).:thumbup: I have learned alot from all of you and would like to continue our e-friendships. Please stay in touch, that way we can all take this fantastic journey together:w00t:. After all, our bands are only 2-3 months old and I'm sure we will have many new experiences yet to come :thumbup::scared2:. Take Care and Please Stay in Touch---MiMi 22

Hi memom--- You are doing great!!! Keep up the good work. You guys are really encouraging and making me want to get to exercising!

DAnna-- Just got your message. I am having a hard day today. I think if I start out the day with the wrong food, my body thinks I should finish the day with the wrong food. I went to the grocery store today and I was hungry---well, you know how that works out most times. I am supposed to go to my TOPS meeting tonight. Sure hope todays mistakes don't show up on the scale tonight. I enjoy our group meetings and learn new things. It's fun just to be around other people with alot of the same problems or issues. I must say,though, I have sure enjoyed this website and have learned so much from it. I'm real proud of you and your weekly good weight losses. Must be that active lifestyle you've got going on. I am having a difficult time doing my exercises(I'm really pretty lazy). I hope to start walking now that the weather has turned so nice and cool. I broke both of my ankles 3yrs. ago and have had problems with one of my ankles ever since. That is not a good enough excuse, tho. I have exercise machines and tapes galore, and still don't use them. I have noticed that my upper arms are getting jigglier. I guess if I don't want big wings, I better get with the program! Keep up that active lifestyle and keep in touch------ Look forward to hearing from you again----

Hi DAnna--I tried to respond to your message, but my computer started to act up,so will give it another try. My fill went real well and I can really tell the differance. I get full faster and do not seem to get hungry so soon. I am still struggling with getting food caught in my throat--due to eating too quickly and not chewing as much as I should. I really have a mental block about it. I have a group meeting in LaGrange tomorrow night. Do you attend group meetings? I like to hear everyone's views about the procedure and what they are doing to solve any problems they may be having. I am so glad I found this website,too. It has taught me alot. My daughter is seriously considering have the lapband procedure done, also. She would be wise to do it while she is younger. Good to hear from you and keep me posted about how you are doing.

OK---so I got my fill and everything went fairly smoothly. DR did have a little difficulty locating the port. Not all that uncomfortable.:eek: Was told to stay on liquids for 2 days. I really don't mind the liquids. I like to drink Carnation Inst. Bkst. ,so I am a happy camper. I can feel the restriction and am hopeful that I will lose more consistantly now:biggrin:. This is such a fun experience and I am so glad that I made the decision to follow through with the lapband:teeth_smile:. I love reading what everyone has to say about their experiences. I have learned so much from all of you:thumbs_up:. THANKYOU-THANKYOU-THANKYOU!!!!!!!

DAnna---Glad to hear you had a good experience getting your fill. I will be leaving in the next hour to go to my DR. I will be quite disappointed if he decides not to do the fill. At my TOPS(take off pounds sensibly) meeting last night, I did manage to show a loss of 1 pound. I was very thankfull for that. It does seem like my weight loss is slowing down. I,like your husband, am having some swallowing issues. I got chicken stuck in my throat last night. I guess I am not chewing well enough. I can't believe that I haven't gotten that under control by now. I think I am waiting too long to eat and then I'm starving. We all know what happens when we are too hungry! I have not been to the Roadhouse, but I do know where Slaughter Lane is. We don't get to Austin all that much anymore. Our little town is growing and we are getting a lot of new stores and conveniences. Bastrop is a very old small town ,but what is called progress, is creeping up on us right and left. Like DS. Keep us all posted as to whether the new restriction is helping with your weight loss . I hope it does---it will give me hope that I may succeed in this struggle. I'll let you know how my DR visit goes. Think good Thoughts----

Hi Vegas Girl--I know exactly what you mean about eating too quickly and the issue of drinking during meals. I am usually so hungry when I sit down to eat, that I can't shovel it in fast enough! I have heard before that you should not drink during a meal even if you don't have a band. I don't even think about the drinking issue or eating too fast until I've almost finished my meal. I haven't been losing weight as fast I had hoped. Maybe those issues above ^ are the reasons. Let's both try to remember what we're supposed to be doing this week and touch base with how we did. I have to say, I am starting to get nervous about this 1st fill.

DEanna---By the way, do you feel more restriction now? I felt it when I first had my surgery. Now I don't feel much of anything. Sure hope I get the fill and feel more restriction. That feeling is what keeps me on my toes. Till next time-----

DAnna---- So good to hear back from you. Glad your fill was a good experience. Maybe I will be as lucky as you. I have a fear of needles. Did they numb the area at the port so it wouldn't hurt so much? My Dr. said that it was rather pointless to numb the area since it took a needle to do that. He did say they had a cream they could put on the skin to make it numb. I guess I will find out on the 7th. Will be my luck he will decide that I don't need a fill yet. I really think I do need one. I have been getting pretty hungry at times. We went to Cracker Barrel last night in Buda. Have you ever been there? I just love that place. I was pretty proud that I took at least 1/2 of my dinner home. I still ate more than I should have. I sure didn't know that you would have to go back to the beginning when you get a fill. Oh well, I'm ready to do just about whatever it takes to lose this weight. I really did not mind the liquids. To me that doesn't take a whole lot of preparations or thinking. Let's see what my Dr. recommends after my 1st fill. It seems like every Dr. has different ideas about what he wants his patients to do. Too, bad that there isn't just a diet that they all agree on. I quess they know best. Talk to you soon

DAnna--I'm sorry, I misunderstood and thought your trip to SA was to get your fill. My kids always tell me that I'm getting daffy--guess they are right. I know you must be excited. Went to a group lapband session last night. Was good to hear about others experiences. Nice group of people. I will see my DR on Oct. 7th. Take Care and hope to hear from you soon----

Hi everyone--My dr.office called this AM to change my appt. date. I was supposed to go tomorrow. What a bummer! I was so hoping to get my first fill tomorrow. Now I will have to wait until Oct. 7th. Oh well, maybe it is for the better--I will have a little more time to heal. My incisions are almost completly healed and I am beginning to eat a more varied diet. I am having a real difficult time with not drinking anything during a meal. I try to stay hydrated during the day when I'm not eating. Hey DAnna--How did your trip to SA go? How did the fill work out? Does it feel different? l want to hear all about it. I am hoping that when I get my first fill, I won't be so hungry all the time. I am having a hard time with not drinking anything with my meals. I try to stay hydrated during the day. Hope everybody is doing well. :girl_hug: