Kat817

Yeah but you are gonna be SKINNY by the time we get there!!! And you will probably have skinny arms too! So there! Kat

What a wonderful forum you stumbled upon!!! There is so much information available here. Be sure to check the stickies in each forum---they are full of GREAT info. Also keep the overall stats in mind when traipsing around in here!! It may seem at times there are an abnormally high amount of complication complaints. When someone is facing a problem, big or small they come here to people who understand the band issues, and ask for help. On the other hand those who are NOT having problems, do not begin threads everyday stating they are having another problem free day!!! Read, ask questions, just make yourself at home, and whatever you do, don't miss the before and after picture thread---talk about inspiration!!!! Welcome to LBT!! Good luck in your research! Kat

I am getting more excited by the minute!!! Rick and I were discussing vacation plans....we hum hawed going here or there....nothing jumped out and excited me too much---he says he gives up, and we will talk about it AFTER the TX trip and my surgery, they are eating up all my excitement!!!! And my arms will put all of y'all to shame, I got fat AND age on ya!!! Kat

Knott---y'all will likely have to block me to shut me up!!! I will be back (it is one month from today fyi...) and tell all about it, good, bad and likely pretty ugly for a few weeks!!!! If you don't see a general post regarding it, feel free to PM me. Kat

Wow! I have only recently begun hearing about the sleeve, and to be honest, life has been good, and full, and I have not read up on it--I might just for the knowledge of it though!! So is there risk of stretching the stomach again with the sleeve as there is with bypass? I know you are going through a lot right now as they finish up your testing green----hopefully it all goes smooth, and you can lay back and let the meds kick this bout with the big "C" in the ass!!! Will be thinking good thoughts, and will say a prayer for your brain scan to be clear as well! I know many of you will find this extremely hard to believe, but my brain scan actually showed signs of a brain!!!!!!! This is totally off subject---is there a subject anymore? Back a couple of years ago my BIL had a colonoscopy, and they give him pictures---of inside his colon. His DD, my niece used photo shop and dropped a head shot picture of him down on the colon pics---and printed it. Then we told him we KNEW they would find his head up there!!! He has it on his locker at work!!! Kat

Oh, well I have no idea then, this was just part of the lap band seminar information we were given, and he went into the whole theories involved, but I personally have no knowledge, or training involved. I know my band has all but eliminated my hunger.....I love it! Kat

Yes Long2Bfree---we have had it in the planning for almost a year, to gather for the bandiversary----it is almost here!!! Yay! Thanks--I have no doubt whatsoever we will have fun, we chat each and every day--without these Shrinking Violets, my band would have simply been functional---not fun! I am checking luggage, since Michelle and I arrive so close together, we will hang together to get our bags. I will be bringing my camera and camcorder----with a couple extra memory cards!!! LOL Will put my camera stuff in a carry on, and take it through myself. I really wanna go get some cute new clothes to take, but.....have no idea what size I will be a week later, so refuse....you guys just have to see my old stuff!! Son and grandson are here, gotta run~ Kat

No, we would not control it---your band Dr. would still adjust you in small increments, it would be a specially calibrated remote----beyond my understanding---but most remotes are!! LOL They referenced a certain brand of pace maker, that the wearer simply places a phone receiver over the pace maker, and it can be adjusted over the phone!!! It sends a signal showing if there has been any problems and adjusts accordingly. My DH wore a heart monitor during his A-fib experience that he wore for 30 days. Each time he had a problem the monitor would beep, and he would call an 800 #, hold the phone receiver over the monitor and it would "send" the info, and they would reset the monitoring device, all over the phone, without ever leaving home. The Dr. that was telling us about this, said that eventually they hope to be able to see if there is too much pressure on the band---from say pouch dilation etc., and adjust accordingly---either in the office, or over the phone possibly----all without needles, and ports, and the possibility of introducing infection with each poke. I have not heard any more about it, he was talking to DH and I about it well over a year ago---while DH was wearing the heart monitor---the subject come up. The Dr, my fill Dr. has also had heart valve surgery, so he sat and visited with DH and I for well over an hour, almost 2!!! He was not technically IN the office that day, but he knows I drive a long way to see him, so he come in....and then we yacked for a looong time!!! Gives me great hopes for future generations---- Kat

Brandy--OP is short for Original Poster--the one who started the thread. Usually daughters are referred to same as husbands.... DH, DD ... Darling, Dear, Damned-----your mood, you decide-husband or Daughter, or DS for son.....you get the idea!! There is a sticky on one of the threads, maybe the FAQ--not sure, but it has a list of all of the acronyms commonly used around here....anyone seen it lately??? Kat

As Pix said your body is being inundated with hormones right now. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, so as you begin to lose suddenly---it dumps it into your system. Well at any given time, all of our hormones strive to work in unison with one another and stay balanced, so when there is an influx of one, the others struggle to catch up or balance. Another hormone that is in constant work to balance with estrogen is one called Gruehlin---it is from the stomach. It is referred to my Dr. said as the hunger hormone--it also triggers the release of chemicals related to diabetes. When we are banded the Gruehlin is greatly reduced, so our bodies release even more hormones trying to get it to pick up it's feet-------it is a circus gone wild for awhile! They used to not understand the relationship between the female produced hormones and the hunger hormones, and it was seen as normal for a woman to go through menopause and get fat----or for a woman to have a hysterectomy, and get fat---it is because of these imbalances!!! Soon, your body adjusts to the new balances......and works with them as opposed to trying to get it back the way it was---and you will calm down. I was horrible--I threw things, yelled, and made a general nuisance of myself!!! I used to have migraine headaches, they were always hormone induced. I could never take birth control pills or anything, estrogen brought on horrid migraines---complete with visual disturbances, and nausea. When I had my hysterectomy 5 years ago, I quit having migraines I loved it!!! I got my band and within 2 weeks had 2 migraines, I was pissed off at the world!!! I had no idea!!! I have continued to lose the weight, but my body now has a handle on the changes, and I am much better----no longer in constant PMS mode!! So sorry you too are going through it! Kat

Pamela---you are such a tease!!! I am horrible with surprises! I do ok planning them, but have been known to bribe my own children to get them to tell me what a surprise was going to be!!! But dangit none of my kids know about this one.......and I bet Susanne would not be as gullible to tell me!!! Son is as bad as I am, but the girls were awful!!! You could put a beautiful wrapped gift in front of them, and they would wait til you told them to open it---no sneaking, no shaking, they would go on, like it was not a big deal! Gifts under the Christmas tree were safe around them.......strange kids. Not me---I am a peeker! Kat

Happy Birthday Brandy---hope you have a wonderful day, and get to spend time with those you love, and have your day filled with things you enjoy!!! My surgeon told my DH, my SIL and I , that the components of the band would outlive us all---my SIL and I were being banded. He said however, the big advantage of the band was the fact that it need not be permanent, if something better were to come along, we would be candidates for it, where as bypass patients likely would not. My fill Dr. who is a surgeon as well, he just did not happen to do my surgery---was telling us about a new band that will be remote control adjusted, that is being worked on. Which would eliminate the port and tubing, and also fills, which minimalizes later onset infections. You would not adjust your band---your Dr. would still do that, but with a special remote as opposed to the big needle! He said it would also allow all emergency rooms to be equipped with the remote to alleviate a too tight situation--OR there are thoughts it might be able to be controlled over the phone such as many pace makers are now. With our bands being removable, and our insides intact, we will be able to change with the times as need be. Providing we properly care for ourselves now. If we allow an infection to build, and do not treat it, we risk permanent injury to our stomachs, as well as other organs that would make us ineligible for the advancements they will surely make over the next several decades. I look forward to seeing the developements----and knowing that should ever any of my kids, or grandkids, have the obesity issues I did, that there will be newer, safer, helpful things out there for them! I love hearing on here about young people taking charge of their lives now, not living out the next 20 years, suffering from low self esteem, and health issues related to obesity. Kat

As a stay at home Mom, you (OP) did not say what the ages of your kids are, but they are a great way to make an entrance in an effort to make friends. You can volunteer at school---just avoid their classes--let them have their independence. They put volunteers to work doing multitudes of things---from putting together school sponsored newsletters, to helping a child one on one with their reading. You meet teacher, other parents, aides, janitorial staff--lots of people. If your kids are into sports, help out there. Get your local newspaper, if there is a group rallying to get a new park put in, get involved! Find out if Habitat for Humanity is doing anything in your area---go help out, it has been an awesome experience both times we did it! If you like animals, donate some time to the local shelter---you meet other like minded people. Take a cooking class, in a cuisine you don't normally cook! Put an ad in your paper, and start a local Lap Band Support! Or a WLS support in general. Then just treat the people you come into contact with, the same way you would want to be treated. Ask questions, listen to the answers, and don't overwhelm yourself with so many new people at once that you don't remember the things you learned!!! You could call the Chamber of Commerce in your town/city, and find out if they have any city sponsored welcoming committee. Some do, some don't. Ironically it was mostly neighborhoods in big cities that I found had them!!! Denver does it, or at least several of the suburbs, they have a club type of thing that goes around to business gathering things to add to welcome baskets, or bags, fridge magnets, coupons, etc. then they assemble them and take them to recently purchased homes in the city. Includes lists of restaurants, Dr.'s phone numbers for Animal control, garbage collection-------that type of thing. This would put you in contact with people who are also relocating, and in need of companionship in their new locale.... Good Luck---- Kat

Glad the analogy helped y'all too---it did me. I'd go tell DH so, but he is out in the yard---and he might give me a TOOL to use--and I am feeling lazy!!! Kat

WoooHooo Julie, your day is almost here, I am SOOOOO jealous!! I cannot wait to join you on the other side of this next bridge!! Good Luck tomorrow, I will say an extra special prayer for you and for your surgeon-------smooth simple, beautiful surgery, quick, painfree recovery. Big ((((HUGS)))) Check in when you can!!! Have them take lots of pictures for us!! Kat

Well I'd hug ya Michelle, but it would likely irritate you, so I will just wave from the corner.........hi!!!! Tracy--my SIL grows her tomatoes upside down in 5 gallon buckets. She cuts a small area out of the bottom, pulls her plants through, and then plants her strawberries on TOP of the bucket which keeps the ground mor moist for the tomatoes. She likes to get dark or black buckets, she says the hotter she gets them as long as she keeps them very wet, they go crazy! She actually plants ALL her garden in containers. I know most of you are not "into" cattle, but they sell different "licks" for cows. Most are molasses based, and have Vitamins etc in them, and you place them in the fields, the cows lick the junk out of them, and you are left with GIANT buckets!!! Bigger than the ones you buy in Walmart that look like big pails. We use those to plant our tomatoes, and they go crazy. We usually end up giving tomatoes away, because I just am not that into canning all the different things!! I make salsa, and can some tomatoes themselves, but I am kind of like Judy, I have a small home, and no room to store all that!!! And I don't eat the tomatoes, so they get to be abundant!!! I eat them cooked, so the acids are reduced, otherwise they give me little Water blisters in my mouth, some sort of allergy to the acidity. Well, I am off to check my email, and then I suppose I should get dressed....I feel soooooo lazy. Will check in as I can...... Hugs~ Kat

Hey Green-- I think I mentioned to you that I do have 2 tumors currently, that they are monitoring. One in the fibula of my right leg, and one in the right mastoid. I have bone scans to monitor them, twice a year. And I have CA-125 blood work up twice a year as well. My CA 125 always comes in above normal----but they compare it to MY baseline. I also have standard Xray of my leg done as requested by the Dr.'s. There are actually they think 2 tumors in my leg, but it kind of looks like a figure 8----and is easily seen, they are the full width of the bone----but in the almost 7 years I have been aware of them, there has been no change. There was no change during the chemo for my uterine/endometrial cancer. So----I just do the follow up. My oncologist, I got very lucky with. I originally had a father/son team here, and I liked them, but they sent me to Scottsdale, AZ to the Mayo clinic there, to have evaluation of the mastoid tumor. While I was there, they introduced me to this Dr., who said he was moving to my area to open a cancer treatment center. He was part of the team I had dealing with my case while I was there, and then later when the cancer actually was Dx'd he was here running things. Is the nausea any better green? I was having terrible headaches not long ago---I believe it was allergies---but they ALWAYS send me for additional scans. Everything come back with no visible signs of change. Brandy--I know the couple of times I was on steroids---once was for un explained severe hives, and the other to attempt to reduce swelling....I was always ravenous!!! I would come close to chewing my own arm off!!! Then the 2nd round, they messed with my vision. First day of the Prednisone, I was to take 5 pills, by that afternoon, I noticed I could not make out license plates. By the next morning when I was to take 4 pills, I couldn't see billboards!!! I could see where the TV was, but not what was really on it! Needless to say I was taken off of them, sight returned to normal in a day! I now list them on my allergy list....which is sad to say growing! Kat

Thanks Brandy----but in the overall picture, I had it very easy---I was able to have the cancer removed completely....one can live without a uterus! Quite happily in fact! But there are other things---like say the pancreatic cancer like Patrick Swayze is dealing with, that cannot simply be cut out. I will readily admit to times of feeling sorry for myself----but all in all, I knew then, as I know now, I was extremely lucky. Lauren---you know how before you were banded, and you got indigestion, or gas pains, or a simple tummy ache--------you chewed a Tums, and went on with life. Well now that we are banded, every hiccup or kick of heartburn, we automatically freak out thinking it is our band? When you get the Cancer diagnosis----it is multiplied! Every thing you think and feel seems amplified, and is all consuming.....not sure how to say it, but you worry about nutrition--or I did.....and it was a thought when I began researching. But I do not have a medical background, so went solely on what my oncologist, my PCP, and my Uncle who is a MD had for input. They all mentioned the adjustability of the band if it were needed. I guess even if it isn't needed.....it eased my mind, which helped!! Kat

2 hours river ride is good for me too----but I HAVE to do it---I have something to prove to my family AND myself!!! I will likely wear my swimming suit with cutoffs over the bottom---you know the belly whine thing goes here....... I planned capri's and flip flops for everything else!! I will get some river shoes. Soooooooo excited!!!! Kat

When I was researching being banded, my surgeon wanted someone who could do an emergency unfill for me and I saw my former oncologist to discuss it with him, since they were experienced at port access. He told me point blank he would not encourage me to go with bypass. He said there is too much of an issue with the liquid nutrition (think Ensure etc.) causing dumping issues. And there are times that is all you can seem to take in. I drank lots of it---butter pecan!!! LOL, and it does have sugars, that might lead to the dumping issues on top of the already present nausea associated with the types of chemo I was receiving. He said the the band being adjustable was important for nausea reasons. I know a couple of weeks ago, I got sick---a virus, and vomited, and dry heaved for awhile, and swelled myself up to almost closed off. I have never had that happen! It was scary and unpleasant to say the least!!! I don't know whether it really plays a big role in the overall view of things, but I know I felt like I could better control my own intake, if I had the option of adjustment. My oncologist concurred. He got me through it the first time, and hopefully I will not have to rely on him again, but......hold onto hope I made a wise decision. It is not always end stage thankfully!!! Chemo is hard, harder than I can express---and I know there are multitudes of combinations and therapies----but any help you can find when going through it....you take. Kat

Hi girls~~ I hate that I missed your call Pamela!!! Long ex wife story----so we have an independent caller ID and don't accept blocked calls...wah I love hearing how other peoples dreams are as wacked out as mine!!! We spent the day helping Becky and Gary do siding on their house---I am sunburned from my low necked top! Looks goofy! Then we all went and had Mexican food, I come home showered, and am vegging out, trying to ignore Ricks "I want ice cream" comments!!! Laura, when I first began working out, I retained a lot of Fluid. It didn't show---I didn't feel swollen---but my weight did not change at all, I kept expecting to see a big change in the scale-and nothing! Then about 3 weeks to a month into it, it absolutely FELL off! So I was totally psyched--thinking it would stay thatway, and I would lose sooooo much weight....well it didn't work that way, it leveled out, and I dropped weight, but never in the huge amount I did the one time. I swear, I did not change at all for the first weeks, then in one weeks time I lost like 13 pounds!!!! I was one hella happy camper!! My DD is going to see a cardiologist next week, that is in an office at the Heart Hospital of NM, and associated with a cardiac/thorasic surgeon. So scary. Jason come by this morning to bring some paperwork to Rick from work, and he said he was taking her to a play at the college in Durango that she heard about at work, she wanted to see. I am still sooooo mad at him for ruining their marriage, but right now, he is being very good to her, and I am so thankful. Jane, I feel the same way when I see myself in mirrors. And I wish with all my heart I was the size Laura thinks I am!!! But I am still so wierdly built---it is depressing. Hoping the TT helps, rather than making me just look wierd in a different way!!! Suzie, is life settling down some? I have such admiration for you---and it makes me really wish I had a sister---very thankful I have Beck, she is always there to take care of me. She and Rick worked out a work schedule so they can both take a few days and be around after my TT. I ask myself all the time how I got so lucky to have them! Judy-----I want your hot tub tonight!!! We have discussed getting a new one, but not until we get the shop up, and make a decision about whether we are moving or not. We actually discussed selling the TX ranch today----something we have never even considered. Who knows!! Terry----You are going to have to face the facts girl, and move out the dining table, put in a work bench----and storage for all your goodies. Artists need a place to create!! TracyK---you ok---your post sounded kinda down in the dumps....hope you are alright. Well heck, I guess I will ride with Rick, and try really hard to resist ice cream----maybe a Diet DP for a treat. Oh I had to schedule my unfill for the 13th----I will be wide open in TX---I will be eating like 10 pigs---y'all have to help control me!!!! Rick could only go the 12th, 13th or 14th---with work. We want to ride, it is an amazing ride, over mountain passes, and running along side the white Water rapids in the river--totally cool. I have a final PS consult on the 12th, so it is scheduled to all come out on the 13th! Scary!!! OK see ya tomorrow---if not later! Kat

We were all told repeatedly that the band is just a tool. Almost to the point of that making it seem like it really wasn't going to DO much to help us. Then back when discussing it with my DH it come up, and he put it all in perspective for me. If I told you to go in the back yard and dig a hole----just you, nothing else....you COULD do it, if you were motivated....and worked really hard. You could scuff the ground with your toe and then begin scooping out the ground with your hands. You would do fair, until you hit hard ground, or heaven forbid a rock! But now if I give you a tool---say a shovel or a pick----you can dig a much bigger hole in way less time!!! That is not to say you won't ever hit hard earth or rocks---but you have help manuevering around them. If however, I give you that tool---the shovel or pick----and you think that IT will do all the work, you would be wrong, the shovel would just lie there on the ground---doing nothing. YOU must pick it up, and work it. But it still makes the job you are doing incredibly easier!!!! Sounds silly-----but when someone tells you it is just a tool---it IS, and we all KNOW that, but making it something that makes sense, makes it usable to me!!! Anyway---just thought I would share the thought.... Kat

The band helps your eating in sooooo many ways. Ones you expect, such as limiting how much you can eat, to ways that I at least never expected---such as making food taste different to me! Since being banded I hardly ever experience hunger. Once that urgency of feeding myself was gone, I was able to make much wiser food choices. I told myself I could not live without my chips---but in reality, they were just always handy! They required no prep, and filled me up! I would walk in the house ravenous, and grab something quick and handy and begin shoving it in my mouth---chips, cookies, you name it! When I got banded, I did have to rethink my food intake. To be honest, what made me begin thinking about it was prior to being banded, I had heard of people dealing with hair loss, and suspecting it being caused by poor nutrition. That made me think about the fact that I now was going to have this little pouch, and I needed to put as much healthy stuff in there as possible, because there was not much room! Then, like I say I discovered the fact that if you eat properly---food ends up tasting different! Since you have the band tight around a portion of your stomach, it is highly important that you take small bites and chew them VERY, VERY well. That is where the change comes about! When you begin chewing highly processed foods---think Twinkies, junk food of that type---when you chew them really well----they are nasty!!!! They break down and it feels like I have a mouth full of lard!!! Vegetables, meat, things like that, real food----tastes the same the 20th chew as it did the first----it is nothing but that food breaking down---into the proper consistency for a banded person. But some foods----chew them too long, and they change texture, and the artificial sweetner tastes pop out----you learn to enjoy healthy foods. Believe me, when I say, I would never, ever have believed that!!!! Controlling your hunger, controlling your portions, teaching you healthy eating habits. I have not found myself missing things I once thought I could not live without!!! If we limited ourselves to 3 meals a day of 1/2 cup each yes, we would surely all lose weight!!! But, that is not realistic! Most people if they only eat 1/2 cup at a time, are eating more frequently, and I know myself, I eat more than that at a sitting. Plus if you eat ice cream, or high fat/calorie creamy soups----you can easily eat more, and not feel at all restricted in the amount. You do have to work with it. But like in my case, it is not something I think about much anymore, I eat small amounts, and that's normal for me. I don't think about it all the time anymore..... It works. Welcome to LBT! Kat

TY---I will find the pic that Terry helped me make the avatar out of..... But I find it hard to believe you don't think I am really that small..... LOL Kat

A tip I was given by a trainer at the gym, was if you are going to rely on the body fat ratio scales, and hand held devices used by many gyms, is to make sure when you go in to use them each time to be similarly hydrated. He said that is the way it measures the fat/muscle ratio, is by how fast the current runs through the body, the more hydrated you are the more fat is shows I think he said----BUT when working out you want to remain well hydrated. So he said it might not be a REAL accurate measure, but if you strive to be in a similarly hydrated state each time, then you can see your numbers drop accordingly. So either do it immediately upon entering the gym ready for your workout, before you begin drinking extra-----or always do it after the first bottle of water---or whatever, just always approach doing it at the same time. My oldest DD is overweight according to the BMI charts as well, and she is toned, and looks awesome! She is 5'9" and wears a juniors size 7----she is a kick boxer, and has her brown belt in Aikido----she is well muscled.......so her BMI is not far from mine, but her tone level---makes mine laughable!!! Kat