Kat817

And you may never get to that fill level, I am a year and a half out, and I only have 1.75cc in. I reached that level over a year ago, and have been going well ever since! I agree---small fills, better to sneak up on restriction than have it breathing down your throat----literally! Kat

Pat I wanted you to see this Santa tree---the picture does not do it justice. It has all these little critters hiding in the branches, and a pair of boots peeking out at the base, it truly looks like a man/tree. The berries and little birds, and even cobwebs---very different...I liked it a lot, it was totally different! It is called Father Christmas and is one of a bunch of trees at a local Festival of Trees---which is a fund raiser for a local hospital for kids. Anyway you said you had Santas, so I thought of you!! Kat

Wow--I am exhausted!!! We had a really nice time. Fixed her favorites---meat lasagna, and roasted veggies, with garlic bread and salad. Then the requisite cake (she wanted more of the Paula Deen Gooey butter toffee cake--it truly was yummy, but way rich!) and ice cream. I made a deal with myself, eat a salad, and some veggies, and then I could have whatever I could fit in!! I ate my salad, about 4 bites of lasagna and about 2 of cake---and I was done!! Kinsey was thrilled, because she helped with it all! I could have cut veggies in a quarter of the time, but we cut them together (sharp knife) and it was slow going! And I let her pick out some of those super soft slipper socks for her Mama, and a bracelet, and she wanted to buy her a box of chocolate covered cherries! So I let her go to town with the wrapping paper and the tape! Which one did her Mama go all happy over??? The candy!! She was so proud of herself! We all had a good time, now it is done! I will be glad when tomorrow comes, and I am not rushing around to do it then! Everyone left pretty early, Lindzie has school tomorrow, and everyone has work. So I got to come by and check on you! Terry---looking back at my measurements and weight---since last Thanksgiving---I have lost 38 pounds and over 20 additional inches. And I am not done.....just slowed! It has been a year of what I consider very normal eating. If I could eat like this, without worry of PB, and lose at this slow rate, or maintain for life, I would be one helluva happy camper! I cannot remember when I had issues with eating last, if I pay attention. I feel normal, I eat and live without even thinking of the band anymore. I know I have it, but this is normal to me now. Small meals, slow...it is normal. If I was not on here so much, I truly think I could go awhile without ever being focused on having a band. This is the life I never dreamed I could have! Sitting here trying to get my hair to dry---so I can go to bed! Will check in after my Dr. tomorrow! ((((hugs)))) Kat

Excellent!! I bet you will be surprised at how much better you feel very quickly now! On to band success!! Thanks for the update, I was wondering about how it was going! Kat

Just when I thought I had everything scheduled....it all changed!! We are having Manda's birthday dinner tonight, I guess Ryan has something special planned for her tomorrow night. So I need to get cooking and baking, but first must shop!! So.....with all I have to do today, and the dinner tonight, and my Dr. appt. in the morning--I may be gone for a day or so. Will see ya when I get some time off tomorrow maybe! Hugs to all! Kat

I agree with Pamela---we ARE always here, and each of you has my phone # now from the list--please feel free any time to use it! I am not sure that it was a consious thing with me last year (where you guys are now) or whether it was SAD or what---but when Rick reminded me, I went WOW! This year it IS different! Last year, I was somewhat worried about what I could and could not eat, what was good for me, what would cause me problems, and what I was going to miss. And then if I ate and gained, was I destined to spiral out of control never to emerge on the happy bandster side of life again? I felt like I personally had no control! My band had some control, that I truly did not appreciate! The difference is this year, I know it will pass!! I know I CAN eat, there are a multitude of things available that are not horrible choices...because it is afterall a holiday celebration! I also know that if I gain 5 pounds---it will come off, and I am NOT failing again. Judy is not having the panic over that, she has faced the issues on her cruises...all the yummy food, and the weight gain....and has come out the other side with the knowledge that a backslide is not a failure, it is a speed bump! I for one am uncomfortable being too tight--it scares me! My loss has likely been slowed by that, but it is my choice---but even with that, when I gain here and there, it eventually comes back off, and when I mentally go off the deep end, and eat junk, junk and more junk (oh yeah has happened many a time!!!)---eventually something clicks again (often times a compliment from someone---it spurs me on again!) and I get it under control, and feel like I have not only survived but won. This is not the Atkins of old, that once I ate a chip it was a roller coaster ride back to the original weight plus. With the band, I may gain weight, but for the most part when I am being bad in my choices, it still maintains me pretty well---keeps me from giving up hope! Knowing I can do this, and the band IS doing this--made this year much easier. It is relaxing, knowing it is there, to keep me within my personally set boundaries. I could not handle the constant PB's---I would prefer to have a milder warning that enough is enough---stop eating! I think it is a time line that is normal! Remember as has been pointed out---there are little stages we all go through, and I think this one y'all are hitting is normal....and remember if you say it isn't---you are calling me abnormal!! LOL Like Pamela said----come here and scream and cry and vent--who better to understand? And not judge? ((((hugs)))) this too shall pass, and you will look back, and be so thrilled to see that you and your band made it, and life goes back to the exercise, and eat right way---because it does. We are all human, and the season change, added to the time change, and the holiday work overload, stresses us all....stress sometimes affects the band. It ALWAYS affects my eating! But it is survivable, and surmountable!! Hang in there girls---it is gonna be ok!!! Kat

When I mentioned the old "customer is always right" thing from my High School days at KMart, I did not mean it quite as literally as it sounds. But that WAS their policy. For us peons working the floor, if a customer was unhappy with our service, our product or response, we were to never argue, and to get them a manager, who was trained to right the situation, and hopefully keep everyone happy. Now these days, it takes an act of congress sometimes to simply get a supervisor or manager---and in some places, even then you are left with someone who simply cannot grasp simple issues. Example--My oldest DD is on a family plan on our cell phone contract. It has been this way for over 4 years, with Alltel. Each month we each write a check, with account numbers on them, put them in the envelope together and mail it. No problems. But about 6 months ago, I got a call saying my payment was late. I was sooo mad at her, I had give it to her to mail. She assured me she did, I figured she had dilly-dallied, so let it ride. Then she called me from work a few days later, and our phones had been cut off. So I went on line to my bank, and sure enough both Mays payment which they said they never received, and now Junes had cleared. I had my DD check hers, and yes, both of hers were through as well. So we go to the bank, get copies, and go to Alltel. They refused to talk to us, because the account is in DH's name--although I am authorized---they refuse to do anything. So we call, and here comes DH. They look over the papers, and actually ask me where the money was credited then? We went through 4 people at the local office, and they spoke with countless others on the phone--finally agreeing to investigate the account, and to turn our service back on---for $35.00! I refused that! As I pointed out to them, the May payment was due on May 19th, our checks cleared the bank on the 11th. Junes payment was due on the 20th and our checks cleared on the 8th & 10th or something like that, I had NEVER been late even, let alone default a payment, why should I have to pay to have the service restored? So eventually--literally 3.5 hours from when we entered the store, they agreed to turn on our phones, and not charge us and investigate the account. They wanted to keep my paperwork---nope, make copies for yourself. The copy machine was broke. Then she tells me, that ANY action will renew my contract! I was finished with the untrained, idiots at my local office, and left. About 3 days go by, and a rep called me, and it was all settled. I explained all the crap, I had locally, and ask about the contract extension---she said it IS common practice, but not in this case. She set the remainder of my contract at a local plan price for the national freedom plan--and it has been billed as such ever since. The problem is these companies hire people on, give them a job with power, and as lindata said they go on a power trip--and love holding something over you! This girl in our local office did not care that I had proof the account was paid, she was NOT authorizing reinstatement until she knew where the money went. I personally did not care, that was not my job---I did mine, I paid my bill! I have dealt with many people as a business owner through the years, that did not want to pay a bill. But I simply could not fathom the non acceptance of this when proof is sitting in black and white right in front of your face! At one point she actually told my DD that sometimes "they" don't get how things are done now, with everything being electronic, and computerized. She was all of maybe 22 years old....the "they" were me and my old husband!!! BUT when finally speaking with someone with actual knowledge, it was settled in less than 10 minutes and amends made. It just took serious time, and effort to find the person that could handle it! Kat

It could be something along those lines Debbie. I just know I also lost it when eating nothing but protein. And back when I was first banded, and was VERY strict with myself, making sure I was getting enough protein in to aid in my healing, it didn't prevent it. I tried the biotin, and I used the biotin shampoo from Sally's beauty supply. None of it seemed to matter. At one point, in either this thread or another similar, the Dr. that advises on LBT on occasion was mentioning a hormone link was possible. I had blood work done, and I had good results, but our conversation was based more around the female hormones, and I have none, having had a complete hysterectomy. My question to him was whether someone on say birth control pills, had less loss--and the results seemed to be the same....some of us have the loss others do not! I was thinking maybe it made a difference if your body was used to handling the estrogen being released by the fat for instance. Mine as I say has quit, and the regrowth is now several inches long...but I would love to know the cause, and prevention---as it was really traumatic! Hang in there..... Kat

It is so wierd to come on here and read you guys saying these things. Just tonight during dinner, Rick told me, that I seemed to be handling this holiday season better than last---at least this far. I ask him what he was talking about, and he said I was depressed, and unhappy, not losing, not exercising---nothing until after Christmas, and it seemed to go away. We talked about the fact that maybe it was a deeply set grieving for how I used to celebrate with food. I thought I actually enjoyed being able to eat less, and feel satisfied. But when he reminded me, I remembered my egg nog-----I drank gallons of it! I actually dreamt about fudge! I threw a massive hissy fit one night saying I would never have anymore turkey leftovers, I was sick of turkey, I wanted something to be good for me that actually tasted good! Which is so stupid and untrue, but I remember saying it! He said he kinda waited through Thanksgiving, and the beast did not rear her head! Then I come here, and all of you seem to be struggling through your first holiday season---and it sounds like you all did better than I did last year! I finished my SS shopping today. Kinda scared about how much this package is going to weigh!! Going to wait a few days for some things to show up in the mail, then get it into a box and off it goes! HO HO HO!!! I have more peanuts roasting in the oven, as soon as I can season them, I am off to bed. I got quite a bit of shopping done today, and tonight Rick and I got the garage straightened so I can bring Christmas totes in and begin tomorrow! I have Kinsey tomorrow, so she will have fun digging in things. Speaking of her--have any of you ever had a little girl who refuses to wear pants? She HATES pants! She wants dresses and skirts all the time, she pulls her pant legs all the way up and bares her legs if you put pants on her, in spite of the begging and the tears! She will wear tights, so today I bought her several pairs of tights and some boots--little black fashion boots, and I am telling you, she was one happy little girl! She kept telling me so! She was skipping through the mall and she would stop and tell me "Granny I am so happy I love you! I am a happy girl, I love my boots!" Gushing---I'm not kidding, she had my Mom and I laughing our butts off! Well I am going to go season the peanuts, and hope they are done---I'm tired! Will check with all of you in the morning. (((hugs))) Kat

Green that cracks me up, when I read Maincats original post bemoaning The Eagles, and Hotel California, I smiled to myself thinking---they must not have done the things to that song that I have! It evokes very fond, vivid memories!! Can't say the same for, as you put it, the Spice Bimbos--or in agreement with Maincat, for Bush or Springer, or Maury---quite the trio there!! Kat

Wow, I have no ideas for you, other than to check with your Dr. It is likely caused by residual swelling, but if you keep bringing it back up, it will continue to irritate the stomach, and it becomes an evil circle. Maybe they can prescribe you something to help with the pain, and thereby avoid the bringing it back up---so that you can settle your stomach and begin healing. Please let me know how it goes, it sounds horrible! I am sorry you are having such a hard time of it! Good Luck! Welcome to LBT----don't give up on us, this one just is beyond my experience to help with! Kat

I lost it with Atkins too....enough so that when it began happening with this, I was not too surprised, and also knew it would eventually come back. I just had surgery again, so now I wait and see if it was anesthesia and general surgery that got me with MY hair, or if it was strictly diet related! Should be interesting. My loss was significant----scarily so. It DID end, and it is growing back, thick and healthy. Hope it stays put! Kat

And me.....lol Yep gonna have to whistle for the Monkeys.....better be checking in girls!! Kat

I don't think I ever really doubted that I did this to myself--I mean, yes there were things and emotions that helped me along--but the fork did not jump into my mouth--I put it there. Just yesterday I had to open my mouth and admit that to someone---and it was my choice to do so, but it felt liberating too. I was in one of the big box stores doing some shopping and ran into an old boyfriends Mom. As we spoke she saw my new incision across my throat where I just had some thyroid surgery done. She ask what happen, I told her and she said well she understood now why I had gotten so big, and had now lost the weight. I stood there for a minute then finally told her that no I got fat because I ate too much and didn't get enough exercise, and that it had actually taken me a year and a half to lose the weight I had, and had only had the surgery last week. Can you imagine, surgery one week and 100+ pounds gone the next?! She is not morbidly obese, but she is heavy, and she did not know what to say to me! I did feel liberated by actually saying it though. I did it to myself, and finally found a way to help myself from doing it again. As to the diet differences---I share the same Dr. with WaBB--and I worked HARD to abide by that diet. I know I went from Clear liquids to full liquids a day early---and worried about that! I do feel it is confusing to newbies as well as us not so newbies the differences among Dr.'s. I also wonder about the liabilities of US Dr.'s who run a different diet than the Inamed/Allergan recommendations. It is the same with pre op---the differences I mean, I know my Dr. had one of the more lenient pre ops, and the strictest of post ops. But lucky for me an old LBT-er explained to me that if I would get a little stricter with my pre op and eliminate some of the things I would not be allowed post op, I would have less cravings for those things, and it seemed to work. I bounce all over LBT, and try to help---just usually saying someone is listening and caring---I do not have the medical background to advise, so other than common sense and see your doc if it does not improve, I stick to the basics! My head tells me that with the medical training several of you have-that reading these things must make you crazy. Same as with mine, hearing an adult tell a child to quit acting stupid, or demeaning them in public sets my teeth on edge, and I battle with the impulse to intervene. All of us new or not, need reminding of the fact that we must take care of our band for our band to take care of us. I feel like my Dr. was informative about why I should not eat solids for a period of time, but in reality it was HERE, at LBT that it was put into ways that made perfect sense to me! I think I will just choose a different way to rebel!! Kat

I am writing a letter to include in my SS package, and besides the return, it will reveal who her SS is. That is how we have always done it on the other site I did SS with. I am taking my Mom shopping today and hope to finish mine up----I have so many ideas, and things I would love to do, but it would be so much easier to hand it to the person, and not worry about shipping it, I hate worrying it will arrive broken. Kinsey is here, and showing no signs of going back to sleep. She needs to get back into her schedule...we all do! Usually she comes in, gets in my bed, watches about 5 minutes of cartoons, and is asleep. She spent part of the weekend with her Dad, so Manda said she was a wild child last night, getting settled back in at home---looks like it carried over here. Oh well, we will all get back to normal---in 6 weeks or so! I have the fire cookin' this morning! The thermometer says it is 11 outside! Brrrrr. TracyK---I have just not stepped on the scale...thinking I will tomorrow maybe, I forgot this morning! I either weigh first thing in the morning, or lose my chance! Michelle---wake up on a different side of the bed this morning? Well off to fix the girlie some breakfast---bbl~ Kat

How long ago did you have the complete unfill? It sounds to me as though you are dealing with some serious swelling as well as the dilation. I would go to liquids,and soft foods, and see if it resolves itself, if not you need to have a scope done to check the positioning and overall health of your stomach and band I would think. Sounds like you may have had some swelling even maybe a slight slip with the PB episodes---let your stomach try to heal, without overloading it. Sometimes when we do the right things, bad things still happen. I would really try to baby your system, and hope it settles down. You also really need to try to drink your Water now that you are unfilled, and have less reflux issues. I understand about the Dr, being so far away. Mine is 6 hours one way. It is not because he is the cheapest--he is the closest to me! Good luck to you--keep us posted, so we know how you do! Welcome to LBT! Kat

Hey ladies! I attempted to finish my shopping today---spent $180.00 and filled a cart full of stuff, and only marked one thing off my list! I was actually doing mostly birthday shopping. Manda has a birthday Wed. and then Kinsey on the 1st. So...as if I do not have enough to get done!! And I cannot blame anyone but myself---I had her! LOL! I so know what mood you are in Michelle! I remember those arguements sooooo well! My kids each had their own issue! Our son was the one who never put anything away, he never closed anything he opened, he collected dishes in his room...a slob in most every way----he has changed, but not drastically! I suppose it is the only way his marriage will work, but she is not much better, their house is not filthy, but it is far from clean. Manda in the middle, was fine, except for clothes! She would have her room knee deep in clothes! Seriously. I quit doing her laundry when she was in 5th grade. By 7th grade I was limiting how much laundry SHE could do. She would try it on, discard it, and plan to wash it since it had been wallered on the floor----oh the fights we had! Now however, she is extremely picky and clean!! And she has 2 of her own to fuss with over their rooms! Which now takes us to Abbey. Abbey lost everything! Permission slips, shoes, hairbrushes, now it is car keys, her birth certificate...Her room was impossible to navigate, because the easel was always in the way, and half finished paintings leaned against every wall, and half finished ceramics....and a layer of ceramic dust covered everything! The art is still an issue with her, and now add a house FULL of animals!! She is semi clean...I would not want to live with her, but am not afraid to eat at her house!!! One day Michelle---the kids will be grown, and you will smile in memory of the messes they made, and knowing if they still make them, they have no option but to clean them themselves!! Then you look around on those days trying to find a good reason to be bitchy!! Not laughing at you, just laughing with you---we all know how you feel! Tomorrow I am taking my Mom shopping--hoping to finish her stuff up. Tuesday I want to clean an area in the garage to move all my Christmas stuff into. Wed. I go get my stitches out, and have Manda's birthday. Thursday I take Dad to Albq. to have the other side of his carotids checked and schedule surgery. So.....hopefully then Friday I can begin decorating! And Saturday go to Kinsey's birthday! Sounds like a week from today I might find time to get some decorating done!! If I get it brought to where I want it, and get Rick to arrange furniture for me, I can pound it out in a day. Then will begin wrapping in the evenings. Cards will probably get done some time this week, in the evening. It sounds much busier than it really will be!! Well I am off to bed. Everyone take care, Michelle keep your chin up (hey just think---a year ago it would have been chins---with an S!!!)...hope you feel more like your usual happy self tomorrow!! (((hugs)))) Kat

There is no way my gift will make it by the first---I am just now getting to shop. I will do everything in my power to get it done in the next couple of days tho! Kat

I too have flown several times since surgery, one of them being home from the surgery---and no issues. Of course detectors are getting more sensitive all the time. Sorry this happen to you. My SIL is dark skinned, and falls into the racial profiling they look for, so she is ALWAYS singled out, they plan extra time for her to be checked out! My new issue is that my name and birthdate fly a red flag. A woman in Tennessee....is the cause, but any of us with matching names and birthdates suffer, it was an ordeal to even get my driver license renewed. It is scary! I cannot get a pass port! I am considering hyphenating my last name with my maiden name (legally) to get past this. Kat

Pat--you do Santa's-------I do Snowmen!!! Wow that could sound really bad....and yep I've heard those naughty jokes!!! Kat

I agree with the advice you have been given. I would call her and tell her with the added costs of locating the fabric and designing the pattern the first dress was considerably higher in cost than you expected, and tell her how much, and that you were calling to make sure with those added costs---that she still wanted you to do the 2nd dress. Either she says yes, and you make the extra money, or she says no---and you are off the hook on dress #2! I too suffer from the disease!!! Good Luck! Kat

She was trying to sneak by us I think! I noticed it on the main page! Cindy it is not nice to fool Mother Nature....and it is even worse to try to fool those in charge of the flying monkeys!!! Silly girl!!! Love Ya! Kat

What you are going through is completely normal. It is referred to around here frequently as bandster hell. You have a perfectly good band not doing much for you at this point. I liken it to buying a new car, and then having no gas! When you can begin the fill process, and find some restriction it will allow you to begin working with the bands help. This is where you go back to using your self control, and hoping the days speed by! Seriously though, do yoru best to make good food choices, and know that it IS normal, and will change when the band it put to work. Welcome to bandland and welcome to LBT! Kat ps I see we have similar great taste in our tickers!!

:happybday2::happybday2::happybday2:HAPPY BIRTHDAY CINDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!:happybday2::happybday2::happybday2: Hope you had a wonderful day---you deserve it!! ((((BIG Birthday HUGS to YOU!!)))) Kat

Hi girls~ I too got the things we wanted for the grandkids at Black Friday. I was iffy about going, so we left it with a maybe!! I have been getting up at 5 for so many years with Rick for work, my bladder is on a 5 AM schedule. So when I woke up I thought what the heck, I feel pretty good, so woke up Rick and we pulled up to Target about 5 minutes before the door opened. We decided we would try and if the things we wanted were gone, it didn't matter. But we got the last little Quad for Connor, and the Dora one for Kinsey, and the rest of the odds & ends toys we wanted. Then we drove across the road where he wanted to get a Zune on sale (he has wanted mine for awhile now!) and we were not aggressive enough--and add to that that Office Max only got 4 of them in anyway! So...we went to the mall, and we wound up buying me a new Ipod, and now he can have my Zune!!! The Zune shares music much easier, from unit to unit, and most of the guys he works with have Zunes....so, I upsized!! We will use mine on the bike etc. I am much pickier about my music. Where he likes and agrees with all the music I like, he also likes a lot of the harder rock, and more metal than I do. So.....now, we can take my new Ipod to our deserted island---and have even more music than the old one!!! LOL Well my incision is healing, it is beginning to itch!!! The swelling overall is going down, but the area it was malformed before due to the tumor is still huge! I don't know if it caused something to be permanently diverted, or whether it will eventually go down, hopefully! The steri strips are coming off, and the stitches are poking me everytime I look down!! They come out Wed. morning at 8AM! We too have snow on the ground. Judy is right, the moonlight shining on it tonight it gorgeous! We went out to dinner, and as we drove, the moon was really low in the sky and HUGE! Once when my DD was young she ask me how many moons we have...and refused to believe there was only one, because some are big, and some are small, and some are round and some aren't and one is white, and some were yellow--she thought they were all different moons! Manda and her family were over today, with their new game from her brother, he bought her a Guitar Hero game. Years ago she took guitar lessons, and thought she could teach everything she learned to him. So he bought her this game. Rick kicked all our butts!! He does not play the guitar, he played the saxophone in school---but he left us in the dust, he blew us away! Was a fun afternoon. I sent a picture of Kinsey to a friend, who ask me if she could submit it to a local Summer Fun contest--Kinsey got 3rd place! I had better pictures of her DOING something, I just liked the one I sent because it is just so her! She is just smiling sweetly, in her little swimming suit (or swimming soup as she calls it) playing. Actually giving her baby a bath in a little pail of water! The smile and the fact that it is my sweetie was why I sent it, as far as a winning photo? Nope! It is shadowed in part, it kinda confused me. I think some judge felt her smile just like I did! It was published in her small town paper and listed her as my friends great niece---which she is in effect, she only knows her as Aunt Sharon. Sharon and I grew up together, neither had a sister, so we were each others DD's Aunts. Well, I have peanuts roasting---we bring back boxes of raw peanuts and I roast and flavor them, and Rick gives them to his co workers, and we give them to friends. Been doing it for years. So guess I will go season them... Will talk to all of you soon! Jane, Jennifer, Pamela~~~~ y'all are the best, thanks so much for the cards! Love Ya! Kat