Kat817

I know--- isn't it eye opening to realize you binged, and there is still popcorn in the bag....or that you took 3 cookies out of the sleeve, and only ate 1 or 2!!! I do these things and laugh, sometimes I just amaze myself!!!! LOL Kat

Amber what you have been told is true, however, she is not able to eat the solid foods yet, she is in the healing phase. When you are banded, they bring the lower part of your stomach up and stitch it over the band, holding the band in place, so to say. Scar tissue begins to form, which will be the actual anchor. So we are on a strict post op diet, while the stitches INSIDE heal, and the scar tissue begins to develop. When you eat your stomach churns and kneads, to digest, and pass the food, this interupts the healing process. Many of us felt some restriction simply from the empty (or near empty) band being put on. I went for a couple of weeks without feeling any hunger right out of surgery. Then after the 2 weeks, while I was still drinking, full liquids, I did get hungry! They refer to that time period as Bandster Hell. It is a common time for everyone here to complain and compare how they are surviving it! But we do survive it!!! Then you begin 2 things.....you can start to eat hard Protein which allows as Amber mentioned you to feel full longer on low fat, low sugar foods. And #2 you can start the fill process sometime in this range. There is no guaging how many fills it will take anyone to reach a good point of restriction. Slow and steady, and avoiding overfills is the goal. When I had my first fill, it did not eliminate hunger completely, it did ease it considerably tho. I was forced to slow back down and eat by the bandster rules I had been told of! With my 2nd fill, hunger has changed. I do not get the stomach rumbling, eat anything and everything in sight kind of hunger anymore. I sometimes realize I feel empty....and remember I NEED to eat! But when you are not hungry all the time, it is much easier to make wise decisions about WHAT you are eating. It used to be I'd come in from a busy day and I was famished, and I grabbed the quickest, easiest thing to stuff in my mouth---a bag of chips, or a package of Cookies...or both! Now I take the time to throw a small salad together, or slice me some cheese....the RUSH to feed myself is gone. As was pointed out, I can (and occasionally do) eat the chips and cookies still, they go down very, very easy! BUT without the jarring hunger, I do not lose my head, and binge, without thought. I USE my band, and make better choices. I have been very lucky in the second fill I had---it was over a year ago, and I still have restriction from it, and keep cruising along with it. It has not always been easy. It has always been worth the effort though....the band made it doable. It put me back in control of the hunger, instead of it controlling me. If you put your head into it, and commit to working the band, it is a totally amazing tool to help you---but no it cannot do it, without YOU making the right choices. Kat

Hi, in my case I found my binges to be controlled just as Julie said....because the hunger disappeared! I do get the head hunger munchies stuff on occasion, but the fact is to overeat, causes me pain, and is NOT worth it! I can eat 99% of the things I did prior to being banded. When my grandchildrens birthdays roll around, this Granny has a piece of cake with them, but only a small one, and I am done. I can eat out in any restaurant you care to go to....I WILL have leftovers. The band has allowed me to lose the weight, and not feel deprived. There were many reasons the band appealled to me over bypass. First of all, I am a cancer survivor. My risk of recurrance is naturally higher...if that should happen, I can have my fill removed so that I can take in more nutrition. If a younger woman chooses to have another child...not a problem with malnutrition. I do not know your age, it is not on your screen, but as a sahm, you are likely younger than I am...and I felt I was too young to permanently lose part of my intestines and stomach. The strides they are making in the study of obesity, and weight loss--involving the hunger producing hormone grehlin, are amazing. It is very possible in my lifetime for a non invasive cure for obesity to be found. With the band and its reversability, even removability, I am as much of a candidate as someone who never had any type of WLS. With the bypass, part of my stomach and part of my intestine are still gone. With the band I chew 2 Flintstones vitamins with my granddaughters each day---and have no issues with malnutrition. In that alone, it has taught me to eat healthier---which again is easier when you are not starving 24/7. Bypass was too drastic for me to consider, the complication rates too high. I studied long and hard before deciding IF I were to do anything it would be the band. Then I began studying it---and made everyone around me crazy with stats I found. I lived, breathed and slept thinking about the band. Made the decision, and have not regretted it at all! Research for YOU---as you stated, they gave general info on all. Talk to people who have had the surgeries. Talk one on one with a Dr. who performs bandings.....don't let anyone else make a decision of this magnitude for you. Good Luck in your research! And welcome to LBT!! Kat

First of all I would say don't panic. It is VERY likely that this is just one of the idiosycrisies of the band itself. I have read posts where the Fluid simply takes longer to get from the port through the tubing into the band sometimes. I have heard some people say they didn't get good restriction from a fill until days even weeks following. In your case, the very worst scenario, is that your fill has leaked out. In that case, I would expect the Dr. to check the amount of your fill, and possibly try the Omnipaque. You are not ill, not running a high fever, not having such severe restriction you cannot swallow your own saliva....these are the emergency response things your Dr. is watching for. The loss of restriction is something they will check into, but not maybe in a emergency setting. So you may have to wait until after his office hours to hear from him. In the meantime, try to get your hunger satiated with Proteins, and just watch how you eat, eat carefully, keep a diary of what all you ate so you have all the pertinent info when he does call. I am sorry you are having a freak out and the Dr. hasn't called. I have been there many a time with the kids, not with the band---but I know the fears, and how you are willing the phone to ring. Let us know when you hear from him! Kat

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! Wonderful picture girls---I cannot imagine those smiles getting any brighter!! What a beautiful group of beautiful women!!! Thanks busboy!!! Great picture! Kat

Morning girlies! Cindy I know you are right, about the sorta niece! Truth is she HAS had a difficult life. But now she is an adult (closer to 40 than 30), and the difficulties are self made---and she is still trying to use the excuses...making me crazy. And to make up stories, and not follow through on deals SHE made, make me crazy. Ricks sister is married to this girls Uncle, her Mom was his sister. She was murdered when the girl (the sorta niece) and her brother were young children. Killed by what police figure was an angry spouse of one of the many men she had been sleeping around with. So the kids were passed around between their Dad and their late Moms families. Being raised part of the time by Ricks sister & BIL, along with their 3 girls. So she has always been treated as a niece. She has bounced from job to job, even did a stint as a stripper....she has a 7 year old daughter now, and stands a chance of leaving her just as her Mom did, if she does not change her ways! That is her personal life, and I don't get too involved in it, without being invited, same as the other nieces & nephews. BUT she made a deal with me, when she moved in to my DD's mobile home. I did not want her there, I knew better than to mix family and rent! But my MIL was insistant, that she needed a break. Well the rent is behind, a deal she made with me to exchange part of it for nail services, she has "forgot". So since the rental contract is signed between the 2 of us, I am going to be the bad guy....makes me so mad, I knew better, I should have stood my ground with MIL then, but she pouts so bad, I gave in!!!! I can actually almost deal better with her, and her 'poor me' than I can my MIL's about face. Just last week she was very upset with her, because she was having a new bf stay over, and she was doing this and that that MIL disapproved of, but just wait until I said something, now she is all up in the air, that I not cause family problems, and, acts like she never got upset over her actions. THAT irritates me! Oh well, I told her, to figure something out....how to pay, or she can go back to live with her Grandma, I am not pushing her and a child out on the street---she has other options. But Grandma does not allow the boyfriends, at least not since one of them stole Grandma's wedding rings, and her late husbands railroad safety awards and pawned them. Even then the niece acted like she too had been taken in by the boyfriend....never assuming any responsibility. Thank Heavens I do not have children like that, it would break my heart. I mean how is she EVER going to be on her own? Someone is always picking up the pieces for her. Not much going on here today. We did dinner at my inlaws last night, Rick's brother and his family from Denver are in. I ate way too much---I grazed the table all evening!! I refused to even get on the scale today! Cindy---I will for sure let you guys know when we head down your way. I can detour some out of the way as well! Mandy---I agree with Cindy's suggestions of preparing for the worst, and hoping for the best. It will make life so much easier as you recover to have all of this done already! Did you tell him to remove any excess skin you have in the process? I'm just kidding, but wouldn't it be nice and handy!!! Well we baked bacon this morning, my granddaughter could eat her weight in bacon, so now I need to go clean up. Hope everyone has a great day! Kat

Consistantly over filling the pouch will cause it to stretch, and can also stretch the esophagus, to where it is used like a stomach itself. I too think a call to the Dr. sounds like the way to go. When they did your fill, did they remove the previous fill, and see if it was still in the range of what they had already put in? When I had my 2nd fill, he inserted the needle and withdrew all the Fluid that come up easily. My first fill was 1.25, and he pulled out just over 1 cc. He told his nurse how much he removed, and she added that much to my scheduled .50cc. and he put it all back in. Has the soreness at the port eased? Is there any swelling or heat? I think I'd call. Kat

Morning girls, Denise, I can hear the sizzle-----HOT Mama indeed!!!! Doesn't it feel awesome to know you can still turn a head or 2!!?? I actually got some looks at the rally---and it was so bizarre! I could show some cleavage, and it actually be cleavage, rather than just another roll!!! I bet your DD was in awe! WTG!!!! Tracy---hard to say what clicked in DF. Perhaps your new self confidence, and ease at which you navigated on HIS turf, made you less needy in his eyes....I hear needy is a no-no!!!! I am so glad he is going into it gungho, as opposed to dragging his feet though. Knowing he WANTS to get married, as opposed to doing it because he supposes thats what he should do, makes such a difference! Enjoy the side benefits as well----you have time to make up for!!!!! Michelle---I have lost many a post over this last upgrade....always irritates the hell outta me!!! I agree, just get on and hold on and enjoy the ride down on the scale!!! I have avoided the scale today, I have not ate well the last 2 days. Last night, I ate waaaay too much, and ate 2 desserts!!!! We had a family dinner, and I just nibbled my way through the entire night!! But the good thing about the band is I can go back to eating well today, and not fight the hunger, and feeling deprived. I love being able to enjoy the special times, and not just totally jump ship! I did get my exercise in though Terry! I took Kinsey to the park in town and they have an exercise circuit. Slant boards for crunches, steps for lunges...all kinds of things, with a board at each of the 10 stations suggesting uses for the equipment. Pull ups----out of the question---I am a weakling wimp! I kid you not, I could move my biody maybe 4 inches TOPS! I was ashamed! Of course at 289 I likely could not have even hung there, without severe dislocation of my shoulders! We did the circuit, and I walked the track while a friend kept an eye on Kinsey at the playground. Today I hope to hit Curves, oops no I probably won't make it. I leave Kinsey with my Mom if I go during the early part of the day...but Mom is gone on her Anniversary trip...and as soon as Kinsey leaves today I had a blood donation appointment. And exercise is discouraged, until your body replenishes itself---so sounds like a walking day, either this morning, or tonight. Jenn, how late do you end up working at the pizza place? My Dr. told me sometimes it takes the body a longer time to wean off of the diuretics, than other meds. So I wouldn't stress over it too bad, one thing about them, even Rx ones, they are usually the cheaper of the drugs. Speaking of drugs---I think (which is scary in and of itself) it was Jennifer maybe that got rid of so many of her scrips---I may be wrong, I read that though and was so amazed!!! Can you imagine the strain being eased off of your internal organs not having to process all those meds! Totally impressive!!!!! Gina--so sorry to hear about your back--have you done the usual PT route? It might actually help to try it again, now that you are losing the weight. I have a herniation at L-4, L-5, at an S-1 station. Which basically for those of you not in pain from this means, that the disc is bulging and putting pressure on my sciatic (known around my house as the psychotic) nerve. It causes lower back pain, but in my case, it hurts more through the hip, my butt and down my leg, seriously ending in my big toe. If I flexed my foot it felt like a streak of fire running into my foot! I ignored it for too long, and ended up with permanent nerve damage, and have a tingling burning sensation in the outer leg just above the knee, but not quite in the thigh area yet....ALL the time. It is numb, to stimulation, but still has serious nerve pain. I did Physical Therapy 3 different times, prior to the weight loss, because at my weight they did not want to operate. I had a definite difference if I faithfully did my exercises and stretches. I still get twinges, but nothing like before. The damage is always going to be there, my fault. But, I stretch EVERY day before getting out of bed even. Rick accuses me of teasing him!!! The last MRI showed a 30% rescension (sp?). It has attempted to slide back into the proper place! It will never go away, but the weight loss has to have helped! My best friend, has a similar herniation, and has had surgery on hers. BUT she does not do any stretches or exercise in any manner. And she refuses to quit smoking. They told her her odds of proper healing would increase by 50% if she would quit smoking due to the oxygen saturation---but she didn't....and still has problems. She is of normal weight. Well she is overweight, but not seriously. I have to smile, I said she was of normal weight, and she and I are VERY close in weight now, especially since I have 4 inches on her in height!!! Woohoo! Ask about more PT with the weight loss...thenmaybe they can work you into a soft routine with something like Curves. It is not high impact. My Mom has fibromylagia, and she does Curves, she just does each station very slowly, the machines are not weighted, they have like resistance shocks---the faster you go on them, the more resistance they build. Like trying to open and close say a storm door real fast---it gets harder to do...they are the same. So she does a slow repetitive motion, just to retain flexibility, not build muscle. I would never suggest you go against what the Dr. says, but maybe if you get the beginings from one of their own PT programs, you could move on to something like Curves. Another thing, that was suggested to me by my Uncle who is a MD, was to work my abs. He said simply tightening them and holding for 5 seconds, and then pushing them out as far as possible and holding for the same 5, and doing it as often and as long per session as I could stand would help the abdominal muscles support the spine, and it would help. I do not know how much each bit helped. I know the weight loss was a huge help, but it wouldn't hurt to try! I know your pain, and I sympathize. I know someday I will have a flare up again, and I dread it something fierce! I think I am afraid to ask where Laura is---they may have moved on out to the back yard to christen it!!! j/k Laura!!! Ok---I HAVE to go clean my kitchen. We baked bacon this morning, my Granddaughter could eat her weight in bacon! TTYL -- Kat

This is one of those time that just because you can, does not mean you should. Even with the band, you have to practice self control, that is why everyone refers to it as a tool, and says it is not the easy way out. Next time, if you are still so hungry, have some SF pudding, or snack on some nuts, or jerky---something high protein, to kill the eating urge. Make a salad to go with the pizza next time, or order hot wings, they are better---with there being no crust. Work with the band, until you find some restriction. I think you are lucky you were able to get it all down without ity suddenly backing up on you and causing a PB---or begining a pouch dilation. That scares me into behaving usually!!! I am so afraid of messing this thing up!! Hang in there, restriction will come, this is just a continuation of Bandster Hell--- Kat

Not much going on here today---cooking. Rick's brother from Denver is here, so we have a family dinner tonight. His kinda sorta niece is going to be there and she and I had words this morning---I cannot stand people who lie to me! So it may not be much fun. His Mom complains about her non stop, until there is an issue with me, and she took her side, telling me how hard she has it....my butt! She makes poor choices and expects all of us to pick up the pieces! Sorry she really has me riled! Mandy, sounds like you are well prepared for your surgery. I expected to feel totally out of commision for a couple of weeks, but within a few days, I was back to cooking, and getting dressed each day---it didn't sideline me like I expected. Aren't you glad you don't weight what you used to going into it?? I did. Well not my highest, I was in my 230's or 240's when I had mine, enough that I was big!!! Well I am off to shower---wierd time I know, but if I wait til we get home tonight, it will be late, and I will be going to bed with wet hair. And since my hair has begun growing back, I have this short fuzzy hair all over my head, so I have to work with it---and going to bed with it wet, will NOT help!!!! Check in with y'all later. We are by the way planning a Fall trip to TX, they tell us our pecan trees are loaded! And we have calves to sell....so will keep you posted, will be between Halloween and Thanksgiving usually for the pecans. TTYL Kat

My newest NSV happened a day or so ago. My 2 1/2 year old granddaughter was here with me, and she wanted me to lay on the couch with her. I laid down with her, and her ever faithful bunny, and I could reach around her and still feel more room on the couch!!! So #1--we both fit! and #2 I can reach my arms around us and farther! I also love being able to paint my own toenails again. Shopping the misses dept. I was in the park with the granddaughters and chatting with a woman and of course weight and diets come up (doesn't it always with women???) and she told me "well if I only had as much to lose as you do, I wouldn't worry." I told her HOW I lost almost 100 pounds, she didn't want to believe me! I floated through the rest of my day!!! About 30 pounds ago, I ran into a girl we went to school with, the perfect cheerleader one, she was always snooty as hell to me---and now---well even then, 30 pounds ago----she was bigger than me! Keep the NSV's coming, they are sooooo encouraging! Kat

Best thing about my band---it has given me my life back. I have energy and HOPE. I have control over food, and my own hunger. Worst thing about my band---would have had to be the hair loss I experienced. It was scary, but temporary, and growing back now...but if thee were a bad part that would be it. Good Luck, hope your trip, your surgery, and your recovery are all uneventful!!!! Kat

Tracy---beautiful rings!!!! They suit you!!! My original wedding band is a marquise cut. I am almost ready to have them sized....but since he bought me the new one...and I like it so well, I am going to do my best to get to my goal, or where I feel happy, then have it sized. As it is I have gone from a size 10 ring to a size 7.5, figure that will be about it, maybe a 7. You picked a beautiful set!!!! Tracy---I fully understand, my DD was a bit of a surprise as well. I had miscarried prior to her, and had some complications following the D&C they did, and I was told future pregnancies would be unlikely....NOT! I think as I have said to so many, that you girls doing this surgery now, so you can be active parts of your kids lives, and be out enjoying your own, setting good examples for them is awesome! I wish the opportunity had been there for me, I too would have jumped at the chance! bandedme---there are lots of theories about the hair loss, I had it bad, I had it with other surgeries as well. So in my case I don't think it had a bit to do with protein. Even during my clear liquid phase with the band, I did zero carb Isopure, which had 40 grams of protein per bottle, and I met my protein faithfully. My loss I believe is due to body stress, maybe something to do with the anesthetic---I am not sure. It began for me about 4-5 months out from surgery, and kept falling out, until about 4 months ago, and now, I lose hardly anything. My part got very wide, my scalp was easily seen....it was serious loss. My hair went from thick, to extremely thin. My ponytail used to be thick, now it is no bigger around than say a penny! But it didn't all fall out, and I had survived that before, so knew I could deal with it. Now it is growing in again, and is about an inch and a half to 2 inches long, and I look a bit like a dandelion! It sticks up all over my head! I use more product now than ever! But I am not complaining, I am just thrilled it is coming back---and looks like it will be thick as ever. I figure it will be coming back and getting pretty healthy when I do the TT, and out it will go again---at least it has to several on the PS boards.....just figures doesn't it~!~ It is by far in my experience the worst part of my banding! Try not to stress over it, I swear it makes it worse! Hang in there. Most people lose hair for a couple of months and it quits...me---I was the overacheiver!!! Jenn, has a good point if your hair is breaking off, it may be like a timeline, and break where it was weakened. Mine was coming OUT---hair bulb at the end and all! It will end though---- Laura---wooohoooo initiating the house----you go girl!!! Glad you 2 are getting your time now! Pamela---I am so sorry about your workers. I am like you, I am always on time, or few minutes early. My inlaws are habitually late, makes me nutso!!! I had a contractor working on some drywall here once, recommended by a coworker of Ricks. He was this little bitty short Mexican national, who spoke very little English. He come the first day, with Ricks friend, and did awesome work. They were having to match a texture pattern. He was polite, and worked hard, so Rick hired him to do the ceiling. Well when it was just him, he showed up drunk, with a friend, and proceeded to fall off the scaffolding several times, and would talk to my chest---never my face! I dealt with him the first day, the 2nd Rick stayed home, and he never even showed up. Finally he finished, after the mutual friend got back involved....he still has no idea what my face looks like! Moron!!! We were lucky in the fact we had not paid him one red cent, and didn't until the job was done. Rick had low balled the pay for it, figuring on giving him more if he finished it in a timely manner etc. Needless to say we wrote him a check for the exact amount. He was mad, he did not want a check....too bad! I hope your workers get their chit together---it is so hard having strangers in your home, and then for it not to work out time wise is even worse. Good Luck, come and whine and cry and bi#^h at us anytime, we can take it!! I have been cooking today for a dinner at my inlaws, Ricks brothers family is here from Denver for a few days. Kinsey just left, and now I am going to take a shower!!! Wierd timing, but if I wait, I go to bed with wet hair later, and if you read the earlier paragraph, you will figure out how goofy I would look if I went to bed with wet dandelion fuzz!!! Check on you girlies later! Kat

Well it "could" have been a lot of things, but the best person to tell you likely why it feels less restrictive is the Dr. When is your next appointment? If your port is just sore since the fill, it is probably just irritation, and some people have a minor reaction to the saline itself in the skin. They do make a thicker liquid they can fill you with if you are indeed losing your fill. It is called Omnipaque. Let us know what you find out!!! Good Luck! Kat

I agree that you MUST be ciommitted to working your band for the weight to come off in a healthy manner. But I also believe you need to have full confidence in your Dr. Heaven forbid you have some sort of complication, you want to feel safe and secure in his/her treatment of you. If you feel this Dr. would treat you properly even if you do not take his advice concerning the band, and you want to stick with him, then do so. I just encourage you to find someone (him or someone else, either way) that you have faith in their ability, statistics on how many bands they have done, what their complication rate is....find out about your Dr. They DO matter! Your life is going to literally be in their hands. You will have to do the head work yes, but the Dr. is a HUGE factor in this surgery, IMHO. Kat

Oh Josie, I had to laugh---me a counselor---they get paid to listen, I talk way the hell too much!!! But that was a sweet thing to say, I know many times I should mind my own business, but things look so different when you are on the outside, it helps me when someone points out the obvious. And like I told Laura---reminding her of things, made me re-examine my own situation, and relax a bit in it! TracyK, your DD is adorable! Is she your only one? Today I just have Kinsey, my 2 yr old granddaughter. I am looking forward to today, some special time with her again. I have babysit for her ever since she was tiny. My DD and her exH, split up when she was an infant. He had fooled around before, but she bought his excuses, and believed nothing happen, then one night when she was up in the wee hours with a newborn, his cell phone rang, she looked to see if it was work, and it was a picture...of a woman---nude! So she went through his phone, and then the computer, and found where he had sent nude photos of himself, and received same from many others. She confronted him, and he told her he was going to tell her to move out anyway, his girlfriend from Arkansas was on her way down to move in with him. He was cruel to my DD, showing her pics of this woman, and comparing her to my DD who had recently given birth, and was having nursing problems etc. So she and the baby moved in with us. 2 days later sure enough a car with Arkansas plates was in the drive way, which happened to be across the road from my parents, so we could kind of watch. But the sleek slim woman in the pic she sent was not what showed up! She was in need of a lapband in a serious way! Not that that made her less worthy, but him comparing her to my DD to make her feel bad, we found it hilarious! Then we find out this crazy woman moved across the country to live with him, and a male roommate, bringing her 6 year old daughter---knowing nothing about him, other than the obvious----he sends nude pics! a 6 year old little girl into a house with 2 unknown adult men! She only lasted about a month. Then it was a woman he worked with, then another....now he is engaged to a woman we really like, she is a sweet girl, but he texted Manda yesterday (which he does when he drinks) and said she beat him up and broke up with him!). Anyway, my point was that DD and the baby moved in with us when she was tiny. They stayed for 2 months, and moved into a mobile home on some property we own, and rent. She renovated the home, into a little showcase! After 7 or 8 months she began dating, and hooked up with a guy who could have been her ex husband, they were so similar! We were so upset! Then her friends she hung out with began telling her the same thing...and he finally went away. The friends never did, including one she went all through school with. He hung out, he helped her work on her house, he took her to the lake, showed her how to have fun again. He has full custody of his DD---he and his former GF never married, and she only kept the baby for a few days, and said, "here, I can't do this", so he has raised her ever since. Fast forward a year, and a wedding is in the planning, and I am getting a 6 year old granddaughter. She is a sweetheart, and I already love her. But having my little one all alone today is going to be a nice time. Lindzie, the 6 year old is spending the next 3 days with her Papa. So Kinsey and I get some us time. Yep-- Lindzie, and Kinsey---talk about tongue twisters!!! Of course when we go to the park or anywhere, people think we did that on purpose!!! LOL The girls are both blonde, and have similar shape to their features, but Lindzie has HUGE dark brown eyes, and Kinsey Big ol' blue eyes! Kinsey was a preemie, and was only 4 pounds at birth. She had problems digesting even breast milk, finally they decided it was the dairy that Manda was eating, but as soon as she cut dairy from her diet, she dried up! We wonder now, if that isn't why she breaks bones so easily. She has broke both legs! The first she caught in the leg of a baby rocker when she just turned 1, then the one last month. She heals VERY quickly, so they say she is fine. She has remained very little. She is 2 1/2 and still under 20 pounds. But she is potty trained, and talking a blue streak, and I would bet within a couple of weeks she will be riding her little bike---Manda just got Lindzie to ride without training wheels, and Kinsey is flying on hers, training wheels seldom touching the ground! She is kinda fun, you take her into Walmart, and she insists on sitting crosswise in the basket seat, and she goes along singing her ABC's or counting, and people do these double takes, because she looks so much younger! OK enough of Proud Granny Mode. But that is why this little one is so special to me. Tracy the place for the wedding looks great! I am so glad he is this excited! Perhaps seeing you at the other wedding, and you not acting like you were next sent him into a panic of losing you! My son was that way, as soon as everyone quit pressuring him, and acted like he would never do it, he DID....lol He has aklways been that way tho. He and Manda both went and had their tongues pierced in H.S. I was livid!!! That someone would do it when they were under 18! Manda knew she better keep it in her mouth and hidden, Lenny on the other hand flipped his in and out non stop, so my DH ragged on him non stop. FINALLY I convinced Rick to try a different approach, and not say anything. Sure enough the thing began staying in his mouth. Then one night friends were over and the man said his son come home with guaging rings in his ears, and Rick said well he has his tongue pierced, and he says "no I don't" and stuck it out, and it was gone! Stubborn to the end! He was the worst of the "I can do it myself" when he was little too! Maybe your DF is the same way! Yep he is your DF now, not just DBF!!!!! WoooHoooo!!!! Ok, Kinsey is awake, we need to bake a cake and get to Walmart before it gets too hot! See y'all in awhile! Kat

Elliome---First and foremost, please accept my deepest symapthies on the loss of your husband, that must have been a terrible blow. I have no doubt after 34 years, he would be thrilled with you making an effort to improve your own health through the band. With the band in mind, WELCOME!!! LBT is a wonderful, helpful, and supportive site, that will prove to be invaluable to you in the months ahead. We look forward to helping you navigate through bandland!!! There are lots of Texans around here!! I myself am a part timer---we have a place in central TX that we go back and forth to. Hang out, let us get to know you, and be sure to ask any questions that you may have---we'll do our best to help! Once again----welcome! Kat

I am SOOOO glad you girls had a good time, I look forward to seeing pictures I hope!!!!!!! I really wanna be jealous---but I'm just glad you all got together, and had such a good time! I did a half an hour on the elliptical, I was cooking and could not leave home, so settled on working out here. Then I did some light hand weights....my arms are very jiggly!!! Well I am off to cruise the site a bit and head to bed, I just have my 2 yr. old granddaughter tomorrow, and we have a busy day I am sure!!! She gets here early, hoping she will want to go back to bed with Granny---but lately she gets here, and she wants toast. It was one of the first foods they allowed her to eat following this bug that hospitalized her, and she is addicted....to toast! See y'all in the morning! Kat

Just a quick run down for you---from my own personal experience. Sliming is the bodies way of trying to help something pass through the narrowed area where the band is placed, either from swallowing a too big bite, or simply overeating and being too full. The body tries to help by slicking things up, and you begin to produce copius amounts of slime, which is thick gooey saliva. Well since often the problem is you are already too full, there is nowhere for all of this to go, and there is usually a lot of it, so spitting it out is usually the only way to avoid a full blown PB. A PB is short for Productive Burp. Kind of misnamed in my opinion! It is a bandsters form of throwing up in a way. The biggeat difference is that a PB is comprised of chewed food and the slime, no stomach acids, it is usually a few heaves of food, and it is over---nothing real violent like true vomiting can be, but in my experience it is more than a mere burp! I have done this twice in 15 months. Hope this and the links Faith supplied you with help! Kat

Laura, sorry you are so unhappy about the BIL being dumped on you. It was very thoughtless of his parents without a doubt. On the plus side, maybe seeing your DH in a successful position, in a new home, with a new wife etc. will give his baby brother some incentive to do better himself. I understand you being unhappy with your new DH, but he was in the middle, and likely as unsure of what to do as anyone was. The smokes and booze were a bad idea, probably big brother being "cool", you did the right thing objecting I believe. But while you are unhappy with him over this, read back through your previous post. Back when he was not legally tied to you, when you were at your largest, he stood right by your side. He did what he could to ease the pain you were in. He likely curtailed his own enjoyment of the bowling teams trip to Vegas, trying to keep you comfortable. So while he is not perfect...even my own loving DH is not....none are, neither are we....he stood by you in your rough times, just as he is trying to do for his brother. Like you would want to do for your own sibling. I agree the timing was AWFUL!!! But surely one of the reasons you fell in love with him, was the way he was always there when you needed him. I remind you of this, in an effort to remind myself as well. I get very irritated (as you ALL know!) with my inlaws, and how Rick caters to their constant demands....when in reality, it is one of the things I first fell in love with! I have read, that you can tell how a man will treat you by watching how he treats his Mom. I am just that lucky. He treats us both with loving care. She is an old woman, and he makes her feel very special. She is, she is his Mom! While his parents make me crazy sometimes, they raised and formed the man I love. It sounds to me as though his parents are the guilty parties. If you and DH had not been there, brother may have been out and in more trouble, or even worse, could have been hurt or killed while under the influence....but he was lucky, he had your DH. Just as I said before that Ricks parents made him who he is, keep in mind, you may have to deal with that, parents who cut & run when the going gets tough....and the brother may have the same tendency, but it sounds like you can relax...your DH has already proven he is in it for the long haul with you...good and bad. He ain't leaving when it gets bad... You just had a taste of the bad, with your honeymoon guest....but you have years and years of good ahead. Now when he goes....show DH what he missed! A bit of advice from an OLD married lady---I know it was unpleasant, it likely wasn't a walk in the park for him either, especially knowing you were pissed! Don't hold it against him, be glad he is caring---he is the same way with you. Ok off my soap box. I am incredibly glad your severe pain has subsided Laura....it is time for you to LIVE now girl!!! Kat

I have a friend who is a closet bandster, and she suddenly had to have some "places" removed from her throat. Lucky for her they turned out to be fine!!! (wink-wink) But while she 'healed' she was on strict liquids for a couple of weeks, then slowly led into foods more difficult to swallow. It covered her, for the entire time. And she now says that something to do with the procedure, causes her throat to fill and hurt if she tries to eat to much, so the weight loss has been a wonderful side effect. She says it worked! Me? I told EVERYONE!!!! I do not lie well, and remember things even more poorly, so I knew I could never keep it straight!!! Good Luck in your surgery, and in your recovery eating! Kat

I too used Dr. Aceves. My SIL and I went together and had our bands done, we went to him, as did Shirley on the personal recommendation of someone I knew who used him. Next week he is doing the banding on 2 of my nieces. I was very happy with my experience. That being said, I fully 100% agree with elinrw said, about checking into a US Dr. I have heard good things about Dr. K, who is in the Denver area (Aurora as stated). Follow up care can be difficult to find, especially for those of us banded outside the US of A. Before making final arrangements with ANY Dr. outside of your area, see what kind of follow up care you can set up. I relaize you can go back to MX if needed for fills/adjustments, but what if you get sick suddenly, you need something set up prior to going. Prior to my surgery I set up with another Dr, in Colorado to do my band care, fills/adjustmens etc. But even he is 5-6 hours away. There is not a single Dr. in my state doing the surgery. So I also met with a local general surgeon, about the band (since Gall bladder issues follow WLS so often) and also with a local oncologist I knew prior, since they are accustomed to accessing ports. I got all those ducks in a row, and speaking to one another before making the deposit to get my band surgery done. It has worked out well for me so far. If there is anything we can help answer, please feel free to ask! Kat

BJean, I heard on the radio this morning, that it was not benign polyps they found as originally thought....it was Condie! Kat

Drinking with or directly following meals was discouraged to me, fr exactly the reason pointed out by FarmerE. In my own experience, if I try to drink it often times will "float" my food and cause me to feel suddenly TOO FULL, which in turn begins the sliming, and the feel of an oncoming PB. So far I have avoided the problem, by following the bandster rules, and not drinking. Due to some reflux problems, my Dr. suggested flushing my pouch at night, and that is when I found out that this happens. For the most part, I think like Farmer said, it just thwarts the weight loss, by possibly allowing you to feel hungry again much sooner. I personally have also found through the years, with all my dieting attempts, band included, that if I allow myself to "cheat"....I will continue to give myself that leeway. Do your best to let your body fully heal, and move forward slowly. If you push too fast, and cause swelling in the stomach, it often develops into an evil cycle of swelling...where you eat, PB, swell, eat, PB, swell. It is a hard cycle to break. One better not to get started. Remember if you do eat, and it causes any pain, go back to liquids for awhile, and allow the swelling to go down. Some people have no problem making the change over to solids, others find it a difficult switch, both in the discomfort and in possible weight regain. Keep in mind this is time to heal, when you can get started on the fill process, you will relose any weight you found again. Hang in there, the worst is almost all behind you now~! Kat

Awesome advice!!! I read the question from the OP, and was just reading through the responses before offering an opinion, and you guys said what I was thinking!!! I agree, ask for her help, and use her helping you to educate her! IT sounds like a win/win to me!!! Good Luck on your banding surgery!!! Kat