Kat817

After my trip to Walmart today---I have another! I was in line behind a girl who bought 3 cases of Coke, and all kinds of cookies, Hostess snacks, chips, steaks, 2 bottles of high priced EVOO.....and paid for it all of course with an EBT card (foodstamps). THEN proceeded to shell out over $100.00 for 3 cartons of cigarettes!!! We work to pay our taxes for them to eat better than we do, so she can spend her cash on cigarettes. My DH is subject to random urinalysis as part of his employment contract---he has to stay clean (not that it is an issue for us...but you get the idea), so he can pay taxes to help support these people who get Welfare every month---and yet THEY don't have to prove they are drug free!!! Walmart----I can always find something to get on a nerve in there!!! Kat

The reason you don't want any pieces is that you do not want your stomach sensing them there, and trying to digest them. The natural squeezing/ kneading movements the stomach does to digest and pass food through to the intestines, is what you are trying to avoid, as well as having too much weight in it at any one time. When they place the band, they will pull up the lower portion of the stomach, the large part and stitch it over the band, to hold it into place...you need time for your stomach to be calm, and not need to digest food for the stitches to set and heal. I have read that causing it to work too soon, could be one of the causes of slippage, because it was not allowed to heal in the right position. There is no sense in pushing it---strain it, or blend it up...it will only be a couple of weeks max. I blended all kinds of soups!!! And I have never had a problem with tomato based foodds---I had tomato soup--still do now that I have good restriction. As for feeling full...it usually does take a couple of fills, to begin feeling much restriction, and that is what it usually takes to feel the quick full sensation. The nerves that signal fullness are at the top of the stomach, (Viga nerves....Vega nerves...I can never remember!!)and in order for them to signal fullness, food has to reach them, and if you have no restriction, the food passes too quickly to hit the nerve. Once you have tightened the band down to a point it will hold food in the pouch for an extended period of time, you will hit the nerve quickly, and feel full, and maintain that feeling for several hours. My Dr. said some patients you hear of never needing a fill, are usually because the band was placed in a way it hit the nerve itself, there by ending the hunger signal. But it is rare---usually fills are required! One of the best ways to avoid overfilling your pouch, and causing a painful reminder is to try to eat until you are not hungry anymore as opposed to eating until you are full. After several bites, you are no longer hungry---so stopping, even if it is hard, is the best plan. When you are hungry again, you can eat some more---but working to find the perfect medium, is a learning experience!!! One I still work on 9 months later! Kat

I was on clear liquids for 2 weeks, then full liquids for another 2 weeks. Then on to mushies, for...you guess it...2 weeks, then added regular food, to see how it was tolerated. As for the feeling run down on liquids, just be sure you are getting plenty of protein. It really helped with my energy level--and it aids in healing as well. I used Zero Carb Isopure from GNC for the first 2 weeks. It has 40 grams per bottle. Then as I went on to heavier liquids, I used Unjury protein powder. www.unjury.com . I could tell a difference almost immediately when I bumped my protein intake. Welcome to Lapband! This site will prove to be invaluable. Feel free to ask any questions as they come up!! Kat

Sherry--I had one DD of my own, and inherited both a DD and a DS, they are now DS-27, DD (mine)-25, and DD 24. I still check on them, and worry myself sick when things are not to my liking. On the same note---my Mom called to tell me I had not checked in in a couple of days....so, I am 46, so looks like you have a good 30 years ahead of you to worry!!! Ain't it great???!!! It really doesn't get any easier----I think we do adjust, and learn to realize they are making good choices....it just takes awhile of letting them actually make those choices, and doing things on their own, for us to realize the lessons we worked so hard to teach them actually "took". I am quite proud of the adults our kids become---but there were some hellish speed bumps along the way. And they still make life choices sometimes that make me crazy---but I do my best to keep my mouth shut. I didn't even try when they were 16---I was in all their business!!! Hang in there----you raised him well, he will do you proud! Be back later to catch some personals! Kat ps.....be very, very quiet....my scale moved....I don't want to scare it into stopping again!!

I also belive the numbers on here, are not a real good representation of how many are actually banded. In my small rural area, I know personally of 7 people who have been banded within the last 2 years---and these are just personal aquaintences. And of them all---I am the only one active on the boards. I have given each of them the link, and invited them, but they are not interested, or in one case, she is not "a computer person" she says. So you have to look at these numbers only representing the people who are banded who are also interested in forums such as these. Kat

At one time on the Janet Evanovich website, they had a poll going as to who would play who in a TV movie. Not that there was one already in the works, but if they did. When I was there...which was a couple of years ago, Sandra Bullock was in the lead, and of course Grandma Mazur was Estelle Getty. I might go look if the website still has it. Kat

The more you both know the better. I always find that we seemed to absorb different parts of what was said....maybe it is the male/female brains at work!!! Go into it together, and celebrate your successes together!!! Kat

Have all of you Evanovich fans seen that she has a new Plum novel out? It is called Plum Lovin'. It says it is a Stephanie Plum Between- The- Numbers Novel. I bought it, but DD read it first, I will likely get to it tonight, or tomorrow! I bought my copy at WalMart. I just thought I would mention it since most of us are waiting for #13! Kat

Eileen---if you have DD at a birthday party---and today is your Anniversary.....you'd have to be nuts to be here with us!!! ENJOY!!! And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! ((((hugs to you both)))) Kat

Good for you!!! Sounds like you are off to an awesome start!! Welcome to LBT...hang around and share the good news, and advice to those not having such a great start!! Tell us something about yourself.... Did you take pics before, so you will be able to share the after? How much do you hope to lose? Keep up the great work!! Kat

Are you going back on to liquids following the PB? It sometimes sets up an evil cycle if as Angie pointed out, you tend to swell. I go back to liquids anytime I feel pain associated with overeating or sliming (I have only PB'd once). It allows the stomach to relax, and be normal again before being expected to digest food again. Also when you do PB...is it your body forcing the food out, or does it hurt to a point you gag yourself or something like that? I agree it is time to call the Dr. Get his professional opinion. Good Luck to you! Kat

Sometimes for one reason or another, too big of a bite, or not chewing well enough...food does not want to go down right, and it usually causes pain in the esophagus ---- which we feel in the chest. In fact prior to my DH's heart surgery, they looked at the back of his heart with a camera in the esophagus -- an endoscopy helped diagnose his heart condition! It feels to me, like I used to get if air got gulped in with my food, like I was swallowing something huge (like a golfball), and it hurts. Now if it happens, the pain is fairly short lived, in my case, and then I start sliming. The body's way of trying to help unstick whatever it is, by slicking it up. Slime is thick, very gooey mucus....if that fails---and it has only happened once so far---then I PB, and bring it up. It does not happen as often as it may seem. I mean for instance look on the home page at how many members there are on LBT, now all of the members are not starting threads saying "I am having a great day" "Another smooth sail today"....etc. We come on here when we need support, or a question answered, help with a problem, etc. Now most of us, make lasting friendships, and hang out, reading, answering questions, just generally yacking.....but there are far more bandsters having a regular uneventful day with their band....they just don't say it! I am by the way having a wonderful day!!! lol.... Kat

I voted increased....it has! But I think it is because I feel less self conscious about my body, I am able as Wheetsin said to acheive many positions that I was not able to comfortably before (he is not going to be any good to me squashed!!!). And I think the more you get---the more you want, so because of that it increased. We were told in our seminar that for most women the sex drive will either soar or plummet, due to the hormones in fat cells. He went into detail, I think I was hyperventilating, thinking of how awful that could be...thank goodness it has not been an issue!! This will be a fun poll to watch! Kat

The only time I have ever had issue with drinking like that---I did the same, but I was only drinking tea...and since it was unsweetened, it was not a big issue---but it hit sudden just like that! I have thought for years, that the diet soda industry was missing out on a HUGE selling point (especially now with the Splenda diet drinks), by not pointing out to Mom's, that diet drinks when slopped or spilled---are not sticky. They do not ruin the keyboard (!), or the remote, and you do not have to mop the kitchen floor 5 times...once works. I will occasionally stop by a drive thru and grab an iced tea to have to sip on while shopping or something, and I hate it when they bring it out to me, and the cup it is in is sticky....eeewww. Hope your keyboard survives the chocolate spew!! Kat

Shhhhh......be very, very quiet......my scale actually moved, and I don't want it to realize it!!! It is only a pound, but, it had not moved at all...up or down even half a pound in over a month! Well a few fluctuations, but repeatedly in the AM at my usual weigh in, there is sat 208.5......this morning the 8 was a 7!!!! I am fine with keeping our challenge where we sit. I have managed to exceed it this month, but that is kind of a mental boost! Although unlike Boo---and I may have totally been messing up my count, but I count my walking. It is hard to fit more days into the month that is a fact!!! And this coming month is a short one anyway.... I too find it hard to whittle out time to go work out, with babysitting for my DGD, it is hard, I either find someone to keep her, or find a way of "exercising" that includes her. Which is why we do our marathon walks. It has made a big difference in my exercise commitment this month with my DH and I begining to lift weights. We do not lift over a long enough period of time for them to be counted, but I know I am doing it---which helps my frame of mind! Plus a friend on another challenge has challenged us all to at least walk some each day---we are logging how much each of us walk...and she is going to total it, out of simple curiosity. But it keeps me doing something. I always try to err on the side of not counting a day, if my time is not long enough...and sometimes, there is just no way to get the extra 5-10 minutes I need for it to count. As has been pointed out tho, it is encouraging just knowing I was moving, and it is making a difference! Even if it is one stinking pound at a time!!! I don't think I am ready for a fill, I think my body was just adjusting or something. I cannot eat a lot, and when I eat, I remain full for several hours....if anything I need to tweak what I am eating, but I have been concentrating more on nutritional balance as opposed to losing. On the plus side, I have fully convinced myself that when the glorious day comes that I achieve goal weight, I can eat a healthy comfortable diet, and maintain without issue. That thought worried me---and I have proven I can do that!!! Just a thought, maybe you runners can add a side challenge---each of you take a week, and challenge the others to "keep up". Keep it realistic, both running, and time wise, but change it up....and it would help you to work towards your marathon goals. And the rest of us can cheer you on!!! Time to go and stoke the fire---it feels chilly!!! Have a great Friday---the weekend is upon us!!!wooohooo Kat

:happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: :happybday2: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEANNIE---HOPE YOUR DAY IS AS SPECIAL AS YOU! Kat

I hope to have this band the rest of my life...or an equally effective way of controlling myself. There is a new band being tested now, that rather than being filled with saline is tightened down by remote control. Now only certified centers and Dr.s will be able to adjust it, you will not have your own remote, but it would eliminate the port, and the risk of infection from fills etc. If it is available in the future, and I want to, the fact that the band is removable would allow me to have that done. 10 years down the road, if the develop a pill to cure obesity, I could go that way. This is something that would allow me to go with the times...where as bypass, once they cut that stomach away----it's a done deal. But if you were wondering if I would just take it out when I reach goal---no way! It will stay there working for me, and helping me to maintain for the rest of my life. If something were to happen and cause me to lose it, I would look at having another. In the meantime, I would be down over 80 pounds, and I have regained the ability to work out, and have learned a lot about proper eating, and feel I would have a better chance of maintaining following it, than I had before it. I have learned a lot. I just hope it works for me forever! Kat

Hi friends--not even going to attempt to do personals---I slept a total of about 2 hours last night. DH went to work yesterday morning at 5:30---he starts at 6....they had one disaster after another, one emplyee problem after another, and he finally made it home today just after noon...he worked 36 hours straight. I had left a light on in case he made it in, and between that, and reflux, I just could not sleep. Today he slept when he got in, but I had the grandbaby, and I decided I would split some wood ( I am getting real muscles girls!!!), so DH wouldn't have it to do, now I am tired!!! When he woke up. I reheated what was going to be last nights dinner, he got up and ate, and I think we will be going to bed very soon. I think I better sit up and watch Grey's Anatomy--I am afraid if I try to watch it in bed, I'll be snoring before the first commercial!!! Actually DH said that with the weight I have lost, I no longer snore! What to do about his snoring now!!! Hope all of you sickies---Sherry, Mary---and whoever else is snifflin' and snufflin'---feel lots better real soon. Talk to y'all tomorrow!! Kat

I was in a seriously abusive marriage---to levels most of you would find hard to believe! And yes, prior to the physical abuse, was mental abuse. The article printed itemizing abuse is right on the money. And he may very well be mentally abusive right now. The question in my mind is---does HE know he is being abusive? I agree that the first year with an infant and 2 jobs---is very, very hard. If he is working one shift, and you another, and there is a baby around, it doesn't sound like you two have much alone time together. A sleep deprived, sex deprived person can be mean...man or woman! The difference is, your body went through the birth, and the nursing, and you had all the hormonal changes---he didn't. He likely wants back what he had, and is suffering some serious guilt over thinking that---I mean I am sure he loves his daughter to no end, but remembering life before....makes one wistful. And if life has not changed enough, here you go wanting more change!!! How dare you!!! Just kidding, but maybe he isn't. Maybe he IS worried, my DH was...he told me after the surgery, he was scared to death I would die in surgery. Well, in your case, if your DH thinks that....he then has a tiny little girl, to raise without her Mommy. I am not trying to exonerate him from being mean---he is definitely being an ass....but, I have to wonder, before the weight gain, before the baby, when things got tough, how did you handle them? Have you changed as well? We all change, every day we change...and hopefully we can both go with the ebb and flow of things, and grow and change together...but when you are already obviously out of sync....it is time that one of you is going to have to skip a few steps to fall into step with the other one. It sounds like he may not even have an idea of what is wrong---anger is often the easier emotion for people to express. We saw that with my step kids, when it was time to go home, they would pick a fight with one of us---it was easier to be mad, than to be sad about leaving they finally said!!! If kids do it---so can he. At least try to get through the first year or so, and see if you can settle into a routine that is not leaving you both exhausted. If you truly feel now is the time for surgery, then talk to him, and do whatever you can to try to keep it civil. If you think waiting is better, no one is going to fault you for putting in off for a few months! There is no cut and dried answer to your problem. You are the best judge of how you feel---whether you are in a bad situation or not. I would try to view him as scared, as opposed to just mean, and see if you can work with him any easier that way. Good Luck! Kat

Seems like eventually we all seem too---lessons are hard to learn!! A PB stands for "Productive Burp", when you eat too fast, or too much, or don't chew well, food does not want to pass through the band into the stomach, and becomes "stuck". The first sign is usually a pain in the chest, where the food is backing into the esophagus. Following that you usually begin to "slime". Slime is a thick, gooey, mucus, that the body produces in huge quantities very quickly to try to help your body, by "slicking it up". The problem being, we have very small pouches, and they are already full, so the best way I have found to deal with the slime, is gross as it sounds---spit it out! When that is not successful, the irritating food, usually comes back up. It is a form of vomiting---not usually (although it can be) as forceful as normal vomiting---and there is not any stomach acid mixed into it. It is simply the offending food, and slime. Once it is over, it is always a good idea to go back onto liquids for a day, so you allow any swelling it caused to go down. If you don't you can start an evil cycle of eat, PB, eat, PB..... Personally I had one bad episode ( I knew not to eat a damn donut!), and then I have definitely taken myself to a sliming point a few times. I do everything not to PB---it is said to be hard on the band. There really are people who have followed band rules well and never PB'd....but I was never really good at rules!!! Kat

Keeping your protein up at that point is a must, both for energy, and for healing purposes. I used 2 things. I bought through a local GNC, bottles of Zero Carb Isopure...it comes in bottles, like the Sobe drinks...and it has 40 g. protein per bottle, and comes in several flavors. I would drink half in the morning and half in the afternoon, also did lots of broths. I also ordered and used (still do on occasion) unflavored proteing powder from Unjury (www.unjury.com) . You can mix it in any cold or warm foods or liquids. If I am feeling now like I have let my protein get low, I will add a scoop to the spaghetti sauce, or whatever, it works!! I also ordered and had on hand several flavors of sugar Free syprups to use to make protein shakes. I buy the DaVinci or the Torini syrups...they are great for shakes, or to flavor hot chocolate...all kinds of things! When you get to the shake stage, you can add peanut butter, SF chocolate syrup, SF & FF puddings....all kinds of things to flavor shakes. I preferred that to the ready made as a general rule. I always had some cans handy for on the go tho. I chewed my vitamins (I take plain old Flintstones!!) and used a sublingual B complex, following surgery---my Dr. approved both. When I began food, I added Viactiv chews for calcium. I think you feel kinda run down following any surgery, but you bounce back quickly! Kat

Well keeping in mind I carry the majority of my weight in the belly...if I poke around I can locate my port, which is low profile, and located just left of center, about 6-7 inches below my braline in the front. It is not obvious...even the Dr. has to probe! As for the band itself on my stomach---no, I never feel it, other than knowing I have restriction, and the inability to overeat...but physically feel it...no, never have. I was hungry following surgery, while I was on liquids...it is a time referred to around here as Bandster Hell----an empty band, and being unable to eat. BUT we have all dieted and survived it, and you can survive this time too!!! Once you begin seeing the weight go down, it helps! I was banded the 24th of April, was on clear liquids for 7 full days after leaving the hospital, then full liquids (cream soups etc.---just had to go through a straw) for another 2 weeks. I went for my first fill in the middle of June. I suddenly had to seriously slow down when I ate...but that was about it for restriction. By this time I was on full foods, and was just being careful about what I ate. I went for a 2nd fill towards the end of July, and I met restriction with it. I am only able to eat a small amount, and I eat it fairly slowly...and am full. I have not felt actual hunger since the 2nd fill. I have to remember to eat if I get busy--I just forget! Not being hungry gives you a control, that is awesome, you are able to choose your food wisely, not just grab the quickest fastest thing!!! You know you are only going to eat a few bites, you really are not starving, so I find myself willing to go the extra, and make it really good!!! Where before a bag of chips was handy and quick, and soon empty! Now I can take my time,and make some cheese rolls, or something healthy...I am not rushed. Makes eating a whole new ball game!! Kat

I went to surgery at 9:30 AM, was up and walking around the hospital just after noon. I flew home 5 hours in the air, and another 5 by car on the 3rd day, and have seldom slowed down since then. I went shopping (we were remodeling my DD's house) the day I got home. If it was an office job I could have easily done it by day 3. Getting in and out of bed was the hardest, nothing to leverage on! Now....that being said, my SIL and I were banded together, at the same time...and she did not walk much in the hospital, and was down for a week or so when we got home. I attributed it to her being older (she is 58), and the fact she layed around rather than attmepting to move. Some people do have serious pain---it is all individual. But by and large most people I have heard, consider the surgery and recovery to be a simple one. Good Luck!! And WELCOME to LBT!!! Kat

Congratulations Julie!!! I knew it would come fast for you---you are working so hard!!! Before you know it you will be at goal, PS behind you, and looking back in awe at all you have done....and you will deserve it all! Kat

My biggest issue (I think it is too serious to be called a pet peeve!!) is people who refuse to safely buckle a baby or a child into a carseat! OK ladies, I know how to use one, I do not know however, if it is one word, carseat, or two words-car seat. If they love that child it should be buckled into a correctly installed, newer modeled, approved safety seat. Do they not know what a crash would do to that precious baby??? I have been known to spout off about this! Kat