Kat817

First of all I think a call to your Dr. will not hurt anyone, and is likely a good idea. My guess, and that's all it would be at this point, is that for some reason you have some swelling. You may have eaten something that was a little harder to pass through, and caused your stomach to swell. Swelling will act just like a new fill, it reduces the passage way. Until you hear from your Dr. I would stick to thin liquids, and try some Aloe Vera juice, several here swear by it's soothing properties. The problem in continuing to try to "eat" is setting up a swelling pattern, which can lead to further complications. Eat, PB, swell....Eat PB, swell.....it is better to let it calm down and begin again with liquid to mushies, and then on to food again, once the stomach has settled down. Hormone fluctuation also causes different levels of tightness in the band...so you might take that into consideration. Let us know what the Dr. has to say. Good Luck, hope you feel better soon! Kat

This truly is an awesome site for gathering information. Welcome to LBT, and feel free to ask any unanswered questions, we are a helpful bunch, if a little goofy at times!!! Kat

Things happen when you least expect them, we almost lost our youngest DD during a routine tonsilectomy...it happens sometimes. Thankfully lap band like her tonsilectomy is very rarely a complicated surgery. Glad you are on the mend, be sure to post your new Christmas outfit!! It was a rough trip---but welcome to Bandland!! Kat

I have no experience with this...just wanted you to know someone was listening, and that I will say a quick prayer for you ta have good news at the Dr. Good Luck...if you don't get any responses, bump the thread,say tomorrow, it may just be a bad time...sometimes the site is really busy, other times it gets pretty slow. Usually you will get better response tho. Wish I could help!! Kat

Well ladies, my MIL & SIL can be royal pains in the patootey, but don't stack up to y'alls....thank heavens!! Although Sunday I was so ticked off at both of them I could have screamed, right in church!!! My MIL ask us to go to church with them, they were having Thanksgiving potluck. We usually go to a different church, but accompany them several times a year. For who knows what reason, when they brought communion around, They handed it in from the other end of the pew, my FIL, MIL, & SIL took communion and passed it back the way it came, totally ignoring my DH, our DS and his wife...like we were not worthy. My DH was sooooo mad, he told her that was only one of the reasons we don't attend that church! His sister then tried to tell us she did it, because she thought only people baptised in that church could take communion there...BS we have done it before, she just chose to ignore us. Good reason just to stick to our own church family. Where we KNOW everyone is welcome! As far as the favortism in grandkids go...I can tell it to you from the other side. It is uncomfortable, and a little scary even!! My former FIL, my ex-husbands Dad, made our DD his favorite even before she was born. 3 of my ex's sisters and I all had babies in an 18 month time period. He told me when we announced my being pregnant, that finally someone was going to give him his blonde haired blue eyed granddaughter. He already had 3 granddaughters, just not the blonde & blue variety! Well sure enough, along comes a blonde haired blue eyed little girl. He doted on her, he would put her on his lap and talk to her, ignoring anyone else in the room. He never took her anywhere alone, or made it like it was anything sexual--he just acted like she was his one and only grandchild, not the 8th and 2 within 6 months of her age. he just ignored them completely! It pissed off my ex SIL's, and I don't blame them....but when we would try to take her, or urge him to pay attention to the other kids, he would just shut down and go do something away from all the kids. Holiday time, he let my MIL do the shopping, but he would go buy for Amanda in addition to what she had already bought. He bought her stocks, opened her a savings account. Even after our divorce, I would take her to see her grandparents, and he still favored her. Years later, she would bake cookies to take to him in the nursing home, and he complained that she was the only grandkid to come see him...I thought well hell yeah!!! NOW you want them???? My DD tells me her Dad (my ex), she calls him by name, not Dad, he was never around. Anyway, he wants to be that way with our granddaughter, and ignore his grandson who is half Navajo!!! But she seldom sees him, and when she does she said he is often too drunk to realize anyone is around. She goes over to see her 1/2 sisters....poor girls!! Anyway---it was hard being on the other side too...never knowing what to do. Nothing you said changed anything. Hope I never get that wierd!!! I have received info from several of you for the card exchange, and will get it out to you when the rest come in, or say a week--whichever comes first. My DD didn't have Chicken Nuggets---which is way too cute!!! But she was given a stuffed toy, when she had chicken pox, she was 18 months old. It was kind of a humpty dumpty styled furry thing, and she called him Chicken Pox, and he kept that name forever! Check in with y'all oon! Kat

They had a form we could fill out at the seminar to have them call and schedule an appointment for more one on one, in depth discussion with the staff and/or the surgeon. But for the most part it was as others have said, handed out lots of information, did a power point presentation, listened to a couple of people who had had the band, and had a Q&A time. Nothing to be afraid of!!! Kat

I'm not really a newbie, nor am I a long timer yet...I am about 6 1/2 months out. I have also read where some people get gas pain, I personally had very very little. I had a twinge the day of surgery, and I figured that was what it was, but never had it again. I did not have a big meal the night before, or anything, and I have heard some say they thought that might have affected it. I have lost 72 pounds. I have been on a plateau for about a week, I have not lost anything at all, but my jeans are getting looser, and I do that sometimes, I end up losing a bunch of inches, and no weight on the scale--not sure how that works, but it's how it goes for me!! I have not been eating like a good bandster for a couple of weeks, that damned Halloween Candy that was left over did me in!! I have lost over 41" now. I eat pretty much whatever I want, some things are hard for me, but not many. I have to watch dry chicken...it causes me to hurt. I eat breads but minimally and slowly, and not alone...I mean I eat them as in pizza with the toppings, or a sandwich with the meat and mayo. I have trouble with cucumbers. I think they hit me the same way drinking with my food does, because they are so wet, I have to be careful with watermelon too...it feels like it floats, and doesn't go down well, I have to eat it very, very slowly. My surgery was by far the easiest surgery I have ever had...I have had a few!!! I was given pain meds in my IV when I come out of surgery, by that afternoon I ask them not to give me anymore, they give me such headaches! I stayed in the hospital that day, then they drove me to the airport the 3rd day, and I flew 5 hours home, as well as a total of 5 in the car. I took one shot of liquid Tylenol, during a layover. I have not taken anything for pain since, except the occasion chewable Tylenol for random headaches etc. I had stitches, we took them out 7 & 10 days after I come home. 7 for most 10 for the port incision. Becka, I cannot begin to tell you how worth it this surgery was to me!!! I began at 289 pounds, and a size 24...I am now 217 and a size 16. I can shop in most places now, and while not thin yet, no one looks at me as anything abnormal now. I can play with my grandbabies, I walk daily because I am enjoying it!!! I joined Curves, and feel proud that I am moving my body and getting healthier. I was very happily married prior to banding, he is an awesome man, and loved me the way I was...but I am such a better wife now! I have nergy to do things with him, to work around the house more...and am a lot less self concious without my clothes which has improved our sex life as well! When I went into surgery I took 2 different medications for high blood pressure, and one for a pre-diabetic situation...I take no prescription medications anymore. My blood pressure and blood sugars are both normal now! Mostly I have hope, and faith, something I never had going into other diets, trying to "do it myself". This is doing it myself. I still have to make the choices. I could eat candy and ice cream all day and never have lost an ounce. I make wise choices (usually!!). If I needed a pace maker I would get one, for my health. I needed to lose the weight for my health, I got the band, and it is working! I hope your nerves settle down, and allow you to make a rational choice, one you can be happy with. I recommend the band to everyone I know!!! If my own Mom or Daughter needed it, I would hold their hand til they went into the surgery...I believe in it so strongly! Good Luck, any questions imparticular, feel free to ask!!! Kat

Hi everyone- I am getting our list together...if you want a list of all of our addresses and phone #'s and email, get yours to me, and I will add it to the list. I will then email it to everyone in time for Christmas cards. If you want the card for your family, include DH's name or kids names, cuz heck some days I do good to remember my own kids names!!! Cassandra--how exciting 5 days!! We will be here for ya! Dianne-glad you enjoyed the conference. Don't you just hate it when you realize you forgot to get gas...it is always at the worst time!! I have to do it today, in the wind and snow, because I didn't want to take the time this weekend when DH offered to do it...dummy me!!! Will definitely say a prayer for your friend. Sherry--got your dancin' shoes on? Can I get a Yeehaw????? BTW have said and will say another prayer for DS's driving test. But...are ya sure about this, your worries will really begin now...I know, we did 3 of them! Betty--Sherry wants your recipe, I just want you to cook for me!!! Do you ever get any down time?? Is it still riding weather there? Snow flying here today, bike is likely up for awhile now. Though we leather up and try a couple of winter rides or 2...short ones!! As long as the roads are dry. Darcy--Tell us about your classes.....I am still dog-less. They decided to keep the pup afterall. Rick thinks they will call again in a couple of weeks, he is so mad!! Like he said, we should refuse then, and no sooner are the words out of his mouth and he says well that wouldn't help the dog. He is hoping they settle in with the dog, and keep him. Not so much because he doesn't want the dog, he doesn't want to deal with these people, they are pretty weird!!! Terri--how's the reflux? Mine is ok if I stay away from hot/spicy food in the evening, say after 6. Mandy--what didja get me when you went shopping???? I have about 1/2 of mine done...now comes the expensive half!! Patty--what do you have in mind for the boys for Christmas? Any left over cookies? GMBO (giggling my butt off) left over cookies with 4 boys...what was I thinking??? Eileen--isn't that boss gone yet??? I know you said tomorrow...we'll wait! Pat--what did you decide on the tree...it was VERY pretty. Do you usually decorate with a theme or color combo or just a bit of this and that? I collect snowmen, so my tree has a lot of snowman ornaments, but is mostly different types of icicles...not the foil looking kind...glass icicles...I love 'em! Mary--well if I did have your address, I don't now...I know I am so bad!! I have email on most of you but that is it. So if you don't mind sending it again, I promise I'll use it and send ya a card!!! Woohoo quite the deal you're gettin' there!!! Beannie--home safe & sound? I loved the pictures...someday I will go. Wish all my somedays would hurry sometimes, other times, I wish time would just slow a little bit!!! Cindy--hope you get another day where you have time to come and play. How did it feel turning in your paperwork? OK, gotta get myself in gear and get ready to go to town. My dryer is making the most Gawd Awful noise...Rick took a pulley off and I have to go to Maytag and get a new one. Going to do my Thanksgiving shopping for non perishables today, and try to grab another Christmas gift or 2, slowly whittle down my list. Rick and I decided last night that rather than buy gifts for each other this year, we are going this weekend to pick out a new camcorder. So if any of y'all have one you really like or really dislike, let me know. We want to get it now so we have learned how to operate it before the granddaughters birthday and Christmas. Then when I get back I am going to Curves...cuz I'll have so much energy left after all this shopping with a 2 yr old!! See ya! Kat

Ideally we should eat a healthy diet, and most of us try, some of them succeed. The rest of us muddle along doing our best!! There are different things for each person that they have trouble eating and passing through the band, most common are breads, and dry meats. Some people don't have issues with eating, and eat very normally in very small amounts. The band allows food to trigger your full nerves very soon, it also will begin backing food up into your esophagus if you continue, and that hurts! You do like they told you, and learn not to do that!!! The cost varies from under $10,000.00 in Mexico, and some other foreign countries, to over $20,000.00 in some states here in the USA. Some insurances cover it, some don't. It all depends on where you choose to have surgery, and can arrange follow up care. It is a serious step, and uyou should research all you can to see if it is something you could "live with". Good luck in your decision--and welcome to LBT. Kat

I cheated and copied this from my answers on b2g.....so in answer to the missing #10...hmmmmmm In the Garden....it has been played at both of my Grandma's...so I always thnk of them, would put me in good company! 1. What is your occupation? I ran a day care for over 20 years---quit when diagnosed with cancer--beat that, now take care of granddaughter while DD works. 2. What color are your socks right now? pink footies 3. What are you listening to right now? Norah Jones 4. What was the last thing that you ate? piece of colby jack cheese 5. Can you drive a stick shift? yep....did for years 6. Favorite Color: blue 7. Music Preference: I like a little of everything. 8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Rick aka DH 9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? sure do 11. Favorite drink? like amaretto....do it with sours now that I cannot do carbonation 12. What is your favorite sport to watch? football...Penni would likely laugh at me too!!! 13. Have you ever dyed your hair? highlights, but never dyed the whole thing 14. Do you wear contacts or glasses? glasses to read....more often lately dammit!!! 15. Pets? 1 very old tempermental cat--Bailey 16. What will you stay home to watch? Grey's Anatomy 17. What is the best movie you have seen? too hard to pick just one, it would change with my mood...I loved The Notebook tho 18. What is your favorite day of the year? Christmas, especially with grandbabies now!!!! Their Mommies and Daddies, get to figure out where to put everything, and buy batteries, and pick it all up...I get to take naps!!! 19. What do you do to vent your anger? Bitch, scream, throw things, poison someone, you know the usual. This answer works for me too!!! 20. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies...can't wait for my granddaughter to start playing with them!!! 21. Fall or spring? Spring, everything is new and fresh. 22. Hugs or kisses? depends on who it is...usually both 23. Vanilla or Chocolate? chocolate, DUH!!! 24. Do you want your friends to email you back?? Yes wellI want to read all the b2g peoples responses 25. Who is most likely to respond? ALL of them of course!! 26. Who is least likely to respond? I am confident they ALL will! 27. Living arrangements? In NM with my DH 28. When was the last time you cried? I cried with the baby this morning when she got hurt...scared Granny too!! 29. What is on the floor of your closet? Better question is...what's NOT on the floor of my closet...everything!!! 30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Sharon 31. What did you do last night? Watched Extreme Home Makeover, and Desperate Housewives....and snuggled with DH on the sofa. 32. Favorite smell(s)? Rain, sweet freshly bathed babies, caramel, freshly baked bread 33. What inspires you? My kids, my husband, my brother (he is quite handicapped, and yet never lets it get to him) 34. What are you afraid of? being alone, or disappointing the ones I love the most 35. Favorite food? food type Mexican---single item? My chimichangas 36. Favorite car? I really love my Intrepid R/T, but I think my favorite is my 69 Firebird 38. Least favorite person right now? DH's ex wife, she is on my s*#t list right now---woman needs to be shot---told the DD she wished he had died when he went through his GI bleed last month....WITCH!!!! 39. How many years at your current job? Mom for 25 years... 40. Favorite day of the week? Saturday---DH is usually off 41. Where you WANT to live in? We lived all over the place until we finally got back here where the family is...guess I'll just stay,unless we ALL get to move to a tropical island--- I mean if I lose this weight, an island would be good!!!! __________________

Beversman, you came to the right place for support. We will help you along in anyway possible, even if it just to listen when you need someone to vent to. We "use" each other that way a lot...and it helps!! Hang in there....and let us help. Kat

Hey Cindy--I got your info, and started a list. If anyone is interested, just send me your information, and I will just compile a list, and email it to everyone (well all of us) in a week or so, when I get them all. We will have it in plenty of time for Christmas cards. Kat

Terri--I have no idea, in fact my insurance required it for 12 months, and weekly visits with a nutritionist as well---which in my rural area we do not have a licensed nutritionist--I would have had to drive 186 miles one way -372 miles a week to abide by this. They finally gave in on that, and were going to allow my Dr. to counsel me on nutrition. I got 10 1/2 months into the program and was injured in a car accident, and they would have required me to start over, the 12 months has to be consecutive. I appealled, and lost, and eventually went self pay, in hind sight, i wish I had hired an attorney and MADE them pay!!! They claim to cover it, then they should!!! Good Luck---I will be pulling for you!!! Kat

WTG heather---I bet you can taste onederland now!!! Keep up the awesome work!!! Be proud of yourself!!! Kat

Amazing!!! Someday I hope to see that myself!!! I have a shirt just like the one you are wearing!!! Great minds and all that ....!!! Glad you had fun, but also glad you are home safe. Kat

I quit smoking 16 years ago!!! I had smoked since I was 15, and was smoking close to 2 packs a day. 3 friends of mine decided to join me in quitting, so I chose a day April 1st 1991. To be honest I chose that date so if I backed out I could claim it was an April Fools joke. In the meantime, my EX DH, told my DD there was no way in hell I could quit. I may not have if he hadn't given me the push I needed!!! I know exactly what you mean Mindy--if I started again, someday I would have to quit again, and that sucked!!! I have not had a single cigarette in all those years, but still on occasion, following dinner, I will reach down in the side of the chair I sit in looking for my cigarette case!!! I used to hide it in the chair from the kids! I don't actually "want" a cigarette, but the move is just a long left over habit I guess!!! Good Luck everyone---my suggestion to my DS who smokes, is to get a jar, and put an equal amount of money in it, as you spend on cigarettes. If you can't afford to put the money in the jar as well, then do without the cigarettes. Seeing how much you spend may help. A co-worker made me a huge cigarette bank, out of a map tube. I quit when cigarettes cost me $1.50 a pack. I out my $3.00 a day in there, and took my DD to Disneyland the following summer and we spent it on fun!!! Best of luck to you all!!! I too was unsure of how to vote...I used to smoke, but..... Kat

Yeah, mine continues to fall out as well, I shed all over my clothes, the furniture...almost burned up the vaccum!! It is definitely not starting the way it did with my chemo. Then I could lift my hand through my hair, and leave nothing behind. We finally shaved it, and used duct tape to remove the fuzz...was devastating at the time, sounds humorous now....or did when my hair was not falling out again!!! Hate that y'all...or most of you, are going through it too, but I am also glad not to be alone!!! Kat

When you eat something that gets stuck, or makes your feel too tight, your body tries to help it get through by producing massive quantities of what we lovingly refer to as "slime". It is just mucus, a heavy type of saliva. The problem being, when things aren't moving, that thick stuff backs up quickly. I myself am a spitter when it comes to sliming. I keep a throw away cup or old water bottle in the car to use, it is gross, but safer than letting it make me throw it up. You are right tho, it is nasty stuff!!! You might just put a call in to the Dr. and see what they say, and maybe avoid a wasted trip. Good Luck! Kat

These bands are fickle, that's for sure!!! I would kind of hold off on the fill until I could eat consistantly. Pay very close attention to how you are eating, is my only advice. I get in a hurry, or space out, and revert to my old gobble habits, and ooops...... My best advice would be to discuss it with the Dr. he should have better advice than I can offer, I am sure he has seen it all!!! Good Luck!! Kat

WELCOME MAGGI!!!! Congrats on your choice to be banded!!! The 20th is right around the corner!!! You have found one of the best support and information sites around!!! Day time is sometimes kinda slow with everyone at work, evenings pick up!! Read through the thread, and check out all the areas on the site, and ask any questions you have....we are all here willing to help, and make this as easy as we can for you!!! Once again...welcome!!! Kat

Mine accepted my regular Dr. visits with weigh ins as proof of my time line of obesity. But they did not count towards the Dr. supervised weight loss program, including but not limited to exercise programs, and meeting with a nutritionist. One of the requisites with my insurance was that I have 12 consecutive months of such meetings with my Dr. I began that, and did it for 10 1/2 months, when I was in a car accident, not my fault, and they were going to require me to start the 12 months over, since it had to be consecutive, and my time out for surgical repair to my knee, messed my time up. I appealled it, only to be denied again. I ended up self paying in Mexico. Ironically I used my settlement from my accident to pay for it. Many insurances are more lenient than mine, I have seen many on here, get approved right off the bat, and many others appeal, and then get approval. So don't get discouraged yet...Might be a good plan just to call and speak with a rep at both insurance options. Best of luck to you!!!! Kat

Jessica---welcome, we are glad to have you here, I think you need us. Many of us have had similar feelings to what you describe...being obese, morbidly obese in my case, was very depressing. I seldom let it show, I was in a happy marriage, but the list of things I let my weight get in the way of, was a long one. Being banded has been a god send to me. I am not hungry. I eat, I just eat a lot less than I ever would have been able to live on without losing control due to hunger. For the first time I have true hope and faith that this is going to work!!! Going into the multitudes of diets I tried, I always had that doubt, because in one way or another I always felt deprived. I don't now. I can eat pretty much anything, I just don't care to eat very often, and when I do, since I am not starving, I am able to keep a level head, and make wise food choices. However when I want something bad for me, I often have it....I just can't eat enough of it to derail my progress. Daytime on LBT is a little slower, come evening when most of the regulars get off of work, post again, and you will have support rolling in! There are a lot of people here, both married and single, looking and not looking!!! The amount of support and friendship I have found at this site, is impossible to tell you. I am sorry your little guy has hurt your feelings. He is young, he just is brutally honest. If you find a way to be banded, you can work on becoming the thin Mommy he thinks he wants!!! But if you don't....relax, you are the Mommy, he will always love you!!! Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. Look through and read up on all the different threads---it is a great site--and we are glad you found us!!! Kat

You're right Mary, most of us have been there, I know I was. I always regained the lost weight plus a few extra pounds. You have found an awesome site for information and support. Read through the threads, and don't be afraid to ask any questions you have. Day time is a little slower, with so many people working, but evening it is a busy place!!! Ther are a lot of very helpful people here, who are really knowledgable about the band and the banding process. I have come to count some of these guys as close friends. Please feel free to ask away!!! And welcome to LBT--and congrats on deciding to take control of the weight, it is by far one of the best things I have ever done in my life!!! Kat

Well I got my walk in yesterday, I think I burned extra calories, shivering part of the way!!! I got out about 1/2 a mile and the wind started, we have a storm blowing in, and I like to have froze to death!!! Ended up out for almost an hour, and then come home to thaw out in front of the fire. It was so cold, before the wind started to much, you could smell the different types of wood people were burning, and one house I walked by you could smell the dryer, the heated fabric softner smell!!! And I could smell all kinds of different things cooking...even the Pizza Hut delivery smell just hung in the air. Iguess that was the calm before the storm, because within minutes of realizing how clear the air was...the wind began! Anyway, I got my fluid in, and managed to count yesterday, just not with much to add on!!! Today I will be hitting Curves, but will likely drive down with the weather the way it is. My Mom has come down with a cold, so it may interupt my ability to go to Curves, as she takes care of the granddaughter so I can go. Guess I will break out the exercise tapes in that case, the baby thinks they are great fun anyway!!! Hope you had a good birthday Betty!!! Kat

Betty--back in August, we talked about a list of addresses so we could exchange Christmas cards. Anne was taking care of it I think, at least that's who I sent my address to. It was around the time Donna disappeared and we all swapped email so we could track one another down if needed. I don't think it would be difficult to gather and distribute them among ourselves...if you want me to try. When I think about Donna---it makes me really want a way to find one of y'all if you should suddenly be gone too. I worry about her. Especially with her son in the military...scary business. Anyway...let me know...and Anne if you already have it done...Yeehaw!!! Kat