Cindy C

Thank-you, Shirley. September 17 is always a very difficult day for me...but I got through it!

You learned a valuable lesson. We can all come in here and tell about it happening but until you experience it for yourself you have no idea!

That's all!

That would be up to your doctor. You need to be able to eat enough to give the baby what s/he needs.

You've wanted the lap band for so long? Why? Did you do any research? Did you have any clue as to the workings of the tool before deciding that you wanted it? Am I always going to "feel" the band in me? You cannot "feel" the band inside of you. You may feel the port but you will never feel the band. The nerve endings of the stomach are not the same as those of the skin. While you can feel pain from injury or disease the stomach cannot feel something simply touching it. Will you be able to eat solid foods? Depending on your doctor, you will be on a liquid diet for 2-4 weeks. After that, you will gradually add solid foods and will eventually be able to eat most things that you ate before just less of them. Is it bad to throw up? Yes. Throwing up can cause your band to slip. Can I get pregnant? Could you get pregnant before? The band will not change that. If anything weight lose will make getting pregnant more likely. You may have to have Fluid removed during pregnancy so that the baby can get the proper nutrition. Will I be able to live my whole life without this band negatively affecting me? As long as you follow the rules and respect your band it will affect your life positively.

That's great. Congrats!!

WTG, Shirley!

That's great, Tammylee. Almost halfway to goal in 6 short months! Good Job!

The motivation is still inside of you. You just need to dig deep and retrieve it. Remember how you felt as you watched those pounds melt away... the compliments...the clothes you were able to wear that you could never wear before. Remember how good you felt when you walked up a flight of stairs without getting winded...the new found energy...discovering the bones you never knew you had...the first time you were able to cross your legs... Now remember all the feelings you had in the years leading up to February, 2009. The despair...the feeling of worthlessness...asking for a table because you couldn't fit in a booth...having to shop in the plus size department...the ugly clothes. Which feelings did you prefer? You lost 92 pounds and have gained back 12. Sounds like ice cream is your trigger food. GET IT OUT OF THE HOUSE! Get yourself back on the band wagon. You did it once, you can do it again! Nobody else can do it for you.

No, you're not the only one. I can eat just about anything, albeit maybe only a bite or two of some things. Red meat is the only thing that gives me problems. But I probably don't chew it well enough. There are some things that I just choose not to eat...like bread and pasta.

Not as long as you keep following the process!

Try adding a scoop of Protein powder to it. I use whey/soy combo.. The whey just won't dissolve and tastes gritty. If you use chocolate Carnation and vanilla powder, it tastes pretty good. Kinda like a chocolate malt.

Happy Bandiversary, Tracie. Keep up the good work!

Throw some chicken, carrots, onions, celery, parsley, garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in the crock pot. Let it cook over night. In the morning, strain it and throw away the chunks. Put in the freezer in small containers to use when your ready. I used ice cube trays!

If you're sure you're chewing well then you are probably too tight.

OUCH!!!

I can see EKG and blood work but pap smear, mammogram, colonoscopy and chest X-ray? None of that has anything to do with this surgery! What, is she getting a kickback from the lab? I would seriously consider a different doctor. Be careful with the protein shakes. Some of them are loaded with calories. I make my own so I can control what's in them. Plus they taste better! Good luck. I'm sure she won't cancel your surgery as long as you follow her rules. If she does or you change your mind, Port Huron isn't that far from you and the best and most experienced lapband doctor in Michigan practices there!

I drink a pot of coffee every morning. My doctor said its fine!

It's been a very bad week. I found the 2 pounds that jlaroux lost. I'm checking in at 178.4. OK, gym....here I come!

10 points is like 500 calories...plus training for a triathlon? No wonder you're sick! You need to change that behavior before you find yourself being treated for anorexia!

I had the same problem. It was probably caused from the rapid weight loss. I went through the same tests. Isn't that ultrasound a treat?! I ended up having endrometrial ablation. That probably won't help you since you are so young. It makes the possibility of pregnancy almost nonexistent. But at 50, it was a bonus!

I think some people are under the misconception that the 6 month diet has to begin AFTER the process begins. It doesn't. You just have to prove that you have attempted to lose weight on your own. I had BCBS of Michigan. My primary wrote his letter to the insurance company telling them that I had met that requirement and I was approved immediately. In fact, I went to him on a Monday and already had a surgery date for the following Tuesday. He faxed the papers to the insurance company and I got a call from the surgeons office on Thursday that the approval came through.

I was the same way. I started out in a snug 3X and a few 4X's. Even though the weight was falling off the sizes weren't changing as quickly. Once I dwindled down to a 24 the weight loss slowed down a little but the sizes started dropping quickly. I was constantly buying new clothes. I even completely skipped over 22 and 18. Before I knew it, I was buying 14's. I stayed that size for well over a year and am now buying 12's and a few 10's. Don't worry. The sizes will start moving. In the meantime, enjoy not having to spend money on clothes you aren't going to be wearing for long.

Ask your doctor. They're all different. Mine says its OK to eat before then liquids 12-18 hours after.

The post-op diet is a couple weeks of not eating solid food. It really helps your mind get used to the idea of the life style changes you are about to adopt. It's really not that bad. If your like me, you won't even be hungry during that time anyway. My friends, family and coworkers were very supportive but honestly, if they hadn't been I don't think it would have made a difference. I was doing this for myself not for them. Ask your doctor to hook you up with another one of his patients that's having surgery around the same time as you. You can support each other. Go to his support group meetings if he has them. And by all means, keep coming here. We are all here to support each other. Don't worry about complications of surgery. Yes, there is always a risk with any surgery but this is the safest bariatric surgery there is. The mortality rate is less than 1 in 1000. As for the post-op discomfort (which is minimal) just think of the discomfort of living in a 43 BMI body. There is really nothing worse than that! You're 39 years old. They say that life begins at 40. Start your life happy in a healthy body. You'll be so glad you did!