housecatgirl

Tell your family....there will be alot of ruined Christmas' if you die from obesity and they think it's because they said you'd ruin Christmas by getting a surgery that may save your life!! Seriously though I agree 100% of what has been said already...I was up and around the next day and felt totally fine a week later!

Hi, My BMI was around 35. It has been a tuff road for me but I am glad I got the band. I was too tight for a few months which is when I lost the most weight but I don't recommend doing it that way for obvious reasons. I do have exercise...sometimes 2X a day. Now that my band isn't too tight I do have to control what I eat and can eat anything (just less) for the most part. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more specefic questions. You can also PM me. Oh, I was also banded by Dr. Ortiz. He and his staff are wonderful!

I have been feeling stuck since yesterday.:cry I got my third fill on Weds. Prior to that one I had no restriction. They gave me .5 cc. Later that night I had some Tomato soup and felt ok. Yesterday I tried some thicker potato/bacon soup and had the worst pain in my chest. Then later last night I had one chicken soft taco and I thought I was going to die...ended up pb'ing but still had the tightness in my chest even after the pb.:omg: This morning I got some coffee at my local coffee shop and they had some bananna bread that looked soooo good. I was feeling better and I thought maybe I could "prime" my band with the coffee and then eat the bananna bread. WRONG!!!! I ended up screaming at myself in the car like a lunatic, "NO BREAD...Damn it NO BREAD" :faint: all the way home. The pain in my chest didn't go away until a few minutes ago. I decided to take Kathy's advice and go get some aloe vera juice. The one I got at a local health food store is made by Lily of the Desert and it's supposed to be specifically a stomach formula concentrate. I also got the papaya enzymes. Well, I took it all at the same time so I don't know if one works better than the other but I feel alot better now!!:clap2: Thanks again Kathy. I would appreciate any food suggestions for the next few days. Even the soups give me some tightening in my chest. Is this normal? I hope I'm not too tight.

Carol, Hang in there. The scale will move eventually. Stay on liquids, don't even try mushies until it's been at least 24 hours or more. If you have another PB you have to start this process all over again. Trust me you will loosen up if you give yourself some time to heal your esophogus. I also reccomend getting a 14-day supply of Prilosec OTC. That, along with the aloe, helps alot. Don't get it removed. If you need a complete unfill to get through this trying time you would be better off than removing it completely. Are you working out and drinking enough water? If you are not eating much you should be losing if you are doing those other two things. If not, I would get my blood and thyroid checked.

Hi carol, I feel your pain. I've been there. Just sip the aloe...a few sips every hour or so for the next 24 hours (except when you are sleeping...of course) Stay on liquids ONLY for a minimum of 24-48 hours!! Good luck and keep us posted.

Oops!! I totally missed this! Is it too late for me to sign up? If not, you have all my info from before and I want to participate.:bolt:

Yes, I am very fair skinned and I have learned (the hard way) that I will fry if I don't get a base tan before a vacation to a sunny destination. I do use a tanning bed regularly in moderation (once per week) just because I like having a constant base tan. I like tanning beds better than the sun since it is a controled enviroment. I have also read that having a light tan is like a natural sunscreen and really does actually protect your skin.

When I had a sore esophogus it felt like a sore throat and even water hurt going down. The doc checked my band and pouch and reported everything looked fine BUT my esophogus wasn't fine. I went on Prilosec OTC for 14 days and all is well now.

For those of you that hate to exercise or find it difficult....try CURVES!! I love it...so much I even recently got hired at my local one...so now I'm a CURVES trainer.

If you have time, Hit your local tanning salon a couple of times before you head off to paradise. The rays are much more controled in a salon and you are less likely to burn with a little bit of a base tan.

Well....it certainly hasn't been easy!!! But, I can't complain about my 40 lb weight loss.

Yup! I am the same way. I think we are all somewhat obsessive or we wouldn't be overweight in the first place. I started obsessing on exercise...which is probably a much healthier obsession to have. I even just started working at Curves! Join a gym...preferably Curves...you'll meet people and have fun. That's my suggestion...

Probably too tight. Sounds like me for the past 2-months. I've had three unfills and my doc said everything looked perfect...no pouch dilated, no band slippage, nothing...even my restriction looked fine. After my last unfill I went on clear liquids only for 48 hours. Today I could've eaten a cow but it was the first time I have not been restricted in 2-months...now I think I may be too lose again! This band is very fickle!

Anyone tried Prime Rib with alot of au jus? My husband, son and Mom are going out for Thanksgiving. I have alot of trouble with chicken so I imagine it will be the same with Turkey. I want to try the Prime Rib since it's pretty good at the restaurant we're going to. I want to be able to eat if front of my Mom w/o having problems. She is already not a very good band supporter.

I love cheese, too. With my restriction, I can't over do it and at times I can't eat is at all but I love it. My store has a horseradish chedder that you can get in thin slices. It's supposed to go with roast beef and I am sure it does but it would be pb city if I tried roast beef so I am just stickin to the cheese...uuuummmm...it's so good.

Hugs...don't let one insecure arrogant idiot get you down. He was probably drunk, it not he was just an idiot.

Hi all, It's been a while since I posted. I am still having some issues with PB'ing even after 3 unfills.:peep: I am going to take it easy on liquid/mushies for awhile 'cuz I think it's related to a swollen esophogus. Anyway, I wanted to let you all know I got the job at Curves!!:clap2: I am excited I start on Friday. I would have never thought I'd go back into the exercise industry at my age (I used to be a personal trainer in my way younger, skinnier days). I also thought my weight was hopeless until I got this band. How my life has changed in 4 1/2 months!!:bananapowerslide:

I am right there with you. I still see the same 'ol girl. I hear it's pretty common. I never know how I really look unless I see a photo of myself. Even when I was fat, my image was distorted to think I was thinner and now it's reversed. It's weird.

socalgal3, I am with you today girlfriend. I really wanted to go to Jack in the Box today and order anything but there is NOTHING there that would go down. At least I am admiting that now...I guess the old me would have tried and promptly pb'd. I am really trying to be good 'cuz I don't want to be swollen on Thanksgiving. I'd like to be able to enjoy a little food. Look at you go girl...looks like you are almost 1/2 way there!! When we're feeling this way we should put on something old and see how baggy it is and then we can pat ourselves on the back. I know.. it still doesn't take away the cravings but it helps a little.

HI Jess, Yes, every time I have an unfill I swallow the barium and they look at the xray (or fluro) and they tell me everything looks fine. That is why I think maybe it's psychological or maybe a swollen esophogus. Maybe my body got used to pb'ing and now whenever I eat it just happens. I don't know but I figure if I just have liquids/mushies for a few days maybe I can get my body used to not pb'ing.

Cindy, you look beautiful. Can't wait to see your pix Leila! My hubby took pix of me last weekend but like the "shoemakers wife" the photographers wife is last on the list to get them. So far I don't think I've lost any hair but my hair is so thick it's hard to tell...a little thining would actually be kinda nice.

Hi all, It's been a while since I posted. I am still having some issues with PB'ing even after 3 unfills.:peep: I am going to take it easy on liquid/mushies for awhile 'cuz I think it's related to a swollen esophogus. Anyway, I wanted to let you all know I got the job at Curves!!:clap2: I am excited I start on Friday. I would have never thought I'd go back into the exercise industry at my age (I used to be a personal trainer in my way younger, skinnier days). I also thought my weight was hopeless until I got this band. How my life has changed in 4 1/2 months!!:bananapowerslide:

Which goes down easier for you chicken or beef?:confused: I actually haven't tried beef yet but I've been reading some complaints about chicken lately.:phanvan I am afraid to try beef since I am having such a hard time with chicken. If I take more than 2 bites within 10 minutes it's surely a PB. I am trying to eat more protein but I am sick and tired of this constant golf ball.:angry I already went for an unfill last week so I would really like to work with the restriction I have right now.

I got into a size 4 today! I can't believe it. They were a bit tight so I think another 10 lbs and they will be comfy and then another 10 and I will be in a 2....god willing. I am only 5ft 0".

I understand completely!! My mom freaked when I told her I had weight loss surgery....then she double freaked when I told her I had it in MX. This may be one you gotta go alone but she'll get used to it once you're banded. Anyway, you are not alone...you have all of us on your side.