Band_Groupie

This was my list vs. RNY. My reasons for the LB: - Safer surgery (no cutting other than the Laproscopic incisions, and fat tissue around where the band will go) - Unfill at any point needed and Reversible if needed for other health reasons - Less complications (dumping, hair loss, etc.) - Slower weight loss (easy to explain when you're not 'telling' everyone. I’m a lower BMI without severe comorbidities, so I don’t need to get healthy FAST). - Easy to get proper nutrition- I don't EVER have to drink a protein shake. - Continued interaction/accountability to the surgeon (ie. I had to sign that I would continue seeing my surgeon for 5 yrs. post-op, he covers 6 fills as part of the package so it's not for more $, he really wants you to be successful long-term) - Continued adjustments to stoma for life (RNY/some others- can stretch the stoma, some need revision surgery to retighten this.) - I'm more interested in a slow significant weight loss and keeping it off than a huge weight loss...in other words, if I don't lose all 100 pounds as long as I get to healthy and stay there that's OK with me. It's the keeping it off I'm most interested in. - I need portion control, not reactions to bad foods. I already know I can diet pretty successfully (I'm a professional dieter, just can't keep it off and I feel like I'm starving) so I'm not worried about counting calories etc. (I don't think I need the malabsorption).

LOL...I didn't realize that it wouldn't let you stack that many...how do some get such a lot into their sig? Lest you delete a Bunny (blasphomy! we'd have to take back your bunny ears!) or *gasp* My Man Mickey...I can put forth the effort to scroll over:lol:...after all, you'll be getting rid of that 'Band Birthday' one soon enough YAY!...problem solved LOL!!!

OK, who needs Ticker/Banner help, because SOMEBODY (Thin, is it you? ) forgot to put a return (Enter) between their tickers and I'm WAY too lazy to scroll side to side and I can't see everything you're writing....LOL.

Why? I started the SWA group in the bloggers section of LBT in support of weighing daily...we have a great time at our meetings...crafts, musical scales, graphing your daily weight lectures, join us! (Scale Whores Anonymous...oops, not so anonymous...I guess I just outed myself) Yes...there's a very secret ritual...put on your blindfold and bunny ears and we'll all join you in that dark room over there. LOL...your in. Someone will be along to 'put you on the list'. (sorry, I'm having a good day...WELCOME)

Does the sight of this lovelly belt send shivers down your spine? But it says 'You can add extra holes.' And look, I think it goes ALL the way out to 15"! Thinspiration? And for my metric friends, they have your size too... Hey, why stop there...let's place it around the hips! Quiz: What's the scariest part of this picture? A. The tape measure belt? B. The fact that this person has no belly button? (I'm guessing tummy tuck and they didn't want to pay the extra moohla for a new button?) The "Anna Rexia" costume with a tape measure belt...that's just so wrong! Now MAYBE once my pants are this baggy and if I don't have a buckle... And for my friends in our Bunny Bandsters April group... OK, I could totally wear this bracelet. My wrists are tiny...but that's the only thing on me that is! What's next...shoes with digital scale displays ontop?!!

Does the sight of this lovelly belt send shivers down your spine? But it says 'You can add extra holes.' And look, I think it goes ALL the way out to 15"! Thinspiration? And for my metric friends, they have your size too... Hey, why stop there...let's place it around the hips! Quiz: What's the scariest part of this picture? A. The tape measure belt? B. The fact that this person has no belly button? (I'm guessing tummy tuck and they didn't want to pay the extra moohla for a new button?) The "Anna Rexia" costume with a tape measure belt...that's just so wrong! Now MAYBE once my pants are this baggy and if I don't have a buckle... And for my friends in our Bunny Bandsters April group... OK, I could totally wear this bracelet. My wrists are tiny...but that's the only thing on me that is! What's next...shoes with digital scale displays ontop?!!

Have a fun time! Sounds like a blast! -BG

Hey Bunny! I'm trying to do 2 miles, but I'm finding it difficult to get motivated daily. Happy blogging! -BG

Geez! Watch out for the word 'salad' at Ruby Tuesdays! Interesting!

Welcome JT...I don't think you're on the April list here yet?

I've only ever created a new one, so I don't know about the pin. To delete your current ticker. If you go to page 9 here, post 128 I give instructions on how to get to your signature (just skip the Easter Text instructions). When you get to the Edit Signature page go down to the middle 'Edit Signature' box. Right click on your ticker and a box will pop up. Left click on 'cut' and you're done. Oh, and don't forget to click the 'Save Signature' button at the bottom to save any changes. Welcome!

Hey there. If you haven't found us yet there's an April '09 group HERE. We're all at the same point you are! -BG

Hey Murphy! Just remember those studies/figure include all those people who 'failed their band' as they like to say here...you can 'eat around' any WLS. I could get a band and eat nothing but oodles of milkshakes. If you took a poll of everyone here who's had any kind of success with the band I'm sure the stats would be much higher...it's still all up to you. Good luck Bunny! -BG

Both enough water and enough protein will help you with weight loss, not hinder it. If you're eating too little your weight loss will actually slow down as your body will slow your metabolism. Good luck! -BG

We'll get there soon Sherry (us 'April Hopefuls')! My secret plot to make time speed up....Lists, lists, and more lists!!!

I’m about 6 weeks away from my pre-op class so I’m trying to put together some lists so I’ll know what to buy now, or what I need to ask/gain approval about from my surgeon. Is there anything I’ve forgotten? Here’s the list I’ve compiled from everyone’s suggestions for taking to the Hospital (this does not include my post-op at home list). I’m a Mary Poppins (I’d rather have it and not use it, then to be wanting it and not have it) so taking a lot doesn’t bother me a bit (and we’re only 30 min. from the hospital)…so add away! I should note that I’m allergic to most soaps, thus the reason to take my own nighty and sheets for the bed- just take 2 top sheets to sandwich as a buffer between their sheets (had a bad reaction last time). HOSPITAL Toiletries/Medicines Mouthwash Toothbrush Toothpaste Soap Shampoo Conditioner Brush/Comb Hair holders (ponytail, clips, headbands) Facial Moisturizer Pads Baby/Butt Wipes (flushable) Chapstick (several) Kleenex Regular Prescriptions and Asthma Inhaler/spacer (ask Surgeon) Cough remedies (ask Surgeon) Migraine remedies (ask Surgeon) Chewable vitamins (ask Surgeon) Gas X (ask Surgeon) Heating Pad/ext. cord for back/gas pains (probably not allowed, ask), or possibly the chemical heating pads (adhesive, ask)? [*]Clothing Robe Slippers (slip on kind) Nightgown that buttons off-don’t have to lift arms (allergies to hospital ones) Extra undies (not the silky kind-slide on sheets) Extra Socks Change of LOOSE clothing for ride home, w/slip on shoes (underwear, bra, drawstring pants, button front top, socks, shoes, jacket). [*]Sleeping Pillow (my own) Eye Mask Ear plugs Sound machine if own room (ask?) Small Throw/Blanket (get cold in hospital) Sheets (allergies to hosp. ones) [*]Personal Items Insurance Card/other info. needed Small firm pillow to hold against stomach for ride home, and for sneezes/gas pains/coughing in hospital SF Mints, Tic Tacs (ask surgeon if you can suck on these) Packets of Crystal Lite & SF Koolaid (why? Need this? Ask surgeon) Camera (for photos) Water bottle, no straw-sippy kind (need this? ask), others suggest small shot glass to measure fluid intake Notepad/pen; to write down info., notes from nurses/doctor, etc. [*]For Boredom Ipod & Earbuds Cell phone & charger Books or magazines Reading Glasses & case [*]DH Items *Have him keep a bag with my valuables, ie. Cell phone, iPod, camera, insurance card/info. etc., while in surgery Laptop/cords Book/magazines Snacks/Drinks Cell Phone/Charger Phone numbers list

Not sure since it's also dependent on height, but here's a calculator link you can play with the pounds and see what happens. Calculate your BMI - Standard BMI Calculator

Thanks Pharma for updating the list! Wow the Bunnies are multiplying!

Here's some better detail if you're having trouble with your banner (like "Bunny Bandsters - April '09" signature line-see below) 1.Left Click HERE and it will bring up a separate Eater Text window with the same Banner below (feel free to change anything on the banner by clicking in the boxes below it, just be sure you don't make it too wide or it will stretch the LBT window past the screen size..if you want to keep the animation moving/different pace use the Animation speed box). 2. Back on you LBT window go to top left and look for 'User CP' (in the top banner) and left click it. 3. Now go down the left column and look under 'Setting and Option' then down to 'Edit your Signature', left click on that. 4. Go back to the Easter Text window and copy the ACTUAL PICTURE (not the link). To Copy something; hold down your left click button and scan across the item until it's highlighted completely (turns blue), then right click on it and a box will pop up (banner should still be blue), now left click on 'Copy'. 5. Go Back to your LBT window. There are three main boxes top to bottom there now. The top one says 'Preview', the middle one says 'Edit Signature' and the bottom one says 'Signature Picture'. Go to the middle box ('Edit Signature') and in the box there right click on the spot (make a single space for it by pressing Enter or you could get tickers on the same line and it will be too wide) where you want to insert the banner; a box will pop up, now left click on 'Paste'. You should now see the whole banner and it should be animated. 6. Last step...scroll down to the bottom box ('Signature Picture' box) and at the very bottom there are two small gold boxes 'Save Signature' and 'Preview Signature'. Left click on 'Save Signature'. DONE! If you want to preview it before saving you can click that button and view it up in the top 'preview' box at the top, but don't forget to Save when you're done. Let me know if you need more help. Welcome new Bunnies!!

WARNING- If you don’t want to hear more about my incontinence problems…STOP READING…NO, REALLY…I’m going to pee on you!!…Alright, you’ve been warned. If you haven’t heard about my past issues I’ll sum it up by saying having three kids did my body in…I didn’t have migraines or osteoarthritis and I certainly wasn’t obese or incontinent until I had children. It’s all their fault…not buying it are you? Well, the incontinence IS probably from childbirth…that and genetics, Mom has had two incontinence surgeries (she’s had 5 kids), one of my sisters is on “urgency/bladder” pills (she’s had 4 kids), and DD, yes my 21 year old DD just started the same medication this year (no kids yet…she’s doomed…but that’s our secret…k? I want to be a Grammy someday!). Three and a half years ago I got fed up…it was just before I got diagnosed with adult-onset asthma…extreme coughing and incontinence together…it’s not a pretty thing. So I swallowed my pride and brought it up at my annual OBGYN exam. Before I knew it I was tested, retested, scheduled, and in for surgeries…not one, but two…a hysterectomy and a bladder sling (both solely for incontinence) back to back with two different surgery crews. The surgeries worked!...I was even contemplating buying some cute underwear, maybe even a thong, now that I was sans mega-pad! Fail! Yep, starting just a few weeks out and before the next year I was back in my mega pads…DS2 calls them ‘dia-pees’…lovely…and no, I’m not in diapers, yet…groan. My coughing/sneezing/laughing pee problem stayed cured, but getting to the potty in time…I’m like a 2 year old starting potty training (lots of running with clothes flying off...good thing I'm now at home and 10 steps from a bathroom at all times)! After another 2 years I got up the courage to go back to my Urologist for more fun testing (read Urodynamics- HERE and Glamour Shots... HERE if you haven’t had enough already), let’s just say he was baffled as I’m the only patient he’s had that the surgery has failed…don’t I feel special…yep, I’m a mystery. So he sent me to another Urology Specialist. I had to wait four months to get in (I took that as a good sign that she must be magical), but today was finally my day! Whoo-hoo…I was expecting more Urodynamics and maybe some new fun testing. The nurse brought me in and asked me about a million questions…some that got me thinking about what testing might be in store for me; things like… ‘Have you ever had your Urethra dilated?’ I have no clue what that means but it sure sounds painful and visuals of balloons up my hoo-ha were forming!! I, of course, divulged that I would be having LB surgery next month (just in case they couldn’t get all their testing in by then). (*Side note here: After exclaiming ‘You don’t look like you would need WLS!’, she spent the next 5 min. asking me all about it). I gave my usual lemonade sample and waited on the table…in came the doc and I told her the same story/issues I’ve been having…she gives me a puzzled look…I’m thinking, here we go again…but then…wait for it… ‘Did your Urologist put you on medicines?’ Me ‘Nope. I know there’s stress and urgency incontinence, but he always said I only have the stress kind and meds wouldn’t help me.’ More frowning…I’m thinking the testing list is getting longer… ‘You DO realize the surgery doesn’t cure any of the urgency problems you’re still having?’ Say WHAT?!!! After that I believe there was some diagram drawing and discussion of the different causes of incontinence, but my head was spinning. Stirrups up and a quick exam and I was given some pills to try out…ARE YOU TELLING ME THE LAST THREE YEARS I COULD HAVE BEEN TAKING A SIMPLE PILL FOR THIS??!! I’m on VESIcare (Yep, I'm now one of those annoying pipe people with leaky pipes, faulty internal plumbing, and drippy spigot- genitalia until I get my pill...maybe I need a gauge) and I ‘should notice results immediately, or there’s about 5 other pills we can try!’ (so I might be one of those 'gotta go, gotta go, gotta go RIGHT NOW peeps). She wants me to go in for a bladder and kidney ultrasound, just because I’ve never had one, but that’s it….NO MORE TESTING! WOOT! Thongs may be in my future yet…maybe when I get a skinny ass. If this works I'm so buying my new Fairy Godmother one of these lovely note holders...hey, I'm appreciative...and look...oooo shiny! The rest of our time was spent chatting about the Lap Band, obesity, my family history…yadda yadda…we got along famously. I got the obligatory “You don’t look like you need WLS!” about 3 times out of the doc…another nurse came in for my exam and the first thing the doc said was “She’s having LB surgery!” Nurse “You don’t look like you need WLS!!” Other than DH the only people I’ve told (besides all the WLS docs and pre-op docs) are 4 other doctors and 5 nurses now…and I get the same initial words every time (I must be an expert fat camouflager). They went on and on and I had to justify why I was doing it, my years of yo-yoing, my BMI, and my family history of terrible comorbidities I’m facing. The nurse even asked me how much I wanted to lose…I said I’d be really happy with 80-100 pounds, but I would be happy if I could lose 60-80 and KEEP IT OFF. Her reaction… ‘Well, you could diet and try to lose that!!’ Hadn’t she just heard my history?... ‘Well, I HAVE lost that much before, many times…I need something to help me KEEP it off and help me not feel like I’m starving.’ They just couldn’t get over that I would need WLS…it was a very friendly conversation but it got to the point after about 10 min. of this (as I was sitting with ‘the sheet’ over my lap) that I finally laughed and yelled ‘OK, I’m a lot skinnier on my top half than the bottom half…just take a look at my fat ass when I walk out!’…I was NOT getting my naked butt off the table to prove my point…interesting that they were gathered in the hall as I changed and walked out. My follow-up is in August…I’ll show them! I’ve got to say every time this happens, I’m not embarrassed, or upset, it’s just exhausting to try and justify why I need this and I don’t think I’ve convinced one person yet that I need this…and they’re all doctors and nurses who have heard my health issues and the family ones I’m facing…HOLY C*@P, if I can’t convince someone in the medical profession I need this, I’m SO glad I’m not telling my friends and family!!!

After you preview don't forget to save it there in edit you sig. Just guessing why it didn't show up.

Hey gals, I'm not telling anyone but DH. My 4 siblings are all as big as I am or larger and I know I'd get a lot of positives, but I'm sure a lot of negatives from them too. I may tell them someday (they've already seen me up and down a million times). I just can't handle any negatives or having to justify this right now. Jessica, You and I will probably have a shorter pre-op diet. I get my class scheduled on April 1 and she said I'll be banded sometime between the 15-20 so it can't be too long (some on LBT have no pre-op diet at all).

I'm still getting the Raz? LOL! I know, I know, it's only 1 night at the hospital and I'm not giving birth this time, so I have pared down. Don't think I don't have one for home LOL! I've been making soups and broths from recipes here (way tastier than the canned stuff). I know they won't go to waste...I could hardly keep any to bag up as my family kept eating them.

You can play this music video as you're reading (not exactly soothing background music, but that's kinda the point)... (Oops, sorry it's just a link. It won't let me embed music anymore...I'm-tech challenged.) Well I WAS a mere 3 pounds from being able to cut off another one of my Ten Pound Heads (on my WL ticker). I ate stuff I shouldn’t have on my long-weekend…I guess I was going through that ‘Last Supper Syndrome’. I know (at least this one was a conscious thought) I was saying goodbye to beer and all it’s foamy carbonated goodness (I appreciate a good hoppy ale). Thank goodness I don’t drink pop (soda for you non-Midwest natives) so there was nothing there to give up forever…coffee has been hard enough. I gained back 2 pounds. You’re thinking now that I’m going to get out my cat o’ nine tales (with my name engraved in the leather) and whip myself here in my usual self deprecating way? NOPE! Here’s the interesting part to me. Yesterday I was thinking through what I’d eaten, and I was shocked that I didn’t have any sweets, not even chocolate (in the past any binge would have included heaps of sweets and definitely chocolate). Most of the stuff I ate was generally pretty healthy, just too much of it (OK, there was one bowl of pasta in there). Monday night it was that old feeling of I can’t get enough food…at one point I even stopped and thought I’m full, why they heck am I standing in front of the fridge again looking for something else…it was like I couldn’t get satisfied. But guess what, on my ‘big binge’ I was pulling vegetables, peel cheese, and meat from the fridge…but then DH came home with half a sub and after all that, yep, I ate it too. I remember getting scared at one moment in front of the fridge…I was thinking what the heck am I going to do with the band?? I can’t do this! I’d stretch my pouch or OMG slippage! How am I going to handle this head hunger monster? Why can’t I stop this! It truly scared me. So here’s the good part and why I’m not going to beat myself up about it. Let me stop and remind anyone here who doesn’t know me that I’m a professional dieter so I’m not nearly as worried about losing (at least the initial 50 pounds I know I can do). I’m way more worried about keeping it off and dealing with my un-banded head hunger (this really needs to become a double surgery). I found that even on my Last Supper Binge the choices I made were mainly so different than what I’ve done the rest of my fat life so something is starting to change in my head. Even better, during the binge I was questioning my fullness, my actions, and how scared I was. Do you think I would have ever done that before…nope! I’d feel super bad about breaking my diet, absolutely, but then I’d feel like a failure and give up and go grab more chocolate and chips and…and…and... This ‘incident’ was a good thing for me. I’m seeing that my head is changing…yep, I’ve got LOTS more work to do with the head hunger beastie, but in the thousands of diets I’ve been on I’ve never even had the courage or insight to face that beast. I’ve only actually been dieting this month, so I know this is going to take some time. That’s the good thing with the LB...it’s for life…little bumps along the way are just short-term glitches because this lifestyle change goes on forever…and I can do this…with the help of my soon-to-be-band. I’ve just got to…Get My Head In The Game!

I'm posting this also in the Pre-Op Forum, but I know a lot of you are post-op here and may not see it, and you're the experts I need input from... I’m about 6 weeks away from my pre-op class so I’m trying to put together some lists so I’ll know what to buy now, or what I need to ask/gain approval about from my surgeon. Is there anything I’ve forgotten? Here’s the list I’ve compiled from everyone’s suggestions for taking to the Hospital (this does not include my post-op at home list). I’m a Mary Poppins (I’d rather have it and not use it, then to be wanting it and not have it) so taking a lot doesn’t bother me a bit (and we’re only 30 min. from the hospital)…so add away! I should be there one night. I should note that I’m allergic to most soaps, thus the reason to take my own nighty and sheets for the bed- just take 2 top sheets to sandwich as a buffer between their sheets (had a bad reaction last time). HOSPITAL Toiletries/Medicines Mouthwash Toothbrush Toothpaste Soap Shampoo Conditioner Brush/Comb Hair holders (ponytail, clips, headbands) Facial Moisturizer Pads Baby/Butt Wipes (flushable) Chapstick (several) Kleenex Regular Prescriptions and Asthma Inhaler/spacer (ask Surgeon) Cough remedies (ask Surgeon) Migraine remedies (ask Surgeon) Chewable vitamins (ask Surgeon) Gas X (ask Surgeon) Heating Pad/ext. cord for back/gas pains (probably not allowed, ask), or possibly the chemical heating pads (adhesive, ask)? [*]Clothing Robe Slippers (slip on kind) Nightgown that buttons off-don’t have to lift arms (allergies to hospital ones) Extra undies (not the silky kind-slide on sheets) Extra Socks Change of LOOSE clothing for ride home, w/slip on shoes (underwear, bra, drawstring pants, button front top, socks, shoes, jacket). [*]Sleeping Pillow (my own) Eye Mask Ear plugs Sound machine if own room (ask?) Small Throw/Blanket (get cold in hospital) Sheets (allergies to hosp. ones) [*]Personal Items Insurance Card/other info. needed Small firm pillow to hold against stomach for ride home, and for sneezes/gas pains/coughing in hospital SF Mints, Tic Tacs (ask surgeon if you can suck on these) Packets of Crystal Lite & SF Koolaid (why? Need this? Ask surgeon) Camera (for photos) Water bottle, no straw-sippy kind (need this? ask), others suggest small shot glass to measure fluid intake Notepad/pen; to write down info., notes from nurses/doctor, etc. [*]For Boredom Ipod & Earbuds Cell phone & charger Books or magazines Reading Glasses & case [*]DH Items *Have him keep a bag with my valuables, ie. Cell phone, iPod, camera, insurance card/info. etc., while in surgery Laptop/cords Book/magazines Snacks/Drinks Cell Phone/Charger Phone numbers list