Hippo's Hope

I was banded May 1, have had 4 fills, and I am filled to 1.6 cc's.

LindaV, Hang in there, Girl. Don't leave us. It isn't the same now, but we all need this support. Hope

Best of luck to you. Please be well!!! Hope

My doctor says no carbonation ever. I gave up my Diet Coke and I am okay with that. But sometimes I just want to grab a really cold drink and pop the can open so I have substituted Minute Maid Light Lemonade. It has no carbonation and only has 5 calories. I have rather enjoyed them. Hope

Thanks, T.O. Man! That made my day. Hope

Donna, My beloved grandchildren are adopted and in both cases it has been nothing but a positive experience. I have two things I would like to bring up to you. First, my advice, should you accept this assignment, (smile) is to make sure you have a good adoption lawyer to make certain things are wrapped up tight. Secondly, if the biological grandparents of this child are good, stable people, what would be the purpose of elimating them from the child's life? We know and love both our grandchildren's birth families. They are a part of our grandchildren's lives. I am a firm believer in open adoptions and think it is such a healthy approach to be honest with children. If you tell them the circumstances of their adoption and who the biological family is from the time they are small, it is never an issue they have to deal with at a later time. I hope that whatever decision you make, you will be at peace with it.

I Hope You Are All Happy - I Just Peed Myself!!!!!!!!!!

I know how you feel. I have cousins who have the same "body build" as I have and I would love to see them do this, but I don't know if it would be appropriate for me to bring it up. I love them to death but they aren't people I see and talk with real often. I have told only one very close friend who lives out of state and my immediate family about my surgery. My friend is about the same size as I am and I answer anything she asks but would be careful never to insinuate that she should do this. I figure she knows what I have done and if she is interested, she will know how to get more information. I don't regret it for a minute, but it's not for everyone. Sometimes I wonder if she is waiting to see how it works out for me. I HOPE I KNOCK HER SOCKS OFF!!! Hope

Ruthie, I was banded on May 1 and twice I have gone 3-4 weeks with no weight loss. I don't know if my body is just stubborn because of my age or what, but when I do lose, I lose a chunk all at once so in the long run I am still happy because my weight is going down. You have lost a large amount of weight in a short period of time and it would be very unusual (not to mention unhealthy) for anyone to keep losing at that rate. So don't get discouraged! You are doing an awsome job and it will happen for you. If you get stalled for a long time, try to find other things that can encourage you. When I'm not losing weight I take my mesaurements and sometimes that is enough to prove to myself that I am making progress. I have stayed at the same weight but been able to move to smaller clothes and that helps your head as well. Hang in there Girl! You have done an incredible thing by taking this step and you will not be sorry! Hope

Hang in there gals! I didn't feel well during the first weeks either - but it does get so much better! You have taken a wonderful and brave step toward making your mind and body healthier and you will begin to see results that will be so encouraging when you get further along with your healing process. We are all cheering for you! Meanwhile, don't be too hard on yourselves. Hope

I am very curious to know what Omnipack is. Would you let us know?

PhotoNut, I have tried in the past to find the Gorton's fish sticks on your recommendation. Would you mind telling me where you get them? I have tried Walmart, Albertsons and Freddies. Did I just overlook them? I did find them breaded but I don't think that is what you get. Thanks for the help. Glad to see you are losing regularly. You must look terrific by now!! Hippo's Hope

PhotoNut, I'm not a seasoned cruiser, so don't have advice for you. I just want to tell you that I am soooo excited for you! Just thinking about what a great time you will have makes me happy! What a great reward for yourself. The cruise alone would be wonderful, but how nice that you will be cruising with and learning from someone whose work you admire. What a bonus! Hope

LindaV, Thanks for asking about me. I have been out of town and just got back tonight. My last (2nd) fill was on July 12 and I think I am now filled to 1 in a 4 cc band. Not that much really. I can tell that I need to have more fill because I am able to eat anything without problem. That doesn't mean I have been eating tons of bad stuff, just that I can eat rice, bread, etc. without any problem. Another thing I have noticed is that I am able to eat pretty fast, so I have not been as careful as I should be with eating slowly. I need to concentrate on that more because I assume that with a better fill I will need to eat much more slowly than I have been. I think I told you that when I went for my 2nd fill I weighed in at exactly the same weight as my first fill (200 lbs) and then the very next day after my second fill I had dropped 7 pounds. Coincidence I am sure because I couldn't have been affected by a fill that fast. Anyway, as of a week ago I was still hanging in there at about 192-193 but I will be curious to see what I weigh in the morning after my week of vacation and eating out. My next fill is on August 9 I think. Hopefully that will help me some. I have just decided that I am not a very consistent loser. My body seems to hold on to weight for dear life and then let go of a bunch at a time so I just have to be patient and wait. That may be related to my age. I think my body gets more stubborn as I age. Anyway, how are you doing? When is your next fill scheduled? Hope

3loves, The fills are a piece of cake. (Sorry for that mental image) I got such a tiny little fill that I still don't have as much fill as lots of people get on their first fill, but I'm okay with it I think. I have noticed that so far I seem to be less hungry in the morning. I'm not sure whether I feel less hungry or whether I become more aware and inspired after visiting my surgeon. In any case, I have been eating less the last few days. Hope

I got filled on July 12 - after messing around with 198-200 lbs since May 22! (With the exception of one day in there where I dropped to 196) I weighed 196 yesterday and today I weighed 193!!!!! I think I finally broke that cycle. It has to be coincidence that my weight went down so fast right after the fill. My body hardly had time to know I got a fill when it dropped that weight. Anyway, whatever the reason, I am greatly encouraged to see the scales moving again. Hope I don't go into another slump like that for a while! Hope

LindaV, Thanks for the invitation to join you for the support group. I was out of town getting my second fill so just now read your post. I am now filled to 1.0 cc and sure hope it makes a difference. When I weighed in at the doctor's office yesterday I was exactly the same as the month before. At least I am consistent. I'm crossing my fingers that this month the scales show me something new - and I don't mean higher!!!!!!!!!! Hope

I have been able to get into some smaller clothes in the last week or so, so at least I have that to cheer me on a little in spite of what my scales are screaming at me every morning. Hope

Hi May Bandsters, I will be getting my second fill in two more days and I sure hope it helps! I have been fighting with the same two pounds since May 22! Seems a little odd that nearly all my weight was lost in the first three weeks after surgery. I have gone back and forth with two pounds now for seven weeks. I have had my moments when I have felt pretty discouraged about this but I keep hanging on with the hope that a second fill might make a difference. My first fill was quite small. Crossing my fingers. Maybe I should cross my hands over my mouth instead!! Hope

LindaV, Actually, your posts about restriction are really encouraging to me. I can 'hear' your excitement in your posts. I am soooo stalled with my weight that it is really starting to get me down. I keep reading about possibly needing to consume more calories but that concept is so strange to me that I am afraid to try it. I have started exercising (swimming and biking) and I just don't eat that much. Logic tells me that since I eat way less than before my surgery (and I wasn't gaining at that time) I should be losing weight - but that is not the case. I have been playing with the same 2 lbs. since May 22 and just can't seem to break the cycle. H. Hope

LindaV, I never even thought about having internal stitches, DUH! I haven't experienced this, but I wouldn't worry, mostly because you know you are going to a very conscientious doctor and he wouldn't let something go if it were any kind of risk for you. Hope

Ravensriches, (damn, I wish I had bought that land when I had the chance) You cracked me up on that one!! Hope

Am I weird, or what??? My kids were born in 1970 and 1971 and they called their's vagina and penis. Now I have a 3 year old grandson and he has a penis too. Oh, that reminds me, I have a story also. My grandson used to bend forward and look at his crotch area when sitting on the toilet pooping so he could watch the poop come out and fall into the toilet. So one day he says to me, "Grandma, did you know poop comes from your testicles?" I thought that was funny but a little weird until I looked and realized that from his angle it did appear to do just that. I had to explain to him that it actually came from his anus, located behind the testicles and that if it actually came from the testicles that would make it pretty hard for girls and ladies to poop, since they don't even have testicles.

LindaV, What night are you having soup? Hope

I had a hiatel hernia repaired at the same time my band was put in. Had my gallbladder removed also. Maybe your friend's hernia is worse than mine was. Hopefully, someone with more medical knowledge than I have will give you more insight about this problem. Hope