ericsmom

jdjjwoo - congrats on the great NSV!! What a great feeling

My nutritionist and I were just talking about this at my appt. She asked if others were reporting having to do the same types of things I am. I told her how some people have to drink this barium stuff and get the fill with an x-ray machine. She'd never heard of that. The program is new at the hospital I go to, but by having my area numbed before he put the needle into the port went just fine. I layed on a table, pushed my stomach out, and he put in the 3 cc's. I drank 3 dixie cups of water in five minutes before I left and then I went home. It's just amazing how many different ways things can be done. Good luck to you Beth! You'll do just fine. I'm glad you're feeling better about getting your fill.

Hi Gang! I had two appts. today - my therapist and my nutritionist. At my nutritionist appt. it was great because we just pulled up FitDay on her computer and I could show her what I've been eating and the reports on the average amount of protein, exercise and calories I've been taking in. She was amazed by it. She said I'm doing really well and that I "get it". Apparently a lot of people don't "get it" that you have to make the right choices. One lady couldn't figure out why she wasn't losing weight with her band - she was pureeing DQ Blizzards! H-E-L-L-O!!! My therapy session went well, too. She hasn't seen me in a month and looked at me and said, "It's working!" I'm doing good in other areas we talked about as well. I go back to work on Monday, but I am the secretary and can have my water on my desk, so I can drink all day and leave to go pee whenever I need to. I feel for you teachers who can't do that... As far as feeling like a bump on a log, I go through spurts with that. My arthritis in my knees keeps me from being as mobile as I'd like to be, but I either ride my recumbant bike or walk while I shop every day, so I'm getting activity in. I get cortisone shot in my knees tomorrow and then I will be feeling really good. I work in a really big school and need to be able to ambulate well and often. As the weight is dropping I find myself having more energy. I was told my doctor that the key was to drink my water and exercise however I feel I can. The band is already controlling my portions, so it's the other things I have to control. What motivates me is that I just pulled out all the 4X's out of my closet and put them in the garage sale box...and that when I put on my 4X pants, they are very baggy...and when I look in the mirror and don't see so much of my skin hanging below my actual chin...and when I see people who haven't seen me in a while and say I'm starting to look different...and that I'm starting to feel happier...all that motivates me. My husband has never been very good at giving compliments or showing support outright. I know he cares and stuff, and he gives me cards on my birthday and Christmas and Mother's Day that say things like "I know I don't tell you often enough..." yadda, yadda, yadda. So I get my verbal support and "stroking" from my friends, my son, my parents, and even from this site. I also have a whole cyber community on a scrapbooking board that I've gotten to know and they support my accomplishments as well. I have sought out the support system that I need to make sure I succeed. Make sense? My zoloft and my welbutrin help with the depression and energy level, too. Hang in there girls...it will all come into place and you'll get your energy back

Kari - great mantra! Mine is "You create your own experience. If you want different you have to do different." by Dr. Phil. I'm just fitting into my 3X pants and tops and the 4X's are going in the garage sale! I hope to be in my extensive 2X wardrobe by Christmas. I, too, can't wait to shop somewhere besides Catherine's (the only store here for me). My therapist has me going thru a workbook called "Mind over Mood". I'll post more info about the book when I get home from my appts. I would also recommend "Feeding the Hungry Heart" by Geneen Roth and "Overcoming Emotional Eating" by her as well. The whole time I was reading them I kept saying to myself, "that's me!". Oh, gotta go! TTYL

Welcome back, Kari! I can totally relate to what you said about food and what you can and can't have. I went out of town with girlfriends on Sunday to make that window pane I posted earlier. I had to pack a cooler with stuff I knew I could (or wouldn't feel guilty for having) have. When we went out to eat the children's menu had noting but deep fried stuff or spaghetti or pizza, so I ordered an $11.00 meal and only ate half of the fish and took the rest home in my cooler. And today I have two dr. appts. with 1.5 hours in between. Typically I would go get a Subway or tacos or something, but today I'll bring a small cooler with my cottage cheese and peaches and eat that in my car. When I go back to school for work next week I'll have to bring Lean Quisine meals or something similar for my lunch. I have a family BBQ to go to on the 2nd of Sept. and I'm already thinking about what I may be able to have...it's something we're going to have to deal with for the rest of our lives...but I think it's worth it. My losing the weight will be my motivation

I've never tried quilting and I don't sew, per se...I own a machine and I sew on my scrapbook layouts! Yes, I sew on paper...it adds a great dimentional touch to the layout. I'd love to see pics of your quilts, Beth! Post when you figure it out

I am a HUGE scrapbooker - that's all I do besides work, and post on LBT:p I go on retreats at least 4 times a year and I scrap on Friday nights with 4 of the best friends I've ever had. We switch between each others houses. And if we don't feel like scrapping (gasp!! could that ever be?) then we come with whatever we'd like to do, or just to visit. We went to the Twin Cities yesterday and attended a class to learn how to alter a window pane. It essentially has 6 scrapbook layouts behind the panes of glass and we painted and crackled the frame. I am going to hang mine at work in my school office. If I'm not on here, I'm posting on Memory Creators, a great scrapbooking web site/message board, or reading magazines on scrapping...just a tad addicted...:mad: Here is a picture of what I made :mad:

So DonnaMarie....how'd it go with your boyfriend? Did he comment on how goooooooood you look!!!

Next Monday I will start my second school year with the Superior, WI Middle School as a secretary for one of four principals at the school. There is a green wing, a red wing, and a blue wing. One principal for each wing (which has about 350 kids in each wing) and one principal that oversees the whole school. I'm the Green Wing secretary. I had 8 weeks off, which was great for me because I had my surgery right after school got out, and now I'm going back 40 lbs or more lighter. I miss seeing the staff and after saying goodbye to the 8th graders that I got close to last year, I'm ready to watch the 7th graders move up, and hopefully they have matured a bit over the summer. It's the best job I've ever had and I want to be there until I retire :mad: Prior to that job I worked as a Clerical Coordinator for a non-profit org that serves people with developmental disabilities. And prior to that I owned my own home-based business writing targeted resumes and cover letters and helping people with job search and typing for procrastinating college students. I typed papers, master's papers, doctorate theses, and a host of other things. That's me!

Congratulations Penni!! I hope it all goes smoothly for you

I had my first fill last Thursday. That day I could really feel the band in there...he put 3cc's in and mine holds 4cc's max. When I woke up Friday morning I felt good and it wasn't such a present feeling, if that makes sense. I am definitely noticing the amount I can take in has decreased. I had the doc numb the port area before he gave me the injection, so I didn't feel a thing. I am a little bruised from him pushing around to find it and the injection, but other than that, it's great. Had my TOM two weeks ago and it was fine - no bad cramps or anything. I only lost 1.8 that week compared to my usual 3-4, but at least I still lost. Sorry to hear people are having a hard time with their TOM. I'm going out of town today and I have two of my Bullet glasses with milk in a cooler and my Slim Fast and Protein powders in little containers. I'll get ice at my destination and my friend is bringing the actual Bullet machine so that we can have shakes for our lunch. A little pre-planning is all it takes Have a great day everyone!

I'm glad it's back up and running as well! At least we could still PM each other!! I was having LBT withdrawals! I'm going out of town tomorrow, so I'll be on late tomorrow night or Monday morning

I got my statement the other day that showed insurance company responsibility and patient responsibility. I only have to pay $155.84~~~!!!! My co-pay is $250 and then it goes 80/20 until my maximum out of pocket of $1,000 is met for the year. I have arthritis in my knees and go often for cortisone shots so I must have been almost to the $1,000 maximum because my 14,800+ bill said I'll only be responsible for $155.84! I am so happy!!! I know a lot of people have major issues with their insurance companies, and I feel really bad for them. I had an employer whose policy wouldn't cover gastric bypass and they wouldn't change their policy, so I got a job with much better benefits. I haven't seen the detailed bill yet, but I'm sure it will come out soon.

Yeah, Beth! It worked!!! I'm on liquids all day today because I had my fill yesterday. It felt tight yesterday, but this morning when I woke up I feel better - I must be "adjusting" to it! Bwaaahhaaahhaa!!

Congrats to you on the great NSV!! You should be very proud of yourself

Congrats and welcome to bandland, Jewel! Glad to hear it went well for you. Yes, feeling uncomfortable and/or pain in your port site is typical, I think. You will find this site VERY informative, VERY supportive, and VERY friendly

Thanks for the explanation, Kari...I'll remember to drink as much as I can

yes, I am drinking water....why? I had to prove I could drink before I left the clinic...do you think I'm too tight?

Welcome to LBT Luna!

Congrats on your great NSV!! What a great feeling, huh?

Boy am I feeling restriction! I had a shake this morning, then had my fill. They had me drink three Dixie cups of water. That filled me up. Then I had 3/4 of a shake about 4:30 and I was a tad miserable until almost 7pm! I can't believe the difference. I'm very well aware of my band now whereas I didn't even know it was there prior to my fill. Boy does my stomach rumble and growl as the liquid is passing from the pouch to the lower part of my stomach. I saw somewhere here that people hear their stomachs when they are restricted. At 10:30 pm tonight I made 1/2 of a shake and I can barely get 6 sips of it down! Truly amazing!

Beth - After you make your ticker, highlight and copy the address in the box above it. Then go to your signature to edit it. Click on the box that looks like it has a mountain (insert image). When you click on the icon a box will pop up in the upper left part of your screen. Paste the address you just copied from the ticker site and then hit okay. It should appear in your signature box. Then click update signature. That should work.

Beth, don't be nervous. Like I said, I didn't even feel it because they numbed the area first. You'll do just fine

It's so good to hear that you are doing well and on your way to a full recovery! So sorry to hear you had bad experiences with your care, but you've proven that the power of prayer really works! Blessings to you

Way to go, Beth! Glad you enjoyed your swim Keep us posted on how it's helping!