gotta be me

Mrs SmartyPants: I’m so sorry you have to go through that with your father. This journey is difficult enough without being second guessed and told how to travel it. I had to borrow $17,000 from my best friend for this surgery and am paying her back monthly. She’s very supportive of me, but I feel I have to answer to her because of the investment she made and I truly hate that part. :cryShe and her husband and my daughter are the only ones who know about my surgery, so that protects me from other friends and co-workers; I’ve soooo glad I didn’t tell anyone else.

I was 58 and very worried no doctor would do it as I'd heard I was too old-funny I don't feel too old. Anyway, I wish I could have had this done before I developed just about every co-morbidity there is related to weight. I was very physically active during my youth, but the weight gain really stopped me in my tracks and then all the related stuff about did me in. I do credit this surgery with saving my life. My insurace absolutely will not pay for anything like this to help save a life. :whoo:So I'll be paying back a loan until h _ _ l freezes over. :think Still worth it. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I have a drink or two about once a month when a group of my friends and I have our get together. I don't drink beer because I don't like it, but I do drink wine and mixed drinks. Sometimes I don't drink at all and other times I'll have a maximum of two drinks and then switch to water for the rest of the evening. Of course this kind of indulgence slows my weight loss, but I'm in this for the long haul and what to have as normal (for me) life as possible while I navigate the band waters.

Hopping To It, I never considered a hyadel hernia because I was also told if I had one it would be fixed at the time of the surgery. I never noticed this pain before surgery. I was banded on 7/6/06 and have had it off and on for over a year. The worst times for me were when we’d do twisting kinds of exercises in aqua size; it got so bad I quit going. It does hurt other times for apparently no reason; just not as bad as during exercises. I’ll check out the hyadel hernia angle though. Thanks.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>

Peanut, I also have pain exactly where you have described. I had to give up aquasize because the pain would get so bad during the exercises. I asked my regular doctor about it and he thought maybe since I have lost weight things are sifting--not sure I believe that, but have no other explanation. Hopefully, someone on here can enlighten us. <a href="Weight Loss - Diet Ticker"> <img border="0" src="<A href="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/whrPWlL/weight.png"></a">http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/whrPWlL/weight.png"></a>

Hello fellow bandees. I was banded July 6 and am praying this works where all else has failed. :faint: It’s working at this point cause I sure don’t want to eat. My fear of vomiting has kept me from eating (should I say drinking ?) hardly enough to keep an ant alive. I really hate feeling icky all the time, but not as much as I hate not being able to control my weight gain. I truly believe my body has no set point and would just continue to grow and grow. It wasn’t always like this, but years of yo yo dieting, fasting and over eating has just confused the heck out of my system leaving me with several co-morbidities to go along with the fat body. This is my last ditch effort. I also want to thank everyone who’s posted on here with all your helpful ideas and supportive messages. I don’t feel so alone in this journey— just wished some of you lived near me so we could met and help each other find a life style befitting of the new us—I have to find something besides tv and snacking to entertain me. :rolleyes Walking is a problem for me because in addition to the weight I also have suffered from heal spurs for over 3 years-ouch. Nothing has worked on them-not shots, leg stretching exercises, pain pills, night splints; I really hope taking off weight will relieve some of the pain. Anyway, just want to say HI! :high5:

I truly believe it will save my life. I have about every co-morbidity there is to have from being obese. I already feel tons better and I still have over 100 pounds to lose. I LOVE IT! :clap2:

Where is the pain located if your Gallbladder is acting up?

I am so sorry. Please know my thoughts are with you and I pray you take care of yourself during this time of grief.:think

Do you think it`s a coincidence that the overwhelming majority of people in prison come from broken or single parent homes ? This is where the seed is planted. Of course there are going to be exceptions but generally the parents are the ones to blame OMG! I am SO tired of hearing about how bad children from single parent homes turn out. People are either good parents or they are not regardless of their marital status. How dare you assume that two parents turn out better kids than parents who are going it alone (by choice or not).

5jacks, congrats on getting banded and on getting Dr. Malley to do it. I really like him. His personality appears to be a bit dry, but I feel comfortable with him and he seems to be caring about his patients. His office staff are great; friendly and helpful. Let me know how you do. Banded 7/6/06 Beginning weight 314 Current weight 284

Thanks Wheetsin. I'll try those things. I was banded by Dr. Malley in KC and that group meets once a month, but it's just too far for me to travel on a regular basis.

Is anyone aware of a bandster support group in or near Joplin, Mo or Pittsburg, KS?:help:

I didn't tell anyone in my office either, in fact the only one in this city who knows is my daughter. I'm self-pay (read very in debt :nervous ) so it's really no one else's business. However, here's my problem, I have to take a day off once a month to travel to get fills. So far I've been very evasive about what is "wrong" with me, but wish I could think of a good answer to the questions and concerns. Many of my co-workers are worried about me and that makes me feel like a heel, but I'm adamant that my evil boss never find out the real reason I have to see my doctor once a month.

Lucy sure is a pretty little thing. She's probably grateful to you for taking her out of that crate and you've become her lifeline so of course she feels the need to protect you. I would like a little bitty one, too, but until I retire I probably shouldn't take on any more critters. My boy weighs aboutut 16 lbs and my girl 14 lbs. We have 2 rescue cats also. I guess my mothering instinct wasn’t fulfilled with an only child. :mad: My Maddi has come a long way since she’s been with us these past 3 years, and Spike (our boy) is all Tzu, he loves people and assumes that anyone who crosses our threshold came to see him and he makes them all feel welcome. He's such a funny little guy. Sure will be glad when I've lost 100 pounds so I'll feel more like playing with them as they both really like their toys and like us to be interactive with them when they play--I just get so tired right now. :faint: But, better days are a coming. :clap2:

Is Lucy a Shih Tzu, she looks like one and they usually love people. My female, Maddi, doesn't like people either, but that's because she was abused before we (DD and I) adopted her. Both our "kids" are rescue dogs that we adopted. I wish I could undo all their previous hurts, but we just try to make it up to them and boy are they spoilt!

Carlene, I love the picture of your dog. I have 2 Shih Tzu (a male and a female) and I'm crazy about them. They make me laugh when this band gets me down.:clap2:

I have pb'd more than once on chicken, but have had no trouble with beef; I wonder if I'm more careful with beef because I think it'll be more troublesome? In any case, my bands pretty fickle so it's always a crap shoot no matter what I eat. I have had good luck with shaved chicken breast from Walmart's deli-I don't eat bread, just the chicken.:hungry:

Welcome dccandee. Glad to have you join us. What are stage 3 & 4 foods. I also have a 11cc band and was hoping when I got to a 9cc fill it wouldn't be so hard to lose--I'm at 6cc now and only seem to have restriction in the morning; by evening I'm wide open and really have to fight off the food demons. The problem is, if I could fight those demons successfully I wouldn't have needed the band. Anyway, I've lost 30-35 pounds since July 6, it varies day to day and I have to keep losing the same pounds over and over. Just the same, I don't regret doing this, just had hoped it wouldn't be so frusterating. :rolleyes

Welcome lcain25. Glad to have you aboard. I'm with you, very few people know about my surgery and only one in the town where I live and none where I work. I've had my share of being judged just for being fat, I don't need to be judged on how I handle the band. I didn't do this for anyone else but me. It's a hugh learning curve learning to live, eat and just be with the band, but losing instead of gaining weight will make it all worth while. Again, welcome.:clap2:

wonderkidsmom. I'm so sorry for the pain you're going through. I divorced the man who will always have my heart 20 years ago because he was unfaithful. You will get through this and be stronger for it. I truly wish you the best and my heart goes out to you.:think

Brandy W OMG 63 pounds lost since July 13. Good for you! :clap2:Am I ever jealous! :omg: Dr. Malley did my surgery also. I was banded 6 days before you and have only lost 30 pounds. But you have done sooooo well. My hat’s off to you (or it would be, if I wore a hat). :confused:

My surgeon bans nothing; he does make suggestions, e.g. white bread may be a problem (it sure is!) :omg: We make our own choices. I’ve found I don’t have a taste for soft drinks anymore, but coffee and tea remain favorites. :clap2:

My surgeon's instructions were the first week everything had to pour off a spoon or go through a straw--you can get many things through a straw or pouring off a spoon if you blend it with enough broth. I ate all I wanted in this manner, until I started mushies--I was on them for 2 weeks and then went onto solids. I was just very careful until I was able to determine what I could and couldn't eat. The first few weeks is just about healing, not losing. I also made and continue to make fruit smoothies using fresh fruit, unflavored-unsweetened protein powder, milk, splenda, and ice cubes. About the fluids-be very careful to get enough; I was afraid of throwing up and didn't take in enough the result was a bladder infection that took two rounds of meds to clear up. Please don't hesitate to call your surgeon or his/her staff. Just my .02.

PinkMary, Let me add my congratulations and best wishes to you and your hubby. :clap2: I am so happy for you.