BarbaraWM

Sunday will be the 6-month (semi) anniversary of my surgery. As of this morning, I am 70 lbs down from my consultation weight. And, amazingly enough, I've even started a Personal Fitness Program and am now looking forward to getting to the YMCA every other day instead of dreading it. I am still dreading the elliptical which has nearly killed me several times! I got another fill on April 20th and I think that was the one that really did the trick. I'm finally at the sweet spot with 7ccs in my 12cc band. I am not hungry (most of the time), I can eat about 3-4 ounces at the most and if I do have one bite too many, I can feel it immediately. This last fill also gave me limitations I hadn't had previously: Bread, cake, greasy food - nope! And, if I have a soda or chew gum, I get terrible chest gas that requires Gas-X strips immediately. Can't do them anymore without severe discomfort. So, I've learned in the last two weeks what to avoid and how the band actually works. Yesterday I felt practically slim - I was wearing jeans a size too big, platform sandals and a nicely cut (cleavage revealing) shirt. Two friends said I looked "skinny." I know they meant skinny for me and not actually skinny but boy did I feel good. The only problem -- my underpants kept falling down! Guess it's time for new drawers. I have a few questions for fellow banders today: 1) How do you feel about your body? After years of being obese and of a certain age, my skin is not retracting at all. I've gotten super jiggly and wiggly and I really don't like how it looks or feels. I know I have a lot farther to go (another 60 lbs) but I'm already appalled by what I see. I suppose I should start saving for cosmetic surgery now. 2) Who do you tell about your band? I have told my very good friends, family and a few work colleagues but there is one guy I can't stand at work who keeps asking me what my secret is. He's not asking because he needs to lose weight, he's just being nosy. This same guy and his partner had a baby last November and the mother has got to be at least 48 years old. Last time he started trying to get info about my weight loss I nearly blurted out, "Hey, I don't ask how you got a baby out of 50-year old woman, do I?" 3) How long do I have to wait to get my neck/chin sucked out and tightened? I didn't have that big of a double chin to start but in the last 15 lbs or so, it's gotten sort of jiggly without the fat to fill it out. I will definitely need a neck lift and was thinking about going for a consultation now to find out what the surgeon thinks. Has anyone else had this surgery before they got to goal weight? Please open your books and begin your essays now. Put your books face down on the desk when you have completed answering the questions. Thank you and good luck. Barbara

I was very hungry the first few weeks after the surgery too. Eat more protein and solid foods. You probably have little to no restriction if you haven't had a fill yet. Don't go off the rails but make sure you get your full calorie intake daily.

Sunday will be the 6-month (semi) anniversary of my surgery. As of this morning, I am 70 lbs down from my consultation weight. And, amazingly enough, I've even started a Personal Fitness Program and am now looking forward to getting to the YMCA every other day instead of dreading it. I am still dreading the elliptical which has nearly killed me several times! I got another fill on April 20th and I think that was the one that really did the trick. I'm finally at the sweet spot with 7ccs in my 12cc band. I am not hungry (most of the time), I can eat about 3-4 ounces at the most and if I do have one bite too many, I can feel it immediately. This last fill also gave me limitations I hadn't had previously: Bread, cake, greasy food - nope! And, if I have a soda or chew gum, I get terrible chest gas that requires Gas-X strips immediately. Can't do them anymore without severe discomfort. So, I've learned in the last two weeks what to avoid and how the band actually works. Yesterday I felt practically slim - I was wearing jeans a size too big, platform sandals and a nicely cut (cleavage revealing) shirt. Two friends said I looked "skinny." I know they meant skinny for me and not actually skinny but boy did I feel good. The only problem -- my underpants kept falling down! Guess it's time for new drawers. I have a few questions for fellow banders today: 1) How do you feel about your body? After years of being obese and of a certain age, my skin is not retracting at all. I've gotten super jiggly and wiggly and I really don't like how it looks or feels. I know I have a lot farther to go (another 60 lbs) but I'm already appalled by what I see. I suppose I should start saving for cosmetic surgery now. 2) Who do you tell about your band? I have told my very good friends, family and a few work colleagues but there is one guy I can't stand at work who keeps asking me what my secret is. He's not asking because he needs to lose weight, he's just being nosy. This same guy and his partner had a baby last November and the mother has got to be at least 48 years old. Last time he started trying to get info about my weight loss I nearly blurted out, "Hey, I don't ask how you got a baby out of 50-year old woman, do I?" 3) How long do I have to wait to get my neck/chin sucked out and tightened? I didn't have that big of a double chin to start but in the last 15 lbs or so, it's gotten sort of jiggly without the fat to fill it out. I will definitely need a neck lift and was thinking about going for a consultation now to find out what the surgeon thinks. Has anyone else had this surgery before they got to goal weight? Please open your books and begin your essays now. Put your books face down on the desk when you have completed answering the questions. Thank you and good luck. Barbara

Sounds like you need a fill.

I work in midtown too and can't believe there's even an issue with finding food that agrees with your band. We have everything around here. I ate at La Bonne Soupe on 55th Street yesterday before my fill. Shared the pate and had a bowl of soup as my entree -- no one bats an eye when you have soup at the soup place but I'd stay away from their quiche which is crust heavy and not as eggy as it used to be. I also find people don't notice what you eat if you keep the conversation going. They're much more interested in their own food in general. In this neighborhood I also love Bice ($$$$), Il Corso ($$$) and Sushiya has the most delicious black miso cod that is served on spinach. Sushi places are also great for sashimi and tuna tataki... there are so many options. As for Pump - they have a grilled chicken with low fat cheese and spinach on a whole grain roll that is good but does need salt -- all their healthy food does! There is also a Cuban place on 56th, Tina's I think it's called, and they do platters of pernil (or other meat), Beans and rice that are so huge that everyone takes home the left overs and no one will notice you eating smaller amounts. I also eat hamburgers without the bun at Cassidy's and they'll sub a salad for fries with no questions. I live in Brooklyn and eat out regularly on Smith Street. Zaytoons has great kabobs and platters and they are really inexpensive too. I've had really good brunches at Apt 138, Coco Roco and half a dozen other places. It's really just about knowing what to order and then you can eat anywhere -- even Chinese food.

When I was too tight, I got a pill stuck. That caused a vomit which led to swelling and consequently, a lot more vomiting. When I could keep water down, it was time for an unfill, just to give myself time to heal. It's ok to feel the food/liquid in your stomach. If it starts to come back up, that's when you should get concerned.

You do need another opinion/doctor. I was too tight and living on soft scrambled eggs, beans and soup for several weeks. As soon as I went in and told the doctor I was throwing up all the time, he immediately said, "Get on the table, you're too tight." He took out 2.5 ccs and gave me 3 weeks to recover before the next fill, which was only 1cc.

I went for a fill today and I'm feeling pretty good and back on track a bit. Last blog entry was about how I gained weight after a massive unfill. This time, I can say I'm back to where I was before the lap band vacation. I'd gained 6 lbs as of 4/3. Today, 17 days later, I'm back down those 6 lbs and got another 1cc added to my band. Here's how I got to where I am now: At surgery: 3ccs First fill: +3ccs = 6 Second fill: +1.5ccs = 7.5ccs Unfill: -2.5ccs = 5ccs Third fill: +1cc = 6ccs Fourth fill: +1cc = 7ccs I am really hoping that this is it. 7.5ccs was too much and resulted in vomiting, discomfort and weakness. 6ccs made a slight difference but I still managed way too much food and felt hunger. If 7 isn't right, they will start adding in smaller increments so I don't go overfilled again. With my fill and renewed attitude, I've also decided to set a new mini goal: I am going to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal on June 11th. Last time I went to this race, I was wedged into my husband in 95 degree heat and humidity because the seats were bench style and I didn't want to overlap onto someone I didn't know. It wasn't comfortable, I got cranky and trying to leave the race in the slow moving crowds nearly killed me. My goal for this Grand Prix is to walk over the bridge to the race track rather than take the subway. It is a little over 7 weeks away so I would like to lose another 20 lbs by then. One last thing - I went out with a girlfriend the night before Easter to do karaoke at a local bar and I must be looking good because I am surely not a good singer!! Someone actually tried to pick me up!!!!! It was the first time a man had taken that kind of an interest in me in years. Of course, I nicely let him down -- I am happily married -- but boy that put some pep in my step for a few days! Can't wait for the next guy to try to pick me up so I can brag about that too!

I went for a fill today and I'm feeling pretty good and back on track a bit. Last blog entry was about how I gained weight after a massive unfill. This time, I can say I'm back to where I was before the lap band vacation. I'd gained 6 lbs as of 4/3. Today, 17 days later, I'm back down those 6 lbs and got another 1cc added to my band. Here's how I got to where I am now: At surgery: 3ccs First fill: +3ccs = 6 Second fill: +1.5ccs = 7.5ccs Unfill: -2.5ccs = 5ccs Third fill: +1cc = 6ccs Fourth fill: +1cc = 7ccs I am really hoping that this is it. 7.5ccs was too much and resulted in vomiting, discomfort and weakness. 6ccs made a slight difference but I still managed way too much food and felt hunger. If 7 isn't right, they will start adding in smaller increments so I don't go overfilled again. With my fill and renewed attitude, I've also decided to set a new mini goal: I am going to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Montreal on June 11th. Last time I went to this race, I was wedged into my husband in 95 degree heat and humidity because the seats were bench style and I didn't want to overlap onto someone I didn't know. It wasn't comfortable, I got cranky and trying to leave the race in the slow moving crowds nearly killed me. My goal for this Grand Prix is to walk over the bridge to the race track rather than take the subway. It is a little over 7 weeks away so I would like to lose another 20 lbs by then. One last thing - I went out with a girlfriend the night before Easter to do karaoke at a local bar and I must be looking good because I am surely not a good singer!! Someone actually tried to pick me up!!!!! It was the first time a man had taken that kind of an interest in me in years. Of course, I nicely let him down -- I am happily married -- but boy that put some pep in my step for a few days! Can't wait for the next guy to try to pick me up so I can brag about that too!

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid. The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally and physically, even a month ago. Sure, a month ago the weight was falling off but it was at the price of vomiting, feeling unwell and feeling mentally punished for being fat all the time. With the unfill, I was able to replenish both my body and my mind. I like to think of this period as a mini vacation from the band that allowed me to refresh and start anew...just like coming back from vacation and going back to school or work. Yesterday, I got a fill. Only 1cc which brought me back to 6cc, exactly what I had after my first fill. I couldn't feel any restriction when I had my soup for lunch and fluids go down fine but I decided on some soft cheese, salad and hummus for dinner and I could feel it. Yay! Restriction is back and not too much. I may still need another adjustment but I'm really ready to get back on the wagon and correct these bad patterns I fell right back into over the last month: 1) Drinking while eating 2) Bread, bread, bread 3) Eating too fast and not chewing well enough - even with very little restriction I had a bad PB incident with a bagel 4) Slider foods and candy 5) Diet soda 6) Booze 7) Snacking It was a great vacation - eating, drinking, my birthday, having too much fun with food - but I'm back now and tightening the reins. Happy Easter, Passover, Spring to all!

I have had 3 fills and one unfill in my 12cc band: Surgery - 3cc First Fill - 3cc Second Fill - 1.5cc Unfill - 2.5cc Third Fill - 1cc

What you described is vomit from being stuck. A PB is more like a burp and a portion of the food comes up rather than everything. A PB is usually from eating too much or too fast while the vomit, I've found, is from getting something stuck (not chewing, wrong food, etc) or the band being too tight. The volume and "pouring out" you noticed is from the slime. I've actually had the slime come out my nose too. Delightful!

It's official. I gained 6 lbs since my "unfill" on March 10. It's probably not a full 6 lbs because I'm very bloated in a womanly way - I'm guessing it's about 3 lbs once I unload all this fluid. The thing is, I really don't feel badly about the weight gain. I've been able to wrap my head around the idea that this is a process and with any long term endeavor, there are ups and downs. In this case, it's still mostly downs (as in weight going down) and I'm way ahead of where I was mentally and physically, even a month ago. Sure, a month ago the weight was falling off but it was at the price of vomiting, feeling unwell and feeling mentally punished for being fat all the time. With the unfill, I was able to replenish both my body and my mind. I like to think of this period as a mini vacation from the band that allowed me to refresh and start anew...just like coming back from vacation and going back to school or work. Yesterday, I got a fill. Only 1cc which brought me back to 6cc, exactly what I had after my first fill. I couldn't feel any restriction when I had my soup for lunch and fluids go down fine but I decided on some soft cheese, salad and hummus for dinner and I could feel it. Yay! Restriction is back and not too much. I may still need another adjustment but I'm really ready to get back on the wagon and correct these bad patterns I fell right back into over the last month: 1) Drinking while eating 2) Bread, bread, bread 3) Eating too fast and not chewing well enough - even with very little restriction I had a bad PB incident with a bagel 4) Slider foods and candy 5) Diet soda 6) Booze 7) Snacking It was a great vacation - eating, drinking, my birthday, having too much fun with food - but I'm back now and tightening the reins. Happy Easter, Passover, Spring to all!

My unfill, as suspected, has led to basically no restriction whatsoever. It's PMS week and I have totally lost control. I am practically jamming in food - taking big bites, not chewing all the way and gulping it down. It's like I was starving for a month (I kind of was with the vomiting and all) and now that that I can eat again and there's plentiful food I'm like a dog....gotta eat, gotta eat. I know I need to get this under control now but honestly, if I had that kind of control I wouldn't be huge and need weightloss surgery in the first place. I'm trying to take it one meal at a time but it's not even 10 o'clock and I've blown breakfast! My unfill was only last Wednesday.... is it too soon to get a fill??? I'm not scheduled to go back until 4/7 and I'm afraid I'll explode by then if I keep up this pace.

My unfill, as suspected, has led to basically no restriction whatsoever. It's PMS week and I have totally lost control. I am practically jamming in food - taking big bites, not chewing all the way and gulping it down. It's like I was starving for a month (I kind of was with the vomiting and all) and now that that I can eat again and there's plentiful food I'm like a dog....gotta eat, gotta eat. I know I need to get this under control now but honestly, if I had that kind of control I wouldn't be huge and need weightloss surgery in the first place. I'm trying to take it one meal at a time but it's not even 10 o'clock and I've blown breakfast! My unfill was only last Wednesday.... is it too soon to get a fill??? I'm not scheduled to go back until 4/7 and I'm afraid I'll explode by then if I keep up this pace.

I went for about a month with a too tight band and felt immediate relief once I got some fluid out. I found I made bad food choices when it was too tight - mostly soft food, which defeats the purpose of the band anyway. I threw up almost everything solid for two days every time I got something stuck. Get a little fill out. It took you a while to get to 257 from 238 so it might take a little bit to get back there too.

Yes, my doctor put 3ccs in my 12cc band during surgery. It made very little difference, as far as I could tell and even after my 1st fill (another 3ccs) I didn't have much restriction. The 2nd fill (another 1.5cc) did me in - over tight for 5 weeks until I finally got an unfill. They took out 2.5ccs, so back below my first fill amount BUT...I have restriction now when I didn't at 6ccs. Go figure.

So I got an unfill yesterday. Dr. took 2.5 ccs from my band, which had been 7.5ccs in a 12cc band. I am like a different person. With the band too tight, I'd started to adjust my behavior to accommodate the issues -- too tight, eat less, have soup instead of solids, rationalize that everyone with a lap band pukes! Now that the band is looser, I can burp. I can eat without pain. I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I can't believe I went for 5 weeks with a too tight band. My concern about lack of restriction is definitely legitimate. I will work on a healthy diet but when it comes time for my next visit, I will definitely get a fill if I feel there is no restriction. Last night, I ate well but couldn't finish my meal. Today, I had a similar experience but made a bad choice. Salad and soup tasted great but probably didn't actually fill me up as much as another choice could have. I have to stick to the plan, even when the band isn't working for me. Sorry if this blog entry was a bit like a self cheer leading effort...guess I just needed to talk myself into doing it right. Will report how I do with limited restriction.

@tsuran: Once ounce of food doesn't seem like enough to me either. Even with a too tight band, I was getting about 1/4 cup at a sitting. Oh, and soup and salad work just fine -- just not the best choice. The soup goes right through -- a bad choice, especially a creamy one! I had my salad first to try to stuff up the hole a bit. I had really been missing fresh crunchy greens so it was a real treat. Unfortunately though, salad doesn't keep your hunger suppressed very long -- that's why the emphasis on protein. Protein takes longer to digest in general, keeping you full longer and making you less likely to want to snack between meals. And, I have found that people don't notice what or how much you're eating as long as you don't mention it. Mostly they're concentrating on their own food. You eat really slowly, small bites, lots of chewing, putting your fork down between bites, chatting.....and even though you won't eat much, no one will really notice. When you have your leftovers wrapped, if anyone says anything, say you didn't realize what a huge portion it was and that you'll be glad to finish it later. Also, I know everyone feels differently about revealing their choice to get a band -- I don't hide mine. If someone asks me outright if I've had surgery, I will say yes and I find most people are very supportive. If someone I don't know very well mentions that I've lost a lot of weight, I just say "Thanks for noticiing. I'm trying." Don't be afraid of people looking at you askew because you eat small portions. I bet they stare at you a lot more now because you're overweight.

So I got an unfill yesterday. Dr. took 2.5 ccs from my band, which had been 7.5ccs in a 12cc band. I am like a different person. With the band too tight, I'd started to adjust my behavior to accommodate the issues -- too tight, eat less, have soup instead of solids, rationalize that everyone with a lap band pukes! Now that the band is looser, I can burp. I can eat without pain. I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I can't believe I went for 5 weeks with a too tight band. My concern about lack of restriction is definitely legitimate. I will work on a healthy diet but when it comes time for my next visit, I will definitely get a fill if I feel there is no restriction. Last night, I ate well but couldn't finish my meal. Today, I had a similar experience but made a bad choice. Salad and soup tasted great but probably didn't actually fill me up as much as another choice could have. I have to stick to the plan, even when the band isn't working for me. Sorry if this blog entry was a bit like a self cheer leading effort...guess I just needed to talk myself into doing it right. Will report how I do with limited restriction.

I have no hair loss and I was banded on 11/9/09 and have lost about 60 lbs. I take Bariatric Advantage Vita Band vitamins and have missed my protein target many times. I think it's really individual -- some people have it and others don't. I hope it gets better for you.

Good luck! I just got an unfill for the same reason. I was lucky and felt immediate relief but maybe you just need a day or two to adjust.

My last fill on 1/27 resulted in a lot of restriction, so much so that I questioned in this space and others whether or not the band was too tight. At my appointment last week, 3/3, the doctor said he thought 2 ounces of food was a good amount per sitting so I assumed the problems I was having were related more to my eating habits than the band. And then the real vomiting started. I'd thrown up a couple of times and slimed since my last fill but it got to the point over the last week that at least 1 meal per day ended up in the toilet or sink. Finally, after a week of feeling weak and that I wasn't getting enough nutrition (still) and I couldn't sleep because I kept gagging and vomiting a bit while lying down, I called the doctor's office yesterday and they were able to get me in today. As soon as I described the vomiting while prone, the doctor said the band is too tight and he'd take some fluid out. He said that monthly fluctuations can cause different feelings of restriction so if I retain a lot of fluid with my period, that could be the cause. Of course, I don't have my period but sometimes it just happens. He took out 1.5ccs (I had 7.5 in my 12 cc band) and told me to drink a cup of water and see how it went down. I sat in the waiting area, sipping my water and it didn't feel right. After about 3 ounces, I felt that old familiar pain and urge and ran to the bathroom and threw it up. Back to the exam room and he took out another 1cc of fluid. I feel like a new person. I drank my cup of water with no problem and even had a satisfying little burp at the end. Got some soup on the way back to the office (doctor said warm liquids at first) and it went down beautifully. Here's the concern though -- after I had the whole soup (about 6 oz - more than I've had at a sitting in over a month), I wanted more! I am worried that I'm back to square one with restriction and even though I will try to stick to the plan and eat the right foods and right amounts, it's the restriction that I depend on to help keep me on track. What if I blow it? I know I won't gain back all 60 lbs in the month before my next appointment but I question whether I can stick to my goals for 4 weeks if I have little restriction. I'm so bad in general that I actually considered getting a roast beef sandwich on the way back from the doctor's office, just to see if I could do it. So, I'm glad that I'll be able to sleep and won't be running to the bathroom after every meal but I'm worried that I'll eat too much because....I can.

My last fill on 1/27 resulted in a lot of restriction, so much so that I questioned in this space and others whether or not the band was too tight. At my appointment last week, 3/3, the doctor said he thought 2 ounces of food was a good amount per sitting so I assumed the problems I was having were related more to my eating habits than the band. And then the real vomiting started. I'd thrown up a couple of times and slimed since my last fill but it got to the point over the last week that at least 1 meal per day ended up in the toilet or sink. Finally, after a week of feeling weak and that I wasn't getting enough nutrition (still) and I couldn't sleep because I kept gagging and vomiting a bit while lying down, I called the doctor's office yesterday and they were able to get me in today. As soon as I described the vomiting while prone, the doctor said the band is too tight and he'd take some fluid out. He said that monthly fluctuations can cause different feelings of restriction so if I retain a lot of fluid with my period, that could be the cause. Of course, I don't have my period but sometimes it just happens. He took out 1.5ccs (I had 7.5 in my 12 cc band) and told me to drink a cup of water and see how it went down. I sat in the waiting area, sipping my water and it didn't feel right. After about 3 ounces, I felt that old familiar pain and urge and ran to the bathroom and threw it up. Back to the exam room and he took out another 1cc of fluid. I feel like a new person. I drank my cup of water with no problem and even had a satisfying little burp at the end. Got some soup on the way back to the office (doctor said warm liquids at first) and it went down beautifully. Here's the concern though -- after I had the whole soup (about 6 oz - more than I've had at a sitting in over a month), I wanted more! I am worried that I'm back to square one with restriction and even though I will try to stick to the plan and eat the right foods and right amounts, it's the restriction that I depend on to help keep me on track. What if I blow it? I know I won't gain back all 60 lbs in the month before my next appointment but I question whether I can stick to my goals for 4 weeks if I have little restriction. I'm so bad in general that I actually considered getting a roast beef sandwich on the way back from the doctor's office, just to see if I could do it. So, I'm glad that I'll be able to sleep and won't be running to the bathroom after every meal but I'm worried that I'll eat too much because....I can.

Sometimes life is just a trial. We are flying out tomorrow morning at 6am for vacation. Today I woke up with a bad head cold and proceeded to have a rather bad PB/vomit incident and now, it's snowing again! If anyone can learn from my problem and avoid doing what I've just done, then maybe it was worth it... NO WAY! I wish someone had told me.... This is the first cold I've had since I got restriction a couple of weeks ago. I'm congested, have a bit of a cough and feel just sort of blah. On the way to dinner this evening my husband popped into the corner store and bought a pack of Dayquil Liqui-Gel capsules. Even though I know the liquid would have been better I decided to take a chance and have one with dinner because I feel that sick. Big freakin' mistake. The damn thing got stuck straight away. I had to ask for green tea, hoping to melt it a little and let it pass. It seemed to work so I had a few bites of beautiful soft tuna but then I got the hiccups and the trouble really started. Ran to the bathroom once with a mouthful of slime that came out with a big cough which seemed to dislodge the pill. Went back to the table, sipped my green tea a bit longer and realized I was clear so I had one, ONE, one piece of California roll, chewed meticulously to a fine mush and that was all she wrote! Apparently the pill was still stuck because I had to run to the bathroom again, this time for a full on vomit in the sink ! But, the pill didn't seem to come up so the vomiting must have pushed it through the other direction. Rinsed my mouth and went back to the table where I could sip my tea with no problem and was able to eat the avocado out of my sushi and even some boiled soy beans. Amazingly, I was still quite hungry having had only a couple of ounces of lentil soup for lunch. I think this does it -- I was really hoping my band wasn't too tight but it sure seems that it is given the trouble I've been having. Unfortunately, I can't make it to the doctor before my flight to get an unfill so I will be living on yogurt, soup, beans and fish while I'm in Mexico. Hmm, actually, that doesn't sound so bad. I do love fish and it seems to be really easy to digest for me. I'll chalk it up as yet another learning experience with the band. Here's what I learned: 1) Dayquil Liqui-Gels are gigantic and will jam in a stoma that might be a little tight 2) Avocado and soybeans are quite easily digested and even soothing 3) Don't wait if you think your band needs an adjustment or you could end up on vacation at an all inclusive resort being unable to eat properly 4) Snow is beautiful but really stinks when you've got to fly On that note, I'm off to bed so I can get up at 3:30 for the taxi. Hope everyone has a great week and can use some of my hard-earned lessons. B