chickadee81

Elfie...again (((((hugs))))) Me-Sorry I haven't really posted much. I have read everyday, but I have been busy Christmas (yes X-MAS) decorating because I know if I get bad news at my appt on Thursday i won't want to do any decorating. So the tree is up and so is everything else! My husband just reminded me the other day that before I got my band they did a swallow test and that I have an esophagus disorder. I was told by my dr then that they would still do the surgery, but they did not know how & if the disorder would affect my band since there were no studies done. Now I am wondering if this is the root of my problems. I am very seriously considering if surgery is needed again (even though I love my band and it has definitly helped me lose 75lbs) revising to the sleeve as well. I know the dr and I discussed bypass before the band because he said with bypass there would not be the restriction like the band so the whole swallowing thing shouldn't play a role, so I don't see how it would be any different with the sleeve. ARGGG so much to think about. My brain is officially fried! I also have my college entrance exam tomorrow , so I get to feel stupid because I don't remember trigonometry. Just please think about/pray for me for Thursday. 9am isn't coming quickly enough. I want to know what's going on already!!!!

I wish you all the best! Just please don't forget us bandsters who look forward to hearing from you! I go for my appt on Thursday and have seriously been tossing around if they tell me that I need surgery again asking them to convert me to the sleeve as well....hey you never know maybe we will be sleeve sisters!! lol So happy to hear that you aren't in pain anymore and yes we ALL know how much you have worked it. You are not a failure, it just wasn't the right thing for you

Thinking about you today! I am praying that he has some sort of quick, easy, band-keeping surgery-less solution!

:w00t::lol2::crying::smile::w00t::woot: CONGRATS!!!

Not to burst your bubble...but chances are yes. I live next to a corn field, so the occasional mouse is inevitable, but from my experience there is normally more than 1. On the other hand though I have had times of just 1. Ah who knows...get a cat lol

Also, if anyone wants to friend me on Facebook I am Stacie Kudlac Pfender. I should be the one and only

You guys have me cracking up with your NUTS and thongs lol. Leigha-hang tough! Hope it all gets resolved and gets better for you asap! Christie-less than 2lbs Melody-love the pics and the crocs. I bought pink and yellow tie-dye ones on vacation. I love them. I am hanging in there and ever so impatiently waiting for it to be the 18th so I can finally have the verdict. Of course I want everything to be ok, but at this point I just want to know no matter what the outcome! I have been exercising like a machine and have stuck myself back on a liquid and puree diet until the 18th so that my pouch is definitly getting a rest (i just started this today and am starving and cranky!!!!). The Dr said I didn't need to do this, but I figured if I do and everything is not ok then at least I know I tried EVERYTHING in my power to help myself. That way no regrets and what ifs. Plus maybe I'll even lose a couple lbs who knows? I'm doing shakes and other liquids for breakfast and lunch and a pureed dinner. I'm sure I am setting myself up for dreams of dancing pizzas. Have a great night everyone!

((((((((BOBBIE))))))))) :mad2::frown::woot: Of course I remember you!!!! So happy to hear you are still alive and kickin and that you are getting fixed up

I have Cigna, and they paid for 90% of my surgery after my deductibles and max OoP was met for the year (cost me about $1500), however I do know that them covering it is an option for your employer to purchase that kind of coverage and luckily mine did that. Right now though I may be needing revision surgery (possible slip) and if I am reading my coverage correctly I lost too much weight for them to fix me :frown:

Thanks Christie for all the kind words...and ZIPLINE!!! :eek::eek: I want to do that soooo bad! That and SNUBA...kinda like snorkle and scuba together. The air tank stays on the boat so you don't need to be certified, but the breathing hose thingy is really long so you can stay underwater the whole time and not have to surface enough to put the snorkle out of the water.

Denise-well I guess on the bright side...they have you to find all the mistakes instead of just passing through all willy nilly! I can definitly see how frustrating that can be though. As for the whole insurance thing, I am not 100% on any of it and have decided to try to not even think about it until I need to know. As it stands right now there is still that small sliver of hope that I will go on the 18th and everything will be fine...plus like I said it is worded so goofy who knows. If needed I will let the surgeon and the insurance company work that out (they are really great at working with the insurance without me having to get involved). Melody-thanks. I am trying really hard to stay positive because like I said...I don't know anything yet. Yes I am still getting very slight heartburn even with my band unfilled. It is not constant and not bad, but then again I am taking 2 prilosecs a day per the dr's orders. I am scheduled for another UGI on the 18th to see if the unfill helped with the slip or dilation (they aren't sure which one because my pouch was so big they couldn't see the band to know if it was in place last time). I just keep thinking how could I have slipped??? I don't throw up (I did 2 times and it was looonnng before I had problems)! I rarely even slimed or PB'D!!! I'm just frustrated. I have worked so hard to get here and to think of losing my band scares the hell out of me. Plus it makes me mad to think I may have lost too much weight for the insurance to cover a fix. Sure punish me for doing good. Ok Sorry for the rant...breathe in breathe out...it will all be ok...you will go in 2 weeks and things will be fine...the power of positive thinking????

I'm here...I just hate to be a Debbie Downer. I keep getting (not bad) heartburn, so I have kind of given up hope that my band is fixing itself while it is unfilled. On the + side I lost almost all I initially gained. Only up 0.5lbs now. I was reading my health insurance policy over and if I am reading it correctly...they won't cover revision because I have lost more than 50% of my excess body weight. :crying::hi::crying::sad: I'm just really depressed and stressing right now and don't want my negativity to rub off on anyone

Shammah-for me, yes fills helped, but every once in a while I am/was (unfilled now) that bratty child that would just try to push the limits and eat that one last bite or look how little is still left on the plate and end up in pain. Why I do it to myself who knows. I know for me sometimes I honestly get frustrated and angry when I can't eat anymore and it tastes really good. i suppose that's when you know you have an eating disorder lol. Fills or no fills, restriction or not, you will still always have mental issues with food to deal with, but yes restriction helps.

Ok...it was telemarketers and glasses...but it was a long time ago YouTube - Tales From The Darkside - Love Hungry (1/3) YouTube - Tales From The Darkside - Love Hungry (2/3) YouTube - Tales From The Darkside - Love Hungry (3/3) There's the whole episode, but it's split into 3 parts

Oh speaking of talking scales and the Twilight Zone. A LONG time ago I saw a Tales for the Darkside or something and this woman went to this Dr because she wanted to lose weight. I don't remember if it was pills or what, but what happened was all of her food started talking to her and saying like "don't eat me...don't kill me" so obviously she starved to death. I know I'm strange, but the talking scale made me think of that.

:huh2: I never thought of that...I NEED one of those now! Or maybe just like Jiminy Cricket sitting on my shoulder

Christie-Steve is a big PITA isn't he? :huh2: I still have yet to name my band...I want to, but I am horrible at naming ANYTHING! Thank goodness we adopted out pets and they came named! I remember a while back we had a convo about the Twilight Zone and the epsiode with Anthony. Ever since then that is the name I have been tossing around because it seems I have to baby him and do everything to please him or all hell breaks loose!! (or is it lose??? ) I admit...I was in the warehouse at work today and I knew there was a scale in the Dry Shipping Break room...I snuck in :huh2:. I think I have only gained 1 or 2lbs (and gosh darn it I REFUSE to put that in the ticker especially because it wasn't on my scale), but I guess you really never know because I was clothed and it's not MY scale.

CONGRATS CRYSTL & MELODY!! :smile2: Elcee-glad to hear that you didn't fall on your tushie! Denise-I quit all electronics last week!! lol Honestly everything I touched at work well...didn't work. Eventually it did, but so frustrating when you're expecting something to take like 5 minutes tops and it consumes your entire morning :blushing:. I finally got my husband to hide the scales and I am going through withdrawal BIG TIME! With the unfilled band I am eating crap, but on the other hand I am exercising more than I ever have so...hmm we'll see how it goes. We were in K-Mart today and I almost snuck away to go step on a scale in the bathroom section, but contained myself. I know it will be a gain, and I am already depressed so I don't need to know just yet. The weather here was great this weekend (surprisingly), so we went for a 5 mile walk yesterday and today I did 1 hour of Just Dance 2 and 3 miles on the treadmill. Oh my dear sweet band how I miss you :wub:

Maybe you could be like me and dust "around" everything :biggrin:

Everyone is doing so great! Shammah-you are so right...I keep getting down on myself because I have no fluid in my band and gained 1lb so far in 2.5 weeks. Look how far I have come! Look how far we all have come! We're doing 5k's and in newsletters and going on vacations and not feeling ashamed. I am so proud of all of us and so happy that all of you are here :cursing:. It would be interesting to know what we have all collectively lost. Oh and as for "dwarves" ...I am not one of the 7...I am Humptey Dumptey. I've got little chicken legs and arms and a round middle still :huh2:.

Thanks Denise! Praying that the c.diff. is not back for you!! Feel better soon! I just noticed that in this pic...my thigh looks like little chicken legs...better than big turkey drumsticks though! (hmmmm now i am hungry ..damn unfilled band!)

Finally got my tattoo!!! I told myself I would get one once I lost 50lbs....well here it is about 70lbs and took the plunge last night! I just love it!

Hi all. Let me give you some background. In July I was having heartburn and reflux so I called the Dr. Went in & had a UGI & it showed a very very small esophageal dilation (stretched pouch). They removed some fluid and gave me some heartburn meds and said we would do a check-up in Sept to see if it helped (unless symptoms got worse). Well the symptoms didn't get worse, in fact I thought I was getting better (no nightly reflux and less heartburn), so I went for my 2nd UGI in Sept. This time the pouch is HUGE! It is so large they aren't sure if I am that stretched or if the band slipped. They drained my band empty and I go back AGAIN Nov 18th for another UGI to see if draining helped at all or if I need surgery. Don't you get sick with a slip? I never threw up and I could and can still eat. In fact I have had my band 9 months and only ever threw up once or twice and that was way back in the beginning. I am so scared I will lose my band and that I will gain weight back. Have any of you heard of this "fixing" itself? I am a natural worrier and waiting until Nov is KILLING me!!

This is one of my biggest pet peeves, along with incorrect pronunciation! I would not have been able to contain myself. Shammah-glad you had a great time!