skinnyorbust

I am feeling so good now! I made my 100 lb loss mark this week! I was banded 4/14/10, 5 months ago. I lost 28 lbs pre-op (starting in the middle of March) with a ketosis diet prescribed by Dr. Hollis. I was 265 on surgery day. I used to wear XXXL, now just a large, and sometimes a medium in shirts. I still have 22 more lbs to go, but I am not worried about it. I am feeling so energetic and full of life again. Before I was very depressed and hating myself. I was only operating at 50%. There were may things I would not/could not do anymore. The biggest thing that stood out to me was riding horses! I have been a horse-person since I was 8 yrs old, owning my first horse at age 14. I have been riding and owning horses ever since (I am 42 now). But I had to give it up with this weight gain I expereinced over a 2 year period. I have been heavy before, and lost the weight with various aids. I think my biggest weight loss before this was 85 lbs, another time it was 65. I could not keep it off! I am hoping this will change this time and I can keep it off. I just have to remind myself how miserable I was when I was like that. I kept a diary (still do), so I can go back and read it when I feel weak. I can ride again! I have sold my horses a while back, but a friend has extras for me to ride, so I do (no $$!):smile2: So I am back in the saddle again! I look forward to mowing the 2 huge lots we have, riding bikes, exercising, etc.. because I know when I am sweating (in Texas!), I am burning calories, raising my metabolism, and dropping pounds, I get a nice body-high afterwards, I feel very light on my feet and strong! I have not felt this in many years. I am glad to be sharing this journey with all of you, and I hope you have sucess as well, and overcome any obstacles that have gotten in your way. I knowthere are a lot of you out there who are struggling with this still (from reading other posts here), and I truely hope and pray that something will work for you to help it happen like it should. My biggest incentives are putting on a pair of my XXXL clothes I saved, looking at old photos, and re-reading my diary I have been keeping. Maybe you could try the same>? Bless you all on your journey! Jen

So, what do you do if you have the stomach flu and need to throw up? I have heard of possible band-displacement happening if this occurs. I heard one lady say she can not throw up with the Band, it goes out the other end. Someone else said go the emergency room or your doc and get an unfill. What do you think? Has this happened to you, what did you do, were there any complications? I am asking this because 2x this month:crying: my kids have brought home a stomach virus. The first time they were all throwing up. I just had the runs super super bad and was nauseous. The scond time, last night.. again I only had the severe runs. Only this time I did feel like I needed to throw up, but when I did, it was just a LOT of air! I felt so much better then. But I wondered what I should do if I DID start throwing up... what do you think? Thanks! Jen

Tips I learned recently... Because of a horrible episode I had over 4rth of July weekend in another city... I have since learned of some helpful tips if you think you are stuck... 1. Chew some papaya enzyme tablets! They taste great and the enzymes help break down the food faster so you cn get unstuck faster! 2. Sip pineapple juice... same thing.. the enzymes 3. Sip something HOT, the heat helps break it down faster. 4. Sip some soda.. the bubbles help break it up. 5. Lemon juice and meat tenderizer.. breaks it up So far the only one I have tried is the papaya pills you chew. Today I started sliming after tasting some steak I grilled. In about 2 minutes it was better! I carry them in my purse with me everywhere I go! I think it is the best.. logically. I have not tried the others yet... Good Luck... hope this helps! Jen

I have a friend who is getting Banded in August. She lives in the southwest part of Houston.. Meyerland area. She is seeking a support group near her. Any ideas???? Thank you!:thumbup:

Thanks Elcee! I also heard lemon juice/meat tenderizer and a sip of soda, the carbonation will help dislodge it. Ice chips afterwards is a good idea. I KNOW I was swollen afterwards. I did not eat solids for 2 days, just liquids. Now I feel drained, weak, some light-headedness, like a hangover ever since then. Also some hot flashes here and there. I do not know what that is about! I am trying to take good Vitamins now to see if that changes how I feel. I wonder if I am low on Iron or something...?

I recently got stuck, this past weekend. After sliming and salivating, and having 3 PB episodes 10 minutes apart, I finally got unstuck. I was close to panic, as I have not experienced this before, just a few "almost stuck" episodes that went away. I am wondering what I should do when this happens? I have heard that chewing Papaya extract pills helps break down the food, or pinapple juice (a few sips). I wonder if there is anything else? And, at what point do I need to seek professional help, like at a hospital? When do I know something is really wrong? It was such a scary experience, I need to know what to do next time. Thanks!

I am curious about how much to costs to remove the Band? Is it less than the putting it in? And how is the recovery... the same as installing it, less, more post-op pain?? I am not planning on removing mine, but just curious just in case!:confused:

I did it! My goal was to lose 25 lbs by July4rth, and I actually dropped 29! Yay me! That is a total of 73 lbs now. I was banded April 14th this year. I lost 30 lbs pre-op (3 weeks before surgery), and then 43 since surgery. I have 50 more to go...:confused: Jen Hardy

I have a friend looking for a support group. She has not been banded yet but is planning to in August. She lives in Meyerland area, in SW HOuston. Any ideas? Thanks

Hi! Have you found a meeting place yet? If not, or if you want to check out another one, try this... Cally-Ann Choate at 713-254-8392 cell, or home 832-230-1107. She is super nice and has a lot of interesting information, tons of recipies! This is a new group, we have only had one meeting so far. The next will be 7-8-10 at 7pm at her house, in Pearland. If this does not work for you, let me know, I can find another one! I know of a few. Good luck! Jen hardy

I am one week post-op today, and I started having that defered shoulder pain that I had the day of surgery.. come back! Every time I breathe in it hurts, other times it nags me, makes me want to stretch out my neck to make it go away. Anyone else expereince this? I thought all that would be gone by now. I did not really have a lot of that in the beginning except the day of surgery, maybe a little the next day. I know it has to do something with the diaphram, and gas. My ribs also hurt on that side if I breathe in deeply...? Weird..:thumbup:

I went in for my 2nd fill today.. 5/29/10. They put in 1.2cc, so now I have 4cc. That is what I had when I had surgery, and they had to take some out. But that was probably because of the swelling. I am on liquids for today, tomorrow, and then Sunday i can do mushies, then Monday solids again. Will be interesting to see how I do on the solids. I have not had any trouble at this point with anything, except the yams! Hopefully that will continue. My weight was 238! Last time it was 246. I was on a plateau for a while, then dropped when I went camping last wekend, then even more this week! Finally! So that is a total of 55 lbs lost since early march when I went in to commit to doing the Band. I have 68 more to go.. almost half way there! Yay me! I went back to Curves too to workout. The owner, Sheila, said I could bring the kids in this summer, if they sit in the back room and watch a DVD movie. So i will try that! She really wants to help me. I have been floundering on my diet.. not sure what to do, how much to eat, what to eat, etc. So I talked to the doc today. He said I need to go back to the pre-op diet! That will put me in ketosis again, and will melt away the fat. Boy, if I have been doing this good while NOT on that diet... imagine how good I will do going back on it! Sooner the better to me, getting rid of this weight. I know I am not supposed to lose it real fast... but I just can't help it! It has to go NOW!!! When swimming this last weekend while camping, i actually wore my bathingsuit without shorts(it has a skirt)! So daring! Before that, I was refusing to swim at all. The suit is a bit big, especially in the bossom. So I bought another suit, plus found my old one that fits well now! I got some swim shorts to wear with it too(no skirt on this one). There is a pool party this Sunday at a Lap Banders house. We are having a meeting there. So i will try out my new suit. Then next week starts swim lessons for the kids at UH, for 2 weeks, so i will swim there as well, good exercise, and I am not as ashamed now either. I am about ready to ride a horse again too. Sherri has been riding Sunny the last 2 days, and will continue to ride her, to get her ready for me. She has not been ridden in a long time, so I do not want any suprises! I am really looking forward to it! Ahhh to ride again! Good timing too, my ponies are leaving in a week and a half, I will be equineless. So I need Sunny! That will be a really big day for me! Ok, going to go now, more later!

Depression, guilt, low self-esteem. All gone now!

My surgery was April 14th (one month today!) I have lost 17 lbs. But I also lost 30 lbs pre-op. I have not lost any for the last week. I went for my first fill Wdnesday. I got 1cc put in on top of the 2cc that they had in thre from surgery day, so I have 3cc now. I am scheduled to go in again in 2 weeks, if I am still feeling hungry. I am hoping to lose 25 lbs by July4rth, that is 3 lbs a week.:w00t:

I have the Dermabond glue too. Although, on the largest incision I see a tiny clear little stitch sticking out! I do not know what that is about... how much there is that I cannot see.. I thought I had NO stitches! But I am going to my first fill this Wed, will see what they say. Mine are quite itchy too! I shower, no tub. I rubbed off the remaining glue stuff from around them last week, it was driving me crazy!:sad: I saw on a show tonight about a tribe. Five days after circumcizing the boys, they go to the beach and swim to help prevent infection! They said it stung :confused:, but it helped heal it... so... I don't know! Ask the doc!

I am going for 25.. that is 3 lbs a week. I am going for my first fill this week! Good luck everyone!

Sounds like time for a "family meeting"! You need to voice this to your family so they can understand and help accomodate you. My hubby makes everyone wait until I am at the table before we say the blessing and then eat. When everyone is done, they take their plates in the kitchen, but I do the cleaning when I am done. Maybe tell hubby you will clean up your own stuff when you are done... or just let him go and sit and then get back up to do yours when you are done? I have been putting everything my kids need from the fridge and kitchen they use.. down low, so they can go get it themselves and I am not bothered. My youngest is 5, she can get just about everyhting she needs because it is down low for her. Maybe a possibility for you? Good luck! I know being a mommy can be fustrating! Happy Mothers Day!! :confused:

Hope you feel better soon! I am doing well now. The next day i was fine, only minor pain, and none since then. I have also been walking a lot too, and staying away from milk products, straws, and cold drinks. Let us know how you are doing!

Didn't you say yesterday you had mushies?... and today solids? That could be it. The pills didn't help! The turkey and string cheese do not sound like they would go down easily. Can you get a liquid or chewable form of the pills? I am not far along enough to really advise you on this, I am still on soft stuff. If you can't eat mushies like mashed lasagna.. maybe your fill was too much? I guess just call the office in the morning and tell them what is happening. Sorry you are having a rough time!

I have not had this experience (yet) as I am only 12 days post-op... but was very interested in reading this post to find out about it. So.. the pain you feel.. is it like a stabbing pain in your chest... or what? How would you describe it?... just so I won't freak out if it happens to me and I know what is going on!... and... is the best advice when this happens to drink water... so it either goes on through or back up? Thanks!

After day 3 of not having a BM, I was a bit worried. I felt like I needed to go, but could not push, it hurt too much in my muscles. So i went and got a kids laxative, chewable tablet. It said 2-4 tablets the first time. I only took 2. That did the trick! But then I had diareaha for a couple days! I was kinda wondering why I was even having BMs if I was on liquids!:wink: Weird! Finally the "runs" went away on their own and now I am normal. Luckily my insides are healed up more and can deal with the pushing... to an extent. I think I might try that Miralax too, because it is not always easy.:eek:

Hi Allota BS! I am in Texas! So, you are still on liquids? Are you maybe drinking too fast/too much? I had a bad episode last week myself. I drank a protien smoothy too fast I guess, then left to take kids to school. I really started feeling nauseous and terrible. I made it to the school, and barely made it home. I was really scared... I did not know what was going on, and if I was going to have to pull off the road and call for help! I got home OK, and took a supository for nauseousness, then laid down for a couple hours. I was fine then, just weak and drained. The only thing I think it could have been was drinking it too fast. Now I take my time, no more episodes so far. This week I get to start soft foods like scrambled eggs and baked fish mashed up. So this will be interesting! Why don't you email me privately and we can exchange emails? Then we can journey together!:eek:

Well, since I last posted... I tried the heating pad, and drinking some hot soup... no good! Guess I will take some more GasX, and maybe a nap. It really hurts!!:eek: It comes and goes, like contractions when you are in labor! Makes me cry out, and hubby gets worried! Will try a nap now... I am walking later with a friend. That is supposed to help too.

I know what you mean about the gas pain! My left shoulder is killing me today!!! I took 2 GasX a while ago... no better. I also used Icy Hot.. no good. On Friday, I had your same pain.. under my left ribs, stabbing!!:wink: I called the office. They said gas, and had I been drinking any milk products. I said I was drinking the Dannon Lite smoothies. They siad to cut it out, no milk products. You have to look at what you are ingesting. Last night i had 1/2 glass wine.:eek: Maybe that is what is causing this pain now? I do not know. No milk though! Are you drinking milk products?.. or eating something made with milk?? Jen

I drink Kangan water too! I am sure it has helped. I drank it quite a bit before surgery. The Chiro office I was getting my pre-op colonics from had it there for free, so I started drinking it again. All I had yesterday was 2 protein shakes, and a small bowl of V8 soup, and for drinking I had the Kangan water and a Snapple peach ice tea (diet).