Betsyjane

Sounds just perfect, Diann. Congrats!

At 6 months out, I lost a little hair, but really lost my fingernails. They started peeling off in layers. Then everything went back to normal.....

All those sugar free foods! Too many artificial sweeteners give me gas! And cravings. Artificial sweeteners raise your blood sugar just like sugar does, and the subsequent crash in blood sugar makes you crave crave crave!

I have had my ups and downs. I have lupus, and my weight is a bit contingent on what meds I'm on. If I'm on prednisone, I just have to wait it out until I get off it and can start losing again. With your illnesses, are there any meds issues with your weight?

Oddly, I only had to stay on pureed food for a matter of days. I wonder why there's so much variability among doctors.

I'd like to address a previous thread posting by thie OP. I do think that the rate at which we continue to lose weight is due to many things, one of which is developing exercise as a part of our lifestyles. It is difficult to do that if you are a smoker. I'm curious if anyone has heard of any research about smoking and esophageal irritation post banding. I'm wondering if that might be why you are feeling so much restriction too....

Ha! Glad I didn't have to have a psych exam or anything else..... Just met the doc and scheduled the surgery!

I want to thank the OP for providing such a provokative title and posting. It has brought folk together to talk in a positive way. inda nice when it works out that way.... PS: I lost 2 pounds since day before yesterday...unusual and always welcome.

Just goes to show that psych evals for lap banders have not been standardized yet, and anything goes. And yes, most morbidly obese people are going to test as depressed and possibly angry, as having low self esteem and a variety of other ills. My question is how that qualifies or doesn't qualify one for surgery. And the block test...that's part of the IQ test, and I doubt if IQ is significantly related to lap band outcome. Seems like all you'd really want a psychologist to do is to answer 3 questions: Is the patient sufficiently informed about lap bands to be ready for surgery, Is the patient put together well enough mentally and emotionally for surgery, and does the patient have any eating disorders that need to be addressed prior to being banded... The first question could even be answered by the surgeon. The other two should be able to be done by screening interview and brief Q&A tests....

mjsafari-you started out with a big BMI.... Congrats on your progress so far. Looks like you're definitely on the right track. Attagirl!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are adorable! Hope it works out. And the goats milk fudge sounds deadly good! Sounds like life and weight are evening out. Congrats. I live with 3 Golden Retrievers and a Poodle, plus 3 indoor cats, and around a dozen other big dogs that we keep in our house while people are on vacation. www.goldenretrievercamp.com I found that getting a natural stiff bristle small headed broom on a long handle is essential. One quick sweep of the carpet in the house brings up mounds of dog hair so I don't later burn my vacuum out. My 7 Nigerian Dwarfs are retired, so no milk. They just keep our fence lines clean and don't ask much of us. They're good cuddlers. As I get closer to my goal I find I have to relearn my same lessons again. I fall into old habits that sneak up on me an dI have to re-corect myself. That's OK. It's working. And I find that I go for ice cream with a passion on days that I know I haven't gotten enough good food in me to sustain me. There seems to be a connection for me. Glad you have the familial housekeeping team! Where do I get one of those?

Where IS Lana????

Panera it is!

One week to go. Good for you. We'll throw a party, my dear. I agree with the entitlement. I also thing that for me, the behavioral aspect is strong. I have paired food with everything in my life, so everything triggers eating...boredom, TV, computer, social life, loneliness, driving, seeing a food ad, visiting my mother, working. Good grief!

TriVon: Everyone is different. Here's what I experienced: I went to surgery, and was nauseous as I came out of anaesthetic. They put a patch on me and gave me some sort of medication. I went home the same day. By the time I got home, I was still groggy and was beginning to feel gas pain. They have to blow you up with gas so they can see what they are doing, and the pain often gets referred to your right shoulder. I used liquid Tylenol and a heating pad for it, and I walked a lot, which they said helps. Within an hour of getting home, I slept in a recliner for hours. When I woke up, I was no longer groggy, but had that annoying shoulder pain. I walked, rested, and complained about my shoulder the rest of the day. The next 2 days, I was up and about but still had the pain. I just kept on liquid Tylenol and the heating pad, and pretty much putzed around the house without a problem and without assistance since hubby went back to work the day after my surgery. Other than leaving lifting tasks to him, I was mobile. I probably could have returned to work on day 4, and ideally, I would have planned to take a week off instead. The shoulder pain went away around day 4, and it was really my only major inconvenience. By day 7, my appetite came back with a vengence. Then I was in Bandster Hell waiting for my first fill so I could live the bandster life. I leanred patience.

1. I can eat most things now...I've just learned how much I need to chew to get some things down. But some foods just aren't worth the effort to me anymore, so I'm happy to cook whatever and either give myself a small portion, or eat the things I can and not serve myself the things I can't. It's not like having a craving and then not being able to eat...It's just not being interested in some foods. Oddly, I've also found I'm great at buffets because I can get a bite of a bunch of things....but I don't miss being able to pile my plate full. 2. It's funny. When I said to my Dr. that I didn't know how I could lose weight or stay on a pre-op diet, and that if I could, I might not need the band....He agreed! I just did the best I could. Post-op, I did well until the swelling went down from surgery and then I could eat a bunch until I got my fills, but still lost weight, so it was at least partially working. I think everybody understands that we do our best, but we are really needing the band to make a difference for us. 3. I gave up Diet Coke because of the carbonation, and am surprised that I havne't missed it, and I sleep a lot better. I still occasionally have a Frappacino Lite for 150 calories, and I would have coffee if I drank it. In fact, I know bandsters who have coffee in the morning because heat opens up the band for the day so they can eat. I think what's important is to listen to your Dr. and to your body and see what works for you. 4. I think what happens is that things get stuck and we unstick them ourselves....and then decide we need a slight unfill so things don't get stuck anymore. In my experience, things that get stuck either end up going through becasue we produce enough slime to slide it through, or it comes back up in a PB. I don't know about instances of stuck stuff just staying stuck. It's more that after it happens, we decide if we weren't chewing well enough, or if we need a little less restriction. Keep asking questions! It's a big learning process and a great journey.

I think it just takes spouses awhile to adjust. We go into this researching and preparing, and our spouses are kind of just along for the ride until reality hits.

Ran across this post and thought you might enjoy it...banded 10 years! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f15/ten-years-lap-band-38936/

Hey Klover...I was in the same shape...gaining all the time! The band is not easy but it is such a relief! I either lose...or don't lose...but I don't gain! Sooo coool.

If I have said anything harsh, I apologize. I truly have your best interests at heart, and I know I have a sensitive spot when I read posts of strangers recommending that husbands get kicked to the curb. I'll be careful.

Teah, it really is bandster hell until you get the enough fills to hit your sweet spot! Teaches us patience, doesn't it?

Bless your peapickin' heart. How nice to hear about a 10 year veteran. Thanks so much for being with us.

WHOA! Take a deep breath. There are rules to living well with the band. You got the band for your health. Follow your band rules. No matter what others struggle with about our bands, the band is very personal, and you are in charge of going through that great journey following the band rules so you get healthy. It's not what happens to us in life that matters...it's what we do about what happens to us. Don't make this about your husband. Make this about yourself and being true to your health and your band rules no matter what obstacles arise. Work on changing "He is forcing me to eat", to "He is being a minor inconvenience, and my eating behavior is my responsibility". In a way, this is a good thing. If you can resist pressure from him, you will have enough practice to resist pressure from the rest of the world too.....like food ads on TV...fast food places, etc. He's just giving you opportunities to practice. Set up a plan. Ideally, you might want to be thinking about an egg fro Breakfast or a Protein shake....meat and vege for lunch, meat and vege for dinner...a fruit snack.... Whatever. But your focus has to be your plan and not him. You have plenty to do to set your courswe without putting energy into his course. Don't use him as an excuse to get sidetracked.

13th works for me. Anybody up for someplace in Atascocita?

Gadgetlady-I can relate. I like to keep a very tight band (my choice) and some days for whatever reason, I don't get enough good food down....and then I head for the ice cream. I've been tempted to get a slight unfill, but my weight loss is doing well now and I seem to be losing a little stomach fat so the restriction is slightly easing. Iknow with a little less fill, I could get my good calories in more easily and wouldn't resort to ice cream for calories...just out of habit and desire. There's something oddly satisfying in knowing that if I conquer ice cream, I can lose more quickly. As it is now, I like my slow weight loss and not thinking about the band so much. It's downright pleasant to know that I can cruise along and lose instead of gain like the old days...and that when I get really aggressive about it, I can lose more. Right now, cruising feels great.