shues138

I was on the same boat as you! We pretty much have the same story, but I'm a female, no kids and I don't live in NJ lol. Anyway, since getting back on the band wagon, I have lost a ton of weight (weighed in at 314 in December, down to 258 as of yesterday). I'm glad your surgeon is supportive, take it one step at a time, and you'll reach your goals! Keep up the good work!

@bayougirl I live in Connecticut. The major cities in this state (Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford) have the highest obesity rates in the state, due to the fact that low income residents live in these cities, therefore making poor food choices (ie fast food, convenience foods at bodegas, etc). We also have a fun "program" where crack heads, etc will sell their food stamp cards to people for a reduced rate for cash. For example, if a person has $500 on their foodstamp card they'll sell the card for cash for $250, before you do that you go to a bodega get like a pack of gum and it'll show the balance of the foodstamp card on the receipt. Therefore, food is taken out of children's mouths but they get cash for whatever they want it for. I have to say though, the city I work in (one of the major ones) they are really trying to get people that live in the city to get healthy. They recently opened up a Stop and Shop in the worst area in town and also opened up a co-op (unfortunately with HIGH food prices, but still accept foodstamps) that has a healthier range of food products (I'll even shop their in a pinch). Trust me, my job is not easy, I used to work in the maternity section of where I work, and when I would see patients, they would be like "oh am I signing this so I can get more money for the state?" uh, no you're signing it so your child can have medical coverege. I would hear a lot of "I don't care about that, I want my money" ::rolls eyes::

I had to comment on this blog, I work in healthcare and see the abuse of the system every darn day. Medicare as everyone stated prior is earned, and it is there to help people over 65, disabled individuals and transplant receipients. Medicare benefits at that are kind of crappy which drives me nuts since everyone pays into it. Medicaid on the other hand is a whole different beast. I live in one of the most expensive states in the union, and about half of our patients are on medicaid for medical. I honestly don't feel bad about children receiving it, I'm from the school of every child under 18 deserves medical care. But, what frustrates me is that where I live, every six months you have to literally mail in a postcard to the state updating your demographic info and your medicaid is updated for another six months. People who don't do this, expect me (who has nothing to do with the patient other than paying for their medical) to do it, I'm like "you're an adult do it yourself" of course I can't say that, but I say it in a nice way lol. I think there should definetly be a time limit on how long people are on medicaid, unless they have a chronic illness (ie cancer) and they literally cannot work due to their illness. @bayougirl, you think that's bad in regards to the junk food on your dime? How about where I live they can use them at fast food restaurants. Real nice, huh?

I was on the same boat as you, was banded in 2007 and life really got into the way, in December of last year I weighed myself and gained all the weight minus 8 pounds from my pre-op weight. That scared the crap out of me and I jumped right back on the band wagon. I was scared to death to go to my mds office, but they were like "not very good, but it happens all the time" and I've been going every month getting fills and so far I've lost 53 lbs. So, if I can do it, you can do it! Good luck and you'll do great!

Please don't take my medical advice to heart since I'm in no way a medical professional but, is your gall bladder still in? The symptons you have sound like mine when I had bad gall bladder attacks. If you aren't feeling any better go to an urgent care center or Emergency Department asap!

@humming bird-those sound like a good idea, I'll have to try that! I drink a lot of sugar free red bull, it's an expensive habit this may be a cheaper solution!

I think most addicts will trade one addiction for another. I have two (well three) examples. The first, a friend of mine moved to San Diego and got addicted to snorting Crystal Meth. When she came back to the east coast, she wasn't able to access it as easily as she did when she lived out west (it was so bad she was fedexing money to her dealer and of course no drugs would come back) so she started drinking a lot. It was so bad, her husband almost put her into rehab for alcoholism. Another friend of mine was addicted to cocaine, had to give it up because it was costing her her life and her family (her daughter was taken away from her by her ex-husband) she cleaned up her act and then got addicted to smoking angel dust, which she is still doing to this day. I think if someone has an innate addictive personality you do end up "switching" for me (the third example) the itch will always be there to eat crappy food, but I feel like my new addiction now is buying clothes. I'm an online shopping fool! It's such a great rush, but after you feel bad. The other day i went to Victoria's Secret was fitted for bras and bought about $500 worth, the minute I left the mall I thought to myself "wtf I'm just going to have to get new ones in six months!" but then the other side of me goes "hey it's $500 you can't take that money with you when you're dead"

It hasn't done anything to my BP (thank goodness, even when I was over 300 lbs my blood pressure was 120/80) I forgot to bring it with me on vacation last week, so I started taking it again on Sunday, so maybe that will kick start it working again.

My APRN prescribed it to me when I only lost 8 lbs in one month (granted I just got back from vacation two days prior to the appt) anyway, when I first took it I lost 21 lbs in 6 weeks, now that my body is getting used to it I've probably only lost a few pounds this past month, more than likely I'll need a fill. I feel like my body gets immuned to any sort of medication quickly (ie six weeks) so I don't know long term this is going to work, unless she has me double up on the medication, we will see on Monday when I go back.

I was never told to give up caffeine, but I think the theory is that it does dehydrate you and for some it can irritate the stomach. Another reason may be that if you add milk/cream/sweetner it can up your calorie intake. As for me, I'm not a big coffee drinker and I do drink it black. On the other hand I drink one sugar free Red Bull a day (drinking one now!) which is lightly carbonated, but I'll pour it in a cup and stir it to get most of the bubbles out.

Is Gardein the company that makes the fake stuffed chicken breast? I bought it once at Whole Foods and it was so good and I can't find it anymore! Also, I like the fake chicken by Quorn. They have "grilled chicken", "chicken cutlets" aka breaded chicken, and I think one stuffed with Gruyere cheese. I'm not 100% vegan/vegetarian, I just hate chicken!

That sounds like something I would do! I had a dentist appt one time after a fill appt. I had to get a cavity filled and I have a big dentist phobia especially with the novicaine needles coming towards my mouth, so I start tensing up in the dentist's chair and I got the worse port pain ever! I'm like "never doing both on the same day again!" Glad to hear that the jumping around helped!

I've been banded since 2007 and still have this problem! My co-worker gave me chia seeds (yes like chia pet lol) and they are suppossed to help with getting things going in that area. She got a big bag at a really expensive grocery store in the city we work in for $6.00 so it's probably less expensive elsewhere, she puts about a tablespoon or so in her Water. I haven't tried it yet, I will later on today and let you know how it tastes and if it works. Constipation sucks!