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Mine is a couple of inches above my belly button and it caves in and grosses me out because it looks like another belly button. Sorry no pictures I think I gave TMI already :thumbup:

re: PG - I just can't imagine being that judgmental. Who is she to judge someone else? Aren't we all made in His image? I'm so sorry about your DD, Kat. I will definitely be thinking about her. Ha! Get out of my head! OMG behind TMI! Ditto, unfortunately. Lulu as a groupie, humorous.

Ew is right. I wanted restriction, but not restriction made from snot. I know TMI.

Hey everyone i was banded 2/11, and i have yet to have a bowel movement. i am on broth, jello an shakes. i just started a fiber pill. how long is it expected to take? when should i start to be concerned? sorry if tmi! thanks in advance

Just found this thread... I still douche - but only after my period ends. I hate the end-of-period smell! TMI Alert - I also douche after more "active" periods of sex, because depending on what my DH eats, his semen smells funny after we have sex. Not the same day, but the next day...if we're going at it like bunnies, I find I WANT to do it more, but an external wash with soap and Water will usually take care of it. I find it interesting that there is advice NOT to do it...my mom was a Nurse and she recommended it to me because she did it. Not sure there was a medical backing for it back then, and by the postings here, there isn't one now. Because I'm a type II diabetic, I am more prone to yeast infections, but when my blood sugar is under control, I have no problems and since being banded, I haven't had a single one.

Hey Sherry & Trish!!!!! Guess what! I EXERCISED!!!! LOL!!! Seriously though, I tried to get started with you gals, then I fell off the wagon (exercise wagon----tee hee)...and so far I've been doing the wii fit (at least 30 min mostly alternating yoga & strength training). Then the other day I started trying to walk the neighborhood a bit, the day after that (yesterday) I did a mile and a 16th (yeah, I count the 1/16th!!!! ha ha ha). I hafta do something! I have a carribean vacation end of March and my son's wedding mid-May....and right now I'm just a hunk of fatty dimples :thumbup: yeah, I know, TMI!!! lol!!!

I’m back from my Physical Therapy. I was still so sore from my little ‘incident’ last night that I walked into PT and asked if I could start with the heat and electrical stimulation. I gave my PT a wink as she was working on someone and told her I had a little problem with my neck/shoulder and that I’d tell her later. Got off the heat and after an arm warm up she said she wanted to start (instead of end) with the massage/stretching she does. She comes running over when I’m back on the table and whispers like a school girl “So what happened?” (must have been something in my face)…I started whispering my sports bra injury story and she was hysterical with laughter. Now, you have to get that all the massage tables are right next to each other along one wall…I certainly don’t mind sharing…not much embarrasses me (yes, you knew that), but I didn’t want to embarrass the dozen or so guys around me…TMI and all that. Well, we were laughing so hard everyone was staring as I whispered my way through the horror of the dressing room. When I was done I asked “So what’s the weirdest thing someone was injured doing that came to you for PT?” I’m thinking there’s got to be some pretty crazy stuff…I’ve got doctors and nurses for family and friends and they’ve always got the wildest stories about patients, I thought they HAD to see some pretty whacky stuff in PT too, right? Apparently not…or some patients are lying (you know who you are...fess up!). She said “Oh, I could probably write a book, but your sports bra injury would be on page 1- Chapter One!” The guys next to us heard the first part about writing the book and another PT asked “Writing a book on what?” She says “Strange ways people injure themselves.” Here it comes… “Like what?” I turn to him (now the whole area is listening) and (I figure it’s all over at this point anyway) with a really load whisper “Sports Bra Injury!” All the men look confused, but the few women there all start nodding their heads and I get immediate feedback all at once from the gals “Oh, yea!” “ I’ve had that happen!” “Those things are terrible to get off!” “I’ve always wondered why they don’t put hooks on those too!” “Oh, I have to buy them 2 sizes larger just to get them off!” I’m thinking…OK, if this is so common, why didn’t someone warn me ahead of time. Where were you gals when I was walking into the dressing room with two smaller sizes? The guys at this point are all laughing hysterically. Then the women go for after the guys “Yea, you wouldn’t understand!” “You should just try getting one of those things off!” “Yea, buy one for your wife for Valentine’s Day and see how easy it is for her to take it off!” “Better yet, you should try one of hers on and see how hard it is!” At this point I’m picturing that tightly twisted rubber band bra and men’s chest hair…probably the ONLY thing that could make that more painful. I’m being really careful the next few weeks….don’t want to be Chapter Two.

I’m back from my Physical Therapy. I was still so sore from my little ‘incident’ last night that I walked into PT and asked if I could start with the heat and electrical stimulation. I gave my PT a wink as she was working on someone and told her I had a little problem with my neck/shoulder and that I’d tell her later. Got off the heat and after an arm warm up she said she wanted to start (instead of end) with the massage/stretching she does. She comes running over when I’m back on the table and whispers like a school girl “So what happened?” (must have been something in my face)…I started whispering my sports bra injury story and she was hysterical with laughter. Now, you have to get that all the massage tables are right next to each other along one wall…I certainly don’t mind sharing…not much embarrasses me (yes, you knew that), but I didn’t want to embarrass the dozen or so guys around me…TMI and all that. Well, we were laughing so hard everyone was staring as I whispered my way through the horror of the dressing room. When I was done I asked “So what’s the weirdest thing someone was injured doing that came to you for PT?” I’m thinking there’s got to be some pretty crazy stuff…I’ve got doctors and nurses for family and friends and they’ve always got the wildest stories about patients, I thought they HAD to see some pretty whacky stuff in PT too, right? Apparently not…or some patients are lying (you know who you are...fess up!). She said “Oh, I could probably write a book, but your sports bra injury would be on page 1- Chapter One!” The guys next to us heard the first part about writing the book and another PT asked “Writing a book on what?” She says “Strange ways people injure themselves.” Here it comes… “Like what?” I turn to him (now the whole area is listening) and (I figure it’s all over at this point anyway) with a really load whisper “Sports Bra Injury!” All the men look confused, but the few women there all start nodding their heads and I get immediate feedback all at once from the gals “Oh, yea!” “ I’ve had that happen!” “Those things are terrible to get off!” “I’ve always wondered why they don’t put hooks on those too!” “Oh, I have to buy them 2 sizes larger just to get them off!” I’m thinking…OK, if this is so common, why didn’t someone warn me ahead of time. Where were you gals when I was walking into the dressing room with two smaller sizes? The guys at this point are all laughing hysterically. Then the women go for after the guys “Yea, you wouldn’t understand!” “You should just try getting one of those things off!” “Yea, buy one for your wife for Valentine’s Day and see how easy it is for her to take it off!” “Better yet, you should try one of hers on and see how hard it is!” At this point I’m picturing that tightly twisted rubber band bra and men’s chest hair…probably the ONLY thing that could make that more painful. I’m being really careful the next few weeks….don’t want to be Chapter Two.

Wow - I never meant to let it get this long without another posting. Yet more evidence that the more weight you lose, the more you re-enter the real world and that thing called "a life" that you have been avoiding, which means you just get busier and busier!! SOO.... I have been doing great. I have lost 62 lbs. now but I know that I have been slipping from the right path. One thing is my food choices. Not the greatest lately. Not terrible (I AM still losing weight) but not great - a few too many cookies here and there. And while it hasn't derailed my success (YET), it just shows me that I am getting complacent - lazy! So I need to get back on track. The second thing I have been bad about is exercise. I basically haven't exercised at all since the start of winter. Given that it is now mid-February and that I live in MN, so winter began about September - that is a long time and, again, a bad habit. It has been so cold that walking outdoors wasn't an option. And I joined the YMCA with the intention of swimming (the only exercise I actually enjoy!) but it has ended up being a hassle to get the truck. We only have the one SUV and Pat uses it to go to work. Normally it isn't that big of a deal because we live so close to the base that I can take the truck anytime. But it means getting everyone up really early (about 5:30am) to bring Pat in and then come home. So I recently bought a treadmill on Craigslist for $50 (great deal!!) and I am excited. Imagine that - me excited about exercise!! But I am! I feel that I have already had a lot of success with my weight loss and can you imagine the results if I actually got off my butt and did some exercise?? Well, I can and I like it!! It will be nice to be able to go to the den downstairs and put my ipod on or watch TV while I walk and Molly can play, etc. So my exercise is now completely in my hands - no excuses about the truck or weather. And I am looking forward to the challenge. (Which is shocking to me that I even wrote that sentence!!) The last thing that I am being bad about is going to the lapband doctor. I don't need a fill (I don't think so anyway. I am pretty happy where I am at. I already skip meals at times because I just forget and I'm not hungry. *I am NOT advocating that as a good idea!!* I'm just being honest. But I also feel that when I do eat, I can eat more than the one cup that I should be eating. But I am more concerned that if I get the fill any tighter, I might stop eating even more, which is obviously not healthy. So I think I'll stay where I am for now.) But what happened was I missed the first appointment because I flaked out. So I rescheduled and it was about a month later before they could get me in. So next thing you know, I freaking flake on that one too!! (I often ask myself if I am really an adult and so far, I can't answer myself!) So I was really disappointed in myself and embarrassed that I did that twice. So then I didn't want to call and make another appointment - I felt like I'd be scolded or they'll be mad at me. Which is ridiculous. They have so many patients they probably don't remember that I missed the dang appointments anyway. And even if they do - what are they going to do?? Make a comment and we all move on. But I have let it go on for so long now, that I really don't want to face them and have to admit how long since I've seen the doctor. (Hello?? Will Claire the adult please stand up??) This is childish and I know it, but I can't seem to get over the feeling like I've let them down and I don't want to show my face there. So I think I will call and schedule an appointment and make my husband go with me. He is really my rock - he is a no-BS type of guy and helps me overcome these types of issues and see how silly it really is. So that is how I have been bad. BOO!!! :w00t: Now onto the good stuff!! I have lost 62 lbs baby!! I used to wear a 26/28 and I am now in a 22/24!! I just bagged up the last of the too big clothes from my closet and with our tax return we got me some clothes. Which I loved. Not only shopping for smaller sizes, but the way clothes looked better on me, the fact that there are cuter clothes to choose from, that there is more variety to choose from, etc etc. So that was pretty awesome. My husband spent a fortune on lingerie for me!! Every pair of panties are adorable now (or sexy) and I even have some actual lingerie. Which brings me to a side point that someone else mentioned and I figured I should talk about it. If sex is TMI for you, skip to the next paragraph!! Okay - sex is GREAT! I mean, I've always enjoyed sex, but for quite awhile before the surgery, I had NO sex drive. I just never felt like having sex. I still enjoyed it when I did have it, I just never felt much like having it. But now, it is so different! Not only do I have a normal sex drive, but the sex is better. Why? Well, for one thing, there are positions and stuff like that we can do now that we haven't been able to do in awhile. But now we can because I have lost so much weight. I don't know whether it is hormones or what, but the "grand finale" is much better too. Which of course makes me want sex more often, etc. So that is a great side effect of all of this - my husband thanks the surgeon every night!! Back to the normal great stuff - in losing so much weight, I am beginning to literally and figuratively "find" myself. I am seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in ages (not always a good thing, but the novelty is nice!). I am discovering my body and beginning to feel like we are friends again. For so long I felt like I battled my own body all the time - being sick all the time, all the problems and medications I was on, and the constant battle to lose weight with no results. But now I am beginning to feel like my body and I are working together and now that we are on the same side, I am beginning to actually be proud of my body - despite the imperfections. I feel like I earned those battle scars and that despite the abuse my body has endured, it is still here and we are on the right track now and my body is still going! I don't know how else to describe it. But I also am finding ME. The actual person and personality that has been smothered for so long under all that fat. I've begun to realize that I have a sense of style and individuality that is beginning to be reflected in my clothes - for so long it was all about the clothes that fit and would flatter as much as possible while still fitting in my budget. That doesn't really allow for style and personality. But now, I am discovering that I am pretty off beat. Maybe it is also a reaction to having to wear fat girl clothes for so long, which are often kind of older and dowdy, but I am really throwing that aside. I realized that I love the Rockabilly look (very old school, Bettie Page hair, pencil skirts, peep toe shoes, etc.) which I'm still not small enough to pull off, but I still like more edgy clothes and styles. I have begun to shop exclusively at Torrid. Now, there are a lot of clothes there that are not my style AND way too young for me, but there is a lot there that I really love. I am dressing younger and hipper. I painted my nails purple the other day!! Which, if you knew me, is pretty extreme. I was always so conservative. But I loved it. For my 32nd birthday in January, I got the top of my right ear pierced AND my nose pierced!! I have always wanted to get it done - I love the way it looks. But I always felt like I was too fat and too old. A mother of two who is 32 does NOT get her nose pierced. But when my husband found out that THAT was the reason I haven't done it, he was adamant that I was getting it done. That was my birthday present from him. He said, "Who says you are too old?? Who cares what anyone thinks?? You want to get it done, it would make you happy - what does anyone else's opinion matter??" It might be different if I worked at a very conservative job, but I don't!! I'm a stay at home mom and I'm going to college online for graphic design. My hubby said that my nose ring and new look are perfect for an "artsy" career. He said that looking young and being your own person and slightly unconventional will probably be a plus in my job field, when I get that far. So I am happy about that - I feel like I am developing my own style and learning all over again what I really like and what works for me. Of course I am still busy with the kids - James is in third grade and he just had his 9th birthday party. Molly is about to start kindergarten in September (boo hoo!!:smile:) and her 5th birthday party is in a month, which I am still trying to get my butt in gear and finish planning everything for. (Get my butt in gear - are we sensing a theme here??) Patrick is frustrated at his job, but we are actually all really happy. Life for our entire family has steadily improved since I got this surgery. It has changed our lives in so many ways - many of them unexpected. So, that is about it for now. As usual, I'll end with - I LOVE MY LAPBAND!! :tt2:

Wow - I never meant to let it get this long without another posting. Yet more evidence that the more weight you lose, the more you re-enter the real world and that thing called "a life" that you have been avoiding, which means you just get busier and busier!! SOO.... I have been doing great. I have lost 62 lbs. now but I know that I have been slipping from the right path. One thing is my food choices. Not the greatest lately. Not terrible (I AM still losing weight) but not great - a few too many cookies here and there. And while it hasn't derailed my success (YET), it just shows me that I am getting complacent - lazy! So I need to get back on track. The second thing I have been bad about is exercise. I basically haven't exercised at all since the start of winter. Given that it is now mid-February and that I live in MN, so winter began about September - that is a long time and, again, a bad habit. It has been so cold that walking outdoors wasn't an option. And I joined the YMCA with the intention of swimming (the only exercise I actually enjoy!) but it has ended up being a hassle to get the truck. We only have the one SUV and Pat uses it to go to work. Normally it isn't that big of a deal because we live so close to the base that I can take the truck anytime. But it means getting everyone up really early (about 5:30am) to bring Pat in and then come home. So I recently bought a treadmill on Craigslist for $50 (great deal!!) and I am excited. Imagine that - me excited about exercise!! But I am! I feel that I have already had a lot of success with my weight loss and can you imagine the results if I actually got off my butt and did some exercise?? Well, I can and I like it!! It will be nice to be able to go to the den downstairs and put my ipod on or watch TV while I walk and Molly can play, etc. So my exercise is now completely in my hands - no excuses about the truck or weather. And I am looking forward to the challenge. (Which is shocking to me that I even wrote that sentence!!) The last thing that I am being bad about is going to the lapband doctor. I don't need a fill (I don't think so anyway. I am pretty happy where I am at. I already skip meals at times because I just forget and I'm not hungry. *I am NOT advocating that as a good idea!!* I'm just being honest. But I also feel that when I do eat, I can eat more than the one cup that I should be eating. But I am more concerned that if I get the fill any tighter, I might stop eating even more, which is obviously not healthy. So I think I'll stay where I am for now.) But what happened was I missed the first appointment because I flaked out. So I rescheduled and it was about a month later before they could get me in. So next thing you know, I freaking flake on that one too!! (I often ask myself if I am really an adult and so far, I can't answer myself!) So I was really disappointed in myself and embarrassed that I did that twice. So then I didn't want to call and make another appointment - I felt like I'd be scolded or they'll be mad at me. Which is ridiculous. They have so many patients they probably don't remember that I missed the dang appointments anyway. And even if they do - what are they going to do?? Make a comment and we all move on. But I have let it go on for so long now, that I really don't want to face them and have to admit how long since I've seen the doctor. (Hello?? Will Claire the adult please stand up??) This is childish and I know it, but I can't seem to get over the feeling like I've let them down and I don't want to show my face there. So I think I will call and schedule an appointment and make my husband go with me. He is really my rock - he is a no-BS type of guy and helps me overcome these types of issues and see how silly it really is. So that is how I have been bad. BOO!!! :thumbup: Now onto the good stuff!! I have lost 62 lbs baby!! I used to wear a 26/28 and I am now in a 22/24!! I just bagged up the last of the too big clothes from my closet and with our tax return we got me some clothes. Which I loved. Not only shopping for smaller sizes, but the way clothes looked better on me, the fact that there are cuter clothes to choose from, that there is more variety to choose from, etc etc. So that was pretty awesome. My husband spent a fortune on lingerie for me!! Every pair of panties are adorable now (or sexy) and I even have some actual lingerie. Which brings me to a side point that someone else mentioned and I figured I should talk about it. If sex is TMI for you, skip to the next paragraph!! Okay - sex is GREAT! I mean, I've always enjoyed sex, but for quite awhile before the surgery, I had NO sex drive. I just never felt like having sex. I still enjoyed it when I did have it, I just never felt much like having it. But now, it is so different! Not only do I have a normal sex drive, but the sex is better. Why? Well, for one thing, there are positions and stuff like that we can do now that we haven't been able to do in awhile. But now we can because I have lost so much weight. I don't know whether it is hormones or what, but the "grand finale" is much better too. Which of course makes me want sex more often, etc. So that is a great side effect of all of this - my husband thanks the surgeon every night!! Back to the normal great stuff - in losing so much weight, I am beginning to literally and figuratively "find" myself. I am seeing parts of my body that I haven't seen in ages (not always a good thing, but the novelty is nice!). I am discovering my body and beginning to feel like we are friends again. For so long I felt like I battled my own body all the time - being sick all the time, all the problems and medications I was on, and the constant battle to lose weight with no results. But now I am beginning to feel like my body and I are working together and now that we are on the same side, I am beginning to actually be proud of my body - despite the imperfections. I feel like I earned those battle scars and that despite the abuse my body has endured, it is still here and we are on the right track now and my body is still going! I don't know how else to describe it. But I also am finding ME. The actual person and personality that has been smothered for so long under all that fat. I've begun to realize that I have a sense of style and individuality that is beginning to be reflected in my clothes - for so long it was all about the clothes that fit and would flatter as much as possible while still fitting in my budget. That doesn't really allow for style and personality. But now, I am discovering that I am pretty off beat. Maybe it is also a reaction to having to wear fat girl clothes for so long, which are often kind of older and dowdy, but I am really throwing that aside. I realized that I love the Rockabilly look (very old school, Bettie Page hair, pencil skirts, peep toe shoes, etc.) which I'm still not small enough to pull off, but I still like more edgy clothes and styles. I have begun to shop exclusively at Torrid. Now, there are a lot of clothes there that are not my style AND way too young for me, but there is a lot there that I really love. I am dressing younger and hipper. I painted my nails purple the other day!! Which, if you knew me, is pretty extreme. I was always so conservative. But I loved it. For my 32nd birthday in January, I got the top of my right ear pierced AND my nose pierced!! I have always wanted to get it done - I love the way it looks. But I always felt like I was too fat and too old. A mother of two who is 32 does NOT get her nose pierced. But when my husband found out that THAT was the reason I haven't done it, he was adamant that I was getting it done. That was my birthday present from him. He said, "Who says you are too old?? Who cares what anyone thinks?? You want to get it done, it would make you happy - what does anyone else's opinion matter??" It might be different if I worked at a very conservative job, but I don't!! I'm a stay at home mom and I'm going to college online for graphic design. My hubby said that my nose ring and new look are perfect for an "artsy" career. He said that looking young and being your own person and slightly unconventional will probably be a plus in my job field, when I get that far. So I am happy about that - I feel like I am developing my own style and learning all over again what I really like and what works for me. Of course I am still busy with the kids - James is in third grade and he just had his 9th birthday party. Molly is about to start kindergarten in September (boo hoo!!:tt1:) and her 5th birthday party is in a month, which I am still trying to get my butt in gear and finish planning everything for. (Get my butt in gear - are we sensing a theme here??) Patrick is frustrated at his job, but we are actually all really happy. Life for our entire family has steadily improved since I got this surgery. It has changed our lives in so many ways - many of them unexpected. So, that is about it for now. As usual, I'll end with - I LOVE MY LAPBAND!!

BrandNewLisa -- I'll swap with you... just kidding. I'm at the size 18/20 on the top and 22/24 on the bottom... I always thought I was Apple shaped and now I'm Pear shaped! Still not lacking in the top though just seeing the middle going down and down so I can buton things without gaps... sorry guys if that is TMI! With all the cardio type exercise I'm doing, my butt and legs are shrinking above the knees -- I almost didn't recognize my own legs and I can feel the air and space between them in my pants legs but alas I too fight the bigger belly thing. Anybody have really muscular lower legs due to having carried so much weight around for years? I'm hoping my calves will go down in size as the weight I carry keeps decreasing. I figure they've been bench pressing 300 lbs for awhile so they need time to decrease muscle mass.

I too will be banded on Wednesday! I was on a 14 day Optifast diet, but it made me horrible ill. I lasted 4 days on it and then I had the worst diarreha of my life (TMI...sorry) anyhow, the doctor then moved me to clear liquid for 2 days, then to low fat, low carb for 2 days, and then back to clear liquid the last 5 days. I am DYING! I'm not sure who can survive on chicken stock, popsicles, fat free sugar free pudding, and water but it is not this fat chick. I can't wait for this to be over. I never figured I would say this, but I can't wait to eat over cooked broccoli and oatmeal. I have cheated a bit by eating 3 pieces of pepperoni off my kids' pizza and 3 cheetos in the last 2 days but overall I think I will be fine....I hope!

Thanks Ladies! I'll keep an eye on things, (and not too TMI when you're describing symptoms to look for!). Mine was all in my mid-back. Ribcage area. No other symptoms but I know what to look for now, if this continues. And my band surgeon does gallbladders too so I'll have him take care of things, if needed. innotu, I really hope it best case scenario! Worst case, is probably surgery to remove it. We'll just hope there is no need for surgery. Let us know!

Hi Junies, OK this is what NOT to do. I was running late this morning, so I skipped breakfast. Had to meet my trainer for my first workout with him. I took a bottle of water and he put me thru the motions. And he pushed! I was shaking like jello! lol And close to the end of the workout, i got very nausous and had to run and throw up. It was just water, but I learned we CAN throw up everything, at least water. Up to this point, I have only had a few 'slimers' but never could throw up anything from the bottom of my stomach. Well today I did! Sorry if this is TMI. Had to go to work after that, but i shut myself in the office and did paperwork. Could not see clients feeling like this. I had run to the bathroom 3x now and upchucked a bellyfull each time! Shakey, queasy, dizzy. Wonder whats going on? And I dont dare drink anymore right now. And food...fergit it! Maybe I can sleep it off this afternoon. Whew! never felt like this before.

Ha ha, funny....Not!!! :thumbup: Oh my goodness, that is too funny. How old are they? Did you get those gifts for him? Well, then you need to be a facebooker!! Donna, I am so relieved to hear everything is ok with your band. Are you feeling better now? That is awesome. I work for a child-serving agency and we have a mentoring program. It is amazing the positive difference a good mentor can make in the life of a child. Uh-oh, what happened?? Donna, I am a step-grandma too. I have two children from my first marriage and three step-kids from this one. The oldest son has a beautiful baby boy. The middle daughter has three kids, she started when she is 15 and is just now 21. Well, I had my surgery yesterday morning. They didn't have to shave my toes!! I was ok yesterday, but I guess that was because the anesthesia had now worn off yet. I woke up this morning and thought I was going to die. I stood up and immediately became majorly lightheaded and nauseated. I spent about three hours dry-heaving (sorry if TMI) and am now hoping I didn't cause any harm to my band. I think it is ok though. DH had to work today, so he had DD stay home from school to take care of me. She force fed me crackers and made me drink some Gatorade. I am actually feeling better now. But, my foot is absolutely killing me!!! He has me on some pretty good pain medicine, but every time I take it it makes me dizzy again and very sleepy. I can't believe I have to go through this again with the other foot and am definitely not looking forward to it. And, I am not allowed to go back to work until he gives me the approval. My post-op appointment isn't until Monday afternoon. I have strict orders to keep my foot elevated, on ice and to stay off of it as much as possible. So, I am already bored out of my mind. Needless to say, I will be spending a lot of time on the forums and sleeping. Keep me entertained guys! LJM, how are things going with Joshua. I love seeing all the pictures you post of him, he is such a cutie. How does dd like being a big sister?

Hey Guys, Sorry if this is TMI. I was banded on Jan. 12th. One week later I started my period and had a semi normal one. Then a couple of days ago I spotted and that was it. Then last night I woke up feeling really sick and went to the bathroom and I was spotting again. I thought it was going to be an actual period, but, this AM nothing else. I am / was really crampy feeling. So, is this normal? Anyone else is the same boat? Thanks guys...

PJTP...I'm sitting at my desk and wishing I was at home! Just came in from a 3-hour training class...snooze! I nearly fell asleep several times, which isn't good, because I was the ONLY person in the class! :tongue: Somehow I made it through, and I think I'll even retain most of what I heard - as long as I practice... Susan - I wish you a speedy and pain-free recovery for both feet! Donna - I hope you are not over-filled, but please get yourself checked...I'd hate to go through that at night. TMI Alert: After having NO pb'ing so far, I've pb'ed twice in the last two days on food that gave me NO trouble prior to my first fill. I guess what I've read is true - it does take a while for the fill to 'catch up' to ya - I had my fill on January 6th, then felt a little restriction for about a week. After that, it seemed as if nothing had been done, but the past two days, I've been feeling tight. Guess I'll have to take it easy and eat even slower, chew even more and see what happens. I'm all for losing weight faster, but I can definately do WITHOUT the pb'ing - that was nasty!:cursing:

To all the men reading this post just turn away....Ok to all my nortorious november ladies, i've got a question for you. is anyone else's cycle completely out of wack? tmi? i know, but in lieu of searching for a thread on the topic i thought i'd check with thoes i already know. the past 2 months mine is so completely off it's driving me nuts. i have heard tale of weight loss affecting your tom but i was just curious if anyone shared this delimma. i'm a woman of predictability. i like my coffe by 9, my kids to bed by 8:30, and my cycle every 28 days...so this is throwing a kink in my routine....and i'm not pg. already took a test...twice!

Congrats to everyone who have recently gotten approval and have March dates! I've been in the Feb 09 board for no particular reason outside of getting some questions answered. :tongue: I know you all must be so excited and I am so very happy for you! Your adventure has officially began! I am one of those whose insurance hasn't been approved yet and feel very anxious about it. I feel like I could finally feel like my journey has started once that happens. My insurance changes March 31 to the insurance someone mentioned above where you have to be 40bmi or greater for a min of 2 years. So this is it for me! My appt with the surgeon is this Friday - so that will be when my insurance is submitted. I still have the psych appt, nutritional appt, and support meeting to attend. I have a stress test from cardiologist, last mammogram, & copy of my cholesterol bloodwork. I will be getting copies of my dr supervised weight loss attempt and a letter of recommendation from a Dr I have been seeing for the last 7 years. I'm sure I still need an actual referral from my primary care physician. Anyway - tmi - but I hope to join this group of March success stories! I wish you all getting ready - all the luck in the world! And as for protien drinks - I've read in a couple of places that the protien drinks at costco are really good. As for a name. March melters is good. Shrinking Shamrocks? Shapely Shamrocks? Shameless Shamrocks? Lucky Lapbanders? Curvy Clovers? Classy Clovers? LOL -how fun to think up stuff....

There are low profile ports available for other bands besides the Realize. Mine is a BioEnterics by Inamed (Allergan)--the 9.75 ml. band designed to hold 4cc.'s max of saline. I had it put in in April of 2006, along with a low profile port. I can now feel my port if I push. However, my SIL who was banded by the same Dr. the same day I was, has ALWAYS been able to feel her port, and can actually feel the ridges, and where exactly the injection area is! Hers is very prominent. It cannot be seen through clothes, or even without---but can be felt without issue. Both of our bands are just a few inches below our breasts and just to the left of center. I have one friend who her port is clear down at waist level, and can find hers if pushed--similar to mine. And yet another friend with her port on the left side just below her rib cage and hers is like my SIL's and very easy to feel. Neither of my friends has a low profile, they have the larger ports. It does not bother me to have it there. There are things I have done that it has caused twinges. Not to be a TMI thing, but some sexual positions make me notice it. And leaning over the trunk....when the cans inevitably roll out of the bags and into the depths of the trunk, I ALWAYS tweak it then!! My grandson when he was small would want to jump on me, and he would find it! But it is not a pain that continues when you quit---just remove the pressure and the pain goes away. The band itself I don't "feel" other than to know when I have over filled the pouch, then I know something is physically stopping the food! Not something I ever worry about....I love my band!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat

I do like the blue team, just for a little eye candy. Both of them... and I've always had a thing for the black curly hair and thick tan masculine body... LOL Okay, TMI. I hope they can hang on for awhile because I like "watching" them. *Off topic (well kinda)* I am rooting for the Steelers because I just have the hots for Troy Polamalu... Green team, hmmm... she plays the game really well. What can I say? She packed water for two weeks and it paid off really well this week. She's a real playa! Silver team. I guess I'm in the minority when I say I'm really rooting for them. Joelle needs major help, and the longer she stays on the ranch and gets beat down by Bob the better off she'll be. I think with her friend back she will do even better now. She was really lonely I think. Orange team: Hello! David made those remarks and I knew the outcome right then. Sad but you know what? I think Dan will really show his stuff on the Finale. Go Dan!! Wow, he's really doing great on his own and he's even turning into kind of a cutie! See y'all next week!

So sorry fit & peach, I forgot to come back here (PM me if you have more questions). The LB low profile is not out yet. (wish you could subscribe to individual posts on blogs) TMI, but in case you're interested: The new Realize band is in trials now but won't be widespread for awhile (port is the same). They fixed the problems with the shape by making it precurved like the LB and the increased the volume (9 to 11cc) so it's like the LB- a bigger range so they can tweak your sweet spot more accurately. But they kept the single balloon (I like the multiple ones the LB offers). I chose the LB (my doc offers both LB/Realize) and the doc will decide which size of LB when he does the surgery (APS or APL). I did a lot of research and prefer the LB. He also let me pick the placement of the port (he said it can go almost anywhere as long as it's not too far from the band. I chose a little L of center between my ribs and belly button line, his default is on the right). -BG

I have been going though the same thing. My last fill was in October, but I have been going back and forth. One day I feel fine and then the next day I cannot eat all day. Finally in the evening I can eat a little bit. Anyway, I was having a lot of sinus/allergy problems and started taking Zyrtek and it seems to help. I was able to eat lunch and dinner today with no problems, and I actually feel hungry tonight. I was having a lot of Post Nasal Drip(I know TMI) but the allergy medicine seems to clear it up.....hopefully it continues to work.

Here -- I found the pages with the photos (there is one from post-op and another a bit later) -- hope this isn't TMI! Chronicles from Band Land: The Mederma Challenge . . . Chronicles from Band Land: Second day of being banded!