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I had the stomach 'flu while banded. It was actually a bit more bearable than pre-banding, because I used to be a very violent vomiter (sorry for the TMI, but it used to come up so fast it came out of my nose). Post-band, vomiting from the lower stomach (not PB'ing) is much easier than it used to be.

(((Beversman)))) In case I missed you before you went. BIG HUGS and get back here soon girl! Today was interesting. I was not hungry all day. I had to force a Protein shake down over the course of 2 hours. Small sips of Water throughout the day and a 1/2 cup of no sugar applesauce that I couldbarely finish. Allof a sudden at dinnertime, i was hungry! Hubby and kids for chicken fingers, fried, and boneless b-b-que wings with bleu cheese dressing. :: I heated about 1/2 cup of whipped cottage cheese and strained a little jarred marinara sauce over it so that there were no chunks and I heated it in the microwave. Wow, it was yummy. I don't know how it is on Stage 3 when it is not actually liquid,but my post op diet says it is okay so I tried it. No bad reaction. It was nice to have a little thicker consistency and I think I will bring this to my Christmas Eve dinner. For those of you struggling. I know how hard this is. I cannot transition to mushies until after my January 11th appt!!! I don't know how I am going to make it that far. I will do whatever I can though because i am so afraid of messing things up internally. Good for you all that got right back on the wagon. This is definitely the toughest time of year to be going through this, but hey, at least we won't put on that Holiday 10 pounds!!! Sweethot-my tummy too is so bloated that I look pregnant! Wacky. But the gas is really moving and picking up speed. I have caught the girls mudd that Nathalie had after drinking the MOM. I had no MOM but still have mudd. Embarassing to be out because it is loud! Sorry, I know TMI. My surgeon's office called to check up on me today and I told them that I went out shopping and had a particularly good day. I tried to transition of the percs and to Tylenol today without too much trouble but I am somewhat uncomfy now. I am going to go back to the percocet for bed tonight. Have a good night all. Welcom to the Man Eric! Hopefully more of you will come out of lurkdom. You are a brave brave man!

http://www.kcra.com/news/10575699/detail.html?treets=sac&tml=sac_12pm&ts=T&tmi=sac_12pm_1_02000212202006 here's a link to a new article about microbes in the gut that may cause obesity. I just thought it was interesting. (i definitely have those big microbes....) :biggrin1: girlin nyc

I realized this weekend something I think I should have realized long ago: I have this addictive behavior problem. I realized this after visiting my boyfriend in Canada this last weekend. I realized (and this is probably TMI) that I have a sexual addiction problem. I am honestly going to go through a 12-step program to help me get over this. I can't be with him any more. I throw my values to the wind when I'm with him. I'm realizing also that the addictive behavior spreads to all aspects of my life: food, sex, music (I used to practice about 6 hours a day)... everything. I wonder if, when starting off this whole lap banding experience, I should have started with a 12-step program. I think many of us have addictive behaviors and use food as an outlet. I have come to realize that the emotional element is stronger than the band, in many ways. In my opinion we need to get some sort of training on overcoming our emotional addictions to food. Get to the source of the problem!

Hey Gang, I too will be part of the December club. I will have it done on the 19th. Things are moving so fast. I just got approved yesterday and have to start fasting next tuesday the 5th! The fasting is not as bad as i thought. Lean meat, veggies, fruits and Protein shakes. Only 600-800 calories a day but at least it will be small amounts of real food and not straight shakes for 2 weeks which is what I thought "fasting" meant... I don't know what I'm going to tell people. Do all of you tell everyone that asks or do you just tell some and not others? I kind of wanted to wait to make sure everything goes well before I tell co-workers and other non family/close friends what is going on. Some guy I worked with said he stays trim by taking the stairs and being disciplined. I thought if he asked I would tell him that I had started taking the stairs - and its working:)! Is there somewhere on this site that people have shared their experiences in the hospital. I've heard bits and pieces but I am curious as to each step... is that TMI?

aaarrrrrggggggghhhhhhh.......... wt +2 there is always next week!! Im probably FOS- full of shit. TMI I know!! Having struggles with my intestines!!

What do I want? To Lose Weight! What do I want? Food! What do I want? Sugar Free, Sugar Free, Sugar Free Yeahhhhhhhhh NOT Did I tell any of you that I am an emotional eater. Yep well I had some emotions going last night. So I found myself sitting on the kitchen floor and looking into the fridge. TMI Well I decided I would just cook, you know when you really can't eat so you just cook. I forgot the ribs were in there so I slowly at one of those all the way to the last bite and that one piece would not go in. So while trying to suck down this rib, I baked a cake and boiled and broiled italian sausage. I have a sausage, I have a sausage that I can eat right now. I have to wait until later. Suck eggs man.

That is way too funny!! I wouldn't have thought of something cool like that. I have told everyone at work, my family, everyone. So I guess I won't mind talking about it to someone I am dating, if they ask. If they have a problem with it, it's their problem. Sorry for the earlier post, it was probably TMI with the hormone thing, but it is nice to hear from some men going through the same thought processes. Another reason I don't think I can date and get very serious now is that, I have a 6 year old who still sleeps with me. I would sure hate to kick her out just because I got married!!LOL What do you guys and girls do for fun? I am not really going to be into the bar scene anymore. Just can't do that. I feel like I am really boring now. But I guess it comes with having a family. I would like to take my daughter snorkeling in Florida for spring break. I just got my open Water diver scuba certification, so I want to go to FL to scuba dive. Have any of you ever heard of Weeki Wachee? Thats where I would like to go, if I am taking my daughter. If she stays with her gparents, then I may go to cozumel. Any different ideas for kids vacations? Kristi

Jess--Yes, 5 kids is very different. After I had my son (at the age of 17), I swore I didn't wan to have any other children! And thanks for the supportive advice! And its nice to meet you! Jenny--I have no idea why my doctor has approached me about my weight. I really wish he had and not the jerk PS! The only thing I can think of is that I just recently started seeing him and perhaps he didn't want to come off as "rude". But I dont get that because it is NOT rude for a medical doctor to sit someone down and discuss their health and offer them guidance. There is something wrong with attacking someone and then not offering them solutions. Thanks, Jenny because it helps to know that there are people out there in my shoes. And its nice to meet you, too! :Banane33: Lisalee--Ive lived in fantasy land and thought that as long as I felt sexy, other people would view me as sexy...and all is good. Well, it hasnt been and you are sooo right, it's a disease. It killed my mother and I am NOT willing to have my children have to say that about me someday. Thanks for your advice and its nice to meet you as well. Okay, so here is the update people are asking for. I woke up this morning, sick:sick as could be. But I still reached for the phone (8:20 am, too!) not expecting to have the Bariatric receptionist to pick up. I didn't know whether to be scared or thrilled when she answered the phone! She took some information and encouraged me to go to a seminar. I assumed that the next one would be weeks away. Ha! I ended up scheduling the seminar for this Thursday, at 2 pm. WOW, that was fast! I hung up from there, got my 16 year old dressed for school and was ready to walk out the door when I (TMI, so, Im sorry!) threw up everywhere. Justin went ahead and took Cecil to school while I stayed home. Again, not feeling well, I picked up the phone to schedule an appointment with my regular doctor because I want his support, too. And wham, bam, thank you ma'am, I have an appointment today at 12:30. Double WOW! I guess I was feeling lucky because I called UHC just to find out their qualifications. Which are, 40+ BMI and at least 21 y/o. That shocked me because Ive heard you have to have psych evals and possibly other medical conditions. UHC gave me a list of doctors that are in network and wouldn't ya know? The doctor I am seeing on Thursday is IN NETWORK.:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: So, now I am really nervous. Nothing in life has ever been this smooth or fast...and I am nervous because I dont quite have a BMI of 40. Any suggestions? And thanks everyone for all of the support! And sorry for all the cheesy smiley faces...I just feel so empowered today, so thanks so much!!!

If anybody cares, I found out today that I have low oxygen levels as a result of low iron/hemoglobin. I was sent directly to the gastroenterologist for either continuing loss of blood (no symptoms), or lack of ability to absorb Iron. My PCP says I should be dizzy, confused, weak, and fatigued, for lack of oxygen (91% at rest, 78% when asleep). So, I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy (sorry, TMI!) and endoscopy tomorrow to look for blood. My surgery is still scheduled for Monday just in case, but I'm not holding out too much hope... Wish me luck!

Goodmorning.. Beanie-That is so awesome! YAY no extender! What a great feeling! I've the fart story!! Well I have a lunch appointment with a guy from a financial company today. I think he wants to advertise but not sure, so we'll see. Gotta hit curves at some point. I am thrilled to announce that Tom is here and I had no food clues that he was coming. YAY no masive cravings for chocolate or Frito's!! I even lost another pound from last week! I'm so excited. I usually munch and mess up my other 2 weeks!....sorry I know TMI....I'm just so happy that I haven't eaten everything in site! ttyl

Chrispygal~ Well...you know what my thoughts are from my previous post about what happened to me this week when I got a fill...it was just too much too soon! I feel SO much better now that they took it out and it's just me and the band again. I am still eating SO much less than I was. Let me tell you, I was absolutely miserable that night after the fill...I am not kidding, I threw up SEVEN times, one of the times being in my hand while I was sleeping! I know that it a little TMI, but I want to share it with everyone so that you can all know that slow and steady is a good thing. The weight will come off! Think about it, we are all eating SO much healthier and being so much more conscientious than we were less than 2 months ago! We can do this! I will be going in to try a fill again after Thanksgiving on the 29th. I am going to tell her to give me half of the 1cc I got this week and try that. Hopefully that should work well for me. Good luck everyone and keep it up!

lol when did you get to see carols t*ts Carlene? How do you know hers are shaped like bananas? Mine are shaped more like.....TMI lol. Im over here laughing, omgosh.

I loved Effexor, but it caused sexual side effects that hurt my DH. I was taken off of Effexor and put on Cymbalta. My sister is Bi-Polar, and he has found success with Cymbalta as well. That is the main reason I requested it. A side effect of Cymbalta is weight LOSS, so that is good, and I have noticed a heck of a difference in my back pain... as in it is no longer a problem. My MIL says I either don't have it any more, or don't care that it is there. :confused: It has also helped with the sexual side effects, (TMI: I can climax again and become aroused). Good luck!

Well - I have experienced both. When I PB, it's like a mini throw up (sort of). Sometimes it comes with a funny sounding burp and the food I ate comes right back out. Not really like throwing up though because it's not like the normal stomach acidy kind of throw up. Slimes for me are the clear stuff that just keeps coming out of my mouth until whatever is stuck is unstuck. TMI? I hate both of these. Doc told me my band was too tight if this was happening, so I got a little unfill.

Ok so I'm getting the band in a few months. I guess my main concern is that my doc recommends eating 3 small meals a day and no snacking in between. However, whenever I go awhile without food, I start feeling really sick- lightheaded, dizzy, clammy, weak-- and then I my stomach feels like it drops and I dry heave (TMI, I know). I'm really worried that I will have that problem if I'm not eating much after the banding and I've read alot about how throwing up can cause the band to slip. Should I be worried? Or will I usually still have something in my stomach to keep me from having what I assume is the effects of low blood sugar(which actually my dr. said can't be right since I have insulin resistance and high blood sugar). Anyone know? THanks!!

OOOHHH!! Goody!! Another band sister - BandaCat - looks like October 5th is a big Banding day! With JDru and myself - that makes three of us on the same day!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Another LBT firend - Wheeler - is having revision surgery on Oct 4th.:clap2: Definitely a busy surgery week in early October. I didn't pig out before the pre-op diet - I haven't felt the need, as I am (nervously) READY to start my new banded lifestyle. However, I did make sure to have a few things this week that may not be terribly band friendly later, that might take me a while to work up to eating again, or that I shouldn't be eating anyway (eg. sticky bento rice, sushi, asparagus, chocolate and some cheesecake). I only had normal servings of each, at normal times. Since deciding to get banded, a lot of my old habits and attitudes are already changing. I just don't want to eat badly at the moment (hooray!). My girlfiends are taking me out for a Thai buffet on Sunday, and we are having a BBQ party at home for my dad's retirement on 1 Oct, so there'll be couple more good meals yet. :hungry: hehehe!!! I'll just avoid carbs / fried as much as I can, and won't drink any grog or caffeine.:biggrin1: I lost 1 kilo after Day 1 of my pre-op diet - but spent the whole day and half the night peeing:eek: sorry, TMI (too much information!), so it must be all just Water weight. I am also doing a 15 day digestive system detox (QuickClense, which is just herbal / fibre supplements), so that would be contributing to the water loss also. Looking forward to joining bandland with you all!

Well girls today was my official 1 year. Had an appt with Hoehn & I was down 10 pounds since my last visit. I was still able to get another small tweak to my band since it was my last freebie. Hope it doesn't turn out to be too tight. According to the docs office I was down to 183 or 71 pounds down from the start. Pretty pleased as that is with close on unlike my ticker weights. (I know TMI, but there you go). I also had something kind of "strange" happen this morning. We were getting some new desks installed at work and I could have swore one of the two installers did a little traveling up & down with his eyes when he first saw me walk in. If I didn't know better I would have thought he was checking be out. Hmmm... Well I'll post later. I'm beat. Need to know from all if everyone/anyone is still interested in meeting up Sat evening for dinner at the Blue Nile. Let me know.

:help: I have been getting things stuck for about a week or more and it is AWFUL as you guys know. Anyway now I'm wondering if I need a fill or what because I really don't get full I just am afraid to eat. If I feel the slightest thing like a golfball I spit it out and don't eat no more. This is getting to be a pain in the butt because I don't know whether I need a fill or unfill. Last night I ate some cereral that was going down really well so I just kept eating I bet I ate way over 2 cups of cereral. I could of probably ate more but got tired of it. I moved on to some cottage cheese. I don't know why everything is getting stuck, but I thought if it got stuck you had restriction. Is that true or am I just so new to this surgery on June 7th that I don't know how to read being scared is really being full. I have a 11 cc VG band and it is filled 4.75 right now. Which in the beginning was great because seems I felt full at about a half a cup of food. I have got things stuck so bad the last few times that it has now scared me to death. I have never vomited, just spit up slim and sweat so bad. One time it was foam along with slim, sorry if that is TMI.

Morning Junebies, Barbara- So sorry to read about all you have been through, I hope this slight unfill helps, I bet your starving!!!! My scale hasn't moved much, it goes down a few pounds and then plays pee-a-boo for the next few days. The only real problem I have had is (WARNING TMI) is constipation. The doctor has me on 3 tbls of milk of magnesia and 2 tbls of Benefiber everyday, and i still only go like every 5 days, and the 4th and 5th day it hurts. I would think all of that would make me really go!!!! Ok here is the biggie, TODAY is my FIRST day of not smoking. I decided if I was going to get healthy I needed to quit that nasty habit too! I really, really hope I can kick this habit without gaining any lbs back! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!!!!

Paula...176.6 this morning. I'm fairly certain this is a new low. Here's the deal-io though. Unexplained restriction. (warning...TMI to follow) Over 2 weeks ago, the day I started my period, I woke up with more restriction. Normal, right? Yup, for me, but it usually goes away by day 4 or 5 after I start. It hasn't gone away. Not that I'm complaining..but it's odd. I'm really having to be more careful with the size of my bites and the extra careful chewing. And still, I get the first-bite-syndrome thing going. I have PBd once in the last 2 weeks. I have been drinking my aloe vera juice at bedtime, too. But the restriction is still there. I quit eating because it's too much trouble, and have been resorting to junk on occasion. Cheetoes (Susan4794 and Stitchy! btw, cheetoes get dipped in the ice cream here...LOL j/k) and still, I'm seeing some results. I'm not complaining about restriction, or resulting weight loss...promise! but the restriction is unexplained and then I go down the "am I eroded?" road...ugh. It's hard not to do that...get paranoid about band problems. Anyhow, I'm happy with my new low and hope I can see 175 in the next week. Now for the Cheetoes! Let's get rid of those suckas!! Actually, what I did was bought a bag and as soon as I got home, I emptied the bag into snack bags for lunch boxes. Problem solved. Right? Let's hope, or SOMEone in our house isn't getting cheetoes for lunch anymore! LOL

Hi Junebies I was banded on June 19th. I've had one fill, am due for my next one. I have lost about 27lbs. But that was all before my first fill! I have a 10cc band, with 3.75cc. At my fill my Dr tried 4.25cc, but I thought it was too tight (I think that was a mistake!). I rarely even feel like I have a band. Except for trouble swallowing sometimes, what is that all about?? I suppose I am not as hungry, but I think I can still eat way too much. I have not had any trouble yet (PB or sliming, etc..). But I have one issue which is beginning to freak me out! This may be TMI, but I have awfully loose BMs. I guess I'd say diarreah. But it's not like I have to run to the bathroom all the time, just at my morning 'time', LOL! Sorry! What is my problem? Of course I will ask my Dr at my fill on Tuesday, but any opinions?? I sure hope to begin losing again after Tuesday, this is a bit disappointing... Thanks for any replies!

I read it. It was exhausting. :faint: But Geezer's line was one of the best I've heard in a long, long while. Almost made the reading worth it. Almost. I think I may be having brie farts for a week! TMI???

Beth - sorry to hear you had a rough day I had a "fat" day - I'm feeling rather bloated as it is almost that TOM again... I get it more frequently as a side effect from having cortisone so often. TMI? Anyway - I drank 3 shakes today - 48+ oz of water, rode my bike for 30 min, ate string cheese and a banana. Just not hungry today. I hope you have a better day tomorrow!

Ok, this may be TMI but I went shopping last night. Took about 1k with me b/c I didn't want to spend too much on clothes when I am still losing weight. I bought these sexy ass boy undies - lacy. I came home, put them on and OMG they look HOTT!!!!!! I have an ass! What a wonderful NSV...roflmao! Now I just need a full body tan and to drop the final pounds and schedule the surgery. Hello Mr. Tummy Tuck dude!