stormy

I dont have a problem eating any of those and I am on my third fill. I chew very well. Over time you can eat whatever you want mostly, I find that if you dont chew then you might as well forget it. The only thing I will not eat Very soft tortilla's. Forget those. But every person is different. Oh ya and bread is out of the question.

My poor friend at work. She finally got the gutts to call Kaiser membership services and they told her lapband is not covered, only gastric bypass. That is just crazy. I told her to get a loan and go see Dr Ortiz, that I would even go with her. She said she has bad credit and that she does not feel safe to go to Mexico. I remember feeling that way. But I am glad I did it. I feel so bad for her, she has diabetes and she has told me that it has been as high as 600 on her sugar level. They just recently had to cut her toe open because it got a sore that would not heal. I told her to talk to her dr and see if he could force them to pay for it. If it is because they dont do it, it would seem like they could send her out to someone that does. I bet she dont want to get the loan because she can't afford the payment, I can understand that, it is killing me. My interest on the loan is 22% it is horrible. I wish I could get a second mortgage and pay it off a lower interest. I really had to see anyone suffer from the misery of all the medical problems that comes with being obese. Every time I see someone who is large, I want to just run up and tell them about the lapband. Trust me, I dont, how rude. But I really can feel their pain. I suffer everyday knowing that I dont want to be this way. I know she is feeling the same pain. I only wish I could help her. It just does not seem fair.

That is sad, I hate to hear of anyone getting there band taken out. Unless they want it out. I got my pole in the mail today. Should have it installed by tomorrow, hubby said he would do that for me, then I am going to check it out. I can't wait. Will keep everyone updated.

Hubby was not happy about the money I spent for the pole. It was suppose to be delivered today, but it is still not here yet, I hope to see it this afternoon. I cant wait to get back on that thing.

About the band erosion. There was someone on here who said their band had to be removed because this happened to them. It sounds like from what I read this is caused by frequent vomiting, medications, ingestion of irritants as spicy or hot food, alcohol, etc. plus a big adjustment to the band system will produce an ulcer that penetrates toward the balloon of the band. It sounds like something to be aware of. I have had throwing up issues because of something being stuck. I realize how important it is not to have that happen. I am going to read more on this, but it does not sound as common as I thought it was. I am just going to make sure to take good care of my band.

Now for you that do not own a pole. COME ON, what are you waiting for. There are you tube videos out there to show you how. GET ON THAT POLE!!! HA!!!. After I get mine really good at the first level, I MAY put out a video, so you can crack up at me falling on my face. That pole better get here soon. HA!

I can't believe it. It is amazing. What I thought would be impossible has finally happened. I saw the scale get off the 200's. Now unless this scale is broken and it has freaked out. I weighed in at 195 this morning. I was stunned and almost fell off the scale. Now I dont know what to do. Should I set my next goal at 180? The amazing part is, I eat, I eat healthy now and I have got things stuck but I feel good. I feel like, well I like that I can cross my legs. Probebly sounds dumb but it is the little things that matter. Now the scarry part is my fear that it wont last. All good things come to an end. I just have to be careful. I worry alot about my band. Someone on here was talking about band erosion. That just freaks me out. I dont know how long a person gets to keep their band but I want to keep mine for as long as possible. I dont want anything to happen to it, for sure. I guess that is all in how you take care of it. So we will see how it goes. My pole should be in tomorrow, so I can do my pole dancing exersise at home. I have been out of class for almost two weeks and I need to get back to exersising then, I know I will really start losing. Hey maybe I will do a youtube video on how to not use your pole, hahahahah. Kidding. Anyway, I want to thank everyone for your emails and your support. There is no way I could do this alone. Thank you all and thank you dr ortiz for this wonderful tool. I love my band..

We claimed our bands last year and got a huge amount back. I dont think we will be able to claim the fills, not sure, will be checking on that this year. When I told my friend that I filed for it on my tax return he was so angry he didnt talk to me for 5 days, he had the nerve to say it was elective surgery and it was my own fault I was fat and that the tax payers should not have to pay for it. I hate him for saying that. It was my money that I was getting back. I dont feel bad about it in the least bit. He was just mad I got so much back.

So tell me, if you do these shots does that mean you are more likely to get pregnant? Or does the body think you already are? At this point I would not take any hormone, I want no part of being pregnant with the band. Scarry. In fact, I dont think I want anymore kids. How scarry to put a hormone in my body and then poof -oops your prego..... NO WAY!! I have seen people on here already say they are more able to get pregnant because of the band and the weight loss. This is scarry thing to me, I am about ready to go get tied, or get him cut. Something, YUCK. And I know I sure dont want no morning sickness. GROSS. Sorry but I can't help it. Anything that makes you feel sick. I am ok not to try it. I would love to lose more weight but feeling sick is no my idea of a good time.

Wow I had never seen that video before, that an incredible voice. I will miss Michael Jacksons beautiful voice and all the music that he gave us. I grew up with him, watching him make so much achevement, how sad to see him go. Thanks for the video, it was very nice.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST VIDEOS WAS THE ONE HE DEDICATED TO RYAN WHITE, GONE TO SOON. I'LL MISS NOT SEEING ANYTHING NEW FROM HIM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=101iXwPTNE0

I had mucus back up and had to get a slight unfill, I called it more a phelgm issue but it seems to have gotten better since I got the slight unfill, are you sure you are not too tight?

It is a multi-Piece pole and comes in very discrete bag. HA! hubby wouldnt know a thing, well until you put it up. It's called a super pole. http://www.platinumstages.com/Removable-Poles_c_14.html. They have all kinds, even the kind that light up. HA! It is the new craze. So is Zumba, I may try that next. I can't wait to get it up. My spin (the fireman) is getting better, I can spin now all the way around the pole and I have lost another 3 pounds, I am so excited!!! Dr just told me today that my fatty liver is 30% less and there is no more swelling of the liver. He also said my lungs look great. He told me "keep it up" then he chuckled. We were both laughing about it, but then his receptionist asked me for the card to the instructor. She said, dont tell anyone. It was hilarious. I am telling everyone, I can't believe I was afraid to do this, it is so funny, but absolutely a blast. Thanks to everyone for your support. The UPS guy should be here by the 7th, I can't wait.

ME, Me, Me, I wanna a pole....lol.. My husband I think would have heart failure if a UPS man came to our door step with a pole...LOL OMGoshhhhhh that would be SO funny! Stormy, I have love hearing how your pole classes were going, this is one thing that I so want to do but I am going to waitt until I get my tummy tuck, more toward my goal weight. I thnk it is GREAT that you have found something you love to do that helps with exercise, I have not been so lucky, I have gotten into a really bad slump and dont want to do any exercise, I have to get back on track. Tony Horton is just waiting for me to come home everyday (P90X)...lol.....but I just cant seem to get back into the grove....

Good Luck to you and keep us posted!

Carrie

So yesterday I got a small unfill .2 cc. Mostly because of this phelgm build up. My poor husband. She got all over him because he has been able to eat whatever he wants and he has not been exercising, so he got 1.5cc, I sure hope that is not too tight for him. But today he got back on the bandwagen and is walking again.

Me, I was bad and I ordered my pole. I know it is crazy but I have been one week out of pole dancing class and I miss it. It was so fun. If I could get better at level one, then I could go to level two. I have my stereo which I am going to set up so I have good music and if I can get hubby and my son to leave me alone for 30-45 minutes a day, I know I would get a great work out. It will be here in the mail in 7 days. I am a little nervous. I dont want hubby to be mad about me getting it. Money is tight and I charged it on my mastercard. I will pay it off in the next month. I know better but I wanted it, I feel like I am going through withdrawl not exercising. That probebly sounds crazy but I need to be dancing my butt off to feel good. I even found a great song to start with. "Dirty Diana" HA! My tribute to Michael Jackson. I love that song. Once I get the pole set up, that will be my first song. Hey maybe I will get good enough and tape it and put it on you tube, HAHAHA Under big girl does Pole dance. HA HAHA. That is funny.

I hope the unfill doesnt affect my weight loss, with the exercise I was getting and my fill, things have been going really well. I can't recommend enough that people exercise as well as get their fills, it really helps. Anyone else want a pole? Let me know, I found a great place. I'll keep you posted.

I will share all your great information. I had her watch Dr Ortiz video's today. She just has to talk to Kaiser to see if they will approve it, but I have also been telling her alot about my trip to Mexico, she she knows she has options.

I read a report that 64 % of people who get the band that have type 2 diabetes after getting they band, no longer have to be on insulin. I think I read it right. Has anyone here had that happened. I ask because there is this woman at work. She is on shots and she is not doing well. Her sugar has been as high as 600. She states that she had a had time sticking to a diet. She knows that it is what she should do but she tries and diet and then when it does not work, it makes her depressed and then she eats unwisely. I told her about my experience and how the band has helped me to make better choices and how my whole way of looking at food has changed. I suggested that she talk to her dr about the band after I read this report. I told her about this site as well if she had questions. She has kaiser so she is not sure they will approve. She states that she has lost over 30 pounds and is really trying. I have seen her go through so much. It is truely sad. Now she has a sore on her foot that they are going to have to cut open, she is scarred of losing her toe. I really hope the band is an option for her, I dont want to see her die, that would be heart breaking. All I could tell her is how much this has changed my life. I dont think of food the way i used to. I use exersise as a way to deal with my stress, instead of eating. I choose to eat healthier foods. I could not tell her enough about this. I know it is not a miracle worker but I think for me anyway, it is a tool that I am definatly using to my benefit. I hope I was right giving her my information and advise on the issue. Has anyone here had diabetes and had changes in their sugar because of the band?

Same here it is $350 for flouro and a 3 hour drive. So I just have to hope for the best. I get my fills less then 20 minutes from my house and I pray everything is ok. I plan to go back to OCC in Sept if I can get the money together. So far I have had a mri and cat scan on my lungs and liver and they saw the band and said it looked ok so I will trust in that for now. I go for my lung results in a week so I will have him print out the photo for me just so I can see for sure, guess there is more than one way to get it check out. Hopefully it would show an issue.

thanks for responding. I did note that my monthly started this morning so maybe that caused the shakes too. Not sure. I actually took my vitamin today too. hmm.

Today has been very weird. I have felt like I have a lump in my throat. I had some problem eating my breakfast so I only nibbled and then lunch got stuck and I threw up some spit and I think a piece of food. Then my 5:00 I got the shakes and did not feel well at all, I have not had shakes like that before. I thought maybe I am low on vitamins. I have had a salad and I am drinking gaterade. I called and made appt for next Friday for a little unfil because the phelgm issue is still bothering me. I think I am catching something and the phelgm is getting thicker, hense causing me to have this lump in my throat. It seems like the more phelgm I get the more uncomfortable I feel. But yet I can eat dinner fine and I am drinking just fine. I can drink all day with no problem. I dont think I have ever had a problem drinking things. I'm am not sure if a slight unfill is the thing to do but I dont think the phelgm is going to go away. I got my fill in May and I think it has been here since then. Not sure. I am losing and I dont want to wreck that, but what if I do get sick, if the phelgm gets thicker then this lump is really going to be bad. What does everything think? Is this normal to have kinda a weird feeling in your throat? But yet have no problems with liquids or dinner? And what about phlegm, anyone else have it? the dr did not seem concerned but she is not in town until next Friday. She told me that if I get to uncomfortable to go on liquids and stay away from milk. Has anyone had the shakes before? What could cause that? Maybe I caught a bug...

I have 2.75 in my 4cc band and I am tight but ok. I have problems eating in the morning and at lunch but dinner is fine. I think every person is different. I would be freaked out too. Unfortantely, I would be so freaked I would go get it under flouro but if you just had that done, that seems like to much. I go to have my flouro down in Olympia Wash. Where do you get yours done?

No, no I am fine. I just saw that and was kind of shocked. It was the way she wrote it. I sent her a message too asking her why but no response yet. I could imagine being in a bad situation but that is really scarry. No I am fine. I would never do that, I am a total chicken, I want this band forever and would never risk it. I hope she responds to me and that she is ok. I would hate to think that she did something to herself that would cause harm. I dont want to see anyone lose their band. This thing costs to much. Really the only problem I have had with mine is too much phelgm and that seems to pass during the day. She had to have been real tight to do that, that is the only thing I can think of. I'll let you know if she responds back. She be interesting

I read on another site that a woman did her own unfill. I dont think she took very much. But from what I understand she could not get into the dr and thought she was too tight. I wonder if that is a good idea. I am not sure if she was a nurse or not. I question whether that could hurt the port if you dont hit the spot the first time. She had some nerve. I dont think I would ever do that. I just wonder if anyone has done that and why? What are the risks? How do you know where to do it? That just seems really scarry to me. Maybe the people who have done it dont want to admit it, cause it is probably a terrible thing to do but I was just wondering what would make a person do that and is there a risk involved?

I have pole dancing class tomorrow, that will take my mind off it a while. We have to dance in those 6 inch heels. Yahoo. Thanks everyone for responding. I am going on liquids for a couple days, I hope that will help. My stomach seems to be burning this morning but some cereal is going to help. Maybe some light oatmeal, I will liquify it. This is my last pole dancing class, I am bummed about that but I may sign up for private lessons until I can get to next level. Not sure. I put in my order for a pole at home but they have not ordered yet. Hubby would love me to practice. HA!

So for all of you that dont remember my family drama, I moved my mother out of my sisters house about three months ago when I found that my sister was living off her soc sec.

Well the drama continues, now I found out that my sister is liquidating all my mothers belongings. She would not let us take most of her stuff when we moved her out. Now I find out the trailer mom was living in there, the one she paid for with her soc sec money is now gone.

My stomach hurts. I feel gross. I am so angry. All the sudden it felt like my band got tight. This cant be good for me to be this mad. I knew she was gonna do it, I just didnt want to believe it. How could you do that to you own mother?

I just want her to pay for what she has done. I am shaking. I called her and left her a nasty message, it did not make me feel any better. Should I go run around the block or something. Should I punch something. Should I cry? My poor mom.

I feel like I am going to throw up. I am not sure if I should try to eat something. Maybe I should stay on liquids until I calm down. I have felt like this since last night, when I found out.

How do you handle high stress? What is the best thing to do to make sure you dont hurt your band?

I have had some issues with throwing up. It seems like at lunch and breakfast I am really tight. I have called my dr several times and she tells me to go back on liquid diet for two days and then I am fine. So now I am being very careful. I dont want to throw up. I never throw up at dinner time, it seems like I am not tight then. So far I have thrown up 4 times in the last month. I have no idea if this is alot. I am concerned. I try to be real careful. It may be that at breakfast and lunch I will not be able to eat anything like meats of any kind. Today I had a salad at lunch and it was fine, but I know that is not enough food for me, I can't live on salads. I need some type of protein. for breakfast today all I could do was have coffee. I did have some problems with phlegm that seemed real thick but it appears this is going away. I will again call my dr and tell her this is a problem. I dont think anyone wants to throw up and I think that anyone who sits on here and tells us or assumes we are eating wrong, they need to get a grip. I have called my dr several times, I am eating correctly and I can't seek out another dr, because there isnt one!! Unless I want to travel 4 1/2 hours to one, which I can't right now. Seems weird that I can eat sometimes and sometimes not. I am sure that in time this will work its self out. I am going to talk to my dr again and discuss a slight unfill and tell her that I insist but as she said before, I dont have this problem all the time. I am going to write down the rest of the month if I throw up again. I wonder how much is too much for this to be happening?

Julie, what do you mean eroding? You haven't had your band much longer than me, I dont think. What do they think would cause that? Now that has me freaked out. How did you know there was a problem? Have you gone to that dr up in washington to have him take a photo of your band?

Yes it has been completely unfilled for about 3 months now. I can eat fine. The problem is I have terrible pain in the area of my band, left side, much of the time. They are concerned it's still eroding my stomach because of the pain. I am trying to get the funds together to get down to Dr. Ortiz. In the meantime I am eating a "gentle"diet and keeping my fingers crossed.

I have 14 pounds to go and then I will be under 200, it is killing me. I want to get under there soo bad. I am so happy for people who get to experience it. I want to get there.!!!!

I am glad that I went with dr ortiz, my only concern has been if something goes wrong. The drs here in Oregon dont have a lot of information or they just dont want to deal with it. There is one dr downtown but he wont touch me. I did find an excellent dr who does my fills and have had a great experience with her. But I guess that has been my only concern is that if an emergency happened would my emergency room know what to do. Other wise I am so glad I went there, the experience was wonderful. I plan to go back and have my band checked in Sept, that will be my one year band anniversay. Just want to make sure things are ok. Of all the drs I checked into, he is the one I found had the most knowledge. I guess if something did happen, I could jump on a plane. Hmm, maybe airfare is getting cheaper, not sure. Check him out, he is really a nice guy.!