The Redhead

This is all pretty interesting! I got a lap band in April 2008. This year I was having trouble with my gall bladder and hiatus hernia and my lap band ending up slipping. I had to have it removed. Since May I've put back on 40 lbs. When I contacted the OCC about getting a new lap band they suggested I might want to try a sleeve instead. At first I said no, but now I'm wondering if it's the way to go. Hmmmm....? I'll be reading more about this (and saving my pennies for another surgery). Thanks for the info.

I would DEFINITELY do it again, but I'd do it earlier in my life. I wish I had known about this when I was 19 or 20. My weight has held me back from a lot of things in my life.

I haven't lost much in the 10 months I have had my band but I know without it I would be well over 215 lbs again. I hate my band at times but I know it's my own stupidity that gets me in the PB episodes to make me hate it. I'm learning, and loving the new me.

Don't worry Christy. It's just fluid retention from surgery. I gained 7 lbs from the day I left to when I returned home and I was on fluids for 3 of those days. It will come off (and more) in just a few days.

Congratulations of getting your band.

Denise

Hi Kate,

Sometimes it takes a week or two for your restriction to kick in after a fill. Also, for most people, it takes a couple of fills or more to hit your sweet spot.

Good luck,

Denise

I went through horrible shoulder pain for almost 2 months after surgery (still get pain every once in a while). I talked to my doctor about it and she said that the pain was not actually in your shoulder, but that was just where your nerve endings were. The pain is called referral pain and it is from the gas trapped in your diaphragm. She described it like getting a backache when you have menstrual cramps. I used the phazyme a lot and that seemed to help but walking was the best thing. I found if I walked up a couple flights of stairs it could usually bring up a good burp. The pain always seem to lessen when I was able to release the trapped gas.

I know it hurts now, but it will get better soon. :lb4:

I have found that I can't drink anymore while eating, so, although it was always one of my habits pre-band, I'm no longer physically able to do it. If I try to take a sip while eating I feel instant pain at my band.

I haven't weighed myself all week, but last time I did I was about 20 lbs down since a month ago.

Today I got my first big compliment - a friend at work told me "You're disappearing!"

=D> =D> =D> =D>

Congratulations! I'm sure this is just the first of many to come. :lb24: :lb24: :lb24:

1. Name: Denise

2. Location: British Columbia

3. Age: 48

4. Band Date: April 10, 2008

5. Married: not anymore (ya hoo) Just got engaged on Christmas day to the most wonderful man in the world.

6. Children of the human or furry kind: Both. Girl 19, Boy 17, 2 cats, 1 dog, a hedgehog (not really furry), and who knows what else is hidden in my daughters room

7. Hobby(ies): gardening, computers, antiques, auction hunting

8. Work: Occupational Abilities Coordinator for major Corp

9. What was the deciding factor(s) on getting banded: I couldn't stop gaining weight. It was coming on fast and furious. Nothing could make me lose it.

10. Interesting factoid: I have two of the greatest kids in the world and I basically raised them all on my own. Also, I electrocuted myself twice in a matter of minutes when I was 5 years old. I clearly remember doing it and why I did. I have permenant blisters on a couple of my fingers.

> > >

SO sorry about your job Stormy! That is very very difficult to have to go through such a huge change. I've been at my job for 21 years also. It's insurance and you know how everyone feels about the insurance industry. I'm lucky to have a job but our company, Guardian Life is very very stable (Mutual company, not stock) and I'm ok there. BUT....I am barely able to make my bills each month. I happen to live in an area called the Lehigh Valley (eastern Pa) and we supposedly have the worst inflation in the country. And I believe it! I haven't been this poor is YEARS! I've been working OT, which I hate just to make ends meet. Gas here is killing us. My heating bill went from $120 a month to $360 a month. Although our gas went down, we are still at $2.20 a gallon. And electric and cable, forget it! It is scary, thats for sure.

I've actually started selling a lot of antique things I have on e-bay and hoping my e-commerce site starts making some money. I'll need that for Christmas this year.

I was going through some old things of my fathers and came upon these fantastic old sports programs from the 40's that I am already getting some high bids on. (By the way, did you know the Yankees used to be a football team?). Seems like I found them just in time to make some extra Christmas money. just kind of bummed that I HAVE to sell them instead of keeping them.

But, I am looking for a better 2009! I figure I'll be eating a whole lot less and that ought to help, LOL!!

I'm in the same boat. I'm selling on ebay too to try and make ends meet. What's your ebay name? Mine is Gentlerain_Boutique

He didn't give you antibiotics or anything? He didn't flush his bladder out? If the vet is relying on food only, then it is going to take quite a while for those crystals to disappear.

Hi Mona,

Can you rely on food to clear out crystals??? I thought you had to clear them out with flushing (sometimes by a vet sqeezing their bladder to make them pee) or else the crystals would block the uretha, causing the bladder to erupt, killing the cat. ...at least that was what my vet told me.

A while ago, just after the ex and I split, I was a single mom with NO money and two kids and a BILLION bills to pay. There was no money for food for us, let alone vet bills. Our male ginger cat Tommy, got crystals so bad that he would lay on the floor and blood would seep out. I took him to the vet and they told me that it would be about $600 - $1000 (up front) to 'see if' they could save him. I did not have $60, let alone $600. The cat belongs to my daughter and I told the vet that I would have to take him home and think about and talk to my daughter. I also told her I would call her back later that afternoon and tell her what I was going to do.

When I got him home my daughter wasn't home. I immediately called a lady I knew who works at another vet. Within 10 minutes of me arriving home the SPCA showed up at my door. They told me they were there to take a cat from me that was in distress. I was SHOCKED. Tommy then came out to greet the company, like he always does and walked up to the man. The man was very surprised because he was still walking and definitely wasn't in too much pain. The SPCA guy said that he 'thought the vet may have over-reacted'. I told him I was just on the phone trying to get another vet to look at him and told him where I was taking him. I took him to that vet and they kept him for a few days until the crystals were cleared up. They charged me $250, which they let me pay over time. They also gave me a free 'sample' bag of Royal Canin.

If that wasn't bizarre enough... Tommy's brother, Oliver, lived across the street. Oliver also got crystals at the same time. My neighbors took Oliver to a different vet. They quoted about the same for medical bills ($600+). The neighbors are ex-farmers. They believe an animal is just an animal. They took Oliver home and let him die. The SPCA wasn't called on him!

The whole incident was crazy from start to finish. I was dealing with a lot of personal issues that were consuming me (separation, money, etc.) so I never investigated it further. To this day though I wonder what the heck happened with the vet and why she called the SPCA. ..by the way... the SPCA checked up on me to make sure I brought Tommy to the vet that I said I was taking him to. They also stopped in to check on him there. The neighbor... NOTHING! I know that the vet I saw worked at several other vets as well. I'm wondering if she got Tommy and Oliver mixed up. Maybe she should have sent the SPCA to pick up Oliver.

So glad to hear that you and kitty are going to be OK!!! They can be little terds sometimes, eh??!!

While I have your attention.... do you have any tips on how to stop my male kitty from spraying? We have 4 total, 3 boys and 1 girl. Binx is the only one doing it. I took him to the vet because he's been peeing on my throw rugs [this is besides the spraying] and they said he has crystals in his urine and I had to change his food to Science Diet. All this has been going on since Spring and I don't know how to get him to stop!! I love all my kittys and I'd never get rid of any of them, but I already ripped up 2 rooms of carpet..... any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Also, any tips on how to get out the pee smell?

Thanks ahead of time Mona, Darlene

Hi Darlene,

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents here too. I have two male cats and one used to spray all the time. That smell is HORRIBLE. I used something called 'Natures Miracle Stain and Odour Remover'. I bought it at the Vets. It was the only thing that worked. Also, my cats don't spray anymore. I think they will keep spraying if that smell is still around. We used a black light to find all the spots. Once ALL the spots were cleaned, he stopped.

My other male cat gets crystals. I have kept them both on Royal Canin, Urinary SO. It's pretty expensive but a LOT cheaper than the vet bills. He hasn't had crystals in 2 years now, so I think this food is doing the trick.

Denise

Cathy... WOW!!! You look FANTASTIC! WOWWWWWWWW

WOW!! You look great! And that dress is gorgeous. ...love the color. Congrats on your awesome weight loss!

Glad to hear the kitten is ok. How are your battle wounds doing after the incident? ...healing ok?

Had a fill in mid-October and have lost pretty good since then. I actually find myself saying, oh know I have to update my ticker and signature....AGAIN....what a great NSV!!!

Here is to updating daily...YIPPEEEE

Ohhhhh so that's whats wrong with my weight loss. My ticker is stuck!

Sure! What the hell, could be a lot of fun for me!

Hey Mona... you're getting a few offers here. Maybe you could charge and make a few bucks on the side. ...Anybody want Mona to do a number on their EX? LOL

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Mona,

Happy Birthday to you! :lb21:

Hope you have a great birthday. And here's to #50 in a year! I'll be watching you because I'm turning 50 in 2 years. I've told everyone that I'm going to look great by the time I'm 80 but I'm hoping its really by 50. Enjoy your birthday cake girl!!

Redhead: If I could, I would find your EX-asshole, and kick him in the balls so hard, they would fly out his mouth!

Mona PLEASE can I give you his address??? LMAO LMAO

bump

Kim you look FANTASTIC!!!! Excellent job on the weight loss! :lb24:

Hi Amy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. My mom survived breast cancer and then got Alzheimers, which she passed away from 2 years ago. Life seems pretty unfair at times.

Men can be such boneheads some times, can't they? ..but then so can a few women, but I think women purposely make nasty comments, where men just open their mouths and stupid remarks flow out. My EX was always saying stupid things to me. For example... my all time favorite was... "I have neve seen anyone who looks so completely different when she puts make-up on. You look pretty good with it on. Don't you wish you could wake up with it on?". ...Remember I did say my EX. Another time he had a chat with the skinny neighbor lady about me. One day she walks up to my door looks at me and says, Ray said you used to be as thin as me. What happened to you? ...By the way... I was NEVER as thin as she was. ...later I found out those two were having an affair (but that was just one of his many).

It's tough not to eat and drink, isn't it. Old habits die hard. I find myself doing it way too often. Usually after my band reminds me with shooting pains. I try to stop drinking when I start eating but every once in a while (particularly when at a restaurant) I completely forget and then I have the nagging worry that I'm going to stretch my pouch with the fluid and food mixture.

Just stay positive about yourself. I know its easy to say and harder to do (take it from someone who lived it for 20+ years). Anytime you want to vent we're hear to listen.

Take care of yourself,

Denise

Does anyone wear a medic alert that you have a lap band.

I'm curious because I was just checking out things on ebay and I noticed a lap band necklace that indicates on the back 'Lap Band No Blind NG Tube'. I'm wondering is this necessary? How deep is an NG tube inserted?

...better safe than sorry, right?

Anita! WOWWWWW!!! You look FANTASTIC!!! Great job!!!!

I was banded in April. I have not lost much at all since then. ...only a total of 10 lbs. I had my first fill in June and only got 1cc in a 4cc band. I finally went back for my 2nd fill a week ago. They gave me 1.6cc total. WOW... talk about restriction!

On Tuesday (just after our Thanksgiving) I put some cold turkey on a plate and started picking at it, absentmindely, while working on the computer. All of a sudden my chest started to hurt. Then it hurt more and MORE AND MORE. Pretty soon the pain was so intense I was sweating and gasping for breath. My mouth started to foam and I had to keep spitting it out. Then pain wouldn't stop until finally I brought up some of the turkey. Turkey coming up DOES NOT taste nearly as good coming up as it did going down. THe pain gradually eased but didn't go away completely. About 6 hours later I thought I would have a cup of tea. The tea seemed to go down fine and although I was cautious about eating, because my chest still hurt, I thought I would have a bite of my daughter's apple pie. I chewed the pie well and swallowed. The pain started again. Intense pain that felt like someone was shoving a rock down my chest and stabbing me in the back at the same time. My mouth kep foaming up and I had to keep spitting it out. I kept coughing and finally brought up the apple pie. Still my mouth kept foaming and I had to keep running to the toilet to spit it up. I was exhausted and went to bed but I couldn't lie down because I felt like I was drowning and my back was killing me. I fell asleep sitting up and kept waking up coughing.

The next day I only did liquids. I couldn't have eaten solids if I was to try because I felt raw inside.

Since then I have learned to eat TINY bites and chew, chew, chew. I'm amazed at how little I'm eating. I'm estimating 5 regular fork fulls MAX! Today we went out for lunch. I had greek salad, one skewer of chicken souvlaki and pita bread. I started with the chicken... nibble, nibble, nibble. Tried a few chunks of tomato and cucumber (my favorites) nibble, nibble, nibble, pita bread, FORGET IT!!! You know what... less than a quarter of the way into my meal I was STUFFED. I was feeling very full, no pain in the chest, just full.

The good news... I stepped on the scale this morning and I was down 4 lbs!!!!!! WOO HOO!!! Finally the scaled moved. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my next weigh-in next Saturday, but I'm feeling good. ...different feeling about the band. It's boss. I will obey it's rules. I will cut up my food into little bites and chew it WELL!!!

I'm thinking this wasn't a bad idea after all.

Hi Denise,

Where do you go for your fills? I noticed from your profile you're in BC, and I am as well. I'm considering getting surgery at OCC, but want to make sure I have a place were I can get aftercare/fills.

Vangirl

Hi Vangirl,

I've been going to the NorthWest Fill Center in Arlington, Wa. It's about 45 minutes over the border (and another 2+ hrs plus to sit in border traffic). Robin and Kitty do the fills and they are really sweet. They are moving to Marysville (I think that's what they said), which they say is just 2 more exits further on the Hwy.

Denise