Another Update...

Hi all, I don't know why I haven't been inspired to blog, I guess it's because there is really nothing new to report. I haven't even been reading the blogs much, but caught up with a few this morning.

I'm still maintaining my weight withing five pounds of my original 160 pounds which I'm very happy about, but I've been a little out of control with the eating lately and feeling like old habits are starting again. I have absolutely no restriction. I was able to eat 3 slices of pizza and a serving of salad the other night and probably could have had another slice, but stopped myself. I realize it's time to go in for another small fill. I'm very, very scared of another slip and also, i must admit, I'm a little afraid of not being able to eat well again. I mean i love not being able to eat much and getting full fast, but I hate not being able to eat the breads and shrimp and steak and things like that. I hope the fill will give me restriction and limit the amount i can eat, but not what I am able to eat. But most importantly, I pray I won't slip again.

I scheduled myself for a fill on May 11th at $200. Wow!! This is my first paid fill since my one year is up. If it is too tight or not tight enough, i can go back within 7 days for free, but after that it's another $200, so I hope I can get a little restriction. I figure if I've been maintaining without any, a little should help me get back to a little more weight loss.

Funny thing, I'm only like five pounds above my lowest weight and I feel totally fat. It's funny how the mind works, I look at my stomach and to me it looks like it's getting huge again (my stomach has always been my problem area). I know I'm no where near where i used to be and all my clothes still fit me fine, my smallest (size 8) I don't wear anymore because they are just too uncomfortable, but they were always tight. All my other clothes fit fine, so I know this is all in my head, but it's terrible how we get accustomed to our new bodies and then start feeling fat again instead of feeling good like we did when we were loosing all the weight. I need to try to get my head on straight and change that way of thinking because it's really bad. Does anyone else who has been at the same weight for a while have this same problem or is it just me?

This has been a bit of a rough month for me, dealing with issues with my son and a bully at school and hubby and i haven't been getting along much lately, so it's been a bit of a depressing month, but I hope it will all turn around.

Have a great day!

Out from hiding...

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been away for a while. Just been really busy and preoccupied. Nothing to do with my band just my son is having some issues with a bulley at school and we've been trying to get some things taken care of. Anyway, as far as my band goes, I don't even know it's there. I have been maintaining my weight between 160 and 165, mostly closer to 165, but last week I stepped on the scale and it was 159 and I almost passed out. I can't say I'm really watching what I eat, but I try to not overeat and I'm still pretty good at knowing when to stop. I guess it's something I learned from my band. Thank God it stuck. Sometimes when I'm on the up side, I think about going to get a fill, but when I'm doing good, I think I'll just stay with it how it is. I still have a fear of getting too tight and having it slip again, not to mention it's going to be expensive for the fills and unfills now and money is a little tight right now. IDK, if I ever go over 165 I think I'll be right in to see the doctor. But for now, I'm doing fine. I haven't been on the blog much to read what's going on with everyone, but I plan to do a little at a time and see what you all have been up to. I'll blog again soon. Until then, have a great weekend.

Missing in action

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been missing for over a week now. I've been super busy and to be honest, I kind of forget I even have a band sometimes now. It's not constantly reminding me it's there, so I don't think about it constantly anymore. I need to keep myself posting and reading.

I am doing great, no issues at all since my last fill. I've done surprisingly well, I feel, considering no restriction and can eat anything. I do bounce around from about 162 to 165. I get terrified when the scale goes up to 164, 165 and really start to watch it. I'm there now, I weighed in this morning and am 164. So I'm going to really watch what I eat and try to get back down to 162.

I think often about the next fill. I have mixed feelings, being #1 I had so many problems with my band and if surgery was going to be the fix, was leaning towards taking it out. So i tell myself, I'm here, try and and maintain this weight and don't play around with it or you might do it again and need surgery again.

#2. I think, why have it if you can't let it help you with your weight loss. But I don't want to live the way I was. I think I could probably go in and take a couple very small fills untill I get just past the point of this bandster hell situation. It would be nice to be reminded that he (my band) is still in my tummy somewhere.

I guess I'll just keep plugging along here the way I am and in a month or two think about what I want to do. Right now, I'm just super happy, doing super good.

Sorry to hear that Tiffany and Sarah are having some issues, I've been there and I think waited a lot longer than you guys to figure out the problem and my band fixed itself. Glad you both got in to see the doctor and are getting the problem solved.

Have a great week.

I've Been A Very Bad Girl

Well, been trying to get back on track after a very bad, bad superbowl day. Went to a party and they had so much food, good food (not good for you food)and I ate and I ate and I ate. I've had trouble getting back on track. Every day I start saying I'm going to be good today and I start off well, but have ended the evening with Ice Cream after dinner every night since then and popcorn as well last night. Oh, my this is hard. Afraid to step on the scale. Today is a new day and I vow to be good today!!

I'm dreaming of my next fill!!

Random Thoughts...

Hi there, all is well on my end. Still struggeling with controlling my appetite, but exercising and maintaining as best I can. Okay. So here are a few random things of no importance at all:

Why do some of the blog have funny characters? And i'm not talking about when someone is saying a curse word and putting funny characters for part of the word. I get it in the titles and the body. I think the word and is a common one. Does anyone else see this or is it just me??

What does DH mean?? I'm not that text savvay or blog savvy and I've figured out just about every other one but DH??? I think it means husband, but what does it stand for??

I saw a very overweight man struggle to get out of his car yesterday and I felt so bad for him, could almost cry. I remember what it's like to be large and it's so hard to just move. I remember how badly I felt about myself and my internal dialogue was not very nice. I remember looking for clothes and just buying anything that fit and didn't make me look any bigger than i already was. It's so hard to be overweight in our society and people are so judgemental. I think this weightloss journey has made me even more sympathetic to people who struggle with their weight just as I do and probably will for the rest of my life. Even though I'm at a weight that makes me happy, it's a constant reminder everyday and every meal as to making the right choices especially since my band is not helping right now. It does have a slight fill, so it must be doing a little something. It's kind of like bandster hell all over again.

Did you watch Oprah the other day about our food today and how most of our foods are processed and even our meat is bad for us and full of antibiotics? Really made me think. I think I need to look more closely at the food I buy and what's in it. I can't remember the name of the movie or book, but I should pick up a copy and read more about this.

Even though i'm struggeling with my eating, I love being and feeling like a normal person. The other night I went to bed and layed on my stomach as i usually do and realized I haven't used a pillow to prop up one side of my body because it lessens the discomfort of my band and helps with the acid reflux. I've been sleeping like the old days since my unfill over a month ago and able to eat anything I want and it feels so good. It gives me an idea of where I want my fill to be when that time comes. Able to eat anything, just less of it. Isn't that what the band is supposed to do?? I think I was a little greedy the first time around, I wanted that quick weight loss.

Sorry for all the babble.....Have I told you?? I love my band!!!

Hi.

I keep wanting to post, but don't really have much new to post about. I'm feeling great, all my stomach and digestion problems seem to have passed with my increased amount of fiber in my diet. I still have a bit of trouble with constipation (sorry TMI), but it's not intollerable.

I'm eating normally and have absolutly no restriction at all. I am eating quite a lot and hungry a lot. Late afternoon and night time snacking is the worst for me. I have gained 5 pounds and feeling a bit depressed about it. I understand why i've gained though, it's like I can eat again and I want to try everything I have not been able to eat for the last six or so months. Such a bad attitude to have. I have decided I need to start controlling what I eat and really watch my portions. 5 pounds isn't much to loose, so i need to get serious and get back to my goal weight.

I have to admit, I keep thinking about when I can get another slight fill. I know what I said, I said I'd like to stay here after all my problems with slippage and all, but if I have no restriction, I can probably get another slight fill. Dr. said to wait at least 2 monts before I see him again and, of course, now it will cost me $200 a pop for each fill. My year is up :( I'm going to be patient and wait and see.

I've been reading all your posts and glad you all are doing so well. Keep it up!!

Here's to a good week of exercise and good, healthy eating!!!

Doing So Much Better!!!

Well since starting some solids, I've discovered that I do in fact have no restriction at all with the small fill i have. I can eat everything I've tried with no problems and seem to be able to eat a lot. I've been trying to stop myself, but after not being able to eat for over a month, i'm afraid i've gone a little bit overboard and now I really need to get back on the wagon and control myself and get back into exercise. I was doing so well with exercise and then when my bloating gassy thing started, it was a bit painful to do most exercise, so I stopped.

Oh, an you know that bloating gassy thing that I was thinking might be my gallbladder or something major? Well the fiber helped, it took like a week before I became regular and since then, I've been very regular and am able to pass my gas easily (hubby says a little too easily) and I'm not all uncomfortable anymore. I think it has helped that i've started eating a little more normally to. I was looking at what my fiber intake must have been when I was relying solely on protein drinks and not adding the fiber and it was a 0. Even on my preop diet I would have a very lo cal meal at dinner which gave me some fiber. The last month or so, I've had "0" fiber and that is about when my problems arrised. Also, I did two of those Barrium Swallow x-rays and when I did the second one, they reminded me to drink a lot of fluid or it will harden in my intestines. I didn't know this the first time around and wasn't concentrating on how much water I was drinking (probably not enough). Anywhoo, I am going to continue with my current routine of adding fiber to my diet. I do two scoops of Ground Flax Seed in my morning coffee protein drink (4 gms), then during the day I add a packet of the south beach drink stuff (5 gms) and then I take two Benefiber tablets (4 gms) and i've been making sure I drink at least 64 oz. of water every day. I haven't had those pains in about a week. Yeah!!! I feel like a normal person for the first time in like months. Double Yeah!!!

I am afraid to step on the scale the way I've been eating, but I'm going to work real hard to maintain the way I am right now. Again, I'm so thankful to still have my band!!! Triple Yeah!!

Happy Baniversary!!!

Well yesterday was my one year baniversay!! Yeah!!! And my band is still with me which I am so thankful!!

As I reflect on the past year I feel it was the best decision I have made and really wish I would have done it sooner!! I have had some ups and downs as you all know with my band, but I would do it all over again if I had to make that choice. The only thing I would have done differently is to not be so greedy on fills and maybe I wouldn't have slipped had I not got too tight.

I am so grateful that I accomplished the goal I set out for when I started this journey and I'm very happy with myself and the way my body looks now. It's not perfect, but I don't need to be perfect. I've had two kids and my body will never be as it was when I was a young girl, but I'm so thrilled with it even with all the imperfections. I would love to eventually get a brest lift and tummy tuck, but not in too big a hurry for that. If it happens, it happens.

As for my current situation, I've started eating more solid foods without a problem. Restriction is minimal, but it's enough for now. If I can maintain, i'm going to leave it as is. I've lost the 4 or 5 pounds I gained after the holidays and am back at goal and happy. I have no signs of a slipped band anymore, no acid reflux and such. I complained of pain in my stomach and intestines, so I started doing a lot of fiber and it has gotten much better. I think the introduction of more solid foods and getting in enough fiber has helped tremendously. We'll see how it goes, i'm going to keep focusing on this. I've stopped with the smooth move tea and my plumming (if you know what i mean) is getting back to normal again. I think protein shakes probably are bad for constipation especially since there is literally no fiber at all and that is all i was doing for many weeks, so I can understand why I was having some trouble in this area.

I'm going to focus on eating good and living life and keeping my current weight.

Have a great week everyone.

Poop!!!

As you can tell from the title of this post, I'm going to be talking about one of us banders favorite subject poop!!!

I've been complaining about problems with pain and discomfort in my abdomen area and I mentioned it to my Band Dr. He kind of smiled as I listed all my complaints as if i am a Hypochondriac. I just want him to know so he can help me. I mentioned the Gallbladder and Constipation. It's so hard to know what normal BM's are when I've been drinking a ton of protein shakes and not much food. You know what I mean?? My problems started right after my band was loosened and I was drinking liquids and then moved into a few mushies.

Also, I must admit, before the slip, I would depend on drinking smooth move tea a couple times a week to help with BM's. I might have caused some problems with dependency on a type of laxative?? IDK if tea counts as a laxative???

Anyway, since my last appt. I've been putting flax seed in two of my shakes a day and taking a stool softener (Dr said try stool softener) every day and, of course, getting in my 64 oz. of water every day. I decided I'd rule out the poop thing and if I still have problems then move on to the Gallbladder. Sounds like a good plan huh?

Well, I've been working on this for oh, about 3 days now and not drinking that tea, and last night, I was much better and hope it continues to get better!!!

Sorry if that was TMI as for the scale, it's going back down as it should, I'm starving here, living on protein drinks and soup broths yuck!!! But just so glad my good old band is back!!

My band went back in place....Thank God!!

I went to the Dr. yesterday and my band went back into the correct position. Yeah!! I was so scared going in for this appointment and so relieved when I walked out of there.

After looking at the placement he said that it would be okay to get a small fill. He wanted to make me tight and back off a cc. I told him I was scared to take too much fill and asked how much he took out last visit when he completly deflated my band and he said 7.5 cc. When I went back and calculated my fills and defills I thought I was at 5.5. I can never get it straight. It's never quite what I think it is. As he was filling me I kept asking how much is that? How much is that? He laughed and said don't worry about the number, worry about the feeling. I'm sorry, the number is pretty important right?? If 7.5 cc was a slip, I would think considerable less than that, I can always get more right??

We wound up puttin gin 3.5 cc. I felt good about that, but still a little warry of whats to come. What if I slip again?? What if, what if?? Did I mention I'm a worry wart? Anyway, I said if I feel any acid reflux I'm coming in for another unfill.

He said I need to stay this way for a month or two. I'm hoping I don't need to go back at all. I've changed the way I feel about my band (for today that is, lets see if I'm saying the same thing a month from now right?) I am happy with my weight at 160 (I went back to 160 by the way) I just want my band to help me maintain now. If I loose more, even better, but I don't want complete restriction. I want to be able to eat things I want to just less.

Doctor didn't say anything about my diet, but I'm going to do what a lot of people seem to do and stay on liquids for a couple weeks, move on to mushies when I feel ready and take it really, really, really slow.

So here is my next hurdle. My band is good and has a small fill, but I still have this uncomforableness, gas, constipation (sorry tmi), bloating and slight pains. Doctor said it may be constipation, and possible Gallbladder. If it doesn't get better, I will need to go to my regular doctor who wasn't happy I was getting the Lap Band in the first place, and have all this stuff looked into. I'm going to try to get the constipation under control and see if it helps and if not, I'm going to need to go get some tests done.

I'm so thrilled that my band went back. Thanks to everyone who helped me through this tough time and I hope it's done forever.

Out Of Control!!!

That's right folk...my eating is out of control and it's a little scary!!

The good thing about that is that I'm hoping and praying my band is back in place and wide, wide open...

The bad thing is I'm so hungry....I'm eating a lot...I feel bloated and the scale is creeping up a bit. I need to get control of my eating. I was doing so good just eating mushie items, but tried some solids and everything felt fine, so i kind of created a monster.

I've been exercising real good this week and feeling much better health wise since exercising. Still feeling like something might be going on with Gallbladder as I have strange little pains in strange places. It's really hard to decipher what is wrong with you when you have the band because i'm always afraid something is going wrong and then I think do I go to band Dr. or Regular Dr. You know what I mean?? I also think that I over analyze every ache and pain especially since finding out my band slipped. Anyway, I am feeling much better and very hopeful that this Tues will bring good results from the Dr. I'm crossing my fingers, toes and anything else I can cross.

Have a good week.

Me Again!!!

Hi everyone. I know it seems I always have something wrong with me. I'm really not a hypochondriac, really.

So, I've been eating mushie foods here and there, but taking it real easy. I managed to gain a couple pounds, which I'm not too happy about. Everything seems to pass through my band fine and I can drink water a fluids really good. I can chug about 1/2 bottle of water at one time. I still haven't experienced Acid Reflux since my unfill. I keep thinking that is so good and something positive to thinking things might be okay.

But here is where I have a problem. I have like an ache in my stomach, right above my belly button that is pretty constant (level 2 on a scale from 1 to 10). I've had this for a really long time and always thought it was being too tight. After I eat, particularly in the evening, my upper stomach gets terrible uncomfortable gas pains and then can go into my lower stomach. I think the soreness in my stomach is from these gas pains. It's really strong under my rib cage and once I pass gas (which isn't easy to do)it subsides. At times I feel like my upper and sometimes lower stomach are a balloon blowing up and it is going to pop. It's a lot of pressure and then soreness from the pressure. Gasex doesn't help, nothing helps. My bra gets uncomfortable and sometimes a warm bath will sooth it. Well, I remember my doctor once saying that it could be my gallbladder, I dismissed it and never got it checked out (my bad) as it doesn't run in my family and I really don't know that much about it.

Well, I decided to do a little research last night and come to find out, my symptoms seem to be the same symptoms as Gallbladder attacks and also, come to find out, gallbladder issues can be caused from rapid weight loss and a lot of bandsters have to have their gallbladders removed. I never knew this and am beginning to think this uncomfortableness I'm feeling are gallbladder attacks.

Does everyone still have their gallbladders??? Has anyone heard of having gallbladder issues due to rapid weight loss??? Does anyone else ever get these attacks??? If you've had gallbladder problems can you tell me how it felt???

I have my appt on the 12th and will talk to the doctor more about this then.

Happy New Year!!

Well this year has been a really wonderful year for me and a life changing year. Got the lap band which helped get me to my goal weight of 160. I feel so much better about myself and so much more confidant. I actually like the way I look when I look in the mirror and I haven't been able to say that since I was like 16 years old.

As far as my band goes for now, nothing much new other than I feel a lot of gas build up right now. Does anyone experience this??? especially at night I feel like the upper and lower part of my stomach is bloated and filling with air and it just doesn't come out easily (sorry if TMI). Once I lay down and relax some gas might come out and I feel relief until it builds again. Sometimes my stomach feels sore I think from all the pressure. Doesn't seem like it should be this way, which makes me worry that my band might still be slipped. I am a bit tight right now too, no acid reflux, but I feel tight. I'm about to have my monthly friend stop by for a visit, but also remember I have no fill in my band, so shouldn't be like this. IDK...just hoping I don't have any emergencies over this Holiday Weekend.

Having an emergency is a big fear of mine.....what would I do??? I asked the Dr. what would constitute an emergency and he said extreme pain and more importantly not being able to drink liquids. I guess I would have to go into the hospital and have an IV until my Dr. could get there.....and probably not covered by my insurance. Scary, but not the situation right now, so here's to hoping everything goes okay until the 12th when I find out where my band has settled....

Anyway, I hope this New Year brings control to my life. Whether I have my band or loose it, I hope I can control myself and keep the weight I am at. I hope to increase my exercise and I look forward to feeling good and being healthy. Winning the Lottery would be nice too, however, just being healthy and keeping my weight as it is would be what I hope to accomplish this year.

Christmas is Over :(

I love Christmas time and am always sad when it ends. Had a great Christmas and my kids are still enjoying all of their gifts. They got Xbox 360. They have been wanting it for a couple years now and I keep saying no as they already have several game systems, but Santa brought it this year as a joint gift and they are so excited and they loved it.

On the Band front. I've been trying real hard to stick to the protein drink thing, but I must admit, for Christmas eve and Chritmas, I had some mushie items. I had some mashed potatoes and gravy and made them very mushie and they were delicious and didn't have a problem at all. So, since then, I've been eating a few mushie items here and there and have discovered that milk chocolate is fine. I can suck on it and it turns to liquid. So needless to say, my Christmas eating has not been all that good, but I'm glad to say that I haven't had any pain or discomfort since my unfill. I also am happy to report that I still haven't experienced the Acid Reflux since my unfill. I have noticed my appetie is getting bigger and bigger everyday but I still feel like I have control (the holidays are a bad time to gauge this also with all the candy and food around).

I keep telling myself that all these things are good signs that my band has gone back into place. I sure hope I'm right.

My spirits are much better lately and I'm just hopeful that things will be just fine for me and my band.

I've been reading everyone's posts and so glad everyone had a great holiday and here's to a great 2010 for all of us!! Every year I make the same resolution to loose weight and this year makes me so happy that it's finally happened!!! Thank you Band!!

GOAL!!! Down 62 and Keeping my head up!!!

That's right, I finally made it to goal!!! -62 pounds and weighing in at 160 (159.5 to be exact). I'm thrilled that I made it to goal!! My BMI is like 26 I think. I'm real close to be in the normal weight range.

As far as my band goes, I don't have the insurance I thought I had that covered complications. After fighting with the Dr. office, I was given incorrect information and never asked enough questions about it and basically no paperwork was filled out by me or the office. I'm letting it go, nothing I can do. I did talk to the Dr. about my feeling I was mislead when he called me personally and he is going to work with me and help me through the process.

Anyway, as far as my band goes, as you know it slipped, so we took all the fluid out and I've put myself on a liquid diet to maybe help things along to get it back to where it belongs (fingers crossed). I find myself disecting every single little pull and pain I feel, thinking something is wrong. I find that my appetite is not completly back, but it gets a little more everyday. I think I still feel restriction, but it's hard to be certain when I'm not eating solids. I went to a Cookie exchange party yesterday with friends who don't know about my band and decided I'd taste a few mushie items so I wouldn't be obvious and to see how they feel. Anyway, I had a little hummus and some cheesy dip (i know, not so diet friendly, but that was all i could eat) I loaded my plate with other items so it didn't look funny and sat in a spot where people couldn't watch me eat and then threw my napkin on top of the plate when I was done and no one was none the wiser. I also took a piece of fudge and took tiny little bites and let it melt in my mouth until is was liquid, so i even enjoyed a little dessert. Mashed potatoes is my plan for Christmas dinner along with my protein shake.

Everything I tried (not much at all) went down fine, I didn't even feel any restriction or fullness, but I wouldn't with my band tightened either because it was mushy and such a small amount. Nothing seemed to linger in my pouch or anything. But after the party when I went home, I had some small pulling sensations, wouldn't say pain because it was like a 1 on a scale from 1 to 10, but they worried me. I'm so afraid the band will slip further and it will be an emergency and unbearable pain. I'm also so afraid it won't go back into place and i'll have to have surgery again. I'm afraid of the surgery especially since i was talking to a lady in the Dr. office last week and she said she almost died during surgery, enternal bleeding. I know things like that can always be a risk, but i just didn't think i'd have to go through another surgery. I thought this would be forever. I also know that complications were possible, you just never think it will be you.

Sorry this post is so long....where do i go from here?? I have another appt on the 12th of Jan and we'll do another barrium swallow and see where the band has settled. If it is back in place, I'm going to leave it unfilled and see if I can do this on my own. I've gotten to my goal and hope that with diet and maintenance I can maintain it on my own. During this liquid phase, I hope to loose a little extra to give me some room to fluctuate during the process. I hope I can maintain 160. If I can't, then I might look into a very, very small fill way, way, way down the line and go slow and hope it doesn't slip again. If the Barrium swallow shows the band has not settled back into place, then I guess I have some tough decisions to make, replace it or take it out??? Surgery Again!!!

Sorry my posts are bummers lately, hopefully on the 12th I'll have good news!! Merry Christmas everyone, thank you so much for all your support!! It has been everything to me!!!

Bad News......:(

Hi all...this is a really hard post for me to write and I've been avoiding doing it. As you know I went to the Dr. yesterday for another unfill and he suggested we do a barium swallow. I was happy he suggested it and so I went to another section of the hospital to do that and then went back up to his office and he said the x-rays are difficult to read but it looks like I have a pretty bad slip :(

I questioned the fact that I don't have any pain, that I just complain of the acid reflux that has actually been worse in the past and this is just a little annoying. I said "Doesn't a slip hurt real bad?" He said "Not necessarily". I also explained that I can eat and drink (not a whole lot, but about what a bandster should, i think) and he said that some is going through the slip. I honestly don't know how long it has been like this. I mean I went on a cruise for goodness sake and gained a little while on it. I did have some tight moments but they subsided.

Anyway getting to even worse news. I asked what do we do and he said that we need to do surgery again to replace (and I'm contemplating removing it). I told him that i have heard of people taking the fluid out and it can fix itself. He said we can do that and it will buy us time, but it will most likely slip again.

Even worse, worse news. When I choose this doctor, one of the things that appealed to me was that I was told that he is a Bliss Doctor and all cash pay patients are covered for one year for complications related to the band. My one year is up on the 18th of Jan, so I'm thinking this should be covered under the Bliss insurance. When I mentioned it, he kind of danced around the subject and then said it is usually for only 90 days and then that someone in his office had embezzled money from him back then and dropped the ball somewhere. He is going to have someone check on it an call me, he said to give them a day or two. I'm so pissed off, I'm not holding my breath on the Bliss thing.

I'm a cash pay patient and just can't afford another operation and if I replace it and put it higher on my stomach, I'm worried it will happen again and then I'll need yet another operation in a year that I can't afford or do.

We took all the fluid out and I feel fine, No acid reflux last night, but I felt it wanting to happen. It is better, but I fear that it will slip further and I'll be in pain and tight again without anything to take out. I haven't eaten anything. I asked about my diet now and he just said to go to protein drinks so I don't gain the weight back. I know I can't live on protein drinks, but I'm going to do them for now and if I must eat something, I will eat something mushie so that maybe the band will have a better chance at going back into place.

It doesn't feel like anything has moved yet. It feels looser but the same position.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted when things change. If anyone else has gone through a similar thing, please contact me, I'd love to hear from you.

Hi....Getting an unfill today!!

Hi guys. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Just super busy.

I have a Dr. appointment today and I am getting another unfill. My tightness has been sparadic, but enough to let me know I need more taken out. It's the reflux I hate the most. I'm going to ask for another 1cc and we will see where I am at after that.

Went away for the weekend with some friends to a great timeshare resort out in Newport Beach and it was so much fun even though it rained for the first two days, Sunday was beautiful and we had a nice time just visiting with friends while all our kids played video games and played nicely together. I love when kids just enjoy each other and no fighting occurs. My eating was good this weekend. Just small amounts, but no episodes or getting stuck, a little reflux at night, but not bad.

The medicine I take to get rid of the reflux does work, but it gives me pains in my stomach after about two days in a row, so I don't want to rely on that, just when it gets real bad.

Cross your fingers this unfill works!!

On the weight loss front, I am down to 161.8!!! That's 60 pounds down!! Yeah and practacally to goal!!! Although I would love to loose more. When I weigh in on the Wii, I am at the lower portion of the overweight section. I never ever thought I'd be here!!! I'm not going to shoot for being out of the overweight section, but I would still like to loose a bit more, but if it doesn't happen, that's okay. I just want to get my band in a good spot where I don't have these tightening episodes.

Talk to you all later. I've been reading your blogs and you are all fantastic!!

Busy, Tight, Down...

Okay. So my title will explain most of my blog this morning. I have a lot to say and it's probably because I haven't posted in a while. My Internet was down yesterday, so I didn't post my weight.

My band tightened a bit on me over the last few days. This is something I'm thinking about...my family took me out to dinner for my birthday at a steak restaurant. I used to love steak, medium rare, lots of salt, mmmm....well, I tried to eat it on the cruise and it didn't go down easy and gave me pain and discomfort for an hour or so after I ate it and at my birthday dinner, I tried to go slow and small bites and I only ate about 1/4 of the steak and I had the same feeling. I don't think steak is a good for me anymore. It's funny though, it didn't taste so good either, I don't know if it was not so great steak or just me not loving it anymore since my band. Anyway, the point you say? The next day, I woke up kind of tight and tight throughout the whole day. I took it really easy and had mostly liquids and soup. Yesterday was a lot better, but still a little on the tight side. Same thing happened on the cruise after I ate steak. I'm thinking that when I eat something that has trouble going down, it seems like I tighten up for a few days. I'm still a bit tight, but getting better....worse in the morning and at night. Nothing near as tight as I was back in July or anything.

The good news.....I'm down to my lowest 164!! Yeah....I guess that goes hand in hand with not eating much huh???

A NSV....I went to Costco and they had some Buffalo Jeans on clearance and I need some new jeans. These jeans are by waist measurement and length. I'm so not used to buying clothes that way. I've always bought based on a number size 18. I was never able to fit in the clothes that went by waist and length number. So, I wanted to buy a pair (they were only $19.99, regularly $34.99 at Costso) I, of course, went for the biggest size they had (something I have always done and hoped I could squeeze in) which was a 32 waist by 33 length (I wanted them long to wear with heels, all my jeans shrink in the length and I look like I'm waiting for a flood). Of course, Costco doesn't have dressing rooms which I hate. I put them up to me and they seemed good. Took them home.....way tooooo big. Did you say what? yep, way too big!!! Can you believe that?? I don't know if I should go with a 31 waist or a 30. I think I need to go for the 30. I guess I'm making another trip to Costco today to exchange and hope they still have some 30's and also hope the 30's are not too small once I get home. This is why I don't usually buy clothes from Costco. What a pain in the ass, but how can I pass up a pair of $20 Jeans?

Another NSV....saw some of my family on Thanksgiving who haven't seen me since my Granny's funeral right when I got the band put in and they were like OMG, you look so good, you have lost a ton of weight!!! They don't know about the band unless others have slipped when I'm not around. I don't care though if they were to find out.

Some bad and a bit scary news.....I was in contact recently with a band friend that I met right as I was banded. She had hers done by the same doctor as me and had hers done about a week before I had mine done. Well, she had to have hers removed because of it slipping and she experienced a lot of spontaneous tightness similar to mine, but it seemed a lot worse. I feel sorry for her and a bit scared since I experience similar things as she. After talking with her and after this last bout of tightness, I decided to make an appointment to get another cc taken out. I'm about 1 1/2 months away from my 1 year and my free fills and unfills. I would like to get to a good spot before then. So I'm going to go in on the 15th and have 1 cc taken out and then if it's too much, I will have one more opportunity to have a slight fill before my 1 year Bandiversary.

I have more to say, but have to run. I'll try to post again later.

Weigh in day and up a pound....Not bad!!

Okay, so today was my weigh in day and I weighed in on the Wii and it showed up a pound. Not bad...I'm totally thrilled. I mean, not bad for an eight day cruise!!

I went walking yesterday and plan to go again today. I hope to get through Thanksgiving and my birthday without gaining.

I'm going to try to sit down this week and go over the cruise details. Just wanted to post on my weight status.

I'm Back....

Hi everyone. I'm back from the cruise. We got back today and had the best time. My band cooperated and did it's job while still allowing me to indulge in the delicious foods they had on board. It did tighten up a couple times, but relaxed a bit fairly quickly. I'm not going to weigh in today since it's so late in the day. I'm going to see what I weigh in the morning and then I'll do an official weigh in on Monday. I hope it's not a lot, although I feel a little bloated at the moment, so we'll have to see.

I'll tell you more about the cruise later.....I need to catch up on every one's blogs. Hope everyone had a good week.