My Journey w/the band/RA & Fibro

[Greeneyetiger]

I was banded on January 30, 2007. I have had one hell of a time with losing weight. At first it was not my RA or Fibro. I am not sure what was the problem. I would exercise, eat right, and drink my water and my weight would not move much. It was holding on for dear life. I lost a total of 25 lbs after I was banded. Then I would cheat because I felt like all my hard work was not doing anything for me...big mistake!!! My highest wt was 254, I lost 12 lbs before surgery. That left me with a grand total of 37 lbs gone. Now I gained back the 25 lbs...ugh. I have learned my scale is about 8-10 lbs off....it makes me lighter then I am (isn't that sweet of my scale) So when I get on my scale I have to add 10 lbs...until I can get one that works right. My current wt is 242...:faint:

I am starting over at over one year out...what a mess, but at least with the band I can start over, right? I see my surgeon on July 7th, 2008. My goodness that is a month away, but I am hoping to lose a few pounds before I see him. At that time I will get a small fill.

With my RA and fibro it has caused severe pain, as those with these illnesses understand. I could barely walk, yet alone exercise. But I am now on a med called Enbrel and I really think it may be doing something. I have only given myself 2 injections/2 weeks on Enbrel, but the knots in my right leg have shrunk and are not as sore. I am hoping it is because of the Enbrel and that in time it will keep helping me and I will be able to move better and faster with less pain. I am still very stiff and in pain... so Enbrel keep working.

I am also on Kadian right now for 14 days (a morphine slow release pain med) and then my doc is supposed to get me on Fentanyl patches for pain. Unless I see the pills are helping and then I will ask the doc to just keep me on them. Hopefully these meds will help me get moving and I will be able to burn calories.

I started doing stretches and toning exercises about 3 weeks ago or more and today I started back with my "walk away the pounds" dvd. I am only able to do a little, but a little is better then none. My goal is to keep working at the walk away the pounds until I am reaching 1 mile, then 2, and then 3 miles. I will also be adding weights in time. When I started the stretches I was laying on the floor crying...now it is a little easier....in time I hope I am exercising my butt off...literally...:wink2:

I am going to do this by trying to lose 5 lbs at a time and not look at the big picture of losing 92 lbs...that is too overwhelming. My goal is to get to 150 lbs.

I found an already made protein drink that I like by EAS, the chocolate flavor is sooo yummy. I am getting these and for awhile I will be drinking them for breakfast and lunch and then having a well balanced healthy dinner with protein, veggies, and complex carbs. For desert I will get in fruit or something SF and low cal. After a few weeks to a month I will just use the drinks for Breakfast and maybe for a snack and eat a healthy lunch and dinner.

This is the first day of my new beginning with my band and a healthy lifestyle. :yeah_baby:

[Greeneyetiger]

Yeserday evening I cut and filed my dog's nails. I hurt my back more doing that, so I was in so much pain last night I had to take a hydrocodone along with the morphine pill to help me rest and sleep. Now I know to get my dear to do their nails. I guess giving them baths are over for me too, at least for awhile.

There is always something this pain makes me stop doing.

But I did more stretches this morning and did my WATP dvd. Not over doing it, but pressing on.

I am hoping having this online journal here will help me stay motivated.

[ginabobina]

We're rooting for you Tina!! I wrote a long reply earlier today and my laptop crashed and I lost it :ohwell: I've got you bookmarked now so keep on postin' girl! Way to go with the WATP!

[kebsa]

Tina, you are right that we can re start, renew our efforts with the band, that is one of the good things about it, it is adjustable/adaptable for as long as we need- i am proof that even when we go backwards in a big way, we can get back ontrack ( i am currently reminding myself of that again)

I am glad you have decent pain relief, if you are like me, it takes a while to get your head around the idea of using these strong meds long term but honestly it is the best thing i have done, with the meds i cannot move and my weight would get worse and worse, with meds i can move better and i stand a better chance of shifting excess weight! before i started having the spinal morphine via my pump i could barely function and could not work at all- mophine has enabled me to get back into the workforce even if only part time

look afer yourself

[Greeneyetiger]

The patch is working pretty well. I had to take one hydrocodone to help with some breakthrough pain and boy did I feel that hydrocodone. The patch must intensify other pain meds.

I have been very depressed the past couple days. Just trying to hang in there. It isn't because of pain. Just life and my good ole depression illness playing games with my head.

I Pb'd a couple times. I think since I gained back all my weight back my band is tighter. So as of now, I do not need a fill. I haven't exercised in 4 days, so I need to kick my butt to get into it again. I will start back up tomorrow morning. I promise !!!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Tina, glad you updated with your present situation. Good for you for your re-committment efforts. Taking off my weight has helped my knees 1,000%. I gotta think that possibly it might have a positive impact on your fibro/ra as well. Your 5 # at a time mini-goals are WONDERFUL !!! That's what I'm presently doing too ,,, I think it helps. No matter what we all gotta make it to our goals one day at a time. Stay committed. Stay focused. Keep your eye on the prize ,,, Hugggs & best wishes coming your way to keep you company on the rest of your journey !!!

[ginabobina]

Hang in there Tina and I know how you feel with the depression... sorry you're going through that and hope it gets a little sunnier for you soon! Hugs!

[Greeneyetiger]

Hi Granny & Gina

I appreciate both of you having confidence in me. I appreciate everyone's support. I am losing confidence in me, but I am calling my surgeon to try and get in sooner than July 7th to get a fill. I am going to ask for .5 cc's. I am still gaining weight. I need something to stop me some. I know if I am filled a little more certain things will not be able to go down and it will hurt, therefore, I will not eat them. I am going on a protein drink, fruit, and vegetable diet for 2 weeks. I am also going to add some fat free refried beans to my food list w/ some cheese on top. I am so upset over the weight gain that I could scream. What a disappointment. I know I gained because I mostly could not exercise with all the pain, but this is too much. I am going to get this weight off. I know I am going to deal with BIG time head hunger, but I am going to have to go to my room and cry in my bed. I will have to deal with the withdrawal and fight hard. I need to put myself on booty boot camp and kick my own ass. I wish I had more support from my skinny ass husband.

Have ya'all seen that commercial with the woman and man, cartoon kind of, where she says, this is what happens to my husband when he is hungry (he eats a piece of popcorn) and nothing happens to him...This is what happens when I am hungery, then she eats a piece of popcorn and blows up like a big balloon? This is me and my husband. He can sit and eat all he wants and I eat one bite and gain 5 lbs. The commercial is an advertisment for a weight loss pill or something.

Right now it is too early in the morning to call my surgeons office to see if I can get a sooner appt., but when they open I am calling. I am afraid of gaining more before July 7th. This is why I think I am just going to do protein drinks, fruits, and vegetables for now. I am doing this for 2 weeks and then I will add meat 2 days a week for lunch w/ the protein drink, fruits, and veggies.

My goal is to lose 5 lbs by July 7th. I am 244 as of this morning....UGH!!!!

Love you all

[503-250]

Keep your head up, you made the decision to start this journey, the part everyone forgets is that the road is paved with our own issues. So, we all have to find the potholes and rocks that are in our way and make our way past them. If this was simple, everyone would do it.

I've been through the depression side of this, I've been through anger...it's all a part of breaking free of the person you were to get to who you should be.

I view it this way, life is a test and the person giving it makes the test harder for those of us who can handle it. So, we have the weight to deal with, pain to deal with, stress to deal with....you can pass...I know you can.

[ginabobina]

:iagree: I love what you wrote, Bear!

[Greeneyetiger]

Bear~

You are the sweetest!!! Thank you so very much. I just wish the one handing it out wouldn't have so much trust in me handleing it ;)....Thanks for rooting for me. I did good yesterday. Now today is another challenge, but I will be ok.

[Greeneyetiger]

I have one week and one day to my appointment with my surgeon. I am actually getting excited to get a fill. At first I was feeling ashammed because I gained my weight back...the little that I lost, but now I am feeling like I just want to get on with this challenge again and fight with all the tools available to me to lose weight. Getting a fill is one of the tools and my surgeon is there to give it to me.

I have been eating less. I am still eating some 'bad' foods, but I am eating less calories. I am working step by step to start eating less unhealthy foods and more healthy foods. I am eating more fruits and vegetables. I am drinking more water. It is easier to drink more water when it is hot out.

I am moving more. I am exercising at a pace that I can handle. Sometimes I am really sore the next day, but I am not in bed with pain, so I am dealing with it. I just got my Tai Chi dvd from netflix to try out. If I can do it ok I will buy a dvd for myself to own and do at home.

I see my counselor Wednesday and I am taking in my book "When Food is Love" to talk about things I marked in there that I can relate to. I am ordeing the "Food & Feelings" workbook and will take that with me the following appointment.

I don't expect the weight to fall off right away, but I do expect myself to make small changes immediately and to continue making changes. I am human and will fall from time to time, but I need to fight harder then ever. My goal is to become healthy and feel better.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Tina, Glad you made that fill appointment and are looking forward to making progress with your goals. I totally admire your spirit and your drive to face your challenges and pain. I've noticed that the difference between the restriction when I'm eating right and the restriction when I'm eating crap is incredible. I've heard others say the same thing. Good choices = good restriction and correct fill level = no hunger !!! Good luck getting a good fill. I'm proud of you for making good choices.

[503-250]

baby steps is one of my favorite sayings....

It's from a Bill Murray movie, but it is absolutely true. Any time in life we attempt to make a drastic sweeping change we have a much higher failure percentage....so....baby steps.

To quote Bill Murray:
Baby steps to the door, baby steps out in the hall (all the while taking the tiniest of steps).

[ginabobina]

EVERY time somebody says "baby steps" I think of that exact scene, Bear!!

Tina I'm proud of you for getting in for a fill and your attitude is great! You are right... it's your tool and you're ready to use it. Judy is so right about the food choices being crucial to working the band. I am learning that the hard way over and over because i am a slow learner! But it's a process so let's keep moving forward and doing what we can do! Glad to hear you've able to increase your activity without too much trouble... HUGS Tina!!

[MoOrLess]

Tina, I just sat and read all of the posts on your thread and I have to say Bear man has a lot of wisdom. He's right - you CAN pass the test one day at a time - and you CAN take baby steps one day at a time -- we are all doing the same test sweetie - it's called LIFE! I also like the idea that (once again Bear said) we have to fight to find that person hidden underneath our weight -- and sometimes anger, sadness, frustration cover that hidden person. It was hard but I am 'just' coming out of a 3 month plateau - I gained 8 lbs during that time - it might not seem like a lot - but I know how long it took me to get it off, so yes I was very upset. But I also knew that I couldn't do anything but take one day at a time and one pound at a time.

You have great goals set - eating, mild exercise, a positive attitude and a fill coming soon. That's awesome - you can do this Tina - and we're here to help. I gurantee you - I didn't do it alone and never do. That's why I'm here so often - to get the support and encouragement that I need DAILY, so I'm glad you're posting and asking us to help or just plain listen, we are good at that too! HUGS hon!

[Greeneyetiger]

My book, food & feelings workbook, is out of stock...darn it!!! But I will get it, but it will not be here until about mid august. I am so ready to do this work and now I have to wait for this book longer. Not that I am not going to do "the work" before then. I just wanted an extra tool to help me along.

I am also going to buy a new scale when I go to the docs tomorrow. I want one that tells me my 'real' weight...UGH...my scale makes me lighter then what I really am. That gives me a false sense of success. I need to the truth and nothing but the truth.....lol

I am ordering a machine called leg magic. I have heard very good things about it. As soon as I am done typing this I am ordering it. My heavest part of my body is my butt and thighs. So I want this machine to help me focus on it. The machines at the gym do not help and my total gym isn't hitting the spots that they say the leg magic will help with. It is supposed to help with your belly too.

The things I will have to work out with:
* The total gym
* Leg Magic
* Walk away the pounds dvd
I wish I could afford a personal trainer. For now I will have to be my own and I also have my b2g family to help me through. Love you guys!!!

I am buying more protein drinks, getting more veggies, and fruit in the house. I am working with my counselor on my eating and food adiction.

I am ready to go. I am ready to work hard.

I hope by this time next year I can see BIG weight loss and feel healthier.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Sounds like you're well established on a successful path, Tina. Keep up the great work, girl. You're a big inspiration to a lot of us.

[ginabobina]

Go Tina Go!!! You can do it - just keep realistic expectations and mini-goals for each day and string them together... one day after another. I discussed with my career coach that I get very discouraged by days when I'm physically or mentally unable to do what I want to do. He recommended making a schedule at the beginning of each week so I don't have to think about it on a bad day - I already know what I'd LIKE to do... then just pick even a small part of it that makes a baby step towards one of my goals and let that be enough... that is success on a day when I feel like giving up.

[Greeneyetiger]

Judy and Gina, thank you.

I do intend on making baby steps and OMgoodness, I do not intend on doing both machines and WATP in one day. I will do what I can and not push too hard because that will put me in bed for days if I push too hard.

I have also decided on trying to see my old rheumy. I am calling tomorrow morning to see if she has room for me now that she is in a different office. I hope she is totally booked with patients and not taking any 'new' ones. I would now be considered a new patient in her new office. I should have just transferred when she first left. Well, you live and learn. I am still going to the pain management specailist though.

Myhands are killing me and it is making it so hard to type. I want to respond to more people and other threads, but the pain in my hands won't allow me to. I HATE this. But I am ok and will be ok.

[PhotoNut]

Hey Tina, I've just read this thread and wow, I'm so sorry to hear of the struggles you've been going thru. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to stay focused on eating well and exercising when youre in pain all the time. It would be so easy to become depressed and give in to the pain -- and the food.

But keep focused on the fact that eating well and exercising is exactly what's going to turn this around for you. I've seen my mom do it, so I know it will work for you too. My mom decided years ago that she was not going to let the pain destroy her, so she started working out as best she could, and she started being more aware of the types of foods she was eating. Today, you wouldn't know she has issues. It's amazing how much pain and suffering we put our bodies thru by living the lifestyles we live in this day and age.

Keep pressing forward and keep us posted on how youre doing.

*hugs*
Susan

PS - I moved this thread to the "Support in the Frustrating Times" forum. It was in the forum for groups who do challenges and stuff.

[Greeneyetiger]

Thank you Susan~

Thank you for your support & understanding. It has been a rough road for me, as it has with so many of us.
How is your mom doing now? I remember not long ago she was in the hosptial dealing with so much. My heart went out to her and your family. I hope she is better.

To everyone~

Yes, this has been a big struggle for me. I just found out yesterday from my surgeon that the lapband isn't going to work for me. The RA is causing too much inflammation with my fills and I become too tight and then when I need an unfill I become too loose. I did NOT get a fill yesterday, so I am wide open. He said we will not be able to get me to 'sweet spot', sooo, he is recommending me to get the gastric sleeve. I will have to do a 6 month supervised diet first for my insurance company and get another psych evail. The NUT is on vacation and won't be back until sometime next week. I am hoping to get in with her in the next 3 weeks to get this started. However, I have not made up my mind yet if I am going to get the gastric sleeve. It depends on how much weight I lose with the supervised diet and how the 'head' work goes with my counselor. If I can get myself to a healthy place with my relationship with food and exercise and so on, I may not get the surgery. I am afraid of having another surgery and it not working, especially another restrictive only surgery. The surgeon thinks the gastric will cause me to have ulcers with taking medications for RA, however, I do not take anti-inflammatories because I am allergic to them. So we will see. Maybe once my surgeon and I can sit down and talk more about everything in more detail he may allow me to get gastric...if I decide that is what I want. Any surgery at this point is a no go on my end, on his, and on my insurance companies too. I have 6 months while on my supervised diet to think about what I want to do. In the mean time, I will keep working at losing weight and building myself up gradually to more and more exercise.

My leg magic should be here by Friday and I will begin with that and keep doing the walk away the pounds dvd. The total gym I have will be waiting for me when I can handle it and build myself up for it.

I am NOT giving up on my weight loss....though this is very disappointing and I was very depressed last night. Today I am picking myself up and moving on with taking care of myself and getting healthy. Getting healthy is my biggest goal.

[Greeneyetiger]

I called and talked to my surgeon again. I asked if we could at least try a samll fill, but he said NO way...he doesn't want me to end up with a streched pouch. He said that is why he wants me to get the VSG. So, I have decided that I am going to begin my 6 month supervised diet in a couple weeks when my NUT gets back from vacation and get the VSG. I have read and read on research about it the past several days and talked to others with it. I also taked to the nurse at my surgeons office about it. It sounds like it will be a good tool for me. Then I won't have to worry about getting filled and unfilled and filled again...that over and over process. However, I do wish the band would have worked for me and I only needed one surgery. I am excited about the VSG though. I have heard of so many people who lose their hunger feeling. The Sleeve cuts out the part of your stomach that makes Grehlin, the hormone that signals hanger. I hope this next surgery will be what works for me. A tool that will work with me and not against me.

[Greeneyetiger]

I hope that even though I am getting a different surgery than the band, that I will still be allowed here and I can still get support from all my dear friends here. We are all still fighting the same battle....Obesity.

[ginabobina]

I hope that even though I am getting a different surgery than the band, that I will still be allowed here and I can still get support from all my dear friends here. We are all still fighting the same battle....Obesity.

You know you don't even have to ask that right? We're family here - doesn't matter if you have a band, a sleeve, rny, or anything else, or nothing at all... if you've landed at this site, you or someone you care about is dealing with recovery from obesity. We wouldn't let you leave if you tried!!:wink2:

[PhotoNut]

Heyas Tina. I apologize for not seeing your posts earlier! Big news about your band and all. I'm sure it's very unsettling to think of changing game plans mid-stream. But I'm glad you have options since your body isn't going to adjust to the band.

It sounds like your doctor is really watching out for you, which is awesome, so take his advice and turn your focus on the 6 month supervised diet. You can accomplish a lot in the next six months, or you can let this get you down and waste another six months. You know the decision is yours, and I know you want your health bad enough to fight for it, because you ARE a fighter. With all you've been going through you have still continued to fight for your band to work with your efforts and that's been so admirable. Just hang onto that determination and find encouragement in knowing that this will probably alleviate a lot of the physical pain and stress you've been dealing with. Lord knows you could use even a small break from that!

Kathy and I were talking about her options (if she has to have her band replaced) and she mentioned the sleeve which I guess can also have stretched pouch issues. She asked her doctor about putting the Fobi ring on in addition to the sleeve and he said he could do that. It's like a lap band, but smaller and not adjustable so I guess I could see some concerns about that (like.. what if you got too tight? how would you get relief? another surgery??) but I guess it's also added protection against the stretched pouch. Tonya has the Fobi in addition to her RNY, so she could give us some more insight into how that works. It just might be a good addition for your sleeve. Something to consider anyway.

Thanks for asking about my mom (wasn't my daughter). She is doing much better these days but the months of illness didn't pass without taking it's toll on her. She is in great physical shape, but she struggles with mental issues such as short term memory and that's very frustrating for her. She lives with us permanently now, and I'm happy about that. Something I've wanted for years. I always worried about her living so far away and all alone. But she's a spitfire and has a strong independent spirit, which is why she is still living today! Again, thanks for asking about her. :)

Hey, will the doctor remove the band prior to the revision to the sleeve, or wait? I was wondering if this means you have to go thru 6 more months of suffering, or is it tolerable now that you are unfilled?

Keep us posted on how you're doing ok? Oh.. and by the way *bops you upside the head* What a silly question.. will you be allowed to stay at b2g. Dork! :neener:


*big hugs*
Susan

[redgrldj]

I hope that even though I am getting a different surgery than the band, that I will still be allowed here and I can still get support from all my dear friends here. We are all still fighting the same battle....Obesity.


Heck Tina they let me stay.. I am not banded, have only 1 boob and am bald as of earlier today..LOL

So keep posting the support they offer cannot be matched anywhere else.

[Greeneyetiger]

Susan~ I am glad your mom is doing so well and living with you now. I always loved having my mom close. Treasure every minute with her. My mompassed away in 2005, she was my ver very best friend!!! I miss her everyday. Now this is what really challenges me not to eat...more then the physical pain.

My surgeon is leaving in the band for now. I am not having any pain with the band....just the rest of my darn body. The only problem I have with the band is I have NO restriction to help me control my portions, so I have to do it on my own. So far the past 2 weeks I have done real well and I have lost 5 pounds...YAY for me.

I will ask the doc about the Fobi. That would be nice to have there to prevent my sleeve from streching. Another issue with a wls surgery is not what I need so if the fobi would help prevent it then awesome. I hope Kathy finds what option is available for her. If she does the sleeve then we can see what it does for both of us on b2g here.

[Greeneyetiger]

Thanks to everyone for saying I am always welcome no matter what. That means so much to me because I really love all of you.

Pattie~
I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through. My aunt (my moms sister) had breast cancer and I am always worried it will happen to me. I try and do self breast exams...sometimes it confuses me when I am not sure what is what. I had a lump once, but it hurt and my GYN said it was a fibroid from hormones and that is why it was tender to the touch. So I make sure every year I get a mammogram. I hope that helps to see if soon if I do get breast cancer. You are being very strong trough all this and I wish you a quick remmision for years to come and it never returns.

Are you going to get a wig or wear a scarf? I hope this doesn't sound insensitive, but I am sure you feel bad about your hair being gone and like all us women want to do something about it. I watched the movie on Lifetime called something like "I wear red Lipstick" or something. It was a great true story. I know this woman battled with wearing a wig or scarf. She got a tattoo on her the side her breast was removed from of a heart with wings, just above her scar. It was just so amazing the strength this lady had dealing with breast cancer and fighting it with chemo and the help of her family and friends.

You keep hanging in there and you are in my prayers and thoughts...We will be here for you!!!

[redgrldj]

Thanks to everyone for saying I am always welcome no matter what. That means so much to me because I really love all of you.

Pattie~
I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through. My aunt (my moms sister) had breast cancer and I am always worried it will happen to me. I try and do self breast exams...sometimes it confuses me when I am not sure what is what. I had a lump once, but it hurt and my GYN said it was a fibroid from hormones and that is why it was tender to the touch. So I make sure every year I get a mammogram. I hope that helps to see if soon if I do get breast cancer. You are being very strong trough all this and I wish you a quick remmision for years to come and it never returns.

Are you going to get a wig or wear a scarf? I hope this doesn't sound insensitive, but I am sure you feel bad about your hair being gone and like all us women want to do something about it. I watched the movie on Lifetime called something like "I wear red Lipstick" or something. It was a great true story. I know this woman battled with wearing a wig or scarf. She got a tattoo on her the side her breast was removed from of a heart with wings, just above her scar. It was just so amazing the strength this lady had dealing with breast cancer and fighting it with chemo and the help of her family and friends.

You keep hanging in there and you are in my prayers and thoughts...We will be here for you!!!

I am doing really good, was kinda shocked this morning on how much losing my hair affected me.. I think it is because I am a Type A personality, always have to be in control.. I have a ton of head coverings that people bought me, I have wigs, but what is most comfortable for me is a $.98 bandana from walmart with a baseball cap over it..

I also wanted to tell you, that you need to go to the Dr. and have them show you how to do your exam the right way.. Here is a good web site also with a 5 step exam with diagrams..

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

Oh and I have fibroids also, the tumor did NOT hurt, and it had a different texture.

[Greeneyetiger]

On July 7, and 8th I did liquid diet....then the 9th, 10th, and 11th I did liquids w/mushies....the 12th I did normal...what I wanted within reason. Now today I am going back to liquid only, and repeating the process above....

2 days liquids...lots of protein with shakes
3 days liquids and mushies....lots of protein w/shakes and beans...cheese
1 day regular foods within reason....protein from meat and shakes
2 days liquid
3 days liquid and mushies
1 day normal foods w. reason

I don't go below 50 grams of protein a day. Liquids 50 grams of protein. On the liquids and mushies I am getting 65-70 grams...and on regular day I am getting about 90 grams of protein.

I will keep doing this unil I keep losing.
I have lost 5 lbs since July 7th. This is working for me. I have also been exercising.
OMG...that leg magic kicks butt big time. I can only do so much at one time, but I get on it 3 times a day and do what I can. I got it Thursday...today is only Sunday.

I was in severe pain on Friday and popped a lot of pain meds and had to use the heating pad all night on my knee, but I woke up feeling ok on Saturday...still in pain but not no where as bad. I am also taking steroids for a week...the Medrol dose pack that is a step down steriod system. I think I am having a bad flare. But I am NOT letting it get me too down.

Maybe I can lose 30-40 lbs before I get my sleeve. By the medical estimatation I will still need to lose 80 lbs. For my goal I will only need to lose 60 lbs.

Oh, I found out my scale is right. The doc said his scale weights people 2 lbs heavier and I am wearing cloths at his office and I am nude on mine. That was good to hear, because I thought I was really 5-8 lbs heavier. His scale is weird.

As of this morning MY scale says 233, which is correct. Lost 5 lbs since July 7th...YAY!!!

[PhotoNut]

Awesome job, Tina! Five pounds is GREAT!

[ginabobina]

That is GREAT Tina!!! I'm so proud of you! {{{HUGS}}} Keep at it, you're doing awesome. I'm going to write up a thread about the info we learned at our support group yesterday but recommendations on protein are going up... research is showing higher weight loss in WLS patients who are at higher protein - think 90 per day rather than 60... I'm going to work on upping mine this week.

[PhotoNut]

research is showing higher weight loss in WLS patients who are at higher protein - think 90 per day rather than 60... I'm going to work on upping mine this week.

Our local nutritionist has been telling us that we should find out what our lean body mass is and then match that number in grams of protein. Example, if your lean body mass (the weight of your bones, muscles and organs minus all fat) is 100 pounds, then you should eat 100 grams of protein per day.. which I have been trying to do for the last couple of years.

[Greeneyetiger]

I have been pretty motivated and determined to follow the rules I set for myself to lose weight. I have lost 10 lbs since 7-7-08. I am sure some of this is water weight. None the less, I am glad to see the scale move down.

I seen the pain doc yesterday and she is happy with the pain meds my 1st RA doc has me on, so I am leaving that 2nd RA doc way behind and seeing my 1st RA doc again! The pain doc was also happy to hear I am working on losing weight and getting more active. I am happy I am too. I need to keep remembering the saying so many of you have that "Thin feels better then food tastes" I think I have this right.

I have been feeling more tired the past few days. I guess that is just all part of the fibro and RA. Somedays you feel ok and others you are dragging butt.

I hope I don't hit a stall anytime soon, but I know after we lose so many poumds our bodies will go into the holding on stage. But I will have to bust through it if it does.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Thanks for the update, Tina. Way to go with that weightloss. Keep up the determined effort !!

[ginabobina]

I have been feeling more tired the past few days. I guess that is just all part of the fibro and RA. Somedays you feel ok and others you are dragging butt.

You are really doing so well Tina... and I resemble that remark!! I've been really sore this week myself and it can sure be frustrating. Keep it up with doing what you can do when you can do it - you're an inspiration!

[Greeneyetiger]

Thank you Judy and Gina. I am trying. I did speak too soon and I stopped losing for now, but I am still working at it. I do what I can. With moving things from my old apartment to the house it has been hard on my body to exercise, but I am still doing some exercises. I will get back in to even more exercising when I am done with the moving boxes and furniture. That is if all that doesn't make me bed ridden for a week...lol

What makes moving hard is my hands hurt soo soo bad and it is hard to carry or hold onto anything. I just don't have anough people to help me. My sister is helping me some at the end of next week. I guess a little help is better then none.

I hope everyone is losing and feeling good.

[ginabobina]

take it easy with the moving - that sort of thing puts me in bed too... I try to sit down and take breaks as often as possible and keep up with the pain meds before I am desperate for them. Hope the move will go quickly and smoothly without taking too much out of you... and by the way, that IS exercise! Hugs!

[MoOrLess]

Tina - be "extra" careful girl -- I was in bed for 3 days straight and pretty much could do nothing for two months because of moving. HUGS! I wish I was there - I'd be helping you move!

[Greeneyetiger]

I am going to pace myself with moving, and if I can't do something my husband will have to do it, or someone else. I know I will do more than I should, but the things I know I certainly cannot do I will not...like lifting the sofa to move it. Boxes I will push myself to move. I just wish my hands weren't messed up. That is going to hurt the most.

I got my book "Food & Feelings Workbook". I only read a little so far. What I have read it looks great!! My counselor is waiting for hers to come in. She has it on order at Borders. I got mine through Amazon.com. It got here sooner than I thought because they said they were out of stock.

I talked to the NUT at my surgeons office and I have an appointment with her on Aug 7 at 1pm to start my 6 mo supervised diet for the gastric sleeve. I would love to lose at least 5 more pounds before seeing her. So that is my goal. That gives me a little over 2.5 weeks.

I won't be able to get the sleeve until May; when my Spring semester is over. I am not giving up school to have surgery. I will be ok. I may see if the surgeon will go ahead and see if a small fill is ok. I know he said no, but I will keep working on him. The worst that can happen is I will be too tight and have to come back for an unfill. I will run this idea by the NUT when I see her.

I will be working with my NUT on food menus and my counselor on the head hunger issues. I know what foods to eat, but I am bad at planning meals. What they call mindful eating. I wait until I am hungry and see what we have. The problem is we have been tight with money on groceries because of gasoline and prices going up. Maybe the NUT will be able to help me deal with this too and get the foods in the house that I can eat and plan meals.

I am excited!!

[ginabobina]

I got my book "Food & Feelings Workbook". I only read a little so far. What I have read it looks great!! My counselor is waiting for hers to come in. She has it on order at Borders. I got mine through Amazon.com. It got here sooner than I thought because they said they were out of stock.
...

I may see if the surgeon will go ahead and see if a small fill is ok. I know he said no, but I will keep working on him. The worst that can happen is I will be too tight and have to come back for an unfill. I will run this idea by the NUT when I see her.

I am excited!!

I'm excited FOR you! You're moving forward and doing the HARD work it takes to really change... not an easy road but very rewarding. Do take your time with the workbook and go at whatever pace feels comfortable. I've done similar workbooks and it can really bring up soooo much that doesn't seem at all related to food... it is tremendously beneficial but difficult... be gentle with yourself through the process :wink2:

I think asking again about the fill is a good idea, because as you said, it can be undone. Perhaps he would consider literally doing the smallest possible fill, like .1cc and see how you're stomach reacts. If it kicks off too much inflammation, it can be taken out, but if not, it may give you that extra little help from your tool while you await the sleeve.

Hugs Tina!!:sun_smiley:

[Greeneyetiger]

My RA is killing me...again....grrr.

All this moving boxes is hurting my hands and my legs. I am gioing up and down a lot of stairs more. I gained 2 lbs back, but I know it is fluid because my hands and ankles are swollen. Once I am done with all this moving I can get ride of the excess fluid, but that won't be until July 30th, which is only a week away, but it seems like forever.

We pulled everything out of our shed on Sunday...it was about 100 degrees outside and I do NOT do heat well. We work from 9 am to 5:30 pm and I thought I would drop dead of heat strock. My head was pounding and I though I was going to throw up. We took small breaks and I came in the a/c a few times to cool down, but I guess it can only do so much. I was drinking a lot of ice water too. After we were done I came in and took a cold shower. I stayed in there until my body stopped feeling hot. Then I calasped (sp) on the couch.

I didn't do anything on Monday or yesterday except wash dishes. Today I have to go in our spare room and move things around to make room for more of my stuff coming from my old apartment. I am going to my old place Thursday and Friday to finish packing and throwing things out. On Saturday my husband and I are going there to get all my things and move them here to our house. Then on the 29th I am going to clean the whole apartment...bathroom, Kitchen...stove....and make sure everything is ok for it's final move out inspection. I hope I get most of my security deposit back. I think I will, but they always take out for something.

I hope everyone is doing well with their bands and health.

[ginabobina]

Oh Tina - I was wondering how it was going with the move - guess it is inevitable to be in pain when you're doing so much. I've cleaned the entire mountain house top to bottom with some help from Mom, and have been packing too. My back is screaming and as soon as I can get cleaned up I'm going to try a couple LidiDerm patches... sometimes they help take the edge off. Hang in there and keep ahead on the pain meds. I've been thinking of you!

[Greeneyetiger]

Gina~

Sorry about your back hurting you. I hope your LidiDerm patches worked. Hope you are feeling better. I didn't know you were doing all that packing and moving stuff too. It is a big challenge, isn't it. I am exhausted and in a good deal of pain. My hands are so sore. I hate that it limits me posting. I want to type more to others and it hurts to. Keep hanging in there and I hope you are done with all your cleaning/moving/packing and can rest now. I have another week or so to go.

[Greeneyetiger]

I am still moving and packing. I have to go do more today and then tomorrow is moving all the big things out and most of the little things. I want to cry because I can only do so much and I am feeling overwhelmed. I hate that I can barely walk and my hands hurt so bad that I can barely hold onto anything. It hurts to type this. I am SICK of my body growing old quicker then my mind. I feel like I am in a cage made of glass and it looks like I can get through it, but it is always there holding me back, no matter how hard I try. Ok, so I am having a pity party.

I have not been eating very good. We don't have money for food. I have been drinking my shakes and eating oatmeal this week. I have been eating toast with jelly and milk. I had eggs too. So, I am getting in some foods. But I gained 3 lbs total since last week. How can you eat less, do more, and gain weight. I think something isn't right with my body metabolism or something. They say if you eat less and move more you will lose. Ok, were is my weight loss because I am eating less and moving more.

Some days I feel strong and others days I feel like throwing in the towel. I go back to school in August and I sure hope my mind is in a better place by then. I also hope I feel better physically by then. I took off from summer classes to allow my meds to help me and kick in, but I guess with all this moving I am exhausting myself physically and emotionally. I keep saying this too sahll pass and I will be doing better in a couple weeks when all the moving is done and organizing what I brought to my current home.

Well my hands won't let me vent anymore, so the pity party is ending...YAY...online anyway ;)

Hope everyone is painfree and has great weekend.

[ginabobina]

Hugs Tina - can relate to much of what you described and I'm so sorry you're hurting. Just keep doing what you can do, when you can do it and also accept your limitations - easier said than done, I know!! I HATE having to get help from my Mom or sister or a friend but I just cannot do the needed cleaning and packing and that sort of thing alone... I still end up in pain but it would literally not get done without help. Some days I stop every 15 minutes and just cry because there is so much more to do and it hurts so bad and how can I be 36 and walk like my 86 year old Grandmommy did when I'm hurting?! And I only have fibro so I'm not dealing with the RA issues and hands/joints, etc... My heart goes out to you - I feel like I am constantly moving back and forth through those stages of grieving. HUGS Tina and you'll be in my prayers!

[Greeneyetiger]

I am so mad I could spit nails. I am sick and tired of the pain...period!!
My hands hurt so bad that I want to cut them off sometimes. I am taking pain meds and they are not touching the pain.to make it better. Maybe it could be worse without the meds but I just don't feel the relief I need. I am gaining fluid, which is totally peeing me off. I can't exercise right now because my big butt can barely walk because I am in so much darn pain. I am fed up!!!
I know there are others out here in the world who have it worse then me, but I still feel this pain and I hate it.
No matter how hard I try to get ahead and lose this weight I am always stuck at either not losing or gaining the weight back that I did lose. I just can't seem to win.
I am going to go take 2 pain pills and see if that helps. I have taken 3 so far today, with hardly no relief. My appointment with my rheumatologist isn't until Aug 26 and I can't get in any earlier because she is on vacation until then. I start school in 3.5 weeks and I am not sure how I am going to type papers and take notes in class. I will have to see if the professors will let me record their classes.
Just needed to vent.

[Greeneyetiger]

No one has to read this or respond if you don't want to. I just like coming here and venting or writing my feelings.

I am so sad and mad this band surgery didn't turn out the way I wanted. I see my family and I think they are thinking I am a big failure. Now I am talking about getting the gastric sleeve. They are probably thinking that won't work either. I am wondering if it will help. My surgeon promises me it will make me lose this weight, but he did make it clear I will have to work at keeping it off. He said the gastric sleeve so far has been more successful then the band as far as losing quicker, even though the sleeve is so new. He said most of his patients who have the sleeve lose almost at the same pace of weight as the RNY'ners at first. He said after 10-12 months it slows down some. I talked to a lady (patient from my surgeons office). We talked for about an hour. She also had the band and it didn't work for her. She lost 15 lbs with the band and that was it. No matter what she did, fills, diet, exercise, nothing worked. She had the sleeve a year ago and lost 87 lbs so far. She has 17 more lbs to go and she will be at 130. I was so inspired by her. She did say it took about 2 months after the surgery before she lost that hungry feeling, but when it hit she had to force herself to eat, which with the small pouch she can only eat about 5-7 very small bites of food 6 times a day, and she needs to depend on protein suppliments (shakes), which the doc and NUT tell her to do.

Now I have to wait until May 2009 before I can have the gastric sleeve because 1) I need to do a 6 month supervised diet for my insurance. I will be done the 6 month super. diet before May, but 2) I will be in school in the middle of a semester and won't be done until mid May. I am not losing a semster of school to get this surgery. If I was younger I would, but I am trying to get out of school before I am 80...lol.

My RA sure makes me gain fluid when I swell up. I can put on 10 lbs of fluid in 2 days...unreal. My primary care doc said she wished the diurectic didn't make me sick and have me living in the bathroom. I have to get my blood pressure meds form her that help a little with the fliud, but it isn't a diurectic in it. I have to write my self a not to call on Monday.

The pain is a little better today. Of course I am really popping my pain meds at this point. As soon as the pain goes down more I can ease up on taking as many pain pills, but right now I NEED them. I hate that they keep me awake at night though. If it isn't the pain meds it is the pain itself keeping me awake. I rather be awake and in less pain though.

Closing for now...

[Greeneyetiger]

Gina~

Thanks for all your responses. I hope you are doing well.

[redgrldj]

Tina.. I really hope things get better for you..

[503-250]

Geez Tina, I know just how you feel...the pain, the water weight, the frustration...

I used to get absolutely insane when these docs would give me cochilcine (I have gout and RA and the docs before my rheumy thought the RA was gout attacks) and tell me to take it once an hour until I get "sick"...I wish they meant vomit, but it was more of a run to the bathroom and pray to God you make it in time. I'm not exaggerating or kidding when I say pray either...I would wear easy access clothing (I would have worn tear away clothing if I had it). This doesn't sound that bad until you add that I was normally dealing with ankle and knee issues from the Gout and RA so I wouldn't be able to get up from a sitting position quickly...at one point it would take up to 15mins to stand. So...more then one time my wife would come home and find me in a chair outside the bathroom door watching the TV and waiting to have to run the 5ft.

I don't know what meds you are on, but I am having HUGE success with a combination of allopurinal, remicade, methotrexate and prednisone. I am down to 15mgs of prednisone and will be lowering that until I am off.

I still have severe joint limitation from the damage done, but the pain is so much less.

Perhaps it's time to try a new drug?
I was just at the rhuemy the other day for my remicade infusion (4hr IV drip) and the other patients with RA are taking Orencia, another is taking a drug and I can't think of the other one's name..but it's two or three treatments and then none for about 5 months. I think perhaps you might want to consider some of these. I tried humira and it didn't work and more importantly the self injected pens were nearly impossible to use with my hands.

Feel better sweetie!

[Greeneyetiger]

Thanks Bear~

The hardest part is my rheumy not coming back until the end of August and I refuse to go see her replacement at the old office again because he doesn't believe in pain meds and he is a real a-whole. My sister went to see him too and he argued with er for 5 minutes that he couldn't spend much time with her because she was late. My sis got up and opened the door and asked the receptionist to tell Mr. know it all what time she got there. They told him she was there 10 minutes before her appointment time and that he was running behind from being with the patient before my sister. My sister then said, Are you going to treat me now or are we just going to argue?

So, I have to wait until August 26 to see my Rheumy that I like because she went on vacation before she is starting at the new office. When I do see her I will bring up about other med options for me.

Sorry the docs put you through so much running to the potty. That really does suck. I completely can relate to it taking 15 minutes to stand and begin to put one foot out to start walking. I am basically there right now. It takes me about 10 minutes to stand and begin to walk and then I walk very slowly and while walking I am still hunched over and trying to stand up straight. I am thinking about buying a cane. I am not sure if my inurance will pay for it.

I am checking into getting one of those book carriers with the wheels on them so I don't have to carry my books this semester. I am at least trying to look into ways to make it easier for me and ways to cope. I don't see this pain or problem going away anytime soon. I have been dealing with this level of pain for almost a year now with very little good days in between.


Patti~
Thank you for your post!! That was sweet of you to let me know you were thinking about me.

[ginabobina]

Hey Tina... sooooo sorry you're having so much pain and fluid retention and reduced mobility right now - that just stinks. Does RA flare up and settle down like Fibro? I hope you'll be in a time of less pain soon. I'm glad you'll be seeing the doc later this month and maybe you'll be able to modify meds and keep working toward a combo that gets you the most pain relief with the least side effects. HUGS to you!!! Oh, I can't remember... do you have access to a pool? In addition to being the only form of movement I can handle if the pain is bad, the positive pressure from the water actually reduces water retention.

[Greeneyetiger]

Gina~
I am looking for a pool in my area that is heated. My sis told me about one but she forgot the name of it and where it is. She has fibro too, so she forgets easy. I start back to school in 3 weeks. I am going for my degree in counseling too, but only addictions counseling. I should be done in 2-2.5 years. I am so excited for you with you going back to school. I know you will be great at this. You don't lose your intellegence with fibro, though it makes it harder to concentrate and I get so fatigued. I was able to get A's in several classes even though I dealt with the brain fog, so I am sure you will do fine. Fibro really makes you work harder...that darn fibro!!

I am done moving. I finished July 31st, but I have things to organize around the house. That isn't as bad because I can rest or not do anything. There isn't a time limit on when I get my house organized, except for in my own head. I am taking it easy though.

I tried getting in touch with the pain management doc I seen a couple weeks ago. I am going to see if she will increase my Fentanyl patch. I am not sure if she will because she isn't officially treating me and said my rheumy was doing a good job. I am going to see though if she will because I hate to have to go 3 more weeks before getting more help with my pain. If the pain doc doesn't help I will survive. I tried calling my PCP today but kept getting a busy signal. I don't know why. I want to see if my PCP will call in an Rx for a Medrol dose pack (step down steroids) to help me with inflammation. I have too many darn docs to call. What is all this? Hey, am I really 80 and no one is telling me....or better yet, the fibro made me forget all those birthday memories...LOL.

I know I will survive, I just wish I could get more relief doing it. I am not the only one in the world who is in pain at this very moment. I wish no one had to suffer. I wish I had that EASY button they show on TV and I would just press that and zap everyones pain away and heal them.

Love & Light To you, Gina

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Tina ,,, Hugggs to you, girl. So sorry for what you go through every day. You deserve to vent. CRAP !!!!

[Greeneyetiger]

Today I found an Aquatic Center/program. I need to get my rheumy on Aug 26 to give me permission to participate in their program. I am hoping when I start it will actually help me. I am talking with my rheumy also about how I don't feel the Enbrel injections are working. I am not sure what she would want to do next, but Bear suggested Orencia, so I will bring that up to her. I will have to do more traveling with that and I am not looking forward to traveling almost 2 hours away for them to do infusions. With starting school and everything else I have to do, more traveling just makes things harder for me.

I am on my way to see the NUT in my surgeons office. I am sooo sooo tired and do NOT feel like driving that far. EVERYTHING is always so far from me darn it!!!!

I went to bed last night at 7 pm and I am sure tonight will be just as early. I am totally exhausted. I haven't even done half of what I need to in my house to organize what I moved here from my old place. It is a hell hole. I am just too sore and tired to do anything, but I am sick of waking up in the morning and seeing the mess. I wish I was rich so I could hire a cleaning person to come in once a week and I would hire a driver to take me everywhere I need to go. I am hating to drive now too, because that takes energy I do not have. I am mourning for my youth and I am only 40. Just 5-10 years ago I could go and go and exercise without pain or exhaustion. I thought dealing with bipolar was bad enough, but this really takes the cake. I never really know when I am suffering from bipolar or not because this disability makes me depressed all the time. I guess this RA cured my manic times. Now it will keep me depressed all the time....YAY...NOT

Along with my B$&ching, I am still trying to fight to find away to feel better and get into physical therapy/aqautic therapy and taking all my meds for every illness I have.

[PhotoNut]

Sending hugs your way today, Tina. You must be one helluva strong woman to deal with all of this and still keep on fighting. I'm proud of you! Keep on pluggin away, girlfriend. This too shall pass.....

[Greeneyetiger]

Thank you Susan!! I appreciate your hugs and support.

For all eyes~

I Just seen my NUT today and she is so so nice. She said I worked so hard with her before with my 6 months post-op with my lapband and attended so many support groups that her and the nurse held that she is willing to back date my 6 month supervised diet and say we began the beginning of April. I am so happy she decided to do this for me. She said this is all just paper work for the insurance company. She said she would never do this for a first time person getting surgery, but because I already been through all the post-op nutritional training and supervision and attended so many support groups for the lapband she would do this. The diet is the same as with the band.

So, I am hoping to have the gastric sleeve around mid December. I am going to try and get it done between Dec 15th-20th 2008, that way I will have enough time to recover to return to school by January 20, 2009. I even was able to talk to the nurse there and she gave me some paper work on the gastric sleeve and also told me to look up info online. She is still working on gathering more info on the sleeve to hand out in the office.

I am very excited and hopeful about the Gastric Sleeve. I talked to the nurse and NUT and they both believe the band is making my RA worse and my body is looking at it as a foreign object it has to attack, therfore, my RA is flaring. They said they have heard of some people not responding well to the band and my surgeon won't do the band on people with an auto-immuned disease, especially lupus. He does do the sleeve on those with these illnesses and they work out well and lose a good deal of weight. The nurse and NUT both explained more to me how the hormone Ghrelin(hunger hormone) is removed and you feel less hungry. That the patient's that have had the sleeve are so happy that they don't get so hungry. One woman was eating every 2 hours...a lot of food, and was never truely satisfied, and the NUT said, this woman was so excited that she had to actually remind herself to eat or she would go 6-8 hours with no food and still not be that hungery. So, this lady has to make sure she eats and gets in her protein and her daily nutritonal needs. This does not happen to everyone to that exptreme, but the hunger level does get a lot better and you feel so much more in control, said the NUT and Nurse.

My NUT also told me there is no scientific proof that anyone NEEDS a large amount of protein per day to lose more weight. Their office is still sticking to 50-60 grams per day for women and 70-80 grams a day for men. She told me your body can only handle obsorbing so much protein per day anyway, and can cause more medical problems if you consume too much protein. I never knew that. She also reminded me that with my kidney problems that too much protein is not good for me, and that is why when her and I worked together before after I was banded she kept telling me not to increase my protein intake. She loves to have her patients fill up on fruit and vegetables and use meat as a side dish as she puts it (3-4 oz) per meal or less. She wants me to fill half my plate with vegetables and fruit and have only a small amount of protein and a small amount of complex carbs. She pushes to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day too, and to stay clear of empty calorie drinks.

She is so cool and understanding. She takes in concideration all your medical issues, not just hand you this instruction sheet as if everyone is the same. I told her I want to work closely with her after I have the VSG surgery. The nurse who had gastric bypass in the office told me that the sleeve is like the beginning of the GB or DS and I will see a big difference with the sleeve as appossed to the band. Only because they cut the hunger hormone out and your tummy is so small and you can't force food into the lower half of your stomach like you can with the band. You can drink with the band and eat more, but if you try and eat more with the sleeve and drink you will definately throw up, she said, and be in pain.

I am still learning more about the sleeve, but what I have learned so far, I am feeling like I wished I did that in the first place. I didn't know it existed then because it was so new. I also didn't know I had RA until after I had my band.

I have been doing a lot of driving today, so I am going to go rest.

[503-250]

Glad to hear you had a positive day, as for the drugs and infusions and long drives...I dunno know how well the Ritoxin (see I knew I would remember) would work for you, every dose is given with benadryl which makes you super sleepy. I know it's less infusions which is good, but with benadryl it means someone would have to drive you. Plus they are 5hr infusions so its a long day.

Orencia is like 30mins and Remicade is about 4 to 4hrs. So check with the rheumy and see what she thinks might work.

[Greeneyetiger]

My pain level is definately better then it was a week ago. I still have pain, of course. Pain is part of having these darn diseases, but now that I am done moving. Things have calmed down for a few days and I could get some rest. My body is thanking me for not pushing it anymore.

I am getting ready for college. Picked up my school books and supplies at the college book store, like a good girl...lol. I start in 1.5 weeks. I see my rheumy in 1.5 weeks also. I can't wait to get her written permission so I can start my aquatic therapy. I am sooo looking forward to doing this and feeling better. I want to get my body less stiff and with less pain. Hopefully in time I will move enough in the water to burn some calories.

I have been looking into more information on the gastric sleeve. I am NOT having another surgery unless I know the details. But so far it seems like it will be good for me and I have committed in my mind pretty much about that being my revision. It is still a restrictive surgery like the band, but without the device inside you. They remove your tummy and give you a nice small one. What I like is the surgery removes the hunger hormone Grehlin. I sure hope it works for me!! I just want to become healthy. I don't feel any surgery is better then another, but I feel each surgery is better for an individual. There is a list of people who can do well with the band, the sleeve, gastric bypass, DS....it is all individual. We are all working to get healthy, right?

I have seen so many people on other boards get upset because they feel sleevers are putting down the band. I did not see this at all from the sleevers posts. I guess there are people who will become sensitive about the situation. I just try to ignore those who are defensive and just get the info I am looking for.

I like that at b2g it is so nice and everyone seems to be supportive of one another here, so it appears. Unless there are things behind the scenes I don't see, which I am glad I don't see it, if it is happening.

So, I am just waiting for my classes to start and get to my rheumy to see what we can do to make me feel even better and stronger, with less pain and stiffness.

I hope all my family banders are doing well and losing to reach their goal weight.

[Greeneyetiger]

This is not a frustratred post...thank goodness...lol

I was just thinking of how fortunate I am to have my wonderful family.

I wanted add some pics to show them off.

I am so proud of my daughter and love her dearly. She just started selling Mary Kay and is married to a Navy sailor. She is trying to handle growing up and doing the right things to make her life a good one. They are going to be leaving the state in March, but they are not sure exactly where they are going. I am praying he doesn't have to go to Irag.

I am taking things one day at a time and just holding those who I love dear. My pain is better. Just my normal stiffness and pain, but nothing that I can not tolorate. It feels good to post something positive.

1. My daughter, Jayme with her husband at the USN Christmas party.

[Greeneyetiger]

This is Jayme and Colt celebrating in casual cloths at their wedding reception party. She has special t-shirts made for them.

[Greeneyetiger]

I love this pic of Jayme. She has such personality. She always makes me smile.

[Greeneyetiger]

Jayme with her husband and thier friends.

[Greeneyetiger]

This is an older x-mas picture, about 2003. One of the last christmas's with my mom. I was also at my heaviest here...about 255 lbs.

My sister, my mom, and me

[Greeneyetiger]

My great niece Alexandra at ballet. She is just too cute!

[Greeneyetiger]

Hope I didn't say anything to offend anyone because my band is not compatible with my illness and isn't working for me like it is for so many others (even those with similar illnesses as me) and I have to get a revision to a sleeve. Yes, I am disappointed that I have to have another surgery and the band didn't work for me, but, yes, I am excited I have another option and I am not being told by my surgeon...'too bad you have to live with the band as your final choice of weight loss surgery.'

I have just noticed that so many of you were posting back to me and now I have made several posts and NOT just on my thread and no one is answering me back. Maybe I am being too sensitive. I just thought we were all friends no matter what weight loss surgery we all had...maybe I am wrong.

I do appreciate all the support I have gotten here from so many of you. To be honest, it would hurt to lose the friends "I thought" I was building, but maybe it is time to move on. I guess time will tell. Yes, I will be going on sleeve forums because I need to learn about what to expect, and what my future holds with this surgery, but it is still a restrictive type surgery and I will still me in the same boat basically as all of you when it comes to eating the healthy foods in a small portion. Therfore, I was hoping to still be able to come here and have fun and communicate. Give support to others and get some when I am in need.

If I said anything offensive, I am sorry, I surely didn't mean to. I am not a person to say something offensive intenstionally, unless someone really made me upset...and no one here did.

Maybe I am being too sensitive because I am going through a lot of changes and dealing with disappointment that the band didn't work for me and that my body is rejecting it and causing me a great deal of pain all over my body. I mean, who wants to go and have 2 freakin' surgeries to lose weight...darn, who wants to have one??

I have to go for now. I am getting too emotional.

[chrispygal]

OMG Greeneye, I know you have personally not offended me in any way, shape, or form! And I generally find the people on the board just want each other to succeed, no matter what weight loss route they go - pre-band/no band/RNY. So sorry you have felt this way! :( I'm sure if you stick around you'll see that's what we're all here for - to get support and give it.

Do you have a date for you next surgery?

[redgrldj]

Tina Iam playing catch up on posts.. I am sooo not offended by anything you have written.. I have noticed alot of people are absent from the board right now, and that may be why you are not getting replies..

[MoOrLess]

Hey Tina...I am just seeing your thread - I love your family pictures and am definitely here to support you - whatever you do - surgery for weight loss is "surgery for weight loss"! It doesn't matter to me what people have - we all have the same struggles with losing weight and food, etc....

I'm glad you're settled in from your move and feeling better. I'm the first to say that between life being really busy (I'm off to Michigan on Thurs to visit with band friends I've met here!) and then my daughter's good friend passed away a few weeks ago...and we're just beginning to emotionally come back from that --- and now school starts soon for my two college boys (one a freshman!) and my 10 year old, and me in grad school...and my DH is starting a new part-time job, along with his full time job - so I don't get on here as much lol - could ya tell? I grab my opportunities and then I'm off - getting our car fixed once again and what that means financially - ya know - the fun stuff

so thank you for posting some good news - family pictures are wonderful -- I enjoyed meeting your family -- I'm glad you haven't hit a dead end - that would stink big time -- instead you have another option - how wonderful...you do what you need to do for YOUR body - hugs! Hang in there - everyone will be back online more as summer winds down...it's been pretty quiet in general on here....

[Greeneyetiger]

Thanks to all of you for replying. I am usually NOT this sensitive and even my hubby told me I am a little more emotional lately. I just think it is me going trough so many changes, and I am so upset the band didn't work and I have to go through another darn surgery. Even if it is a good thing that I have this option, it makes me emotional. Don't mind me. I am sorry for over reacting. This is so far from me to be this way. I feel embarrased!!!

Mo~ I am sooo sorry about your loss. That is extremely emotional and can make days slip by before you realize with the grief. I know this is a very busy time of the year with kids and adults going back to school. I am getting ready to go back myself.

So, everyone please forgive me for my emotional time and over reacting. I should have known better.

Big Hugs to all.

[Greeneyetiger]

Mo~

OMG lady....I just seen you added a before and after pic of you in your siggy.

You look AWESOME!! My goodness. You have been working your butt off...literally...lol

Great job!!

[Shellster]

Hi Tina! I have been MIA and not posting much lately because I've been self absorbed. (I have a slipped band) I'm so sorry your band isn't working for you....everyone is entitled to change their mind sister! Plus, one person's choice may not be another's, so speaking for myself....you have to do what is right for you. Sounds like you are working on getting things figured out. My husband struggles with Fibromyalgia....it is a tough disease. You have a lovely family...thanks for sharing those pics!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Hey Tina, I was out of town for nearly a week and just got back yesterday. I loved seeing the pictures of your family !!! Thanks a lot for posting them. Sorry for the bad emotional space you were in, but I figure if there is anyone who deserves to be over-sensitive every once in a while, it's you, girl, for all you go through. Which, BTW, I'm sooooo glad that you're feeling better pain-wise. I'm also happy for you that you are progressing toward getting the other surgery that will work for you better than the band. Very few things in life are a one-size-fits all deal ,,, and WLS is no different. I love my band more than anything, but like you, if it wasn't working for me, I'd be looking for a revision to something that would. I have nothing but the greatest respect for you. So I definitely hope you keep sharing your life and trials with us. I'd hate having to go looking for sleeve support sites to find you !!!

[503-250]

Tina, you have to do what works for you, but leaving here is not an acceptable option...I don't know where that thought started (or who started it) but I would hate to have to come to your house and force your computer to only come to this website!

[MoOrLess]

Mo~

OMG lady....I just seen you added a before and after pic of you in your siggy.

You look AWESOME!! My goodness. You have been working your butt off...literally...lol

Great job!!

aw thanks Tina! If only my stomach muscles would work and flatten my belly out as much as my behind has shrunk lol.......unfortunately it is far from "after" - I'm a work in progress and imagine that will be the case til the day I die :)

I'm so glad that you're feeling a little better today and know that we all love you and are here to support you - no matter what type of WLS you have or don't have! It's ok to have rough days - you're allowed -- HUGS!

[kebsa]

Tina, No one here is going to judge you for having another kind of surgery, yes most of us here are bandsters but there are quite a few here who not had surgery or who have other kinds of surgery. I too am playing catch up a lot of the time lately having spent 2 months in hospital. I am still find sitting at a computer for long is very uncomfortable- i am still having significant pain in my back from the fractured verabra

I am sorry that you felt that we were ignoring you because of your choices, one thing i have always liked about this site is that there is no nastiness, no spiteful behavior or at least i have never seen it. I hope you can see now that people do care about you and we do care. If the gastric sleeve is the best option for you, we will support you as you go through that journey- you just have to kick us occasionally when we doze off

[Joy]

AM so sorry you have gone thru that.....But after hearing so much good about the band, I can't help but think it will work for you, 'specially with your new meds. and a fill!

Best of luck!
Joy

[Greeneyetiger]

Shell~
I am sorry to hear your husband suffers with fibro. It truely sucks as I am sure you already know that. Thanks for letting me know you support me. It means so much.

WildG'ma~
I hope you had fun while you were out of town. I hope it was for pleasure and not anything bad. You are right, I have just been under so much with the pain and everything. I had a breaking moment. I am glad you and so many others understand. I am missing my mom terrible. I am planning my wedding, which isn't going to be for 2 more years, but we have to save for it. I want my mom here so bad. I realized I don't have my dad to give me away because he died of a heart attack when I was 17 (my dad was 44), and my mom, who was my best friend died in 2005 of emphysema (she was 62). I don't have a big family anymore, so my wedding will be small. It will not be the same without my parents there. I call my fiance my husband because we live together and we have been together for almost 7 years come this November. He goes around telling everyone I am his wife. It will be funny when people hear about the wedding, but I guess some may think we are just renewing our vows. So, at least the wedding is exciting in someways, even though my parents aren't going to be there. It is hard to believe they both have passed away. I have a lot of emotions going on all at once, so I guess I was just too sensitive at this moment. Now I just feel stupid! Thank you for all your kindness and support you have always given me. Your the best!

Karen~
OMG sweetie, I know you have been in the hospital suffering so bad. PLEASE don't take what I said to mean anything. I wish you never seen my weak moment with everything you have been going through. I never ever intended you to feel bad or anything about me feeling left out or what ever you want to say my moment of stupidity was. I am sorry you are still feeling uncomfortable and in so much pain. I truely wish we lived near one another. We couldn't go out dancing or anything between the pain you and I are in, but we could find our own trouble to get into...lol...and we would get into trouble ;)
You keep taking care of yourself and I am praying that your pain eases up and things start to go better for you. You need some peace. Thanks for all your support and don't worry, I am going to be ok. I always am. I just had to get up and brush off some dirt and start over again.

Bear~
I don't need another bear in my neighborhood. This is true. We had a bear in our neighborhood about 2 weeks ago. It got lost. It traveled from the North to our southern area and my neighbors seen him down by our community pier, which takes me about 5 minutes to walk to. I am glad this bear didn't come by and eat my dogs when I let them go out to pee pee...lol. I am sticking around and you won't have to hunt me down. If you wanted to just visit you are certainly welcome. Like I said, to everyone, I was have a very emotional time and was over reacting to my emotions. I am doing a little better. I love b2g and would hate to lose all of you.

Joy~
There is a lot of good about the band. That is why I got it in the first place, but unfortunately, with all my health issues my surgeon said it isn't working for me. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immuned disease,which means your body attacks itself, even good things like your oragns and joints and you suffer from inflammation. I didn't know I had RA until after I got the band. My surgeon doesn't do bands on those with RA or auto-immuned diseases because they are not compatible with the band and is even said on the lapband commercials and in the literature. The band is making my body attack itself even more with this foreing object in me, which is making my RA ten times worse. The doc is hoping when the band is removed I wil start to feel better with my RA. Some surgeons will give people with RA the band. We tired to make it work with fills and unfills...time after time, but my inflammation kept making it imposible to get to a good fill level to make me lose weight. So we definately tried. My "new" meds are not new anymore. I have been on the RA med for longer then 3 months now and only feeling worse. I have tried so many RA meds. I will need to try another one. I see my rheumy next week. With all the pronblems I have to move onto a different surgery. Thank you for posting to me and trying to think positive about the band working for me. The band does work for so many people. I wish you all the best with the band and keep being a loser.

[MoOrLess]

ah Tina....I see I see....I finally understand exactly what you are up against -- call me OLD lol that's ok.....so RA patients shouldn't have a band to begin with -- thank goodness you can it taken out and a sleeve done --- you will see weight loss if for no other reason you wn't have the major additional pain from the band being in your body. Thanks for the explanation - I truly understand more of what you've been going through....hugs!

[ginabobina]

Hey friend! Haven't been catching up as much lately and I had to get tickled at your "embarassing sensitive moment" - lol - that sounded like ME! I think we all have times like that when we are tired and overwhelmed and neutral or harmless things start looking like something they're not. Glad the moment passed

Loved seeing the family pics - your daughter is beautiful - no surprise! you both have great eyes! Did school start for you this week? My class started Monday and I am trying to get the ol' brain in gear... hey maybe we should start a Grad School thread... I think I will

Hugs to you Tina!!

[Greeneyetiger]

Mo~
Maybe I wasn't explaining the right way before. Who knows with everything going on in my brain and you know how the brain fog works.

Gina~
I start classes this Monday the 25th. Also, sorry to say, but I am not in grad school. I am in a community college. It has taking me years to get through that darn school and then I decided to get another degree there. I can't afford to go get my bachelors degree right now, and I am not sure if I will, so a masters is no where in sight for me. I am getting to old and I want to get a degree in something that I have a skill at and can work. I can be a substance abuse counselor with an associates degree. I have a friend who is in the field, although she has a masters degree. She said the associate level and bachelor level counselors do the same work except those with a BA earn about 3,000 more a year. Not enough pay increase for me to worry about getting my BA degree.
I am so happy you are back in school and feeling good about it. When you get your masters in phychology you will be making very good money and then you can be like the hookers and rent rooms by the hour...JUST KIDDING!!! This is really a joke my therapist just said to me last week. I had to laugh. She said, "All this time getting an education and I am renting rooms by the hour like hookers do" She is a funny lady sometimes. She made this joke because they are redecorating the offices so she has to keep switching offices in the building.
Keep up on your school work.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

,,, I am getting to old ,,,

,,, Not enough pay increase for me to worry about getting my BA degree.

Tina, while I totally understand the rest of your reasoning, I gotta call bunk on the being too old thing ,,, IMHO, we are never too old to get more education ,,, just for the "fun" of it if nothing else. After my divorce from my first husband, I went back to college at 40, finished up my BA at 44, and got my masters at 45. It was the best thing I ever did. But I totally relate to the not enough extra money thing ,,, From a strictly financial standpoint, it doesn't make much sense in some disciplines.

Hope you're doing well ,,,

[ginabobina]

Just poppin' in to say best of luck this week as you get started with classes!! ;-)

[Greeneyetiger]

Hi Gina,

I just posted a long post on the fibro and other illnesses thread we all post to. Refere to that.

I just started back to school today. Thanks for asking, but I posted a too much on the other thread to repeat here right now.

[sharont81]

I am sorry to hear about your band and AID. I have heard that about your body attacking the band, well that happened to me and I have had to have mine removed with no replacement in sight. Hang in there!!!

[Greeneyetiger]

I seen my RA doc yesterday and found out the results of my MRI. They found arthritis all down my spine. I have it every where. My Rheumy wants me to go to a pain specialist and get steroid shots and lidocaine shots in my spine/back. It never ends, does it?

Also, she said the Enbrel can cause reverse reactions on some people and make your joints hurt worse, so she stopped the Enbrel. She said the Enbrel is making my body more sore and stiff. She wants to hold off on trying any other meds and let the Enbrel get out of my system. She is keeping me on the Fentanyl patch and hydrocodone...thank goodness.

She wants me to continue with my strectches and walking for now, but no heavy lifting. She got on me and told me not to wash my car again, but to take it threw a car wash or let it stay dirty. That with my back and everything else, washing a car is not good with the way you have to bend and twist. She said she doesn't have any of those problems and her back hurts when she is done washing her car.

I am feeling angry now and I am still very depressed. My moods are amess....all over the place. I can't concentrate in school. My computer class is enough to make me want to say forget it all. I can't wait to see my psych doc to get a different anti-depressant. I am so tired and exhausted from the emotional termoil and physical pain and stiffness. I am going to start back on my Adderall for my ADD and see if that helps with some energy and with my concentration with my classes.

Oh, and she is also thinking I don't have RA, but that it is degenerative arthritis with inflammation and fibro. She said the pain is still just as bad as RA, but that I won't have to worry about joint deformaties. I wish with that news she would have said the pain would be better, but that isn't the case.

Just a little update. I am going to get me some lunch and rest. Tomorrow I will look at my computer book and work on my humanities class. See if I can try and figure this crap out and get my brain functioning...UGH. My brain is not compatible with the computer software...lol...I need to update my brain software. Does anyone know how to do that??..LOL ;)

[kebsa]

Hey Tina, if you figure out how to update your brain soft ware sing out and let me know, mine is seriously in need of a "service patch" to deal with a few bugs and glitches!

Sorry that you are stuck with pain even though the dx has changed, I know you have read about my recent problems with my back- I thought that once they did the vertabroplasty (injected the bone cement into the fragments of the crush fracture) that my back pain would be fixed, unfortunately it seems that most of the pain was caused by arthritic changes to the spine, bulging disks, spinal stenosis etc.. I have had to go back to the pain specialists and they are slowing helping but my first reaction was a degree of dissapointment even a bit of fear too i guess, Chronic pain was something that took me to a very dark part of my life and a part that i thought was basically over -my complex regional pain syndrome is well controlled but the recnent additional problems and being re referred took me a bit too close to the bad memories and the realisation that i may have to jump through all the pain clinc hoops again- not a great thought! so i think i can comiserate with you at the very least! I have had some injections to my spine recntly, firstly they tried a median block to the lumbar spine, that did nothing, but 3 weeks ago they did some facet joint injections and an injection into the Sacro illiac joint using seroids and long acting local anaesthetic- i won't say it has been a magic cure but it has improved things a bit. I am booked in to have a newer model of my intrathecal pain pump implanted at the end of october-

I know that you have been feeling pretty low at the moment and i can relate to that, at from the point of view of how all the physcal stuff we have to deal with has a major impact on the old gray matter. I am back on the higher doses of antidepressants at the moment and while i know that is needed, i can;t wait till i can cut them back again- they make the carb cravings so much worse, Do you find that?? it is so much harder to stay on the straight and narrow and yet at the moment i know i need them- my sleep patterns get pretty poor when my depression ramps up a bit, at the very least the anti depressants do improve my sleep patterns.

look after yourself tina, i know things seem tough at the moment, i am not sure how much of a comfort it is, if at all, but you are in my thoughts

[Greeneyetiger]

Karen...my dear friend.

You have been through so much more then any of us and I feel stupid when I post this stuff of mine and know what you go through.

The facet joint injections is what my rheumy wants me to get from the pain specialist. That is what is written on my referral. I am nervous about it, but if it will help some, then I am open for it. I guess it is at least worth a try.

I am a strong woman and I will get through it. I have gotten through a lot in my life, and I will crawl through this until I get to the other side.

Thanks for the poem that you sent to me. I deeply appreciated it. It helped so much. I do know I am going through many changes and some of it has to do with my bipolar/depression. Once I get back to my psych doc and we get me on proper meds again, I will be fine. My other meds are not helping me at all. I took an old med last night that he gave me for sleep called Seroquel. It is used for bipolar, but can be used for sleep too. I slept pretty well last night, but it gives me that hung over feeling the next day. I have no where to go today, so if I need to take a nap I can. Today, I decided I need to rest and take care of my body and mind. Tomorrow is another day to battle.

I am glad the injections you received are giving you a little relief. I hope the new pain pump will work better and help the pain more. Yes, I do feel that anti-depressant meds make me have more carb cravings. I have been off meds for some time now and my cravings have almost gone away. I have only craved some carbs two times in 4-5 weeks. One of those times was because it was the TOM. Since being off the meds I am not really that hungery and feel full quicker. Too bad I have to take these meds and there isn't any med that doesn't work this way on me. I have tried 26 different anti-depressants and other type of psych meds since I was younger, and they all make me gain weight and make me want to eat carbs. That really does suck.

I was thinking, I am doing so well off my meds...then boom, it hit me that I am an emotional reck. I can't in touch with my counselor. The number she gave me is a voice mail for 5 different people. She has not called me back and I left 4 messages in 5 days! When I talk to her again I am telling her I need a cell number or e-mail address so in case of emergencies I can get in touch with her. I have been seeing her for 5+ years and barely need to call, so since I don't abuse the emergency calls, there should be no problem giving me a number I can reach her at better.

You take good care of yourself Karen. Big hugs to you and thanks again for everything. You are an angel here on earth.

[ginabobina]

Hi Tina - glad you got some good info from the rheumy and some new direction... hope you'll be able to get in with the psych to get meds dealt with -that stuff can spiral pretty fast... and I know from personal experience. I just tried in the past week to go off my anti-depressant and I gave up after 4 days - things are way too unstable in my life to try that right now. And my pain levels went through the roof - not sure if that was just a coincidence or not.

Anyhoo, I've been thinking of you and I'm glad things are moving forward a bit. I do hope you'll start getting better relief as soon as possible - chronic pain is so draining