Barbara HInchman

Hi All: I was wondering if any of you have heard from Barbara Hinchman latley... I haven't seen her posting so I got worried.. Thanks charlene

Hi Charlene, So sweet of you to ask about me..thank you. I am here, I have midterms and want to shoot myself that's all..lol Aside from that ------ I have not lost weight since week one. I know I complained about losing too much the first week, but yikes another pound would make me feel at least a little better!!! I have a lump about the size of a golf ball near my port...not happy about this! I did tap a KMart shoppinng cart into my incision last Sunday...but gently. And now have the lump. I called the doc and the nurse told me it could be fluid build up and to use a heating pad. The rest of the incisions do not have a lump! I wanted to feel all better before I went back to my sleep apnea mask...um yeah...the other day my ankle was swollen like I was wearing wigwam socks...ugh. And I noticed I was dog tired, so back on the mask I am. The swelling is slowing leaving and staying away, and my energy is coming back...yay! I need to exercise, but with mid terms I just can't find the time (shouldn't even be on this board---but i need some sanity). I also need to drink more water..but I am not allowed to drink 1/2 hr before eating or an hour after eating...omg that is way too hard...esp the drinking before eating....its not like I'd be drinking oil or butter or something that is gonna make the food slip right down! Also the dietician has me already on modified regular food...took my daughter to a bday party last sunday and guess what I can eat a slice of pizza! I didn't eat the crust though. But still, I wanted more restriction. I think I have none! Docs office said it can be because the fat around the stomach has melted and now the band is loose....but I dont' see the doc for a fill until 12/1 omg that is a month away! I think I will call them again on Tuesday and ask for a closer appt and have him check the lump out. Wow was that too lengthy or what??? I need to come to group but now that it moved to Mondays in Lakewood I can't attend...but I will be in TR in Nov. I also need to call the dietician and see when she wants to see me. They have group meetings also, but I can't go to them because of my school schedule...ugh. and it is required I go to 6 group sessions. Ugh sounds like I am whining, I really am not. Just a little sad today about it all I think. Talk to you soon!

Barb: I had a really busy week at work and haven't really been on the board all week. Do not despair. I went a couple of weeks without the scale moving and then it hit all in one week. You can get a fill 6 weeks after surgery and since the 1st fill doesn't always do it, try to move up your appointment so you don't get so frustrated. I've gone 2 weeks without losing an ounce but due to the work schedule I haven't walked for over a week and I'm hungrier then I have been so I think I need a fill. I'm scheduled for November 14th but I'm going to try for next week. Keep the faith! Donna C.

Barbara~ Keep your chin up, you are having a rough day and probably are over tired. Sometimes I think we all question what we have done, afterall, we are just babies dealing with this new system of eating. We are like newborns, just learning how to eat again, and not drinking while eating is hard, but it is forever, so we have to adjust. The weight stall happened to me at about 2 weeks out too, the scale stood still for 17 days. The 18'th day it went down 3 pounds. Now the loss is much slower, maybe a pound or two a week, I don't weigh every day anymore, it get's too depressing. Just try and weigh yourself once a week, that way, you can be fairly sure that it will have went down, even a pound. That's what I try and do, I don't always make it the whole week, but having that goal helps. BE NICE to yourself. This is a process. Take a deep breath and give yourself a break! See you in November! Love, Michelle Brennan