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About this blog

THE SWEET SPOT My journal on my expedition to Bandlandia and my adventures there. I plan to stay forever (been to Onederland many times, but I never stayed long). Join me!:see

Entries in this blog

 

4/22/09 - Blast Off!!!

This is BG's DH.   She made it though surgery without any problems. Surgery took just under two hours. The drugs are working well but she hasn't slept all day so she is a bit groggy. Her drawing was almost too good since the surgeon thought it might be a tatoo. He figured it out and all is well.   Thanks.
Band_Groupie

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6/22/09 My Back Garden

I took some pics of the back garden today and thought I'd share them (didn't seem appropriate to put them under the before/after albums). Looking these over, I'm proud of all the work we've done. I love gardening. Enjoy my slice of heaven and where I love to spend time…   Pic 1.5- My little herb garden that sits just out the kitchen door. DS1 helped me put in the brick paths. Lavender section is on the left, Thymes in front, my poor spindly Basils on the right (with a few parsley and dill) and everything else in the back. You can see DS2's raised big veggie garden just beyond.   Pic 2.5- Is the same garden from the sidewalk by the lavender looking across to a small bubble fountain.   Pic 4.5- Is the little pond and waterfall we built into the curve of the patio. I did all the stone work and everything else but the digging. Lots of fish, frogs, and tadpoles.   Pic 6.5- Looking across the herb garden to the rest of the patio/gazebo. I put clumping bamboo all along that side of the patio to block the wind from the West. The "big hill" I've been complaining here about mulching forever is just behind the bamboo and drops down. That's where the steps/path goes down to the basement walk-out.   Pic 13.5- A view from the French doors across the gazebo and into the yard and our woods. Ooops, should have put the cushions out on the chairs, oh well. On the edge is the kids clubhouse I designed and we built with the kids help as a family project (looks like a dollhouse in the pic, but that's a full sized door on it). I acid stained the patio.
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

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11/2/09 It's Calling My Name...

I jinxed myself...we each carved a pumpkin for Halloween and I did the PBing Pumpkin as planned (pic attached & my front door/porch). Yesterday I had my first PB in a long time (peanuts got me).   I made DH buy all the candy...guess I should have been more specific to buy things I don't like, because he bought lots of chocolate (I'm a chocoholic). I haven't eaten one...yet. I put all my favorites in the bowl to give out first on Halloween, but there's still a whole bowl left. ...it's sitting in the kitchen... ...and I swear... ...it's calling my name!
Band_Groupie

Band_Groupie

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2/11/09 What kind of CRAZY "Sport" is this?!!

We went to Kohl’s (department store) tonight for a sale and I decided to pick up a few of the things on my “Surgery List”. I got some slide in slippers for the hospital (because I won’t be able to bend over to put slippers on) and one of those nifty Magic Bullets for pre-chewing my food for me, and then I decided to pick up a few sports bras. Someone here suggested buying sports bras for several reasons; they’re great in the hospital when you don’t want an underwire bothering you or your incisions, and they’re good when you’re losing weight as they’ll last longer than a regular bra (yeah NOT where I need to lose, so that’s exactly what will happen). Sports Bra…SOUNDS like a good idea, right?   Let me start by saying I’ve never owned a sports bra. Now I’ve had tanks with built in bras, but I’ve never needed a sports bra. OK, DH helps me look (nice guy, huh, flipping through the bra section with all the women). So we found two in my current size and one in the next band size down (I’m thinking I might need this once I lose a few inches). So I go to the dressing room to try them on, yelling over my shoulder “Honey, I’ll just be a minute!” (we were done shopping after this).   My size fits fine…boy these aren’t too hard to get on, but they aren’t easy to get off (and remember I’m in Physical Therapy for my shoulder, partly). That should have been a clue. I happily try on the next size down…it’s tight…too tight to even want to take home “because you might fit into it soon”…yeah, THAT kind of tight…like now I can hardly breath tight. So I start frantically trying to peel it off…It tightly rolls up until it’s a tight twisted band at armpit level now…OK, now what to do…I try reaching across and grabbing one side at a time…nothing budges…my arms are too fat to pull it up around. I try the old cross both arms and trying pulling on both sides at once...nothing…except now my shoulder is killing me and the ‘rubber band bra' is now a tiny bit higher…just enough to keep my arms above my head now. OK, I KID YOU NOT PEOPLE…I SPENT ANOTHER 10 MIN. TRYING TO GET THE D#*M SPORTS BRA OFF!! I was seriously considering giving up and calling for help, hoping someone else was in the dressing room (pretty sure it was empty). Picture me yelling for help and the sight I’d be when the door opened to my dressing room…fat lady, naked from the waist up, twisted rubber band across the top of her chest and forcing her to hold her arms above her head. Yeah, that picture made me give it one last shot…I’m pretty sure I dislocated my shoulder (my PT is sooo going to kill me tomorrow) but with a cry of pain I got the D@*M thing off. DH “What the heck happened to you? I thought you died in there!” Me “I did...let’s go.”
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10/21/09 Feel the Burn

*Post Deleted for Lap Band Book                 Bet you didn't know you have another 'sphincter' hee-hee                                        
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4/13/09 Go To The Back Of The Class

I’m home from our long weekend. I took DD back to college this morning and I’ve got an hour here before I start running the boys places. I typed this up on our way to Ohio, but couldn’t use my computer there, so here’s my blog from the pre-op class last Thursday. 4/9/09     Class was interesting, to say the least (read the end paragraph for the interesting part). It was evenly split with LB and RNY patients. We (bandsters) picked up literature depending on which type of band we had chosen (LB or Realize, I’ve chosen LB). I’ll only list the key things I learned that are different between my procedures and what I’ve seen from most others. Pre-op
Diet: There is no specific pre-op diet although they do ask you to cut back on fat and sugar for one-two weeks prior. Others here were interested so I did ask why there is no ‘shrink the liver diet’ and if it only pertained to those of us with a low BMI. Apparently no one (regardless of BMI) is required to do a specific pre-op diet and they have never cancelled anyone’s surgery (or closed them up) because their liver was too large. They’ve had no problems with large livers, but she did mention that if you do eliminate most of the fat and sugar for liver shrinkage before that it can help with reducing the post pain/trauma to your body later...smaller liver is easier to move. She couldn’t believe that some docs refuse to do surgery if your liver is too large (I asked this). They are getting ready to implement offering Bariatric Advantage products including the shakes and vitamins, but this is geared more for right after surgery and will still probably be optional before.
Day Before: There is no enema. Only procedures are using antibacterial body soap for two days prior in the shower and the clear liquid diet/nothing after midnight that everyone else seems to do
[*]Surgery/Hospital Stay Catheter: There is no catheter for the LB procedure (it seems like many others do have this).
Fill: My doc does not put any fill in the LB at surgery (I was bummed about this, but apparently they do this because some never need any more restriction than the LB itself being placed; no fills ever).
Incisions: Mine will be closed with only steri strips & glue (no stitches, staples like some have). The strips can come off at one week at home.
Gas X: It’s fine to bring this and use it at the hospital, but again they say that it does no good for the air that’s pumped into your abdomen, it will only help the gas in your digestive tract (I’m bringing it anyway even if it’s a placebo, it can’t hurt).
Overnight: My docs require a one night stay for the LB procedure and insurance covers this. The only bad part about this is that you don’t get to do the barium swallow/x-ray test until the next morning…so only the ‘wet swabs’ (blech) in your mouth until the next morning.
I will get a Doppler test on my legs the next day to check for blood clots. I’m not sure if I’ve heard anyone mention having this done.
[*]Post-Op Meds.: They’ll send me home with Rx for a pain med (liquid Roxacet (sp?)/like Percocet) and Nexium for the stomach, no anti-nausea meds. unless you have a problem in the hospital (I’m going to insist on getting something (I know my stomach, if anyone will puke it will be me).
Schedule/Fills: Mine’s a little different than some. I see the doc post-op at 2-3 weeks and then the first fill isn’t until 6 weeks. Then every 4-6 weeks as needed for fills.
Diet: Liquids only for 2 weeks (this sounds like the longest I’ve heard, but I guess I’m paying for the no pre-op diet LOL). I’ve stated this before, but I will again since it’s different than most docs plans; my diet past the first two weeks is never to include protein drinks (protein should come from solids and that’s the purpose of the band to keep you full with food, not sliders. She did mention adding whey/protein powders to your food if you need extra protein.). The 2nd phase goat a little confusing as she said that we are not to make/use pureed foods. The doc would rather we chewed soft foods to an almost liquid stage ourselves. I had to ask several questions to get to the bottom of this, but apparently they feel pureed stuff will slip through too fast and leave you hungry…hmm (I get this in the final stage, but mushies?). Pulverize with your mouth or a blender, I don’t see the difference. I told her I’d already made some pureed/froze them and she said to go ahead and use them (hey it’s 2 weeks, no biggie). After that, the diet is the same as others except you can drink black coffee as long as you compensate by drinking extra water, and you can drink diet pop as long as it has gone flat.
Exercise: No lifting, pulling, pushing or treadmill (hadn’t seen anyone mention no treadmill before) until you’ve seen the doc post-op.
Other than that, everything was pretty much the same as everyone else. Now here’s the interesting part. She finished with the presentation and took a few questions and then said “I’m sure that you’ve all heard that Dr. XXX has left the practice.” WHAT? HUH? There was a unanimous “NO!” She meekly comes back with “Yes, we were all surprised too, apparently he just turned in a letter on Monday and has gone to OTHER HOSPITAL” (She was obviously not happy and somewhat stressed by this).Dr. XXX was the senior partner of the 2 man practice and is very well known in the area. They scheduled surgeries side by side and did them together for more difficult cases. Like I’ve mentioned before, my docs get a lot of the cases that the other hospitals (OTHER HOSPITAL sent them patients all the time) in the area won’t take (i.e. Hard revisions, super M. Obese, etc.). Pittsburgh is well known as a strong medical city and I had 3 Bariatric Centers of Excellence within a few miles of each other to choose from (and there are several others in the surrounding area). OTHER HOSPITAL is the big conglomerate in the area though that has been buying up the smaller hospitals…apparently they offered him a bundle. Well, all hell broke loose at that point (quietly, but it was so tense you could feel it), it was a mixed period of stunned silence and occasional questions blurted out. I’m perfectly comfortable with my Dr. (the 2nd doc, and I met him at the seminar), he’s been doing laparoscopic procedures for many years and has done hundreds of bandings, and he’s well know as pioneering some of the cutting edge laparoscopic procedures (like the DaVinci robot that is run from a different room…actually more precise laparoscopically than by hand, so they use this in difficult cases). But I’ll have to tell you, that even I was thinking through…What if he needs help? There’s no one there! Then I’m thinking, what if they postpone my surgery…how can one guy handle the surgical load of 2? The worst part was that we didn’t know this before the class…poorly handled. Some people were asking tons of questions (had never even met the other Dr. and especially with an RNY, I’d be worried too!). She offered to set up meetings with the other doc for people who hadn’t met him. Here’s hoping my surgery doesn’t get postponed! The class left on a pretty uncomfortable note…not the way you want to feel a few weeks before surgery when you’re already nervous.
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11/16/08 Why I won?t be asked to bring dessert this Thanksgiving

I can’t cook…sure I can follow a recipe, when I want to…but I’m WAY too creative:idea: for that (my gift is art). I have delusions that I’m a “foodie”…but only if you’re describing someone who loves good food. The problem is I’ve never taken the time to really learn and now I just don’t want to (you’ll see why). I’ll blame this primarily on my mother. She had 5 kids, 4 girls and she never taught us how to cook…didn’t want us in the kitchen actually. Ohhhh my mom’s a great cook…wonderful meals every night, appetizers even, on Sunday nights. Sure we made fun of her serving us cow’s tongue with raisin sauce once (what did you think kids would say about a giant curved tongue with raisins stuck all over it…I still swear it had taste buds…we were ROTFL:lol::smilielol5::wub::huh2:)…I think we made her cry. She would only break her form on the rare occasion she and Dad went out…frozen potpie night.   When I got to high school I had taken home ec. so I was allowed to try. I decided baking suited me well and I was good at it; even tackled filled éclairs once. So I branched out…I started adding my own spin to recipes…big mistake…my first memorable one was Jell-O with raisin bran cereal in it…let’s just say the raisins did fine…it was the flakes that were memorable.:ack2: :puke: I got married and continued the adventure. Once I was given the task of bringing the cake to a holiday. I had a box of candy canes. :idea:Candy canes…buttercream icing…what could be better together I ask you? I crushed them into chips and added them to the icing. Let me inform you…candy cane chips in icing turn into mainly gross wet slimy goo with sticky centers that get stuck in your teeth (kinda like the Jell-O flakes).:cool: By now I was developing a reputation in the family.   Another holiday I was tasked again with a baked good. I decided on apple pie...I was going to show them all this time! I researched recipes and found the best homemade crust and apple filling recipe I could find. I bought my apples from the local orchard even. Now, how to dress it up…I found a photo in a cook book of a BEAUTIFUL looking apple pie! It had a lattice top with fluted edges…I’m and art ed. Major…I can sculpt like nobody’s business! There was even a tiny apple with leaves all made out of crust sitting in the middle…oooo.:w00t: I was going to need to make a lot of crust for all that! The photo of the pie was a beautiful golden brown and it was shiny! I researched that glaze. I made my pie…I had so much crust my woven lattice (pinked edges- my addition) top crust was almost solid…I couldn’t even see the apples down in there, but I knew it would be delicious…it was glazed so many times it shined and the tiny apple in the center looked almost real.   I entered my parents house to ooos and ahhhs…I beamed. We finished the holiday meal and now it was time for the pie. My mom brought it to the table to serve and I couldn’t wait. She started to slice into it…what’s this…it’s too hard (maybe this is like pottery I’ve made…too much glaze?)? No worries, Mom smiles nothing phases her, and she goes to the kitchen for a big serrated knife. After a great deal of sawing she finally breaks through…I’m now hearing sniggers all around me. She lifts the first piece and I see it…the filling is sitting nicely on the bottom crust, but as she turns it sideways there’s a giant space between the filling and the top crust, which is so thick with all my lattice that it’s still hanging in the air like a triangular diving board! Full laughter now. Let’s just say I went home with almost all the pie (my mom had a backup dessert…she’s learning).   Now here’s the worst part…I threw the beloved pie into the trash can behind our apartment, wanting to forget it forever. Trash day came and went, almost a week went by and my husband came home one night beckoning me to come out back. Just a few feet beyond where the trashcans are is the drive by which many in the apartments use to park. What was that in the drive?…damn those trash men for spilling…yep, there it was:sad2:…my beloved top crust still looking perfect, still so shiny…didn’t it rain yesterday? I left it there.:leaving:Since then my DH Mr.SA, has embellished the story (and to think I married him for his sense or humor). The story now goes, and he swears it's true, the next day it had tire tracks:driving: going over it that didn’t even break the tiny apple with leaves on top. Of course I have to hear about every failed recipe each holiday (I’ve only shared three here, but they have much more ammo).:w00t: I’ve offered to bring something for Thanksgiving this year…I’m still waiting for the call back.:cool: ...I'm starting to collect post op recipes now.
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6/6/09 Learning to Believe

DS1's Graduation was perfect. It was a beautiful evening outside in the stadium. I wore my sunglasses to hide all my tears and had my tissues handy. DS1 was so happy. We got lots of pics with him and all his friends…what a great group of kids they are (a bunch of well rounded smart kids with great futures). We went out as a family afterward for a late dinner at DS1's work place (fancy Italian restaurant) and it was a lovely end to the day. The place is huge and packed, but so many co-workers came over to offer their congratulations and tell us what a great kid/worker he is.   *Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book        
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4/7/09 Bull Market

I started some shopping for pre and post Op yesterday and came home with bags full. I don’t have a pre-op diet, but I’ve decided to do a self-imposed one. I’m drinking protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a healthy high protein dinner. According to my NUT and surgeon I’m not supposed to drink protein shakes, EVER, as they are a slider food and go against the bandster rules of eating solid protein. I’m totally on board with that and actually love that their lifetime diet is exactly what I was looking for, healthy food, just a lot less of it…like I keep saying when I see bandsters still drinking several of these shakes daily years out, if I wanted to be on a protein drink diet, then I would have done that, not the band (one of my sisters did this, so did Oprah…they both gained it back). I don’t expect to use protein shakes very often at all, maybe after fills, but I thought it can’t hurt to do this pre-op and I can gather a list of the ones I like. I looked online but soon realized to compare apples to apples was going to take some work on my part. So, I did what I always do, I made a list. The confusing part is if you’re concerned with carbs. With the powdered shakes you need to figure out the grams (they only list percentages) of what is added add to it…like skim milk. Skim milk isn’t low carb, so these powdered ones can quickly become a high carb as well as high protein drink once you add the milk (ie. Unjury). Yeah, you could add water, but bleeech!   I bought an assortment to try locally. Some I’ve found hard to find in the stores (ie. low carb Slim Fast). I quickly decided I don’t like the pre-made ones in cans…they have a metallic taste to me (ie. Target Brand). The low carb ones in cardboard cartons haven’t been too bad (ie. Atkins, EAS). You can even buy some powders in huge concrete bags amounts (better be sure you like it first)... I’m back to the stores today (once the snow stops, yes I said snow, several inches...is it April?!) for some low sugar/SF (ie. preserves for yogurt) and low fat/FF items (ie. Refried Beans) to have on hand as well as the GasX and other items suggested post-op. If you have any favorite items, let me know…and if anyone knows where I can get the big containers of plain 0% or 2% Fage Greek Yogurt north of Pittsburgh, I’m offering a reward (my eternal thanks). Product Placement/Marketing?! (that Special Dark Hershey bar is calling my name)...
Band_Groupie

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4/27/09 Birthday Wisdom

It’s my 5Oth birthday today (DH’s too, sort of). Age isn’t really important to me, but I haven’t been embracing this one; it just sounds…old. Don’t give me that c*@p about it’s not our Mother’s 50 anymore…the only thing that’s changed about 50 is the clothing sizes are much more generous so it's easier on us to go through our mid-life crisis’. I’ve made the conscious decision to embrace all the good things that come with being 50. For one, I’m now officially allowed to dispense advice as an ‘elder with wisdom’ and I plan to. Oh, com'on, suck it up, it’s my birthday. I know it’s a little hard to take after my day of gloating and being Lord of the Ring (that didn’t last long), but I’m feeling a little ‘deep’ today so bear with me!   After eight years as a Teacher (art) and before my career in Business Process Improvement, we spent one year in Cincinnati where I was the Activities Director at a large daytime activities based Senior Center. I learned a lot from 'my seniors' that I can share.   Maybe it’s the pain meds talking but here’s what I’ve learned in my 50 years. I’m not anywhere near perfect at any of these, but they’re the things I strive for. I should have started working on this before today, but you’re stuck with my rambling mind…my true friends will suffer through this (or at least tell me that they did).:   · Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself- Several generations in one part of my family have been consumed by ‘wrongs done to them’, never learned to forgive, and it was detrimental to them. I learned that forgiveness isn’t about the other person (or maybe yourself), or the ‘wrong’, it’s a gift you give yourself in order to move past it and not let it determine your path in life. · Life is about choices, and the results or consequences. My kids know this ‘Momism’ by heart…it works when they can’t make a decision, or when they don’t make the choice, but leave it up to someone else..also when they’ve done great or when they made a poor choice. Don’t leave the choices up to someone else…learn to make good choices, but a consequence isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as you learn from it. I tell my kids that I make mistakes every day. The road of our life is just one choice after another, so hone this skill. It’s the choices we make that show us who we truly are. · Take risks. My seniors didn't regret the things they’d done as much as the things they hadn't. Some of my best memories are from risks I took; learn to recognize an opportunity when it comes and take it. Physical things like; rafting on a class 5 rapids river, spludunking through a treacherous cave system for 11 hours, completing a 40' up high ropes course. Experiences like; my first trip abroad being by myself in Paris for an entire week (DH in other cities), being the architect for our current house…the house is basically a rectangle, I got a small tattoo with some sorority sisters, or even going on a blind date (met DH). · Laugh and cry every day. The crying may be harder for some of you than me. Not a day goes by where I haven’t had a hearty laugh or felt tears running down my face (usually TV). I’m the mom that hugs every kid (and adult) who comes in our house. It’s important to wear your emotions on your sleeve especially around those you love and trust. They need to see your love, not just hear it. · Be the kind of friend/mom/spouse/daughter *or male version* you want to have. Show up. Be present in people’s lives. Go the extra mile for them. Drive 3 states away to your friend's dad's funeral. Don’t just send flowers when your friend is sick, take them yourself or make a meal for their family. Hold your friends hair when they’ve had too much to drink and they’re puking. · Don’t take your health for granted. I was in my 20’s and teaching aerobics classes at night. I thought some of the older ladies were ‘falling apart’…one came up and asked for help because she had incontinence and couldn’t jump…now I'm her. I remember going to the PCP for a CU and not having a thing to talk about; now I take a list. The healthiest seniors I worked with were very active. Most of the disabled seniors could trace their major health problems back to one single fall. Taking dance classes one day, and never driving and using a cane forever after…one moment changed the quality of their life. Appreciate your health and constantly work towards improving it (we’re all doing it now). · Never be too embarrassed that you forget how to play. My Mom will still sing and kick her legs to her high school fight song on request. I’ve be the audience volunteer for the Disney Show and danced with my sister on stage. Play video/board games with your kids. I crank the music when I’m cleaning and dance around singing (badly). You get old when you forget the joy of playing. · Learn something new every day. I can’t go to bed unless I’ve learned something new that day…I recently bought a set of French language CD’s. I didn’t know what a blog was 6 months ago. Keep setting new goals. When you stop learning your brain stops too. · Keep learning who you are. It took DH and I many years of experiences to realize what we’re best at (just in business). Most things we excel at can be traced to one basic skill. Mine is ‘Creative Change’ and DH’s is ‘Finding Things’. He’s been an Oil and Gas Geologist finding where/how deep to drill, to Director of Product and Market Development for a new joint venture that he ‘found’ the different pieces of and brought the right people and products together. Find your passion and indulge it. It's an ongoing process to keep learning who we are in life as well. · Find a way to give back. Use a skill or something you’re interested in and give back to your community. You’re the one who will reap the real benefits. Start with easy ‘random acts of kindness’. The active seniors drove Meals on Wheels to the shut-in seniors daily. Learn how to ask for help too. Remember the person helping you is getting the pleasure of giving. · Find the silver lining. I’m a cup is half-full person…DH calls me the eternal optimist. If you make an effort to find a silver lining there always is one and you’ll go through life a happier person. You may have to look long and hard, and it’s not always easy, but it’s there. And stop sweating the small stuff…learn that there are things you can’t change and let it go. · Surround yourself with others who have similar values. No, you can’t pick your family, but you do choose others whom you let into your life. Surround yourself with those that uplift you and are going the same direction. This might not be popular, but I’ve already told DD that there are a lot of men out there that she can fall in love with. You don’t know who YOU are going to be (let alone your spouse) 5, 10 or 50 years on down the line. Spend your life with someone who’s got the same values and wants the same things out of life, as those are the things that rarely change and bind you to the same path. I married my DH for his sense of humor (and other values); and he still makes me laugh. I enjoy helping people…I’ve learned that this isn’t always the best criteria for picking a friend…I’ve gotten pickier. · Be true to who you are. There’s nothing more important to me than family, but I’ve learned that I need to be the person that I’ve become, not necessarily the role I had growing up. I had an epiphany (or maybe it’s that mid-life crisis thing) heading into the last year or two. These past few years I’ve become more philosophical, more sentimental (my family would say that’s not possible) and more thoughtful. I thought I was becoming self-centered, and selfish. What I’m learning is that I’m just more confident in who I am and what I want. I know my real motivations for things and I’ve learned I can be selfless and still contribute to the world in a way that ultimately gives me pleasure as well. I’ve learned to say ‘no’ (I was always a 'doormat'), not because I’m selfish, but because I’ve learned that I can’t be all things to everyone, no matter how hard I try. I’ve learned that it’s better to say ‘yes’ with conscious purpose. I’ve learned to ‘put myself on the list’. How can others be happy with you if you’re not putting any time into making yourself happy (and healthy). That’s what brought me to the LAP-BAND®.   Happy Birthday Me!  
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12/5/08 Urodynamics

Sounds like a new exercise program…or maybe a high-tech company name?…Oh NO….look closer…Uro…nope, not the currency in Europe…uro as in Urologist!:party: Taking my cue from a fellow blogger (‘cause I can’t just write this out, it will sound too horrific)…Sing it with me, to the tune of “Jingle Bells”…   Went to the Urologist Wires out the gazoo:ohmy: Catheter up the front And up the rear-end too!:eek:   They fill up your big bladder You feel like you’re gonna blow:crying: They ask you to cough, and then they say “Tell me when you’ve got to go.” :wub:   Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right NOW! Im’ gonna pee on your floor and then you’ll need a towel! Oww! :biggrin: Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right NOW! Im’ gonna pee on your floor and then you’ll need a towel!:car:   Yeah… “Oh what fun” (not) I had this morning…Three years ago, after putting up with stress incontinence for years (three kids did me in) I had surgery (only one I’ve ever had) with both a bladder sling and a hysterectomy in hopes of correcting this issue. Although initial results were good, it slowly failed and over the next year I was back to where I started.:biggrin3: Well, it’s taken me awhile to go back to my Dr., but in this year of “getting me healthier” I decided to see what they could do. I met with my Urologist last month…if you remember my “I peed my pants” blog…he said “You’re the first patient I’ve had where this failed…you’ll have to leave by the back door so you don’t scare my other patient!” Ha-ha:laugh:…I would have laughed, but then I might PEE MYSELF!:scared2: Now don’t I feel special! So today I started the testing process again…not much embarrasses me (I know, obviously) but “Urodynamics” testing is a treat…I think you’ve got the picture from my song, but picture standing on a towel and holding a million tubes and wires (coming from all points nether-regions) throughout the testing…cough…bear down:blush:…’nuff said. Next week I get to go through the “scoping” process again…yay me…photos! I’ve had some other issues over the past few years with other failed treatments and I know that’s got me more nervous about the LB process…I’m feeling a little jinxed…like if something can go wrong or fail, it’s going to happen to me!:wub: But I’m an eternal optimist (as Mr.SA says) and my cup is always half-full (or in the case of this morning 1.7 liters…yes, they measure...eeeww)…so here’s to the LB! Bring it on the testing!:thumbup:
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3/5/09 Blonde Moments

I’m losing it…really. My kids call it ‘old-timers’, DH calls it ‘brain-farts’, I call it ‘blonde moments’. Now that I’m back from the Dark Side HERE, I swear I lost brain cells going back from my first venture as a brunette to my natural blonde (OK, maybe a few grays are under there, but I’ll never see them). I was on the computer most of the day yesterday, not here, well I did check in often, but I was on a tracking site for diet/exercise re-entering all my foods and info. ‘Re-entering’ you ask? OH yea. I set up my account for the site at the beginning of January (after asking on LBT which site is best), then my computer broke and I also found out I didn’t need to track anything, and since I didn’t have to lose weight (grr insurance #248 x) I hadn’t been back.   Since my decision to start dieting this week, I went to my bookmarks and went back to the site to start tracking. My account had been deleted so I had to set a new one up, I was guessing they get deleted after a certain period and it had been months. OK, now on to tracking! Quaker Oatmeal for breakfast…hmm, not there…on the one day I used this in January, I thought I’d entered that. Where’s the help button? Can’t find ‘help’, so I’ll go to those message boards…the people there were really helpful setting up my account in January. Can’t find the message boards…and there are all these ads to upgrade your service to the PC or even higher level Premium Version …for a cost $$$. Hmmm…I wonder if you now have to buy into the first level at least to get to the message boards. So I spend the day entering my information, exercises, goals, and had to custom add each food in, which took FOREVER when you’re entering everything on the box nutrition information and dividing out the amount you ate. After day 2 of doing all this extra work, I got SO frustrated with it all that I posted a thread on LBT asking for help from site users talking about the site changes and my questions. I didn’t get any replies.   I was getting ready to start entering info. yesterday morning when I decided to find my original thread on LBT where I’d asked which tracking site is best. My plan was to PM some of the people who had recommended that site and ask them my questions (again, no one was replying to my new ‘help’ thread on LBT).   Dear GAWD, major blonde moment! You got it…for two days I’d been on the wrong site *cheeks burning with embarrassment*. I’d been on Fitday and the site I wanted was MyFitnessPal (which I hadn’t bookmarked). Yep, my account was still there, the message board hadn’t disappeared. I’m losing it.   Click [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xYkiN4-gl8]YouTube - America Still Appreciates A Good Dumb Blond Joke[/ame]
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