TerriDoodle

Hi girls, Man, things at work have been insane yesterday and today. This damn hurricane is making my life HELL. Had to reschedule a field trip (hotels, cars, restaurants, air) that I planned for 15 geologists flying from all around the country to CO/UT...what a PITA. I have so much work stacked up on my desk it's just insane. Hurricane is threatening mom's memorial service and I have cousins flying in from CO and FL saying they'll come whether it's hell or high water....which makes me real nervous! I guess we'll have to decide by Wed. noon whether or not to reschedule it. :thumbup: I'd hate to do that. ***Best Chick Flick of All Time*** is THE NOTEBOOK!! Hello!?!

Hurricane Ike is heading straight for us here in Houston.....should make landfall about 2 hours before Mom's memorial service. :thumbup: :cry_smile: :blushing: Laura - I recommend www.quitnet.com -- there are lots of resources for motivational reading and a message board. I wish I could remember the online book I found so useful....but it's there too. Go browse. I'll look around on my PC, too...see if I find something.

If you haven't sent your $60 deposit for the Alabama trip, please do so soon? kthx!

Hi everyone. Just want to introduce myself. I'm a big fan of message boards from the days when I was low-carbing...when low carbing wasn't even cool yet! Anyway, I got lots of support and great ideas there so here I am looking for a new support group! I am on the schedule for April 4th so in the meantime I'll be lurking around getting lots of questions answered, I'm sure. Thanks in advance to all of you for putting in the time, and especially to the moderators!! I am self-paying and lucky enough to live in Houston where there is one of the finest bariatric surgeons in the country only few miles from my home! Dr. Spivak seems to be quite wonderful and I'm looking forward to working with him and his staff through this experience. I have 100% confidence in his ability and that is a huge load off my mind. Anyone out there who is a patient of his, I''d love to hear from you. I "only" have 65 lbs to lose and realize this presents its own special set of challenges, so I'd be glad to hear from all of you low BMI'ers too! I'll be seein' ya'll around!

Good morning everyone - Hi Gina! Good to see you again! You're in good company here....we all seem to be having issues of one kind or another. Maybe coming back here on a regular basis will help in some way. I agree that it sounds like you are too tight. I was in the same spot but instead of Carnation Instant Breakfast I was resorting to chocolate shakes!!! Yikes!! Got an unfill and can at least eat healthy foods again...I recommend it. Lunasa - You have been struggling with this for some time now! Get your butt to the doctor for an unfill NOW. The only reason I can think of that it might be getting tighter is that you are in a loop of irritating it when you try to eat something "real". A liquid diet for 2-3 days, then nothing but mushies 'til you get to the doctor is all I can recommend. I'm sorry you're having these problems, dear! (((Jenn))) Yep, that's a subject that's dear to my heart as well. I'll send you a check for your walk and am happy to do so. Thank you for supporting such a worthy cause.

Good Morning Vi's (or Bi's as the case may be) -- I can't really tell you what I've been doing, nothing very productive I suppose. I took Evan to buy a suit on Thursday and he's sooooo thin it was hard to find his size! Ended up spending way too much but it's for my mom, so wth. He'll look wonderful. He sure is maturing at a rapid pace now. I think I told ya'll that the memorial service is next Saturday, the 13th, and it's been nice to have this extra time to plan things. DS and I are getting along fine....I just let her have her way when push comes to shove but that hasn't happened often. Today I have to draft a eulogy and that is proving difficult. I'm not feeling confident that I can capsulize her life into a few paragraphs. So much of who she was was reflected in simple gestures -- the way she greeted someone at the door, or the way she threw her head back when she laughed, or the fact that she always looked her best. Just a bunch of little things that add up to one great lady. Anyway....that is my task for today. Send your energy this way, please! :-) If you'll indulge me again, I'd like to post a pic of the necklace I made to wear to the service. I'm quite proud of it -- produced it while going thru pretty intense grief -- but asked Mom to help me. She's always here with me ...I can really feel her. It's nice. Thank you for all the wonderful cards, ladies. They are so comforting. I love you all so much!! The flowers just keep getting prettier every day, I swear. XXXOOO (((hugs)))

Here are my BEAUTIFUL flowers (Thank You again!) and the rosary.... which is hard to photograph, the subtle shimmer of the crystal is hard to capture.

Michelle - you made me spew coffee out my nose and it sure did feel good to laugh!! LOL Thank you!! LOL!!!

Dear Violet Sisters- Your gift of flowers really touched my heart today more than you can know. They are just beautiful and the smell is filling the house. You are all so sweet and loving and I appreciate each of you very much. Thank you!!! Pamela - I finished the rosary today and I have to say it really is beautiful. I'll photograph it tomorrow, along with my flowers!

Good Morning Girls, Every day gets a little better. I'll be very grateful when the memories of my *real* mom crowd out the bad memories of those last 24 hours. We went to the funeral home yesterday, signed papers, made arrangements for the cremation and memorial service, etc. The service won't be until Sept. 13th which is a relief. I've got lots of time to just take it easy and grieve in my own way without having to rush around getting things ready. I have no idea how people plan a funeral in 3-4 days....I guess with lots of help. I'm so glad we're doing it this way. Anyway, we go today to the cemetery. Mom wanted her ashes encrypted so we have to pick out a spot. The cemetery is in a beautiful part of the city with lots of trees and very near my office. I'm so glad about that. Believe it or not (and you will) I've found so much peace in my beading. I started on a rosary yesterday that will be draped around her urn and a necklace for me to wear to the memorial service. They're both shaping up very nicely and it's great to just get lost in it. The crystal for the rosary is Czech....famous for their glass and crystal....and my mother was Czech. Nice, eh? Kat - Thanks so much for all your kind words. You're such a sweetie. I'm glad to hear your band seems to be better, but couldn't you at leas *call* your doctor?? Jeez, you must weigh 150 by now. Michelle, every time I come in here to check posts real quick my attention seems to be drawn to your cat poop update. Odd. I may just have to purposely skip your posts for awhile. Let me know when it's safe again! Jenn - You go girl. Did you erase Kev's number from your cell phone yet? tee hee. Well, a girl can hope. Pamela - It's so nice to hear that you are enjoying your school year so much. 6th grade does sound like a nice place to be. Hannah has started high school this year and so far she says she *hates* it. <sigh> I dunno what's going on with her. Much more of this and I'll be hauling her butt to a psychiatrist for a work-up too....just to be safe. I don't want to lose 2 years like we did with Evan. TracyK - Did you end up going to Fredricksburg or not? HOw was it? I need more coffee....and a shower....I'll check back later on. Love you girls. Have a good day.

Hi everyone - It's been a strange day. My head is in a million places at once but at the same time feeling kind of blank, or maybe numb. I'm doing alright though...just kind of break down when someone calls and talk about what a special lady she was....because she was. I think I'll be missing her for a long time to come. I haven't caught up on posts or what's going on with all of you, just hope you're all doing well. Thanks again for your kind thoughts, support and prayers. They are very much appreciated. XOXO.

Hi all -- Mom passed away earlier this afternoon. She didn't suffer and went peacefully and most importantly I got to be with her. My sister had just left to get 2 hrs of sleep because she had been stable for some time and we were looking at another all-nighter. She left and about 15 minutes later Mom was gone. Anyway, I'm exhausted and spending a quiet evening at home with my family. Just wanted to thank you all for your love, support and prayers.

I am very sensitive to small fills also....but not like you are! Even 0.1 cc can make a difference in the way my 4cc band behaves! So, yes, it sounds like you just got too much of a fill at one time. I assume you have a 10 or 14cc band?

No, it's too early to have some removed! Ok, this is what's happened: - You should stay on liquids for a day or so, then move to mushies for another day or so before eating something solid like a Protein bar! I can't believe your doctor didn't give you instructions!!:biggrin: - You've now irritated your stoma so you have a double whammy with a new fill + irritation - Scrambled eggs give LOTS of people trouble. Actually eggs in any form give lots of people trouble. Don't ask me why, they just do. So now you've irritated your irritated stoma again! LOL - So, just start from scratch....go to liquids ONLY for at least 24 hours. Creamy Soups are ok, smoothies, Protein shakes, things like that. Then move to SMALL bites of mushies and eat very slowly. At the first sign of pain, slow down or go back to liquids for another 24 hours. - After you've managed mushies alright, then proceed to solids VERY carefully....especially things like meat and raw veggies....chew chew chew then chew some more. You'll be okay. Let me know how you're doing!

Kat's probably right but the other thing it might be is an esophageal spasm...I've had those...and they are very painful. The pain even radiates all thru the chest and into the throat, so this may or may not be what you are describing. I found that staying away from spicy/greasy foods and watching portions, as Kat suggested, helped a lot! For immediate relief I tried my best to get quiet, relax with some deep breathing and visualization. You definitely should call your doctor anyway as he can probably pinpoint the problem easily. Hope you feel better soon!

When I get a fill it seems to take up to 2 weeks to feel the real effect of it. Many people report the same thing. So continue to take it easy and don't be surprised if a week down the road you're suddenly feeling it in a big way!

Hi Popeye!! Welcome!! It does look like you've done great so far!! Doesn't it feel wonderful to finally be in that happy place? :-)

Well, no...you sound pretty normal except that eating 4oz twice a day doesn't sound like enough nourishment?! I'd suggest tracking your food intake on Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate for awhile to check your calories. I think if you spend some time here at LBT and just read thru all the many forums you'll get answers to all your questions as you read about the experiences of others. So, grab some coffee and get comfy...and read, read read!!

Hey!? You're a Texans fan living in California!? I'm in Houston...GO Texans! I was/am a low BMI patient....weighed 215 at surgery and still thing this is the best thing I ever did for my weight problem. I wish it had been available to me 20 years ago! Even though I am struggling with these last 20-30 pounds I take relief in knowing that I don't weigh 250+ which I surely would have by now if I had not had the surgery. Best of luck on your journey!!

G'morning Violets! Michelle - do you have a lot of family in your area? Are you originally from there? I was thinking you got transplanted there for some reason.... Tracy - Happy Trails! Enjoy your weekend away. Hope to see you back on Tuesday! I don't have any special plans this weekend. I'm gonna try to stock up my jewelry store a little bit with just some simple things I can put together quick. So I'll be popping in often, I'm sure! See ya'll later! Kisses!

LOL....I thought it was a THERMOSTAT!! ROFL!! I"m like, how in the world can it be 199 degrees in her house??? LOL! Denise...major, major congratulations to you! That is just awesome!

That's a wonderful plan, Tracy!! Have fun in Fredricksburg!!! Go take Macy to climb Enchanted Rock....that's really cool! But do it first thing in the morning, or else it gets too hot. It's so beautiful up there and is the very definition of Texas Hill country....It's where I want my ashes spread!

Hey old lady, I wasn't talking to PamELa!!! LOL!! Thank goodness you got your eyes examined! Kat - Ok, so now I am freaked out, too. It just can't be!!! CRAP!! Do you think you can manage until Tues??

Man, Laura....seems like one fire after another over there!! They should put you in charge. You'd get that place straightened out!!

I took the meds pretty steadily for about 3-4 days then tapered off and tried to resist. The next 4-5 days I maybe took a dose in the evening or before bed. That port pain can last for 3 weeks! But it does get a lot better after day 7-10. Good luck to you!!!