DynamoMini

Spot - I don't know what to say, except call and let the office know. For yourself, it is better to know than wonder. You could get a promisary note from the home refinance people to show the committment will be forthcoming. You sure don't need to worry so much. :angel:I hope that advice helps. Good luck with everything! About a get together - I liked the idea of trying to gather before or after a meeting. i also am pretty flexible as I live in town. Do you have a name for your band? i read on one of the web sites that people name their bands. I didn't really understand it until I thought about my band being like a hug around my stomach and I really have warm feelings towards it. So have you named yours? Might be fun to find out.:heh: Hugs and good luck to any of you to yet be banded. I am going to the May meeting. I am committed. Who else will be there? :clap2: Goodnight :notagree Michelle

Have any of you felt that your band around your stomach is like a hug? I have this wonderful feeling of warmth when i think of my band. Like a little extra love from within hugging me and loving me like I've never been loved before. I really am not on drugs you guys! Smiling here in the snow of Colorado, Michelle

Tracy - happy surgery and quick healing! You have a great attitude and that will take you far. Smiles, Michelle

Hi Angie38 - I am feeling really good these days. My PostOp is Thursday at 9:30. I had scrambled eggs with some cheese. I just remember to eat slowly and space out the drinking throughout the day. I even had some ground beef, yes I chewed the poop out of it. I don't have the pains described by lots of people here. I iced at least three times a day post op and I think that took the swelling down. I am currently enjoying a protein shake mixed with SF Cheesecake pudding. Yum! I eat that between bits. I also am doing the grazing thing. I am so happy for you. Dr. K is really a great surgeon. Hugs, Michelle

Margi - I second what BJean told you, it is ridiculous that you are forced to drink something repugnant. I think there should be alternatives. I found EAS powder that I can mix with fruit, milk or soy. You can also add some SF pudding for taste. It just can't be that bad. I thought the Isopure was putrid. You'll find your way.

Kat - I want to be where you are in a year from now. You must feel great having lost 87 pounds. What type of food plan have you followed? Do you exercise? I am still worried I will screw this up. I love my band, being only one week out of surgery, but I am not confident that I won't sabotage myself somehow. I think the past is haunting me. Anyway any advice would be welcome! Tracy - I think you'll be fine. I could have sat somewhere for my job after four days. I was on liquid Tylenol, and probably couldn't have driven too, but I didn't because I didn't have to. Take is easy, be a princess, but ya gotta pay the workers. I hear ya. Hugs to all of you out there. Jennifur - I bet between the mice and the dumb-ass boyfriend you have hardly had time to breathe. I always think things happen for a reason, when you've lived as long as I have it seems to be true. So go with the flow - good stuff is coming your way, I know it! Michelle

I think a summer get together would be great. Would weekend, evening or daytime work best for everyone? I am going to the May meeting at Dr. K's office. Perhaps we can plan there. I am doing well, but need to get a meal plan together. Machele - thanks for the protein info. I have invested in some EAS protein powder that I like in soy or skim milk. Recently I added SF pudding to the mix and it was good. Then I am getting between 35 - 40 grams of protein just in the shake. I don't think I can get two of them down a day tho.

:clap2: Well, it's been a week. Yes, I have little twinges. The Tylenol seems to help, walking seems to help, little sips of water seems to help. I really don't know how I'm supposed to feel so I think things are ok. I am able to drink coffee again, so I am happy. I seem to burp more than I used to, Oh well. Lunasa - I loved your post, however, don't be so hard on yourself. It is empowering to realize we can do something about our weight, but usually there are mitigating experiences that have made it feel more painful to control our weight than eat for comfort. That is our headwork. Accepting who I am and moving on from here is the big change for me. Finally seeing myself in the mirror, as I really appear, not some fantasy of me, I am so grateful for the vision. Coming from a place of love instead of hate, has been tremendous growth for me. I continually have to exorcise thought patterns of old me, "why am I not losing faster?" "one more bite won't hurt."... lots of patterns to break up, digest, and change. I love you all and hope this thread will go for at least a year. I'll get brave and post a picture soon. Hugs to you April Bloomers - Michelle

:clap2: Collector - I think a summer get together would be really great. We can pick a central spot, a park, a restaurant, :hungry: whatever. Then get your vote in for daytime or night time, weekend, etc. Any great ideas? I think the more we support each other the more successful we'll be. Even if it is two of us or many it doesn't matter. What do people think? :heh: I've been banded one week now - I love my band, so far. I can take my medication without problems, and find a little bit of mushie fills me up for a while. Thanks Collector for getting the get-together idea. I'll be there. Michelle

Angie - I am on mushies too. I wonder if it is too quick. But Dr. K. said use common sense. He is good. So at least with mushies I am more satisfied. How about you? Yesterday I had half a plate of refried beans, today some Progresso chicken noodle soup blended with extra chicken (about 3/4 cup). Very filling. Smiles.

BJean - My doc didn't want me on a liquid diet preop, so no, I didn't do the two week preOp clear liquids or the two week postop liquids. I don't know, but Dr. Kirshenbaum wanted me to do high protein, low carb, preOp and now clears to mushies to food, with protein drinks inbetween by week 2 or as quickly as I felt ok with. I am surprised, comparing myself to others here. I am worried I might be eating too much, but I am losing anyway. So who knows. I have a postOp appt on Wednesday. so I will ask again, to make sure I am doing it right.

Gosh - I think I confused everyone! on 4/16 Yes I was banded 6 days ago. Wow! I am healing well. Some pain, but using the Tylenol for it. I ice three times per day too. I have started light mushies, just so I can get some protein in. I also don't want to start a deprevation thing going. My weight loss is pretty good, I plan on two years to lose the extra 100 pounds I'm carrying around. Hugs to all of you kindred agers, Michelle

Hi all, Yes, a beautiful Sunday in sunny Colorado. I am six days out, starting on mushies and delighted with my weight loss. I do have these twinges and pulling sensations too. I think the ice pack really helps with this. I am able to hydrate enough, but wasn't at first. It is a weird feeling to get this golfball feeling in your throat because you gulped water too quickly. I have tried to take it slow and easy. I am motivating to go for a walk. I have been able to sleep on my side or stomach without problem. My port is centerally located. I am looking for high protein low sugar mushie ideas if any of you have them. I tried some refried beans yesterday at a Mexican restaurant and was surprised how good they tasted and digested. Best wishes to you all!

SunnySea - So glad you are back in the "Pink." I am finding the friend thing very interesting. Some old friends are kind of pulling back, others are right in there being supportive. I think people take surgery differently, I just know how I want to be for them now. Hugs to you. Woofay - I'm so glad your guts didn't fall out. I will be 11 days out when I see Dr. K. I kind of feel like things are still really swollen. Do you? I put ice on my incisions a couple of times a day. Hugs to you too! To all of you Dr. K patients, a question. How much protein are you really getting in during the first to second week after surgery? Are you able to take vitamins yet?

Today I tried my EAS smoothie with a banana, 1/2 soymilk,1/2 water, 2 scoops of EAS protein powder. It took three sessions to finish, but the taste is good and it is filling. I go with the soymilk because i am somewhat lactose intolerant. At least I got 27 grams of protein, plus the soy protein. I can see that getting enough protein will be the issue. I appreciate all the ideas here. I like the April Bloomers.

Well all you oldies but goodies out there - i did it! Yep ! I am banded! I am doing very well. It is a lot to go under anesthesia, but wonderful that I am no longer hungery every minute and am welcoming new lifestyle changes. This isn't the easy way out, but the only way for me to change. I am now on mushies, but going slowly. I wish everyone luck and good health.

Through thick and thin, the lapband process has been amazing because of the wonderful people here at LBT. I agree that Dr. K's staff is wonderful and the results are wonderful too. SunnySea -I was distraught to read about your difficulties and I wish you lived near here so you could have easy access to Dr. K's office. Best wishes, that other Dr. is a turd! To the other bandsters from last week and this week - hey! How are you doing? I am coming through pretty well. Walking around the block, beginning mushies today, but very slowly. Dr. K says to use a common sense attitude about everything and I have been trying to listen to my body. I had a little of the golf ball sensation by gulping to quickly, it is a great reminder, "No.. No.. No" I also have had a little of the mouth foaming thing, yucky! But none of that is more painful than being obese. Thanks God for banding. I didn't know how to work or fight any harder my weight kept kicking me back to where I was or more. So here we are, dedicated to our health and well being. It is great to have a tool like a band on our side. Bless you all and best wishes for everyone's good healing, Michelle

It takes almost a day to read all the postings here! Subjects from golf balls to sex have been covered. From mothers to starvation. I am overwhelmed by the wonderful, eclectic style of this strand. Go April! Did anyone come up with a name yet? I thought about the April Fools, but some might be offended. I am four days out, feel pretty good and have experienced most of what has been described. The dizziness I believe is from lack of hydration or protein. Retraining eating habits is really hard work, but I am finding that with my body reminding me (sometimes not so gently) I'll get there. Yeah bands, what would we do without them? Hugs and good wishes to all you April Bandsters, Michelle

Angie38 - I think you may have met SunnySea. She was coming into Denver for a fill and I think she's from Wisconsin. Sorry, ahead of time if I'm wrong. To all of you out there - What a difference a day makes! I feel energetic even today. It is gorgeous here and a friend is coming over to walk me around the block. I have been off all narcotic pain killers since the first day. I drank some Isopure yesterday and had the worst trots. Oh well, lots of gas was released too. (hee hee) I think my body is happier with broth, jello, etc. Altho' I was able to down a little cup of applesauce, so I could take my pills. Some of which I don't have to crush. I am seeing Dr. K for a follow up next Thursday. I am so excited to be coming out of the zombie stage to living again. Hugs to all of you. I find it amazing the recuperative powers that vary between us. I ended up sitting at Crown Point SC an extra hour and a half because I couldn't shake the anesthesia. I was so out of it, I don't even remember seeing anyone else in recovery. Has anyone else responded to the Isopure that way? Best wishes to all. I had Dr K do a sample of the bandage during my preOp. That way I knew I wasn't allergic. So if you haven't had the surgery, you might want to try it out first. I have been allergic to lots of other tapes.

Misty and lapDancer = Yeah! Misty I got my first kind of foamy feedback today. Weird, just lost of white foam. I guess I overdid the Liquids, if you can imagine. Collector - thanks, I though perhaps they inserted some rocks or something to have that kind of weight gain when I was on a very healthy preop diet was disconcerting. I think I will stay off the scale until it's been a week. Other than the foamy stuff, I am beginning to feel my energy again. Yeah! Walked halfway down and up the block. It felt good. I just don't know how much is too much too soon. I am sooooo comitted to this losing process. Off and running. I have a Post Op appointment next Thursday at 10am. Hugs and blessings to you all; without you I wouldn't be here.

Ps - Best wishes to all of you who are having surgery this week. It isn't a walk in the park, but you can do it. We will all be happy with the results.

Well this won't be a long note, but thanks for the kind wishes on my surgery. It went smoothly and now I am waiting for the cotton mounth to go away. They must of really put me under. The suppositories for nausea ended up being a good idea for me. I used 3 of them yesterday. Now today everything seems to be working. I am just a little sore. I made the mistake getting on the scale. I was up 10 pounds, but I don't believe that. How can you gain weight and not even eat much of anything? Oh well, I am happily banded and can't wait to fully recover and see what this band can do for me. Michelle

:update: I am officially banded! Yesterday I was kind outta here, because of residuol anesthesia, but I am only on Tylenol and antibiotics. So, I even ventured upstairs to my bed for a good night's sleep. It was wonderful i also made a mistake and got on a scale. I had gained 11 pounds from right before the surgery. Whew ! That seems like an excessive amount of water weight. But I have been bouyed to know that many of you have had the same experience. Just wanted to let you know I am alive and kicking.

Hi Everyone, Well, today's the day for LapDancer and me. I feel strong, healthy and ready. I talked with the anethesiologist last night. He sounded kind of harried and young; dogs barking in the background and he kept telling them to be quiet; but he got all the vital information and I think he'll do a good job. We know Dr. K will do his best. I just want to not be sick and I know I've done everything I can to accomplish that. I feel ready. I'll post when I am back on the computer. Good luck LapDancer. Maybe I'll see you, I am at 9 am. OKAY! LET'S GET BANDED!

Thanks for all the support. I'll be heading to the surgical center in 45 minutes. I am excited and think this is the best idea ever. Kat817 - I've met people like that and they won't keep their weight off, because they haven't done the headwork that it takes. She is still self-centered and mean-spirited and obviously hasn't resolved how she got the weight on in the first place. As if this was a contest. OMG I feel good, strong, healthy, and ready to be banded!