Sojourner

My doctors recommended Biotin. I'm not sure it has helped...my hair did go through a time of excessive loss about 4-6 months post op. There is now a lot of new growth which will take a year or so to make a difference. Hair loss is not uncommon post op...don't worry.

Yes, yesterday was a fun time finally meeting cyber personalities in person...we are a great group of women. Jack's comment to me as we returned to the car was you must like everyone for lunch to last 4 hours. He had a good time also...definitely we need to make plans, and hope there will be more members present. Janet, have a wonderful and safe trip! The weather does sound wild along the gulf coast...stay safe! Missed seeing you, but there is always August or November. Michelle...sometimes our bands do not cooperate...hope it's a one time event. Dawn...how are you? Terri, sorry to read you did not have a good day...and hope that tomorrow will be better...enjoy the sunshine at the coast! Diane, thank you again for my angel. You are on the right path with family...as we say in Florida, stand your ground...no pun intended. Going out to our yard this evening...the fireflies are here! Another special memory of my youth...

I had my worst night yet last night... Have to believe that not feeling well after the multiple barium swallows yesterday had something to do with it. Jack said that after returning to bed after taking the dogs out he actually heard my band make some strange noise seconds before I woke up coughing from a sound sleep. Today it has been liquids... Well, let's just say that now I feel like a true blonde. My hair is lighter than I have ever had before...it is summer, and I will have the stylist add more low lights next time. She did an excellent job with the cut, so I will go back. The prices for all the services for spa day are less than in Orlando...but I still miss my regular peeps!

Just a fast hi... Janet, please take us all along with you to the panhandle...we would not you to be bored or lonely at the beach! Seriously though, have a wonderful trip, flying that distance should be smooth. Safe travels to you and your husband! Glad our plans were yesterday...we woke up this morning to heavy rain. Not complaining though, rain is preferred over forest fires. Safe travels Terri...I don't know where the rain is besides here. Diane, hope that the evening went well...thank you Terri and Diane for sharing the picture! I just now got the ones from Jack.'s retirement into a folder. I also hope everyone has a good and safe day!

I got detoured between rooms...lap top will only allow 1 line posts... Janet, I was sad reading about your tears today...we did miss you so much, and with some planning we can and will make another date for the 4 of us, or perhaps more if others are available... Thank you for sharing the verse; very special and appreciated...I hope your spirits are better this evening. I did deliver the hugs you asked me to! Also sad to read of Evan's grandmother...you are correct, she had a long and fully successful life. Those we love remain with us in spirit and in our hearts. Evan was fortunate to have the love of his grandparents...and it made it possible for him to be the man he is today. That is something special to Celebrate, even at this time of loss and sorrow. Terri could not have chosen a better spot for our lunch...and I have to say that the 3 women from our special group are three of the most caring and inspiring individuals one could ever hope to meet. I know I feel blessed to have you in my life! And Janet...thank you for continuing to keep Seth remembered in your prayers. Seth did his best to calm my anxiety...but mothers are programmed to worry. The best tidbit of information is that there has never been an Army pharmacist injured or killed in the line of duty. I asked Seth about the risks of flying via helicopter to the different sites he will supervise, and he said that " he was the guy that the soldiers with the big guns stuffed in the middle of the helicopter and protected". That, and prayers is what I have to tide me over through the next year... It was a very long day...a wonderful one! Diane, enjoy every morsel of your decadent dessert...and don't you dare get stuck on it! Terri, safe travels home. Dawn, thank you again for your caring words... Dee...we missed you, too! Michelle and Nicole, CA girls...I hope all is well with you! Not feeling too well...it's going to be an early night. Wish me luck...tomorrow I let my prospective new stylist touch my hair... Hugs all around...sweet dreams.

Well...as usual...my pictures are still in the camera...but I know Diane and/or Terri will come through with theirs!

A quick hi-bye... Home safely from Ft. Benning, it was an emotionally taxing trip. We were able to visit with Seth and Jay. There were many tears and hugs...and it is difficult to even type this. I have to be in Asheville by 9:30 for imaging study for my band. We will get on the road again by 7:30. Really looking forward to meeting Terri, Diane, and Franc, I hope. Otherwise Jack will feel out of place! Janet...wonderful NSV like Dawn posted. So very happy for you! 'Nite all...big hugs...

I don't know where everyone is...but I hope out doing things they enjoy with others they love... I likely will not "be here" for a couple of days...we leave in the morning for Ft. Benning. It will be a very long day with the drive, and we intend to spend every available moment we can with Seth and Jay. Tuesday, we will be driving back from GA... Then early Wednesday, on the road again to Asheville for imaging study and "THE luncheon date"! Still looking forward to it...safe travels everyone. Thank you all for your humor and emotional support through the months. It does make a difference...

As the above posts have already shared: Having regrets initially post op is normal. You have just had surgery and made a commitment to make significant changes to your lifestyle. Inherently, people do not embrace change. You should have been given comprehensive instructions for your post op recovery by your surgeon's office. You should follow them to the letter. It is way too early for you to be eating even soft foods, and chili is not a soft food. Walking does help immensely to resolve any discomfort with gas post op. It would benefit you to get in contact with your surgeon ASAP and make them aware of your situation.

I have had a complete unfill twice, and still managed to loose weight. The reason is that I maintained my Bandster portions, and did what little I could to exercise. Your current issues seem more to be with your faulty thinking and relationship with food. If you could revise your thinking into seeing eating as self sabotage of the progress you have made to date, and recognizing that telling yourself "NO", you will not eat out of control, it goes a long way to help you through challenging times such as you are experiencing now. It is very easy for us to become our own "self fulfilling prophecy" when the self talk messages are negative in nature. If you dispair and tell yourself you have no self control, you will be correct, because you have given yourself permission to eat to your heart's content. If you tell yourself I will empower myself to maintain my weight, and not allow my faulty thinking with regards to food to rule me, then you will overcome your feelings of helplessness. The band is a highly self empowering tool. You have been quite successful thus far. Don't throw any of that success away because of your mindset. Remember, just because you can eat more than the allowed portion does NOT mean that you should. You can do this...if you want to. Only you can determine your path by your choices.

Everyone has different tastes and preferences. It is not uncommon to have to try several different Protein shake options before discovering one which you can actually like and not just tolerate. That said, GNC has a very liberal return policy for their products. So to me, purchasing from them is really no risk. I use their Wheybolic extreme powder, but only 1.5 scoops per shake, as I am not using it for body building. The 1.5 scoop is 30 g of protein. To vary the taste and add some protein I sometimes add some PB2, though that is likely not a good idea pre op without getting permission from your medical team. Best wishes for a successful journey...

I can not imagine allowing my medical requirements deciding on my residence, unless I was terminally ill. Though for the initial 18 months of being banded, I did reside just over an hour from my surgeon's office, with my husband's retirement we have moved to another state in a more rural area. I am now just over 2 hours away from a physician who can adjust my band. That distance has not been an inconvenience to me. I have had some complications since our move, but was able to continue to sip on liquids. It's all about the priorities we choose in life. I have a lot of living to do, and my band is not the center of my life focus. Other's mileage may and does vary...

I've been able to get in over 10,000 steps for 3 of the past 4 days...another start in the right direction. It's so cool without the oppressive humidity in Florida that walking in Florida this time of year outside would not be possible for me. I slept half of the night propped up on pillows, and the second half lying down. It was my fault, as I could not stay awake for 90 minutes after taking evening medications like I usually do. I hope all will enjoy the rest of Sunday...we are planting azaleas today, and starting on the boxes in my office. BBL

Now that it is nearly afternoon, time for me to put in my .02 cents... No, that was the first bear sighting...hip though to date we have seen many deer, including a very young fawn, a skunk, raccoon, numerous rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels. Definitely feels like living in the national forest. Janet, old whiskey barrels are usually found either in plant nurseries, or near distilleries. They are very rustic, and therefor quite popular around here. Most every street corner on the mountain has one or more. I've always loved them, and they were on my "must have" list. Good luck with the horseback riding...I think it's a fun thing to do. Though now, I'm not sure I could do it with past injuries. My friends from high school showed us their sky diving videos from earlier this year. They jumped from 14,000 ft...and loved the experience. I'm taking it all in as to what is necessary for quilting. A machine with a wide harp, etc. After we have the house more in shape, it will be my turn to return to doing thing I enjoy. Quilting and stained glass are at the top of my list. Terri...happy walking! Liked most of everything on the Bistro menu that I saw...looking forward to Wednesday!

Janet...I hope you had a good day, and that tonight you will get some restorative sleep...I know I am unable to function well without sleep. Being sleep deprived really makes me a b^&*#! Terri...another energizer bunny! Who do you bequeath these many quilts to? I am going to look up the menu for Fig Bistro online so I do not need to waste valuable visit time reading a menu. Dawn, how good to read that you and Ericka have been maintaining communication...sounds like she is having a great time. I also hope Audrey woke at a reasonable time to have some quality time with her mom. We parents need to capitalize on our opportunities in that area... Diane...what a wonderful picture you posted today...three generations! I hope that the time out has helped lower your stress. How have you been feeling? Nicole, you must be doing wonderfully. No news is good news... We managed to find 2 planters today, which in their former life were whiskey kegs. They are really the size of barrels, and there was no mistaking the smell of whiskey in the car after leaving them closed up in the car while we had dinner. I did not mind the smell, Jack thought it was disgusting. I hope everyone has a good night...especially sleep wise.

Michelle, We used a semi-transparent Olympic stain to preserve the wood. It shows the wood grain, but gives it extra color to contrast with the railings. The liners are available at just about any plant nursery. Some conform to the shape of the planter like an above ground swimming pool, others are rigid and are like a plant box inside the planter. The growing season is so short, I don't know if we will find the rigid ones, which is my preference to keep soil off the deck. I hope you ace your finals!

Nausea is also a symptom of severe dehydration, so be certain to continue to sip Water in addition to getting your nutrition at mealtimes. Dehydration caused me to go the ER, so it is nothing to ignore. You would benefit from informing your surgeon or medical team ASAP as to how you are feeling. It may be caused by your meds, but let your physician rule out possible dehydration. In the meantime, get that water and start sipping. Best wishes...

I'm going to have to take it easy today, and follow a schedule and stay with liquids and 1 meal of benign ingredients. Terri, thank you for letting me see a sample of your work. I am a visual learner, so seeing an example will help more than any amount of words. I hope everyone will enjoy a good and stress free day...

Janet...I guess the schedule of the evening becomes more important. We had a "off day" as far as following routines yesterday. It was not a good night for me as a result. I'm in uncharted territory now, and must make my former needs a requirement. I hope you eventually got some restorative sleep.

Sorry for choppy posts...assertive iPad this evening. Don't be jealous Janet...come visit! We miss family and friends...but we have wanted to be here for so many years...this is a dream long in the making to be realized. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. This reality came into focus for us in 2011... Diane...I hope you enjoyed the time with your family...glad that you had an opportunity to take a time out from your stressful days! Michelle...your inner clock needs to be reset. J/k...I wish I could be a morning person. Not going to happen though. Nicole, you have done so well with your transition to banded life...long may it continue! Dawn...what does the weekend hold? Good to read that you finally have space to breathe! Janet...good to read you have discovered a remedy to help you sleep. It was scary for me...throwing up and choking every night. I am so thankful that is hopefully history for me now. Be back tomorrow...hope everyone sleeps well!

Hi all, Spent the afternoon over in Boone visiting with high school friends who are identical twins. They inherited their parents home there, and will be retiring to Boone in the future. Sushi is acting a bit more energetic these days...she remembers where to find the food and water dishes down the hall. She tires quickly, and we do not allow her to climb any stairs. Just to see her wag her tail makes us happy... Janet, will definitely share pictures of the flower boxes after they are stained and planted with flowers. We are also looking for oak barrel halves...but will not plant them until after we get the deck refinished. Before fall, but we have a short growing season here. Terri, what is free style quilting?

Good Morning...I know, here it is before 9 am, and I am reading the forum. There is road construction around here somewhere, and the equipment drove by... Three nights in a row, with the best sleep. I can feel the hunger coming back, however as I went 14 weeks initially without any fills, I can manage. If this is what it takes to prevent losing my band, I will do what i have to. I should know more after my studies this upcoming week. Nothing new to report...Jack did build all of the railing flower boxes I wanted for the deck yesterday. Now I need flowers... I hope everyone has a great day...

Michelle...you are up already? Another Energizer bunny...

WOW Janet...excellent progress!! Very happy for you. Looks like I will be the last one to reach goal, if I ever do get there. But progress is progress... The past couple of evenings Jack and I have gone over to the rec center after dinner and done some walking and a little bit of hiking. We also have gone into the gym, and I tried the elliptical for the first time. A great workout, but my right knee does not like it. I've actually made my 10,000 steps...so there is hope. It's been cool and clear, and the air is heavenly with the flowers and cedar trees. Dawn...good to read your posts...and happy that you are back on track again! All good things in time. Dee, I hope you are well and enjoying the summer. What a difference a year makes...did you have this much energy last year at the start of summer? Diane...I hope the day got better as it went along. On Monday, our eldest son Jay will be joining us at Ft. Benning....it will be good to see him again. He sent Jack the most beautiful cards for Father's Day. It's wonderful that he can now, as a parent to sons himself appreciate the efforts of his own father to be a positive parent. I hope everyone has a good night...sweet dreams... I'm looking forward to Wednesday...

I have the Fitbit One...and love it. It helps me to see when I need to pick up my pace with exercise, and keeps me honest with calories on a daily basis. I have seen the ones you wear as a bracelet, and was not impressed. My son has one, and it looks good on him. I have small bone structure with my extremities, and it was far too cumbersome for me. Also, unless you want to look like you are off to the gym all the time, not the "fashion statement" you might want to choose. Others mileage may vary...