Rebeccalee

Other issues that might be considered are: joint pain, high cholesterol or lipids, high sugar levels. These will show up in the labwork that your doctor does. Good luck with your search. ChampVA paid for part of my banding.

Hello Kelly and Michelle! It's great to see so many familiar faces. :welldone2: And a special hello to PhotoNut. Thanks for coming to welcome us back and the welcome goes right back at ya. Stories...yeah, we got those. I guess a reintroduction is in order....that will have to wait a bit, but I'll get to it later.

Hello Alexandra and Trish and Darcey and NJChick! Good to see ya'all again. April 7th isn't too far away. I'm so glad you are going to have it replaced, Darcey. Alexandra -- you are still holding down the fort. What a woman! My band is doing fine, just haven't had a fill for six months. Going in for one next month and will try again. The dysmotility really acts up when I have any fill, but I really need some help with the ol' appetite. :hungry: Even without the fill, I have been staying in a reasonable range, so I'm thankful for that. How's it going for you? Your picture looks skinnnnnny! And I mean that in a good way. :biggrin1:

You're too funny Vera. :mad: That's close. My DH's mom and sis live near you. My dad was just down there (with us) long enought to have a heart bypass. I forgot about Gross Darcy. :car: I eventually found out that my bike wreck did not damage my throat...just swollen around it for a while. My esophagus problem is dysmotility, the muscles don't squeeze things through efficiently. It is fine without a fill, and I've been unfilled for six months. I'm going to try a fill again next month. I hope I can tolerate it because I have gained a few pounds. I have always had some restriction with the band alone -- lucky for me. How are you doing?

Late...but heartfelt...Happy Birthday!

Thanks, Vines. Good to see you. Weren't you the official butt-kicker? Well, guess what? Things haven't changed, still need a boot once in a while.

That's my kinda woman, Pat! Cross them legs and give us a hug! Glad to see you. :mad:

Hi Kelley. I mean, Madam Secretary. What's that? :mad: I like it. How are you doing?

Nope, Paula, funny as the timing is....I had no idea about any of the activity on the board until I came back to post on Darcy's welcome back thread. (She told me she had posted.) I haven't read it in a long, long time....haven't logged on since Blossom's accident back in March. (I can't believe it's been a year! I sure miss her.) I guess it is just time ....

All I have for you is commiseration.... I lost most of my weight in the first six months, so it has been a year since that. I have a major turkey neck, with 3 or 4 bands running down it, not just one. It has not tightened in a year. I suppose you have to work on it somehow. I don't like it, but it is better than a fat face. That's all I've got. Hope you find some good advice.

It's good to see you, Paula. How are you doing? (Hope that fainting spell didn't hurt too much! :biggrin1: )

Hi Kathy! (The Best Me is Kathy, right?) How strange that you posted my name and I ended up back here. I really do believe there is power in thought...more than we will ever know. Spooky! I haven't even read any posts here in a long time...and didn't know you had posted that until I came back on to see Darcy. That just makes me happy that we came back right now. By the way...still wear the leather jacket (heading out on a moto trip Friday) but the long hair? Sigh... It will grow back, really it will. This journey has affected the hair, but not forever. (Where's that hair-loss post? LOL) Good to see you again!

Aww...shucks! Thanks, Betty. I'm glad to see old friends here again. And one's I've kept in touch with, too. Too bad I erased most of my old posts. Oops! Sorry about that. (That's my official apology....ahem...now on we go!) RebeccaLee

Hi Vera! I loved the picture of your family...you guys are so cute! Glad to see you guys again.

Well, I guess it's about time. Someone said "Go to your room!" and you forgot to come out! LOL Welcome back, Darcy. I've been waiting for you. Can't post here without you. Hugs!! RebeccaLee

My heart goes out to all of Blossom's family, especially her beloved husband, Phillip. It is so hard to let go of someone so young and vital. Blossom is a beautiful and gentle spirit who will be missed by many. She will live on through all the lives she touched with her kindness and caring. She is a shining light for those left behind. In deepest sympathy, Becky

Many of us are trying so hard to be polite on this board that the messages here seem very vague. I would hate for some of them to be misconstrued. I have been told that they have been misunderstood. This is what I want to say for clarity on my part. Marie was attacked in public posts on this board. Many of those posts are gone now, which is good. Marie defended herself and apologized and tried to return to her quiet shadows. She was continually harassed after that. Some of that was done by people using false identities. Lisa/DeLarla sent private messages to people attacking Marie. Penni was very involved with Lisa, but denies any wrong-doing. I disagree. Marie has kept to herself as far as I know. Many others have stirred things up with Lisa. There....that is the end of my "death-warrant". I have had too many peope asking me who and what and have not wanted to say these things. But I fear that people are either getting the wrong impression from vague posts or are taking advantage of the vagueness. I consider myself a bystander who could no longer stand the injustice done to some people on the board, especially when some of my dear cyber-friends left in sadness and fear. Sometimes I feel like I should have left too. I am sorry for anyone I have hurt. I am sorry that people were hurt by others. I have been hurt by all this too. I like all the people involved in this chaos. It is a sad, sad time for me.

Kathy, I am sorry if you feel slighted or like you have been placed in a poor light. If it makes you feel any better, I have just not been posting to anyone else except a couple people I have known very personally for months. That's why I have stuck my neck out here publicly. I really don't know who to trust and have even been warned to "watch what I post." For what it's worth -- go back and check people's posts. Those who reply with kindness and sincerity -- and very personal details of their lives!! -- are probably just what they seem. You are welcome in my little world of support any time.

I have talked to many people who used to come here who feel like fools when they find out they are talking to people who have been made up -- fictitious characters. They don't want to ruin the boards for new people and people who don't know or care, so they just go away or pretend it doesn't exist. How can it possibly be fixed when one of the moderators is being railroaded and one is making up new identities with the rest of the people who have been posting rude things. It has turned my world upside down -- as far as lapband support. There are so many lies that I get sick to my stomach coming here. As one of my dear friends who really left said, "I feel like a friend has died." It is no wonder that a person who was kicked off other boards has caused trouble here. I know this is my death-warrant here on this board. And I crying and shaking as I write this. A heartfelt thank you to ALL of you wonderful people. I don't blame any of you for not being brave enough to post. I'm not either, but I will leave with my integrity if I must go. Hugs to all who care.

I would do everything possible to decrease that mucous. I have allergies too and they are a real pain. Is this a seasonal cycle for you? If it is, how long does it usually last this time of year? I'd try lots of tea with lemon and lots of Water and a new allergy medication. Then, go with the tiny unfill if you have to. Congratulations on your great weight loss, too. And remember, you have room to gain back a few pounds if you have to have an unfill. It will come off later. You know how to do it.

Ryan, I hope the new catheter will bring the relief Patty needs. Be sure you take care of yourself and rest the best you can. Be careful traveling. We miss you here and will welcome you back when this ordeal is over.

I hate to post this "before" picture, but .... here's Wiley, the ornery dog.

These dogs are so cute! I love dogs and would love to have lots of them. Unfortunately, I got my spotted monster from the pound at one and a half and he's just like the dog Michelle's talking about. He has come a long way, but is still very independent and a tad unpredictable. He doesn't like to be disciplined. He also goes to bed without us if we stay up too late. It's a real change from my golden retriever, who always wanted to please us. And then there's our half-wild cat. :rolleyes I'll post pics as soon as I find them.

Not a cat or dog -- and not mine -- but funny anyway.

That's a nice picture. Is there a big one somewhere? Lisa looks like a teeny-bopper, a very pretty one. Kelly, I just love those tickers. I can actually SEE how close to goal you are! You go, Girl!