New Hope

Leatha, did you get any black eyes this time? I know health care is trying to cut corners, but this is getting ridiculous.

Yes, Janie, my husband has inherited Polycystic Kidney Disease. His Dad died from it and his brother also rec'd a transplant. (This is the same disease that Erma Bombeck -humorist- died from.) After being on dialysis 18 months, heart attack, and open heart surgery, his health finally leveled out enough that I could donate a kidney to him (5 1/2 yrs. ago). (A non-related match is 1 in 30,000!!) He's doing fantastic now! He's my biking partner and very best friend. He was so near death for so long that we really appreciate his second chance. Now, with the band and my new improved health, we're really able to get out and enjoy life.

Day Six (Week 2): Breakfast - (very late) tuna salad Lunch - bbq brisket w/sauce Dinner - chicken fried steak (didn't eat too much batter), baked potato (with Everything on it!) -- ate too much Water - good Exercise - 2 miles bicycling Good Deed - Gave other son $30

I rode in a 25 mile noncompetitive bike charity ride this morning! This ride was tougher than the first one, because it was sunny and a lot hotter outside. I did take advantage of the 2 rest stops along the way. Again, I didn't lead the pack, but didn't bring up the tail either -- just in the middle, blending in. This was a beautiful ride - along winding country roads with huge oak treetops meeting over the road. It looked like a post card. There were cows grazing in pastures, with flowers blooming all aroung them. There were horses with their young colts playing. We rode beside a beautiful flowing river and saw blue heron fishing for their Breakfast. My husband and my son rode with me. What a treat to be able to get out there and LIVE with my family! My son gave me a big "thumbs up" when I finished. That means more to me than any ribbon or medal! Please try out several different things until you find something that you really enjoy. I've found biking fun and it's taking me to some wonderful, interesting places.

What lucky granddaughters and grandsons! Beautiful work!

Well, Ryan, sounds like you're going to be a very busy fellow the next few weeks. Believe it or not, that time will be here before you know it. I know that you'll do fantastic! I'm so happy for you!

Janie, what a pleasant surprise! You rock, girl!

Blossom, they all have different rules and regulations. I'm sure he'll let you know when the time gets closer. There's usually routine blood work, ekg, etc. Depending on a person's health history, there may be more extensive tests required.

Alex, hope you're unwinding and enjoying walks along the beach right now!

Yea, Leatha:banana :banana I am so happy for you! You should immediately start feeling better, getting all of those horrible problems fixed and/or removed. Take care of yourself and don't overdo. I hope your Mom and Sis spoil you rotten! It really pays in more ways than one to have an experienced abdominal laproscopic surgeon. When I was banded, my surgeon removed bad gallbladder (full of multiple stones), removed several abdominal adhesions (earlier open-method kidney donation and hysterectomy surgeries), found and removed a tumor off my esophagus, and banded me. Those adhesions had bothered me for years. It was almost immediate relief following this surgery. It's amazing what they can now do laproscopically! That's one of the reasons that I've been leary to do abdominal exercises (but do I ever need them!). I'm so scared of having that hurting again. An older friend we know had her gall bladder removed at the same time (different dr.) They didn't close off the duct completely before they removed the gall bladder. Those toxins got into her system. She just now went to a Rehab. Hospital. She was in ICU for weeks. She just now went to a Rehab. Hospital. It's uncertain when she'll be able to come home. I know that you'll continue to improve daily. And you got a fill!

I found the Mylican Baby Gas Drops worked great. Walmart has a generic for them (about $3). Yes, walk. Walk around the a/c house as much as you can. You don't have to work up a sweat. But the movement will help big-time with the gas and pain. You are a new bandster. It will get better, day by day! Best of luck to you!

Lynsey, also be sure your meat is very moist. I slimed (the first time) on some fried chicken. I know now that I should have used some type of dipping sauce. I had chewed it so well that it looked like it had been through the blender. Dry meat (even though well chewed) just compacts in there until you have a pb. I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

Wow, Kelly, that's pretty scary! You can lose that last few pounds without risking your life! I'm so glad that you got this fixed! Please take care and have a nice, peaceful weekend.

Teresa, don't you think yours are probably stress-related? Stress can cause a lot of health problems. Hope this weekend helps you relax! Cateringqueen, I had headaches frequently and pretty bad the first few weeks after I was banded also. I contributed it to caffiene withdrawal and just not eating. After I got on solids, it seemed to level out. Have you tried a cup of hot (caffiene free)tea w/ honey and lemon? That is pretty much my first cure for everything --sleeplessness, head congestion, tummy ache, head ache. Hope they get better very soon!

Amy, a nuclear stress test is just a regular stress test where they hook up monitors to you and you walk a treadmill. They will gradually increase the speed and the incline. They want you to do it as long as you possibly can so they can get a good reading on your heart. The nuclear stress test means they will inject a radio-isotope into your inner arm (where they usually draw blood). They do the injection before the actual test. You wait a specified time for it to travel through your body. Then they hook you up to the monitors and do the treadmill. The radio-isotopes has absolutely no side-effects. It passes safely out of your body. Be sure you eat a good, balanced breakfast before the test. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes - a top that buttons down the front so they can hook up the monitors. It's really a good test to have on your records for future monitoring of your heart health. You'll probably be a little tired when you get through. You'll do fine!

Day Five (Week 2): Breakfast - small protein drink, omelet Lunch - bbq brisket, sausage links Dinner - tuna salad, fat-free choc. pudding Water - not good Exercise - 10 miles bicycling, really cleaned out two closets Good Deed - Donated tons of clothes. Somebody is getting some nice stuff! Encouragement needed, spent evening at ER vet, cat had to have damaged eye surgically removed from major cat fight. Cost $500. Good news: He's home. He'll live and will need to adapt to being an inside cat now.

Heather, you can also check if a Dr. has a website. That gave me a lot of info.- medical training, professional experience, surgical experience, etc. Good luck!

Maybe that's why they say don't eat ANYTHING at least 2 hours before a fill!

Heather, we're certainly not experts! Just goofy, every day overweight people that have gotten a chance to live healthier and happier. I don't think the band will bother you any physically. I can feel the port when I stand up and rub it, but other than that, I'm not even aware of it. I like to think of it as my little lifeline - helping me live better and longer. I guess it's a little like someone having a hip or knee replacement. That's a foreign object but the good of it outweighs that. My husband had open heart surgery a few years ago. In his x-ray, you can see the metal wire that they laced his rib cage back together with. It will always be there, and was part of his healing process.

Heather, best of luck to you on your journey! Research, research, research. The more info. you can get the better. Do you have any co-morbidities (health problems- like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.)? Are you going thorough your health ins. or out of the country? Have you decided on a particular dr. yet? How about follow-up care? There's a lot of homework for you to do - before you are banded. Remember, we're not Drs. or in the medical field, just Banded patients sharing (sometimes too much) our experiences. Please keep us posted!

Shireen, I hope you get to feeling better very, very soon! Have you tried any type of oil to remove the tape residue? Baby oil, thick cold cream, olive oil, etc. Best of luck!

nsv- Non Scale Victory, like your rings fit, clothes are a lot looser, can fit in airplane seat comfortably, can now tie your shoes without passing out, etc.

Sultana, my heart goes out to you! You're a lot nicer than I would have been w/ that nutrionist. Grrrrr. Unfortunately, some people in the medical field have the "God syndrome". But they're individuals w/frailties and faults just like the rest of us. The "other people" mantra reminds me of my kids growing up. "Why can't I do such and such, all the other kids are." You just concentrate on Sultana. Make decisions that are best for YOU! Be kind to yourself. You are a human being with dignity and deserve to be treated that way. Is there any possible way that you could have a leak? If so, that would explain a lot. You're doing great!

Yea, Maureen! And will you be posting pics?

Maurice, best of luck! Please keep us posted. Hope all is smooth and easy for you! I dissolved my meds. in a tablespoon of Water until I felt brave enough to start swallowing again. Large tablets, like Tylenol, I break in half just to be on the safe side. I take the Gummi Bear Vitamins. They taste just like gummi bears and are no problem. I found the Flintstones Chewable gaggy tasting. If you take time-released meds. (blood pressure, etc.), get your dr. to give you a regular, non-time released RX. Protein drinks - In a blender, I mix the unflavored Protein powder with fat-free milk, sliced fresh banana, and frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, etc.). Throw in a few ice cubes and crush to make it thick like a milkshake. My husband is hooked on these and drinks one on the way to work. The more goodies (fruits) you add, the bigger your drink gets. I did try the GNC protein powder. But it was expensive, tastes really bad by itself. I've been using a protein powder from our wholesale store. It's cheaper and has more vitamins in it.