New Hope

Tim, wishing you the very best on your banding and your recooperation! Your raquetball partners better keep practicing. You'll be knocking their socks off before you know it! Please let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel like it.

I had a tumor removed from my esophagus when I was banded. I had to stay on liquids and mushies longer than usual to give the stitches time to heal. I was so thankful that it turned out benign! I ate blended meals for some time. (Just whatever I'd fixed the family - only limited by my imagination.)

Shrinking Violet, mashed potatoes are fine for your stage of healing. But they're not really healthful, for later on, when you can eat real foods. Oatmeal is a grain, so it would give you some vitamins and fiber. Pasta is just flour, water, and salt - really no nutritional value there. It takes a while to learn what are the healthier choices. And we all slip and have those "no-nos" sometimes. You're doing great!

Congratulations, Pat! Please give yourself ample time to rest, drink lots of water, and walk around as much as you comfortably can. All of those will help you recoup. So glad it's behind you!

I perched both of my beautiful hats on my dresser. They were the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning, and I just sat there and admired them before getting up. I feel "greedy" having two. But I'm not giving either one up! They make me smile.

ShrinkingViolet, pasta is a starch, and not really a healthy food choice. Try to choose hard proteins (lean, moist meats), they'll stay in your pouch longer and give you a sense of fullness longer. These can be blended for the mushie stage.

As far as eating with other people, Betty is right, most people don't really pay any attention. Just put some stuff on your plate and push it around. Take your time eating and you'll still be eating while everyone else is. Or say you had a big lunch (breakfast) and you're not very hungry and order an appetizer. Shrimp Brochette is wonderful! Congrats on joining the 50 club. I'm a member and I feel healthier and emotionally better than I have in years!

What an excellent way to sum this up! The band is a wonderful gift that will help you regain your health and allow you to get out there and live in the world, take part in things, and don't sit on the sidelines anymore. Your whole family will benefit from this gift...for many years to come. Best of luck to you! I look forward to hearing about your fantastic progress! You're a male bandster, right? You'll be sailing right past us female bandsters before you know it.

Zoe, you were pretty in your before picture, but you have a sparkle about you in the now picture! Great job! How old are you? You look a lot younger in your new picture also. Keep up the good work!

During the mushie stage, you can safely blend very well and eat any foods. Whatever you are preparing for your family, just blend your portion, reheat, and enjoy a nutrious, varied meal. You will feel full and content, as opposed to lliquids. Of course, make healthy choices - lean, moist meats (remove excess fat), seafood, fish, amd vegetables over pasta, french fries, high carbs. This should help simplify eating arrangements with the family. No more need to prepare them a meal, then something else for you. And always, chew, chew, chew. I loved roast beef w/carrots and potatoes, stews, grilled liver-n-onions (with gravy if too dry), etc.

Lainie, have you tried doing a search for "erosion" in the old posts? Are you having problems? If so, what type?

Wow, I feel like I won the lottery today - TWICE! I got a beautiful hand crocheted hat from Teresa and another one from Becky. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! They're both perfect!

Penni, what a wonderful job! You just keep getting prettier and prettier. I think John better hurry up with that ring and proposal before somebody else snatches you up.

Wishing you the very best of luck on your surgery and your recovery.

Michelle, it's always such a pleasure to read your posts. I'm so glad that everything is going so well and you are truly happy. It sounds like your "fella" is a keeper. I just foresee good things coming from you.

Great ones, Betty! and all true!!

Wow, Belinda, what a great job! Where did you have your plastic surgery done? How much weight did you lose - just from the PS? What size clothes were you then and now? How old are you? You look like a kid! (That's a beautiful baby you're holding!) I am so impressed!

Congratulations, Zoe!! Great weightloss! Glad someone is noticing it. By the way, what does a "normal" person look like?

Lisa, sending you big (((hugs))) and encouragement! Congratulations on the amazing weight loss!! You will get this straightened out! Just one ?, why did Lopez and Larry refuse "to let you bring up the past"? The past is what has caused all your problems since being banded! And Lopez is going to discount your hospital and endoscopy charges. Yipee! That's mighty big of him, since he probably owns a big portion of the facilities he uses. I don't mean to be negative here, but the jerk could have called you several months ago. It's apparent he's keeping an eye on on this board and knows about your situation. You deserve to have a responsible doctor that can help you so you can live a healthy life.

Jack, my surgeon (who does sternal placements) stated just the opposite, saying because there's less fat to lose there, less reason for repositioning of port. Hmmmm.

Zoe, I'm starting to worry about you... avocado-flavored burps and dead squirrel dog kisses. LOL

Pat, please don't feel silly. We've all had to learn the little abbreviations and Banding lingo. We all learn from each other. P. S. I just learned how to post pics.

Hard proteins - lean, moist meats, fish, seafood. Healthy choices, not fried or fatty. The hard proteins stay in your pouch and give you a sense of fullness longer.

Wow, Nancy, you got your wallet back on a city bus? That is wonderful!! I went to a Christmas party last night. Four cars got broken into and women's purses were taken. I'd left my wallet in the glove compartment. (I know, really dumb!) But it was still there. Whew! (I learned my lesson.)

Paula, I started having reflux problems a few weeks ago (first since banding). My barium swallow was good. So I got an unfill last week, am taking prevacid, and to wait 2 months. No reflux now. I had reflux and hiatal hernia for years before banding. Didn't want to do that again. I still sleep with my bed inclined. (My large dog likes it, so she can get under the bed.)