New Hope

O.K., Lisa Green, now you aren't thinking about "unsubscribing" to Lapbandtalk, are you? If you are, I have your e-mail address and I'll give it to ALL of our Banded Sisters and Brothers. Then they'll all contact you (and ask for that free Mary Kay product). (Just think of the shipping and handling costs!) As far as that ferious Spud dog, why a nice little dog biscuit will fix him right up. So it looks like you're stuck with us! Love you, girl!:cool:

My insurance co. required it. I think it's just to see that you don't have any unreal expectations and that you do plan on doing your part to work w/ the band. Mine was a 5 page questionaire (multiple choice). A lot of the ?? are the same, just in various forms. Then a very brief talk / the psy. It seemed he had preset ?? to ask, pretaining to weight loss. Definitely no big deal. It's tempting to give smart-aleck answers, but not advisable. LOL You'll do great!:cool:

Ryan, take that time off and enjoy every minute of it! You earned it, so why lose it? Who says that you have to be sick the entire time you're off? And you'll be glad that you gave yourself plenty of time to adapt to your band (in the privacy of your home).

Fantabulous, Marie!!! You've done amazing! I know you feel so much better now too. Now if it actually takes a little bit longer, no big deal. You WILL do it!:cool:

All of you are doing wonderfully! Even when the scale's not moving, remember it's not going UP like it would have in preband days! You're probably getting NSVs (non-scale victories) that you're not even aware of yet. Have you tried your rings on lately? Been able to tie your shoes without passing out? Clothes getting looser? Don't look for the closest parking spot anymore? Your face doesn't get all red, and you're not huffing and puffing as much? Able to vacuum the house w/o having a heart attack? Shave your legs easier? (You'll think of many, many more!):cool:

Yes, Katie girl, that's a wonderful NSV! Thanks so much for sharing that w/ us! You're doing great! I bet you had a great big smile on your face when that happened, didn't you? Hey, that's two NSV's! You're smiling more now!:cool:

Hi, Jode, great to hear from you! Do you know what your weight reads in pounds? Sorry, I don't know. What type of band do you have? Please post here more. We'd like to get to know you. Best of luck to you on your Banding Journey!:cool:

So glad the stress test was clear, even though it was "stressful"! LOL My DH always preshaves before he gets thre. When I did mine, I sat down and dry heaved in a trash can afterwards. I was told I had a very "unconditioned heart". I guess that went along w/ the rest of my unconditioned body. You'll be so happy how some weight loss and continued exercise will change all that (for the good!)!:cool:

Boy, I'll try anything to eat less!

Hey, little Missy, you told me in a PM. I do read those things, you know! Now what you're saying is we can go ahead and party, with or without you? But it just won't be as fun! And, of course, we have to have both types of music --- Country AND Western!

Welcome home, Miss Janie! We really DID miss you! How many more beautiful murals have you done? My dr. gave me the go-ahead for ab. exercises. I just can't get myself motivated to do them, but really need to. Does anyone know if those ab-belts work - that simulate situps? Wouldn't that be great if they did? LOL:)

Janie, really just biking and walking. That's been great for cardio., thighs, and calves. I need to start doing some abs. My surgery was 5/26/04.

Please get your aftercare lined up BEFORE you get your band! You're making a big investment in a very worthwhile project - YOU! You have to be able to get follow-up care! Best of luck to you!

Oh, Pammy, too funny!!! Did Lisa Green also tell you that we all get Mary Kay Makeovers while we're there? That girl is such a doll!

Well, considering the alternative (death), I'll take my arthritis, try to exercise (that really helps) as much and when I can, and be thankful that I have arms and legs to use. "I complained I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet."

Blossom, are you doing a type of dialysis for your puppy? Those toxins and wastes have to be gotten out of his system. How often each day are you doing this? It's amazing what we can do when we love someone or something!

Blossom, you enjoy that baby as long as you can! You know he is so glad to be at home w/ his family. You can do this hydration. Just take a deep breath and know that it's absolutely necessary. Are you having to watch his fluid intake now? Sending (((hugs))) and prayers to you.

Had my band since 5/04. I was banded locally by a super and very experienced Band dr. During my banding surgery, he also removed a bad gallbladder, some abdominal adhesions (from a previous open-method ab surgery, and found and removed a tumor on my esophagus (that turned out benign, but would have become cancerous and problematic if unfound -- certainly not the normal banding situation!) So far (knocking on wooden head), no complications. You're very wise to carefully find out what your options are NOW before you're banded. Best of luck to you!

Katie girl, Congratulations on becoming a Bandster! Best of luck to you! You have already started your journey to being happier and healhier. Give yourself time and work with your band. You will be so surprised how quickly that you begin to feel better physically and, even more importantly, emotionally about yourself. You are a beautiful young woman!

Lisa, not to scare you but to encourage you to follow through on this... I don't know if our lap band is in our perotineal cavity or not. But w/a dialysis catheter, you have to continually be aware of infections that can lead to peritonitis (can be fatal). My husband ended up in the ER w/ a "mild" case of it (that had him doubling over in severe pain.) I don't ever want to see a severe case after that scare! For the 18 months he was on dialysis, he was never allowed to swim or bathe (just shower). I had to change the bed sheets very, very often. An open draining wound and continual antibiotics is not a good thing. Infection could travel down your tube. Please get this checked out.

Tues., 10/12, 5 1/2 miles bicycling. Wonderful weather!

Pam, do you remember doing anything that could have torn your port loose? Donali made a lunge to her car backseat and did pop a stitch. She said it was a searing pain. She did get it fixed by her surgeon. Some surgeons do not stitch the port in place. My surgeon stitches it in 2 places. I have the "sternal port" that you referred to. I did have some extremely painful spasms at my lower left incision. But I was sent home w/ an abdominal drain for a week at that site (not the norm). (Due to other things done that weren't Band related.) I just assumed that the drain tube was pinching/poking me in the left ovary area. Please take it easy on ab exercises right now. Keep an eye on this and if you keep hurting and/or think something is wrong, listen to your body. Best of luck to you!

Oh, I get it now! All bashes must be held at a "Lisa" house! Do we have a "Lisa" lined up for Bash #3 yet? Lisa Green, you are such a sweetie to offer to do this for everyone! LOL:D

Leatha, you are not on a soapbox! You are just giving some very, very valuable advice that Banding patients NEED to know BEFORE they get their band. We want all our fellow Bandsters to be successful and have proper aftercare!

I have problems w/dry tortillas, like the breakfast burrito. But not the insides.