Penni60

If you pills are no bigger in diameter than a pencil eraser then you can swallow them. I have been able to take capsules and tablets that are a little bigger than the eraser without problems. The MAIN thing to remember is to drink LOTS of water with the pills. You don't want them dissolving in the pouch where they can do more damage. Get those suckers flushed through into the lower stomach where they won't do as much harm. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. At least 12 oz of liquid with the pills.

OK!! Someone call her and let her know she has waited LONG enough to keep us in the suspense. That is just not fair. We need details. LOVE YA TRISH HUGS

:{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Christina}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Awww that sucks big time. Keep us posted on the outcomes. WHen you getting banded? Where? Who? You know all that good gorey stuff we love to know. HUGS again

Day 2? I thought we started today. UGH!! Day late and a dollar short!!! OK Pedometer on Walking done Steps completed: 7459 How is that for accuracy? LOL!!!

Keep the neosporin away from the glue areas. It will eat it away. Wait you said she was three weeks out from surgery? Her incisions should all be healed right? Are they leaking or weeping? Are they hot or warm to touch them? Does she have any other symptoms? One more thing, can you get a picture of them and post to the site?

If we are talking about a bladder catheter then I didn't have one for either of my surgeries. One surgery was in Mexico and the other was in California. Neither required a catheter. I don't think it is absolute you have one. The surgery is fairly short and putting one in just doesn't make sense to me unless you have some unforeseen issues that make putting one in necessary. You should really check with your doctor about the catheter.

Did they use stitches or the glue to close the stitches? If they used the glue then she is most likely allergice or I should say sensitive to that. The symptoms should decrease over time. I had the same reactions on my stitches but they used the glue on my incisions. I used Hydrocortisone cream on the itchiness. Just keep it away from the actual incisions till they heal. If it gets worse she should call her doctor. She should call her doctor to get an OK to use the hydrocortisone cream as well.

Dr. Helmuth Billy 124 N. Brent St Ventura, CA 93003 805-648-2227

I do believe it is Vera. What fun!!!!!!!!!!! Esmeralda, I do remember that. Send me your phone number in a PM and I will give you a call.

HOLY MOLY!!! We sure have come a long long way HUH Lisa? From that first meeting to the Vegas Bash last October. I want it to be SEPTEMBER NOW>>>>>>>>

MIchelle: You left Billy off the list. That looks like the list I got from Lopez when I asked for doctors he recommends. I use Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura, CA. He is awesome.

Zoe: You KNOW I can't resist this challenge. I am so all over this one. LOL!!!! Pedometers range from around $10 to $30. I got mine at Walmart. Just need one that counts steps and mileage and calories. Don't need a fancy one. I will check in on Monday. (By the way, I start training for my Las Vegas Marathon on Monday too. So this will keep me motivated.) Thanks Zoe

I just got my baby pic from my mom. Here they are. Wasn't I a cutie??

Kathy, how cute you were as a baby. What happened? LOL!! No just kidding. And your daughter is a doll. Hope you don't mind I put them side by side.

WHOO HOO!!!!! CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT? No one else wants to share pics? COME ON PUHLLLLLLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess she got cold feet?

After reading an old post where it was stated that Ortiz trained Lopez I contacted Craig Arthur at Inamed and asked if they could confirm this. I received an email back from Inamed that states Ortiz was not Lopez' trainer. Lopez was trained by a European MD and certified in 1996. This contradicts what I was told about Lopez having done these types of surgeries for the past 10 years. I was banded in 2004. Yeah he was off a couple of years but it was still a lie. Just be more aware of who actually trained who when you decide what doctor to use. You can always double check with Inamed to verify what you are told.

Beginning my marathon training on Monday. UGH!! Tell me,...no someone convince me that this is a good thing. THis marathon thingy. Hey if I back out at least I can live it up with Lisa in Vegas. We can go crash the WYNN hotel. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK I must be getting really brave or I have lost my mind. I just registered for the 1st annual Las Vegas Marathon. Yes this is the BIG Marathon. NOT the 5K. I have to start training at the end of the month. The date for the Marathon is December 4, 2005. ACK!!! Anyone up to join me? LOLOLOL!!!!! I don't expect to finish I just wanna participate. Then again maybe I will finish. Who knows? The September Manhattan 5K Marathon is going to be a good way to keep me in training as well. I am gonna run that one. I will run that one. I WILL RUN THAT ONE! LOL! I think I am trying to convince myself of that. It has helped me to have a goal to reach in my exercise routines. If I don't have that goal then I am not motivated to exercise. I will inform my personal trainer of my decision and hopefully she will step up the sessions. Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know in case you read the headlines later. "Lap band patient cracks under Marathon pressure and kills trainer!" LOL!!!!

AFter the upset on Idol I am scared to watch Survivor tonight. Geez!!! I soooooooo want Steph to win the whole enchilada.

Since I just went shopping when my two daughter's were visiting, I realized that I have about 15 pair of capri's size 22/24 that I need to get rid of. I also probably have some tops as well I can part with. So anyone need that size in tops or bottoms? PM me or email me at Penni60@aol.com

OK Kelly sent me her shipping address. I have not heard from the others. If you don't let me know your address then I can't ship them. HELLO??????!!!!! Send it to my aol address listed in the previous posts. If I don't hear from the rest of you guys soon then I will send them all to Kelly.

I try to do a 30min (minimum) to a 5 hour (maximum) walk / run everyday. Yes that is a huge difference but on the days when I don't do a HUGE walk I do cardio and toning exercises. Pilates is great. I have the Mari Winsor Pilates series (the 20 min beginner's tape is the best one). I also have Ana Caban 20 min beginner's tape as well. Both are great. I think that Ana's tape is easier to follow though. Exercise Ball is another good way to get in a 20 min workout. When I don't exercise I am sluggish all day. I also notice that I lose around 0.5 lb to 2 lbs a week when I exercise, eat right, and drink my fluids. If I don't notice a loss I look at my measurements because most likely I am losing inches and not lbs. If you are losing neither then you are building muscles that will aide in losting fat. So if you do something for at least 20 min a day that will increase your heart rate that is better than doing nothing.

The old adage really does apply here. "Shit floats to the surface every time." So happy for you guys. I am wondering when the party will be. Let me see, hmmm,... I am booked up through next week. How about week after? LOL!!!! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!