Daffodil

It is murder, and there is blood involved. If the state gives a condemned prisoner a lethal injection and sops his heart until he is dead, you can call it an execution, but it is state-sanctioned murder. How is an abortion different, in a practical sense?

I am astonished by your view of moral relativity. In your view, NO act is inherently evil..after all, if it isn't evil to me, why should anyone make a law against what I want to do? Rape, murder, car theft, prostitution, drug dealing, child porn...hey, I don't think it's wrong so WHO ARE YOU TO STOP ME? No, dear, cooler heads have decided there ARE actions which are universally wrong and morally reprehensible & we codify those beliefs in a little something called "laws". Laws change...at one time in this country it was legal to enslave another person...imagine ! It was legal to disregard women's right to vote and own property. Segregation was legal. But we evolve and right those wrongs. But hey, ANY law is wrong, in your view. If it feels good to me, whatever the consequence is to any body else, including a developing human being---yes, human being !, then I should have a RIGHT to do it and not be judged by anyone else's moral code. You scare me.

OK. If I believe that taking someone's life, say a 35 year old man, is justified...who are you, and society, to tell me I am wrong? It is my choice to do this, right? And if I consume illegal drugs, why should there be laws which allow my arrest? Hey, if I purchase child pornography on the net---who are you, or any law enforcement personnel, to tell me I am breaking a law. SEE-IN ALL THOSE CASES THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS HURT...THE 35 YEAR OLD MAN, THE PERSON KILLED BY ME WHEN I AM HIGH AND RAM MY CAR INTO THEM, THE CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPLOITED IN MAKING THE DISGUSTING PORN AND IN ABORTION, THE LIFE WHICH IS SNUFFED OUT, THE LIFE WHICH HAS NO PROTECTION AGAINST DESTRUCTION. ABORTION IS MURDER. ABORTION IS MURDER. CALL IT WHATEVER SOUNDS LESS ONEROUS--PRO-CHOICE--HAH. PRO-MURDER. BLOOD-CHILLING, BUT TRUE.

OK then. Let's substitute slavery for abortion: I would never enslave a human being, but who am I to judge if someone else CHOOSES to? The truth is that as soon as the egg and the sperm unite to form a unique PERSON-to-be, stopping the natural development is murder. If it is immoral to kill the developing human being at a certain point, say, 7 months gestation, then how can it be any less evil to stop it at day 30, or 90 or 120? I'm sorry, you ladies who have chosen to stop your child's beating heart----it is an evil act. I wish nothing but mercy and kindness & I am compassionate for the suffering you feel, but I believe it is immoral and should be illegal. Hopefully a sensible and humane Supreme Court will deem it so.

I need to ask my doc how many cc's my band takes...my first fill he put in 1 cc...2 weeks later he withdrew .6....put in enough to make it 2cc's. Today, 2 weeks later, put in another .5....I had a liquid lunch and an omelet for supper. While making the omelet I ate some boiled ham....felt it going down harder than before. Tomorrow when I start regular food I hope I feel full quickly ! Today he filled me up to the point where drinking water made me feel "burpy"...he said I was completely obstructed at that point...he then removed some so I am now at 2.5ccs....he told me to be patient...easy to say, but it's been 9 weeks since my surgery and I was down 24 lbs but now am down 21 ! I fear failure. He says don't worry, I'll do well. ANY ADVICE?????

I was banded 3/21/07. Lost 24 lbs by 5/3/07, when I had my first fill of 1cc. The only difference I feel after the fill is that some foods get momentarily "stuck"---pain in chest for a few seconds and then the feeling of relief as the food passes through...but it takes a lot to give me that "full" feeling. The feeling of being stuffed---Thanksgiving Day full---is what I crave ! I'm having another fill in 2 days and I hope to feel full with just a small amount of food...is that realistic???

Congratulations on getting your pre-op workup completed. It is NOT true that mostly men have doubts...I had doubts while I was in the OR, right before they put me under ! And don't beat yourself up about not being able to lose weight and keep it off---the National Institute of Health (NIH) states that for morbidly obese people who lose weight ,the success rate of keeping weight off 5 years or more is statistically ZERO percent....zero !! That doesn't mean that there aren't a lucky FEW who keep it off, but it is so small a number that the success rate is ZERO. I don't know about you, but I can't win against those odds. Someday science will be able to explain why this is, but I don't have the time to wait for a miracle pill. Talk to Dr. Tishler..he'll explain it all. I am 6 weeks banded now and get my first fill Thursday. I need the fill because I feel little to no restriction right now, which actually is normal for this stage. I'm glad I had the surgery.

I was banded 3/21/07....I have been able to eat almost anything in any quantity...little to no restriction. I cannot wait to get my first fill and start losing weight. If I could have lost weight without feeling restriction I never would have needed the surgery! I just hope I can find a sweet spot...because I've been so unsuccessful at losing weight and keeping it off for so many years I just feel skeptical that I will ever do it ! Please give me hope, you experienced bandsters !

I was banded 3/21/07 and feel hungry all the time. It doesn't matter if I eat protein....I won't have my first fill until early May, and I hope it is really tight. Finding soft foods to eat is a real pain so I'm now on 3 Atkins shakes a day only...the hunger I feel having only shakes is identical to what I felt eating food and the shakes are so much easier....From reading the posts I think the most we will strive for is not feeling ravenously hungry....my days of food making me satisfied, or full, is over. In the future when I eat it will be only to not feel the gnawing pain of hunger. This is the price I will pay to be slender. It stinks, but it is what it is.

I was banded 3/21/07, so I am 15 days post-op. I was on liquids for 7 days, then for 3-4 days I had creamed soups, grits, Farina...that lasted until post-op day #10 or 11, when I started scrambled eggs, ricotta cheese, ham salad with mayo...I feel little restriction. Today I saw my surgeon and he said to eat really soft foods, consistency of scrambled eggs, but in his written literature it says we can have tuna with mayo, which to me is equivalent to egg salad or ham salad with mayo---yes??? Well, today, Holy Thursday, I made a traditional Polish Easter for my family, as I am going to Pennsylvania for Easter weekend...and I ate a small amount of warm, soft kielbasa, chewed exceedingly well, 2 mashed up hard-boiled eggs with mayo and some mashed up potato salad....again, feel no restriction, tolerated it all well. YOU EXPERIENCED BANDSTERS: DO YOU THINK I COULD HAVE DILATED THE POUCH OR CAUSED SLIPPAGE BY WHAT I DESCRIBED? :omg: I have no pain or reflux....I'm going to cool it down and pay better attention to the concept of SOFT foods FOR the next 2 weeks. Please give me your tutelage ! I love this website! :clap2:

Going to my family in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where I'm going to try so hard to keep a close check on my eating. I am 16 days post-op, feel little to no restriction, LOVE ham ! Wish I had a fill already....Perhaps I'll challenge myself and plan on buying something nice from Talbot's if i do really well...or have my sweet baby buy something for me! Hope I can control myself. Happy Easter, folks! God bless. Banded 3/21/07 Highest 350 Sx 270 Today 262 Goal ? 140-ish

What you'[re feeling is pure physiological hunger--don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head. Your body is telling you it is starving. Drink protein shakes or add protein to your preferred beverage. Good luck ! It isn't easy...I'm post-op day 15 !

My friends, I was banded 3/21/07. I feel little to no restriction---in fact, I often feel hunger. NOT head-hunger, but real, physiological hunger. I am trying to control my eating and I am drinking a lot to try to feel satisfied. I cannot wait for my first fill and the feeling of restriction that is the reason I had this surgery ! Barbara465: You're right, this is Bandster hell ! HELP! ADVICE, PLEASE ! ENCOURAGEMENT ! Highest weight 350 Pre-op diet start weight 278 Surgery date 270 Today's weight 262

I was banded 3/21/07, so I am 15 days post-op. I was on liquids for 7 days, then for 3-4 days I had creamed soups, grits, Farina...that lasted until post-op day #10 or 11, when I started scrambled eggs, ricotta cheese, ham salad with mayo...I feel little restriction. Today I saw my surgeon and he said to eat really soft foods, consistency of scrambled eggs, but in his written literature it says we can have tuna with mayo, which to me is equivalent to egg salad or ham salad with mayo---yes??? Well, today, Holy Thursday, I made a traditional Polish Easter for my family, as I am going to Pennsylvania for Easter weekend...and I ate a small amount of warm, soft kielbasa, chewed exceedingly well, 2 mashed up hard-boiled eggs with mayo and some mashed up potato salad....again, feel no restriction, tolerated it all well. YOU EXPERIENCED BANDSTERS: DO YOU THINK I COULD HAVE DILATED THE POUCH OR CAUSED SLiPPAGE BY WHAT I DESCRIBED? I have no pain or reflux....I'm going to cool it down and pay better attention to the concept of SOFT foods f0r the next 2 weeks. Please give me your tutelage ! I love this website!

Regardless of whether he was scared...he could have easily called the police for you. That man was inconsiderate and self-centered. How would he feel if this happened to HIS wife? Inexcusable, but unfortunately, not surprising in this "me" centered culture.

Hello fellow Bandsters ! I was banded on 3/21/07, weight 270 lbs, current weight 265. Liquid diet so far, no soft or solid food yet. I am brimming with excitement and hope, but after reading several stories of extremely slow weight loss or weight regain, I am feeling apprehensive....for you experienced bandsters out there who have been blogging for awhile: What is the average weight loss? I know the literature says 1-3 lbs a week, but is that realistic? I want so much to succeed at this! I'm planning on following the correct diet and exercise program, hopefully to the T....I don't want to be one of those folks who lost 11 lbs in a year ! Please, folks, give me your wisdom !! :help:

Bsoutherngirl: Thanks for the encouragement. I feel no restriction at all, either...I am 12 days post-op....So I am really keeping my portions down, as I don't wish to gain any weight ! Tann: 157 lbs ! WONDERFUL!!!! How did you do it? Did you exercise? Please give me some advice. I am 12 days post-op. pre-op weight 287 sx date weight 270 current weight 260 banded 3/21/07

Lapbander 081004: What buffet in Vegas let you do that?

Thank you all for your encouraging words ! I realize intellectually that weight will come off if the diet and exercise plan is followed.....but being such a weight loss failure in the past one gets a little anxious and apprehensive...This forum helps tremendously, as I see myself in so many of you and understand our commonalities ! Good luck to everyone ! Happy Spring, Happy Easter, LET'S DO IT !

I am a nurse and am astonished by the lack of "standards of practice" for both pre-op and post-op diets when it comes to the lap banding. The differences in surgeon's advice is amazing and in another way, scary. Case in point: If you had acute pancreatitis, the standard of practice is nothing by mouth until your pancreatic enzymes reach a certain level...you wouldn't have a doctor tell you that eating food was OK...but in reading through these blogs you have some lap banders on liquids for a month post-op and others starting soft food on post-op day # 3 ! As a post-op nurse, that floors me !

:biggrin1: This is why I come back to this forum every day ! Congratulations, Edie, for taking charge of your life and your health! I pray I will be as successful ! Bunny Pre-sx highest weight: 350 Weight at sx on 3/21/07: 270 Current weight: 262

Banded 3/21/07, had only glue to close the incisions. They are healing well, no redness, drainage, swelling. Perfect and I'm so darn happy I no longer have the burden of overeating !:biggrin1:

Hi Jason ! I was banded 3/21. as well. My "get out of jail" date, as I'm no longer a prisoner of food....I feel great ! Some soreness for the f irst few days, but I'm no longer even on pain meds....I'm envious that you had a short pre-op and post-op liquids phase....mine was liquids for 10 days pre-op and 7-10 days post-op...I lasted until post-op day #7 and then had cream of wheat, light yogurt and grits...on day # 14 I can have scrambled eggs, tuna with mayo...it will seem like prime rib ! I feel so excited about starting my new life and look forward to a substantial and sustained weight loss. Are you physically active, or wish to be? Good luck to you ! :clap2:

:biggrin1: Hello, I was banded on 3/21/07...last week ! Stayed overnight in the hospital, came home on liquid narcotic pain medication, which I used every 4-6 hours for a few days. I now need no pain meds at all. Questions for your doctor: 1) How long must you be on the preop diet? 2) What does the doctor order to prevent postop blood clots? Does he use an injectable blood thinner before and after surgery, i.e. Lovanox, Heparin ? Will you get out of bed the same night as the surgery? Will you wear pneumatic appliances on your legs while in bed at the hospital? 3) What is the postop diet? 4) When will your first postop appt be ? Your first fill? 5) Which of your current meds are crushable, chewable or available in liquid form? You may need prescriptions. What is he giving you for pain meds at home? 6) If he cannot accomplish your lap banding laparascopically, will he convert to an open procedure or just stop and try again after you lose more weight? Anyways, these are questons your doc may explain at your first appointment, but are good questions to ask if he doesn't. Good luck !

Hi, I felt so great the day of surgery...I think it was the anesthesia or the PCA Dilaudid...the first day post-op when I went home I was more sore. But now, 7 days post-op, I feel great and so will you ! All in all, I felt MUCH less pain from this surgery than the back pain I felt when I fell off my deck last December ! Congratulations on starting your new life !! Highest wt 350 Weight on sx date 270 Todays' weight 262 Goal 140