paula

hmmm, I regret not doing something sooner. Not sure if the band was the right wls for me. Then again, not sure if there IS a right WLS - for any of us. Im cajun and Ive always enjoyed very spicy/strong flavors. Since banding I cant have either one, spicy OR strong foods. yes, Im down 70 pounds, but when my family sits down to a delicious gumbo meal and Im stuck only eating the meat from a cooked chicken leg - because the gumbo juice gives me horrid reflux & upset stomach - then I curse the band and wish I had gone with another choice. Even alcohol is untolerable for me to handle. Wine? I pb faster then a speeding bullet. I dont have regrets having a WLS - although I dont encourage anyone in making AGB their decision.

Heck-NO! I wouldnt touch a hotdog 3 weeks post op. Like the others, Ive tried weiners a few times since banding and every time they stayed in my pouch - wouldnt go through the stoma, and ended up pbing. Ive even peeled the skin off, but nope! no luck. sorry.

Nana, I soooooo want to go to school, but HOW would I get started? What about the ACT test? Wouldnt I have to take this before anything else? What did you have to do to get started?

*Im laughing over here.* She's right, y'all.

I figured we were in "time-out"... :whip: we promise Poppa Alex - we'll be good from here on.

Yep - everyone around here is getting nervous. We were visited by Rita last September, so everyone is still rattled. Gonna keep close eyes on the Weater Channel for the next couple of days.

:update: here's another receipe that Ive tweeked to my personal taste. 2 heaping Tbls of General Foods cafe' mocha (the powder mix - in a can) 1/4 tea of Folgers instant coffee 1 C skim milk blend. then add about 10-12 ice cubes. General foods coffees has several s/f low carb flavors. I prefer the mocha flavor. anyway, I just wanted to share. hope you enjoy.

Beautiful story. your last line says a million words... Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to a higher power. I like that.

Elisabeth, I just wanna recognize you and THANK you for being a part of LBT. You are *AWESOME* - a wonderful asset to this board.

awe, I wanna read the edited post too. know what would be really REALLY horrible? If you suddenly developed a bad case of 'the runs' and had to call in SICK all of next week. that would be aweful. :biggrin1:

Veg, there's been many MANY times Ive felt that way. Basically it has to do with rejection. A lack of acceptance. Ive never met a person that this has never bothered. Rejection is the deepest pain one could endure. I say the overweight folks are the biggest targets for prejudicism, rejection. how sad :confused: My main interest in this thread is for my sister. I love her so much, and the pain that old 'friends' and even relatives cause her from totally ignoring her when she walks up to them - HURTS me to the center of my heart. My sister is 5'8 and about 350ish - 23yrs old. She doesnt like to fix herself up with make-up or doo-dee hair, so there are many times Ive heard others asking "What is it?" She is so lonely - even with her hubby and 2 kids. Her sadness and lonliness flood her eyes. Im praying that there is a gleam of hope in her future. On the 1st, she (Im going with her) has a conlsultation for the RnY. She has Crones disease so she has it in her mind that NO WLS is ever in her future and she'll always be large and unhappy. See veg, your story is just another page in the life of an overweight person. Yes, weve ALL felt what you feel. Youre not alone, Baby! SO glad you found us. Cause youre NOT an out-cast here. ((hugs))

Heather, that is BEAUTIFUL! It looks SO professional. Really, Im impressed. You know, I truly admire you for all these beautiful projects that you can do. And I admire (not envy) all those that have such special gifts and talents. I have a friend that sews very well AND has a catering business along with a cake decorating business on the side. She does beautiful work. She can sew. She can cook extremely well. She can decorate cakes (her wedding cakes are the best). And then I look at Mike. He can sing well, play guitar, has the ability to make anything out of wood, and he can draw VERY well. He can cook a leather shoe and it taste like Thanksgiving dinner. ..and here I am the lowly peasent girl - looking and admiring YOUR work and so many others, wondering if I was 'day dreaming' when my number was called for the "gifts and talents" section in life. :confused: I still have to call my mother and ask directions for boiling an egg.:nervous

I couldnt imagine NOT having my moning coffee (speaking of which, let me grab a sip). Right after surgery I didnt have the taste for it. And it seems like I had to slowly introduce it back into my morning routine. 2 years later and everything is fine. 3-4 cups a morning, and some days an ice-coffee later in the day. Good luck - and remember, if you cant tolerate it NOW, wait a couple of weeks and try again.

I love it. :biggrin1: and I love YOU - JMO. You're my new best friend!

Anthony - Im SO glad you came and updated. Thanks! Im just a little concerned over why youre just now getting enough energy to exercise regularly? Its been 5 months since this sugery... you been sick or something?

(((LISA))) Welcome home, Sis. I hate that you changed names... I really liked DeCarla :biggrin1: . We'll miss her. So how's unbanded life these days?

Mary, Have you tried contacting their school to see if there is any type of extended care? I would compare the school's prices to your SIL's.

School's been out for 3 weeks now (BIG sigh). I have a job that allows (Ha!) me to stay home with my 3 kids. Loooong time ago I thought this was the -best- decision... Im now re-considering this thought! Im SOOOOO tired of the fighting, argueing, complaining & finding them FUN things to do - only to hear MORE fighting, argueing, complaining. We've done a week of Vacation Bible School, gone fishing, went to 4 different $$ movies $$, been swimming at least 3 days each week, Water park once, with a couple of baseball games thrown in there - oh, and music lessons.... and these are just the things that come to mind. But my BIGGEST complaint is about friends... E V E R Y D A Y (at least twice EACH day) my older two kids ask for friends to come play(to help with those long hot afternoon hours). Some friends go to all-day camps M-F(parents work full time) - so in the afternoons/weekends they're homesick - and just wanna stay home. Some friends can ONLY come if they bring their sibiling. SO if my oldest has a friend that brings little brother, life would be grand if the younger kids would play together. But that doesnt happen. So now I have my Anne fussing cause SHE wants a friend to come play. Im exhausted guys. These kids are killin me. no lie. :tired So, what are all of you doing to make YOUR summer F U N with the kids?

Hey guys, lets see some of your beautiful flowers, plants and gardens. I have a question... here is a picture of a maiden hair fern (sp?) that was Mom's. I wanna transplant it to the pot on the left - but hopefully you can see WHY Im having a hard time figuring out HOW to keep the root system in tact for the re-potting. Its kinda all over the pot - and little green happening. Any suggestions?

Funny you mention 'Funny'... hehe We miss you, Funny. :eek: ((( I was just thinking about her today)))

Kim, I just wanted to mention that Red Cross is one of the biggest aids for fire victims (actually any type of disaster). I h*a*t*e* hearing about a home fire. Im so sad for them. God bless them -((and He will!))

Donna, please keep us updated on your decision. You have my most heartfelt prayers regarding this.

What about S. Louisiana?? Penni, I feel comfortable enough telling YOU this, IMO - I wouldnt re-band. I would be super aware of every little twitch-gurgle-heartburn-creek-squeak-burp-pb... wondering if my body was reacting to another erosion. And I wouldnt want to go through the emotional/grieving phase again *IF* I had to get unbanded AGAIN. An endo every 6-8 months.. Is that for the rest of your banded life? Thats alot of maintance. You'll know youve made the right decision by the Peace you receive once your mind is made up! Love ya!

WOW - that post surgery pic compared to yesterday's... just WOW! I tried to find some similarities, but couldnt. You dont even look like your old self.

:cool: I miss DeLarla too please come home.