PamRN

I hate to try wrapping my mind around thoughts about those times, it makes my heart break to think of all those innocent people and the torture they endured. It's enough to make any caring person deeply sad. Intolerance of difference is downright shameful isn't it? On a lighter note I too love Halloween, I'm a late October baby so that might be part of it. My daughter and SIL are having their annual party, they are dressing up like Dog & Beth the bounty hunters... I'm still thinking on it.

no stitches for me either, my doc used surgical glue too. I had steristrips over the glue, but was able to shower the next day without any problem. My 4 tiny scars are all but invisible even at partner range, I have to really look for them. I do have a good tan, so we'll see as it fades if they turn pink against white again.

I had surgery on tuesday, and flew from Tijuana to Illinois with a stop over in Houston, the long trek clear across the airport going right from one plane to the next was tough, but hell it would have hurt presurgery... I was still overweight, it was a long fast walk! I also paid for my mother's ticket so she could go with me, it was definitely worth it to have a travel companion. I took a memory foam neck support pillow on the planes, I splinted with it when I needed to, and it was nice to rest on when I didn't. I stayed an extra day to make sure all was well, and to get in some shopping. I seemed a waste to go that far and not have at least one day to have a look around. Definitely take a companion if it's at all possible.

The longest band placement I've been able to find any info on, is in europe there are documented patients that have had their band over 10 years. They were amongst the first banded. With all the new improvements in the bands in the last couple of years, I see no reason to have mine out unless there are serious complications to keeping it in.

dust... it's all over the place, everytime I gather it together to store in my hefty waterproof protective sleeves... I find more! I think my house is a dust magnet!! I've started lots of collections for my kids... state quarters, pez, tiny jewelry boxes, and flattened pennies from those presses that leave a design in them... my boy started that one.

I can't eat sausage since banding, it sticks every time I've tried... notice once was not enough... do you seem tighter in the am? Many of us find that we do better later in the day with eating or drinking liquids, even warm ones. I have to be up at least an hour before attempting even a cup of coffee, unless I want to feel it sitting on my chest for an hour. You can't be too stupid... you got banded didn't you?

margaritas! Boxers or briefs (on your man)

The state board of nursing is called the dept of professional regulation

She's not a Doctor, but has made a diagnosis of noncompliance for a treatment you haven't had yet. Her words could possibly sway this surgeon's decision from accepting your case to turning it down. She will have then caused a delay in treament for a life threatening condition called Morbid Obesity. She is not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist, therefore she is not qualified to make a predetermined diagnosis of your mental status. IF you get denied or turned down by this place for any reason, I'd be getting a lawyer...shutting her down hard and fast... and as a bonus... a free band.

I might already yern chocolate HDIYL

IVAN is absolutely correct, and the advise is right on. Call them, say that. You are protected by a federally mandated privacy act called HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). The RN involved is in direct violation of that act.

I went through the same thing... lost 5# the week before surgery because of nerves! Good Luck tomorrow, I wish you great success!

Zoe, You're so right! I'm at 198 to 202, 198 today, and it feels WAYYY better than 265...hell I saw 280 once. I do know just what you mean about the same clothes. I have bought things that make me feel good because I can, and now they sit aside waiting for me to get them posted on ebay... nearly new... It can get expensive to keep replacing them can't it?? I really do prefer that the 'stack of clothes I can't wear' in my closet are too big rather than the too small it'd always been before banding.

How beautiful!

LMAO! Wouldn't that be a dream come true? Immediately after getting it on the market I think I'd advise us all to buy stock in batteries, THAT could make us bazillionaires!!

I'd love to find a place like that around here, that ayurvedic sounds absolutely wonderful!

I'm in Central Illinois, near the U of IL

wireless remote control underwear? Got any that pinch, poke or shock a smart ass husband when he needs it??

La Madame's Mother is absolutely right! Being a grandparent is awesome fun, my grandson's learning already that grandma is his homegirl. Congratulations Greg, and god bless your new angel!

My Doc said avoid it, if I'm restricted, it could bulge my pouch or if it gets through, the trapped gas could be painful. I do have a regular pepsi once in a while, one a month maybe, without a problem, but don't indulge much and don't miss it like I thought I would. I was a big pop drinker. I've read that diet soda is loaded with formaldehyde, formaldehyde is stored in fat cells, formaldehyde protects those cells from degradation... drink diet pop, don't gain weight. Drink diet pop, don't lose weight... talk about your catch 22

I'm on the same cruise ship as the rest of you I guess... I lost 68 pounds in 8 months and for the last two have lost and regained the same 2 to 4 pounds... I'm not really gaining but have certainly stopped losing. I still have very good morning restriction, and still can't eat most of the same foods I found difficulty with in the beginning, but find myself wondering if it's finally time for additional fill. I'm finding that though I eat WAYYYY less than I used to, I can still eat plenty of the creamy junk like ice cream and chocolate (DQ Moolatte's)! I do have trouble getting in enough water, I'm probably running just shy of dehydration, and I definitely know that isn't helping, so I've been trying to do better, but it just doesn't like to go down, unless it's in a icey shake or slush... I'd been at my sweet spot since surgery, but wonder if I'm slowly losing it... My meal quantity isn't increasing, but my loss has stopped. Have any of you who've been at your sweet spot for a while had it fade away? Could that happen?

I take makeup off with baby wipes...they even cut waterproof mascara. They're pretty gentle. I love clinique makeup, but use maybelline mascara 'sky high' it really lengthens for me. I use bronzer to give my face a bit of a sunkissed glow, just lightly apply it in the "T" zone. Try doing a search for makeup application tips, maybe some of the cosmetic companies have sites? Good Luck!

I'm with HarleyNaNa, I'm lucky to get in a 1/2 cup of coffee before late afternoon most days. Anything I eat gets stuck and makes me very uncomfortable, my window tends to open from early afternoon to early evening, then close again, I can't eat or drink late in the evenings because my restriction increases as I get tired. My work schedule plays havoc with my band, because I work part-time weekends, 7p to 7a at a job that's an hour away, then live dayshift all week. It's hard to get around the need to eat very late on weekends... generally I eat before I go to work, but sometimes that's the only meal I can get in, because early in my shift I'm too busy, then later I'm too restricted...

Are you taking a MVI (multivitamin)? You sound like you could be a little anemic. I take one children's flintstones complete per day. You might try a vitamin with a little extra iron for a bit. I chose mine after reading up on them, and finding that they are better absorbed than many adult varieties. Others here may recommend different choices, use your own judgement to choose one you feel will work best for you. I do hope you'll feel better soon!

If you look carefully, not all salads are a good choice anyway. The blt salad at wendy's has like 50 gms of fat! I get fast food at work too, but I throw out the bun and toppings, and eat just the meat. I can't do french fries so no issue there, I eat the innerds of things, and skip mayo, and/or cheese when I can. I like taco bell for the zesty chicken bowl and pinto's and cheese, I like the yogurt parfait from Mcd's, and the grilled chicken off the sandwich... if you look carefully you can find semi-decent choices at most places.