dawneb

Hi all, Mer - YIKES! That does seem like alot. Have you checked with Dr. Oh's office to see if they recommend anyone? Is everyone planning on going to the meeting on Monday? I can't wait. It'll be interesting to see what a PS. has to say. Maybe he'll give us an idea on price. See you there. Dawn

Mer, Let us know who you go to and the price, if you like them, etc. I'm not sure if I'll need one yet but I'm thinking probably. I'd also like to get a breast lift. Wonder if they can do all that at the same time? We missed you on Monday. Riah G - way to go girl. You're looking fantastic. You have to be thrilled. Everyone at work is so excited for you! Dawn

Everybody say prayers for Riahg today. She's having her surgery at St. Francis with Dr. Srikanth. She's a little nervous (like all of us were) but very excited and ready to start her new life. Sending up a prayer for you right now Riah. Luv you girl. See you in band land!!!! Dawn

Hello everyone, Just got back on Sunday from our two week vacation. We had a fabulous time. Started out in Yuma AZ to visit my DH's parents. They kept the kids for 4 days while we took a Mexican cruise then met up with us in San Diego. We took the kids to Sea World - fantastic!!! We all had such a great time. I actually lost a pound on vacation too which surprised me. I did work out every day though so I'm sure that helped. I was very impressed with the cruise. They had a lot of sugar free choices. Now I'm totally lost - when is the next support group meeting? RIAHG - it's your day tomorrow!!!!!! I'm so excited for you. This will be the best thing that you've ever done for yourself -it was for me anyway. NO REGRETS!!! I'll be praying for you. Let me know if you need anything. Dawn

Way to go Sue!!! Yippeeeeee! 3pointers - I think that Dr. Neal is the only one in this area that does Fluoro. Well, I'm at my lowest weight in over 7 years!!!! Yeah me!!! this last fill seems to have been the one for me. It is tight! I gave it a few days though because I didn't want to get an unfill if I really didn't need it. Things are going well. We're off on our vacation in about 10 days. I'm still pretty nervous about wearing a bathing suit but five months ago I definitely wouldn't have even tried it. Hope everyones doing well. Riahg - less than a month to go till your in bandland. Yeah!!! :whoo:

Mer - you look fantastic!! You go girl. Riahg - YEAH!!! You got your insurance approval! You're on your way. Call me after you see Dr. Srikanth on Monday and let me know your surgery date. this time next year we'll both wear sexy halloween costumes!:clap2:

Hi gort, I live in the Sumner, Auburn area, not too far away. What are your questions? I was banded on June 12, 2007 and I can say that it was the best thing that I have ever done for myself. Dawn

Rhonda, Yes I'm from Washington too! I live in Pacific, just south of Auburn. Where are you? Dawn

Hi everyone, Thanks for all of your kind words. I've felt great this last week. Hopefully that never happens again. I didn't have alot of room on my medical alert bracelet so here's what I put "AGB, no tube w/o scope" Now most people wont know what AGB stands for but they will know not to be a tube in without a scope so that's the important part. I'm really glad that I had mine. the paramedics didn't look at it, since I was conscious, but they asked me about it. There's a really nice site called "Lauren's Hope" that has wonderful medical alert bracelets. I've also seen them on Ebay. Dawn

Mer and Sue, It was sure nice seeing you both last night at the meeting. The meetings sure help me. They get me re-focused and also just to be able to talk with everyone is great. Mer I like you hair cut, very cute. Question - they were talking about the Spanks under garments when I first got there. Does anyone know where you get can them for a good price? Take care, I'm off to try my new "Red" machine. Yippee!!! Dawn

Hi all, Well I had an extremely scary day yesterday. I had a headache all day. On my way home from work I stopped and bought some liquid Tylenol. I sat in my car for about 3 - 4 minutes after I took it because I just didn't feel like I could drive it hurt that bad. I started home again getting on highway 18 from Covington. I had only driven about a minute when I just knew that I was going to pass out so I pulled over. I couldn't get my head between my knees because of the steering wheel so I put my seat back as far as it would go and layed down after cranking up the air conditioning to help cool me down. As soon as I layed back I got extreme pain in my sternum area. I felt like I couldn't breathe or talk. I knew 911 wouldn't be able to understand me so I called my friend who had just left work with me. I knew she would know what direction I was going. She called 911 for me. It seemed like forever before they got there but it was only about 5 minutes. I thought I was having a heart attack!!! the firemen got there, then they called for the medics because they realized they couldn't help me. I don't even really remember how they got me out of the car but then I was in the ambulance and hooked up to an EKG. He said that my heart rhythms looked fine so then I thought "OH GOD NO, please don't let my band have slipped! Luckily I wear an emergency bracelet so they knew that I have had the band. I told them I wanted to go to St. Francis so that's where we went. My BP was really high (I always have it really low) and the pain was almost unbearable - worse than child birth!! They finally got an OK to give me some Morphine which helped greatly for about 2 minutes then they had to keep giving it to me. I don't even know how much I got. After about 2 hours the pain finally was under control. they took me for a CT Scan which showed the band was fine, THANK YOU GOD!!! I was so scared that I was going to have to have it removed!!! I finally left the ER about 12:30 that night. They said my heart was fine and the band looked fine so since the pain seemed under control I could go home. I saw Dr. Srikanth today and he said everything is still good too! YEAH, but now what? What caused all that? He said his best guess is that I had an esophogeal spasm or something like that. Basically he doesn't know but just to hope that it doesn't happen again. I'm so grateful that the band is OK. I prayed so hard that nothing major would be wrong but I also want to know what caused it. I just don't want it to ever happen again. I honestly thought I was dying. Maybe that sounds wimpy but I have a really strong pain tolerance and this was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Today I just feel truly blessed. I'm OK, my kids and hubby are OK. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this before? Dawn

Hi all, Well I had an extremely scary day yesterday. I had a headache all day. On my way home from work I stopped and bought some liquid Tylenol. I sat in my car for about 3 - 4 minutes after I took it because I just didn't feel like I could drive it hurt that bad. I started home again getting on highway 18 from Covington. I had only driven about a minute when I just knew that I was going to pass out so I pulled over. I couldn't get my head between my knees because of the steering wheel so I put my seat back as far as it would go and layed down after cranking up the air conditioning to help cool me down. As soon as I layed back I got extreme pain in my sternum area. I felt like I couldn't breathe or talk. I knew 911 wouldn't be able to understand me so I called my friend who had just left work with me. I knew she would know what direction I was going. She called 911 for me. It seemed like forever before they got there but it was only about 5 minutes. I thought I was having a heart attack!!! the firemen got there, then they called for the medics because they realized they couldn't help me. I don't even really remember how they got me out of the car but then I was in the ambulance and hooked up to an EKG. He said that my heart rhythms looked fine so then I thought "OH GOD NO, please don't let my band have slipped! Luckily I wear an emergency bracelet so they knew that I have had the band. I told them I wanted to go to St. Francis so that's where we went. My BP was really high (I always have it really low) and the pain was almost unbearable - worse than child birth!! They finally got an OK to give me some Morphine which helped greatly for about 2 minutes then they had to keep giving it to me. I don't even know how much I got. After about 2 hours the pain finally was under control. they took me for a CT Scan which showed the band was fine, THANK YOU GOD!!! I was so scared that I was going to have to have it removed!!! I finally left the ER about 12:30 that night. They said my heart was fine and the band looked fine so since the pain seemed under control I could go home. I saw Dr. Srikanth today and he said everything is still good too! YEAH, but now what? What caused all that? He said his best guess is that I had an esophogeal spasm or something like that. Basically he doesn't know but just to hope that it doesn't happen again. I'm so grateful that the band is OK. I prayed so hard that nothing major would be wrong but I also want to know what caused it. I just don't want it to ever happen again. I honestly thought I was dying. Maybe that sounds wimpy but I have a really strong pain tolerance and this was unlike anything I've ever experienced before. Today I just feel truly blessed. I'm OK, my kids and hubby are OK. Has anyone ever heard of anything like this before? Dawn

I didn't make it to the group last night either. Monday's are hard for me. I work on Mondays and Fridays, and on Mondays I'm all the way out in Maple Valley until 5:30. How was group? I sure enjoy getting together with everyone. November starts the once a month, right? Dawn

Hi all, Well I'm officially down 40 lbs. today. Woo-hoo!!! Very exciting. I've been exercising my brains out. Funny thing is that I'm actually kind of addicted to it now. Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that possible. I am not an exercise person. This little band of ours just helps to make you believe it's really possible. We purchased an Ellipticle machine off of Craigslist about 3 weeks ago and I've basically been doing it every day, followed by low weights to tone up. Then I've broken out my old "thigh master" remember, Suzanne Somers?? I can already tell a big difference. Who knew that if you held on to a piece of exercise equipment for 20 years that you might actually use it someday (the thigh master). I do 20 minutes on the Ellipticle. There are times when I just want to do 10 minutes or so but I keep telling myself that "I can do this". Although the weight isn't just "dropping off" like I would like I feel sooooo much better for the exercise. If I have a day when I can't work out I actually feel guilty. Some days I can hardly believe that this is me. I was basically the queen of avoiding exercise. Anyways, enough of me. I'm just filled with such hope right now that I wanted to share. Maybe that's what the band has really given to me - hope.:whoo: I hope that everyone is doing well. I have some old jeans that are a size 18 that don't fit anymore. I think that I only wore them once or twice. If anyone wants them let me know. I'll bring them to the next meeting at St. Joe's. Dawn:clap2:

Hello everyone, I haven't logged in for a while although I read the site everyday. I really enjoyed the meeting Monday night. I was definitely needing some moral support and everyone really helped me out. I feel much better and I actually lost 2 pounds - YEAH!!!!! Mer - it was nice meeting you Monday. I believe that we sat next to each other - I was to your right. Sue it was good seeing you again. Way to go with your weight loss, basically your at the 1/2 way point. WOW!!! Way to go! I think that the meetings help to keep you on track (or get you back on track if needed, which I did). Laura has so much knowledge and she really cares about everyone. Take care everyone and keep up the good work. Dawn

Hello everyone, bcrazy7- I had that happen this morning as well. That's one of my NSV's - I took a T-shirt right out of the dryer and didn't have to stretch it all out to make it fit right. YIPPEE!! 2nd NSV - I am finally able to wear my wedding ring again. I had refused to have it sized up so haven't been able to wear it for a couple of years. I can't quite get the engagement ring on yet (well I can but it's tight) but I'm very excited about my band. I've just been wearing another band for the last couple of years. Now I feel "official" again. that probably sounds silly but I'm very excited about the whole thing. Hope everyone is doing well. Dawn

Good morning everyone, Well I have a couple of NSV I'd like to share. 1st - A couple of weeks ago I was finally able to wear my wedding ring again!!!! I refused to have it sized up so I hadn't been able to wear it for a couple of years. I was just wearing different rings. 2nd - being able to put on T-shirts right out of the dryer and not having to stretch them to make them loose. YEAH!!!! Hope everyone's doing well. Riahg - hang in there. I know it seems like forever but you're more than halfway there. You wont always have to do all this documenting. I think you're doing fantastic. Dawn

Hi all, Is there going to be a meeting at St. Joe's on Monday even though it's a holiday?

Hello everyone, I know what you're saying about the head hunger. I've actually been pretty good since my pre-op diet. I've had little bites here and there but bascially stuck to the plan that my doctor had given me. Then today hits............... I don't know what happened to me. On the way home from work all of a sudden I get this overwhelming urge for an ice cream cone. So I think, OK, one wouldn't hurt. I should have known better. Not only did it not hurt but it seemed to have unleashed this binge eating monster. After I get home I have one of the kids pop tarts then a Special K breakfast bar. I never should have had that ice cream cone. I guess now I just have to get control back and try not to beat myself up too much. I can't believe that I did that though. With me it seems to be all or nothing. I can't have anything sweet or it lets loose the beast!! Ha-ha! By the way - I feel totally fine so that kind of sucks. I wish that I at least felt sick or something. Or stuffed - but no. I'm supposed to get my second fill next week so hopefully that will help.

Pinenut Glad to hear from you. Sorry to hear that they such a hard time finding your port. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a one time deal today. I know what you mean about being the "old" mommy. I have a three and a 4 1/2 year old. Emma - my 4.5 year old will be starting pre-school in September - just two days a week and I'm already a little nervous. I know she'll be fine, at it's at our church so that helps. I'm more worried about her brother. They've never really been apart so I'm not sure how he'll handle it. We'll have to set up some "special" mommy and son times while she's at school. Hope everyones doing well. Looks like the sun might shine today - Yippee!!

Good morning, How was the meeting Monday night? I really wanted to make it but I just didn't feel that great. I really love going to the meetings. They seem to re-affirm what I'm doing and can help get me motivated again. I hope that everyone is doing well. It sure would be nice if we could have some summer weather again. Maybe we'll have a great September.

Wenjea, thanks for the encouragement. Sounds like you need some yourself what with your arm and all. I hope that you are feeling better soon. what a great mom you are!! Now relax and take it easy so that shoulder can heal. Dawn

YEAH!!!! I'm so pleased. I finally lost those darn two pounds and I have now officially entered onederland!!!! I was starting to think that it would never happen. I can hardly believe it. It's been years since I've been here.

RiahG How's it going? Are you hanging in there with all those appointments you have to go to? Just try to keep the outcome in sight - no matter what. Worst case scenario, you have to wait a while for the surgery. At least you will have learned some valuable new tools to help you when you do get to have it done. I'm praying for you. Take care. Dawn

Sue - It was really nice meeting you last night at the meeting. I really enjoyed it. It's great to hear all the different stories and listen to what others are going through. It kind of helps to get me re-focused again. Dawn