cquirino

Hi all! Kathy and I have been meeting on a fairly regular basis and it's so nice to have someone to go through everything with! I know we are both excited about expanding these meetings and we have set up a yahoo group to keep everybody on the same page! PDXishlapbanders : PDXish Lap Banders If your interested please check out the group and sign up! We are working on getting the calender put together! Look forward to getting to know everybody! Chris

I have to say I am very excited about losing weight - 38lbs so far is wonderful! But Maybe the overall issue is after having gone so far as to have surgery and alter how you eat for the rest of your life we have a little bit of a subconscious let down because it's not an instant fix...wake up and be half way there or something, although I know that is not even a possibility - I guess that my secret heart of hearts has seen way to many bewitched and I dream of Jeanie episodes! Be proud of yourself though! I mean, you still have the option to eat ice cream and fill up on junk...so every day you don't you have won a small victory for your body and ultimately all those small victories will lead you to what is for all of us the bigger goal! Being happier, healthier people! Otherwise who would have gone through all of this and spent all that money! Take care! Chris

Hi all, I am in Clackamas, OR and had my surgery on 6/26/07 w/ Dr. Neil in Olympia, WA. I was wondering if anyone knows of or would be interested in putting together a local group to get together for moral support, ideas, whatever? I have heard that people who are part of a support group have the greatest chance of sucess! And believe me, I really want to make it work! my email is cquirino@yahoo.com, please let me know if your interested! Thanks, Chris

Hi, are you taking the liquid vicodin / hydrocodone for pain? because upon reading the little package insert about a week after surgery I realized that this medication will cause you to retain Water and have trouble urinating...this could be part of the issue, I know it was for me...after surgery (about two days) I had feet that looked more like sausages and was amazed that I actually slept through and entire night without getting up to go to the bathroom...I am usually someone who gets up 3 to 5 times a night (bladder the size of a walnut apparently) Good luck! Take care! Chris Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take acetaminophen and hydrocodone and talk to your doctor if you experience constipation; dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite; dizziness, tiredness, or lightheadedness; muscle twitches; sweating; itching; decreased urination; or decreased sex drive. Hydrocodone is habit forming. It is possible become physically and/or psychologically dependent on the medication. Do not take more than the prescribed amount of medication or take it for longer than is directed by your doctor. Withdrawal effects may occur if acetaminophen and hydrocodone is stopped suddenly after several weeks of continuous use. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction in dose. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Hi Joanna & Nancy! I am so excited to hear from you both! I think what I am gonna try to do today is set up a group at yahoo so we can communicate that way? What does everybody think? Of course this is based on my figuring out how - I will keep everybody posted! Talk to you all soon. Chris

And then There were TWO! Anybody else interested? I am really excited about this!

I agree with the majority here, it sounds like she isn't the best of supervisors. And I do understand the point of needing your job...we all need our jobs! But in the end, you have a right to a personal life, and things at the office will go on without us, like it or not. And on the plus side, maybe she will appreciate just how much you do and be kinder to you when you get back! I do have a different opinion though, on letting people know whats going on. I have let everybody know! It's not a secret that I am fat, and I figure the more people who know how hard I am working the more people I have around me to be supportive! And we can all use a good group of cheerleaders right! That and there is the pride part that won't let me fail if I know I have all those eyes on me! Anyhow, best of luck with everything!

I was having a hard time with the up and down stuff too...what worked pretty well for me, just for sit to stand was a cane, just helped to make things a little more gradual, and lets you use your arms instead of those oh so sore abs! was able to ditch it after about the fifth day! So best to borrow one if you can! Good luck!

Well, not really a final straw, but basically the realization that I am missing out on so many things in life, teaching my daughter to ride a bike, camping trips (cause I can't move the next day when I have to sleep on the ground) traveling...so many things!

Hi all, just wanted to share my discovery on taking pills after surgery, I am using a coffee grinder to grind the little suckers to death! It's working really well, although I can't say much about the getting em down part...ugh! Anyhow, hope it helps

Yes, good point, I started that process 2 weeks prior to surgery...and talk about painful! Pharmacist says talk to the doctor.. doctor says talk to the pharmasist, kinda like every body says "NOT IT" at once... certainly somthing to get sorted out well in advance of surgery if you have multiple doc's prescribing long term meds!

Actually I go back tomorrow for my follow up so I will see then, but my boobs are now sticking out further than my tummy so that has to be a good sign! I have had a tough time getting all my protien in, and have had good luck with the high protein ensure drinks, 8 oz serving gives you 12 mg of protein...and then for a boost adding protien powder and a little water to thin it back out, seems to be working pretty well! That and tomato soup with unflavored protien powder, because amazing as it sounds I am getting sick to death of sweet! Good luck to you! let me know how your surgery goes! Chris

Well, I just had my surgery on 6/26/07 and prior to that was on the medifast diet...so mostly liquid, what really helped me was using the suggestions on the boxes...the oatmeal that you can bake up in cookie form or muffin form...it was something with texture and an treat with a cup of vanilla carmel truffle tea (0 calories / fat /anything) also with that diet you are allowed a meal of lean protien and vegitables, what I stuck with was salad and either fish or chicken, I would split my salad and have half at lunch w/ the soup part of the diet and the other half at dinner. I was able to lose 20 lbs in 13 days! You will be so proud of yourself for sticking with it! Good luck!