want2bmeagain

While I am on a verbal bender here, I have to try and recreate a great story: I am in Colorado Springs with my mom and daughter on Wednesday night. We had to take my mom to emergency care because of infection at her many incision sites from her surgery. We finish (everything worked out fine), and are all starving...it's like 10pm. We find an Applebees...I am still barely eating solids, so I decide to graze on mashed potatoes. We are socializing and as usual, the conversation turns to the lap band experience, my recent fill, and having to be careful what I eat....I talk about what a great thing meat tenderizer is to have around. I told her that I forgot to bring it, but that I really have to get in the habit of taking it to restaurants so that I can use it when I eat. She starts laughing at me...gawd, is this whole sacrafice I made to get healthy just a joke to her??? She keeps laughing and puts her head in her hand, wiping the tears she is experiencing because her mother is a freak. I have had enough of being laughed at by my daughter and my feelings are hurt, so I firmly and pitifully say "Gosh, you can't even support me!"...She says "Gawd, Mom, what to you do, just take it into a restaurant and do this? (she makes a shaking movement all over her plate, like shaking the powder out of the container)...I said, "No, I would get a small cup of water, shake it IN the water and drink it" She stops smiling at me, perks up, and says "Drink it???!!!" I said "Yeah, you don't SPRINKLE it on your food!!" She starts laughing till she was crying... The WHOLE time we had this conversation, she thought meat tenderizer was a mallet I would carry in my purse and start pounding the crud out of the food on my plate while in a restaurant! She pictured me wielding a hammer all for the sake of my band! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA We laughed till we cried!!!!! :bounce:

forgot another thing...as I am wretching, I kept thinking "where is that cool intact bubble I have read about coming out of someone's mouth while they are suffering??? I want one of those!! I want to look back on this with at least ONE cool memory" no such luck

"I wanna talk about ME, I wanna talk about I Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my, What I think, What I like, What I know, What I want, What I see. I like talkin' about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally I wanna talk about ME! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about ME-E-E. (me, me, me)" -compliments of Toby Keith What do I want to talk about??? MEEEE, and my first PB!!! OMG Girls, if you haven't yet had the joy, I hope you never do! I made wonderful lemon chicken with capers and angel hair pasta last night...yum! Went down slow, but yummy and tasty~ Fast forward to lunch today. Reading online, distracted, old fashioned sized bite...then it hit....felt like someone stuffed a couple of golf balls down my throat...panic, sweat, slime, excruciating pain, strangluation....flap arms and walk around the house...are you kidding???????? How about running like a mad woman to the cupboard, getting meat tenderizer, frantically shaking it into a cup, adding water, sipping, then hurting WORSE!! Ok, what now??? Where are the paramedics?? Ok, I will run to the bathroom because I don't know what else to do...my coffee cup was sitting in there (don't even ask me why)~ took a petite sip to try and wash it down...good gawd, felt then like I swallowed a tennis ball....Has anyone strangled to death because of the little $10,000 tool they willingly had forced into their innards??? Then....it happened. I felt like a teenager on a tequila bender who couldn't even make it to the porcelien god. Sh*t ~ aaaakkkkk, the sink, I can make it to the sink. But, another problem emerges, I haven't peed in a while~ I am going to wretch so hard, will I pee at the same time???? OMG!!!! I decorated the sink enough to end the suffocation, ran to the toilet to tinkle, then the nausea hit again....gawd, I have to finish peeing so I don't pee my pants and throw up at the same time....aaaakkk~ the trash can...phew, the trash can! So, I am pitifully experiencing tears running down my face because the PB forced every bit of moisture out from every orifice in my body, bloodshot eyes, head in the trash can that is on my lap, arms wrapped tightly around the makeshift throw up thing, pants pulled down to my ankles, , spitting slime out every 5 seconds...final wretch and it was over

Any bandsters who quit before surgery? after surgery? Smoked before and after? How did you quit, if you did? I know all the horrific stuff about smoking~ I am working on quitting, am down to half of usual cigs per day~ If you couldn't quit before surgery, did you have problems with anasthesia? I am trying hard to totally quit, but haven't gotten there quite yet.

Good Gawd.... you all wanted to see more than one of us because we are so pretty, right??? :omg:

Here is the RR pic from last Monday~we're all pretty cute for being ladies on our way to being "hot"!!!! woo-hoo :clap2: This would be me(Kelly), Mare, and Nicnaknut ~ Was wonderful to meet them, and now I am just waiting to meet the rest of you! I may be in Denver on the eve of Nov. 15th...maybe we can schedule it???? Hugs everyone~! Oh, when I get a chance later, I will try and post a hysterical story for you!

It's been a crazy week...still in Colorado Springs as my daughter's car broke down! We hope it will be fixed tomorrow and my mom and I will head over the mountain home. NICNAKNUT is doing great! i think she is so excited to be in bandland! All went well with the surgery and she is on her way! woo hoo!!! Phew...my fill is finally settling in..I was worried there for a time. I haven't tried but a few teenie bites of mushies, but I can now get them down...fluids are fine. Still no pbing or sliming, just excruciating pain if I eat something my band isn't ready for. Since the incredible restriction has eased some already, I think I will do ok. Dr. K put a total of 4.25cc into my 10cc band... On a good note, this week I am down about another 2 pounds. I have decided that I am an out of control food goddess without enough restriction:o the last couple weeks, EVERYTHING went down without a hitch~ didn't gain any of the weight back I had lost, but the scale stuck and made a frightening face at me every time I stepped on! So, am I a freak, or what...sometimes this board reminds me of truth or dare..tee, hee! So, am I the only one who disrobes, slowly approches the scale, carefully steps on, and off, and on, and off, and on, and off, and on, and off...just to "double check" the numbers????? I have a hysterical story to share, but will catch up when I get home. This day and night have been ridiculous and it's way overtime to snooze! Hope all is well with everyone take care!

Tied~ WE MISSED YOU!! We waited for a while,then got a table, hoping you'd show up..hopefully next time I'm up here, we can meet! Nicnaknut's surgery is Tuesday the 16th (tomorrow, or today, depending on when you're reading this!) ~ WOO-HOO!!!!! Had a wonderful time with Mare and 'B at Red Robin...what a kinship we banders have...I love it. I had my first fill today ~ Dr. K was wonderful and got the port right on. After I left, I didn't feel enough restriction, went back and he added a teeny bit, per my request...I am not sure if I overdid it, or what this is supposed to feel like. No PB, no sliming, but feels tight and it was miserable to try and eat a bite of scrambled egg. I did ok on the soup at RR, but could only eat half and slow....Now I am sipping liquid. I will definitley get back losing weight. I am in the Springs till Wed., Dr. K said if this is too much, to come back before I leave town and even if he is at the hospital, he will do a slight unfill. He's such a neat man... I will keep you all posted.... Mal, Woof, Michelle, and all...hope to meet you someday! LS~ CONGRATS!!!

Mal...can you try and swing by RR tomorrow night? Maybe you could head to the hospital a tad earlier? Woof and Michelle ~ if you could even drop by, that would be so awesome!! My mind is blank on the other locals...oh, Drew! you too!! Anyone else, see if you can drop in and grace us with your presence! Ok Girls Tomorrow night 7:00 pm, RR on Arapahoe and I-25!!! If I got any of this wrong, let me know! I feel like the blind leading the blind, being a newbie and all to this! Also, if you want to call me, PM and we can exchange cells. I am heading to Co. Springs later today and Denver tomorrow and I will check my emails and such. I hope everyone is well...there are so many individual congratulations to give, but I have been super-duper crazy busy..my mom just had surgery and I have been able to be her nurse, and have been away from the computer more than usual... See you tomorrow! :whoo:

Man, you guys are an awesome bunch! Now that I have been introduced, I read when I can and have to catch up a lot if I miss a couple of days! There is definitely a kinship here:) Kat~ any news?? I want to write more to specific posts and such, but my mom is having surgery today and I have to get ready to go.... Hey, do any of you live in Colorado?? Cheers!

Great pic, gals!!! Welcome Sherry, Jenifer, and Bookholder! A very short time ago I was contemplating, planning, freaking out, and committing~ all of a sudder, poof!...the surgery was here and gone, and I am a month out today!! SEPT girls...how are you all feeling?? Michelle~ the power the IRS has nauseates me. It has to be the only organization that takes our money (lots of it) and then terrifies us with their power later....let us know how it all ends up. Woof~ can you make it Monday?? Mal~ can't wait to meet you! Can I join the women-who-love-ice-cream-and-shouldn't-eat it club??? THe mint chocolate chip won here last night:p Drew~ what is your roller derby name? I went on the web page and couldn't figure it out...man it looks like fun to watch a match! MONDAY, OCT. 15TH LET'S GET TOGETHER EVERYONE! If someone wants to meet somewhere other than RR, we can take a vote. It doesn't matter to me....Do you want to all meet at 6 or 7??

I am taking Nature's Plus liquit vitamin/mineral supplement. It also has whole food concentrate that probably helps give it the lovely spirulina/chlorophill color! It has a tropical flavor and really isn't too bad. It sure beats the taste of kids liquid Advil! I also get their chewable calcium hearts, chewable C, and chewable Zinc. The best prices I have found are on Buy Discount Vitamins, Supplements, Low Carb and More at www.Vitacost.com . Oh, I also purchase my protein powder, made by Jarrow, there. It is $10 less per tub than at the health food store. I don't take Flinstones or Centrum. I once saw a great demonstration...put one in vinegar and see how long it takes to dissolve! Cured me!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKK~ No one wants to see me up that close!!!! How do you make the pic smaller??? Sorry for the overwhelming size....

Well, I actually lost a pound after chasing that cow with a fork and knife at my mom's...gawd, I could never be a vegetarian! Get home tonight, had roasted chicken, gnocchi, and veggies~ but, good grief, I am able to put down WAY MORE than the first two weeks, but about 1/2 of pre banding days...I am going to have to start being real careful here, and I hope my first fill clamps down on when I get full! Please tell me it will~ Just so I make it official: RR, Oct. 15th.... who's in?? Please, please if you can make it to both meetings, please do so we can all be graced with each other's presence...it means a lot! I am going to try and attach a pic of Kat and I..you have probably read lots of her posts on the board hopefully, next pic, I will actually look like I have lost weight!

Kat, haven't I seen you somewhere before?? :car: Wow, a first real pic of me on the boards...I have been initiated~ yep, I look like a midget standing next to Kat...I would be 5'4"...not 5'3", or 5'2"...got to squeeze in every inch I can! We had a wonderful time! The lapband not only gives us our life back, but we then get to give our lives to building new friendships.... :car:

Let's schedule both dates for RR. I think that will be the best option~If any of you can go to both, PLEASE do so that we all get the chance to meet/see everyone we can! I am getting quite excited, and I really think Michelle should cancel her trip so I can meet her! I can take up the helm for the meeting on the 15th...anyone, PLEASE pm me if you think you can go. This is such a big deal for us out of towners, and personally, I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you! So, if you have to knock down walls to make it... GASTRIC bypass thoughts: Absolutely broke my heart to know there is a memorial board...Makes me so sad. I hope to god that Lapband begins to replace most of the bypass surgeries, and that the docs who make more income on bypass will surrender and do what's better for the patient. I have talked to several folks who have a friend or loved one who has been so disabled by the surgery...I suppose the calling to all of us is to talk, talk, talk, and maybe we will save even one person :think RED ROBIN, ladies....let's communicate and solidify plans~ hugs....

Hey girls! Wow, I miss a couple of days, and all kinds of catching up to do! I had an awesome day...got to meet Kat817 and visit for a few hours! It was so much fun! She is a great gal! I hope that RR can be changed so more of us can meet. Keep us posted and let us know! After she and I visited, I had to run to some stores and am now at my mom's. Ok, what did she make for dinner?? T-bone steak....:hungry: :omg: Did I weigh it? did I measure it? did I CARE?? uh...nooooooo. I have read that we should take a very long time to chew and eat. I did. Took me about 2 hours to eat the whole damn thing! Then, to top it off an hour later, well, she buys these evil ice cream nuget bar things from Schwan's. Geezeohpete...Good thing I don't live here. I didn't PB, didn't even burp, it didn't even hurt. I am so hoping that my first fill will change that a little bit. I felt like a pig ~ I am not going to agonize, whine, plead for encouragement, rub my face in the dirt. I overate, and gawd...did that steak taste GOOD! So, onward and upward..ok, I didn't make any heaving sounds, my mouth didn't fill up with mucous, I didn't chew my cud...but I am still very full, and it's been a while. Ok, maybe I will whine. Maybe you should tell me it's ok and I haven't completely fallen off the wagon, but just dropped my shoe on the parade route. How bout if I change the subject???? I am just going to list my input to some of the questions I read: -My insurance totally excludes any weight loss surgery, and paid for my meds. -Clear Isopure is what I drank for about a day, and decided it was too gross to continue. Gosh, I had just been beat to a pulp, why in the world would I want to torture myself?? It might hamper my healing:rolleyes:! Had a lot of canned broth (Swanson), tasted good. Had iced tea, and didn't worry about protein for the first 48 hours -got a LOT of help from wasabubblebutt on protein ~ and shopped around. I bought Matrix, and wasn't fond of the Splenda taste, but am being a good girl and drinking it. I learned that collagen protein is junk, whey is best. I then found and read about Jarrow..a whey protein powder that I bought on www.vitacost.com ..great price. I got the vanilla and unflavored. No artificial sweetners :whoo:, tastes yummy. - by day 3 or so, I was ready for the liquid version of "real" food. So, I made some different soups and roasts, threw mine in the blender and thinned a ton with the broths. Dr. K seems more liberal on the liquid phases, and emphasized NO throwing up as his mantra. ~ Supplements...something I have been meaning to post. Now, I am not a health nut, or I wouldn't be fat and hate exercise:p, but have picked up a few things along the way. Flinstones and Centrum are NOT the best. I finally found a liquid multi vitamin/mineral combo from Nature's Plus, I also bought their chewable Calcium, C, and Zinc. I love the calcium...tastes like malt. I bought everythign on vitacost. Their shipping is cheap, their prices far below a health food store. The liquid multi is not pretty to look at, dark green...maybe chlorophyll. But, it isn't bad...kind of tropical taste, and palatable enough for a good supplement. Shelbi~ How much do plane tickets cost to get to Denver for a fill? How much would the local doc charge for a fill? You brought up a good point about what happens if another doc damages the band stuff...I never thought of that. I found a local surgeon who said he'd be happy to unfill me if I run into an emergency...that's what worried me the most....Would it make sense for you to find a doc for emergencies and get your fills from Dr. K? It seems that for many of us, the fill part is the pain. I will have about a 12 hour round trip drive for mine ~ ugh. Or, if you had your first fill with Dr. K, then look around? It's a hard thing to figure out....but, follow your gut feeling, it's usually right, whatever it turns out to be. By the way, how are you feeling? Gurly ~ how are you doing? Woof~ how's the job situation and planning doing? New mommies....congrats, congrats, congrats again! everyone else...keep on truckin'...you are an inspiration to me! Longhorn, and Tied...WELCOME!! health to all!

I shop at Buy Discount Vitamins, supplements, Low Carb and More at www.Vitacost.com and have found some great stuff! Nature's Plus makes a very good-for-you liquid Vitamin and mineral supplement with tropical flavor. Compared to other liquid supplements, it tastes good, but is a vitamin. It is a high quality, well absorbed, vitamin/mineral complex. Flinstone/Centrum type products are like comparing bleached white bread to a hearty multi-grain product~incomparible health wise. I also bought Nature's Plus chewable calcium hearts, which are GOOD! Kind of a malt flavor. I also bought their Vit C and Zinc, all chewable. They ship any number of products for around five bucks. good luck!

I have read many posts about having to get to the ER for an unfill (or trying to find someone capable enough to do an unfill!), complication, slippage, etc. during a true emergency when there is no way to get to our original surgeon fast enough. I, like many folks, have health insurance with a complete exclusion for obesity related surgery, thus, was self pay. Does insurance cover an emergency that is due to an originally excluded procedure??? Scary thought, knowing what it costs to even walk into an ER. I know the ulimate answer for each of us is to check with our providers, but I have learned so much by other's experiences, and wanted thoughts and advice before I call my ins. company to find the answer. I want to get your thoughts and hear your experiences on this one! It truly is something to think about. thanks!

There will be at least 2 of us coming in for our first fills on Oct. 15th, and nicnaknut will be in Denver for her surgery on Tue. the 16th....What time do you all usually meet? Is that a possibility for the RR night, or too far out? just a thought! Gawd, Dynamo...I am so sorry about your experience...makes me sick to my stomach...what, technically, is next in the process?? Sh*t (excuse my french :omg:), what is going to happen if we get audited for Schedule A itemized medical lap band expenses?? That ought to be fun...on top of being self employed for some of us!!!

Sunshine~ where will you be going for a fill? My first is scheduled for Oct 15th, and I know that 3 of the 4 that Dr. K banded on the 11th are having their fills that day....I think Dr. K does them about a month or so out. Let me know how you are...hop onto Dr. K thread or PM me!

Patty can you put it on a credit card or something so you can proceed?

Woof ~ way to go, you'll do great! I remember the first time I had a job after stay-at-home mommy-ing it for 8 yrs...it was like riding a bike~was easier than I thought! I think working isn't the hardest, it's getting the kids in order while you're working! Once that's a routine, you will enjoy it all! How old are the kids? Mine are now 20 and 16 this month. Shelbi~ You have to continue protein shakes forever, from what I remember. I haven't measured portion sizes, per se, but getting full comes much quicker. I had that lovely piece of KFC :eek: lickety split, plus a few more bites, but was stuffed. Then tried to have a warmed up piece the next night ,had a bite, and the golfball hit (karma SUCKS!). Kept reading about the golfball attack on the boards, and thought what the h*ll is that???? Boy, did I know it when I experienced it! I guess, follow your body's signals, and go at it easy. I have to do everything bassaswards...so, I remember to take small bites and eat slower, only because of the times I didn't! You will be reminded ALL THE TIME! How's that for concrete medical advice...ha, ha! I am 3 weeks out, and am not as excited about real food as I thought. Some stuff is just too much hassle to eat ( ME?? saying that??)! Last night...small bowl of refried beans ~ night before...large cup of homemade green chili. When I get real hungry, several bites of cottage cheese works wonders! Let me know how you do. I was so excited to start eating real food last week...tried it, and blah...not as much fun to me. Good thing is, I am slowly losing weight and am stunned that I am not in a food frenzy (all the time!)..esp after the KFC attack! EVERYONE ~ thanks so much for your help after my real life horror KFC flic! I couldn't log on the boards to say thank you then, had to contact LBT and finally got it fixed. I savored every word you all wrote to me..I needed them. Most days, I feel like I have no restriction, and twice now, it felt like I had total restriction. I guess if I was eating more real food, I would experience it more often. I like the moments of restriction...at least I know there really is a band in there! I don't always feel full, but satisfied enough. Tried the MEAT TENDERIZER trick ~ almost spit it across the room when I tasted it:omg: , but worked like a charm~ Sunshine and Lap ~ cool info on the super tasters! I want to do the test stuff. But, Sunshine, is it a WHOLE pack of sweet n low??? AAAKKK! I will do it if I have to. Actually, I just realized that sweet n low in teenie amounts is the only thing I can stand. It has to be in only iced tea, and one pack lasts probably 8 glasses or so. Gawd, do I sound totally OCD or what??? Mal~ so much fun the boys must have had ! How have you been ??

Woo-Hoo!!!! CONGRATULATIONS, SHESHA!! :preggers: CANT WAIT TO MEET YOU NICNAKNUT! HAVE A FUN TRIP! Hello everyone! So, tonight is the first night that I really felt like I was on an eating frenzy. I waited way too long to eat something, and felt starving...could I have a protein shake...no. How about some cottage cheese? Nah. Maybe a scrambled egg?....sick of those. Ok, try a small bowl of refried beans with melted cheese...too..well...boring. So, what did Miss, I have been doing so good, Kelly do? Drove to KFC, then came home and devoured a chicken thigh and the skin!!!!!!!! Is is supposed to go down THAT easy? I chewed really good, and had no problems...but, good grief, KFC for godsake???? Please tell me that after fills it won't be so easy...I mean, a tad bit of physical discomfort to remind me..or something!!!! :decision: So, dusting off the layer of remorse, and pressing on. That's what I'm supposed to do... right??? :rose:

Big Medicine is truly an inspriation! The episode with Garth's sister is actually what prompted me to investigate, learn, and book my lapband surgery. I went racing to the computer after the show and was lit on fire about the procedure. Of course, I freaked about what happened to her, and since I live at least 6 hours from a band surgeon, it took a lot of learning to see how uncommon her situation was and how to try and prevent it. It also showed how a competent doc can fix a blockage, and fix it fast. IMO, her doc should be fired! That said, I contacted Garth about the band, got his rates, but got held up on how long he'd want me in town after surgery, and that they would not do the surgery unless I could commit to returning once a month for 6 months. EXCELLENT followup, but impossible for me to travel from CO to Texas that often. At that point, my hunt began. I will credit that show for my banding decision! I will say that I think they should talk more (for the watching public) about the extreme risks of bypass..they make it look so easy! It's awesome! Can't wait till next season!