ReneBean

Woo Hoo, Sharon!! You are on your way!!!! Good for you! Congrats!

Patient? hahahahahahahah. You guys just couldn't see me kicking and screaming throught the computer. Hugs! Veruca.

She's ALIVE! Alive, I tell you.... Howdy Friends and Loved Ones! I am enjoying my lovely Tropical LB Vacation here at Chez Rusty Spa. Yesterday, we had a field trip to IKEA. It's much nicer there without the Saturday crowds. DH and I determined that if IKEA had been open when we purchased our house, it would look very different today. We kinda like that place! I got myself a CD holder so that I can move the CD's off my bookshelf and finish putting away my zillion books. We also picked up more bookshelves... Dang! With them being in boxes for so long, I forgot just how many books I have.... I am going to have to thin the ranks. I have grown used to a house with less clutter. So, I am reading a lot - I read and give the books away to the goodwill or the Charity du Jour - and playing my PC game "Spellforce". Um - if Eileen is the Mom around here, then I am DEFINITELY one of the kids. I plan to never grow up. I might even be succeeding at my goal to be the most spoiled person in my house - but the cats are always right there neck and neck. Poor Rusty. He gets to be the low man on the spoiled totem pole. Of course, the low man does pretty well around here, too. I got a lovely box from Anwyn/Anne in the mail yesterday with some Protein powders and a lovely bracelet. I was going to post pictures - but my home technology is not all sync'd up and I haven't got Internet to my Laptop at home yet... Pictures on Monday, I promise. Thank you, Anne. The bracelet is beautiful and just the right amount of girly girl sparkle. Love the magnetic clasp! Sadly, the unjury Protein powder is kinda icky. I can see why you didn't use it. If you ever need to do liquids, I recommend Carb Solutions powder or Atkins. Carb Solutions has 20G of protein, it tastes good and it doesn't smell funny... :] Atkins only has 15g per serving - but again, it tastes good. Both are Meal Replacements - so you get lots of lovely Vitamins, too. I will try the EAS and let you know how that is. Thanks again for sending them. **I also picked up some non-Meal Replacement stuff at Walmart that is nicer than the Unjury - it's called Six Star. I also got a lovely box of flowers from New Jersey this morning... Thank you Eileen!!! I have that lovely smell in the house that comes from fresh cut flowers. There is nothing else like it! Thanks, Mom!! Again, pictures on Monday. Zan - I am NEVER coherent until I have had at least a cup of coffee. I do so much better when I have my little protein latte before I go to work. And, I am thinking I might take the $200/mo I had budgeted for lunch at work and put it into a Plastic Surgery fund. I am SO going to need it! I figure a couple of yrs of that and I can at least get my arms done... (I fully expect my insurance company to pay for the Panni...and you know about me and the insurance company!) Sherry - Ah, yes. That "work 80 hrs a week for the week before your vacation" phase. Such fun. Girl, I feel GREAT today. I had surgery on Monday, and here it is Friday and I am off pain meds, and fully functional. Just get tired a little sooner than normal. You will do great too!! I am up to puddings and liquidy mush. The liquids are just to allow time for the swelling to go down, anyway. I expect having a PB within the first couple of weeks after surgery would be EXTREMELY bad for the whole process. The diet is designed to avoid any abdominal distress long enough for everything to heal up. Good Luck! Betty - I surely hope it doesn't freeze - but it seems like it does every year. My little magnolia thinks it is time and starts budding up a storm and then, along comes the last whip of Winter and kills all those glorious flowers before they can bloom. *sigh* Maybe I'll get lucky this year. Eileen - The pain is all but gone, except for the infamous port incision. I have slept in my bed with extra pillows since day 2. Plus, I haven't had any of the magic hydrocodon since the night before last. *You could turn your lie into the truth and START exercising everyday... Just a thought. :] Anne - You crack me up with all that special flower business! hahahah. Good luck with the meeting. Just remember - think ahead to the formative middle/high school years... pre-puberty, it is all pretty unimportant - but once they get to middle school and high school, age relative to other classmates and other maturity related stuff will become painfully important. Cindy - I got your msg - DH was on-line (of course. It seems like one of us always is). Actually, the food network is not a problem, nor is watching DH eat. It's those darned Cheeseburger commercials for Fast Food. I still want that danged Cheeseburger. I guess once I get healed up I will have to give it a try. I mean, pre-fill I should be able to eat one, since I have the VG band. However, I am SO not into having a PB, that I am being very good about liquids and such. :] Great work on the moving scale!! I can't wait to see that scale start moving for me!! Dianne - I cheat! I can't remember all that stuff. Here's my secret. I read through all of it once - and then I "go advanced" for my reply. You can scroll down (way down) and see the last several posts without changing screens. That way, I can scroll down and see what each person said before I type the response to them. Gads, you folks didn't really think I could recall all that stuff, did you? Good news on the surgery date. That will be here before you know it! And **EEEK** just say "no" to bypass! Friends don't let Friends mangle their intestines! It will be fine, Honey. The Doc will be able to put the band back in, I swear. With all of US thinking good thoughts and saying prayers, it's a sure thing. Well, my Dears... I must get back to reading, playing and the occassional unpacking of books. Besides, I haven't checked out any of the other posts, yet. Some other bandsters might need a hug today, too. Love you guys!!

Congrats and Felicitations!!

I love my Doc!! Doctor Louis Fox at Surgery Center of Richardson. He was wonderful and the whole staff there was wonderful. Surgery Center of Richardson has multiple seminars every week and I know that several of the other doctors there are excellent as well. Lap Band is pretty much all they do there, so they are all very experienced, too. You can look them up on-line - just google Surgery Center of Richardson. :]

OMG, Doll, I am not sure giving Paul a WHIP is such a good idea. He's trouble enough unarmed... Geez! What are you trying to do to us? The thought of Paul with a Whip - and YOU at the other end... I may have to drag DH into the bedroom!! I'm not sure that my incisions can take that, yet... :couch2:

It's harder at home, since I have dial up - but when work is slow, I am all over LBT all day long... Thank Goodness I found this place! Yup, it's better than crack. :]

Well, you should probably get started on the 6 month supervised thing - but you can fight them while you do. If you have co-morbidities that will damage you while you wait, that could be the basis for an arguement... for instance, every day with uncontrolled diabetes, you damage your circulation system more. Hopefully this type of arguement will get them to relent. Good Luck!

Yep, I have already "cheated" on the clear liquid diet. I blended some FF Refried Beans with a half a can of mild enchilada sauce. It was about the consistency of a thick gravy - and it tasted like heaven and felt like REAL FOOD. So, I guess following "to the letter" is out the window. The good news is that I am learning some stuff from eating this quasi-real-food. 1) Getting hungry is very bad. I waited something like 6-8 hours before I ate my liquid beans. I ended up eating like a whole cup of them - not kosher. 2) I have "new band" restriction. I could tell about when I was supposed to stop - I got that burpy thing that I have seen folks post about. I didn't stop eating, though... Nope. Hungry is BAD. Fortunately, the beans were properly liquid, so I just had to burp and wait a minute and I could take another spoonful without pain. [uh, I am afraid they call that "eating around the band" but I really hadn't had any food to speak of today, so I did it on purpose.] 3) see item 1. Hungry is VERY BAD. My personal goal of No PB's will be right out the window if I don't stop eating when I get the signal. So now I know that I have to portion out the food BEFORE I start eating. If it isn't there in front of me, I will be too damned lazy to get up and get more, unless I am really and truly hungry. Oh well. It isn't like I am anywhere near a "normal" calorie count and my body won't have to work too hard to digest liquid beans, so I am not going to beat myself up about it. It's just interesting that I am only like 2 days in and I am already "cheating". Maybe I should have that discussion with my Brain, right away. Overall, I feel much much better today. Lots less pain (yeah, the 2nd day after the Anesthesia wore off, I had pain) and many more hours of consciousness. I wasn't QUITE up to a trip to IKEA, yet. Tomorrow, I promised DH we could go for a short trip tomorrow. I am supposed to be walking more... and there will be much less traffic there if we go during the week. If I feel even a little bit better tomorrow, it should be fine. Truth be told, I could have done it today. I just didn't want to. Well, I am going to go burp in a different room, now. urp. giggles!

Yep, I have already "cheated" on the clear liquid diet. I blended some FF Refried Beans with a half a can of mild enchilada sauce. It was about the consistency of a thick gravy - and it tasted like heaven and felt like REAL FOOD. So, I guess following "to the letter" is out the window. The good news is that I am learning some stuff from eating this quasi-real-food. 1) Getting hungry is very bad. I waited something like 6-8 hours before I ate my liquid beans. I ended up eating like a whole cup of them - not kosher. 2) I have "new band" restriction. I could tell about when I was supposed to stop - I got that burpy thing that I have seen folks post about. I didn't stop eating, though... Nope. Hungry is BAD. Fortunately, the beans were properly liquid, so I just had to burp and wait a minute and I could take another spoonful without pain. [uh, I am afraid they call that "eating around the band" but I really hadn't had any food to speak of today, so I did it on purpose.] 3) see item 1. Hungry is VERY BAD. My personal goal of No PB's will be right out the window if I don't stop eating when I get the signal. So now I know that I have to portion out the food BEFORE I start eating. If it isn't there in front of me, I will be too damned lazy to get up and get more, unless I am really and truly hungry. Oh well. It isn't like I am anywhere near a "normal" calorie count and my body won't have to work too hard to digest liquid beans, so I am not going to beat myself up about it. It's just interesting that I am only like 2 days in and I am already "cheating". Maybe I should have that discussion with my Brain, right away. Overall, I feel much much better today. Lots less pain (yeah, the 2nd day after the Anesthesia wore off, I had pain) and many more hours of consciousness. I wasn't QUITE up to a trip to IKEA, yet. Tomorrow, I promised DH we could go for a short trip tomorrow. I am supposed to be walking more... and there will be much less traffic there if we go during the week. If I feel even a little bit better tomorrow, it should be fine. Truth be told, I could have done it today. I just didn't want to. Well, I am going to go burp in a different room, now. urp. giggles!

Aw, you guys are the best!! Thanks so much for all the kind words. I am feeling exponentially better today. I spent the last two days dozing, walking, breathing, and sipping. I can hardly wait for the next couple of weeks to slide by so I can stand and roll over like a normal person, instead of a crippled oldster... But otherwise, life is good. Hugs All Round! :]

Since August? Wow Za! Margo Kicks A$$!! :]

Wow... you go out for surgery and stay away for a bit, and look at the stuff that goes on... Reverting to the original question of why people abuse themselves and then wonder why the band isn't working - I have to go with the addiction thing. I was riding home from my surgery and my HEAD told me I wanted a cheeseburger. My Sanity argued "A WHAT!?!? Are you Flipping Insane?!?! You JUST had weightloss surgery. Your body is in shock. You cannot possibly be hungry right now. It is physically impossible!!!" My Head whined "But I WANT one... I want one right now! NOOOOOOWWWWW!." Thankfully, my Sanity was tougher than my head at that moment - that and the fact that I was NOT going to ask my DH to stop for a cheeseburger. He would have had me locked up. But what if my Head had been stronger? What if my Sanity had still be doped up? What if I had been alone at home with the phone and the pizza company on speed-dial? These are the thoughts that keep me coming back here and keep my aware of the fact that Head Hunger and Food Addiction are out there waiting to get me. Part of me seriously wanted that cheeseburger. And that is just crazy.

Gosh, Jonathan, I am thinking good thoughts for you. I hope whatever you decide works out for you.

That's IT. I am dumping my husband for YOU, Paul. I am the sole breadwinner for our household, I volunteered for that when we moved to Texas. I had some FANTASY that my DH could do as Paul has described. I wanted someone to take care of all that crap that I hate and let me do what I am good at - making money. Bless his heart - My DH is the best cook on the planet. His food is so great that I might have to keep him on the side after I dump him for Paul, but his housekeeping SUCKS. God help me if I question the fact that there are dust bunnies in the corners of my bathroom... he is mortally wounded that I could find fault. Paul, Honey, I have lots of money to buy chocolate and a 36 inch screen in the living room so you never have to miss Oprah. Can you keep 2300 square feet spotless and put up with another man in your kitchen?? xo

Hey Guys I thought I had better check in and let you know how I am... I am doing well, all things considered. My pain is better today - It's just the port incision that still hurts - which makes sense - since something is still in there and the muscles have to heal around it. I have spent the last day or so sleeping a lot - drugged up and dozing. I have already cheated on the diet a little - I blended some refried Beans with enchilada sauce to make them nice and liquidy and I ate some. Of course, a couple of spoonfuls was enough - and it tasted like ambrosia. I can see my grocery bill being dramatically reduced if this is all the food that I can eat... My spirometer exercises are progressing - I am only a click below where my nurse said I should be. I can't say enough good things about the Surgery Center of Richardson. That same nurse called me the next day to be sure I was ok. Nothing like the personal touch. I hopped on the scale, just for giggles, today. The scale says I have gained 8 lbs since Monday. It's such a liar. I expect that I am still bloated from surgery - which is ok, since I can't swear that I am getting enough Clear liquids in yet. I really have been mostly sleeping. Doze, walk, doze, sip, doze breathing exercise, doze walk... Yesterday evening was the first I have been conscious for any extended time. Dianne - so glad the insurance company finally managed to get you an answer. I have been watching BAD old movies. Who would have ever thought that AMC would be playing Smoky and the Bandit? Could I feel any older? Zan - I am doing great, thanks! Hope you are doing well! Stop by and say hello. We love to hear from you! Sherry - Thanks! Where are you? What's up with you these days? Check in. We miss you! Pat - Ooooo a new car! Such fun. Sorry to hear you have more work drama. That sucks. Hope it gets better soon. I hate drama. I have been doing lots of beef consume and chicken broth. I knew I was starting to feel better when I thought about 1) getting up to make my own and 2) putting an egg in it for texture. Eileen - burping is pretty much a constant - and every time I sleep for a while, I have to burp some more. I guess that's good. No shoulder pain, no gas issues at all, so far. So glad you finally got your fill. Back to liquids for you, girlie girl! Patty - definitely rent the recliner. I should have. I don't own one - but I really wished I did for the last three days. It never occurred to me to rent one. Glad to hear they are shaving a couple of requirements off. Truly, except for the fact that nobody pays for the psych exam and they tend to be a little pricey - the rest of that stuff shouldn't bee too hard. Hope the work thing isn't too bad. We are waiting to hear all about it. Anne - No sweat on the delay. I have some stuff I have been using here and I will probably always use the Protein powder for my Breakfast shakes. Present? I love presents! Thank you!! I can't wait for it to come! I will be thinking good thoughts about your girl health. It's probably nothing - but best to find out right away. Betty - Goodness, I hope somebody hires you soon! You will have to start copying from the old letters...and slow is my middle name... Cindy - I can't remember whether the point system started or not. Let me know when you find out. I am sort of a chronic speeder. And don't sweat the phone call. We are usually on-line and it's hard to get through. I have been checking my messages, though!

Hi Guys... All is well in my little corner of BandLand. So far, no pain. And I won't be shy with the hydrocodon. I am a big ol' WUSS when it comes to pain. I have been burping like a bull frog since I got out of surgery - and I guess that's a good thing. If I can burp, I don't have go suffer with pain. I spent the afternoon playing cat in my sunroom. sleep, glorious sleep! DH is taking good care of me and making sure I have what I need. We went to the store an got an assortment of broths and Soups. It was good for me to get up and walk, even if I did feel naked without my girdle! Well, I have had a little hit of Hydrocodon, and it is getting a little chilly in my office, so I am going to crawl into the living room and curl up in a blanket and watch some mindless tv. Love you guys!! Irene

Well, at last. The surgery is a done deal. And to my intense gratification, I never felt a moment of embarrassment due to any of the staff at the Surgery Center of Richardson. I felt quite at ease - and at 7am - there just weren't that many spectators - just the lovely staff. Apparently, it is a miracle that my liver hasn't just given up the goat and stopped functioning. According to Doctor Fox, even after losing 15 lbs on the pre-op diet, my liver was still big, fatty and misshapen. (uh - yeah, just like the rest of me!) So, now, I can move on with the rest of my life as a banded person. Personal goal: NO PB's!!! I am sipping some lovely beef consume as I type and I am vowing to myself to do the best I posssibly can to follow the post-op diet to the letter. I can live for 4 days on protein shakes and beef broth, no matter what my brain says. I mean, my BRAIN said I needed a cheeseburger on the way home from the surgery. I can see we are going to have to have some words, my brain and I. After that, I gradually move into what I would call mushies - but Doc Fox calls "full liquids". I think sugar free pudding and yogurt qualify as mushies...By day 8, I can have mashed potatoes, cream of wheat and bananas. By day 13, I can start with scrambled eggs and baked potatoes. I can survive this, really I can. All I have to do is totally avoid tv or any advertizing for the first week. The Spirometer is a big old pain - but I guess I will do that, too. I don't want any collapsed lungs or diaphram issues. Well, I have to get up and walk, now... Sip a little, Walk a little Sip a little, Walk a little SIP SIP SIP Walk a lot, Sip a little more...

Oh Yeah, I am feelin' the love.... You guys are really the best! I am so lucky to have such a great group of Band Buddies to play with. Today is the last glorious day before surgery. It's all about laundry and liquid!! My goal for the day is to drink at least a gallon of delicious wonderful Water... I can't have any food or drink after midnight - but my doc's office instructed me to get LOTS of hydration today. I am supposed to arrive at the Surgery Center of Richardson tomorrow morning at 7am so they can gown me and make me all pretty for the surgery, which is scheduled for 8am. No overnight stay for me!! Once I wake up and can start walking around, the doc will give me the infamous barium swallow - and then I can leave. After that it's off to a fabulous fun-filled vacation at the Chez Rusty Spa... Where I will be watered and brothed and fussed over in the comfort of my own couch. I will check in, if I am fully functional. (yes, mom.) Cindy - HUGS!! Hope you are having a great time. So, did you get any good Blackmail stories on the principal? I will be expecting your call... Eileen - yep - I am about out of my skin. I so hope today passes quickly. I just want this surgery business over with so I can get on to the whole losing weight thing. (yeah, I know - not til after my first fill...) I will take that fab pre-op photo, too. I just look STUNNING in a big floppy gown without any support garments... Hugs back at ya - and give Miss G a big squeeze for me, too. Ira - I hear you on taking the picture of that adorable boy of yours off the web. I wouldn't take any chances with such a cutie!! Thanks for the well wishes. Hopefully, we can hook up for that cup of coffee in March. :] Patty - Try to stay focused on the new job... even with the band stuff flying around your head. I almost think that waiting was good for me. I mean, I have lots less anxiety about the surgery than some folks have talked about. I am just so darned glad to finally be getting it! I know that it will work out for you the way it did for me. And DO call and cry and scream. Demand the Band. Keep on demanding it until you get it. Sherry - you crack me up! You really should have known that NONE of us could be quiet for so long... :] I am thinking good thoughts for your review. None of that "3% raise" stuff. We want to see some BIG BUCKS!! :] Betty - I just KNOW that you are going to get a great job. Try to keep your chin up. It felt like I was never going to get a band, either... It just sucks that we keep having to go through these Character Building exercises at our age, doesn't it? I mean, I thought all this patience crap was supposed to be learned when I was younger!! :] Well My Dears... I have almost finished the first half-gallon of water for the day, and I have to go whip up a lovely Protein shake... mmmmmmmm I will check back tomorrow, if not sooner! xo

Conratulations and Felicitations! Welcome to LBT!! All the Docs are different. My Doc put me on SouthBeach Diet phase 1 for 10 days. Today is the last day of my pre-op diet! I'll post and let you know how the whole surgery thing goes. :]

Conratulations and Felicitations! Welcome to LBT!!

Hey Not4Long. Love the screen name. Do lots of research before you make your final decision. If you hang out on a LapBand Board, you are going to hear a lot of Pro-Band, Anti-ByPass sentiment (and I will contribute to that, shortly) But, if you hang out on a ByPass Board, you get the same in reverse. You can check out the scientific abstracts - but even the studies are skewed sometimes for both Band and ByPass (I put links to the major journals in a thread called "Links" if you want to search for those). Read everything you can get your hands on and make your own decision. The ByPass was the only option for a long time, and a lot of people have had success with it. I personally prefer the Band option because after having read lots of scientific research, talked to everyone I know who has any first or second hand experience with either surgery and decided that the whole point of the exercise is better health. ByPass surgery in and of itsself is more risky - and - there are some indications that dramatic rapid weightloss is dangerous or damaging to the body, also. It seems to me that when the ByPass is good - it is very good; but when it is BAD it is VERY BAD. With the Band, yes, people erode, slip and have reflux - but when the Band goes bad - you just take it out... And while you have it there is much less risk of lingering ongoing issues, no malabsorption/malnutrition, no dumping. Please remember - this is my opinion - everybody has one. Yours is the only one that really matters to you. :]

Congrats L.I.N.!! Great screen name. Welcome to LBT!!

I think that we should all try to remember one thing - Everybody is going to have their own opinion. (sorry for those of you who like perfect grammar). Just because somebody says something that you consider to be assinine and stupid doesn't mean that you have to add to it by making your own possibly assinine and stupid comment. My policy is to ignore what I consider to be assinine - and if thread gets too irritating for me, I simply don't read it anymore... AND, I always read through my own reply before I post - just to be sure that what I am saying is going to add something of value to the initial thread. It works for me. Even people that I have great affection for sometime say stuff that I don't want to hear. It doesn't mean I love them any less. Everyone has something to teach us, even if it is just that "no one is perfect." NOBODY LEAVE!!! The varying insights are what make this board so valuable. Just my two cents...(adjusted for inflation that's about a haypenny?)

:banana:Bunny:clap2::whoo::humble:Yee Haw!!!:humble::whoo::clock::clap2::Bunny:banana Congrats!! :]