SpecialK

Yep, Aetna made my psychiatrist give me the "book" of questions about 400 of them but they were obviously to weed out those who are not sure what they are doing in life and that is okay with me too. Just made it another hoop and more cost for me out of pocket but I was not going to be stopped by that!

Hi Leah. Good to see you found your way over to the Ohio and now Cincy threads from the Introductions to the LapbandTalk website section. Best wishes. Kathy

My best answer is if you have a hospital program bariatric support group, take advantage of it and you'll find support close to home as well as on this great site where there are sections on Pre-op, Post Op, Fills, Diet, Exercise, etc. Lots to read!

Mike, the shoulder area is the anesthesia gas working itself out. It will pass in a week or less. The calf pain is one I wanted to follow up on. The surgeons at our program are really careful about telling us to get up and keep moving around to keep the circulation in our legs in particular working well to avoid any blood clot issues. It could be something simple but nice easy stretching, easy walking to keep moving while you are recovering and you should do fine. I hail from Columbus, Ohio, home of the "Golden Bear" Jack Nicklaus and his Memorial Tournament is awesome.

Welcome from a Central Ohio Buckeye lapbandster. Are you going somewhere in Cincinnati for your surgery? Check out the Ohio forum under USA Local Support Groups and you might find some bandsters closer to your area that meet in person. I met some folks here in the Columbus area and they've been great. Best wishes on a quick insurance approval.

China, glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work! Work it ....work it.... goes along with your dancing happy things in your post!!

DJK -- are you home from the hospital? How are you doing? I'm sure Dr. Price took good care of you Monday for your surgery. Good luck during the liquids stage.

The invitation is open to all! Whether you are pre-band, newly banded or an old band pro. Everyone is welcome! Where: Polaris Mall food Court When: Saturday July 11, 2009 Time: 2 p.m. Look for us near the entrance to the Great Indoors store in the back corner seating area next to Chik-Fil-A. If we're not there look for a large group of folks sitting at several tables pushed together in the areas on either side of the Great Indoors... that's usually us :-) Hope to see you there!

Hi Niki. That is great if we get to visit Saturday. Yes, bring your size 18s along and will be glad to get some use or share if someone else also comes and can use some. Yes, I am hoping we see Juli but I know how busy things are for her too. Let's cross our fingers.

Hi PGAMike. Welcome. I just read an article about PGA Golfer John Daly being a Lapband person and he is loving life and its really helped him. I assumed you like golf with your nickname. Welcome and hope you finds lots of good information here to make the best decision for yourself.

I think doing it the next try with an xray so they can find its exact location and orientation is the right thing. They were trying to teach our bariatric nurse coordinator how to do the fills for our program when I had my first fill and she had some initial misses when she was trying with me standing up and then they tilted me back on the table and actually found it within seconds while I was lying down. Every fill since has been totally painless in my surgeon's office, a simple pin prick type thing and over in seconds. Best wishes and don't give up. It will get better. BTW - the surgeon does all fills and the nurse was taken out of the picture at least for now.

I don't know what you had to go through to get approved to have your surgery but my program made me do a psych consult and I was encouraged to continue on with counseling to help deal with depression, head hunger, and just acceptance of my body, and to find peace for a lifetime. I highly recommend it. Second, if your surgeon/hospital had a post op nutrition or support group, I'd recommend taking advantage of both. There is nothing like advice from those who know where you are at. Nutritionally, we are all learning and perhaps a nutritionist could help evaluate the kinds of food you are eating and help you find the right combinations to help jump start your loss again. Glad to hear a fill is coming up for you. Restriction level is another great thing to help you move on. God Bless you today.

Are you saying "hard contact" from martial arts means you could get kicked in the abdominal area where your port would be? I would definitely ask that question of a surgeon in an initial consult. I'd hate to think that a port could become flipped or affected since its under the skin and meant to be accessible for adjustments. It gets sutured to the abdominal wall area.

Thanks for letting me know about Dicks Sporting Goods - we have one of those here and to look at packaging to see how it is weight rated.

Given its summer time, one of the things I used to dread was the infamous fold up lawn chairs. I had to search for the sturdiest chair I could find and hope that if I sat down in it very slowly and gently, it could hold my weight. Normal size lawn chairs or the "cheapo" ones I wouldn't even consider sitting in someone else's chair for fear I would break it and the sides of the arms pressing on my legs was no fun either. I would see those fold up kind of chairs with canvas and folding legs that are really popular now and I wouldn't even consider going near one. I am still not sure I want to try that yet. Anyone know if those can hold someone 240+ lbs?

Wow it is so incredible hearing that our March bandsters are starting through the plastic surgery stages for those close or near to goal. I'll keep plugging away and maybe by next March be able to consider it too. Keep us posted! Pictures too of those flat tummies!

What I didn't see in the above posts so far is what those of us who still like chocolate do for substitutes and so I'll start off and maybe others will join in to give you ideas. 1. SF Hot Chocolate 2. SF Jello Chocolate Pudding 3. Low Carb Chocolate Protein Drinks 4. Slim-Fast has a chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch snack bar with protein that reminds me of a candy bar - about 110 calories or so. 5. Zone Perfect Protein Bars - they have some real chocolately flavored ones that hit my chocolate hot spot. 6. SF Chocolate fudge bars

I'm late posting due to the holiday but hoping everyone is enjoying the summer. I hope its okay but I noticed some of the totals were not updated (you deserve credit for every lb gone!) and where I had seen it on a ticker in the last few days, I updated so we can all pat each other on the back. Way to go Shamrocks, we continue to be Shrinking Shamrocks. aJoneen.........................-080 pounds lost! Bandana....................... 0 92 lbs lost BrandNewLisa............0 97 pounds LOST forever!!! evelas5000...................0 50 pounds Lost Desdemona...................0 67 pounds lost Fenton...........................0 102 POUNDS LOST !! HarleyGirl....................0 90 pounds LOST! Hopeinapril................. 0 55 pounds lost Kpodski......................... Lynnt1215.....................0 64 lbs lost NurseNiki......................0 Nycm00........................ 0 -66 lbs lost Potatie............................0 149 POUNDS LOST!! Scrappy_Friend........ -3 182 POUNDS LOST!!!! SpecialK........................-5 116 lbs GONE forever! Sugarbean....................0 117 POUNDS LOST !!! Sharona.........................0 stellabella......................0 75 POUNDS LOST! Tess415..........................0 -80 lbs lost Thin2bme...................+1 100 POUNDS LOST!! WestCoastMom............0 Wishin4...........................-2 86 pounds gone!!

Desdemona - I had to go look up the Vit D testing results report he sent me. My "Vit D 25 OH"= 24.2 and that was after a 6 month effort on my part to eat yogurts, cheese, milk and take a 1,000-2,000 IU supplement with my multi-vitamin. I've been outside getting sun as well with yardwork, exercise walks, etc. Normal Reference range is 31.0 - 100. He wants me to do this prescription for 12 weeks taking 50,000 IU (ergocalciferol) twice a week and then get retested to see if I am in the 40-50 range at least. I actually need to go get the prescription refilled tomorrow. Vitamin D Deficiency Syndrome (VDDS) exists when 25(OH)D levels of less than 25 ng/mL are found in patients. I do know I am a person who gets more depressed, sleeps more when we lose sunlight hours as the fall comes on. I love how long it stays light outside now and I'm soaking in a much sunlight as I can by getting outside often but not for tanning per se. He also tested something called PTH (parathyroid hormone) and I was at 37 when the normal was 8-83.5 so he thought I was okay on that. I had to look up the abbreviation but its generally Vitamin D/Calcium and metabolism things all tied together. Very important to keep the balance of these things. The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to control Calcium within the blood in a very tight range between 8.8 and 10.2. In doing so, parathyroids also control how much calcium is in the bones, and therefore, how strong and dense the bones are.

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up. The Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list.... I JUST DID! Signed, Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up. The Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list.... I JUST DID! Signed, Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up. The Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list.... I JUST DID! Signed, Proud to be an American

Happy 4th of July to all. This story really inspired me and I wanted to pass it along. My father was career 24 yrs in US Air Force and our family made alot of sacrifices during those years and now I have a niece and nephew in the US Navy serving. I hope this inspires and lifts you up. The Sack Lunches I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?', I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan . After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.... As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks... I'll wait till we get to base. ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.' After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out hi s hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.' Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little... A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.' May God give you the strength and courage to pass this along to everyone on your buddy list.... I JUST DID! Signed, Proud to be an American

Okay, its amazing what our bodies will do sometimes -- frustrate the heck out of us on a plateau and then turn around and delight us with scale or non-scale victories. Yesterday I had a dr. appt with my PCP on my calendar and its usually a fasting bloodwork thing so I drove over there at 8am on my day off and found the office closed. Instead of getting frustrated about something misconnecting there, I just went ahead and drove on over to my gym and got in a good solid hour workout and then went on home and did a boatload of yard work. Results-- the scale was down again this a.m.! Amazing. I was craving ice cream yesterday really bad and I just kept telling myself no, and I ended up letting myself have a snack of honey roasted almonds instead to have something crunchy and sweet and salty combo and that helped.

Tekdiva/Ann -- how was your first week back to work? Hope you are doing okay.