Desdemona

I'm sorry to get on a rant but I'm heartsick over many of the comments I have read here and I'm going to say my peice although I'll probably regret it. I have just seen too much to keep my mouth shut. I have been going back and forth to Africa working with genocide victims, women who are constantly raped in war (in case you don't know --there are MILLIONS of them!), hungry orphans whose parents have died from hunger, war, poverty, illness. There are thousands and thousands of CHILD-Headed households all over the world which have 9-15 children in them. I go into places where 12 year old sick, hungry girls are raising 15 orphans with little help! Very few people are adopting these children! They are hungry, vulnerable to preying adult men, and without hope. Men come around and snatch them and sell them in the U.S. and all over the rest of the world as sex-slaves or house slaves. Have you any idea how many women and children are being held right here in the U.S. as slaves??!! If adoption is such a simple and wonderful little alternative to abortion then I want to know why is this all happening? Even here in the U.S. people ignore thousands of American born children who need shelter and protection. I travel around the U.S. and I see suffering children who are orphans---or just plain neglected and abused ---brought into this world under TERRIBLE conditions and left abandoned. MANY of them were born badly hurt (birth defects, crack addicted, malnurished etc). If adopting these poor innocent babies is so easy --how many of the pro-life people reading this have stepped forward and taken one into their homes? Not a lot! That's because either these wonderful Christians don't want to have a "child of color" in THEIR house----or---in other cases it's because there are potential problems and most people, Christian or otherwise, understandably don't want to take the financial, lifestyle and safety risks that are involved. The TRUTH is there are no easy answers to this question. I'm a Chrisitian --- and I believe that bringing human beings into a world where they can't get food, protection, and love is a terrible thing to do. And I'm NOT just saying it's wrong to be the party bringing the child in. I also think it's equally wrong to tell someone who is trying to stop someone who needs to get an abortion from getting one. I loved to just shake my finger at a rapists, a war monger, a drug addict, 2 immature teenagers, a woman (or MAN) who is emotional, developmentally, or intellectually impaired, or a woman who just had an "accident" and tell them, "no, no,no" -- but I can't. How, In _OD's name - can we just keep sitting here watching millions of women/children beg for their lives and offer them nothing more than our personal spiritual beliefs --which by the way-- none of us can actually prove. I wouldn't even let a pet DOG have pups if the pups couldn't be cared for. As a Christian --- I'm am so profoundly heartbroken that we argue over the rightousness of abortion and never even discuss the rightouness being idle (or sitting around pontificating) when we can do things to prevent suffering. Until the day come that the human race becomes responsibile enough to stop these out-of-control conceptions ---I am in favor of any and all methods needed to stop this unspeakable suffering.

My throat still feels that way but it's getting better. They have to stick a tube down your throat. I didn't have diareah but certainly ---- shall we say----liquid in is liquid out. And it was with a lot of gas/bloating so I felt pretty darn bad. They said to get in about 64 oz and the first/2nd day of that was just plain terrible. One thing I have really noticed on this board is a vast diff in post-op stage diet. I have talked w/my MD about this. He is quite conservative about it. I'm only taking Clear Liquids and I will do that for 2 wks before moving to a conservative soft diet. He says --there are other ways of doing it that are also fine. It's just that a conservative diet will produce the fastest weight loss which is what I'm after----at least for the first few months. I am a researcher and also read all the medical studies that have been published in the last 5 years on gastric banding. I'm staying as conservative as I can on my diet because I want to do all that I can to avoid complications. I think tomato juice is really a nice idea providing it doesn't make you feel sick. I have read that it works very well for some and not for others. Try it.

Thanks StLouisGal! I'm feeling a lot better just understanding why I feel the way I'm feeling and knowing that it's normal and OK! I was really worried the other night-----afriad something was wrong. Now I have wool socks on underneath leather sole sock slippers and still really cold. The only thing that helps is a hot pack under a blanket. I'm also putting a warm pack across my back which feels nice.

Thanks Ejmdiva! Will try the lemon! I'm better too but over did it yesterday and I'm low energy today. I'm also much older so maybe that's part of it. jrg1979 --- you can get those test strips at Wallmart or any drug store. MAJOR HINT: when you get them - cut them in half the long way so you will have twice as many. As I recall -- they cost 7 or 8 dollars and this way you they'll last quite a while.

hnladue-- I'm at a univerity too. Albnay Med requires 10% (teaching hospital) and I'm OK with that becasue it's just is 10% less that I would have to lose post-op anyway. . . .althought it is not fun waiting for the surgery. Glad your Mom is coming around. Of course I don't know her but this could very well be her way of worrying about her child. If your Dad passed from surg a year ago -- she could be afraid for you.

I have spent quite a lot of time (off and on) Atkins so I really relate to this. I also did a 12 week Optifast liquid diet a number of years ago and now that I remember it --I was cold. I guess now the cold is mostly in my feet ---maybe because I'm older (and heavier). I have REALLY researched this topic a LOT (and I am a researcher). Whatever you do --don't believe anyone who tells you there is something wrong with ketosis for people who are getting very limited carbs. It is perfectly normal/safe. The only thing that is important to remember is to get PLENTY of Fluid. People who are losing fast need to stay hydrated to help prevent kidney or gall stones. :wink: Penny

I also meant to add -----What a GREAT thought about the cold feet! This makes perfect sense! It's nice to think that I may be in ketosis and actually losing weight even though I feel like an over-stuffed pinata! Penny

I thank all 3 of you. How are all of you doing now? :smile:I found that you are correct. I does seem as if it was some kind of bloating problem that does seem to get worse and better at times.That particular eve worried me a lot because it was getting REALLY tight. It has not been quite that bad again and now I know, with your help and more time, that this is par. I must say that I have been surprised by many posts in which people say that they are up and out and even back to work in a matter of days. I'm sitting here 5 days post-op and can't even zip what was a loose pair or pre-op jeans around me. I have been doing some very light walking up and down my street and I have been following all the surg. orders. He's at a teaching Hospital in NY and gives a very conservative pre-op clear liquid diet so I know my swelling doesn't come from eating/doing things I'm not suppose to do.

to Enjoylife -- I just saw your post. I just got banded 3/19/08. Was really nervous to go under but then I just started thinking about all the frightening things I was doing to myself by NOT losing weight. This is something you are facing in order to DRAMATICALLY reduce your chances of dying early. I understand how you feel because change IS scarey (for me too) but now that I'm home I can't even remember them prepping me! You won't even remember it. I was concerned yesterday because I thought my band felt too tight but now I'm fine.

Hi Heather-- I'm in Albany. Albany Med requires everyone to lose pre-op even if there ins co doesn't (some do, some don't). Losing some weight before makes srinks the liver and makes it easier for them to insert the pain with more speed and accuracy. They also want to see if the person can show some ability to stick with a diet. There are some people who can not and the band will not work for them because it requires behavioral changes. Otherwise -- the bypass is the better choice for people. If Mom is an addict -- she may just not realize how little food we actually need. I know that I don't seem to have a good sense of portion need so maybe she doesn't either.