pearlygirl

This is my new favorite quote of the day..... :frown:

I got this in an email today and thought it was so funny. I don't mean to be offensive to the Republicans, just posting for humor. I'm Voting Republican

Michee - I did not call you ignorant, just what I understood your implied message to be. I did misunderstand. It seems a bit of a strange comment to make though "If you choose to believe..." Sorry for the misunderstanding.

OBAMA!! OBAMA!! OBAMA!! I too hope he and Clinton end up together

I agree that this would be a great way to keep the streets a bit safer. It would also help encourage alcoholics into treatment. Remember, there are a great number of DUI/DWI's who come from those who are not alcoholic but people simply making poor decisions. Either way, it's a good idea. I did just want to share though that alcoholism is a disease, medically and scientifically. I find your implication that alcoholism is caused by weakness of character rather ignorant. I pulled this definition for you.... To establish a more precise use of the term alcoholism, a 23-member multidisciplinary committee of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine conducted a 2-year study of the definition of alcoholism in the light of current concepts. The goals of the committee were to create by consensus a revised definition that is (1) scientifically valid, (2) clinically useful, and (3) understandable by the general public. Therefore, the committee agreed to define alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic

For me it's bread, tortillas and fresh pineapple(DAMN!!). I can eat a few bites of each of them but that is it. More than 2-3 bites and I feel like I'm having a heart attack...lots of pressure in the chest.

I have the Realize band and I'm getting my first fill soon - just curious, how much did they put in for your first fill? I have no idea what he was planning to do but like I said, was curious. Did you notice restriction with the first fill? I have slight restriction now. When I say slight I mean that I could still eat a fairly large amount of food if I wanted to. Not quite what I could eat before but certainly more than the 1/2 - 1 cup of food.

As women lose weight it increases the amount of freed up estrogen in the body, helping along ovulation. You are not any more at risk than if you were ovulating normally before. You won't be releasing eggs three times a month or anything crazy...it just makes your body better about doing what it is supposed to normally. If you aren't trying for a baby, definitely use birth control even if you didn't need to before.

Okay, I am going to have to bow out here. It is very evident as stated by several people prior that your agenda is to twist the facts into whatever it is that you're trying to prove. I feel as if I am trying to reason with a child(NOT intended to insult your intelligence, more like the passion in your beliefs). Once again, it is up to the state to decide(which is why people travel to another state where they can have a later term abortion) and also as I stated previously, I know there are acceptions to every rule. Still, most states do not perform post viability abortions without strong medical necessity in terms of the mother's health. In many of those situations the baby is delivered emergently and treated as well. As far as wishing the laws were a bit different, I do wish they were more strict and specifically after viability that there would be no acception other than saving the mother's life. Thanks for a good debate...I wish you well.

I know I should leave well enough alone, I just can't - lol!! I am bothered by the fact that you are trying so hard to make it sound as if women 8 months pregnant are lining up in abortion clinics around the US. I know there is an exception to every rule but come on! You have to know that it is not typical that women over the gestational age of viability are aborting as a form of birth control. Doctors always have their own discretion to rely on as well. ALWAYS. Like I said before, the statistics are disappointing. I myself wish the laws were a bit different than they are. It just isn't up to you(or me) to decide for anyone or anything other than your own body, your own uterus and your own child.

That may not have been the most current listing but it IS up to the individual states discretion. I understand that these laws could potentially be challenged. Regardless, here is the current Nebraska law. Code Section71-6901, et seq.; 28-325 to 347 Statutory Definition of Illegal Abortion - Act, procedure, device, or prescription administered to a woman to produce premature expulsion, removal, or termination of the human life within the womb of the pregnant woman unless the child's viability is threatened by continuation of the pregnancy Statutory Definition of Legal Abortion - Before viability or if woman is victim of abuse or neglect or if the M.D. has certification in writing that the continued pregnancy is a threat to woman's life HealthPenalty for Unlawful AbortionClass III misdemeanor: M.D. who performs abortion in violation of any standards Consent Requirements - Unemancipated woman under 18 yrs. old or incompetent requires at least 48 hr. written notice to a parent or guardian by delivery or certified mail; court may waive requirements if find woman is mature; parent may authorize abortion in writing; voluntary and informed consent of woman 24 hours before abortion, except in emergency Residency Requirements for Patients-Physician Licensing RequirementsLicensed M.D.

It has been left up to each state to create their own laws... GENERAL ABORTION BANS Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have never repealed restrictive laws ruled unconstitutional by Roe v. Wade(AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, DC, MA, MI, MS, NH, NM, OK, TX, VT, WV, WI). Two states (LA, UT) and the Territory of Guam enacted "test" laws prohibiting most abortions after the Supreme Court's 1989 decision in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services. In 1992, the Court's ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, held that a general abortion ban would fail Constitutional muster under the new "undue burden" test. In 1992 and 1993, respectively, the Court declined to review the cases striking down the laws of Guam and Louisiana. Utah did not appeal a lower court's decision finding its 1991 abortion ban unconstitutional. POST-VIABILITY ABORTION BANS Forty states and the District of Columbia have laws banning most post-viability abortions (AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY). PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BANS At least 18 states (AB, AL, AZ, AK, GA, IN, LA, MS, MT, MI, NE, NJ, OH, RI, TN, SC, SD) have passed laws prohibiting partial-birth or "dilation and extraction" ("D&X") abortion procedures, but in Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska and Arizona, injunctions have enjoined its enforcement. The Ohio injunction has been affirmed by the 6th Circuit. Women’s Medical Professional Corp. v. Voinovich, Nos. 96-3157, 96-3159, 1997 WL 713520 (6 C.A. Nov. 18, 1997.) Utah has banned the procedure (along with saline abortions) after viability.

Also, in my state(Nebraska) 24 weeks has been declared the age of medical viability. Babies before this age are wrapped in a blanket and given to their parents to be held, they are not revived. I would guess that most states have similar cut-offs.

Okay, I just have to ask...have you seen a baby who was born and survived at 19-20 weeks??? I myself have never heard of such a thing although that doesn't mean that it hasn't happened. What I know is that while my own daughter developed and grew in an incubator for two months , I became close to other parents with NICU babies. Babies born at 24, 25 and even 26 weeks, in real life, who I saw with my own eyes struggled like you would not believe. You couldn't even touch them because it put them into such distress. They had multiple surgeries, frequent episodes of not enough oxygen to their brains and were on the edge between life and death on a weekly and sometimes daily basis. Many ended up blind, deaf, immobile and unable to learn to speak, I see them at our NICU follow up appointments. I have a hard time imagining a baby 5-6 weeks younger surviving. I don't mean to sound as if they aren't worth it, they certainly are but truly the edge of viability is 24 weeks.

I would have said "Yes, watch out!! When it blows it might get you!" Hahahahaha!!!!

Hmmm. I'm not exactly sure where I am on the issue. When I was very young(6 or 7), my aunt, uncle and 2 year old cousin were killed by a drunk driver. I was shielded from the event and quite honestly don't remember much about it. I do know that it was a van of drunk teenagers who hit them and nomne of them had more than minor injuries. The driver served no time in jail. The flip side - my younger brother(28) is an alcoholic and he is certainly not trash. It wasn't known by anyone but him and his wife until he was 100% out of control. He spent 6 months in and out of hospitals and detox centers. Finally after what seemed like an eternity - he went to an inpatient rehab. He worked so incredibly hard while he was there and has continued to do so. During his drinking episodes, I know of at least a couple of times that he drove. I called the police both times and gave his vehicle description and plate number. I was more afraid that he would hurt or kill someone else than himself, sad but true. Anyway, he did receive a DUI. He was not pulled over because of an accident, swerving, or any other 'traffic violation'. Not that it makes it any better. He was pulled over because they were looking for him. My family left him in jail until the next day when he was released on his own. It was after this event that he committed to inpatient treatment, a wake up call if you will. After treatment he had his court date for his DUI. He had an attorney who thought he could get him off because of some technical glitches. My brother said no. He pleaded guilty. He asked the judge for a breathalizer to be installed in his car(when he got his license back), he had the cost of his attorney bill, the cost of probation, the cost of the breathalizer installation and monthly fees, one year probation, he lost his job. He no longer hangs out with the same crowd(not because they are bad but because they do some of the things that he finds to be triggers - playing pool, fishing, going to a bar etc). He lost the trust of his wife, family, friends and employer. I know that none of this makes up for the possible tragedy that 'could have been' because of his carelessness. At the same time, when I look at him now - there is no comparison. He has a great job, he has regained the trust he'd once lost, he is sober, responsible and hard working. He reaches out to those in need. He hosts AA meetings and works the program. He actually drives people to AA meetings who do not have a license. I can't imagine him still being punished now. He was very, very ill. Alcoholism is a disease just as cancer, diabetes and heart disease are. Having enough will power doesn't fix alcoholism. He should NOT have driven(remember it was ME who called the police) and I don't condone any of his behavior, but honestly - he was out of control in every sense of the word. Even on a sober day his mind didn't function normally. It took several weeks of sobriety before he was 'normal' again. I'm not making excuses, please don't misunderstand. It's just a whole new level of understanding about the illness. All of that said - I don't know the answer. My brother *could* fall of the wagon. He *could* drink and drive again. He *could* hurt or kill someone. I don't know that taking someone's license would stop them from driving(I am not speaking specifically of my brother), especially if they were still drinking. I don't know that taking a chance on it happening again is the greatest idea either. I guess I had a LOT to say with nothing to really add to the thread... sorry about that. For me, it's just such a gray issue.

Who is doing this? As someone stated before, no one is being forced to have an abortion. Everyone is able to decide for themselves (a)when their embryo/fetus life begins and ( if they wish to terminate the pregnancy I have not researched abortion in depth and don't plan to do so, as it really isn't a concern to me personally - I haven't had an abortion and don't plan on having one in the future. What I do know is that over half of the abortions performed in the US are at or before 8 weeks. A fetus is considered "viable" by most of the medical world at 24 weeks. As far as I know there is no state in the US that will perform an abortion after "medical viabilty". As I stated in a previous post, IMHO, MY daughter was a baby from the moment she was conceived. My husband and I loved and wanted her even before conception. That isn't the reality for everyone, I wish that it was. It does break my heart to know that so many abortions are being performed and that more women don't consider adoption. I still don't feel that my own feelings toward this issue should impact another woman's decision. It is SUCH a personal thing.

BJean - Your last post made more sense than anything on all of these pages combined. It was worded perfectly and unlike so many of the other posts here, it did not sound like your intentions were just to be argumentative. Also, science is certainly on your side as far as determining when an embryo has developed into a "baby". Although you haven't stated exactly when you believe that happens, it seems only natural to assume(I know, bad to assume) that it isn't until some time much later than conception. For instances of preterm labor or other conditions that warrant a very premature delivery, medical intervention to the preemie is only performed if the preemie has reached 24-25 weeks gestation. That said, I know of one 24 weeker who is home and thriving. My own daughter was born at 28 weeks and is absolutley perfect in every way(okay, I'm her mom...but really her growth and development is exactly where it should be). From the moment my baby was conceived, she was a baby to me. That was after many fertility treatments, prayers and with the WILL and GRACE of my God. To another woman, who's pregnancy was unexpected or unplanned - that may not be the case. I don't hold my own morals, values, beliefs over the heads of everyone I encounter and because of that I 100% agree with your view of pro-choice.

My doc told me before I was banded that any weight lost before finding restriction would largely be due to me following the diet/exercise program - essentially dieting. So during my first month I did continue to lose weight but was hungry, I lost because I followed the plan. That doesn't mean I should live on a diet forever, I got my first fill on Tuesday and will get my next fill in a month. Each fill should hopefully make it easier until I reach proper restriction. I find it strange that so many aren't getting filled because they 'can' diet and lose. I say if you're hungrier than the meals you're allotted you need a fill...that is why we all got banded.

I'm still newly banded but am following the rules. I eat more than 60 grams of protein, count my calories and avoid sugary or fatty foods. I don't drink during the hour after I eat. I also go to the gym 5 days a week. The only thing I don't do exactly right is eating my protein first. If I have chicken, a veggie and part of a baked potato I eat random bites. If I start to feel like I won't be able to finish my meal I finish the protein and leave the rest.

Hmmm....maybe I'm just the wimp on the board but I'd call him back and let him know that I REALLY want a fill. Of course you've lost weight, you're following the plan. However, that doesn't mean that you aren't hungry all the time and in my opinion - this shouldn't feel like a diet. It's a whole new life, and while very different as far as food choices/exercise and such but I don't think we should be hungry(that WAS the point of the band, right?) If we could all diet to lose weight(and of course keep it off), we wouldn't have needed banding. Not meaning to sound defiant here...I just think it is okay to rely on the band for some hunger control.

Crude entertainment, lol!!

If you're having a hard time bumping your calories you can do things like eat light cheese instead of FF or regular instead of light, dark meat rather than white(easier to get down too), a protein shake with powdered milk added in for extra protein/cals etc. That was what I had to do because I couldn't eat enough.

The book from the Realize company says it is a 9cc band.

Yikes, sorry you have to go through surgery again. Which band do you have...I'm just wondering if it's the port thatis clamped on(realize) or sutured in.