gentlespirit

My biggest fear is losing people I love. My next greatest fear is being incredibly poor when I'm old, as I have no retirement savings or plan...I just barely get through each month. Emily

I know how hard it is, and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Be gentle with yourself and take care~ Emily

Tizrak, a lady from Israel, e-mailed me when I asked the same question prior to banding. They have been doing them there for 10+ years, and she said everyone she knows who has had a band for that length of timer has had to have at least one more surgery for some reason...port, slippage, erosion, whatever. So I just plan to work my band the best I can for as long as I have it...and it may be permanent, but I'm not counting on it. Emily

I'm so glad you decided to check around some more! It's exciting that you can make these other arrangements. I"ll be praying that everything goes well and that you have a speedy and pain-free recovery! Keep us posted~ Emily

Kimber-lilly~ Isn't it amazing the "little" things that can light up our day! Congratulations! Emily

I aigree with fiveholts...because they call a meeting doesn't mean you have to attend or have to let them abuse you if you choose to attend. You and your husband had every right to make the decision you did and certainly don't need to apologize. But I do understand feeling bad for your husband. Can he talk with his dad privately and explain to him without his mother's inflammatory presence and comments? Maybe that way at least he and his father could salvage their relationship... Hugs to you...it sounds like you're in a horrible situation of entirely their making...but that doesn't make it feel any less awful, I'm sure. Emily

Crystal~ I hope you can get some answers to some of your questions, at least. You are in such a difficult situation and as far as I can tell you are handling it with such grace...I'm sure there are times you fall apart (I sure would) but then you pick yourself up and keep on keeping on. My heart goes out to you. And now your mom, too. You both are in my thoughts and prayers...keep us posted. Emily

I had guessed everyone correctly except Gedeon...he was a surprise to me, as I thought Kevin would go, too. Emily

I've been told that when you go from liquids back to mushies and/or solid foods it's very normal to gain a few pounds back. I gained about 4 pounds and while I know it's discouraging, tell her that she'll start losing again once she gets a fill. Emily

Just added myself...it's really fun to see where everyone is from. Don't have a photo yet, but hope to add one before too long. Emily

I think her e-mail was really impressive. She sounds like a real Christian whose faith permeates her life. Besides that, I like her because she's reminding everyone that big women can be gorgeous and talented and wonderful human beings!! Emily

Congratulations...it'll be here before you know it! Emily

I just had my first one on Tuesday and it was harder than I expected. But I'm weird because I have a long spinal fusion with a lot of hardware in there to stablize it. Because of that the doc had a really hard time seeing exactly where my port is even with the fluoroscope. He had to jab me 3 times and I have a big black and blue spot. Not his fault, though. Didn't hurt much but the pressure felt really odd. Emily

My doc asked me at my first fill appt. this week to compare my volume of food now with before banding. I am eating about a cup total at each meal, which is about 1/3 of what I used to eat. He was very pleased with the 1 cup amount. To me that's realistic and I am satisfied when I finish eating. Maybe as time goes on I will eat less, but for now, we're both happy~ Emily

My nurse practitioner was very supportive...said she doesn't suggest WLS to her patients, but if they research it and ask for her opinion, she supports it in most cases. One of her nurses even called me on her own a couple of weeks after surgery to see how I was doing, which I thought was sweet. My sister, who is in the process of insurance approval, asked her PCP about it and he didn't know anything about it at all. We took the opportunity to send him a packet of information on it, so hopefully he looked it over. Emily

I had my first consultation with the nutritionist yesterday and was really surprised that she was kind of down on me for concentrating on Protein. She was much more concerned about getting a "balanced" diet and wanted me to eat protein, fruit or veggie, and a carb at every meal. I was concentrating on the protein anda she told me I was still "on a diet" which I didn't agree with. But I promised her I'd try to get in more fruits and veggies. Also had my six-week check and first fill. According to their scale I'm d own 22 pounds (I like mine better...it said 25!). He was really pleased with that and almost didn't give me a fill. But since I'd driven for 3 hours to get there and hadn't gotten anything stuck or PB'd, he went ahead and give me a 1cc fill. Found out I have the Inamed band size 10...does anyone know what the capacity of that is? Emily

There's nothing more frustrating than knowing something is wrong and having a doc tell you there's not! Glad you got the mystery solved and hope your surgery goes well. You even get a bonus in having her check out the band at the same time to make sure all is well. Emily

I've been the administrative assistant for a chamber of commerce in a town of 10,000 for almost 10 years now...still love going to work every day, so I guess I'm in the right place! We never know what the next phone call or walk-in will ask, so it keeps us on our toes (there are only my boss and me in the office). My last funny question was a lady calling to ask what to do because she wanted to grill and there was a robin's nest in her grill! We get lots of weird questions. Emily

I'm doing OK so far...did liquids only Tues. and Wed. and will start mushies today. Don't notice a great deal of difference...but I think I can feel that my pouch empties more slowly. I do eat veggies and fruits in small quantities and some carbs but not a lot... I got used to concentrating on the Protein first when I was doing Atkins and have just kind of continued that...I think I feel better. I was guessing that the band capacity was 4cc, but thanks for confirming that. Emily

We see them here often, too, and I think they are SO ugly! THey look like old feather disters the moths have gotten into...YUCK! Emily

I'm so glad you got rid of him! You ARE worth more...so take your time and don't settle for anyone who doesn't cherish you. Being alone is not the worst thing...! And a really great guy could be just around the corner in your life. Emily

What about using Ragu's Double Cheddar sauce with them? It makes a great Soup, and I can even eat the cooked carrots I truly hate that way. Emily

My surgeon just asked me the same question yesterday when I went for my first fill. I am earing about 1/3 of what I was pre-band, which is really amazing to me. And I don't feel deprived, either...I can usually have a couple of bites of something if I really want it and then stop. It's like a miracle, and I'm SO thankful! Emily

Congratulations! Hoping you have a speedy and smooth recovery. It's exciting to be at the beginning of a new way of life, isn't it! Emily

Hope your recovery is smooth and uncomplicated! Emily