JoannMarie

I think the good thing about being banded in December is you are not expected to be attending parties where all the treats are being served. And if you do go - you really are in a healing phase and you cannot go too crazy. Hard to find mushie treats, unless they are spread on a cracker and the cracker is a no-no.

It's good to hear you did so well! You are on your way, Marilyn. God Bless - take your time healing and take baby steps...

Welcome to December! I see Florida Pete has answered your question about the Holiday Hottie signature stamp. He is the designer of this work of art and we love him for it! I know how excited you are about your coming surgery. What a great way to start the New Year! My surgery was almost 2 weeks ago and I am doing very well. I will have weather-related arthritis pain - potentially always - but I am hopeful as I lose this weight my pain will also be going down along with the scale numbers. Right now that seems to be the only problem I am dealing with. I hope your surgery is successful and you have a great recovery.

China, you are in my thoughts and prayers today as you undergo your surgery - for a successful surgery and very speedy recovery. God bless...

Hi All, just checking in. I've been doing pretty well. DD and I did a little shopping today. She was looking for beads (she makes jewelry for the gals at Christmas), and I wanted to visit the yarn shop for supplies for a couple things I want to make for the babies in the family. No busy stores for me today - I usually avoid them anyway, but this year I am definitely not interested in the Christmas crowds. I had my post-op visit yesterday and everyone was pleased. By their scales I have lost 17 pounds since my pre-op visit two weeks ago. I'll take that. I am now on mushies - trusted by their office to move into real foods gradually. I go for my first fill on Jan 9, and the PA said I should be totally on the real thing by then. This morning I had the best scrambled egg ever eaten in the whole world. Everything is going down fine w/o problems. I am beginning to learn when I have had enough. Some discomfort if I go over that line so I've been careful about that. DH is deer hunting this weekend. He called late morning to tell me not to worry about having meat this winter. Yay. We have the venison butchered by a local family, and get mostly burger and summer sausage. I use the burger with beef hamburger to make chili and other similar dishes. Long - our weather is sounding like yours! It was 50 deg here today, supposed to be 60 or so at noon tomorrow when the Chiefs game starts. They are warning the fans to bring their extra clothes because it could be in the 30's by the end of the game, accompanied by freezing rain, then sleet, then snow. 16 deg by tomorrow night. Winter fun. DH is planning to come home in the morning! He's so smart. All in all doing well, and so very glad I made this decision. Funny - at each decision point in my day I find myself thinking of one of my cyber buddies and am reminded of some bit of wisdom that came from my friends. Thank you all for your wonderful support.

Hi Greeniiii, I live in Independence -we are neighbors... Hard to believe you have had such a long wait. I started the process in March 2008, and was banded on Dec 4th. Because of better medicare coverage I went to Topeka and had my procedure done at St. Francis by Tallgrass surgeon, Dr. Berntsen. I've been very happy with Dr. B and her staff, but it still took a looong time to get all the T's crossed and I's dotted. I had my post-op visit yesterday and everything looked good. I am feeling great! Last week was good and bad - but nothing was too bad. My biggest problem has been fatigue, but we've had weather fronts coming through which always aggravates my fibromyalgia - hence the fatigue. No matter - I've graduated to mushies and had a scrambled egg for breakfast this morning! It was absolutely the best scrambled egg ever eaten! Good luck to you - this is an incredible journey we are embarking on, and we are all going to be so successful!

Hey Jazzey! The title of the thread is 60+. It does not say how much + you are allowed to be. I guess it can go all the way up as far as it has to! You may post here anytime you want to... :rolleyes2:

Hi Twirl, I saw the PA at my surgeon's office today for my post op visit. I showed him some of the pills I need to take - a couple of prescriptions and some supplements. What it boiled down to was this: if the pill is about the size of a regular M&M it will be okay to take it. Some of the supplements were small but rectangular - he suggested cutting them in half. I did not have anything large. I know I will have to get either chewable or liquid for those (fish oil and glucosamine). I think this is a question for your doctor - they should be able to guide you... I'm sorry you are not feeling well. I took the pain meds for a couple of days, but by Sunday (surgery was on Thursday) I was feeling well enough to get by without the pain meds again. I stayed pretty much home-bound all week, and felt pretty fatigued. But after today's dr visit (1 1/2 hour drive from home, DH drove) I felt pretty good. I've decided on a shopping excursion with DD tomorrow - no mall!!! but a bead shop for her and a yarn shop for me! I think I can handle that. I hope you will be feeling better soon. Take your time, rest a lot, walk as much as you can, and be really nice to yourself.

Janet, that was an interesting piece on introversion. I am also an introvert and it describes me well. So often people think it refers to being shy, but that's not necessarily true. I think one reason DH and I get along reasonably well most of the time is because we are both introverted, so understand when either of us needs some alone time for recharging. I esp liked that part about the "gifted population," didn't you??? teehee

I am still on full liquids, and looking ahead to the next stages for ideas. My paperwork says I should aim for 60-70 grams of Protein, 25 grams of Fiber. My concern is that 25 grams of fiber. 1/2 to 3/4 cup of food, 4 oz of it hard protein - what can I add that will bring up the fiber content of my diet? There are high fiber pastas out there - but I know many people have trouble with Pasta. Beans are a good source of both, so they can be incorporated. What else can I do?

Hi All, Thanks to everyone for the good wishes. It's been a funny 2 days - not feeling at all well on Sun or Mon - which I realized yesterday was probably due to the weather fronts, windy and snowing yesterday. Duh. I guess the LB does not automatically make arthritis and fibromyalgia go away overnight! Barometer is up today and I'm feeling much better. Port pain is much better and I'm doing well with full liquids. I'm finding its hard to feel when I've had enough (as if I haven't read about that enough right here!). Consequently I have had some discomfort after eating/drinking my meals. I've reduced my amount of liquid to 1/2 cup at a time and I find that does not overfill, and holds me for 3-4 hours. Janet you are so right about homemade stuff made into a full liquid. DS made vegetable Soup Saturday and brought over plenty for DH and me. I blended mine and it was delicious! Happy to say there was plenty left over and I'm still enjoying it. I have my check-up with the surgeon on Friday. I think we will both be pleased. Ellen, I hope you are doing okay. This is such a tough time for you and your family. I know we all wish we could do something more than just send you our words, but you are in lots of prayers these days.

Hi Apples, I'm feeling a little better every day. The port pain is still there, but improving. I figure anytime you injure a muscle (esp a core muscle like abdomen or back) it hurts a lot and takes a while to heal. Stitching the port to the muscle wall obviously is a muscle "injury" and it will be a while before it is completely healed. I'm still providing a little support as I stand and walk, and that helps. I have enjoyed reading a good book, playing with my LBTalk friends, getting some knitting done on the afghan for the coming grandchild - in other words, making GOOD use of my time! Not a bad gig...

Twirl, I agree with LizaLee. Please talk with the medical people involved with your health care about the gastric band risks and benefits for YOU in order for you to have confidence in your decision. I will pray for your healthy recovery.

I'm glad to get this feedback on the Wii Fit. I had it on my Christmas list, but was waffling a little about it. It's a lot of money and I am beginning to think I will take advantage of my gym membership instead. Its already paid for and close by. I think we'll wait on that purchase.

Kerry - I will be thinking of you tomorrow morning. I know you will do just fine. I was surprised at how easily things went at the hospital - they seem to have all this down really well. I wish you a successful surgery and speedy recovery!

OMW! I must be a serial killer, too! I like my prime rib and steak rare!!!! Right now I would like prime rib or steak any way it was served! But DH has been doing the cooking for me! Served my cream soup in the pretty little bowl I bought just for my Soups - he actually had to look for it because it was in a cabinet where bowls are not normally kept. He has been a doll. He goes back to work tomorrow and is worried I might not be able to eat until he gets home. He should know me better than that!

To all of you with port pain: Me too! Yesterday was tough - very hard to stand or walk. I did walk a little, but it hurt a lot. Today has been a little better. Please consider - think about how much it hurts when you have an injured muscle, esp in the back or abdomen, in muscles that support your core. That is what you have now - the port is attached to abdominal muscle, thus the muscle is "injured" and hurts like heck when you try to use it - as in standing or walking - or stretch it as in lying flat. It does help to support the port incision with a small pillow or just your hand as you walk. If you have had coughing or vomiting during this early recovery, it will hurt more. Just try to support the area and walk as much as you are able. My doc said not to worry about taking the pain meds - that is what they are for. If they can help you rest and get good sleep, you will heal faster. Rest is the key. Good luck to week 2 bandsters! We are here for you...

Congratulations to Karen! So glad to hear of this good news. I hope she loves her new job and does very well.

I want to thank everyone for your good thoughts and your prayers. They are appreciated so much!

Teresa, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband as he deploys. I am glad he was able to be with you for your surgery. Please let him know he will be in our prayers while he is in harm's way. We pray he and his unit will return safely. My thanks to both of you for your service and your sacrifice.

Hi to All! I am home! I had the surgery on Thursday and spent that night in the hospital. Everything went well and doc was pleased. I felt great in the hospital, much better than I'd expected. I have quite a bit of soreness in the muscle that holds the port, but that's about it. I have not had any gas pain yet - I don't even know when that could potentially start, but it has not yet. I was on heavy pain meds Thurs afternoon at the hospital, but switched to the lighter stuff in the evening, one dose before I left for our drive home (1 1/2 hours). Since being home I've had a couple of doses, as the port pain was worse, but easing off on the pain and the meds. I'll have a post-op visit with Dr. B next Friday, but everything looks great so far. SO GLAD to have full liquids today! DH and I can be creative with that plus a good blender - hard to be creative with broth and juice! From what I am hearing the other December bandsters are doing well, too. Some of them are also on this and the 50's & 60's threads. Thank you all for your kind messages of support. I sure love my LBTalk friends! You are all GREAT!

Just checking in with everyone. My surgery was on Thursday and I spent the night in the hospital. I felt really good post surgery, some soreness at incision sites, otherwise good. I was on some pretty good painkillers in the hospital, and have taken some since getting home yesterday. The 1 1/2 hour drive home was not bad, but I was really tired and sore after arrival at home. I went to bed early last night - with drugs - and slept well. DH got up at about 4:30 and brought me another small dose of drug, and I slept until almost 8:00. I feel pretty good this morning, still sore around the port site, but since that is stitched into muscle I think it will be sore for some time. I'm able to eat (drink!) my full liquids this morning just fine, and they taste good after nothing but broth and juice! yum - tomato Soup for Breakfast - my favorite! Hope everybody else is doing well. Sue from NE - you are doing great. I would not attempt a shopping trip this weekend! About the early weight loss - I don't think we should plan on a big weight loss early in the game. For one thing - if you are on liquids and drinking juices and broth, you are still getting a lot of sugar and salt. Even tho it's not a lot of calories, you will still retain Water. Post surgery, you have some of the same issues - not a lot of calories, but you may still retain water on the full liquids. Don't forget that when you drop to very low calorie intake, your body tends to believe you are starving (feel like it too!) and will adjust your metabolism to conserve its resources (fat). The scale will be playing tricks on you the next few weeks so don't get discouraged. Just follow the rules and allow your innards to heal - the weight will come off. Mr. Mike - it's good to hear from you. I'm glad everything is going well. I have not had any of the gas pain people have talked about. The nurse said some people just don't have it. I feel very lucky! Have fun at the grocery! Good luck to all.

Hi Nancy - please don't beat up on yourself. You have lost 10 pounds a month and I'll bet that is better than you have done in a long time on other diets. You are doing great!