JoannMarie

i joined!!!

It's good to hear from you, Doxie. I'm glad everything went well for you. I identify with the pups wanting to be part of your lap. Our lap dog is a sheltie who weighs a bit more than most "lap" dogs! He will be on the lap in a flash, though. You are on your way!

Stewie, I feel like we will be holding hands! We leave for Topeka at 6a.m. for 8a.m. check-in and surgery is scheduled for 10:00. I am going to stay overnight because I don't want the long drive back after surgery and general anesthetic. Please check back in as soon as you feel like it and I will do the same. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi Soo! I am really glad to hear from you - have been thinking of you all day! Its a good tip about staying overnight if you have that option. Medicare leaves it up to the patient and I opted to stay. I have a 1 1/2 hour drive and did not think it would be much fun following major surgery and general anesthetic! I'll take a little TLC from the nursing staff for a while, thank you! DH will be with me - he is going to sleep in the recliner (I checked all this out with the hospital last Wed when I went for my lab draws.) I was told the staff takes good care of spouses - which will suit him fine. It is probably helpful for them, too, since he is there to watch my every move. Doc gave me my pain med script when I was there Wed, and I went to the pharmacy to fill it - it's in place, too. We leave around 6a.m. tomorrow - check in at hosp is at 8 - surgery scheduled for 10. I expect we will be home early afternoon on Friday. DD is taking care of animals for us, they love her. I am ready to roll! And Sue!!! Mall walking on your second day??? During Christmas shopping season??? You are one brave woman! Girl, in a few weeks you will be shopping the after Christmas sales for smaller clothes! I can't tell you how great it is to hear such good news from our early December bandsters! This is such an exciting journey for all of us and I wish each and every one of you the very, very best!

Thank you for the good wishes, Janet. I have been so excited all week - but today I have calmed down a bit. I have not had major hunger with the pre-op and today it is liquids and Jello - yum. my favorites. I was up early with Abbie - she is not doing well. We see the vet this afternoon. I'm not feeling very hopeful about that. I am spending the night at the hospital. Its about 1 1/2 hour drive from home and I opted for the stay because I did not think I would enjoy that drive home. DH is staying with me, sleeping in a recliner - I was told the staff would take very good care of him. I don't doubt that - he can be a real charmer! Soooo we are ready. I sure do appreciate all the help, support, and advice from the friends I have made here on this and other threads. You are a wonderful group of people. I am so blessed to have you to turn to - especially in a few days when I will need to whine...

Pete, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow morning as we drive to Topeka - right about the time you will be flying off to a similar climate in your flip-flops. I am a bit envious of you today - our weather is cold and damp and I am feeling it! You will be in my prayers, Pete. I am looking forward to hearing how you are doing very soon.

Cathy, is that a new photo? You look gorgeous, darlin'!

Orea - so good to hear you are 80 pounds lighter - and they are gone forever, Girlfriend!! You seem to have found your place in all this, and back to the losing game again. Lisalee - congratulations on Onderland! I look forward to that day myself. and thank all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I have been very excited all week, today a bit more subdued. After all this time and talk - its just about here. Long - it is 9:50am here and tomorrow at this time they will be letting me drift off into lala land as I count backward from 100 to 99!

Marilyn, thank you so much for your kind words. You do have a special touch, darlin'. I have been so excited all week - today I am much more subdued and getting more so by the hour! I appreciate your prayers so much. You have blessed my life.

I am with you Mr. Mike - that Protein shake sounds like filet mignon right now!!! liquids all day today - the clear kind that still leaves you hungry... Ah well - it will all be worth it! You will be in my thoughts today and I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Pete - thanks for all you do for us! You will be leaving for sunny Mexico soon - if not already on your way. We will keep you in our prayers. Can't wait to hear how everythings goes for you, too.

Hi Silver, The website is www.tickerfactory.com. You can choose your ticker information and style, then copy the codes onto your signature block. Additional information is in the User CP section on the left hand side at the top of this page. I had some trouble getting my ticker to copy at first - I emailed Alex (super admin) and he very graciously helped me.

Sue - its great to hear from you so soon. I'm beginning to feel like a mother hen worrying over her chicks! Well - I am worrying over my chics!! Your point about other surgeries is well taken. I had knee replacement 6 years ago this month. This LB thing is probably in a much different class than that! I'm glad to hear you did so well, and hope I do, too! You are on your way!!!

Welcome back Sue and Trina. Its good to hear you both did so well. I do the "nothing but clear liquids" tomorrow and will be headed to the hospital early Thurs morning. I am going to stay the night because it is an hour and half away from home and I don't think I want to make the trip same day as surgery. I love hearing this good news from all of you!

Good luck to both of you! Okay - how did you get that cool effect between the Hotties and the Diamonds????? I love it!

Trina, its great to hear from you today and to hear how well everything went for you. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Orea it is great to hear from you. I'm glad the hunger issues are better for you and you are losing again. You have had several rough weeks, and stress can sure play havoc with your body (and your brain!). Good going, girl.

Lori - you are going to be fine. By the end of the week it will be gone, and others will be joining it. Wash it away with lots of water, eat your healthy diet, get a little exercise and it will go away. Difference between your normal breakfast and the yogurt could not possibly cause a permanent pound (better known as a pp) to suddenly appear and completely stop your weight loss. You are golden, girl, and nothing is going to stop you.

Karen, that is FANTASTIC!! I've been following your progress these months, and you are doing so well. I am very happy for you! Congratulations on 100 pounds gone forever!

Hi Flowers, Maybe that's just the way your body loses pounds... I've seen from several people on the threads that they tend to lose well for a period of time, then it seems to just stop for a while. It's almost like the body just needs to catch up with itself. For myself, I don't know how I will lose once banded, but on other diets I have tended to lose like that. Sometimes the "waiting periods" were so long I eventually just gave up on the diet. Frustration! I know its very hard to keep your focus when you are not losing like you want to. I hope this fill works for you!

Thank you all so much for your good wishes coming my way. I am really getting excited. Talked to my DD in Korea tonight and she is almost as excited as I am! I am so ready to get this show on the road...

Cheryl, the orthopedic surgeon who replaced my left knee told me my treadmill exercise days were over. He recommended the elliptical and a stationary bike with no weight for me because of my severe arthritis. I think if you have no arthritic problems with your knees it does not matter, but if you begin to develop pain in those knee or hip joints get it checked. Impact exercise will only make it worse. Maintaining a good weight is the best thing you can do for your knees, hips, and ankles (and many other body parts!). Yay for maintaining a good weight!

Hi Denise - the book you are referring to is one I mentioned some time back. It is The Emotional First + Aid Kit - A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery. The author is Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD. It is a good book and deals with the whole process from research and decision time - all the way through. It was recommended by my psychologist, and he recommended I buy it. He said if I have it at home I will refer back to it many times as questions come up. It does deal with head hunger, exercise motivation, dealing with friends and families, etc. The author has been treating bariatric patients for many years. I am sorry to hear you are having these issues. I agree the high protein/low carb plan sounds like a good one. It is one I plan to use throughout my weight loss phase - and probably beyond. DH and I both feel better when we eat that way anyhow. I also remember reading a few posts about the 5-day pouch test. I believe Phyl did something like that last summer to get a jump start when she had hit a slow period. You might pm her to see if she has any information about it. I am with you on the tight pants - ugh. My closet holds so many sizes of jeans I won't have to buy any for a while! All purchased while on the way up... I may find them hideously out of style when I get there.

Amen to all of the above!! Dec twosies - you are up next and we wish you successful surgeries and speedy recoveries one and all! Please keep us posted!

Good luck and prayers go to our December 2nd bandsters. I hope you will all have successful surgeries and speedy recoveries. I know we will all be waiting to hear from you soon.

Long, it's good to have you back. You did great in the fields - considering your knee problems, I was a little surprised you were able to navigate that rough ground so well. As to the lack of loss - remember you were also in the car for quite a distance coming home. You are probably retaining a good amount of Water from that trip. I'll bet the scales go down in the next day or so. Nothing is going to hold you back now... I am on pre-op and looking forward to Thursday. Just trying to stay busy and think about the important stuff, not about what I am having for lunch. broth. maybe a little cottage cheese - amazing how good that tastes these last 3 days! I've lost 8 pounds, though, and these, like all others, are gone forever. According to Martha S., that's a good thing.