JoannMarie

Mrsace, have you tried to make the font smaller in some areas of your signature block? That may help make room...

Pete - thanks for all your work on the banner. I have a lot of trouble getting the banners and/or tickers to my signature block. I always get the "invalid file" notification, no matter what I do. To get my ticker I finally emailed Alex, and he very graciously got it to work for me. I had the same problem with your banner. This time I went to the link, copied the banner into my hard drive, then used the browser window to find it and upload it to my signature block. VOILA!!! Whatever it takes! I hope you and your family are getting along well. Has there been any action on the job front? Know that we all are thinking about you and sending good thoughts and prayers your way. We'll all be having a great Thanksgiving this year - enjoying our turkey broth and sugar-free Jello! Personally, I am going to have a sugar-free fudgesicle for dessert - or maybe a pumpkin Protein shake! I will love every minute of it because it means I am one day closer to the start of this incredible journey. :tongue:

Tmbowe - you are in my prayers today. I pray for you a safe and effective surgery and a speedy recovery - and a great start on your journey. Please keep us posted.

Hi 2Much! Welcome to our group of December Bandsters! I live in Independence - close to Kansas City - where do you live? I'll be having my surgery in Topeka, KS, since the only Center of Excellence in KC area did not work out for me. I am a medicare patient and the Topeka group accepts Medicare payment - the surgical group in KC area did not accept Medicare payment alone - so I would have had to make up many $$$. I am very happy with the Topeka group, even though I'll have to drive about 80 miles for surgery and fills. They are very experienced and have a very good track record - and I love the staff. They are very professional, helpful, and always reachable. I have 16 days left! Surgery on Dec 4th. I start my pre-op next week - possibly on Thanksgiving day! I alternate between excitement and terror - as one of my friends said "from panic to peace and back again." It is a big deal to change your life completely when you are 66 years old! But I know it is going to be a great change and I can honestly say I am ready for this challenge. I have never backed away from a challenge yet, and don't intend to now... For eggnog protein drink, check out the Dec 2008 forum - there is a posting there that lists protein drinks of every flavor - including eggnog! Some of the previous posts on this thread also have some recipes. Keep us posted on your surgery and progress! It will be very helpful to all of us to support each other through this new phase of life.

April, I am so glad you posted again. Something about your note jumped out at me - the fact that you have stuck with WW and lost a lot of weight on that plan, then gained it back each time. Most of us can stay on a diet long enough to lose the weight. The trouble is we always drift back to old habits once the goal has been accomplished. The difference I see with the band is that - as Long said - you will always have the option of restriction. This tool will always be there to keep you company and help you avoid that drift backwards. As with the weight loss part of this journey - it will not keep you from making bad food choices and working around it. But if you concentrate on making this a lifestyle change (as IndioGirl teaches) you and your band will be able to work together to keep you in a healthy weight range. In all my research and decision-making process, that became the most important factor in my decision. I remember reading how restrictive this process is in terms of amounts of food allowed. The first thought that flashed into my head was - "I don't think I can live with that the rest of my life." It was followed immediately with the second flash, "You are going to have to live with that if you want to be a healthy person at a normal BMI." Exactly what is it I want??? I have already proven (20 or so times) I can lose weight. I have also proven I gain it all back plus more when I return to my old habits. All of a sudden it was a no-brainer. This tool and my personal commitment will help keep me from returning to those old habits. Yes - I am giving something up. But what I am going to gain from all this is my life back. As you said - the simple, every-day joys of playing with my grandchildren, riding a bike with my daughter (who, by the way, is an IRONMAN triathlete! - can you believe that???), and trying on sport shoes without embarrassment (because I can't tie my own shoes!). We won't fail - we can't fail. The price is too high.

Hi Keshia, This website was listed in my packet also. The nutritionist suggested getting the sample pack to see what I liked and wanted to order. Thanks for reminding me!

Phyl, I can't believe you were treated that way. The usher apparently was not there for the sermon and certainly did not get the message. I am so sorry that happened to you. It breaks my heart when things like that happen in church - where it should never happen. Hooray for you, though - parking that scooter (anywhere!) and walking more - and joining the choir??? I'll bet you have a great voice and I'll bet you will really enjoy singing in the choir.

Thank you, Apples! I have learned so much from all of you on this and a couple of other threads - I feel like I have such a jump on this whole process. I am sure there will be some surprises, but I'm hoping most of them will be good ones! I glanced down at the list of "current active users viewing this thread" and I see all FRIENDS names there!!! How cool is that??

Welcome, Lucky! I wish I had words of wisdom for you about the nurse's voicemail. It was certainly rude - and uncalled for. I'm sure you feel kinda helpless, since she holds your future in her hands in the form of your insurance approval and questions... I hope she calls you back in the next day or so and has good news for you and the good sense to apologize. This is a great place to go for support and reassurance - and venting, too, if that is your need at the moment. You will get straight talk here - but always done with love. I'm glad you are here.

Thanks, LK. MY plan for the pre-op is definitely starting on Nov 28th - leave Thanksgiving alone, thank you, and enjoy the meal and family time. But since I meet with the surgeon the day before Thanksgiving, I decided to give her the last word. My guess is she will say to start on Friday - but if she is going to play hardball with me - I will give in immediately! For the next phase of my life SHE is the boss of me. If I end up eating the turkey broth and cranberry jello I will enjoy it and be grateful I am 6 days from my surgery at that point. Good advice about the support group. My surgeon is about 1 1/2 hours from my home, so I don't know if I will be hooking up with a support group at their location. I have heard that at least one of the surgical groups in Kansas City welcomes people who have been banded elsewhere in their support groups. I will look for one of those some time this winter. I'm going out of the area in order to go to a Center of Excellence where the surgeons also accept Medicare and a supplement to pay for the surgery. The only Center of Excellence in K.C. area - the surgeons are not contracted with Medicare and you are expected to make up the difference. Good surgeons from what I hear, but we're now living on our retirement savings, and I can't justify that expense in these difficult times. Thank you for your encouragement!

As I get closer and closer to my date - here come all you wonderful people out of my computer screen to encourage and inspire me! Thank you for your story, Lizalee. I, too, loved to ride horses in my formative years. I don't see us with horses on our property, but I do see horseback trips in the mountains in our future. I am so happy to see your amazing success with the band. I know you have frustrations at times, and I will, too - but we just keep on keepin' on and we will attain those goals we have set for ourselves. Thank you again - and I wish you the best!

Welcome Keshia - it's always good to have another friend on our side. Your date is coming up quickly. I've been shocked at how fast time has gone since my date was set - after all those dragging months of testing, the days are flying by now!

Carol - remind me of your date again? I won't be starting pre-op until T-giving day per doc's order. I hope to be able to have at least a piece of turkey for dinner, but if doc says no - I'll have turkey broth and Jello - and be just as happy as a clam!! Enjoy your prime rib and trimmings! It won't be that long and you will be enjoying a more normal variety of foods - this is just the way it has to be for now... We can do this!

Lori, I had the injections in the knee last March. It seemed to help quite a bit over the summer, but it is bad again. Doc said I could have another round - I'm scheduled for my first one on Dec 1. Doc also told me it generally takes 6-8 weeks to take affect. I found that to be true - by the end of April I was starting to feel better. PJ - Ditto on the breaded tilapia fillets from Costco. They've had 2 kinds - one kind was breaded w/Panko crumbs, the other w/whole wheat crumbs. Both are very good. They have approx 210 cal per generous fillet. Don't fry - they bake in a hot oven. Yum. I usually buy another bag when I open one cause I don't want to run out! DH and I both like them a lot. Chickie, you are not the only one who was teary eyed when reading your post. and yes - you are an inspiration. I can't wait to hear more about your new life!

Panic to peace and back - that's a perfect description of how I feel these days! I guess as long as it's peace at the end of the day I can sleep... Thanks, Phyl.

Chicks - I LOVE YOU!!!!! What a great story!! I am excited for you, too! I will get to see my grandson in April when we visit them in Korea - he will be 2 yrs old, and will be welcoming a new baby brother or sister that same month. I can't wait to get down on the floor and play with him! That thought keeps me going! Thank you for the inspiration.

Michelle - bless your heart - I know you are frustrated, but you are over half way to your goal!!! You have made amazing progress. I'll bet you feel much better and have a lot more energy than when you were banded. Get your head back in it, Girl! You will be successful... All you lovely banded people out there - I hear you talking about Bandster Hell - that time just before and sometimes just after the first fill. Sometimes I think the place where Michelle is might be a second Bandster Hell - about halfway to goal, but all those nasty demons of the past begin to rear their ugly heads and make you question if this is really doing you any good. I hope you have some words of wisdom for Michelle - and me! I'll be there, too, one of these days...

LK - welcome back! I'm glad to hear of your success. It reminds me that it's important to be your own advocate and ask for what you want. It sounds like your request to the doctor is just what you needed to jumpstart your progress. I'm scheduled for December 4th! 18 days to go, and I am alternating between excitement and terror. Well, maybe that is just a bit melodramatic, but I do have a case of nerves every once in a while. Karenin, I have not started a liquid diet yet. My surgeon requires 7 days of a modified liquid diet prior to surgery - which makes me starting on Thanksgiving! I see her the day before T'giving, and I am hoping she will modify it even more to accommodate a slice of turkey or so, but if she does not, I will be having turkey broth and jello - and loving every minute of it! I have been following a high protein low carb plan the last few weeks. LK, I am having the Realize band also - at the recommendation of my surgeon. She says that for her patients over 65 she has seen better success with the Realize band. She originally gave me the option, but as we are planning the actual event, she made the decision for me. I am glad she did, since I had been researching quite a lot and was having trouble with the decision. Have you been using their website? I have been doing the pre-op part of the website and really like it so far. I do wonder if people continue to use it over the course of their weight loss, or if it just drops off the to-do list after a while. I plan to track my food and exercise (have already started that) and I like the tracking system they use. It's good to hear you are both doing well. I hope to keep hearing from you!

Thank you again, Long and Boos. There is a lot there for April to think about - as I am sure she is doing. The banded people on this site continue to be my inspiration. When I first came to LBTalk I read all the negative posts about complications, failures, etc. I really believe we have to understand there are risks and failures with the band - just like everything else. But after looking through the site and beginning to read the posts for people in my age group (and a little younger - teehee) I quickly realized how much the band is helping us become healthier and happier people. Most likely our lives have been extended, and best of all - the quality of our lives has been improved immeasurably. That is what kept me coming back and continuing the process of approval and surgery. In just 18 days I will be joining this select group, and for the first time in years I am anticipating the future with confidence and a happy heart. Medicare is paying for my surgery, but the price I would pay for failure would be so devastating for me and my family - as the popular saying goes "failure is not an option." I know I can follow the guidelines and dietary requirements of this plan. Staying on a diet has never been a big issue for me as long as I was losing. In recent years, however, that means losing 2 pounds, gaining 2 pounds, losing 2, gaining 3 - you get the picture. Two years ago I lost 40 pounds on an Optifast style diet - stayed in maintenance following all the rules for 6 months - then the knee went out and curtailed exercise and the pounds started to come back on slowly but very surely. I need a replacement, but having been that route, I know the result might be a successful knee, but 30-40 more pounds by the time I am healed enough to do meaningful exercise. I will not even consider that until next year. I do know that I will have the same issues with cravings, head hunger, etc., that everyone else has. I also know that after a while (for me) those issues will decrease. I already keep my home free of goodies and eat a healthy diet. Portion control is my issue, and I know the tool will help me with that - for the rest of my life. Getting pounds off this knee will help me with exercise. The truth is - I am a very persistent person (DH says stubborn), and I can always make that trait work to my advantage! April, I would never presume to tell you what you should do. You need to make that decision, as you are the person affected by that decision. I just know this is the right one for me. Whatever your decision, good luck to you and I wish you every success!

Good for you, Trina! And you are #1!!!! You will start off the week AND the month for us. 16 days for you, girl!

Welcome Babyfever! My date is Dec 4th and I am excited, too. 20 days! Not worried about the holidays - I plan to be lookin' good next Christmas, so I can say no to the goodies this year. There was an eggnog shake recipe on one of the earlier pages. There is also a thread under December 2008 that has many recipes for shakes of all kinds - look for "Holiday Liquid and Shake Recipes." I printed it off and am buying the supplies for some of them - they really look good. Also check the poll for our December group name (finalists). Please vote for your favorite. The poll closes on Nov 24th, and we would like to have input from all the December bandsters. Good luck!

Welcome to this group, Horserider! Good luck on your surgery just a few days from now. Looks like you are doing okay with the posting bit. Just keep doing it! I wish you a successful surgery and rapid recovery - will be thinking about you next week.

Hi All, The Vegas idea sounds good. I will not be able to make April or May - I will be visiting my daughter in Korea, as she is having her second baby in 2 years and I would not miss seeing the 2 year old and the new baby for anything! (REALLY miss DD and her hubby, too.) June may work out for me, but I'm not going to commit just yet. The $5 bill savings plan sounds good, Janet, but I may need all of that and more for this Korea trip! 20 days to my LB Day. I alternate between excitement and nerves. I'll be getting the Realize band at my surgeon's recommendation, and I've gone out to the website to do all the pre-surgery reading, setting up my food diary, stuff like that. I believe that keeps my mind where it should be and helps me stay positive about this whole decision - the same function all you great banded people do for me, too. I must need a lot of support!!! I'm sure glad I found all of you!