JudyAnticola

Yep coffee will be good! After September I should have plenty of time for that (I camp and camping season is over for me October 5). That would be great.

I did experience everything you are. the shoulder pain from the gas that they use to expand the opening for surgery went on for a few weeks, but it did get better. The abdominal gas (ie, fart) seems to stay with you but gets better, gas-x should help that type of gas. I used soft rolaids. I had a bruise the size of a baseball, I still have a slight shadow there. My port hurt for a while, and as you said it was really the only pain I had. I slept on my stomach right away when I came home. Occasionally I had to shift to get the weight off of it. It is better now. I was short of breath for about two weeks after surgery. I was worried too but it went away, probably anesthesia effect. The prognosis?-- You WILL live to be SKINNY!!!

Band, I live off Seneca near Transit.

Val, it is justs you and I on Saturday 9/20. Do you want to start at 8:30 or 9? If not 8 is fine. If you want to start later call my cell tonight 997-4945. If I do not hear from you I will be there at 8 am. It will be a beautiful morning.

Val, since it is just you and I this Saturday (tomorrow) want to start at 8:30 or 9? I am just being lazy. Call my cell if you want to make it later otherwise I will be there at 8 am. 997-4945. I will leave a note on the walking site too.

Hi Bloom, congratulations!!! You are on your way. Why no apple juice, just not enough protein? The only reason I am asking is that they gave me apple juice in the hospital. They did not give you the list for the vitamins or anything? I cant remember when I got mine, I think when they gave me the date for surgery they gave me all that. My protein powder was good, thank God. Designer protein or something like that. I am so jealous that you were able to get babied by family, I went home to be with my doggie, but that is ok. I really did not feel too bad anyway. Actually I drove two days after my surgery, had to go to a funeral. Anyway, I am so happy for you I hope you will walk with us soon.

Thanks for your support LLL! Yes, food is our drug for sure. I have been talking to Nicki a lot about this, I think psychiatry should be a bigger part of the program and maybe we should suggest this. I think we would get more out of seeing a shrink at our appointments then the nutritionist or physical therapist. I realize that we can choose to go to one if we want, but since it such a big issue I think it should be ingrained in the program. I am off to jazzercise. Take care. Linda, can you hear the consistancy in what all of the bandsters are saying, we all eat different things, but we all eat small and chew a lot. I have to agree on one more thing with LLL, hamburger is a problem for me (especially if left over) but I have eaten some fine steaks since the surgery. We are so worth it.

Val is right, eat slow and small, no matter what it is. That is what Hoffman always tells me too, eat slow and small, you can always go back for more. I just wish I could stop thinking about eating, maybe that will come next.

Linda, are you torn about whether or not to have the surgery? It is a scary thing having this thing in you forever. But it is just as scary to have bad health. If you are too undecided you could wait a while longer, but I am not sure if that would help. It frustrates me to not be able to eat a full meal when the meal is a good one, but I am enjoying being in smaller clothes. It's kind of a choice, I think I will get used to it. To be honest I am not sure. You are stuck with this once you do it. I am not sorry at all that I did it. I am sorry that my weight was such that I had to do it. If you have any doubts, then delay it. It is a big decision. The weight loss is slower than I thought, but faster than I was doing before. I am not sure what else to tell you. You have most of the facts now, let the facts guide you. Again, we are all different. Your surgery might be nothing like mine or like LLL or Band. Margie M has pain, I did not have pain. Decide based on what is right for you, not what is happening to each of us. Take care talk to you soon.

Linda, you can eat beef. I think hamburger is one of the things they tell you to eat. Beef and chicken. Actually, you can eat anything that you can tolerate. You will find out yourself what you can and can not eat. It will probably be different for you. I can eat tuna, many girls can not eat tuna. I can not handle beef or chicken because I take big bites. You are worrying too much about this. Follow the rules they give you and then add in what you can when you can. I eat a lot of chili, and thick soups when I can not eat other things. Other than meat I eat cottage cheese, cheese, protein powder. I had cod fish when I was on the road this week as well as very tender steak. Did not have problems with either. I have eaten chicken wings with no problem, and have had problems with chicken breasts. It is an individual thing. The thing that you have to remember is small bites, and small amounts. Then you pretty much can eat anything.

I think one of my problems might be drinking too soon after eating. I do not drink with my meals, but I do not think I wait for 1 hour after I eat. It seems like I am dying to drink soon after a meal.

I am going on the 7th, 10:30. I will probably still be there when you come, ask for me. I did not go to the meeting last night, I was away for work. I will weight myself in the morning. I usually do well when traveling because I do not have access to food in between. I was losing about 2 pounds a week, but not sure if that continued. Will check tomorrow and let you know. I am eating more than I want to but for sure less than I was before the band. If I buy a meal out it usually last me for at least one other meal if not two. I used to finish whatever I bought prior to the band. I can see myself getting back to eating too much. I also wonder what happens when the band gets filled and you still need to lose weight. We will have to find out.

Band, write down what you eat everyday, maybe you are eating more than you think. I still have to write because I still love to eat and sometimes forget that I ate something, then at the end of the day it is too much. I eat protein first as LLL says, or I try to. It is true, that way there is less room for other stuff. I am not sure I am getting enough vegetables in. I do eat potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, pizza, bagels, just not as often and usually not a large amount. What gets stuck for me is hamburger and chicken. Maybe I do not chew meat as well as the other stuff. I really do try to go for the protein first when I can (breakfast is hard) and if I were not exercising 3-4 times a week I am sure I would not be losing. If you are doing everything you should then maybe you should see the dietician. I am also afraid the day will come when I stop losing weight, I am just so used to that pattern.

You are funny Band of gold. I just looked at your stats, you are doing pretty well. I know, we all just have to keep pushing. I am doing well and still feel like I am not good enough.

I will be there Saturday 9/20. Linda is not coming, I will check with Nicki. I will do light the night walk. we can talk on Saturday.

Val, how was your vacation? Did you have good weather or did it rain? Will you be walking on Saturday? Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Take care.

Band of gold, do you need a fill? The only thing I can tell you is something that Hoffman reminded me of at the last check up. If you are drinking when you eat you might as well forget that you have the band. So be careful about that. When is your appointment? The other thing he told me is that if I want to lose faster I need to exercise more, I go 3 times a week so I would need to go up to 4. Not sure if this helps you or not.

Band of gold, do you need a fill? The only thing I can tell you is something that Hoffman reminded me of at the last check up. If you are drinking when you eat you might as well forget that you have the band. So be careful about that. When is your appointment? The other thing he told me is that if I want to lose faster I need to exercise more, I go 3 times a week so I would need to go up to 4. Not sure if this helps you or not.

Pre-op I did not lose much. Post op I was on liquids a few days and then soft foods. I am having trouble now with meat unless I cut it up in small cubes so I am not tempted to wolf it down. I had some problems with throwing up, but he said he would take Fluid out of the band if I still had problems at my next visit. I am not givng up the liquid gold, LOL, so I have been very careful since I saw Hoffman two weeks ago. I did not have many problems at all from the surgery, was back to work in 5 days. Have had some tiredness, but at the sleep center they said that they have to retitrate my CPAP because of the weight loss (about 18 pounds total). They think that is why I am tired. All in all I can not complain. Of course I am worried that the weight loss will stop, I think about food and the band all the time. I am hoping that will stop eventually and I will focus on something else instead of my "stomach bling". I would have loved to meet all of you at the support group, but next time for sure.

I will be out of town for the support meeting, I am sad that I will not meet you all! Maybe next time!

NOTHING will happen so do not worry, it all gets better after 8 am tomorrrow. Remember to get the patch for nausea before the surgery. I hate that phospho-soda. I am so excited for you, I have thought about you often today. Write us when you can.

Lorraine was the only one that I know of who drank out of small glasses every 15 minutes. I tried to drink every hour, but since I was here alone if I did not get up then that was it. You do have to drink a certain amount of liquid and protein after you get home, doing it every 15 minutes insures that you get enough, but I did not have the patience to do it that way. I felt great anyway, so I just got up sand drank as often as I could. The nurse will come in post op to discuss with you. At the hospital they had glasses there and ice water and ice chips for the whole day.

Hey gang, wassup???? I chew Viactive up in two seconds even with the band so I am not sure what to tell you Linda. Actually, Dr. Hoffman never took me off pills, so still take my meds and vitamins whole with no problem. Best wishes to you Bloom--come back on as soon as you can and let us know how you are doing. Hopefully the weather will be good for walking on Saturday at the Park. Val is on vacation but if it is not raining at least 3 of us will be there. Yes the week before the surgery is worse then then week after in my opinion. For anyone that had the surgery and is on CPAP, mine had to be titrated again due to weight loss and that is the reason I am tired--and here I thought I was not eating enough, LOL! So make sure that you have your machine adjusted as needed with the weight loss. Take care everyone!!

Dee H. You will not be sorry!! Honest.

Let us know how you make out Bloom, but certainly we can get you one for show. If you have sleep apnea you should get a machine, you are at high risk of stroke if you do not use your machine. However, if you do not have one yet, how can they expect you to bring it? If you were diagnosed recently? I am so excited for you.