argon

Well, that's good... you're getting good training! Even mashed potatoes aren't good for you? Popcorn is very easy, and always trouble free for me. Fickle, fickle bands!

Those of us from Canada know what it's like to find a decent doc! I'd settle for having one, period. No, actually I wouldn't. I'd rather have a new doctor every time I go to a clinic than a horrible one EVERY time! But welcome back, congrats on the new place

ahhhh, fine! Keep in mind, these are mostly young stupid guys doing this. I don't encourage nor condone anything! You know what a Colt 45 is? I'm sure you have them wherever you are. I have never had one, but I've had Big Bears in AB. They're 40oz of beer conveniently placed in one big bottle and they're cheap ($5). To take part in the "Edward 40 Hands" party, you have to duct tape 'a 40' to each of your hands (ok, not you, but someone does it for you), and there's no removing of them until they're empty. Ahhh... imagine the chaos that could ensue. You don't HAVE to drink it. Get rid of it whatever way you can... offer some to drink-less friends, whatever. You don't have to do it. I said I really didn't think I could do that. ESPECIALLY because it's gross beer, and it would get awfully warm in my hands for hours and hours. I didn't have to, I was told... only those who wanted to join in could. I think it's a pretty funny idea, and I hope they get some good pictures. I wish I could have gone. Maybe next time. Apparently this is the 2nd "Edward 40-hands" party. LOL I laugh thinking about it, cause I had no idea what people were talking about all week, referring to this friday's party... until yesterday.... and thinking of a bunch of fools sitting around with bottles taped to their hands makes me giggle.

I think I will, but only because I'm sick! I planned to go to this "Edward 40-Hands" party tonight, but after supper, felt so crappy, I decided not to. Dan is gone though. So I'm lyin' here on the couch, watchin' Nanny 911 and feelin' bad. My booby trap was undisturbed, so I feel safe by myself! LOL *by the way... you don't wanna know what Edward 40-hands means! It means trouble!!!*

Hey Puddin, lookin' awesome! I'm wondering how your arms have faired through your weightloss? A lot of looseness or saggyness? You should take a picture of yourself in the same pose as your 'before'! Mandi

Thanks, me too

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/maritimes_bariatric_patients/ Not very active, but they are there, and will probably respond if you post something.

Wow, yes... $24,000?! That's insane ... $28,000 CDN It really is sad that they'll pay for that, but a lapband is not even partially covered? But to Ontario's praise, at least they DO do that, send waiting people to the US. If only they'd offer more choices... not just RNY or nothing.

Me too!!!!!!

Ok, I freaked myself out saying that, and couldn't sleep last night. This morning I called the gym, no jeans. I'm going to stop there on the way to work, and see if somehow the last 2 times, I've missed a pair of jeans sitting in my otherwise totally empty locker. I'm setting up a booby-trap in my apartment too. I'm figuring this out!

Wow, it's like, even after repeating her question, people still 'go elsewhere' with their posts. Not that the emailing Don Mills thing isn't a good idea, but in Canada we DO have bands done other than Inamed/Allergan, so lots of fill Dr. would fill other kinds. (I say this assuming that what US people have said about Inamed bands being the only ones approved for use there so far is true) Yes, maybe they won't fill MX patients, and it would be good to ask, but asking Inamed isn't going to give you all the info you want. If you wanted to know the recommended Dr's who do all kinds of bands, you'd have to contact all the various companies that make them.

Oh Mookie... do a search for sliming (on this board), you'll find 5 million explanations. I haven't had quite what Baby said... it doesn't POUR out, and it doesn't come up on its own. I have to kind of burp, and sometimes what comes up is a thick clear slime. I believe it is the stomachs way of unsticking something.

Nah, that sounds totally normal. You don't WANT to have problems to know it's working! Goofball! It's 3 weeks til your fill... just hold out. Are you going to Miss. for it, or getting it there? Besides, I'd want my port as healed as possible before I have some creep 'palpitating' it. How's it feeling, can YOU push on it comfortably? How many time have you heard us saying that the first 6 weeks are about healing, not losing? DON'T worry about it! You'll start losing soon. You wanna heal now. You don't have to have a fill to start losing, it happens sometimes too. You're still not going to be able to eat as much, fill-less, as you could have prior to banding. I couldn't at least. It was way more than now, but less than before, so.... I lost before my first fill. Not much though. Just get healed! (I'm just bein' tough on you cause I know you can take it )

and really, I'm just saying this for my own benefit. Maybe someday, when I'm kidnapped, they'll be able to find this post, and know they're looking for someone wearing size 16 Old Navy jeans.

Today was horrible and good all wrapped in one. First, I can't find the jeans I want to wear. I bought 2 pairs of the EXACT same ones, a couple months ago, in an 18 and a 16. The 18's are too big, and the 16's aren't as big. I wore the 16's on monday. I wanted to wear them again today. I couldn't find them, and was a little baffled... read more later: My 'friend' is supposed to call me if she doesn't want a ride. She didn't, and I waited... then got to work, and she was there. Then right away, this guy goes around and gives people tablets who didn't have them already (wacom tablet=lets you draw 'digitally' on a pad with a special pen, and it shows up on the screen)... I'd say 75% of the people at work who have them (including me) are using their own personal HOME ones, just because there were no more floating around, and we need them. I don't think I should have to use my own personal stuff for work. We have a suggestion box, so I quickly scribbled a "I don't think we should have to use our OWN tablets.", and threw it in. (I'm sure I could have said "hey, I want one of those!", but there were only like 5 of them, and people who didn't have one at all.) Then I got a new keyboard at work. I was happy, because when we moved, I lost my old one, and the replacement's spacebar 'stuck' alll the time. I got a new one.. started using it, and it's like ALL the freakin' keys stick! Half of the letters I type don't register, because I have to type so hard, and hold it so long, that... I just don't. So.... was mad about that. Thennn... at lunch, one of the secretary's commented to another how skinny I was getting. Embarassing, but ok, nice enough. I finish all my work, almost 3 days early - good. Not that they don't just throw other stuff at me when that happens, but that's ok. Then my 'BOSS' boss walks by, does a double take, and comes back. He says "I was looking at some pictures from last picture when you first got here... you must have lost 25-30 lbs! Is that right?" I said "Last summer? Yeah that's about right." He said "Wow, everyone gains like 40lbs when they start here, what are you doing?" I said nothing special, just eating better and exercising. He congratulated me and that was that. It was ok... he was quiet about it. Around the end of the day, Loudmouth herself (but meaning well) comes over to talk to me. Asks what I do, how I'm doing it, what she should do and eat. Everyone around me is paying attention. One guy pipes in "Fish and vegetables!" I told her I just eat better, less, and exercise. No special diet. She can still have chocolate... if she likes Pasta so much, try having the whole wheat stuff at least. Then she asks how much I've lost. Already red, I say that I don't really want to share. She hassles and hassles and says "Is it that much?" I said yeah, and to come closer. I said "PLEASE don't tell people this, I just don't want everyone to know.... 99lbs so far. 55 since you've known me." "HOLY F@$&!!!" she says, very loudly. Anyways... it was just very uncomfortable. After work, heading to the gym again, because I don't want to go tomorrow, my 'friend' asks me why I didn't tell Loudmouth. Kind of stunned, I say "YOU and DAN are the ONLY ones here who know, and I want to keep it that way. I don't want people to judge me." She said "I'm sure they wouldn't, but I see what you mean." (Uhh.. ok.) What I'm thinking is WTF!? You act like its a surprise that I don't want people to know, so have YOU been telling people. GEEEEEZ. Of course I didn't say that, cause I'm gutless too. But I'm a little scared. When I told her, I told her that I was only telling her because I had to, and that was because I was staying with her at the time, and needed an explanation as to why this Dr. was calling and leaving messages for me... from Ontario. Then later I went to Canadian Tire, and exchanged something that I shouldn't have been able to (because it was more than a year old, and I didn't have the receipt anymore). They, themselves decided it was only 2 months old and gave me a new one. I was very happy, I called my dad and told him how clever I was. Back to the jeans. I finally get home and decided to find those jeans. I tear the place apart. They are NOT in my apartment. Where are my freakin jeans!? And not even the big ones!!! Since monday, I haven't been able to find this bottle of pills. Once again, tore the place apart, still nothing. I think some freak is stealing my pills, and dirty jeans. My ONE hope, is that somehow, I left them in the changing room at the gym. But I've been there twice since monday, and no ones says "Hey, did you lose some pants?". Would someone at a ladies gym steal a pair of 'tattered' looking size 16 jeans? I'm thinking not. People leave their shoes there, lockers unlocked, full of stuff... .why my jeans?! I'm a little freaked out. Tomorrow I'm rigging my door to see if someone's coming in here when I'm not home. Serious.

ooooooh, I know. It was my old yucky drivers license picture!!! Nope, never, anymore. Everyone's got 'em. *whoopeedeedoo*, right?! I'm some kind of critic?! Really, I just got sick of it. And I thought my front teeth gum line might be receding a little.

Good luck!!! If you feel like you need a little belly protection on the plane, you can just get one of those little pillows, and yeah, use the hotel one if you need that! Talk to ya on the other side!!

Laura, I have no idea. They say you should get supplemental when you're going out of country for any reason (like vacation), so I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

Good luck, Tres!!

(I took my liquid codeine the very first night, cause I thought I needed to be knocked out. I haven't use it once since. There was no pain that was anything that couldn't be shook off. (and REALLY, the only problem was feeling like I'd had the crap kicked out of my belly.. not a 'problem', but the only bother)

Sorry Maria, that you had to experience that!! Wheezy: not really. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't! So annoying!

No, it's not (a Protein water) I had the Stacker too...it wasn't great, but not bad. I'd rather have it than a thick protein drink! I should have tried adding crystal light. The lemonade one I got was very sour! I don't know if my Walmart has them. I found the one I got at a Shoppers' in Calgary. Honestly, the only protein I had after right after surgery was after the Clear liquids phase (a few days), and it came in the form on cottage cheese and milk!

Mookie, 20lbs on Optifast is impressive! Especially cause you're a 'lightweight'!!

Hey Cloe, I was surprised by that.. 161lbs?! She's a freakin' giant though. She's probably the equivalent of me being 120lbs!

Oh yeah, if any one is able to watch Jay Leno tonight, this guy that kinda works for us is going to be on... he's a comedian, and named Buddy Bolton. ALSO, for some reason, they are supposed to be showing a little bit of this pilot we did called "CLOE"!!! It's about a foul mouthed (REALLY) sea monster from Brooklyn, and her little friend Timmy. Let me know if you see it, I'm gonna watch too!