Great2BThin

No I don't remember the butt slides. I have to raise my leg, pull it to a flex with a strap, lie on my belly with my legs hanging off the bed and then bend it, and do squats, standing on one leg and raise on my toes mostly. I'll see what the pt guy has tomorrow. The pain is becoming more of an achy pain than a pain pain.

Laura, What a special time that drive must've been with your dad. Cherish these moments. I can just feel the love that you feel for him in your posts. I am glad they have picked the oncologist they feel most comfortable with and that treatment is going to begin. It's okay to break down and cry, you've been so strong for them. Just let it out and post here when you can.

Good afternoon. My deer hunters hath returned with no deer. Safe for another year, or at least until we go to SD they will hunt there again. There's some talk of next weekend, but not sure. Parents are gone for the evening, hubby is home, just the 2 of us, ahhh!!!! Phyl, I had 75 degree flexion after surgery, I am at 85 now. I hope it is higher tomorrow at PT, I can full straighten it. My surgeon usually closes with the surgical glue but couldn't with me due to my allergy to it and super glue, he rarely uses stitches and staples they said. So that's how they remember me as the stitches girl. I guess I thought I would be done with pain pills and stuff by now, guess I need to learn patience. Maybe that's why all this family stuff is going on right now too, to teach me more patience. LOL I loved to go to Gilroy when we lived in Sacramento, it was a few hour drive. We found a winery there we liked too. Garlic wine sounds like a good cooking wine. Oneday, that's a great problem to have. I got most of my summer wardrobe at Goodwill and most of it was even name brand too. You will soon find some brands and cuts that fit you best and it will get easier to shop. Apples, Nothing wrong with Walmart, they take great care of my son. He is an overnight manager at a Super Walmart, he started with them when we lived in CA and they have always been so good to him when he was in school, when he got hurt at work. And their benefits are great too. I know they get a bad rap a lot, but I've been a supporter, I do like the local businesses too, but sometimes you just don't get the price or variety you need at them either. Janet, hope you are having a nice weekend.

Thanks Phyl, glad to know the weird sensations aren't abnormal. Sometimes they bother me more than the knee pain. I have some type of stitches, I could hardly see them and they were underneath the scar and disolve on their own. Don't have to have anything removed and never had a dressing really. It's been bare since I've been home, I put some gauze pads over it when I put my TED hose on so it doesn't rub. the scabs are about all gone. I did start putting some lotion around it today thinking maybe that would help but not really. I'm also frustrated as I thought I'd be noticing more and more movement each day in my therapy exercises and it doesn't seem to be that way, but my therapist measures that each time and I see him tomorrow and will see what he says I am at now. Guess I am done with this and want it to be over and done now. Been taking it real easy this weekend. Mom is bored, but oh well. I can't do much shopping or anything yet. They are going to my sisters for dinner tonight so will have a quiet evening.

Cheri, thank you! Your post is so insightful and a lot to think about but so right on I think. And it's part of the reason that I am thinking of limiting my contact with my sisters going forward. I am not going to go so far as disown them but I am going to put some protective walls around me. As Apples post stated some relationships we need to decide which relationships are worth saving. While we are both jointly helping care for my Grandma I don't want there to be lots of animosity between us, but I will proceed with caution. I love them and my parents but that doesn't give them permission to constantly put me down either. Thanks for all the advice and loving arms I have felt around these parts! I am feeling pretty good tonight with my knee, I took it very easy today. I have a weird sensation/pain though. Phyl or Cheri, did you get this burning, numby, tingly, crinkly feeling on the surface of your skin? It's so weird feeling and hard to describe.

Not in the least! Not insulted at all, it's very true. My husband tells me the same thing. He's actually been encouraging me lately to have less and less to do with my sisters. I know I am way too sensitve to their comments and I know they know it. With me losing weight also, I think it has upset the apple cart so to speak in that our 'roles' in the family are now different. I hope my comments back to your post didn't come across wrong or insulting to you.

Goodness I had 4 pages of posts to read and catch up on. I started quoting a bunch of them to reply too then realized it was so many. I so appreciate the comments on my mom/sisters issue. My mom tends to have the belief that women are to wait on their men however, she sure doesn't practice it herself. My poor dad dotes on her. She has the 'center of the universe' syndrome and everything is all about her usually, she doesn't practice what she preaches. For 2 days she's been asking me to take her to Costco so she could get some coQ10 as it's cheaper there (she doesn't have a membership) I told her I didn't think I could walk a whole Costco store but would go with her and wait at the front snack bar until she was ready to chck out and meet her inline. Well she finally asked my sister to take her today, her reason for not wanting to ask? My sister was going to be out last night til 1am and she knew she'd be tired. HUH?? HELLO?? I just had knee surgery. Oh well so at least they are gone for the day and my 2 sisters are taking them on all their errands, etc. and I am getting some much needed rest. Dad is going to grill us steaks for dinner tonight. Apples, I think you are right in that I am a bit sensitive when it comes to the comments they make, but they have made so many over the years. Probably kindda like when those snooty women make the too skinny comments to you. A person can just take so much. I am not as sensitve when it comes to others and tend to take things more with a grain of salt and let them roll off or give others more the benefit of the doubt. Now the new comment I am getting from my family is how I can't lose any more weight as my weight loss has aged me so much and my face looks so drawn and sickly. Jealousy? perhaps, who knows. My knee is doing pretty good, I know I over did it yesterday. I really wanted to see my Grandma and the walk into the building to her apt is long and then I met DD at a bridal shop and sat in a couch and watched her try on dresses, she found a gorgeous one that she ordered last night so was glad I could be there for that, and then we got dinner after. I crashed when I got home but actually did very well in the night as far as pain pills go. Today I am parked in teh recliner for the most part playing on this lap top and making lots of typos! LOL DD's puppy is sleeping on my lap. Laura, so sorry of all you are going through with your dad. How lucky they are to have you there with them and to have the medical expertise of you and DH to help them decipher all the medical lingo and talk. Apples, as I said in the June 2008 thread, you look fantastic. So much younger too! I love the hair if that's windblown and messy bring it on! Arlene, glad the pain is better and good luck with the possible unfill and tests. Phyl, I second what Apples said about being the grandparent that goes to the games etc. My kids never had much support in that area either from grandparents, we had fantastic friends and what not that came and supported. In fact my DS made college Basketball and my folks who can fly free anywhere in the country never went to a single college game. I plan on being the grandparent that is totally there for my grandkids. If only I had a grandkid, instead I have a grandpuppy in my lap. LOL Eva, the wedding card sounds neat! Globally, congrats on the loss thus far Meredith, how are you feeling/? Congrats on teh 16's. Sometimes we just need a 'me' day! Linda, did you make it to the gym? LauraK, I hear you on the getting cold so much easier now! I have bought so many sweaters and layers for this winter and now got the biggest bulkiest winter coat at Bass pro Shops too. The gas company is going to love me this winter as much as I tend to want to run the furnace to stay warm. DH is always sweating and I'm freezing. Janet, glad you finally got recognized for your 30 yrs, much better than a layoff. Which Coach purse did you get? Coach and Ann Taylor are my 2 biggest vices. LOL

Oh wow Apples, you look awesome. And I love your kitchen too!! You look so much younger in the after picture. My parents are visiting now and my mom must've told me 10 times already how much my weight loss has aged me in my face and I better not lose anymore. So now of course I have a complex about that, but I sure didn't think I looked older. She says you always do when you lose weight but you prove that therory so wrong!

I rely on steaks and hamburgers a lot and I lost 126 lbs in a year. I have to do tenderer cuts of steak but the more expensive cuts are worth it for me to enjoy them and almost always make 2 to 3 meals out of one. I do burgers w/o the bun and get them medium and eat with a knife and fork and they work well. I do have trouble with chicken breasts so tend to get thighs more and do have trouble at times with some pork. Basically the drier meats. After some time and practice you will find what works for you. And have fun getting back out there in the social scene!

I am trying so hard not to be that mother to my daughter, but I guess there are probably tendencies I just pray they are much smaller! I just don't see my mom being this way to my sisters, they can do no wrong and are always the victim because 'they work all day and had bad luck in marriages'.

I got a few minutes to myself so thought I'd pop in and check in. So mom was coming to help out. HA HA!! I gave her one job to do last night while DH had to run to the store and DD wasn't home from work yet, and that was to cook some boxed scalloped potatoes. I might as well have done them myself. And today she gave me a bad time for asking DH to get me one of my pills instead of getting up and getting them myself. SHEESH!! DH has been so good to me and offers to get them all the time for me. Tonight we are all going out to dinner (one of the 2 sisters too) to an Italian buffet. I don't like Italian food much and have not much of an appetite so should be okay. An extended cousin (not sure exactly what he is to me other than some type of cousin) is in town and meeting us as well. This will be a challenge my first big outing. I had my 2nd therapy today and have improved 15% in my bend so he was well pleased. Did some quite painful things to my knee today but afterwards it felt so good. He said to let him know when to stop when the pain was unbearable but I grit my teeth as much as possible to get as much benefit as possible. The best part was the ice machine at the end, my reward! Also I have graduated to one crutch, still a little too wobbly for a cane he said the one crutch will give me more stability. Laura, thoughts are with you as you go to your mom. Everyone is right Nelson will do fine but it is so hard to leave them and to do so so suddenly. Arlene, I got your card today, thanks so much. Hope your pain is better. Apples, WOOHOO! on the shopping. Sounds like some great deals. Okay I am off to try and find a 'skinny' outfit to drive my sister nuts at dinner tonight. I know I a m bad. trouble is my knee is so swollen most of my 'skinnier' pants are too uncomfortable over the knee.

just a quickie poorly typed update. Dr visit went well, blood rpressure from all my blood loss if not improved in a day or two will need transfustion but I really do trhink it's getting better. Had to have an u/s as they were concerned also about a blood clot due to some pain in my calve. All is well there, healing is good, no more splint at night either.

Hey Teach, I sure hope you get it worked out with your fills. I would think either place would consider you an existing patient. Hopefully there's a simple solution. Good luck to you, and toyou Lucky as well in getting your fill. My knee is healing well. I go to the doc for my post op check today. Also my folks are coming in today for a week so busy busy! Allie, getting anxious for the PS??

Love it!! My LBT friends have been more sisterly than my biological sisters! Thanks for the pick me up. Well about ready to pick up the folks. Hope their flight was good!

Good morning, gotta be quick, my parents arrive in an hour and a half and I am still in jammies. I will probably be scacer around here for the next week or so too. Janet and Apples thanks for the sister advice. Janet you can be my sister anytime. I know I am going to see them while my folks are in town, I plan on just lying low and probably being rather aloof to them. I will give them a chance to redeem themselves but if it's all about them as usual I am pretty done. I can be civil when we are together but no more am I going to try and keep putting myself out there just to get trampled on. Knee feels pretty good this morning, I slept better last night than since before surgery, just woke up once for more pain pills. I go to the doc today and am hoping that brace can go away now. And hope for some answers about the low blood pressure. Laura, thinking of you! Sorry no time for more personal notes but I think of you all a lot!

Thanks, Apples, for the soup recipe, I wrote it down to save for when I am up and about more. Could it be made in a crock pot you think?? Whew, just finished my 2nd set of exercises today on the knee. I keep telling myself the pain is so worth it. I can extend the knee so easy but the bending OUCH! The worst exercise is one I have to lie on my stomach with my legs hanging off the bed from just above the knee. I am to just let them hang for 5 min. and also to bring my foot up and bend the knee 10 times. It about brings tears to my eyes each time, DH rubs behind the knee and now I have ice. It will be worth it right, Phyl??? Saw the movie Couples REtreat this afternoon. It was okay, not super great but entertaining. It was the max I could do for an outing though. I am exhausted and hopefully will sleep good tonight. I gotta rest up, my folks come in tomorrow. HOpefully my sister will entertain them some. Speaking of my sisters, still no word ever from one of them and the other gave me the obligatory phone call my last day in the hospital, no follow up or anything. It just really hurts, can't they at least pretend to care? Even my SIL that the relationship is a little strained has called and checked and said she was thinking of me. Am I being selfish or unrealistic? I'm about to just write them off more or less. I know I am done trying to force a relationship, it's just not worth it and can only go so far when it's all onesided. Sorry to vent.

No braggy, Apples,just a different perspective and experience that we all need to hear and can learn from. Maintainance is tough whether you are struggling keeping the weight off or struggling not to lose anymore. We all have to find our way. Who was it that mentioned a potato sausage soup the other day? Apples? I've been thinking about it since care to post a recipe? Nice surprise, someone just dropped off dinner tonight, we thought they ended last night, but another night. YUM Looks like stuffed peppers. Better go eat 'em.

Apples, I think it's the battery. At work we had a Biggest Loser challenge and I was in charge of purchasing ( reimbursed of course) the scale for the contest so I bought, naturally, a Biggest Loser scale. After a bit we noticed it very erratic in the weights, once we replaced the batteries it was fine again. I have a Weight Watchers digital at home that has been more consistent or the batteries last longer but it was more expensive and has a lithium type battery this Biggest loser one just took regular type batteries. Have fun playing with your dog. I have 2 black lab mixes. One is a lab/australian shepherd mix and the other is a hunting dog from SD and is a lab/vizsla mix. They are both so sick right now. They have either kennel cough or a version of the swine flu that has mutated to dogs in the past year or so according to the vet. My daughter recently got a weimeraner puppy and it got sick and infected our dogs. They sound just awful and are so listless and just cough and sleep all day. I actually miss their rambunctiousness. Vet said it will take a week or two and they are on 5 meds between the 2 of them. Poor puppies. Eva, good job on the exercise. I think with the smaller quantities of food we eat now the nutrition value etc. is so much more important. I like Apples suggestion of a protein bar or something if it fits your calories for the day. 1day, do you think you need a fill? are you following the rules of the tool and still hungry? if so you just might. But if you are honestly not doing so and eating around it then maybe not. I guess only we know for sure. I do best with good restriction, I like being able to eat 1/2 to 1 cup at a meal, the test for me is if it is hard protein and I am full then I am good, but I could easily eat the mushies first and then the hard protein and eat much more. Laura, how's dad doing? are you going up there soon, I seem to remember something about later in the week you possibly going for a visit. hoping he finds the right specialist and care. Phyl, thanks for the card I got today, what a hoot! You've been such a great knee buddy for me. Janet, gosh I think of you as such a pro at this banded lifestyle that never has struggles. It reminds me of how individual and human we all are in our lapband journeys when you share your struggles with us. You have such a good perspective on fills. I think sometimes they are psychological, I think I finally got a good handle on what was a good fill for me after about a year, but it took me getting too tight once to realize that, until then I thought the tighter the better. I guess maybe we have to get too tight once to find out where we don't want to be. I think I am pretty good now. In fact I PB'd for the first time the other night which was a good reminder my band was there and working. One of the dinners that was brought to us after my surgery was chicken breasts and no matter how they are cooked or how small I cut them up, I just always seem to have trouble with them, I can do thighs but must stay away from the breasts. Well gang, it's my first day alone today,only for a couple hours. DH and DS went to sight in their rifles for deer hunting this weekend. DH wanted me to ride along so as to not be alone, it just didn't sound appealing to me, so I promised to stay planted in my recliner and be a good girl while he was gone. No showers or anything while home alone. Blood pressure is still low but not as low. Did go to 95/65 this morning but back to 116/72 or something later. Am anxious for my dr appt tomorrow to see what they have to say. I think my knee is doing well though quite sore today after the therapy yesterday plus I missed one dose of pain pills in the night. DH might take me to the movies this afternoon, I think I can handle that as it's just sitting and if I gt my favorite row, it has a bar I can put my leg up on.

Thanks Phyl for sharing, I had no idea you were so immobile with your knee, you've come so far. Gives a gal hope! It does seem each surgeon, just like lap band surgeons,does things different. There's 8 surgeons in my docs office and they each had their way of doing things. I think mine and one other uses this brace, I didn't get the ice machine, and I heard there was another machine that constantly moves your knee, I didn't get that one either. But it seems they all get us to the same place eventually. I have been doing good with the crutches around the house, am a little nervous the first time to leave the house with them though. The low blood pressure thing has me concerned I get so dizzy and faintish. I googled some online and one thing it mentioned was something with the anestesia a possible allergic reaction so plan on asking about that on Wed. or asking to talk to the anesthesiologist. I would think it would correct itself eventually. I also could've lost a lot of blood during surgery. I just did my therapy exercises at home and was pleased at my progress, it hurts but I think of it as a good hurt and that helps. Oh and I gained 11 lbs in the hospital!! I freaked out, but they are all gone now! WHEW!!!

Scooter? are you still having troubles getting around with your new knee? I guess I got impatient on the laundry, DH was good enough to put it in for me, but I was in a hurry for it to get in the dryer as I wanted to wear my flannel pants and thermal shirt that were in there, he just figured he'd get around to it, we had different priorities. I am definitely having some dizzy issues especially in the mornings. I had to sit in a chair in the bathroom again and at therapy this morning I got real dizzy again. They took my b/p and it was 90/60. Not sure after years of high b/p (I got off those meds after my lapband) I'd suddenly have low b/p issues. Today was my first day of therapy and the therapist was amazed at my progress, I can fully extend my knee and can bend to 85% already. He gave me a sheet of exercises to do and encouraged me to graduate to crutches from the walker. I basically came home on crutches but went back to the walker due to the dizzy issues, it's sturdier. The brace is to do just that, immobilized my knee and keep it totally straight and extended. It helps with the extension of the knee, as he said the muscles have a memory and after years of arthritis my knee hasn't totally extended in years. Evidently it works as I have full extension already and the first day or so in the hospital that was the most painful part, extending my knee and now I can do that easily. I am hoping at my dr appt on Wed. though that I can get out of that nightly brace, it's not the easiest to sleep in.

Good evening! Today started out a little worse in that I got so dizzy and faint in the shower, DH yelled at me as I had also tried to get a load of laundry. But have taken it pretty easy the rest of the day and doing better. Just got up from a long afternoon nap, I am sleeping terribly at night due to that brace I have to put on my knee. I did much more of the physical therapy exercises today too, they hurt like heck but hopefully it will make therapy easier tomorrow too. Also had some visitors. A gal that works out faithfully every morning at the rec center I work at brought me dinner tonight, I hardly know her, but we have connected over knees. She had knee surgery (both knees at once) in March and has been a knee buddy to me. Janet, so sorry to hear of your invasion, how scary, glad you are okay. LCD, never heard of anyone choking from the lap band. Whether or not you should get it for 60 lbs depends on how well you will follow the lap band rules. It's not an easy way out, you do most of the work. Some folks go into it thinking it's an easy fix and it's not. But it's an awesome tool to help you reach your goal. I reached my goal in just about a year's time. 'Only 60 lbs' is still a chunk of weight, but perhaps if you think of it as only 60, you will still be able to lose it on your own? I know for me i could lose the 60 or 70 lbs but Icould never keep it off. With my band I hope to always have restriction and keep the weight off. Phyl, sounds like you are enjoying your RV that sounds fun. Bet you will enjoy it more this year with your new knee too.

Yikes what's that white stuff on my green grass?? DH mowed yesterday and now it has a dusting of snow. Kindda pretty and it's no longer snowing and supposed to be in the 70's by midweek. Must be fall in Colorado. Day 2 at home and I am doing pretty good. The most painful time is night time. I have to wear this knee brace to bed that keeps my knee straight and after a bit it hurts. I am not a back sleeper either and it's so hard to sleep on my side with that brace, it puts pressure on my knee. I may venture out today. I might go to lunch just to a McD's or something just to get out. Gotta have my nuggets you know! LOL Therapy starts on Monday am sortta looking forward to that, I look forward to the end of the process. I want to give up the walker today for the cane or crutches but DH feels better if I stay on the walker as it's sturdier. Deann, a fellow popcorn addict. I was addicted to the stuff before surgery and know I could very easily be again. And it wasn't the healthy version, nope mine had to be popped in oil and covered with a stick of butter. I still don't allow it in the house as it's a major redlight food for me. I do however, allow it at a movie. I order a small now and it actually almost lasts me the entire movie. Things will go better for you when you get your first fill. In the meantime it's going to be a little tougher, just follow the rules as close as you can as right now it's all about healing from surgery. Maybe try journalling as to why you are wanting these foods etc. that might help?? Good luck to you!

Teach, does your dr office charge for unfills too? I have to pay for fills but if it's too much there's never a charge for an unfill, might not hurt to ask about that. I was self pay too and am still paying for my surgery as well. Just found out as of next year my insurance will cover WLS. Kindda bummed me out but on the ohter hand I'd still be sitting here 300+ lbs and not feeling as good as I am. It does give me comfort though if anything ever goes bad on my band then it should be covered now to get fixed. My knee is getting stronger every day, I have quite a deal of pain at night with this brace I have to wear to bed, but it's bearable. Am anxious for it to be all healed.

Thanks Apples, I needed to hear that. You are right, I do have a very close relationship with my husband and kids and for the most part they want to spend time with us, hence they are always wanting to go camping, etc. One of the reasons, I have enjoyed camping is because of the kids coming. When I had my children I vowed they would never go to bed a night without hearing I loved them and have tried to break the mold as well. My sisters are both divorced and almost live together and are turning very bitter about everything and just feed off one another, it's a struggle sometimes if/when I am around them. It will be an interesting week next week when my folks come to visit, anymore that is about the only time we get all together and even then not that much. Just had my first piece of jerky too, it's pretty good! I am not usually a jerky fan but I really liked it. Thanks again!

Okay I will talk to hubby about keeping that date open instead of Friday. Would be wonderful if it would work out. I mentioned to my mom how my one sis hasn't as much as called, mom's excuse is that she is busy and has been calling my mom in FL to see how I am doing here in CO (sis lives in CO too). Oh well family, what can you do? I am so grateful for the friends that the Lord has placed in my life.