debbieperez55

Nanray - Don't give that woman a second thought. How petty and small she is. If she has to bash you so that she can feel better............:tt2: Trust me, months down the road when you are well on your way to a healthy new you, you can look at her and tell her to BITE ME! You know some people have to be petty just to feel bigger than other people. You are doing something healthy for yourself and once everyone starts to notice you will be able allow her to eat her piece of "crow" You are going to do great tomorrow. Take care and look to the future. Also, yes, PMS Sucks - most of us become :smile: or during that time of month. Menapause is just as bad, hormones are all out of wack :thumbup: See something to look forward to Take care of yourself, relax and just be prepared, and OH YEAH, ask for the Good Drugs! May as well be happy. :mad: Debbie

Teri, this will give you a little more time to get stronger and more prepared. Too much too quick, a big stress on YOUR body. You sound like a fantastic Mom who has tons of love for her little ones, you feel their pain. Perhaps a little more time will help you help them. Anyway, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Anytime your child has a medical problem it is huge, but this is almost the limits. Your poor heart, And, he loves you, he knows you protect him. Debbie

Don't get down on yourself. Just do your best. You don't have to be superwoman or perfect. Just be you and do the best you can do. Look, we wouldn't be having WLS if we were the perfect diet people. And you want to know something funny, I think they knew that we LIED when we said YES to the question, so are you walking 30 minutes every day - yeah right! They know how much we weigh (yeah like fibbing on your driver's license works too) and that we don't excerise and they know that we have problems sticking to diets. We are not perfect. But remember, everyone of us were scared to death that our livers would not be small enough. Funny - I can't remember one of the September Samurai's reporting their Dr's had a problem. October 16th is right around the corner and you will get nervous , that will help you eat less. You might want to try out some sugar free Popsicles before as Snacks - I LOVED THEM :w00t:. Maybe they will help satisfy cravings, who knows. You have a valid reason to be a little not into it, so don't beat yourself up. Soon you will be a Bandster and have a port like the rest of us :smile2: Get some protien powder and start sipping. Let me know how you are doing. We are all there for you - BIG BEAR HUGG :thumbup: Debbie

My Dr says that lettuce might cause trouble. Also, there are quite a few meats that I was told I may never be able to eat again. They suggest deli meats cut into the size of pencil erasers when beginning meat. Perhaps going back on your protien drink would help. As they say, when all else fails, revert back to liquids. My only other suggestion is go to the ER, vommiting after eating anything is life threatening. Have they checked you for slippage?

Okay, I laughed my ass off, so sorry, your pain is real and I BELIEVE YOU. Today I started Mushies. It was funny to see you beg for Cream Soup, I have sworn NEVER to eat CREAM SOUP - YUCK - again Also, the bowl movement, okay I will stop laughing now. My Doctor told me - DRINK MORE Water - I am stopped up and he tell me to DRINK MORE WATER. I feel like I will NEVER be regular again. I have resorted to BABY PRUNES, yum I promise it does get easier. I PROMISE. I have to schedule my fill next week and I ate some Lentel soup today. I was STUFFED and it lasted all afternoon. I couldn't eat everything. Amazing - isn't it. You go from Clear Liquids to full liquids and you can't eat it all. Then you go to the next stage and you are stuffed again. Let your tummy rest, do you get protien drink, if so, drink it. Add some SF Popsicles if possible and sip sip sip. food will come your way. CAll your Dr, maybe he will let you start the next level, is it full liquids? And as long as you are calling your Dr, tell him about your BM or lack of it problem. They may tell you Milk Of Magnesia, YUCK, but at least it might get moving. Remember, not much food to go through the track anyway. So, drink more water - good grief I can't believe I said that. Just hang in there. We have all been in the same HELL. Just keep your eye on the prize, it is worth it. Debbie

Went for my Post Op visit today. Next week I call to schedule a fill. They do their fills with the flourascope, not sure of the spelling, so I have to meet with a Radiologist. They said I am doing fantastic. :biggrin: I found out I have a Realize Band, they just started using it a few months ago, lucky me I guess. I have read about both, I don't know the differerence. I was told I have a FANTASTIC attitude about the band and they really feel I am going to go great. Have support, you all, get informed, read read read, and of course you all, and follow their instructions. I am on MUSHIES , what a difference texture makes. I had Lentel Soup for lunch, it was heaven. Tonight, crackers and cottage cheese. MMmm good. And for the record - I will NEVER eat creamed soup again, EVER!!!! :eek: Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I guess this is the best birthday in a long time, Maybe 53 isn't so bad after all. Did I mention I hugged my Surgeon and cried on his shoulder and whispered "Thank you" in his ear. I think I shocked him, but I was so over come with emotion and I really think he saved my life. Debbie

Teri, I hope everything is okay. A pulled muscle sounds good, but I am sure you know by now. It is good that you called the surgeon. That is what he is there for. And PAIN after this amount of time should Im sure be reported. Let us know how you are doing. Take Care Debbie

Tamara, I am the original workaholic. But, think of yourself. You need to take time to eat, and take your snacks if you can eat them. Perhaps even a walk would be nice, yeah I know, asking too much. Put really, take time for lunch. Eat slow. Making yourself sick is not going to help anyone. And honestly, they don't care if you kill yourself or not. Keep some Crystal Lite at your desk in your favorite flavor and sip sip sip. But eating slow, you have to do it. AND - they can do without you for 30 minutes. The work will always be there. I know, I work right there with your - Take care Debbie

You know, I needed a good laugh, predigested - very good!! :thumbup: I just love to laugh, especially now. Oh, I have one for you. Work - we always give a cake and card. I told two people, please, please no cake. Everyone in the office knows about the Lap Band. So EVERYONE knows I cannot/will not eat cake. So what do they do today, I get a cake with candles to blow out. Not some diet pudding I might have been able to eat, but ICE CREAM CAKE . So I blew out my candles said Thank you, but sorry I cannot eat this and let them cut it. A CAKE - WHY????? Debbie :crying:

I totally understand about the Liquids. If I EVER see another cream soup again, I will throw up! I have even started drinking protien drink at lunch. I cannot stomach that soup. I am hungry too, but I haven't plateau'd. Last night I went to bed early because I was so hungry, it was 8:00 (of couse I should say I get up at 4) I have started to add a little more protien drink a day. I just had to. But only a few more days until I get a fill - I hope, but at least I will be at mushies. How awful, I am soooooo looking forward to mushed up food. :crying: Debbie

My port is still sore, but I am learning to "not" bug it. Bending at the waist irritates it, so I try to do things that don't piss it off. Full liquids are getting old, but I go in for my fist fill Thursday and then I get mushies. And you?? Deb

Maybe we were seperated at birth? :tongue2: So Slim, how are you doing with everything? Debbie

Welcome to the wonderful world of our ports. I guess everyone talked so much about the band that we skipped over the port. For me it is on my left under my breast just under where my rib stops. It is also the largest incision and if I play with it I can almost make out some of the outline. It's really not that large, the area is just swollen. I was told it will be tender, they attach it to the muscle. For me I notice it is very sore after sitting at my desk all day, bending and stretching over my work space. I am adjusting my work space so that I don't have to reach as much. I also noticed that sitting on the couch and reaching for the floor was "not nice" either. As sore as it might be, and it does get better each day, I am glad it is there. This is the little device that is going to give my Dr access for my fill. I'll take a sore port any time. And in a few more weeks we won't even know it is there. Hey, we are almost there. A couple fills to tweak our bands and we will be on our way to a Healthy New Us! Debbie

More than anything - I love this site. It is so nice to laugh and cry with those who understand and have been there. We all have so much in common. No wonder we all connected so quickly. Thank you I AM NOT ALONE!!!! :crying: WOO HOO

October 16 will be here in no time. October is a great month, my birthday :crying:. And as much as I wine about the port, it gets better every day. It is tender more than hurts. Don't be afraid, it's really not that bad. My surgery was just under two weeks ago and you get better every day. Look we have put up with pain in our lives. Our backs, feet, knees, boobs, but it in perspective, Port Pain is for a limited time . And, they give good drugs! If you have pain, take something to control it. The liquid diet, just look at the finish line. You will have your band in no time. You can do it, just hang in there. Debbie :smile2:

Yeah, the "hang" is going to be a tough fight, but I plan on going the long haul. Funny about the EKG things too. I had that reaction under those too. I just didn't want to sound like a bigger baby than I already was. I use to have skin like Iron. I never had reactions, now, before I use creams I have to scratch myself and do my own little scatch test. I once used yeast cream under my hang and ended up with blisters and raw skin. It had kept itching and burning so each time I applied I applied to more skin. I had wanted to avoid the Dr because of intense embarrasment, but ended up having to go. What a mess. But I didn't get chewed out for gaining weight that time, I call those pitty visits. You are so messed up the Dr feels sorry for you. I can't wait until I can sing - "I fought the hang, but I won!" Okay, a little hokie, but this is coming from a person who is going to have turkey flap arms and with my flaps I should be able to fly!!!:lost1lbs: My hubby was afraid I would change after the band. I told him, it will still be me, the fat will be gone, but the skin will remain. God Bless him, he is staying for the long haul......... And thank god he loves my warped sense of humor. :crying: Seriously, he hugged me the other night and told me that he could really tell that I was loosing a lot of weight. He told me how proud he was of my progress. It was a very tender moment, he was afraid something would go wrong and I would die so he was very worried about surgery. It was nice. :smile2: Debbie

My back hurts when I walk. I thought I was the only one who was having back pain. I have arthritis, so I just chalked it up to that.

This is so funny because I had glue on my incisions. It was driving me crazy. First because I am a little furry on my tummy and the edges were lifting. As they lifted they were taking the along the fur. If I had known I would have waxed my tummy first :lost1lbs: Seriously, I picked the glue off. It was driving me crazy. Also, I told them I am alergic to plastic tape. I had an experience a year ago where it literally took my skin off. My hubby said I looked like I had radiation burns. So what do I see after my surgery, TAPE MARKS. And yes they itched. The skin actually felt like it had been scalded. Good Grief :myscared: To me it looks like they taped my tummy hang, or "hang" as I call it, or something, who knows. Did they not listen when I said I was alergic????? So once I picked off most of the glue the incisions felt better but I discovered the cause of my irritation - little clear stitches!!! The edges are poking out. Now at least they can breathe. So today I finally put some lotion on and it felt so good :crying: But I noticed my whole tummy itched, not just the edges. Must be the "hang" is getting pissed at loosing some of it's nutrients --- :huggie: It doesn't want to give up easily. I guess we are in for a fight, me against the "hang". :huggie: Anyway, I fit into smaller jeans, I just couldn't wear them because they irritated my port. But I walked around in them just to feel good!!!!! So that is why I chucked when I read about itching. I am not alone. YEAH! :smile2:

My port hurts by the end of the day. I sit at a desk all day, except for walks and I think I constantly hit it on the desk. I have tried changing chair heights, no luck yet. Last night I was sitting and bent down to pick something off of the floor. I almost died. Other than this I am perfect! All my other incisions are healing. My hunger is under control, sometimes I do split my meals and I make sure I drink my protien drink. I take my walks. My weight is going down, I hate to admit but I am doing fantastic there. As I mentioned, I am off of my Diabetis Meds. My blood pressure is still wacko, but in time. I know it has only been 12 days so I am patient, and I know it will get better. I just have to wear my baggiest pants and sit straight so I don't bug it. Debbie

I am so glad you are feeling better. I have been a little worried about you. I'm glad you made the appointment with a counseler. Sometimes life gets a little TOO big for us to handle. Twenty Pounds - That is FANTASTIC. Here for you anytime! That's what Samurai's are for. Take care Debbie

My Doctor says the same thing :drool: Remember, we got banded because we wanted to go slower and be healthy. Okay, I know, you are hardly eating and you want to see that number way down there. But - it takes time. Measure yourself, you are loosing inches. And you are on a fantastic rate of weight loss! :thumbup: Keep up the great work Debbie

I am pretty sure tissue swells after surgery. It is pretty pissed of from being "man handled". I think our tummy is saying :biggrin: and holding Fluid. If I recall, almost everyone who was weighed the day of their surgery, said they lost very little in the first weeks after their surgery. I don't think any of us should freak out. I know that I have eaten LESS than I was allowed, and it is not much to begin with. When I went to the Dr Saturday, I had only lost 1 pound. But I am charting my inches. Embarrasing as it is to see those numbers, I measured myself before surgery and Saturday. I lost inches, even around my tummy which is still swollen. So excuses aside, I am sure we have all lost inches! And I didn't excersise at all. I am now up to two 30 minute walks a day. My Dr was so shocked I thought he was going to fall over. He just kept saying "4 days post op......... You had your surgery Tuesday?!?" I loved it. He could not believe that my Diabetis got better so quickly. My sugar became normal almost immediately and since they (the surgeon) had me off my Diabetis med immediately after my surgery he was even blown away more. (they had me checking my sugar 4 or more times a day and it was always in the "normal" zone) Oh and he said I am the happiest he has seen me in a long time. And I weigh less than I did the first time he saw me. Pretty awsome. :thumbup: You know what I think is the best, because I am doing so well, he will think positive of the Lap Band. Next time someone asks if he will refer them for the Lap Band - he will say YES. Someone else might become a "bandster" and escape their "fat" cocoon. Now that is a very nice thought. Debbie

After years of chronic acute gastritis and ending up with erosions and very bad reflux, I gave them up. My Dr would constantly beg me to stop drinking them by I could not. Diet Pepsi was my friend and Weight Watches told me years ago that I could drink as many as I wanted. One or two in the mornings, a couple in the afternoons, so what if I had insomnia. Then after not sleeping I would need two or more in the morning 5am, to get going again. I almost ate my stomach lining away. Why did I give them up? Because I wanted this band more than I wanted anything. Because I was ready to listen to the Doctors about how they were effecting my health, I had numerous Endoscopies. Because I was afraid what might happen if I didn't. So my Dr's rule. No Diet Soda - at all. Crystal Lite if okay, if not that then Lemon in water would be fine. The carbonation can stretch your pouch, which is only 30cc or the size of an egg. We need to keep it that size. Come on everyone, the band only works if you let it. We can defeate it, we all know how. My regular Dr told me one of his patients Lost over 100 pounds She started drinking Milk Shakes because they went down well. Guess What - she has gained it all back plus, even with the band. So you have a choice. Personally, I think I made the right choice. Didn't mean to be preachy, we are all adults and can do as we please. I did this for me and no one else. Debbie