Kat817

Hi gang! Patty--great to see you again-glad you are well! My Dr. was concerned with these headaches I have been having and made me do a new bone scan to check the tumor in my mastoid before he would sign on for my PS. I am sitting here fuming, waiting for the results. I am sure all is well. Just another friggin' hoop to jump through!!! Mandy--love the pics. You are so pretty---and Abi looks so much like you. Now we need to see you all leathered up and ready to ride!!! My cousins wife is a leathersmith. She makes high dollar belts, with special braids, and works leather into furniture---like outdoor dining sets, and special woven rugs--some very, very artsy stuff. She has a boutique it sells out of in Santa Fe. She is taking my chaps up for me, they got too big!!! Which is a good thing-I always felt like I was wearing the whole damn cow!!! Well Rick is on days off, and has us going non stop!! Some of it I think is to keep my mind occupied....the rest is his own doing! I am going to try to talk him into a movie this evening....maybe, if we can find anything we want to watch. Some of the guys at work told him Leatherheads--or whatever the new George Clooney movie is is a good one. Maybe! Well don't send any monkeys after me either--I have grandkids!!! They would just want to keep them. And at the rate the parents are going, they might allow it!!! All my kids have multiple dogs!!!! That is enough! I better get my email dealt with and be ready to go, Rick will be back anytime now!!! Hugs~~~ Kat

Was just checking to see if we had heard form Pamela or not. Glad you are home, and it is behind you, now just rest and relax, and get well. Think all sorts of happy thoughts, about how you can spend all the $$$ you save not supporting the Tampax/Kotex companies!!! Not to mention the general misery! So glad you are ok. Just spoke quickly with Terry--let her know you checked in. She says her friends place is super nice---sounds like she is going to have fun--------hope so!! Rick is off to his Dr. appt. I am waiting at home to see if I can get a call back on my results. I feel good about it. PS agrees, he says he has received nothing, so that is a good thing too. He mentioned a round of steroids, to reduce possible inflamation. But I have some allergies with that, so we'll have to see. We were supposed to have a BBQ and play some dominoes with Becky and Gary tonight---but not sure that is happening. We have this friend, we have known for 20 years--he is an AVID hunter, a bow hunter, has taken bears, caribou, etc, all with a bow. He married had a couple of kids, divorced, and was single for many years. Then he hooked up with this woman, none of us liked her, she was crazy we always said. Well they had a rocky relationship from day one, then the engagement was broken, and the following day he showed up with her and they were married!! That up and down all over the place kind of thing. Well it didn't change so he told her last Fri. he wanted a divorce, and she went nuts, so he left. He went and fueled his truck, and went to the local Grocery Warehouse where another friend is manager of the meat dept. and hung out and visited there for an hour and 7 minutes to be exact!!! He got a load of boxes for her. So he headed back to the house, pulled in his drive, and up pops a cop, and arrests him for domestic abuse. Says his wife has bruises on her arms, and there was a clump of hair she said he pulled out. They told him (he was never even allowed in the house) there were broken dishes--that he supposedly threw at her! So he spent a mandatory 24 hours in jail. He got out, but she has a restraining order on him. This was his house for 8 years before he married her, and now he cannot get in! She had a yard sale today---Rick went for him, and bought about $4500.00 worth of bow hunting equipment, bows, arrows, sites, all kinds of things, for $20.00. Meanwhile I called Jim, who called the cops and got it shut down---but in the meantime, lots of his stuff was sold---to others besides us! So he has an attorney, and at the time of the call to 911 she made claiming he just beat her and left, he can prove thanks to the receipt from the station, and the surveillance cameras in the grocery store he was not even home. But the attorney said it might not even get to be shown.....So far he is out $7500.00 in retainer fees. Since he cannot go to his house, he is staying with Becky & Gary. Not sure I want to spend the night listening to his timeline, and worry--that sounds mean, but I am not a believer in our justice system in divorce cases---so I might be a hinderence to him!!! Thinking I might convince Rick to a movie instead!! Well my brother just pulled up. I ordered his boots last week, UPS delivered them today. BBL~~ Kat

Rick kept me running all day---I think he knows I am on pins and needles, so he kept my mind occupied. Was a pretty good day over all. My FIL upset me....but trying to let it go. I invited them to lunch with us, so we meet up, and I was dressed nice, had make up on, hair was massively wind blown--but decent. He asks me how I am feeling....I said I'm good. He tells me "You don't look good, I mean you don't look like you feel good" I thought Rick was gonna deck him! I have wondered all day if that is what others see when they look at me too......o h well........ We cancelled our yard sale, wind is supposed to gust to 40mph part of tomorrow---not worth it!! Rick see's his Dr. for his 6 month checks following his bleed. Maybe a movie. Tomorrow I am going to begin calling to find out something about my test. Pamela---I will be thinking of you with all good thoughts, know we are there with you. You will NOT be alone! Purple power will be surrounding you!!! Lot's of Love to you---will be here checking in with you. Tell Susanne to give you some hugs from us. Well I am off to bed. Sounds pathetic----but my head hurts!!! Will be here tomorrow if Rick allows me to stay home at all!!! Crazy man! He was opposite of what y'all were saying today, he kept trying to get me to buy some new clothes, in the mall. I kept saying I have things for now, will wait til after surgery for a new wardrobe. I ended up with 2 shirts!!! LOL---- Will see you tomorrow. Another extra big hug for you Pamela!!! TracyK---good luck with the antibiotics. TracyKS---awesome opportunity!!! Good for you! Will catch the rest of you tomorrow!!! Hugs~~ Kat

I just heard American Airlines cancelled 1100 flights. They said every flight over the next several weeks out of ALBQ airport has been affected! I am flying Continental----but is this going to affect any of us???? This is scary! I am off to bed. Rick is off the next 4 days. We had plans for a yard sale Fri & Sat. but it is snowing out right now!!! Was raining awhile ago. Our yard will love it, but not exactly the weather we want for a yard sale!!! Anyway---will be here when I can. I have a dentist appt. tomorrow, a cleaning and a fit check on the torture device. No, Jane, still have not heard anything. Keep telling myself that is good news! Talk to all of you in the morning! Kat

Been meaning to get back to your last PM---I am so ditzy today---feel like I am in a brain fog!!! Will be thinking of you tomorrow! You will do wonderfully!!! Here is to a smooth, uneventful surgery and recovery. I will be in touch! Hugs~~ Kat

:thumbup::musical_note: LA LA LA :sad: LA LA LA :crying::musical_note: There are some things I am better off not knowing about heading into the PS myself---don't tell me what I can't do!!!!! LOL!! Kat

I thought about mentioning this before, and didn't--but there is a good chance you will lose at different rates. I believe it is something to discuss now, and avoid at all costs the competition thing!!! My SIL and I went to get banded together. When we come back, my weight began dropping at the usual 2 pounds or so a week at first, and she was losing nothing! We went for our first fills together. Again, my weight slowly going down, hers still sitting. About that time my MIL begins badmouthing the band. So we go to 2nd fills. It hit both of us hard that small fill did. We both did pretty good losing, then mine began to slow as I approached the 70-75 pound mark. And she went for the 3rd fill, I didn't....she overfilled, and could not eat, nor even drink some days. But with that the weight began falling off! She lost HUGE amounts in nothing flat. Going from a size 24 to a size 8! Now she has had multiple fills and unfills, and now does them at home, and is constantly messing with it. I am not to goal--she is. I have only had the 2 fills. But now my MIL makes comments to me about my band not being successful, and how my SIL's is going to kill her. OMG!!! Mine has been successful thank you! I am down over 100 pounds, off of all RX meds....and doing great! Yes at the rate she is going this might kill my SIL. But it is her poor handling of the band, not the band itself. I believe she has slipped, but she said it checked out fine, and refuses to see a Dr. HOW is that the bands fault. I cannot go to my inlaws anymore, without one of them asking how much weight I've lost, and comparing it to my SIL. They buy me clothes in a size 8. Even at goal, I will not be a size 8! They love trying to belittle me! I personally chose way back to not mention it around any of them, but they did not let the issue lie. At first it was making me feel bad because I was having better results, and now it seems as though my results are not good enough for them! Well this is not their life! I am healthy! I eat real, food! So if anyone---your family, hers, inlaws ANYONE tries to get the old competition thing started---NIP it in the bud NOW!!!!!!!! You are different people, with different bodies, and you will lose differently! Accept it and Expect it! You can both be successful, and continue to support one another! This is the first time in my relationship with my best friend that I have ever been smaller than she is. I don't think she has realized it has happen yet....and I am not gonna tell her!!! Kat

I too told everyone. I can honestly say I have had way more support, than question, and only 1 semi hostile attitude. It come from a thin friend, and she is hyper critical of everything anyway. When she gasped and said NO, do you know how serious that surgery is? I replied yes I did, I had been researching the lapband and my surgeon for almost a year, how long had she been looking into the operation? It shut her up long enough for me to explain to her that it was not bypass. She kept acting like she knew, but it was still dangerous, but she could not tell me HOW it was dangerous! I had to kind of laugh, changed her from offensive to defensive and she never saw it coming!!!! Most people who ask about my weight loss, seem to be those who would benefit from the same. I hate not telling, because I feel like they might be interested. And I remember seeing people who managed to lose weight through one manner or another before I was banded, and always made me feel so inadequate--I always wondered how they could do what I tried so hard to do and couldn't. I don't want to make others feel that way. BUT......if there was a way to keep certain people in my life out of the loop----hell yeah I woulda done it!!!! LOL Kat

NO!! ME!!! You know this move Pamela--wving my hand and my entire body!!!! LOL I have mushrooms sauteing(sp?) so I can thread them on some shish kebabs later---they smell sooo good! I am miserably full, ate a taco and some nachos for lunch. Took DIL, grandkids and DH to Taco Bell for lunch!!! Then DIL and kids and I went grocery shopping. I pushed the kids in the car basket, let them eat donuts (we did pay for them!!) and let 'em pick out cookies---all the fun Granny things.....of course I wasn't stupid, I "missed" the toy aisle!!! Suzanne, I am so glad your sister did well! My neighbor was up and walking in her plastic like body brace the next day too! She as I said is crippled from other issues, but has since recovered from an ensuing MRSA infection and is back in PT--and can bend over and touch the ground! Well still no news on the bone scan. That usually means good things!!! Red flags get a quick call! Been on the receiving end of a few of those calls. No news is usually good news. Rick is trying to convince me since there was no time limit on my surgery schedule to schedule it the week after I get back from TX. He wants me to go and have fun---not worry about swelling, and since we have never done this, we really don't know what to expect. So for now that is the plan, hopefully the Dr. agrees. I would love to have it done and share the gore!!! BUT....all of his points are valid--so y'all will just get me and my sidekick of a belly!!!! Michelle, the Zyrtec, really will dry you up! But your body may have been holding on to extra fluids with you not feeling well. Enjoy the drop--whatever caused it!!! And color me green with Jealousy!!!! Pamela---what is the schedule for you? When do you have to be there....all that? Will Susanne have your cell---so we can check on you? Maybe we could arrange for one of us to call---then post the word of your being ok on here? Let me know---or one of us---we will be worried. Laura, let us know when you get back from your fill. Well I am going to go cut some veggies up so I can thread my skewers and marinate them. BBL~~ Kat

Lifting and smoothing of the pubic mound. My PS said to smooth and flatten the tummy and leave the poochy mound would disappoint me --- and that we would love the results of the lipo/lift. I said sure, ok---count me in!!! Kat

Wow! I never knew that about hair tests-------sounds like you need to do some calling and researching Kimberley, since you basically know what kind of Rx drugs he is doing, to find the most reliable test available for that. And be ready to prove he is not under prescription for what may be found. Kat

I thought she hated me because of my shape.............! Kat

It is common knowledge that soda pop is not good for us, whether it is sugar free or not. But it is kind of amazing that they tell us these wild things---and expect us to take it as truth because THEY said it!!! Never heard of a stoma exploding....wouldn't that just be your stomach exploding? All that is being referred to by the stoma---is the small opening, where the band tightens down. Diet Dr. Pepper used to be part of everyday for me. Not so anymore! I went for over a year with none whatsoever, not even a sip. Then a few sips were actually suggested, when something was not going through well for me...and I tried it and it worked.....but I still for the most part avoid it. Figuring, it is one less thing for me to have to buy!!! Saved some serious cash not buying it too!!! I think here where I live when I quit buying it, I was paying $2 for a 12 pack, now it is $4.50!!! Nothing is cheap anymore!! I think my wallet will blow up from the shock of things...... Kat

Mine shows all selected, but some of them work, some don't! Not that it matters, it still works tons better than if I did it!!!! Kat

I really think Joseph was another 8 year old who had no idea what an orgasm was.......because as he grew up, I am not saying he did not give nor get his fair share but my daughter was not his type.......!!!! Fire Ants...I HATE them that is a GOOD one to complain about, I have various little scars on my feet, where I will get one under my flip flop strap when we are in TX----I cannot imagine them swarming my nether regions---OUCH does not begin to cover it! Kat

Or it could have been a more fun itch to scratch!!!! Kat

Kids + Sex----something was always embarassing me!!! Once when my oldest DD was about 7 or 8, we were at my grandparents visiting with an elderly Aunt in from out of town. My DD was laying on the floor, chin resting in her hands watching Matlock on TV with my Grandpa. When suddenly she turns and says "OH yeah! Mom what's an orgasm?" Now none of us there were prudish---I thought the table was going to levitate from my Grandma and Aunt trying not to laugh. Grandma is looking at me---like well......... So I tell her "It's all a part of sex, do you wanna talk about it now or in private?" She gets this disgusted look on her face and says "That's so gross, Joseph told me he was gonna give me an orgasm, I thought it was candy!" She is 26 now.......hopefully she knows it is better than candy!!!! Jewels----we are not ignoring you, maybe LJM can move your post to the introductions sections, where you can find the information more plentiful and on topic of banding. There are also stickies explaining the ticker thing somewhere aren't there guys??? Welcome to LBT---I hope they get your post put over where you can get the info you come after! Kat

Jenn it seems like some threads I get email notification on, others I don't......no rhyme nor reason. Kat

Judy, will definitely keep the family in my prayers. Rick's ex---the kids Mom, has been hospitalized on the psych floor many times. She too is bi polar, and self medicates with alcohol and other drugs, and then thinks she doesn't need her meds. Last time it happen, God began talking to her when she wears this stupid gardening hat! He told her to take out the Episcopalian Church, and to begin with her parents. The kids stopped her---she had a loaded shotgun, chasing her parents down. The cops wanted to arrest Abbey for flattening her tire.....until she tried to lay hands on the cop, then he saw the crazy!!!! It is sad, and it is extremely scary---not knowing who and what her next target will be, and if we will get any warning. Plus our kids stress over being like her in any way. She was so mad at the kids for stopping her last time, she kept telling Lenny he was a Son of a B#*ch! I had to laugh----she has no idea how many times I called her the same!!! Will hope your grandsons Mom gets the help she needs. I don't have much problem with barking dogs, but fighting cats have brought me out of a dead sleep with the screaming twice in the last week. Makes me mad as hell, because it is such a scary sound, and takes me a minute to place what it is. Then my heart is racing, and going back to sleep is hard. Michelle, you feeling any better? Zyrtec, makes me such a zombie. I used to do half a pill at bedtime, and that worked pretty good! TracyK---sorry your owie is back. How long you going to fight it before seeing the Dr.? TracyKS----you ok girl? You aren't around much! Pamela----thinking of you, know we are with you for your procedure---hugs!!! Denise---how's the house coming? And the babies? Has the oldest found out what she is having yet?? Laura---What's up? How did the high dollar drinks go? Terry---I too remember you saying the last couple of weeks were slow weeks---WTH???? Slow???? Suzanne---how did your sisters surgery go? Thinking of you!! Jane----Is today the day you said was going to be so long for you? Is it split up or are you on your feet that whole time? Haydee---you feeling better? Hiding from us or what? Well girls Kinsey is snoring, thinking I might just join her for a little nap. Besides she is such fun to wake up with! She is so happy when she realizes you are sleeping too---tells you "Wake up you sleepy head, its not dark anymore!" BBL~~ Kat

Are you not eating more because you can't or in an effort not to gain more weight? It sounds to me as though you need to concentrate on healthful amounts and foods, not just quantity. There is no Calcium in your diet at all, dairy foods are important. Are you taking Vitamins? Seems like nutrition is seriously lacking. Have you spoke with your Dr. ? Are you feeling any of the signs he mentioned, GERD etc.? And lastly--what about exercise? The more you lose weight wise, the less it takes to sustain you on a daily basis without doing something---eating less, which does not sound like a good option for you, or moving more to burn the calories. I know I used to lose just eating less, and eating healthy--now I have to work it!! I know eating less is not a healthy option, so I have to burn the last off.......and I weigh more than 149----so my guess is you are going to have to help it along. Good Luck! Kat

OK Babygirl, lets see if we can come up with something so you won't be bored..... Many years ago, before DH and I were married, he had helped me move into a new apartment, and had spent the night. I had no bed set up or anything yet---so we just slept in the living room floor. Well early the next morning, my parents show up at the door. Now I am not a child anymore, but they would not have liked walking in and finding us naked in the floor, so he took off for the bathroom, was going to walk out like he had been in the shower. I let them in, and was going to casually walk out wrapped in my blanket and get some clothes. As I walked down the hall, I left a trail of things falling out of the blanket, my panties, his underwear, and a condom wrapper!!!! Which would have been bad enough, but I had no idea, so I go into the room where my clothes were, and Rick comes out of the bathroom----ready to face the parents, and comes into the hall littered with the remains of our night. My Dad give him the one lifted eyebrow (he still had his!!!) stare!!! NOTHING was ever said! Heck now we have kids older than we were at the time that happen! He thinks my Dad still thinks about it! LOL!! Kat

I am off to bed early tonight too. I woke up in the night wondering about this, and had trouble going back to sleep----so I am off to bed. I know I should NOT say this----but I am not really worried about the tumor---I am worried about cancelling my surgery!!! I've watched those tumors for years....I have watched them go through months and months of chemo with no change. I cannot wrap my mind around them changing now. It is something else----stress, and allergies, and I swear my glasses!!! Will chat with y'all in the mornin! Hugs!!! Kat

Sounds like it is time to take your band seriously. Either you are going to have to settle into eating like a bandster, or make arrangements to have your fill removed, until you are ready to make the commitment. To eat and constantly throw up or PB from improper foods or eating habits, can cause you serious problems. If it is possible, go talk to someone, find out what your food triggers are, and deal with that before getting yourself so tight that eating is not an option. If you feel you are ready to kick it into gear, then get logged onto some site like Fitday, or somewhere you can log your food intake, be ready to log in here, and ask for support. We will be more than helpful!!! Sometimes we don't always say what people WANT to hear, but tough love is not easy! I think many of us go through times of regret early on---missing our old way of eating. Sounds like you just got there. I think the weight dropping will be excellent incentive. In the meantime go over and look through the Before and After pics, and decide if you want to post yours there in a few months---it IS worth it in my opinion, but only you can decide if you are tired of carrying the extra weight around with you..... I hope you decide to work your band!!! Welcome to LBT----home to lots and lots of support if you so desire. Kat

In it's own way it IS a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU~~~ how you reacted to her unwillingness, shows you that you have made your decision! You want the band, and now you are going to find a way to make that happen. Your birthday gift to yourself---taking control of your future!!! So that you may have many more wonderful birthdays ahead of you. And that when you go back to get your annual checks -- you will find a lower number on the scale, and on the blood pressure reading, and a much more understanding person in the form of your Dr. Better to find this now, and make the change----you deserve a chance! Studies show that people with over 20 lbs to lose----only 5% of them lose it and keep it off without intervention! So celebrate!!! The first hurdle has been jumped, you found how important this was to you, and you know what you want----now give yourself the gift of going after it. I love my band-----I consider it one of the best things I have ever done just for me! So..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! Good luck on your band quest!!! And Welcome to LBT!! Kat

That is similar to what I told my DH last night! I told him, he can accept me nekkid looking like this----so I fully expect him to be able to accept me post PS---whether it looks great or not. But mainly I can walk around in clothes looking normal---right now I don't so much! The thing about your surgeon speaking with the PS that I see, is that they may see this as a middle ground. You might in a couple years time want to tighten the stomach up some more or something but in the meantime, there will not be the huge (if it is anything like mine) pannus hanging there, hiding a breeding ground for infection underneath it. I'd bet they do it!!! How exciting! Imagine what changes this surgery will be for you! Yay!!! Kat