Kat817

Wow! Pamela I would never be so brave with color. Of course I live with a man who wants to paint everything white!!! He wants lots of color elsewhere----but he is double color blind. He cannot tell browns/greens/some blues....nor can he distinguish reds/oranges. The 2 colors he always gets right are white---lack of color! And yellow. So he had developed this plan of white walls....then he went with whatever was in the JC Penney catalog under the same color! I kid you not! When we got back together, his entire house was done in Khaki and white. Not any shade variation, because if he ordered towels, or sheets, or curtains---he ordered JCP's Khaki # such and such, and it all worked! Was kind of comical. He hates pink----his entire house when he was married before was pink. He does not want to live in a pink house, but he always tells me how pretty I look when I wear it!!! Go figure! So we have spurts of color---all done by me! And we do have some white walls as well. We have lots of sagey greens, taupes and yep still hanging with some of his khaki!!! Burnt orange in teeny tiny amounts is highlight in the LR. An overall western feel---lots of antique country implements, farm tools etc., a cowhide rug, wraught iron, barbed wire! A wall full of huge saws! The kitchen is also done in a tone of sage green, and white with red barn accessories! Bedrooms all have the continuing color to the LR area, but are each also highlighted in another color with it...pretty boring! But it is cozy and warm....and we are both comfortable with it! I am envious in a way of the bright color! Not sure it is me....but the idea of starting a room with a clean slate is always fun!! Anyone watch Oprahs Big Give tonight? Well I am going to go soak in the tub for a bit. I don't have Kinsey tomorrow. Lindzie had a bad asthma attack, and spent the day in ER----and now has to have nebulizer treatments every 2 hours, so Manda is staying home with her tomorrow. She gets these attacks everytime she goes to her Grandma's house---or to her Grandpa's. Grandpa's new girlfriend has cats, and they found out today her stupid grandma, had failed to tell them the new bed she bought for Lindzie from a co worker was a mass of cat hair on the bottom of the box springs, but she vaccuumed it she said so it would be ok. Idiot woman! The child could die from an asthma attack, and she refuses to educate herself about the issue! I ate too much for dinner, but overall it was not a bad day. I don't expect with the amount I ate for the scale to move, but it was at least healthy! I drank really well! Going to Durango to meet up with a girl who is being banded in the next month. Will likely go the end of the week or the first of the following, depending on how this dental thing goes. I am SOOO ready! Well girls it is snowing....winter is here to stay! I am so ready for our trip! Kat

With any tax knowledge, Vegas might just be up your alley!!! I have a friend who was a retired tax attorney in Vegas----he is my age, and has been retired for several years. Might be worth checking out! If you are wanting to continue your schooling then do so, at least a class that sounds interesting, you never know when something is going to get your serious attention! Put out some feelers, and look into your options! Kat

There are worse things in life than being alone. I have sat in a house all by myself and felt less lonely than I felt at one time in a house with my ex husband. Knowing we should be able to connect and couldn't and that he cared so little about me as to have an affair....it was lonelier by far wondering about all this when he was there, than it was making a life happy for me, without a concern to him. Whether you bide your time with him due to insurance purposes or what....NOW is the time to contact an attorney, so that 1/2 of your home, your retirement, your assets of all sorts remain where they belong. If he knows you know, they could be moved and hidden, and you walk away with less. HE made the choice for you, now you look out for #1. IF something like this wakes him up, and you choose to remain in the marriage, he will never again wonder about taking such advantage of you. Document the conversations you have with him concerning this. Good Luck! Kat

Well....I don't think I would go so far as to say you are too tight if you can eat well half of the time. My guess would be that on the days you are not able to eat, is that maybe you begin a bad cycle day with a first bite syndrome kind of thing, then due to the irritation of the first problem, you continue them through the day. Then following a rest at night often times it will be ok the next day. First bite syndrome is not uncommon. For some reason the esophagus, and therefore our pouch will sometimes spasm, and tighten up when we take the first bite. When it does this, then anything added after will only hurt and cause you to PB. What is suggested for issues with first bite syndrome is to begin the meal with a couple of sips of a very warm liquid---Water, tea, coffee---small sips of it hot! Then take the tiniest bite imaginable---chew well, and wait. Let it hit your pouch and allow the pouch to accept it, after a couple of minutes---serious minutes, as in 120 seconds---not just a few seconds---try another tiny bite. Then wait again. If after a few bites, you still feel good, then proceed as usual with your meal. If it feels stuck--just stop! Then in a half an hour or so, try some Fluid, and stick with fluids for a few hours minimally before you try again. Anytime you end up PB'ing, the best thing for your stomach is to go onto liquids for a period of time, allowing your stomach to settle without causing further swelling. I think a truly too tight band would be causing this to be the normal, as opposed to just happening half the time. And it would cause most things to come back up not eventually going down. If you are having problems with stuck things eventually going down, the most common cause is not chewing well. Be sure you are thoroughly chewing your food, then chew a few more times just for good measure!! Good Luck Brandy---hope you get it figured out real soon!!! Kat

Yep, yesterday we were out in Tshirts---today is cold and windy with snow flurries. Just glad I got a chance to enjoy the last couple of days! Today here by the fire with a good book, and Rick watching some movies is fine....no need to be outside! Storm of the year huh? Sounds like while you are off tomorrow, you might want to stock up on some necessities, so you don't have to fight the crowd if it actually hits! Well----off to refill my tea.....eating and drinking going good so far today! Kat

Do you work for a company you could transfer with? If not look into job fairs---then you could make a change with purpose, you would have a job to go to. Many offer help with locating housing etc. If you are wanting to move to Vegas, look into it! Go to the cities website, and look up job fairs. Check out their newspaper on line, look at the cost of living, what the crime rate is (which in the case of Vegas is really not relative as it would be in other places), see how the work is in the field you work in. See if there is something else you might want to train in...offering any options. My DD's, brother in law, did that, he ended up changing fields, he was planning an engineering degree. Then one spring break he went with a bunch to a reservation and helped build some houses. He fell in love with the area and the people, so he checked into it,and is now an optometrist, they put him through school in exchange for his agreement to work on the reservation for 5 years following graduation. He is loving life now! If ever there was a time to explore your options--now is it! No kids, no spouse with a career to consider! If you choose not to do it, you will always wonder. You can always change your mind and come home....the saying is wrong, you really can come home. We did it, but only after 9 states and 2 countries!!! Keep us posted, how exciting this could be for you!!!! Kat

He did mine----and it was a totally wonderful experience! I have and would recommend him highly. Good Luck! Kat

I thought about posting my answer to the question "Are you glad you did it?" once for every pound lost......but that take typing "YES" way more times than I wanna do!!! I LOVE my band! Kat

For some guidance on low carb foods, you might check into the Atkins, or South Beach diet books---the library should have them. I am not recommending you do the diet, other than they would give you some ideas for low carbing it. I do eat more than a 1/2 a cup per meal. How much more? I am not really sure, I don't eat large amounts---but I don't measure. I don't count calories, and have not counted Protein since the beginning, and since my hair loss stopped. I concentrate on trying to eat a healthy balanced meal. Whether I fix it at home or go out. I try to eat my meat, or protein source as the biggest part of my meal, as it is the solid, that will stay with me the longest, and assuage any hunger I might have for the longest time. I add at least 1 or 2 vegetables to that. Now that may only be a couple of bites of each. IF I have any room, I might take a bite or 2 of a starcy side such as potatoes or rice, but not always. I use fruits as Desserts most of the time. When special occasions roll around, I just eat. I do not worry about the weight loss, or the "diet". I enjoy the occasion, the people and yes the food. I eat birthday cake with my grandkids. When I showed them how to make home made ice cream, I ate it with them. But on a daily basis, I try to center my thoughts on health. The only thing I seriously notice makes a huge difference in my weight loss, is the amount I drink. If I slack off on drinking---my weight stalls. I drink a lot of iced tea (decaf), and if I keep the amount up I am ok, if I slow down and don't drink properly, I stall the weight loss, or notice a gain. Good Luck, it is very hard finding a happy medium in the diet aspect of the band. When your Dr. has such strict guidelines, I imagine that makes it even more difficult. Have you ask them for a sample menu you could work from? You might try that. Hang in there----I bet you find a good balance for you soon! Kat

You say you have read about those who did begin dieting prior to the often required pre op diet.....but haven't you read also about all of us who did a "last meal" over and over and over??? Some of us took more convicing that dieting pre band would be a good thing!!! My surgeon had a fairly simple straight forward Atkins induction phase type of pre op----and he requiredit for a 10 day period pre banding. I told myself it was 2 weeks, and told everyone else it was 2 weeks, and made it! But before that? I was the same as you are saying....eat it now since I won't be able to later!!! I had everything imaginable, and I bet I ate 2 dozen grilled cheese sandwiches in the weeks leading up to it! BUT..... when it come down to the time, I cooperated! I wanted the surgery, and when I began the diet, and saw the weight dropping, I got into the lose mode---the knowldege that this time I was going to diet it off, and the band was going to be there to help me from regaining all of it plus more----was so encouraging. It worked too!!! And now, I can eat all those things I was stuffing in my mouth that I thought I would never be able to eat again....I can do them all!!! But instead of 2 full grilled cheese and a bowl of soup, I manage 1/4 of a sandwich, and a small bowl of soup!!! I share a single sandwich with my 3 yr. old granddaughter, and we have leftovers!! I could not imagine it before!! But it works! Relax----and more than a diet, concentrate on healthy eating, and planning to make the post op diet easier on yourself. Start cutting out carbonation, and lowering the intake of sugars and carbs. The more of that type of thing you eat, the more you want, so start cutting down the amounts now. Begin switching over to decaffeinated products, and low fat items. Opt for whole grains, and less white refined breads and flours. The ultimate goal is not a strict diet, but a healthy one. The band helps with that immensely! But making small, subtle changes here and there as you work towards being banded---can do nothing but help! Good Luck to you, I hope you get a date soon and are on your way!!! Welcome Alecia! Kat

It is VERY common. During the liquid phases of the diet there is an old adage around here.....liquid in = liquid out. Nothing to worry about. Kat

Dr. Aceves did my surgery. I loved him! The experience was totally positive. I have recommended him to friends, he has done the band for a couple of them, as well as my SIL, and 2 nieces! I highly recommend him. The hospital is VERY clean. The hospital, like many, including my local hospital here in the states, was built years ago in a vital part of the town. Eventually the town spread, and now the hospital is in an older part of town. Mexicali is like any other city, there are super nice houses, and others totally run down. As we passed by some of the older places, I began to worry to tell you the truth! Then we walked into the hospital, and it was such a relief!!! The motel they put us up in, The Lucerne was very clean, and they were very accomodating. The only thing was at the motel there was not English speaking workers. In the hospital they always had someone who spoke English. Except in the cafeteria, and my DH learned a few phrases, and pointed to pictures, and did not starve!!! And afterall we were in THEIR country. The little shops, and restaurants we went to, accepted American $$$$. I have another friend who was banded by a different surgeon in a different area of MX. She went to Mexicali with the friends I referred, and Dr. A gave her a fill while she was there, she fell in love with him! She said he gave her more info on her band than her surgeon had, and now she is planning a trip back with the friend, so they can both get filled. I loved Dr. A!! Kat

How funny that you gave yourself a pedicure....I was just sitting here talking to Becky on the phone, and looked at my feet, and told her, I gotta give myself a pedi today! I had some chips the other day, and since they are normally hidden by shoes and socks, I didn't worry. Then when I was heading to the PS, I decided I would rather have none, than it all be chipped up if there was a chance they would be seen!!! I expected to be half stripped, and did not want to be standing there in nothing but socks!!! So that is on my to do list today too.....for right now, it is the only thing on my to do list!!! I took out some pork chops to thaw....so I suppose eventually I will cook something....I read the paper, and logged on here--just being totally lazy! We have had a couple of days of really nice weather--------but have a storm coming in today, so it is windy and cold again. Has not stopped Rick from trying to finish this trailer---he is pretty much done, will paint it next weekend. He might actually be starting another, so he has 2 to paint, I don't know. I know I saw that he had cut & welded to ice chest racks....so who knows he may be in full production mode!!! It is heading into that time of year!! I think it is my tooth----but I have this horrid taste in my mouth. I have tried eating, drinking, brushing, gargling.....everything and it will not go away. I will say Suzie, it has made me increase my fluid intake enormously!!! I sip non stop trying to keep the taste at bay. YUCK!!!! A tattoo huh? Probably not me!!! I have abstained for 47 years....but I would never say never!! I like the idea of a small violet. I mean my DD's tattoo of a plumeria flower on the nape of her neck---is absolutely gorgeous! It is so lifelike, you want to smell it! It is pale ivory , blending into a vanilla color with pastel pink, into a coral pink tips----it is amazing! We both fell in love with the plumeria flowers when she lived in Hawaii. The look, the smell, everything!!! My first visit, she met me at the airport with a plumeria lei----she had told me about them. I instantly agreed, they were wonderful! So then every trip she had to have one for me!!! I was totally disappointed in her first tattoo---from the sneaking to getting it done, to the total lack of originality, and design, placement--all of it! This one is totally different! I still hate my other DD's tats!! Anyway, the violet is along the same idea of her plumeria. But hers is life size....it looks like a flower on her neck.....I would never do anything big! A girl I went to school with, and ironically ended up reconnecting with on this site, got her insurance approval letter!! She will be banded sometime in the next 4-8 weeks! Pretty cool! Rick overdosed on ice cream last night!!! He made himself feel bad! Sugar overload, lactose issues, I don't know what, but he felt terrible! So thinking if and when I cook today, I will make it something pretty bland, and calming for his stomach!!! Well, he is taking a break, so think I will go chat with him for awhile! BBL Kat

Long day----I am exhausted----going to go snuggle in bed with Rick while he watches the first 5-10 minutes of a movie----then he too will be snoring, we have been married long enough I know the routine well!!!! Talk to you girlies tomorrow! Hugs~~ Kat

You say you have plenty of computer time to document the things going on. Take it one step further, document it, and email it to yourself at your home computer, and then begin a file, if ever you have to print them out, it will be proof of the date on the send of the file. We did similar back before everyone owned a computer, by documenting things, then mailing a copy to ourselves. Then when the mail came, we just kept the unopened envelopes. When we got to court----having the information dated by postmark, made a huge difference! If there is anyone in your place of business you get along with and trust, always BCC her anything you email back and forth with your witchy new coworker. Good Luck----working in a stressful environment is just horrible! Kat

Jenn, sorry you are sick. We just got back from a great ride!!! Stopped at one of our favorite restaurants, ate a bowl of soup---they make the best cheesy green chile chicken soup.........mmmmmm now I guess I am going to go be the audience while Rick welds an axle for a trailer he is building---for some reason he wants me to go....so guess I will, although a nap sounds soooooo much more tempting! Kelly and I stayed up too late! Hope she is ok driving home! Will check in with all of you later! Feel better Jenn! Suzanne---you should have hopped on with your hubby!!!! Kat

Probably a good plan, Gayle, even decaf coffee and tea were killer when I had ulcers years ago.....hope yours feels better soon. I know exactly what you mean imagining how your stomach and band look at this point. I visualize every nuance of how I eat, and how it is!! It helps me! Keep in touch!! Kat

Good Morning. Yeah, I am not liking the new search either....and I used to suggest it a lot for newbies wanting certain info, I never suggest it anymore! We have several things planned for the day...mostly just fun stuff!! Going for a ride later ---yay! My bandster friend from CO made it in last night and we sat up yakking til early in the morning!! Was fun to see her again. Will check in later----wanted to get started in the right place!! Thanks Sherry! Kat

Wow Tracy, I don't think I have ever heard of kids who did not like carnival type rides....take me! take me!!! I LOVE all the rides!!! It isone of my biggies, being able to fit all the rides again without worrying about it! Then I am off to take my grandkids on some riding adventures!!! Well Kelly, my bandster friend from CO made it in last night after her meetings, and we were up til the wee hours yakking about everything under the sun--was so nice! She gets to come this way occasionally----hope it continues! I also got a PM from a girl in Durango---about 30 miles away--I am going to get into contact with her today. I LOVE finding others!!! Jane I always loved having a day off during the week, to get all the things done that you couldn't on the weekends. Now keep in mind back when I first did the day care thing, banks were only open M-F. So it was a treat to have a day to do things when everyplace was open and kids were in school. The stores were less crowded....Loved it! Now I am lazy, and off all the time! My head is still aching....my tooth still sore and inconvenient. Life is not changing a lot right now. Hoping that Tuesday, and the tooth coming out, and the follow up antibiotics, should help with both. I am forgetting what life without a headache is like! Well not sure, but sounds like Rick has a couple things planned today----so I will likelybe back later. Hoping to get that ride in!! Will check back with all of you in a little while. Hope your yard sale is making tons of $$$$ and clearing out lots of junk, Pamela! I bet it was "junk" I wanted......and I didn't get to go!!! Rick actually wants to go to a couple of sales, and a flea market today. He collects knives....and sheaths....so we always go look for finds! I usually find all kinds of things, and he does not!!! Will catch you girls in awhile! Have a good Saturday! Kat

Haydee, can you swallow at all? Rick did that with chicken, it went down past the trachea, so he could breath, but it stuck in the esophagus tight! He could not swallow his own saliva, he had to spit. I am telling you he slimed just like we do! And nothing! We ended up in the ER with him. They gave him nitro tabs---like for a heart issue---it was hoping to expand the esohagus----no deal. His issue was lack of motility in the esoghagus following his GI bleed, and damage from that ordeal. I just found it interesting he slimed! They managed to scope him and get it out....but don't panic, like I say his was damage induced!!! Let us know you are ok! Kat

That's how I took Gob as well, to mean a mouth. In my part of the woods, Gob....just means lots of something...like there were gobs of kids on Halloween. Since that doesn't fit....mouth made sense! At least that is what my inner adult thinks....my inner child will not quit :confused:. Good post Crazy4myK9!!!! Kat

Well the reason they go down so easy is they disolve!!! If you place a candy heart, or a cookie in a dish of liquid----in a short while it will have either totally melted, or be such a soggy mess picking it up would be impossible. If however you placed a slice of chicken breast in the same liquid, you could go back hours later----and it would still be there, and be solid. Now there is your reason. Does not do a blasted thing about how good and yummy the GS Cookies taste in comparison to the chicken now does it??!! Pass me a thin mint! Kat

HI girls! Well I met with the PS again. I like him as well as I did the first time. He got my packet ready to go to insurance, took all my pics said I am an excellent candidate for TT. He said the rest of my bodies muscle tone is wonderful, and that I have no need for an ETT, that a FTT would be plenty. We looked at pictures, talked about how tight he makes the muscle repair, and how long drains would be in all the fun painful stuff!!! He said he thinks I would be thrilled with the result. BUT.....he said more and more insurance are denying it categorically even if it is something they cover, they make you jump through lots and lots of hoops. So he said I should have my first letter from them within a month----looks like this could be a long process for me. Hoping it does not collide with my trip. I would have no choice but to postpone surgery! And that would suck! TracyKS--------Enjoy your day---------do your best not to stress over anything! One of my bandster friends from Colorado, is in town, going to be staying with me tonight. Should be fun! She is in town doing some seminars. I posted pics last time, will try to again. Well I am off to help Rick. He did most of the things at his folks yesterday, got the old stove out, the new one in, the ATV tore apart, parts ordered. A roof leak fixed. Bladed the road. So this morning, the phone rang, and he looked at me and shook his head!! Sure enough seconds later his cell phone rang....so he got all pissy and answered it, it was his Mom inviting us to come out and she would cook breakfast----he said we had already eaten! The thing is, if we go out there, it is a list of chores! So if we don't go....!!!! She has called 3 times since, asking questions about operating this stove----it is different from ours, so how we are supposed to know I don't know. She got irritated because we were unreachable. We had our phones off at the Dr., and then went riding so left them off. Rick told her, get used to it, they are going to be turned off more often---I think she kind of got the message, we have not heard from her. Thinking we are all going to go to dinner tonight, Kelly & Becky & Gary and us----not sure where. I am wanting Mexican food----so that narrows it for me~~hope the others agree! Will check back in later, or tomorrow. We might go for a good ride tomorrow! We did a little saddle riding earlier, was beautiful!!! Scraping mud after-------not so much! Tomorrow will be motorcycles. I got my saddle time so now he gets his! I love it too, so am not complaining! Talk to you all soon--I am flying high despite this friggin headache, my appointment went well. I am within 15% of my ideal body weight he esitmated, and said an average of 8 pounds is removed during TT. Not that it matters.....I just want this alien hanging on the front of me GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Loves & Hugs~ Kat

There are usually 2 different phases of liquids. Immediately following surgery is what you are speaking of and it IS usually Clear Liquids only. Then a week or so out, most will move on to full liquids it is referred to, where they can have shakes, cream soups, etc. From there it is on to mushies, then a regular diet. Welcome to LBT--good point! Kat

Leslie, some of both---in regards to the swelling. You can feel it in a serious increase in restriction, that tapers quickly. Also both of my Dr.'s have referred to the swelling. It is apparently quite normal of the stomach and intestine both to swell in reaction to the original banding....as well as the restriction caused by the fill. Some people have very sensitive stomachs, and have to be very aware, and cautious. I am sure if you ask your Dr. they could explain the why for you---because I can't-------only that it does it, and you do notice it in restriction. Kat