Kat817

Yea!!! Restriction, it might not be your sweet spot--but at least you know you CAN achieve restriction!! I agree, I hope for your sake it is not post fill swelling, but knowing your band is good and healthy, then it just seems you may need to continue the fills. I mean if you feel the restriction, even if it were swelling---you KNOW it will close down---and work! I know people with a lot more fill than where you are! Hang in there, you will make it! Hope this one lasts for you! Keep me posted as to how it goes. I will check back with you---I think my Valentines Dinner drinks have gone to my head!!! TTYL~~ Kat

First of all---Happy Birthday!! I think since you are pretty sure you are getting the "thing"---accept it---do NOT open it! Leave it boxed...put it away, and present it to him on his birthday since you believe he is the one wanting it!!! Then tell him for your birthday, you are heading to NM with some LBT girls and he will have it to keep him company while you are gone, and you love him and will see him in X amount of days!!!! Sorry to be so flip, I know it is angering, and also hurtful---but how was he raised concerning gift giving? He sincerely may not have a clue! My DH has either got it perfectly, or is clueless! There is no middle ground! We have as we have aged together (!) decided that it is just way too stressful! So we decide on something together, and we buy it! Our birthdays are only 2 weeks apart, so we usually take a trip somewhere, since it is summer time. For Christmas, we choose something a bit extravagant for the house, or ourselves and we buy it! Anniversary---same thing. We always exchange cards for holidays---but anymore we skip the actual gift giving, and do ours together. I like it much better!!!! In the end, be glad you have him. I come awful close to losing my DH not long ago, and it is an eye/heart opener. They all come with faults, just as we do----be glad you have him to hold you and whisper Happy Birthday. Kat btw.....any body orifices the "thing" would fit in....if he REALLY pissed ya off??!!

:cursing::tt1:HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!:wub::tt1::wub: Well woke up feeling better this morning---not sure what got me yesterday---man I felt like crap! Jenn--look forward to hearing what went so well!!! But I am sure glad it did! Michelle-great story, and wonderful pics---you all look like you had a wonderful time! Pamela--you look beautiful! Enjoy your conferences today! I am short on time, Rick is ready to GO!!! LOL, I am still in jammies!!! So I guess I better get with it, I have to go deliver Valentines to the Grandkids! Will check back in later ---- have a great day everyone!!! Kat

This is one of the reasons that pre op testing is so important. It is also why you want an experienced surgeon. The band itself did not kill kbugs Mom. An infection in her blood stream killed her. This can be caused by any surgery, and will be a stat in that sense. My neighbor is currently battleing MRSA in her bloodstream and she had back surgery. SgtBob is right, it is a risk with any surgery. Which is why you research your Dr, your facility---all of it, and have your pre op tests. Make sure all of this checks out, and if you feel bad following surgery ASK! Do not think everything is normal, no one knows how you feel better than you. Lap band is a generally safe surgery, but it does involve getting inside the body, and it does involved anesthesia, both can bring up issues. But as has been repeatedly pointed out----being morbidly obese---is killing us----as are the multiple co morbidities that have been mentioned. Every day with these health risks, shortens our lives. It is a very personal choice each of us makes. Kbugs Mom chose to try to lose the weight, and unfortunate circumstances caused her to lose her Mom---I hate that it happen. The band in and of itself though, did not cause her death. Kat

Well I tried dinner....it was a no go....just the smell was eeeeeuuuck!!! Pretty wierd for me, the only time that ever happened I was pregnant---since that is not possible---must be a bug! I am going to go sleep it off! See y'all tomorrow. Rick is off the next 4 days, so will be random check ins for me! Happy Valentines Day my Friends!!! Have happy hearts! Kat

Mine is just a tiny bit to the left of center...about 3 inches below my breasts, but before we get to "the belly"!!!! Has never been an issue getting to it....My incision under the breast was just a support incision or maybe the placement incision....but the sweaty environment worried me too. It healed just like the others though. Good luck---sounds like you are all off to a good start! Kat

The color brings out your features---same as my DD's did when she went darker!!! I think you look wonderful! And Macy looks adorable as usual!!!! Kat

where y'all at? I sent all the cupcakes home with Manda, my stomach is still uneasy---I have not eaten a single thing today---sipped on my tea, and tried to hold it down.....but feeling much less queasy now. Almost time for Rick to come home, and I have nothing even remotely in mind for dinner!!! Well I am off to read through some threads, and relax.... Kat

Possibly the stinky reference in your first sentence is why they leave them outside!!!! Kat

Jenn---Kinsey showed up this morning in her red shirt!!! I bought her this Valentine's shirt--red, with the ruffle at the bottom of the sleeves and hem---it says Princess across it in pink. A little $3.88 shirt from Walmart. While I am trying to talk to Jenn, and she threw one of her thankfully very occasional fits---she wanted it on! NOW!!!!!!!!! I did what I usually don't since I was on the phone, and let her wear it, Manda said it went back on this morning! She didn't put it on til later yesterday so I am letting it ride. She is in an old tshirt now, we have a disaster of epic proportions in the kitchen, and we have 4 dozen decorated cupcakes. Haydee you can have them all......my stomach turns just looking at them----not sure what is going on??? I feel crummy. Going to deliver some of these, and come home and veg. Will be back later girls! Kat

OK Jane----you be the shortest pale person, and I will be the tallest pale person!! Just watched my friend Kelly and her kids on the Morning Show on Fox---amazing! Last batch of cupcakes in the oven----time to decorate....aka time to make a mess!!! Kat

I ate a piece of Kinsey's apple with dip so I could take some Ibuprofin....not sure if it is the pill or the apple, but it is still bouncing around in there! First batch of cupcakes in the oven---ready for the second mix to begin....Kinsey is ready to EAT them! LOL I mentioned taking a couple to Nana and Papa, and some to Papa at work, and off she went, she made a list of 20 people to take cupcakes to....I don't think so!!! Thinking it might be time to call the dentist this morning.....deep, deep sigh....... Kat

That is the original plan Terry had up--it is the wrong arrival time on me----I actually arrive at 9:29 AM, in Houston. Right between Laura and Michelle, which will allow us to leave earlier by a bit anyway. I was going to ask you something---and forgot what.....nothing unusual for me!!! Kat

HI, welcome to LBT! I am not from your area, but read quite a bit about band meet ups happening in Vegas---so since it is a common vacation spot you should be able to meet up with lots of bandsters!!! Sometimes when we post something, it gets lost in the shuffle of threads, so I clicked it (bumped it) even though I cannot answer your direct question thinking it might bring it up to where new people could see it, and you might get some better responses!!! Welcome to LBT---banding saved me, gave me back the life I wanted! I am not in your area, I am in New Mexico--but would gladly answer any of your questions! Kat

Denise-- Another thing to think about----are there water rights with either property? And what about landscaping at the new house? Will there be any trees, or plantings? If so how long will they take to mature? It looks like the existing is surrounded by mature trees. Kat

As with a most things related to exercise, the elliptical is something you begin in short spurts, and increase as your stamina increases. I think when I got mine, I started at like 3 minutes!!! Then in a few days I went up to 5...then added a minute or 2 everytime I thought I could. The pre programmed work outs on mine are set some are 20 minutes, and some are 30 minutes. I can now do either, and sometimes choose to go beyond that. I listen to books on CD or on my Ipod while I walk. There are times I am exhausted, but want to know what happens next so I keep going! I do not allow myself to listen any other time! Try your elliptical again---begin with 5 minutes several different times through the day--slowly increase that--it will improve faster than you expect! It is a great workout my Dr.'s have all said. Kat

Good plan with the short sentences Tracy! Too bad the computer does not think for us!! It would have loaded those pics just like Denise wanted it too! Denise--does the new build have a swimming pool too? I might have missed it! How old is the already standing one? It looks pretty new to already need a roof! I know when we had ours done, it had a 10 year full replacement warranty, and a 15 year repair warranty. And when we bought the matching shingles for the shed, they said they were guaranteed for 20 years, so the shortened time is simply covering the workers. But that house doesn't look that old.... Girls, I am falling apart! My wrist feels some better this morning, but my tooth is aching, and they scheduled my oral surgery appointment for the 27th. At this rate I will not make it for that long...without living on pain meds, and I refuse to do that. There has to be another option. Gotta go get busy soon on cupcakes! Kinsey was still sleeping when Manda dropped her off this morning. I got her apples peeled. She wants apples and dip for breakfast the last few days! She goes in spurts! Will be back to check in later! Kat

WoooHooo!!! Approval!! Welcome Libby! Sit down and start reading!!! There is tons of info to be shared here! You will find an entire group of people being banded in your time range, and will have an opportunity to develop wonderful friendships! Feel free to ask any questions you have----make yourself at home, this is a friendly site, and most of us have been where you are heading into this---and many are still hoping to get that approval! Once again--Welcome to LBT!! Kat

Hi Susan--welcome to LBT! The best advice I can give you at this point, is just start reading!!! Keep a pen and paper handy to jot down questions as they pop into your head, and within a few more threads, you might mark off some of them as they get answered!!! With this, as with any support forum, keep in mind it will seem there are many more complications than there actually are. When you consider that the vast majority of the bandsters are out there not having problems, are not here every day posting---not starting dozens of threads saying "Another problem free day!" Most of the problems people discuss center around learning to eat in new ways, and adjusting to that. I absolutely LOVE my band! My biggest wish is that this had been available to us years ago! As you read up, if you have questions, ask away! If you prefer to PM me, feel free. To do that, just click on my name to the side of this post, and it will drop a list of options, one of them being to send a PM. I look forward to getting to know you! Kat

Wow---both look like really nice houses---ready for you to make them a home! One thing I noticed on the stream---and I only mention this because our DD that just bought a house is dealing with this right now. It looked like the master bath had tile around the base of the garden tub---as does hers! They woke up to soaked carpet, and the tub was leaking, but there was no way to get to the plumbing under the tub! They ended up ripping out the tiles in the front---to get under it, and repair it. Rick is going to help them build a false front to reattatch the tiles to---so the whole thing can be removed again if need be. Then they are going to go through and put shut off valves through out the house, the new home they bought does not even have a master shut off valve. It is kind of irritating, his folks pushed them to buy this house---they have no common sense, and then when things go wrong, they are no where to be found. We had no chance to even look at it prior to them buying, and we get to help fix it all now!!! Kids!!!!!! Kat

Denise---have you found out the sex of both babies yet??? Kat

They could have been made with peanut oil or some other nut based oil if that has been an issue before. Maybe hit some Benadryl---it comes in liquid form, and is cheap---be really careful!!! Those kind of allergies, can be serious! Maybe something cold to drink that you could hold against the roof of your mouth would help you feel better....sorry! Kat

But not during the mushie stage! No hard Protein. If I understand your question, you are wondering about the combination of solids---as in noodles, carrots etc. and the broth as in a liquid, that we are not supposed have together. As in drinking and eating being combined into one food. It is a good point. The liquid broth, will allow the remainder of your soup to pass through quicker than if you did not drink the broth part. A possible solution for this current stage would be to blend it---into a thicker cream type of soup---or to add some crackers, so it is not going to flow right through the band. I know the crackers defeat the low cal effort---but it is an option. I have to have crackers in my soup!!! While it will not hurt you--it will just not allow you to feel full for as long, since the heavier food parts will wash through with the broth. Kat

Heya Girlies~~ Dinner is done, and the kitchen is cleaned back up, coffee pot is ready for morning, and Rick's lunch is fixed....so I have no reason to enter the kitchen again tonight!!! I made Kinsey's fruit dip---we are good to go! She and I are making Valentines cupcakes in the morning, some for her and Lindzie, and some to take to Papa at work...should be fun! Wrist is still messed up....I guess I will mention it to my Dr. if it is not better when I go Friday. I have to start with him for the referral to the surgeon....yea!! So you know sometimes you say something on this forum, and you get kind of dogged....ridiculed lets say. That happen about a year ago or so---when someone ask a question about the band and how it works. I used a simple to me to understand analogy. And some members jumped me for using food analogies, and pointed out multiple flaws in my comparison---and the thread died as quick as it started! So then yesterday I think it was, a woman ask a similar question, and I gave her the same analogy I did back then---figured to heck with it, it is how I see things, and I am answering, not those other people. Well this time, I am getting all these comments about it being the best analogy they ever heard about how our stomachs work! I was prepared for the attitude, and this time it met with approval!! Go figure! Jane hope you are feeling better, TracyKS you too---------gotta hear so you can say I DO (or is it I DID) at the right time!! Haydee sounds like you are getting your house in wonderful shape!!! We are putting up new gutter--wooohooo!!! Haydee ask----no one responded----any good romantic plans for Valentines Day? Open for suggestions here!! Ok, gonna go surf for awhile.....avoiding ebay.....saving my $$$!!! TTYL~~ Kat

Wow girls-----I am feelin' the love!!! j/k! I am glad it made sense to someone besides me!! Kat