Kat817

Well I ask my Uncle who is an MD about this---and he said it is highly doubtful this would be an acceptable practice. He said he did not doubt that they had attempted it many times over, it is just apparantly not meeting the required needs of skin grafting. He did say if you are having surgery at or near a teaching hospital---you CAN donate anything removed--including skin. Often times these hospitals, have it in the paperwork you are signing pre op, that they reserve the right to use or retain any removed organ or body part. He said they are (parts---skin included) same as cadaver study. The parts are also donated to study disease control. Many things--but he said that would be his best bet for actually having something good come of it. I have to admit, after the conversation with him, it made me think of a commercial that ran here for awhile, about someone finding love handles in the park, and a belly somewhere else, advertising some sort of weight control something---I imagined all these students in lab settings, each with their own fat belly lying on the table instead of dissecting frogs!! Kat

I know, my Dad does the same with his taxes, splits them up--but I am a ditz---what if I forget??? This way it is done--paid--over with for another year!! You castle trip looks like fun! Making me feel bad, I should get my cards done too!!! Got Kinsey's gifts wrapped, she is going to be so surprised at having so many presents to open...and it is going to be a small party. There are only going to be 4 kids besides her. She is little, has no need for a huge to-do! Manda called this morning and said she was SOOO glad they opted to have the party away from home, they woke up to a water line break, in the yard, Ryan has been outside digging it up so the plumber can come. She said the mud is horrid, she could only imagine a housefull of people trekking through that to get in. So it is a good plan, to be away. Each year, the local college here, puts on a Luminaria display. Some people refer to them as farolitos. They are an Hispanic tradition. They are small brown (usually) paper bags, folded into a cuff on top, to help them stay open, then filled about 1/3 of the way up with sand and a small votive candle nestled into the sand. They glow when lit. The local college puts out over 50,000 of them each year. They decorate the campus with them. The local kindergarten, and elementary students come and help as a field trip. Then down the road, a couple of other schools do smaller displays--there is a path to drive through, it is done in total darkness except for the glow given off by the luminarias. It is beautiful. The line moves very slowly, one of the local radio stations broadcasts Christmas music for it, and the student union takes up collections at the end of food, or money or gifts, and donates them to a local charity. They work on the layout for days---getting all set up. They begin lighting candles in the late afternoon, hundreds of volunteers, and they roam the campus, relighting, or removing the occasional one that catches fire...the sand keeps it from burning anything else...but it is a ton of work. Then the next morning residents, churches, anyone who wants them, can come and pick them up, many people and places, replace the burnt candle and use them again, especially on Christmas Eve. They had set everything up, and then last night it rained and snowed all night---ruined them all, over 50,000 of them. So the show is cancelled for tonight. The kids planned to leave the party, have dinner and take the girls through the luminarias. So sad! So much work, all volunteer---it is not the first year it has happened and likely will not be the last. One of the hazzards of winter I suppose. Betty was nice seeing you post. I have a very low key, steady, not very challenging exercise program....but that is what I am happy with at this point. I will probably amp it up come Spring---maybe the New Year will motivate me---we'll see!!! Well, I need to get ME ready---clothes, would be great! Might even think about brushing my hair and my teeth-then if I get that far, maybe make up!!! LOL---I am dreading going and dealing with all the exes!!! Kinseys Dad will be there, and so will Manda's---along with one of my former best friends---his new gf!!! FUN!!! Maybe I will take some extra time, and look my best! Wow gotta get crackin' then, that is gonna take some work! Kat

Green---was wondering when your face "life" was----hope you recover quickly and beautifully!! Kat

IMHO----any guy you would find who would willingly help you explore your new found desires, while knowing you are married, is not going to end up being the great guy you already have. When you close your eyes, your DH can be anyone you want him to be!! He might be willing to pretend to be anyone you want him to be...or to try some new and daring things. Take into serious consideration what you stand to lose---and in the end if it still seems worth it, then it doesn't sound like there is much to worry about. If it is NOT worth it, then work on spicing things up between the 2 of you----step outside the box---liven things up FOR him---make your sex life new to the both of you again. Make a sexy video for him---surprise him! Make a weekend getaway plan, and never leave the room--well maybe the balcony??!! The list can go on and on---and should. The point is, if you are happy, and love your husband---things with him, will be far superior to anything you could get on the side, with the guilt, and the knowledge of what you are risking. I would suggest instead of risking my marriage, I would risk my comfort zone, and spice things up--it would be a win/win. Kat

Yep sounds to me as though a trip to your primary care doc is in order. I would check my BP several times through the day, and especially at the time you are having the dizzy spells. Your BP can fluctuate drastically during the day---it may be as simple as changing to a slow release type of med. They might also want to check your blood sugar. Since our eating ways have changed so much in such a short period of time, there are some who have issue with their blood sugar going to low. When my DH had heart surgery, they wanted his BP checked minimally 8 times per day when we come home, and sure enough through it we found him in A-fib! Check it out, do not ignore it! It could be your Dr. will find an inner ear infection or something simple to explain it, but better to know! Good Luck! Kat

Have fun Jane!!! I just got out of the bathtub---it still amazes me how much I missed taking long soaking bubble baths! I had got to the point, getting out was difficult---slippery tub, supersized me....not a good combo!! To be able to slide in and scoot down til the water laps at my chin--and not feel like a beached whale----priceless!! Tracy--how is Cody settling in? Michelle---if you want to connect with a friend of mine, here on LBT, she can probably hook you up with special promotional codes for WDW---for discounts on food, attractions etc. She is a fanatic, and has helped several here optimize their vacations. She is super sweet, and truly loves helping anyone enjoy Disney! Her name on LBT is Piercedqt78, her name is Mandy. She actually writes some of a newsletter concerning promotions for WDW. I need to sit down and wrap Kinseys birthday gifts--she is going to be so surprised! She got a gift in the mail from my Aunt today, she was excited as could be---she has no idea that she is going to have a mountain of them tomorrow! Last year at 2, she would tear the paper IF you got it started, but she was unsure of it all---this year she knows how to tear into things!! I have the camcorder charging. Went today and paid my property taxes----OUCH!!!!! They could not come due at a worse time! For years and years they as well as our house insurance were paid through an escrow account with our house payment, but then several years ago when we paid the house off, they became my responsibility---yuck! I got the house insurance to where I paid it monthly for several months, decided May was a good time, now pay it yearly in May---but the property taxes are always due right here at Christmas. Oh well the tax man cannot come after my house for another year!! Well, think I will go play a game or 2---then call it a night. Night night all! Kat

Years---and I do mean years ago on the Phil Donahue show they had a woman and a firefighter on, she was scheduled to have a TT, and skin removal, and he was burned over his entire back. She actually postponed her surgery until he was stable enough for the grafts. I do not remember much about it, just enough that it made an impression. This is not to say that because I saw it on Phil that it is bound to be true----just that I saw it. Call around, ask questions--all it is going to cost you is some time. Would be nice to have a definitive answer. I would seriously doubt the surgery being a freebie and the wage compensations though--not in this day and age with the litigious society we live in. An elective procedure...I cannot imagine anyone wanting to assume liability, which you assume yourself when YOU opt to pay for it. Would be nice though! Kat

I was banded in April of 06, and had 2 fills in the first 3-4 months following surgery, and that has been it. It has been well over a year and a half since my last fill. My losing has slowed down, but it has been overall pretty steady---the inches drop at times, even when the scale seems stuck. I flirted with the idea of another fill just to hurry along the last of the weight, but decided against it. I too can eat anything, if I approach it right. I still have restriction, I MUST chew well, eating in a hurry is an open invitation to get something stuck. I continue to lose, albeit slowly now, but if I were to kick up my exercise it would help!! I made the decision that the rest of the weight is up to me. My band is at a happy place, so I refuse to mess with it. Being too full and requiring an unfill seems to begin problems---problems I don't want. At the time he did my 2nd fill---it would put me at a total of 1.75cc in my band that will hold up to 4 cc. Kat

Hi buckeye----you will soon see as you work your way around LBT, that there are wide differences in the way most Dr.'s approach the band. That includes the pre op diet. There are some who are on liquids for a month prior, and others who have no pre op at all! Then it is the same with how long they keep you in the hospital, and the diet following surgery! They are all different! If your Dr. is fine with you doing as you are, then it sounds to me as if you are good! I only lost 8 pounds prior, I kept having the infamous "Last Supper" thinking of all the things I was no longer going to be able to eat! I found that to be bogus! I can eat it all--just in smaller amounts!! Losing even a small amount of weight is supposed to have great health effects, including making the liver more pliable I have heard--which is what they need, so they can get to where they need to be to wrap the band around your stomach, and set it in place. In my case the operation was a breeze--I was up walking within hours, and found recovery to be quite simple. It was not however my first surgery nor anywhere near the most difficult! You should do wonderfully--it has been shown men lose much quicker, do so with less emotional stress (totally unfair!), and the higher BMI, loses quite quickly especially in the beginning, so prepare yourself for a quick ride! How exciting!!! Get the weight off, then all you gotta worry about is being so short!!! Welcome to LBT--good luck--let us know how things go! Kat

Well I run into town, bought a few stocking stuffers, and just could not make myself care about buying the last things on my list. We were going to have lunch with Rick, and he had to cancel, he had a mask fitting (emergency, safety equipment at work), so he was taking his crew in for that, then taking them to lunch. So I give it up, and come home! It is cold and dreary, and Kinsey wanted to come home and play, so here we are! Cindy--what I use is an antique sled, like the Red Flyer, with the runners---not a sleigh, I have seen a sleigh I like, that I could work, so if and when I find one I plan on snagging it! I found an old trike, but it is too tall. We actually found an antique John Deere pedal tractor, it was likely 45 years old or so, rusted clear through in spots---and he was still asking $300.00 for it----someone else got it, I refused to pay that for it! It was too big for my tree anyway! And we have a tractor for the kids... I have tractor seats all over a wall in my kitchen...so it would have been cute! I have a dress, I doubt it fits anymore(!) it is black velvet. It is very plain. It has a deep V neck, and is gathered some between the breasts. The fabric is not a true velvet, it has stretch, and it feels kind of slinky, it hangs so well. I have 3 different beaded jacket things to go over it--one all gold and black, one multi colored with a beaded floral design it is long...almost to the knee, but the background of the jacket is similar fabric, it looks very classy, and another done in purple and magenta colors--sounds wild, but it is very pretty. One time I wore it, I took these things called shoe earrings---made to clip on the top of your shoes for decoration--they were about 2.5 inches long and were just 4 rows of rhinestones things. I took them, and used them on the top of the shoulder straps, right across the top, it changed the dress up---and made it look all sparkly! I just used a lacey shawl that evening--but was self concious the whole time, my fat arms, and my scars were showing. I preferred wearing the sleeved jacket with the dress for that reason. I agree with the girls---show off some cleavage, be a little dramatic, pull your hair back, to show off your new cheek bones that are showing, and wear some classy drop style earrings. Most of all----walk tall, walk proud....do like TracyK had to with her swimming suit this summer---------STRUT!!! Going to have to go back and scroll through some more dresses, compare yours to Jenns---then I'll give you my .02 worth!! Suzanne--Thanks - mail come today! We spent one Christmas in Hawaii, with our oldest DD. It was different, that is a fact! I know you will be going under different circumstances. But we were trying to have a family Christmas there. Trees---"live" cut trees were selling even back 6-7-8 years ago for over $75.00!! They had lots of decorations, it just seemed so strange! All the snowmen decorations etc. They did have lots with Palm trees, and she had a collection of snowmen ornaments that had flip flops on, and sand dollars for buttons, things like that. And they had star fish painted into Santa's at the International Market Place! Was fun----we always enjoyed our trips. You will have fun, but miss home is my bet! Although you are not used to winter wonderland Christmas where you are either!! OK---I need suggestions for dinner, I am in a funk feel like I am always cooking the same old things--help!! BBL~~ Kat

BJean, I was the same way for the most part, dancing was all in fun. I was single and we would hit the bars, and have lots of fun--I danced my butt off literally, it was my exercise of choice. Then one night in a Country bar we were in I ran into a guy from school, we had gone to school together from 4th grade to HS graduation. He ask me to dance, and my heart kinda fluttered, and as we danced I freaked out! I kept telling myself "This is Rick_____, you can't be thinking those things!" I was shocked beyond belief, it blindsided both of us!! We danced all night, we never, ever just danced willy nilly with just anyone again! We too just celebrated our anniversary earlier this month! We still will dance, anywhere they are dancing---he still makes my heart flutter---and I don't think it is health related!! Kat

Mine received the occasional swat, and the threat of one in a public place was usually all it took to settle them down, as they knew I would do it. THAT proved to be the best move....if you are not going to do it---don't threaten it. Be consistant! If something is not allowed on Monday, don't let them get by with it on Wednesday. That drives me nuts! I saw a lot---I owned and ran a day care for almost 20 years. The inconsistancy was the worst. One day Mom would pick one up, and be in a tizzy over somethng, and she would be ready to fly off the handle over them wanting to share their art from that day, and they would be threatening to spank them if they did not calm down. Then the very next day, Mom might not be so uptight, and she let the kid bounce off the wall with no admonishions of any kind. The kid never knew what to expect--and I am sure got swatted depending on the mood du jour! If I told my kids I was going to put them in the corner for jumping on the couch, or slamming the door---I put them in the corner, everytime! They learned. Somethings got them swatted, on the butt, in a reasonable manner. I did not hit them because I was bigger and I could, it was mainly an attention getter! It was not often enough to be the "easy way out", when they got the pop on the butt, they hushed up and paid attention to the fact that I was serious. It worked! Now many years later, I do not feel I would change how they were raised. I have a granddaughter who is being raised similarly, they get punishment depending on the offense. And simple on the butt spanks have figured into it. She behaves. I have a grandson, and my DIL does not discipline him in any way what so ever! He is a wild child. He goes to restaurants and screams and leaves a landfill on the floor for the waitress to clean. He comes to my house, and it looks like a tornado has hit, and I spend every second saying no or moving things. His visits are stressful! I love him---I also feel like my son and his wife are not doing my grandson any favors, he is not the boss, and should not be treated as such. A simple look around today at how people behave---our young people in particular, and you can see how things change when no discipline is applied. They think they can do anything, anytime, anywhere! And do. Learning that when you do something wrong there are consequences is a vital lesson for kids. I am opposed to passing no spanking laws---I think it is ridiculous! Kat

Good Morning Violets! Just counted 17 deer in my backyard! Most people only have to poop scoop the yard if they have a dog--not me! At least it isn't as messy as a dog! Although, I damn near killed myself on it last year, our big shed is in the corner of the yard (huge yard) and on a bit of a slope, I was coming down last Christmas carrying a large tote, and could not see the ground, and stepped on some deer droppings---and for those of you unaware, their droppings are piles of pills--little round poop balls!--that when frozen work like stepping on marbles. Get the idea? I danced my way around, trying to remain upright, and hang on to the tote---unsuccessfully, I landed hard on my butt! Nothing broke, me or the things in the tote! I feel better when I read your posts--I am 2 gifts away from being done! That means by the end of today I should be able to say my shopping is finished. I am off to hunt a box to send my Secret Santa in today as well. Then tomorrow is Kinsey's birthday. They are having her party at the Teddy Connection a build a bear place. They made her one before she was born---it actually ended up bigger than her! And have taken her each year to choose and build a bear or other critter. This year they are having the party there. No mess! But Sunday--she is not here--Rick is working part of the day (he goes on vacation again then)...so my goal is to be decorated by the time Sunday night TV rolls around for me! All of my totes are in the garage. My tree is in the garage. I have bought my cards. I usually cheat, and buy address labels! My Aunt was a post master (mistress?) for many years, she started me doing it, saying they love them, the machine reads them so much easier than writing--so I could justify it! Everything is ready and waiting for me! I will get Rick to put my tree in the "stand" Saturday sometime, ready for me Sunday. Years ago I found an antique sled, the back board part was cracked, so I bought it for like a couple bucks. We turned it into a stand for our tree, so it never looks empty under there. Back when the kids were young, I took the girls to a ceramics class, actually we went with them, my Mom and my Grandma, all 4 generations went together. It was done at a local ceramics shop in the evening. Amanda and Abbey decided to do these gnomes--like 10" lawn gnomes, they kept calling them elves. The owner/instructor told us there is a series of 8 of them. Some are standing, some sitting, one on his belly, one on his side lying down, one is a corner piece, he actually hangs by his arms. Well we decided all of us to do them...So each of us did one, then the girls and I did another to complete the set. We painted them all in Christmas colors, and white beards. The level of skill is obvious if you look closely---but we don't! Now they ride the sled until I begin adding packages, and then you find them sitting and lying around under the tree. on boxes....everywhere! 3 years ago, the girls were talking about them and jokingly arguing over who "gets" them. The next November for Manda's birthday---she opens a box---and there are 5 gnomes--all Abbey could find! They spent 3 nights working on them, and had them fired so that Manda had them under her tree last year. Abbey also bought herself a set, and since then we have found another style--so they spent last summer working on them. They also made me a set with Santa and Mrs, Clause both with their butts turned towards a pot belly stove warming up! Santa's suit is thrown over a chair, with a kitten curled up in the hood, he is in a red union suit with the back flap half undone! Abbey still does her painting, has moved to doing more tole type now, less breakable. She made me the cutest snowmen this year, she painted, Manda decorated---I will try to get a pic. Gotta go supervise a swim---Kinsey thinks it is bubble bath time!!! BBL~~ Kat

We went to Cancun back in like 98 or maybe 99. It was beautiful, always something to do. My only suggestion is to look at the calendar, and plan accordingly. BUT make sure it is a school calendar you are looking at!!! If the colleges are out of session, reschedule your trip! The way ours fell, our final weekend, lapped over the first of the college summer releases---when they hit---our vacation was over! The nice restaurants we ate at---I mean very nice---lost the tablecloths, and cloth napkins, and the terrace dining room, ended up with a portable pool full of some kind of foam in it, so they could dance (or whatever) in it! The entire place "dumbed down"!!! We had went in to a jewelry shop and had decided to look around, when we went back in the last day there, we ask about a handcrafted Masonic tie clip we had seen for my Dad, he had to get it all out of a back room, they had entirely changed out inventory, he said it would be that way for the next 3.5 months, then go back! He told us it is like 2 different cities! One for the adult tourist, and one for the high school and college kids out to party. He said he and his wife do not leave home much if the party crowd is around, and he is always having to call and have drunk kids removed from his personal pool at home, they climb the fence and go swimming! So----confirm your dates, and plan around school breaks and you will have a great time!!! I had the feeling the man in the jewelry store would have went on and on about the kids antics--I chose to leave---my DD made a Cancun trip once, and she was not arrested, nor did she appear in any Jerry Springer Girls Gone Wild Videos she said! LOL Have fun! I think you are right on the money with your decision on the breast lift/implant decision. Seems like adding the implant, just gives you something else to worry about---without them, the surgery gets done, and you are done.... Sounds like you girls are healing---that is wonderful! My Dad has to have the other side of his carotid surgery done the first of January. Hope this side goes as well as the first one did. My stitches are out, and the incision is not as bad as I worried about, still not pretty, but I can deal! I have 2 things to buy---that have to be bought, then I am technically done with my Christmas shopping. I plan to do that today. Then between now and Christmas, I can pick up fun sale things for kids or grandkids. Now my decorating is not even started--BUT the totes are all in the garage, and are ready when I am! I have my cards, but have not addressed a one! Same with the tree, it is ready--just not up! I have to have Rick to help with it. We discarded the stand many years ago, and have an antique sled we bought, that the back board was broke---so we got it for seriously nothing! And we turned it into a stand for our tree. I hate the way a tree looks with nothing under it, this way it is always pretty! I love it! Today I Hope to finish the shopping, going to lunch with my hubby, and granddaughter. Tomorrow is her birthday party. They are having her party at the local Teddy Connection ( a build a bear place). But Sunday-----Rick works---Kinsey is not here--------I WILL be decorated and done by Sunday night!! That is my goal! Let me know if there are any changes in our address list---and any of you new girls want in on our Christmas Card exchange, we need addresses!! I think on the list the email is listed, and I remember Cindy changing hers--any other changes??? Will be checking in soon! (((huigs))) Kat

I agree with NanaRenan---if you are young and prepared for the bandster life, do it now, reclaim your life! I had mine done at 45, went with my SIL who was 57--we both did fine. Now I look at the 2 of us, and am thrilled I have the next 12 years, thin! I mean, that is the age difference with us...so I will have spent those 12 years enjoying life, not dieting as she did. Hoping to have many more than 12 years ahead of me!!! So you young girls, can have all those years ahead of you without the emotional or physical damage the obesity can cause! Go For It!!! I wish it had been an option to me 15 years before! Kat

Mexican food always slides right on down for me. Hot dogs---not so good! No matter how well I try to chew a hot dog, it does not really get mushy-----sounds gross---but it does not break down well, so it is harder for me to digest. I'd say stick to the enchiladas, they taste better anyway!!! As does the margarita!! Kat

Yep, my Dr. told me to sit my fork down and wait a full minute between each bite of food. That sounds quicker than it feels when you are doing it!!! It made a huge difference in how I felt when I ate though. I have never had to deal with the first bite syndrome, but my SIL did, and I had read on here about people having luck drinking something warm/hot, just before eating. Not a lot to drink, but just enough to relax the esophagus, and stomach I suppose. It did work for her. Her problems with this passed too....so hopefully yours will to! Back to the sitting down the fork between bites, I still do it! Not between each bite anymore, but I eat a bit, and sit mine down to see if I should stop. You cannot imagine how strange it is, to sit and watch other people eat, like in a restaurant setting, while you are simply sitting, and waiting a minute or 2. They shovel HUGE amounts in, and barely chew, their cheeks are puffed out with food. I am appalled, that I was one of them for years!!! Kat

Hi all----------home from Albq. looooooooong day! Dad will have the other side carotid artery operated on the first part of January. Praying the second side goes as well as the first. TracyK---how sad, and right at the holidays---your friends/co workers will most definitely be in my prayers. Suzanne---a stress test--unless it is a drug induced stress test, is usually done on a treadmill. They hook you up as they do for an EKG---all the leads (you will be in your bra, and sweats, or shorts), as well as a blood pressure cuff, for monitoring everything going on. It takes place in the room with the Echo cardiogram machine. You begin walking on a flat level at a fairly low speed, for 3 minutes. Then the incline on the treadmill, and the speed picks up again for 3 minutes. Then it kicks it up to a fairly steep incline and the speed picks up again, not to a run, but to a FAST walk, long strides to keep up. At any time your heartrate goes too high---either to a cardiac problem, or simply because that is an exercise to strenuous for you then you will be stopped. When your heart rate reaches the target rate they are looking for they will have you quickly get off the treadmill, and on the table and do an echo while your heart works under stress. This shows them if the upper and lower chambers are beating in unison or not, and if all the valves are working properly. It can show whether there is backwashing blood or not, the oxygenated blood and the depleted blood will show up different colors. It cannot SHOW blocked arteries, but it will show the results of blocked arteries, and if that is a question, they will refer you for an angiogram. They will probably begin the echo while you are panting and huffing and puffing (don't worry EVERYONE I have seen have one is huffing and puffing!!!), laying on your left side, a portion of the table drops and they will use the wand (like in an ultrasound on your side to watch those valves. Then roll you to your back, and get some more pictures. They can also do the stress test using drugs, that cause your heart to race, and then they look at it following that. They prefer to have you exercise it to that point, because as soon as you quit, you begin recovering, with the drugs, if there is a heart issue, you have to wait while they leave the system. I will do my best to catch up on personals tomorrow. Thanks for all the support with my life story!!! I just love being dramatic! I will talk to you all tomorrow! (((hugs))) Kat

Sorry was not ignoring your question---been gone all day. When I got the fill, and was so full after only a few bites, I did not feel hungry EVER! The only hunger I really experience now is head hunger, I think I am hungry, I seldom if ever really feel the gut gnawing hunger anymore. I would imagine the band is placing enough pressure on the nerves to make that happen. I just know that a person needs more than that to survive and be healthy! I can now eat a reasonable amount, and do my best to make it nutritious, and healthy food, but I am human, and eat the not so good for me stuff too!!! I do not want to be skinny and sickly, I want healthy and fit! So---I opt not to be super tight, and I really try to make my food choices healthy ones. To answer your question exactly--when I was that tight, those few bites, filled me up and I was NOT hungry. I just felt like I could not maintain health at that level of intake. It did not last long like that, and has been fine since. Kat

Welcome Cindy---from one unofficial member (not technically an April 07 bandster!) to another! Glad to have you here! Hang out, and let US get to know YOU now!!! Well my stitches are out, it doesn't look as bad as I feared. He said the residual swelling will likely take months to go down--loverly!! Wow---deep thoughts today girls! My story is pretty easy---I blame me! I did not get fat until well into my 20's. I married at 17, he cheated on me regularly. But no one in my family had ever divorced, so I was afraid to stand up for myself, even though I knew divorce was the right direction. Eventually when the 2nd child (besides ours), I did it and divorced him. I began seeing DH then, and realized how different life could be. But it was not meant to be at that time, and he had college to finish, and my now ex refused to allow me to leave the state (as per NM divorce) with our DD. So Rick and I went our separate ways---at least physically! Then I met and married the biggest mistake of my life. I did not listen to family nor friends, I accepted the first thing offered, I guess trying to recapture what I lost with Rick--I don't know. Soon after the abuse began, verbal, emotional...escalating to physical and sexual. The pushes and shoves grew to all out beatings, broken bones, and hospitalizations. But he had me where he wanted me, he did not threaten me when I tried to leave, he threatened my elderly grandparents and my crippled brother---he would hurt them---I knew he would, it was not a threat, but a promise. I got myself into the situation, I refused to get one of them hurt or worse, trying to get out of it. Eventually he wanted to move to TX where his family was (San Antonio), so we moved. I saw it as my way out---none of my family there to hurt. I got him to agree to let Manda stay with my parents until we found a place to live. She was with them for 6 weeks. Nothing changed, he was only worse, when in the presence of his abusive step Dad---horrible, horrible family. I began putting on weight about this time, I had zero self confidence, I doubted my own judgement in anything, I knew IF I lived through it, I was going to be twice divorced---the thought killed me! One day walking in KMart there was a big woman in there, and he told me if I ever looked like that he would leave my ass. Suddenly those thoughts come back, and I worked to gain weight! I even went so far as to drink weight gain from GNC!! The big ordeal went down--he tried to kill me, stabbed me 8 times. Eventually I flew home tattered and torn, and he went to prison. And the depression deepened---how did I do this to my life? By now Rick is remarried...and I am horribly alone, and scared to death to even think about another man---I trust no one. BUT food comforted me, and did not lash out, and did not cheat, and was always there when I needed it! Through the years I moved on and worked through my issues, as well as one can I suppose, but by then habits were set, and I was huge! Rick was never far from my mind, nor me his he says, we kept tabs through mutual friends. He divorced, and called me, and we have never looked back. When he left for school, I was maybe 125 pounds. When he walked up to my house all those years later, I was twice that! He was smiling ear to ear, and looking in my eyes---he did not ever say a negative word to me about my weight-ever. I can now look back, and understand exactly what motivated me to make the mistakes as I made them, but...didn't see it then! The old hindsight thing! I had such an easy childhood, almost idylic, I never EVER expected a husband to cheat....that was for soap operas! And yet that paled in comparison to what happen next---but my fear was what isolated me to living with the food. If Rick had not come back into my life---I would likely have remained alone, trust is still not something I give easily. I already knew him, trusted him, and loved him, and his kids. We married a few years later, we lived together for awhile before that...following a long distance relationship! And I could not ask for anyone to ever treat me any better---I often wonder how I lucked out this time around! I desperately wanted to lose weight for me---but also for him. He was just as disallusioned with life as I was, and I want to give him as good as he gives me---that means not only healthy---but fun to look at!! So....that is my session on the couch. Many of you knew my story---for those that didn't....sorry it is a bit of a shocker I know...but the finale of the story is that I WON! I am strong, and able, and confident now----he will never ever have power over me like that again, even if he does get out----I will handle it! I have moved from fear, to anger---and now have a "bring it on sucker!" attitude for him! The End! LOL Kat

I do................. Kat

I would not rush off for an unfill just yet. Drinking and all is a little slow this morning, as you are likely swollen from the stuck episode with the fish. If it were me (has been from time to time!) I'd stick to liquids for the day, and when I went back to eating, I would stick to soft food until you see how it is going to go. If there is still pain, I'd go back to liquids and contact my Dr. to discuss it. As babygrl mentioned you can try small sips of pineapple juice when something soft such as your fish is stuck---the acidity in it helps break down the offending food. You can also buy Papaya Enzyme, in chewable tablet form from GNC or most health food or Vitamin shops, and it too aids in the digestion and breakdown of the food. The last one is the most harsh, but is better than sitting in pain, while your stomach inflames---and that is meat tenderizer. I was told a tablespoon full of liquid meat tenderizer will help in most cases. I understand it is very salty, and to increase Fluid intake after the food passes. Very likely the cause for your episode was either too big of a bite, or lack of chewing properly. That is what gets me everytime it has happened--and it happens very infrequently these days--I have learned a different way of eating! Usually now it hits if I am talking or doing something else while eating, and I fall into old habits, where I only pretended to chew!! Another possibility is that your fill kicked in, and you simply ate a bite or 2 too many. Sometimes it takes a fill a few days to a week to really settle in for some unknown reason. With your system a little tender from the fill, it might have just been too much food for the band to handle. When I got my second fill, I was reduced to eating a few bites at a time, for about 3 days! I had gone to get my fill--I have to travel 6 hours away--and went on from there to my SIL's. I stayed on liquid for a day and then tried to eat. OMG every time I ate 3-4 bites was IT! I was convinced I needed to go back by and have some removed--even thoughhe only added .50cc. But given a few more days everything relaxed, and I was able then to eat more normally...and have progressed well, never needing another fill since then. Hang in there, baby yourself for a day or so, and see if it doesn't feel better. If you push it too soon, while your stomach is still irritated, it will only swell again, causing the same problem to recur. It is a terrible cycle to begin. Good Luck, hope you feel better soon!! Kat

Was planning a TT for Jan/Feb--but with my more recent surgery it will depend on the results, and recommendations from it. When I can, this hanging skin on my belly is a goner!! 25 pounds and a TT, and I will be one happy woman!! Even with it, I am pretty happy.... Kat

A year and a half and very happy with it.... Which answer would you prefer---the time length or the happiness rating? Kat

It only works out to about 3 pounds a month--BUT--I am such a slouch in the winter months! I hate the cold, I stay in the house and eat more! I would bet good money I lost all but less than 10 pounds of that through the Spring and early summer, when my motivation returned, and the WANT to be outside, and doing something was there. Hoping the same happens this year, and I will be at goal! That and a TT would make Kat a very happy girl!!! Kat