Kat817

Hi, my name is Kat, and I am a stress-a-holic. I swear, it isn't like I don't have anything to stress over, I go looking for new things! I have 3 dogs in my backyard, none of whom belong to me, and the owner is out of town, and wants me to keep them til he gets back Monday. I am an animal lover, but I don't "know" these dogs, and we are cooking out for Father's Day tomorrow...and my grandkids will be here. I just could not stand by and see them head for the highway. I ask if I could take them back to his place, but since they already escaped once, apparently the kid next door isn't watching them well. Sometimes I would like to have more of a backbone than I seem to have today!! :phanvan Eileen--no, I am not eating, liquids only. Had my first fill yesterday, was on liquids all afternoon, all today, and part of tomorrow. Then on to mushies, and on, and on ....you know the drill!!! Yes, DD is so proud of her place, she put a LOT of work in, right beside her DD and brother. From demolition, to finishing touches, she has been in there busting her butt. She needed the self confidence boost, this divorce has been hard on her. It is good to see her happy again. Even better to see her happy in her own place!!! Patty--YEEHAW girl, it is starting to fall into place. I understand you are not ready to get excited, so we will all get excited for you!!! The timing, is gonna be what it will be, and life will work around it, this is for you, and remember how important YOU are to those boys, and your family, take care of you, and all will be better! Anne--my new hero--7 kids under 6?? I did it for years, I ran a daycare for 20+ years, but I am too old now, hell I wouldn't have any gray hair...I wouldn't have ANY hair!! Cindy--it is like the insurance people do not want to even try to understand the problem. I ask for a supervisor and get put on hold for 23 minutes, only to have to start my story over with someone else. Monday I am going to start again. Looks like he will likely have to have another round of the shots, trying to get his blood to what they call a therapuetic level. He said (the hematologist) they basically thin the blood so it pressures its way through the clot. I missed most of that appointment, I was in CO getting my fill, he went to that one alone. As for government healthcare? When I see what they have done around here with gov't housing, I am positive I don't want gov't healthcare!! I would truly love to deal with a human with common sense tho! Sherry--enjoy bike week! I am so jealous, one thing DH cannot do is ride. The clot is right in the bend of the groin where they did his heart cath. He is supposed to keep it as straight as possible. I love the idea of the freecycle, am going to have to check that site out! Beannie--my brother has a yard maintenance business, he comes in and does mine, and leaves it looking military precise! He also tends to continue to treat me like his sister, and if he thinks something would be better in another place...he moves it!! Some days I wish he would just keave it be, then when I hear what others pay him to do this, I suck it up!!! You're in TX...dry??? removing bricks??? watch for snakes! We have a place in central(?) TX, and I see snakes when we are out on the ATV, or on the tractor shredding....I hate snakes!!! As for being a basket case? I think I am, and just too far gone to even know it. Would I know if I had gone off the deep end??? Randi--great name, keep 'em guessing!!! You are right, this is a great site, and this is by far the best thread!! Welcome! Betty--hope the back is feeling better. Must be all the stress of the games! Hope it feels better soon! Mary--my DS come home from a sleep over when he was a kid, and at dinner the next night stabbed my DH in the elbow with a fork, and quoted some little saying his friends family had for "elbows off the table, or my fork will get you and you won't be able". One of those learning moments for all of us. Elbows, boundaries, respect....and how to laugh and keep tea from coming out your nose!!! As for the valve choices for DH, he can get a mechanical, man-made valve, which will last a lifetime (without complications), but they have a tendency to clot blood so he would be on coumadin to thin the blood for the rest of his life. The other option is a biological tissue vlave, made from a pigs aorta. They only last 10-12 years on average, but they don't have blood clotting issues. So no lifetime of drugs, just more surgery down the road. We have a difference of opinion on what he should request should they have to replace it rather than repair his. I think his current blood clot indicates he should avoid the clotting problems, and go with the tissue (pig valve) he says BS he is not having more than one open heart surgery if he can avoid it. Since it IS him doing the surgery, I guess it is his choice to make with the surgeon!! Thanks for keeping us in your prayers! OK--My damn smoke alarm has been chirping at me with a low battery (we replaced it in April...at the time change....) I am going to have to go get a ladder and fix it before I take a broom and DESTROY it!! Yeah, still a little tense!! I know I didn't get everyone, but hope you all have a good weekend! Enjoy!! Kat

Hi all, heading off to bed in a few minutes. Jut got home, not long ago, went and had my fill today, my first, he put in 1.25cc. I of course am on liquids, so have no idea if there has been any change, will not likely know for a couple of days I am told. We will not go into the fill itself...enough to know I am here!!! DH's first round of blood work did not come in with high enough numbers, so I am giving him 2 shots a day for another 3 days. Now get this, the first prescription for the Lovenox ( an injectable blood thinner) cost us $98.00 (with our insurance, would have been 200.00 something without it). That was for 5 pre-filled syringes. Today he goes to get the prescription for 6 more filled, and it was going to cost over $300.00. He questioned it, they told him to call the ins. so he did, and the insurance company (medco with BCBS) said it was because he needs to use the mail order for it. BUT there is no way they can have it here before Wednesday. This is a blood clot, it is not negotiable...it is there now and needs treated now! By Wed. we will be finished with this round. So he ask about ordering them now, and buying the new ones...nope, can not be filled again for 3 days...which then puts the mail order, 3 days later. It was impossible to make them understand what was going on. Even the office mgr. at the Dr.'s tried. Then AFTER we coughed up the $$$, we find out he can go to the hospital and receive them as an outpatient, and not cost us anything more than our already paid deductable.....Was an expensive Dr. day for us, with my fill and his shots!!! DD is moving out!!! Her house is ready, she is thrilled, I am thrilled!!! I love her with all my heart, and the granddaughter....is perfection personofied, BUT.....living with my daughter full time again, was a trial at times!!! Mainly, I am just glad her place is finished, it turned out beautiful, she now has a very nice home, and I can weigh naked in the morning if I wanna!!! Ok, TMI, must be time for bed, will catch personals soon. In the meantime, GIANT hugs of appreciation for all the prayers and good thoughts as we go through all this, I am so glad you are all here to vent to THANK YOU!!! Kat

Looks like I may have missed the "making your own laws", looks like the thread has changed a bit. However since I just got here, I am going to slip back that way a minute!! I would like to see our laws changed concerning uninsured drivers. Having been hit by one, I take this personally!! I think we should all pay for our insurance at the gas pump. The more you drive, the more you pay. The bigger the gas guzzler you drive, the more damage you can do to whatever you hit, so the more you pay. These big trucks everyone wants to have their own roadways...there is the funding! I know gas costs a fortune ($3.14 a gallon here today) but most of us pay additionally by having insurance, and have to pay even more by buying uninsured motorists insurance so that some can skate by. I also want to repeal a law!! I don't like the fact that they can ticket me for choosing not to wear my seatbelt. I fully support all children and minors being required. I faithfully buckle up, but feel it should be my CHOICE!!! If I am speeding down the road, I endanger others, so ticket me. If I am a moron, and choose to drive drunk, I am endangering others, so lock me up. But by opting not to wear a seatbelt, I only endanger myself. I see this as nothing other than revenue enhancement! Ok, will let you guys get back to wherever you were wanting to go with this thread!!! Kat

I was the second patient my PCP had that had lap band. He has several that have had gastric. He was not supportive of gastric for me, but the band he backed 100%. Enough so that he had his wife speak to me about it, he is afraid for her, with her family history, of diabetes. He said he would support her doing it. It just so happens my DD has become his nurse in the last few months, and he asks her often how I am doing. He is impressed because I have not had Metformin, or either of my hight blood pressure meds, HCTZ, and Lisinopril, since the day of surgery. My blood sugar has remained steady,( I was on it preventitively, had not been catagorized as Diabetic yet ). My BP has averaged out to 118/69. It had not been unusual for my diastolic number to be a triple digit! I have now lost about 28 pounds...but now I have hope, so I have been finally getting active! It has been a great experience, and I am so glad my Dr. supported me!! Kat

I really think postponement was the right thing for you. This website can give you some very good information, and I think you need information...from it, from your Dr., from other sites, from the library...any and all information you can get your hands on. When you make the decision, make it YOUR decision, and make it based on what you have discovered, and how you feel you would do with the information you have gathered. IMHO when you embark on this, you need to have researched it to death!!! I did. I feel like I made an informed choice, for me. One I could live with, and one that will help me live longer, and healthier. Your food choices, and abilities to eat them, will likely differ from anyone elses. Some people can eat anything they choose, simply in smaller amounts. Others have long lists of food that gives them problems. You also must keep in mind that something that gets "stuck" today, might be something you can eat without issue in 2 weeks. Everyday is a new day with this band I have discovered!! Your hormones, and natural ebb and flow of fluid retention, affects the band. I even read an article saying the position you sleep in will affect the tightness of the band, in the morning! So each of us, can give you our experience, and you still will not know how YOU will respond. As for eating, I have very few problems, I cannot eat large amounts of dry food, or bread, or I get "stuck" and have that hellish golfball feeling! But when I am eating with my husband in front of the TV, or in a restaurant with a group of friends, I pay attention to what I am eating, not to what they are eating. And amazingly they do the same!!! None of them care what I am eating, or how fast or slow, they don't seem to take any notice at all!! I eat smaller bites than they do, I eat much slower than they do, because I chew a lot more thouroughly. Because of this, we all finish eating about the same time. I have just ate considerably less than the others. Yes the head hunger and wanting to eat more can be problematic, but it is so amazing to feel like you WIN....you do not have to eat it all to be full. And the numbers going down on the scale, and clothes fitting better, and the compliments from friends, and the support from all the friends here at LBT, makes the head hunger something I can handle. When I slip up...and I do....the band makes it to where I can start over, rather than feeling defeated by yet another diet. Absolutely the only thing I would change about getting my band, I should have done it years ago! Good luck making the decision, and make it an informed one. This is your life, you have to be the one to DO it, whether anyone thinks you need to lose weight or not, is a moot point, you and your Dr. must think so or you would never have made it to the point of having a surgical date! Best of Luck! Kat

This is not technically my experience, it is DH's. As some of you on LBT know, he has been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease, and is awaiting open heart surgery to either repair or replace the valve. His superior has been taking credit for everything DH has done. DH has never said anything about it, because he does not want the responsibility of the higher position. He took this job to hold him over the next 5 years and is then retiring, with a retirement from another company as well. So anyway, he is now looking at an extended medical leave, and has been placed on light duty until his surgery. His boss is flipping out!!! The numbers have already fallen, work is not being accomplished. Hubby is friends with the "guys" in the shop, so they do anything he asks, knowing if they need help, he is there. He does not lord his position over them, he is one of them. Yet his boss gets the credit for everything being done. Now that DH is not doing it, the boss goes out and screeches orders, and has no idea how to run the place, and in only 2 weeks the place is chaos. He sees the writing on the wall, his bosses are going to know what is going on!!! This is a world wide HUGE company...and suddenly he has no place to hide. I can hardly keep from laughing when he calls because he doesn't know what to do or who to call. Wish my DH was as cruel as I want to be sometimes!!! Karma I suppose just jumped up & bit him in the a$$!!! Good luck to all of you---they do not call it work or a job for nothing!!! Kat

Hi! Wanted to leave an update before I head off to bed, it has been a loooong day. We took DH to Albuquerque (286 miles away) today to see the cardiac surgeon. They had hoped to see him and schedule him for surgery tomorrow. But the Dr.'s partners Mother passed away, so he was covering both sides of the practice, and could not fit him in for surgery until the 21st. He said the regurgitation of the blood is quite severe, and he agrees that the sooner we operate the better. Ok...we all agreed. Then he looked at DH's bruising from the heart catheter, and sent him to have an ultrasound, and he has a clot in the ileac vein. That is the main vein from the leg & pelvic area. So now I give him a shot of Lovenox morning and night for 3 days, and he is on coumadin daily for 6 weeks, then they will do the surgery. Until then he is on light duty, unless he has further arythmia's and then he is on medical leave. They scheduled his surgery for August 2nd. His birthday is the 3rd. Not all of you, but some of you will understand his upset at it being then...he will miss Sturgis! Which that really did upset him, but mostly it is the fear of the blood clot...and the fact that now he has to continue to dread this for another 7 weeks...sucky news. Now he and I disagree on what type of valve is the right one if they have to replace it...so whats's new we have disagreed on everything lately!! Good thing we have a strong marriage to carry us through these grouchy days ahead!!! Will let you know how things go from here....thanks for all the prayers I felt there with us today!!! Darcy...I love the hair!! It looks fresh and light for summer!! Makes me want a change! Kat

Has anyone noticed any difference in hair loss between the faster losers, and the slower losers? Or do I need to post this elsewhere?? Kat

The basic issue with shrinking your liver is to eat low fat and high protein. It will shrink the fatty deposits in the liver and allow it to be more pliable during the surgery, as it has to be moved around to get teh band in place. If your Dr. gives you a pre op diet, follow IT, if not, I would suggest low fat, high protein to help give you a boost. Good luck, it will be fine!!! Kat

Hi, I was banded on April 24th, to date I have lost almost 30 pounds. The last couple of weeks have been very rough weeks emotionally, my husband has not been well, and is facing open heart surgery, so my attention has been directed elsewhere from my eating right. I have lost and regained the same pound several times!! I am scheduled for my first fill later this week, but it will likely be postponed until after DH's surgery. My recovery from band placement was a breeze. I had pain meds in my IV in the hospital the afternoon following surgery, since then, I used one dose of liquid Tylenol, on the long trip home the 3rd day (5 hours in a plane, and another 5 by car). I had very little gas pain, and only soreness and an irritated feeling in my incisions, never any real pain. I was out and about shopping and working on a remodel project within days. The 4th day I was on my feet for no less than 9 hours. I did ok, as long as I kept my protein intake up,and drank LOTS of water. The day I opted not to drink my Isopure, I felt very run down,and slept all afternoon, it was enough to make a believer out of me!! I used Zero carb Isopure, and unflavored Unjury powder the first 2 weeks while I was on clear and light liquids only. The unjury I mixed in juice or warmed broth, it adds 20g. of protein per scoop. The Isopure has 40g of protein per bottle. I drank small amounts out of the bottle throughout the day. Finishing at least one bottle a day. It comes in several flavors, and I bought it at GNC. The unjury powder also comes in the usual, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry as well as the unflavored. You can order it at www.unjury.com . There is also some jello like protein shots I heard about on here, but have never tried. I am now far enough out, I get the majority of mine from food. I do still do some protein shakes, although not often, and I use the DaVinci sugar free flavored syrups to make them in all kinds of flavors. I would suggest getting some liquid protein supplements to have on hand for the week following surgery, so if you don't feel great, you don't have to go searching for some you like ok. I agree with the loose clothing, and also a small pillow for between you and the seatbelt might be a good idea....just depends on where your surgeon puts your incisions, they vary as much as our recoveries have!! Find out from your Dr. or pharmacist in advance about whether your current medications can be crushed, or not, and have appropriate forms on hand. I bought several flavors of broth, and s/f jello. My Dr. recommended straws, others are adamantly against them, so whatever your Dr. says! Otherwise since you are both going together, I would say, get as much done ahead of time as possible, all the laundry done up, house cleaned, so you can lounge around together, and not "need" to do anything for a couple of days anyway. If you don't have recliners available, get a bunch of pillows together, some people have had problems laying flat for a few days. And don't expect to recover exactly the same as one another, and keep it in mind so neither of you becomes resentful...none of us on here have recovered exactly as another...some do great immediately, others take much longer, and most fall somewhere in between. Good luck to both of you, and if you have any questions, there are some amazing people with endless knowldege on this board. You will find it invaluable over the next stages in your lap band life. Once again...good luck, you have made what I consider to be a wise decision in banding!!! Kat

Mine is a medic alert bracelet like Ira mentioned, it does not say anything on it, other than an ID#. When the medical facility calls, it informs them of a detailed medical history that I provided. It can then be pulled up on the computer, and they have a full background on me. As others have said, many times your belongings do not go with you to the hospital. This speaks for me, if I have no wallet, and am unable to do so myself. My uncle who is a Dr. sent it to me. All I had to do was provide the info. The way this is, if you do not want to talk about your surgery, all you have to say is that you have a drug allergy or something, no one would ever know the difference. It probably could be taken apart on either side of the medic emblem, and have a different band as opposed to the standard chain it come with. Might be something I look into, there have been times, it looked totally out of place, but I feel safer wearing it. As well as having my lap band, I also have several drug allergies, and a serious allergy to bee stings ( I carry an EPI pen). This is along the same line....has everyone included the ICE in their cell phones? It stands for In Case of Emergency. Put your emergency contact in as a blank space then the letters I C E (the blank space makes the ICE number first in your phonebook), then enter the name and number of who you want contacted in an emergency. It cannot hurt! If we can't talk for ourselves any help they can get is appreciated I would imagine! Kat

I would definitely say to try more protein. You are still on clear liquids I would guess, so maybe try some Zero Carb Isopure, it has 40g. of protein per bottle. Try it in small doses through the day, trying to get in a bottle or more each day. It comes in several flavors, I bought mine at GNC. It won't hurt, and it may help. You can also order Unjury (www.unjury.com) in the unflavored and use it in clear liquids. It has 20g. of protein per scoop. I have heard of people having gas passing for a week or so after, have you tried any of the Gas X? It comes in both chewable and also in the melting strips. I agree that contacting your Dr. is the first step. I hope you get some relief soon. Kat

Please accept my sympathies, Kare. My 1st cousin and I wrote both our Grandpa's and our Grandma's. And like you, in talking with others in preparation to write them, we too learned many new things about them...things we then wished they were here to tell us about. We tried to include different facets of their lives, and let the people there see them for the amazing people we knew them to be. The number of smiles, and nodding heads, led us to believe we had succeeded. I told myself then, that I would pay more attention to what my parents, and others had to say, listen more closely to their stories (even if I think I have heard it a dozen times before!). Now I realize, I have slipped, and your post reminded me, I once again need to slow down and pay attention, we never know how long we have them to listen to! So, thank-you for a needed reminder! May your grief be tempered by the knowledge of the amazing life it sounds like your Unlce Harry had. Kat

Yep Penni, he is a handsome boy....but in a few years he is gonna be a helluva good looking man!!! Seriously! Hope they have a Prom night to remember always! Enjoy the time with your son, they grow up so fast! Kat

Hi everyone! DH had his heart catheter test done yesterday, and come through it just fine, sore, but doing well. It showed he has no blockages forming at all. It also showed the MVP to be worse than they thought, so they moved him up to a 4 on a scale of 1-4, with 4 being the worse . We are waiting today to hear when our appointment with the surgeon is. Will keep you posted, and thanks so much for all of you being there with support, and prayers, I appreciate it all more than I can ever say! Darcy, will send you some pics to resize for me when you are feeling better, which I hope is very soon! Sorry you feel crappy! When you go to remove your stickies from the holter monitor, use some baby oil, or something petroleum based, it helped a lot with DH's. The nurse said you would be surprised at how many people grab alcohol...ewww talk about burning!!! As for having the 6 million dollar dog, I think that you do need to rename her, maybe Ava is just too expensive of name for her, maybe she needs to be Fido or Spot....even just Dawg!! Hope the both of you are well very soon! Donna- thanks so much for keeping us in your thoughts, I think we are about to face the big surgery, and get on with the healing. Patty has given me all kinds of good ideas for the time in the hospital! I am glad to hear your DS is hanging tough in boot camp. From what I understand, it saves many a boy/man. Tough love is such a hard thing to pull off, I am proud of you! Eileen-- My DD also had growing pains, literally. She grew in height suddenly, and instead of her hip bone just increasing in length, she grew a growth plate on the top of it, a separate piece of bone, about an inch thick, and one day for some unknown reason, it tried to slip off of the hip bone. The tissues around it swelled, and the school nurse said she had scoliosis, because the leg was longer than the other...Xrays found the problem. Dr. suggested exercise, and he mentioned karate, due to the side kicks they do. So off to karate class we went. Here we are 15 years later, and she is a brown belt, working towards her black! I took great comfort in her abilites when she began dating back then!! Good luck to you and your DD!! Mary--I vote for a light taupe color, it would look great with the hunter green, and show very little smudge wise or dirt wise!! Then you could always find a bright fun color to highlight with! Dianne-- I do not envy you doggy sitting for a 4 pound biting beast!!! You are a good friend to do that!!! Years and years ago, I worked for a vet, and it was always the little ones you had to watch!! Little or not bites hurt, be careful!! Patty---You poor darlin'!!! I think we should make a voodoo doll and really "hurt" the witch!! It will happen for you in the time it is supposed to, I hope for your sake it is soon. Maybe the timing is this way so you will be able to be a support to your friend Robbie right now. Maybe they need you, and your positive advice, and help like I did! Keep positive thoughts, and try to stay cool. Go to the library where it is cool, the kids will see it as a treat, and it is free!!! I used to take the kids all the time. In fact the book bag still hangs on the closet door, it is way too big, for just me now, but I figure the grandkids will help me fill it up very soon!! Cindy--Thanks so much for all your positive vibes coming our way...:cool: I will catch the rest of you later, I need to go watch DH walk!!! He is off, and he is supposed to have someone with him just in case he falls or somehow opens up that artery!!! Stubborn man!!! Kat

I don't think your tests will be anything to worry yourself about. They will likely do a blood work up, chest Xrays, & a EKG. I think that is about all they had me do at the hospital for mine. I did have other tests done here, as well as a psychological exam, and had my results forwarded to the surgeon I used in Mexico. I am sure there are health issues that would cause problems, a bad EKG, showing you have heart problems, or possibly severe anemia, or a blood disorder you were not aware of. However, if you see a primary care Dr. here, they have likely checked you out well enough to know these conditions do not exist. If you are worried, you might make an appointment with your regualr Dr. and have him go over some of these with you, to make you more relaxed with the time and money involved...it is not cheap, I totally understand!!! Best of luck to you! It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself!! Kat

Hi everyone! All is going along fairly smooth at the moment. We see DH's cardiologist on Wednesday, and then have an angiogram done on Thursday. That is supposed to be the final test done locally. Then they will know if any additional surgery is needed, such as bypass. Then we will schedule the surgery itself. I am waiting to see when they decide to do it, and will call and see how soon AFTER the surgery I can reschedule my fill. Well, within reason afterwords...will let him start to recuperate a bit!!! He has been such a grouch, the stress is eating him up. I am trying to keep my cool with him, but, there are times it is difficult, okay, there are times it is damn hard!!! He is normally so mild mannered and even tempered, and he has always been the one to do the cheering up. But he is getting grief at work about how long he will be unable to do his job, and he is worried in general over the surgery, so he has been a bear to be around. Add to that our DD is chomping at the bit to get her place done and move out, but one thing after another keeps slowing us down. Doesn't look like it will get done by us, before he has surgery. She either needs to hire someone, or stick it out here for awhile. So, add her to the grumpy list!! Yesterday out at her place, they were so grouchy, I just left them!! DS was freaking out on all of us!! They were grumpy, I was AWOL....he said he just painted and kept quiet!!! I have pictures I would love to share...I would show you our bike, and one of my new grandson that is soooo cute it is unbelievable!! But everytime I post pics, they are so huge they belong on one of the old drive in movie screens!!! So if someone can tell me how to shrink them (in very simple terms...I am simple minded), I will show them! We went to dinner with friends tonight. She is having a very hard time, they just put her Dad in a nursing home with Alzheimers. We always go to this little mexican food place here in town. I ate way too much!!! But they have the best chimichangas, and their homemade green chile....mmmmmmm. Used to be I would have ate every bite. Now I never make it past half. DH loves it, he eats my leftovers the next day! This was our first time to go to dinner with them since I was banded. They were totally relieved that I could still go out and eat. We are planning a quick trip to Vegas after DH recovers, and they thought I would not be able to eat. Not sure what they thought I would do....absorb my nutrition through some form of osmosis or something??? Anyway, with our conflicting schedules, we had not got together as I say since my being banded. They were surprised, and so complimentary about my lost pounds, said they can see it in my face especially. So what did I do to celebrate the compliments?? Pigged out!!! Go figure!!! I love all the pictures, and would love the new picture thread idea. Now someone help me figure out how to make mine smaller. I guess even my pictures need a lap band!! Kat

My meal trays in the hospital had straws on them. It was liquid meals, but a meal tray none the less!! My Dr. had no issue with using them. I have used them every day. Good luck to you, in my opinion this is nothing to worry about! Kat

While I have seen some of the things that different ones of you have mentioned, it has not been often. Many years ago as a teenager, my family changed churches for awhile, because it had become nothing more than a fashion show, and flaunting of the wealth according to my parents. A change of leadership, brought a change of attitude, and harmony was restored, and teaching once again took priority. To this day we still attend this church. Wheetsin, I am apalled at how that church near you is, we have a sign/poster in the fellowship hall that says "This is not a hotel for Saints, but a hospital for sinners". We live in a small rural area, our church (Methodist) has a small congregation. An equally small Presbyterian church is just a block down the road, these 2 churches combine to host a Bible School for the kids in the summer. They have a combined youth group, who work on a project each month, to give back to the community. They just finished repairing a older mobile home for a senior woman who had no one to help her get her A/C ready, built her a ramp to replace her steps, etc. The Pastor we have has said many things that have set well in my heart, and made me feel we made the right choice in our church home. One of them concerning the sharing of a bus with one of the Baptist Churches going to a Bible camp...he said we all needed to remember that while we may walk through different doors on Sunday mornings, we would all eventually walk through the same pearly gates. The other, during a Sunday communion, he invited ALL to partake (my inlaws church does not believe this way, you must be a baptised member of their church to partake in communion) saying this was the Lord's table, not his. I feel more fortunate than ever reading about these churches singling people out in correlation to their income, to realise the ones in our church (if any) who are held in the highest esteem are our most elderly members, it seems they have the most to share. One of them, and she must be 90 now, is the only person I know who calls me Kathleen, she was my 4th-5th grade Sunday school teacher!! And I can still name the books of the Bible, and I keep expecting her to ask me to!! She had us working on something the whole time she taught. For example, we covered wire hangars with yarn, and we could be wrapping away while she taught class, and we discussed the weeks lesson. Then she would take us to the nursing home, and let us give them the hangars. We made cross bookmarks. She always had us working on something simple for us to give away to others, and she still gives to this day. Now if I could just get her to call me Kat!!! Kat

Which one are you supposed to ask yourself when in this situation? #1. Can I live with this person the rest of my life? or #2. Can I live without this person the rest of my life? My gut instinct on this, is that IF he were the right guy for you....you wouldn't be asking us. Sometimes we fall in love with the idea of being in love...I know I did. That ended in my first divorce! When I got together with my DH, the questions were not there. My family loved him...it just kinda fell into place. Where did I meet him? In 4th grade....but never even dated him until we were much...MUCH older!!! Our families had very similar values...it all ended up mattering! As for the stay at home vs. working, it as well as everything wlse in marriage is subject to change at any time. It will never be exactly 50/50. There will be times it is 90/10.....Sometimes you give, sometimes you take. He is as vulnerable and needy as you are at times, him being male does not change that. A man might feel as tired of "providing" as you do. It is for sure something to discuss fully prior to making any "I do's" Good luck to you!! Kat

I don't think it was meant for you to stay on the liquids indefinitely, just for a day or 2 following a PB, so you give your tummy some time to heal before filling it with food again, and starting the PB or pain process all over again. I have heard people say Aloe vera juice following a PB is very helpful, and healing to the stomach. It sounds like you have begun a cycle, and your stomach needs a break. I know it might leave you feeling too hungry, but it also may help to break the cycle, and heal your stomach to give it a liquid diet break for a couple of days at the least. We survived the liquids when we first began...you can do it again!!! Hope you get some good news from the Dr.! Kat

Actually it does help, I am leaning towards postponing it, I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else, who has been there, so I didn't feel like I was just losing sight of my goal amidst all of this. My weight is maintaining, but I have continued to lose inches if not pounds. My calves and my arms actually enlarged, but I figure that is muscle developement...or I am hoping!!! Some hunger issues, but I think I can handle them for awhile....maybe!!! Thanks! Kat

Hi, I have a question for all of you with some "fill" experience. As it stands now, I am scheduled for my first fill on the 16th of this month. DH has his last tests run here on this coming Thursday, and then we will schedule the surgery. The local cardiologist told him it would likely be the week of the 19th sometime. Is this fill going to make eating out as I will have to all the time too difficult? Would I be better off postponing it, or will it be ok? Thanks for any input you might have for me! Kat

Just want to say....It is June 1st....and I am in the right place!...JUNE chat!! I did my long post yesterday in May's chat thread. I am SOOOOO with it!! Last month it took me 3 days to figure I was not where I needed to be!!! Way to go Diane!!! You will make it to your goal, all ya gotta do is stay as motivated as you are right now! Awww Patty, I bet that little guy was so glad to have you with him, they get so scared when they realize they are bleeding...or bloodin' as my little brother used to say!!! Have youheard whether he is ok? Happy June everyone! Kat

I was banded the end of April. I did diet 2 weeks prior to surgery, I was instructed to eat low fat, high protein foods. Including lean meats, chicken, fish, yogurt, that type of thing. I also ate protein bars. I began taste testing shakes and protein drinks prior to surgery. I ordered some on-line, and stocked my cupboards, with them, and broths, jello, de-caf teas, etc. Remember that the first week or 2 following surgery, most surgeons have you on clear liquids, so you need to find your protein without using the shakes. For this I used Zero Carb Isopure drinks(40g. of protein a bottle), I bought at GNC, and also Unjury Unflavored at 20 g.protein per scoop(www.unjury.com), that I could mix in teas, or apple juice. If you get your protein in, you will have more energy, and it sounds like when you do, you recover easier. I had my surgery in MX, and had a 5 hour plane trip as well as an additional 5 hours by car, to get home, on the 3rd day after surgery, I was shopping 4 days after surgery. I worked hard to get my protein in. My surgeon told me he could tell I had followed the diet well, that my liver was easily manipulated, and it made surgery much simpler. By the time you move on to shakes, and mushies, you will be able to get around to get them, just make sure you have the clear liquids on hand for when you get home the first week. It is not always easy, but the band makes it soooo much easier, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!! For the first time, I feel like I really CAN do this!!! Good luck to you!!! Kat