Kat817

My SIL and I had ours done at the same time, and they made us a special deal since we were coming together. We each paid $7,900.00 and they paid half our airfare...they even paid half of my DH's plane ticket. That included: 2 1/2 days in the hospital everything involved in the surgery...anesthesia, Inamed band, etc. 1 night motel stay pre op blood work up, Xrays, and EKG (psych. exam and gastro study were done here prior to going, and he accepted them) transportation to and from the San Diego Airport to the hospital to start our testing, and then they drove us to the motel, and picked us up the next morning to go back to the hospital for surgery that day fills for 1 year...no Dr. charge, but $75.00 fluoro charge. They will pick us up at the border and arrange our transportation. HOWEVER before he would do our bands, we had to have a Dr. closer to us in the US willing to speak with him and agree to do our aftercare if needed. And of course the US Dr. will be at full charge to us. We would also have access to a free nutritionist if we were close enough to take advantage of this. I hear from the patient facilitator every 10 days still. I was/am very happy with my surgery. I KNOW it was the best thing I have ever done just for ME!! Worth every last penny! Kat

So glad to hear all went well, and that everything was left in place besides the invading fibroids. Also the cancer free is the BEST news of all!!! And look at you a mini tuck added on for fun!!! Hope you recover quickly and feel wonderful soon! Kat

Hi all, thank you so much for all the good thoughts, and all the prayers i know have gone up. I have no other words, just THANK YOU so much! We are hanging tough, spent the day together doing yard work, busy work of any kind to be honest! I blew my eating tonight, we wentout to our favorite Mexican food place...but, I will be better. Will let you know as soon as we know anything at all..I am SOOOOO glad I found this thread! Kat

The screen name is pretty obvious!!! Kat is short for Kathy...which itself is short for Kathleen!!! And the 817....Aug. 17 is my birthday. Now the stripper names...dog & Moms maiden, I would be "Candy Little"...which is a joke...LITTLE???? ME???? And the middle name & street, I would be "Annette Church"...hmmm Church..stripper? That was fun My DH would be Sassy Gold!!! Kat

Hi all, I need help. Today my DH went to the Dr. for a sinus infection, and we were sent to the cardiologists. Our PCP picked up a new, and alarming murmur. They did several tests, detected a severely faulty valve, but were very uncommunicative other than that. We meet with a cardiac surgeon on Thursday. I am beyond scared. We don't have enough information yet to make any plans. He has coped by working harder on DD's house. So I laid tiles, and cried... In the past, I ate when I stressed...and that is not an option now. I tried looking online and all it did was scare me even more. I watched the first half of the Greys Anatomy last night, and was actually looking forward to the rest tonight...I was scared to watch it, my best friend said not to, but I switched back and forth. BIG mistake. I guess all I need is your prayers, and good thoughts, whatever you believe in. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love and need him. I just can't believe this is happening. Kat

I watched the first half of the season finale last night, and was anxiously awaiting tonights. Then today my DH went to the Dr. for a sinus infection, and we wound up in the cardiologists office. Our PCP picked up a strange, new and alarming murmur. We meet with a surgeon on Thursday to discuss our options with the type of valve issue he has. Then watching tonights, I sat and bawled my eyes out. I only pray it ALL stays fiction. Kat

I had my surgery on a Monday...I did all my pre op work-ups the days prior to that. I arrived at the hospital early Monday morning...before 7:00AM, I went to surgery about 8:30 AM Monday. I spent about an hour in recovery, then to my room. I stayed in the hospital, the rest of Monday, all of Tuesday, and until about 9:00 AM Wednesday, when they took me back to the airport to fly home. Possibly the longer stay since I was so far from home? I think I could have gone home that day, I didn't feel bad, but was sooo tired. I slept a lot the first 2 days. By the 3rd day flying home was not too bad! Kat

I almost missed it, but wanted to stop in and wish all of you a HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! Whether your family grew in your womb or your heart...love them and I hope you enjoyed your day!!! It is a sad day for some, I understand that, and wish I could help hug away the hurt.... . Kat

I think it would be much easier with his support than without it, of course, however, why not continue your consults etc., and give his way a shot as well. Most of us were put on a pre-op diet, and needed to lose a certain amount of weight prior to surgery anyway. So any loss you would have would not negatively effect the band surgery anyway. In fact would simplify the surgery if you ultimately choose to do it. I was banded 3 weeks ago. My scars are already fading. My port scar is still easily seen, but 2 of the small ones I have to actually look to find them already. As for eating...I eat!!! My husband and I talk...a lot!!! so as we eat, we talk, he eats at his speed, I at mine, and we usually end up done at about the same time...I just need a take home box, and he does not. I take a bite, I chew as we talk, with my fork down...nothing that is even noticable...it is just a natural thing. Today was Mother's Day, we went to dinner, with my parents, and my in-laws, our 2 DD's and a granddaughter....I ordered a chicken fried steak dinner, had a baked potato, green beans, roll, a salad before dinner, and iced tea. I drank tea until my dinner came, and I quit drinking. I had a bit of salad, eating and chewing well, kept how much I ate to a small amount, dinner came, I ate along with everyone. I ate mostly my steak, but also bites of the sides. By the time everyone was done, so was I. Not before them, or after them. There were like I say 9 of us, some finished before me, some after... No one even noticed how little I ate until I began putting it in the to go box. I was very full....but I did not feel deprived, I ate some of everything they had put on my plate, just not ALL of it! We did some running around town, shopping. Then DH and I took a motorcycle ride...we ended up at Dairy Queen......I ordered a Junior blizzard, ate enough off the top to get a lid on it, and was done. But I ate some! I may not lose any weight today...but I had a wonderful day. No feeling hungry from eating small amounts, no feelings of deprivation, no shame or guilt of "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!". I ate til I was no longer wanting anything more. I felt "normal". Dieting I always felt deprived. It was something I had to think about ALL the time. This is natural to me. It makes me feel in control. I do not care that I have a device inside me. It is helping me be healthy, same as my FIL's insulin pump does for him, or my BIL's pace maker. In the next 3 months, if you can begin dieting, stay focused without feeling like you are obssessed over your food choices, and be successful, then maybe you don't need to look any further into the band. I could not do that. I would inevitably fall from my diet bandwagon, and gain back what I had lost, plus! To me the band has made the last 3 weeks, the most comfortable I can remember being with food since I began the struggle with my weight years ago. I do realize as I continue the journey with the band, I will meet obstacles, but with the help of the band, I feel I can handle them. Without it, it would have just been another failed attempt for me. Has he ever cruised this site? Have you sat and poured out your heart? Does he know how the weight makes you feel? I feel very lucky my DH was behind me in whatever decision I made...but I would have talked til I was blue in the face trying to make him understand that this was MY battle, and while I wanted him to agree, I really only needed him to support MY decision. Good Luck to you both, it is a big decision, and one I hope you can reach together!! Kat

I really don't think you are going to find a man who finds you worthy of loving, until YOU find yourself worthy of loving. My advice...and I am not saying it is worth anything!!!...would be to find things in life that make you happy. Work hard to make the best and most productive life you can for you and your son. Focus on the morals, and the attitudes you want him to possess as he too becomes a man. When people, not just men, but everyone, sees that you have that positive outlook, and that you are productive in your life, they will want to be around you. Think about it, if you met a man, regardless of his looks or size, and all he did was complain about how horrible his last relationships were, and how ALL he wants is love and marriage. You would wonder WHY? Why did all the relationships go bad? Was it all the other persons fault? Was he giving relationships time to develop or just wanting seriousness right off the bat? Even tho we tend to put men in another category, they think the same things... And it will be hard for them to see someone worth pursuing a relationship with, if you don't see yourself as worth it. Like P-nut, I too was married twice before. When I married for the first time, I struggled to gain enough weight to keep my dress from sagging in the back...I made it to 116 pounds....I am 5'9". He cheated on me. The 2nd time I got married, I had become a Mom, and was up to 130 pounds. He abused me, and is currently serving time for attempted murder...mine! That began my weight gain.....years later, for the 3rd marriage, I was well over 260 pounds, and he loves me. And I love him. More than I could ever convey in words. He knew me years ago, when I was skinny...but he loves me, and married me when I was fat. He would love me fat til the day I died. But I want more time with him.... Work on making YOU happy. Work on making a good life for you and your son. Then if someone fits into that life, and can improve it, let it happen, don't try to force it. It is much better to be happy alone, than married and miserable! Good luck, be happy!!! Kat

My port is just below the breast bone in the very center. My SIL and I were banded on the same day by the same Dr., hers is lower and to one side (I don't remember which side). We compared, became curious and ask about it. I was told, mine is high, because I still have both my gall bladder and my appendix, so any abdominal surgery I have in the future, would be lower, so with my port high, it would create less possible interference. She on the other hand has already had both removed. Mine being high, has been somewhat of an issue with the incision being irritated by my bra. Being big breasted, they tend to "rest" there when I am sitting down. But there is no pain from bending or lifting anything. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since having it done. I am back to full activity, and even find myself sleeping on my stomach again with no pain. Kat

I added mine!! We are doing so well!!! 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HEIGHT: 12pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1OwnerLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_i mage002.gif" o:href="http://lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif"></v:imagedata></O<v:shape><v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1OwnerLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_i mage002.gif" o:href="http://lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif"></v:imagedata> 4-22: Alisonb - 4-24: Eficka - 4-24: Ceparano -255/270.5/255/170 -15.5 total 4-24: Kat - 289/281/263/165 -26 lbs 12" 4-24: hlj25950 - 15.5 total 4-25: momof2boys - 270/266/255/145 - 11 total <O<v:shape id=_x0000_i1038 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1OwnerLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_i mage002.gif" o:href="http://lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif"></v:imagedata></O<v:shape><v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1OwnerLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_i mage002.gif" o:href="http://lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/silly.gif"></v:imagedata>4-25: nofattipatti - 4-26: Bostongurl - 264/244/233/150 - 31 total 4-26:Tracylou - 4-26: K@t - 4-27: tinaj - 226/221/210/150 - 15 total 4-28: Jellibeanz - 4-28: Susan4794 - 4-28: msheavensent - 4-29: Scneaux -<O:p></O:p> Kat

Patty, just wanted to stop in to let you know I am hoping your little guys Dr. visit went well, and that you get a good report back. Don't spend too much time worrying over why your ex was so absent...there is usually no figuring it out. But I do know the feeling you describe. When I divorced, my Mom ask me once if I got lonely. I thought about it that night, and finally realized that while I was physically alone, I didn't feel nearly as lonely as I had when I was married and being shut out, or forgot about. Being with someone, does not take away the loneliness you feel when it isn't the right someone. Just that realization made a big difference in my life, I revelled in the new life I was building for my DD and I. I knew the people I chose to spend time with were worthy of my time, the ex was not. He was not worth the energy I spent trying to figure out the why's, or the energy it took being mad at him. Don't get me wrong....I totally understood the fresh flowers thing!! I had a completely different take on them than some others, I didn't see them as trying to make him jealous...I saw them as a "see what you lost a$$hole!!" And to me that said YOU have begun to realize your own worth, and just wanted to rub his stinkin' nose in it a bit!! Always remember, the best revenge is a life well lived, and being happy. Let us know what you hear from the Dr. We'll be waiting! Kat

Every summer as a kid we went camping at a reservoir just north of us, and we ate the fish they caught. But they always kept a bottle of that Real Lemon lemon juice out, and they said it would disolve the bone if you swallowed it. Now I never had it happen, nor do I ever remember seeing anyone drink it....but I remember it ALWAYS being there! Kat

On one of the hair loss threads, I read about these vitamins from GNC & even Walmart, called Hair, Skin & Nails...they have 3000mcg. of biotin in each tablet. Has anyone tried this? And if they have...how small do you cut them up to manage swallowing them? I lost ALL my hair once before, due to chemo, and I do not look forward to the emotions I remember going through as it fell out, so I am trying to be proactive....not that is sounds like that is gonna help, but at least I can know I tried!! Kat

Leatha, you might find an appropriate card at something like a Hallmark shop. My DD got one for me for Father's Day last year...made for the single Mom who filled the Dad role too. They make all kinds! And although I know we need to find ways besides food to celebrate everything, since he has kids, maybe a plate of cookies...or some movie passes...coupon for free movie rentals...a gift certificate to putt-putt golf... I guess it would all depend on the age of the kids. I think any type of acknowledgement would be great! Mother's Day may be a difficult one for him if it reminds his children of what they don't have. You have a wonderful heart for thinking to do nice things for him.... Kat

When my Grandma was dying from colon cancer, we didn't know if she would make it to her birthday or not...but we took pictures from through the years, and with the computer scanned them and burned them to CD. The hospital brought in a TV on a rolling cart that had a DVD player built into it. We all laughed and described each picture to her, reminding her of good times. She was very, very ill but she smiled. I think somewhere she enjoyed hearing us all laugh at ourselves. She died 4 days after her birthday. All of us being together and remembering happier times, I think helped her...and us as we coped with her eventual death. I will be praying for your health, physically and emotionally as you deal with all of this. God must know how strong you are! Kat

Hi all! Hope everything is going well. Spent today with my SIL that was banded the same time I was, we went and did our Mother's Day shopping. She has quit being so competitive .... but only because she has fallen behind me!! As soon as she is leading it will start up again, my DH finds it hilarious! Yes the work we are doing on DD's house, is not for someone else. It is hers. It is actually a double wide mobile home. It is something like 28'X60'. But it needed work, which is why she could afford it! It just needed more than she realized. She has been bustin' her tail working on it, so DH says we will help out with the funding of it, as long as she continues to do equal work. When they don't want to help themselves, he is not much into helping them!! Cindy I sure hope that works for your headaches. Been thinking about ya! Eileen I love the ring too! But the puppy sure is cute too. Someday I may think about getting another dog. But not this day!! Anne I am so sorry your fill sucked, I worry about that!!! I keep catching myself sleeping on my stomach when I wake up in the morning. I am afraid it is gonna cause me problems! Well, dinner is ready...I know it is...even tho the smoke alarm has not gone off yet! ****Notice I now have less than 100 pounds to lose!!!**** That was my first goal!! YEA!!! Thinking of a new one now! Kat

"I had lunch with your Mom because I'm not a homosexual"..... Bet she is glad too!!! Kat

My next shall be a TIGER....only 16% will be reincarnated into a higher life form. Now if my ex is some wimpy animal, I can eat him and better the world!!! j/k!!! Kat

Relax...I am guessing you hit it right with the fluid retention. Anywhere close to that TIM? And when you exercise, like in your walk, the muscles do retain fluid. But it is not forever. There are lots of people on here, who are VERY smart when it comes to these things, I am sure they will have lots of answers and advice for you. I just wanted you to know someone was here, and caring that you are having this problem. Have you checked the sodium content of the new things you are drinking? It will also cause fluid retention. And also remember, that as you build muscle, your weight may go up, but the inches will come off, muscle weighs more than fat. Hang in there, you will get it figured out!! Kat

I just sent up a quick prayer for you....that you recover swiftly from this along with your other problem. Know we are all here for you! Kat

When I lose my weight, I will..... Share clothes with my DD....double our wardrobes!! jump rope with my granddaughter buy a massage table and take classes with my DH hop on top.....'nuff said!! order from any ol' catalog I receive NEVER...EVER look down on other overweight people Kat

Interesting....I only posted that once! That settles it...it IS bedtime!!! Kat

Valerie, is your DH even willing to discuss it or is he just totally against it? It would be very difficult, tho not impossible without his support. Maybe he is scared for you? Or for your relationship if you lose your weight? Maybe research it together, attend another seminar, and ask him to go with you? I hope you work it out. I thank God my DH is as supportive as he is, he is my rock! Welcome!!!! you will find support here. You can ask anything, no one makes you feel stupid for asking! It is an awesome site, with wonderful people, you will be sooooo glad you found it!!! Kat