Kat817

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

I'd say call your ins. and ask what they consider medically supervised, that is the phrase that tripped me up. My ins. required 12 consecutive months of supervised weight loss attempts with nutritionist support, and a supervised exercise program. I had all the co morbidities, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, joint issues...but no go! So I went to MX and did a self pay. One thing you might try with the pepsi.....have they come out with the Splenda version yet? My DH drinks diet coke, and they have. He said he used to want more and more and more soda, but since changing to the Splenda version he is satisfied with one at lunch. I have heard that artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, make you crave sweets...so you might try switching that as a slow phase out of the Pepsi. And I hear you about not wanting old friends to see you. Right now, even with the 20+ pounds I have lost, I weigh more than double what I did when I went to school with these people. I was not even borderline overweight until my 2nd marriage. Now it finally feels under control again. I have been on high blood pressure meds for 7 years, and have not had any since my surgery 2 weeks ago, and my BP tonight was 126/52!!! And when I measured I had lost 12 inches overall!!! It feels good to have something to be proud of again! Good luck in your research!!! Kat

Hi everyone! I remember the days when I could not wait for the weekend, today I was glad to see it was over, I worked my butt off!!! DD's place will be so nice for her and the baby though, it is worth it. We got most of the kitchen and LR primed, textured and painted, the wainscoating (SP?) up in the LR, is looking awesome. So what did DH do?? He was worried about the main bathrooms floor, it seemed warped he thought. Well he was right, there was a leak going under the tub to the sink....both of which are now removed...along with the entire floor! So he is rebracing the floor, new insulation, and then the new floor. And while it is all being repaired, we might as well put new fixtures back in, says he...$$$ Add another weekend of work ahead of us! The whole project is giving DD and DH some very quality time together, which she needs, she needs to see what a real man is like. This is her step Dad, tho one would never know it, in fact more people comment on her looking like him than me!! It is pretty funny! Mary, I always think of some of the similarities you and my DD are going through with divorce. Her soon to be ex, finally decided to put the house on the market...and it sold within 24 hours, full asking price, CASH!! He is spinning his wheels now, he has to be out by the 23rd!! HA HA HA Hope you get as lucky! So....Beannie, my boots are paint covered and ready, better keep up the good work!! I am way to damn tired to be kickin' you!!! Thanks for all the input on the anniversary party. I have ordered from Oriental Trading twice now, and picked up odds and ends in every Dollar store in town. The Big Lots here has a section right now for Luaus, I got some cool Tiki statues there. And today at Target, I found fake coconuts for them to drink from! Also picked up a CD of Hawaiian music. My DD has several friends still in HI. She and her ex were stationed in Oahu for 4 years. So she is having real lei's flown over for my parents, the rest of us will make do with fakes!! When I took my folks over to visit with my DD when they were stationed there, my Mom fell in love with the Plumerias, so DD wants her to have some. We are planning on Teriyaki Chicken kabobs and grilled pineapple...any other food suggestions? Betty I never saw the bike....and would love to. We currently have 4 running, and he is working on #5. I am so looking forward to losing weight and enjoying it more. My back got to where it wouldn't take long rides. Congrats on your win...how fun!! Donna, the "poem", or writing you included was right on the money! I like that a lot. Thanks for sharing it! I fully believe being happy is a choice we make. You have to want to be happy. Sometimes it takes pulling out a good memory, to do it, but that's why you store those times like your great bike ride with DH....and use it to stay happy. So how did it go Cindy...did you make 3 days? I hope so!! I hate headaches, and remember my migraines, I cannot sympathize enough!! Hope you are working towards day 4! Sherry, how are the new rocks working? My Dad would kick my butt, some of those are NOT rocks, they are minerals!! He is a collector!! He has an awesome collection, the only rocks I have are in my head!!! Hope yours help! If so I'll go rob his collection! Patty...any luck on ties? I could send some but, the only kid I had who wore ties, was a daughter who worked awhile for Dairy queen, and all her old ties have Winnie the Pooh or Scooby doo on them!! Kids grow so fast it is hard to keep up with their clothes. Hopefully soon you will be needing smaller ones as fast as they need bigger ones!! How'd the color job turnout Bubbame? I have occasional highlights done by my stylist, would be scared to do my own, I'd end up with green hair or something! Ok, gonna quit here, and head to bed, sorry, I know I missed some of you...my brain went to bed without my body I think!! Oh yeah!! I have a big NSV......no Blood pressure meds for 2 weeks, and tonight it was 126/52. And I measured today, and have lost 12"....that's a foot!!! (Not however the one used to keep you in line Beannie!!) Night all!!! Kat

I chose the band, because it seemed a much less drastic step. IF I were to react adversely, it is reversable...Bypass is forever, regardless of how your health responds. In bypass you lose for 2 reasons, reduction in how much you eat, and malabsorption of what you eat. You do not get all the vitamins and mineral out of the food you do get to eat. You must take multiple supliments for the rest of your life. With the band, while the amount of food you can eat is restricted, you get full benefit of anything and everything you eat. Good or bad. The food choices are yours. I have always been more of a carb eater as opposed to a sweet eater, but I could not imaging never ever being able to eat sweets again without a negative impact. With my band, I can have sweets. Just a few bites tho and I am done. The seminar I attended discussed both, without a real lean to either one. The Dr. meets with each patient to discuss their habits, and expectations, and together they decide which surgery to pursue. I was a self pay. I had mine done in Mexico. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel safe in my decision. I know how to eat healthier, I could do it for periods of time...but doing it with the help of the band, makes it very simple. I am only 2 weeks out, but I cannot ever, EVER remember not being hungry for that length of time! The lack of hunger makes having the willpower to do this easy!! As far as your Pepsi addiction, it will be something you will have to conquer. I was told I could have soda, if I let it go mostly flat before drinking it. I personally was a diet Dr. Pepper fiend! But I slowly began swapping out, drinking more water and iced tea. Now I no longer even think about it. I drink bottle after bottle of water every day. I feel so much better! I think it all boils down to how badly you want it to succeed, and how much you are willing to work and give for it to succeed. If you want it, you do it. Good luck in your research, keep looking and reading until you find the answer for you!! Kat

I have a friend who was banded last September, she was telling me the other day that when she hits the snags, or slows down in loss, she actually ups her calories for a day or 2 and then gets strict on herself again, and she starts losing again. And she said she won't lose at all if she doesn't keep her water intake high. Don't know why it works, possibly a metabolism issue, although I thought that took longer to change....but she is down over 90 pounds, and only had one fill, so something has worked for her!!! Hope I am as lucky!!! The scales will move again....I keep telling myself that!! Kat

I have not been banded for long, but like you I researched, researched, researched prior to having it done. I was banded in Mexico, 2 weeks ago today. With my pre-op diet (high Protein, low fat), the week before surgery til now, I am down 23 pounds, and have lost 12 inches over all. I am thrilled with the results. I can say I have only been physically hungry one time. I am eating a soft diet, now, and I do not feel deprived because I am not really hungry. The head hunger gets me now and then....seeing a commercial or seeing something that I can just imagine sinking my teeth into and chewing. BUT, it is an amazing thing, being able to control that!! I can schedule a fill for anytime after my 6 weeks, but will just see how this goes. I had a very easy recovery, I was not nauseated at all, no bad gas pain, minor the day of surgery and the following morning, but none since. I had quite a long trip home, and did fine both traveling by car, and plane. My incisions were stitched, and all but the port stitches are out now, and they come out tomorrow. My incisions were nothing bad, the irritation from the tape was worse than they were! I would do this again in a heartbeat! If anyone, my Mother or my daughter had an excess of weight to lose, I would recommend it to them! Good luck to you, and keep in mind, many people who have had this done without any complications, are not on the site. Many times, it takes a problem for us to search things out.... Kat

I had my surgery on Monday, and come home on the following Wednesday. In order to get home, I had a 2 hour drive from the hospital, to the airport we flew out of, then a 5 hour plane trip, an hours layover, then after landing we had another 3 1/2 hour drive home. It was a long day. But nothing that one shot of liquid Tylenol didn't handle. I actually took it after the flight, before the last of the drive home. When they served drinks on the plane, I had water. I also grabbed a pillow (although how they can call that tiny thing a pillow I'll never know!!) to use between my tummy and the seatbelt...and on the plane I never used it, the belt is way low, and my incisions are up high. I did take that pillow with me tho, and used it in the car. The shoulder belt in the car, went right over them! I even ask for a seatbelt extender as I boarded the plane, the seatbelt like I say didn't interfere with my incisions, but I had to watch how I stretched my arm across my stomach to fasten the belt. My husband buckled it for me the second time, and it was a big help. Through one part of our flight, they never allowed us up, there was a lot of turbulence, so I sat there, and raised and lowered my feet at the ankle, and raised them up like on tippy toes...anything I could pull off in the tiny seat area, to keep moving. Good Luck to you!! And like the others have said keep any meds you have, as well as the gas ex with you. Avoid any carryons or anything you have to lug around, make it as easy on yourself as possible. It WILL be worth it!!! Kat

Whoever told you that you couldn't, may prove to be just the impetus you need TO do it!!! I think the only thing that kept me from starting back up when I quit smoking, was my ex husband saying I would never be able to do it!! I did it just to spite him and show him I could. So....work as hard as you can, and prove them wrong!! Also makes me wonder if the person saying it doesn't want you to do it for some selfish reason..... And remember there are a lot more of us supporting you here, than there are trying to tear you down!! Kat

Today we are off to buy carpet, and bathrooom fixtures for my DD's new place. Then after that we will paint for the rest of the day. Now I know that made all of y'all jealous!! I hate to paint, at least this kind of painting, it is entirely to disorganized in there for me. They (she and DH & DS) have gutted this place, and are redoing it now. I think partly DH just keeps finding new things to do, to postpone her leaving, he worries about her soon to be ex. But there are bare floors, and cabinets, and new appliances, and covered furniture and everything, everywhere!!! Great Grandma is keeping the baby and we are going to seehow much we can knock out today. Her finances eased a bit, their house sold yesterday, to the neighbor, at the full asking price, cash!!! Now I have never been that lucky!!! So we can proceed with the makeover, and know she has a cushion from some decent equity in the home. Looks like DD is ready to leave....Let the fun begin!! Betty ride safe, and be careful crossing the street tonight!!! Oh and Beannie, I have on my oold painting shoes, I can kick good now!!! How was the knitting/beer fest Becky? Eileen, have you got everything for the party? How fun!!! We are throwing my parents a Luau, for their 50th Anniversary this June. I ordered all kinds of fun things. And thanks, yes it tis yours truly in the avatar, I figured, then you'd know with whom you talked!!! Well she is tapping her foot....wonder if it is for me or the kiddo?? Who cares!!! See y'all later!!! Kat

I'd say if you currently drink any carbonated or caffeinated drinks, eliminate them now. If you are used to caffeine, stopping it, will give you a pretty good headache for a couple of days, but better now than while recovering from the surgery. Start trying to trim down the amount of fat in your diet, and up the protein, to prepare your liver even further in advance of the pre-op diet. Sounds like you are well prepared!! Best of luck to you!!! Kat

Not sure it is a real "goal" but one of the things I want to do as soon as I lose a good portion of my weight is to have a family portrait done...that I like! And then I can send it to everyone, and be proud of it! Kat

Beannie, I had the EXACT same visual of Becky as I read that...all done up in black leather with her little ball of yarn!!! We attend quite a few rallies, not sure about just the beer festival, but I have never and I do mean NEVER seen anyone knitting!!! So I just know I will recognize you Becky when I see ya!! Laughing with ya....not at ya! Kat

I, like most of the others to this point, am much more afraid of failure than success at this point. Possibly because success seems too distant to be something to worry about now. I have some very serious emotional issues with being thin again, all relating to an abusive ex-husband. But he is no longer something I need to worry about...and yet I know I do. Maybe it is an excuse I use for myself. I do not worry about the unwanted attention of other men, or having them catcall or anything, I am still going to be 45+ yrs. old, thin or fat!!! I look forward to the "normalcy". I don't need to be noticed. Now I feel as though I AM noticed, but it is because I am the biggest thing around to notice! I don't want to be the skinniest...but am definitely tired of being the biggest. All in all I think my biggest fear is that I will succeed in losing a lot of weight and be looking good, and something will happen to my band and I (and everyone around me) will have to watch myself grow fat again. Because truth be known, I know me, and I have little hope in maintaining it without the help of my band. My past efforts have proven that to me! So...afraid of being thin...not really. But really afraid of not staying that way once I get there! Kat

Wow Wheetsin....makes perfectly good sense to me...thanks!!! Now if someone would just sit on me and make sure I follow all this good advice I would be fine!!! Seriously, I do appreciate you and the others that take time to explain the how, when, and why of all this. Kat

:clap2: WOO-HOO DONNA!!! WAY TO GO :clap2: 50 Pounds, that is so awesome, can't wait to join you!!! The amazing thing is with this bands help it will STAY off!!! Ya done good girl!!! Cindy how's the headache today? Hope you are feeling better!! I worry that Sherry may be headed for some new headaches with a new teen driver in the house!!! Nah I am sure he will do fine, out of 3, the youngest of ours was, and is, the worst of the drivers!! You'd think we would have gotten better at teaching them, but not!! She is just scatterbrained behind the wheel! Her new husband is gonna be better at teaching her than we were, just ask him!!! :eek: Well Anne, enjoy DH's return and your time with sis, and WIN,WIN, WIN!! Hope in a couple of days to change my ticker to show LESS than 100 pounds to go!!! Weekends almost here, hang in there Eileen, we will make it!!! Once again Congrats to Donna!!!! Kat

That's what I was doing too, seeing if you had heard anything yet...and wondering if your port pain was any better? Let us know! Kat

Cindy, I had migraines for years, had my first one in 6th grade, and because I always had visual efects with mine, my Mom took me to the eye Dr...he sent us to the proper doc! Anyway, we finally figured out mine were hormone triggered. Estrogen surges knocked me into a migraine EVERY time! I had a hysterectomy (not due to this, but uterine cancer) and have never had another since! See if yours fluctuate at all around your cycle. Kat

I agree with Marimaru, if you go to www.unjury.com they have a sample package, where you can get several of the individual serving packets of the unjury. I don't mind either of the chocolate or vanilla flavors, have never tried the Strawberry ( as a kid I threw up strawberry soda....still want nothing to do with it!!!). And the packets are small, would be very easy to carry a bunch in the suitcase, and would slip into a shirt pocket to mix in a restaurant easily. They also sell unflavored, that I mix in anything I am having when my protein is falling behind for a day. I have stirred it in all kinds of stuff, from yogurt to broth. The Zero Carb IsoPure is in glass bottles, and is going to be much more difficult to transport around much. But for the time he is at home it is a really good way to get protein in. But it is best if he will drink say 1/2 a bottle in the morning and the other 1/2 in the afternoon, so he gets the benefit from all of the protein. My Dr. said if I drink it all at once I am going to eliminate it before "using" all the protein. I am 10 days out from surgery and feel like I could travel anywhere without issue. I flew home from Mexico on day 3 and did fine, so start planning fun stuff and don't worry so much!!! Have fun!! Lucky you!!! Kat

I have a picture taken at Easter of this same little granddaughter, all dolled up in her Easter dress, looking down at what used to be a bed of hyacinths at the neighbors house. It looks like the pretty little girl looking for pretty little flowers, but in reality....she is looking for rolly-pollies!!! I had to have Becky shrink the last one, so I won't waste everyones time posting it!!! I am so sorry you miss your grandbaby...I do understand. Our son brought home a girl several years ago who was pregnant, told us he loved her, was there when the baby was born, wanted us to love him as our own, and we do. They got married, they went on to become pregnant again with our oldest granddaughter, and during the pregnancy, the real Father to the little boy popped back up and she left our son, took both kids, and we spend all our time trying to find where she has taken off to now so we can see the kids. And now when we do track her down she only wants us to see the little girl, not the little boy we have grown to love so. It may all change now, they have split up again....so we'll see!!! Kat

Hi all! Thanks for the sweet comments on my little sweetie, she really is a Gramma's girl!!! Anne...I read about your little guys wishes and had to laugh, they come up with some wild ideas don't they? The Christmas my DD was 5 she ask Santa for a fishing pole and a Toyota!!! We got her a big bear and he was holding a fishing pole, the first thing she did was run to the window to check on the Toyota status!!! I was wondering if you saw the TV show on the Magnetix toys? It said they are considering taking them off the market because several children have had to have surgery to save their lives, and some have died from swallowing the little magnetic ends. Apparently the little ones swallow more than one magnet, and then as they pass through the intestine, the magnetize to one another, causing blockages, and the children get infected, and turn septic very quickly, some of them dying before they got it figured out!! So check his every now & thn to make sure the magnets are secure! This worries me! You will be glad you took DD to get her hair cut, to this day 20 years later I have a lock of hair belonging to my DD reminding me to NEVER cut it again myself!!! My Granddaughter is just begining to even get any hair, I think a haircut is a ways down the road!!! Her Mama had long hair by this age (18 months). Everytime I look at the pictures of her with the tulips I have to laugh at my DH, we bought the bulbs at a Farmers market here, and they were separated in bags by type and color, so we bought several types. DH planted them for me....and silly me I expected him to Mix 'em up.....little did I know until they come up last year, he did them bag by bag.....so we have stripes of color!!! I think this year I may dig them up and move them around a bit!! Have a good day I am off to a post op with my PCP today, hope he is impressed!!! He supported my banding, he even wanted to go with us so he could see how it was done!! My DD is his nurse, maybe he was just humoring me!!! Kat Thought I'd let them grow a bit first!!

I have taken Clindamycin, and it was in capsule form. My Band Dr. told me I could take capsules....what I needed to do is to put them in a small bowl of warm water for a few minutes to begin the breakdown of the gel on the capsule. watch it very closely, and feel it, when it gets soft and slippery, pop it in your mouth and swallow. It should have plenty of time to finish disolving before any problems arise. You might try having a cup of warm coffee, tea, or broth afterwards to speed the disolving. Hope this works for you, I know taking them without the covering is nasty business!!! Kat

OMG can somebody shrink that?? She's almost bigger than in real life!!! Kat

This is my granddaughter and some tulips at the side of the house.... Kat thanks for shrinking it Becky!!!

Some Dr.'s seem to only do pre-op diets if your BMI is over 40, and others make all patients do them for a long time before. My Dr. had me on lean protein, and as low of fat as possible, and increase my water. They said it is to shrink the fatty tissue on the liver, and make it easier to move out of the way during the laproscopic procedure. I have even read some posts where the Dr. refuses to operate unless they lose a certain amount prior to the surgery so he is assured the liver will be in prime condition. It may benefit you and your recovery to try the lean protein and stay away from fatty foods from now til your surgery. If anything it will give you a headstart on your weightloss, and keep you from having the "Last Supper" syndrome. Good luck on your upcoming surgery, I am 9 day out from mine, and it went great!! Hope you have as easy of a recovery!! Kat

I really haven't tested it with this surgery. but where my incision is from my hysterectomy, the feeling is all messed up. They cut the nerves, and now if I scratch the incision, I feel it in another area, up higher...I swear! And down where the incision was, I have zero sensation. I suppose something similar could happen with this. I look forward to seeing what people have to say!!! Way to go with the exercise!! I just got my stitches out today, and will have to start doing something now!!! Kat