Kat817

These pics made me really jealous, I am 9 days out so we missed the Laughlin run this year.....gonna make a smaller rally for Memorial Day tho, I am pretty sure I'll be healed enough to handle that long on the bike! You look good!!! I won't have lost much of it for this years rallies but look out next year!!! Kat

I haven't had these PB problems yet, I am only 9 days out and still on liquids...but have a feeling I will be forever glad I read about it first!! I did want to say that the man who spoke at the seminar I went to told us about the meat tenderizer. And something Kim said in an earlier post made me think to mention this, they sell it as meat tenderizer, but it can be used to dislodge any type of food, his personal experience was with the skin of a grape. Like he told us, they would have a hard time marketing grape skin tenderizer...or in your case the other day Kim, spaghetti-0 tenderizer!! He recommended it, and the woman who spoke says she never goes anywhere without her Papaya enzymes. I think I may practice deep breathing and buy both tenderizer and papaya!! Anyway guys, thanks for the heads up!!! Kat

LOL, ok Beannie, guess we will have to swap a size 9 for a size 9!!! Because I can almost guarantee you I will need it!!! Kat

I'm not sure I really understand what exactly your nails are doing, and not sure this will help, although fairly sure it will not hurt!!! My FIL got a nail fungus, and is diabetic, so he was having a really bad time clearing it up, and finally read a Dr. column inthe newspaper about applying Vicks Vapo-rub to the nail twice a day, and it cleared it up, after several rounds of antibiotics failed to. He just rubbed it in, like a lotion morning and night..... Like I say, it might not help, but shouldn't hurt if all else fails either. Good Luck!! Kat

I don't mean to hijack the thread...but is that a new avatar pic P-nut? You look years younger!!!!! Kat

Hi April Bandits! Well I am now 9 days out from surgery, and doing great. I think I was extremely lucky in my overall recovery. No nausea, no gas pains to speak of, no pain meds after the day of surgery. I have been on liquid ever since, and the head hunger at the thought of chewing something really yummy is getting me down today! I eat jello, and popsicles, but have had nothing else to chew. I tried a piece of sugarless gum, but it wasn't the same! My Dr. has me starting mushies at 2 weeks. My weight has done awesome, between the pre-op and the last 9 days, I am down 20 lbs., which is so much better than being up 20 which was my usual!!! I have a granddaughter who is almost 18 months old, and it would kill me to carry her around prior to surgery, and now I have lost the equivalent of her weight!! So I should be walking around easier! To tell the truth I notice it in little ways, through my face, and my rings are getting loose...but thats about it. DH says my pants are baggy in the butt...of course, I didn't need to lose my butt, I need to lose my gut! In time...all in good time! Glad to see so many checking in and updating how they are doing!!! We can keep each other in line and eating on track maybe....I know someone is gonna have to keep me there!! Have a good day everyone, and keep up the good work!!! Kat

Excellent!! You will feel better taking charge, and getting some answers!! Let us know- we are all here waiting to hear from you!! :grouphug: Kat

This may be too drastic for no longer than this will be an issue...but here goes. A few years ago my former MIL had an old fashioned gall bladder removal where the incision was very long. She got infected and they had a visiting nurse. The nurse took a rope thing...I am sure it was medical in nature, looked to me like a tow rope!! She hooked it under the bed to the frame of the bed and run it up to where she could reach it, and tied a knot in it. Then my MIL had something to leverage herself with. She could grabit and pull, using arm strngth, and slowly adding in abdominal muscles. She used it for several weeks. But as for your pain, I would imagine by the time you begin getting a lot of responses, it will be easing a lot! The surgery is a shock to the body but one you recover from very quickly. I know the first 2 days, I was in the hospital and had the rails on the bed to help, and coming home was kind of shocking!! But make sure you are on your side with your legs over the edge and it will make it much easier!! As for getting off the toilet, I almost always use the one in our MB, and the vanity is close enough to leverage on. Well the second day I was home, DH was in the shower so off I headed to the other one...omg!!! I could not believe the muscles it took without the help of the counter!! Good Luck to you, I hope your recovery is swift and complication free!!! Kat

I no longer live there, but used to live in San Antonio, Donna, have you ever been there? I would love to go back and do the River Walk again....maybe someday. I was there during a really bad marriage, not sure the good times would cover the bad memories!!! I hope you enjoy your trip. Sounds like you raised fine young men. You should be proud! I told my DD, who is going through a divorce, to lie about something in dealing with her soon to be ex, the other day. She told me no, she didn't want to lie about it, she would work it out. I had to ask myself....who the hell raised her so well??!! And what happen to my values I taught her??? LOL Kat

I agree that a call in to the Dr. is a good idea. Find out what you can. Tell him you are afraid to wait that long and see what his response is. And you can always go for a second opinion, especially if any surgery is involved, insurances, usually don't hassle you then. And another thing to think about as far as hearing him talk with the other Dr....maybe he was "building up his case". Making it seem like a bigger issue than it is. My friend worked for a group of ortho Dr.'s who were very competitive with their cases she said. Guess maybe it is a "Mines bigger than yours" attitude. Like saying a patient had a rather large, 10cm.X7cm. hematoma (or some such thing!) rather than saying a big ol' bruise! Talk to your Dr. and if you can't - find a new one you can. Never forget YOU pay HIM not the other way around. He works for you! Ask anything you want and he should answer until you understand. With your familial risk, he should address your fears, and do not feel as though you are being too demanding, and whiny, this is your health and that you not be fully informed is BS!!! I've had a couple of anxiety attacks back in my prior marriage, and they suck! Totally incapacitated me! Knowledge will make you feel stronger to face the fears that caused yours I bet...instead of sitting around worrying, sit around waiting for him to call you back....sad but true! Keep us posted! :grouphug: Kat

Desperate Housewives Grey's Anatomy Extreme Home Makeover ER---although I am very diasappointed this year.... Ghost Whisperer Boston Legal CSI I try to catch these as often as possible....and record when I can't...I just never seem to find the time to watch the things I record!!! Kat

Not personally, but I have seen several with them in their signatures, maybe jump around a bit and see what you can find. Good Luck finding your inspiration! Kat

No metal allergies here, but I was allergic to the adhesive in the tape they dressed my incisions with. They look fine but all around them is red, itchy and driving me flippin' nuts!!! Find out before it is too late!!! Kat

I think finding, and making good friends is much harder as we get older, because we tend to be much more rigid in our expectations. When we were kids on the playground at school, we made friends, and many of them remained close throughout school, and even to this day. However when I look at some of my longest friendships, because they are so much a part of me, I accept in them, things I might let ruin a new friendship. Not being as invested in someones life, it seems we judge them more harshly. For instance, I went to a BBQ at some co-workers of my DH's, and her kids like to have made me nutso!!! She has called me wanting to go shopping or to lunch, and I hum-haw thinking.....do I want to subject myself to several hours with these brats??? Now in all honesty, some of my friends kids could have been this rotten as well (never my own!!!). But I knew them from day one, I grew to love them BEFORE they became brats!! Maybe we need to be less "mature" in our developing of friendships, find that person you can laugh with til milk comes out your nose, and make gross jokes with. But WE are too cautious of what a new friend might think to ever do that!!! Kat

I was just scanning through some threads, and saw that you had surgery today. Hope all went well, and welcome to Bandland. I have been on this side for just over a week! It was much easier than I had anticipated, I had an easy recovery and hope you do the same. Let us know how you are doing!! Come back for lots of support! Kat

Way to Go!!!!! I had been on HBP meds for several years, but had very low BP following surgery, so we are on a wait and see, but 8 days later it is still normal....and with the weight loss maybe it will stay that way!!! Kat

I hate it when..... drivers don't use turn signals, and expect me to read thier mind! people who dial a wrong number and then rudely just hang up! you order food to go,and then get home and find the order is wrong! I finally find a product I love, and they discontinue it! I bite the inside of my cheek, because I keep doing it for days! I could go on and on.....but doncha just hate it when people do that???? Kat

It is $2.95 a gallon here in the 4 corners area of New Mexico, and we have 3 refineries in a 30 mile radius from us...so zero transportation costs, yet we have some of the highest gas around....go figure!!! My Intrepid does really well on gas, but I have definitely cut down how much I run around.....and this last week especially!!! Kat

Let's just say I have been warned of the wrath of Beannie when we screw up!!! And I do it soooo often!!! Just so ya know I ain't skeered!!!:paranoid lmao Kat

Becky, my best friend, "Becky" is also a Rebecca Lee...so I thought that was why I liked you immediately.....now with this I KNOW it!!! Kat

A few years ago, I had uterine cancer, and the chemo, caused a total loss of hair. Prior to that it had been a med. blonde, long and straight. It grew back in a light brown, and curly. Wonder if it will change again??? I have heard of musical chairs, but musical hairs???? With my luck it will fall out and grow back on my chin or something!!! Kat

Welcome Donna!! Lucky you having insurance to pay!! I'm surprised I didn't lose all my wieght pre band jumping through hoops trying to get insurance coverage!!! Oh well I self paid it in Mexico, and am happy as can be! Good Luck to you. Hang out here, look around, and research, research, research!!! You will go into it prepared for it to work! Kat

That's hilarious!!! Put it in his baby book so he can be properly embarassed when he is 16!!!! In the airport on my trip home from being banded, I was in a stall when a little voice came from the handicapped stall next to me saying in an obviously astounded voice "Ashley you have hair on your butt!!!" followed quickly by what sounded to be a young girl herself yelling "shut up". I about popped my stitches trying not to laugh!! I looked around outside the restroom to see if I could spot my entertainment...but alas the hairy Ashley was not to be seen!!! Love those babies, they grow up sooooo fast, I am working on grandbabies, now and lovin' it!! Kat

Erase it in your signature, before pasting the new one....hope you get it!!! Kat

I too was a MX self pay patient. My surgeon, and the patient facilitator, made sure I had a Dr. for aftercare. I have decided to return to my surgeon for my first fill tho. DH and I decided to take a mini vacation at that time, I felt like if I saw my original surgeon make a hit on the port he placed, then I could feel more confident about another Dr. doing the same!! I flew home on the 3 day, I had 5 hours in a car, 5 hours on a plane, layovers, and endless lines.....and one shot of liquid Tylenol got me through it all. Not a big deal at all!! Best of luck on your journey, research, research, research!!!! And look around these sites, you will be prepared when it happens, and will do wonderfully!! Kat