anonemouse

That sucks, Lynette. I agree with NewCC, you should tell them to let YOU decide if you can go to a party or eat something. I started crying tonight over the thing with my dad. He had to lecture me yet again when we were waiting for my mom to get out of Wal-Mart and then again when we were ordering dinner. Telling me that he didn't want to see this surgery go to waste, etc., etc., etc. And you know what he did at dinner? He ordered a great big hamburger and onion rings. AND he ate 4 slices of my mom's pizza. I managed to hold it in, but later started crying when I was talking about it with my mom. The hypocrisy is what really gets to me, because he manages to forget that while I went to the length of having surgery, he belongs to a gym and goes every night. So much for letting something go to waste, huh?

It's good to be back and see all the familiar folks! I've missed being on LBT!

So wait, I can't make a comment on any topic regarding children, just because I don't have any of my own? I think any person in the world has the right to add their two cents, simply because of the fact that for that person to exist, they were someone's child. I may not have had the experience of being someone's parent, but I have experienced being someone's child. Forgive me for thinking that people should place the well-being (mental and physical) and welfare of their future or existing children first, not their own selfish desires for a large family. I want ALL children to experience childhood, not what amounts to premature parenthood. And do you not think that people should only have children that they can care for? Or do you think that it is perfectly okay for people to have as many kids as they can, without thought for how they will be feeding them, clothing them, educating them? Is it alright for people to have children that they can't afford to feed, can't afford to buy even thrift-store clothing for, or can't afford to send to school?

I don't want to offend princess_n_thep, because I really don't think she meant her comment in a stereotypical way, but I do want to use her comment to make a point. Everyone is jumping on Lee because they think he made a racist comment, but no one has said anything about her statement, which furthers a racial stereotype.

I'll ditto Lynette about not crushing my pills. I take them either whole or split in two.

Pretty good. I drove back to Tennessee today. My air-conditioning in my apartment started working again, I think, but since I was going to be away for several more days, I just turned the whole thing off, just in case. I've had a stitch in my side, right around where my port incision is, off and on all day. I first noticed it when I woke up this morning. I think I just over-did it yesterday.

If anyone wants free samples of Matrix 5.0 or Nectar protein powders, all they have to do is contact Syntrax by phone or email, and they'll send them to you. They come in little 1/2 serving packets that you just mix with 1/2 cup of water. So far, I've tried the Matrix 5.0 Cookies and Cream, and it's pretty good. I've got the Apple Ecstacy, Strawberry Kiwi, and Roadside Lemonade flavors to try, also (I got my packets from another LBT member). Here's the Syntrax link (there should be contact info somewhere on it): SI03 INC.

Now, you all know that I am usually up for a good debate here in RnR, but I have to agree with BJean and Mark here. I admit that I haven't been here much for the last few weeks, but from what I know of Lee and from what I have read of his postings here in RnR, I think his posts have just been taken the wrong way. You guys know that I'm always willing to call a bigot a bigot, even to their faces, but I don't think that's the case here.

You know what's making this day absolutely perfect? When I got back up here to my apartment, I found out that my air conditioning is apparently on the fritz. The auto setting for the fan won't work. I can get it to come on initially when I turn the air on, but once it shuts itself off, it won't come back on. I had set the temperature at 78 when I left several weeks ago, but when I got back today, it was about 87 degrees in my apartment. I don't have time to have my landlord come look at it, so I am just going to have to leave the fan going full-time while I'm here and turn off the unit entirely while I'm gone.

While I'm thinking about it, which band did everyone get? I wound up with the smaller band, I think.

I'll have to that to my dad the next time he opens his mouth, the "I don't tell you what to eat or how to eat" part, anyway. Gotcha! I'll get that updated tomorrow! I'll put that down for your update! I forgot to email myself the spreadsheet before I came back up to Kentucky, so it's still on my parents' computer, but I'll update it when I get back tomorrow. I live in Richmond, which is about 20 minutes south of Lexington on I-75. Thanks! I'll update your entry tomorrow! I try to tell myself that he's just trying to look out for me, but it's hard. My parents took it upon themselves to inform every single person they know that I had surgery. Even the hairdresser knows, for Pete's sake. Everyone asks me how I'm doing, how much I've lost, and most irritatingly, asks me "Are you supposed to be eating that?". I'm about to scream.

It really is hard to believe that I'm banded. I had been trying and trying (without much success) to get the surgery approved since October, and it wound up happening so fast. I'm about ready to scream at my dad, though. He keeps asking if I should eat certain foods, telling me that I've had enough, etc. All the while, of course, he has a plate or glass of fattening, greasy, high calorie food in front of him. It's really starting to piss me off.

Well, I had my two-week post-op check up yesterday. The surgeon said everything looked good and that I was cleared to go swimming and to take sit-down baths, so that was great to hear. Lots of driving, though. My mom and I drove to Memphis on Tuesday, and drove back on Wednesday (about 6 hours one-way). I made the 3 1/2 hour drive up to my apartment in Kentucky today, since I hadn't been there in about 4 weeks, so that's where I'm at now. Tomorrow, I get to drive back, just in time to go on the family vacation.

I may or may not be around tomorrow morning, so here's the updated spreadsheet. <br /> <br /> I'm not going to be able to get online at all this coming Saturday, so I'll post this week's update on Friday. If you guys want your stats updated this week, I'll need your updates by Friday morning, so that I can post them. I will be going on vacation for a week on Saturday, so I won't be able to post the 7/28 update until the 29th or 30th at the earliest.

I was on mushy food before I left the hospital, so it won't hurt you. Do what your surgeon wants you to do, though, since that's always the best policy, especially if something should go wrong. You always want to be able to say, "I was following the doctor's orders."

My surgeon said that she usually give first fills at around 6 weeks post-op, but that she would probably do mine a little earlier, since I will be starting my classes again right around that time. Since it's a two day trip when I go to see her (since it's a 6 hour drive one-way, I usually drive down one day and drive back the next), she'll probably schedule my first fill during the second week of August or so.

I can vouch for the the fact that Lee's not a troll. He's a nice guy. We've got the same surgeon.

Hi guys! I never seem to have time to get online these days, and it's frustrating as anything, mostly because I always seem to have 20+ pages to read to catch up. Anyway, I'm coming up on 2 weeks post-op (as of tomorrow), and I feel WONDERFUL. I haven't had any pain at all for the last couple of days (except if I stretch too much or try to pick up something I shouldn't). I've even been able to sleep on my stomach. I've made the transition to completely solid foods, but I'm still wary about trying things, especially if they look too tough or too dry. I had one pretty scary moment when I tried a plain hamburger patty that was apparently too dry and started having esophageal spasms because it didn't want to go down. So everyone out there, make sure your food is well-chewed and moist, 'cause it really doesn't feel good if it isn't! I am still amazed at how little I eat when I compare it to the amounts I used to eat, although it isn't as little as a lot of you post about. Apparently, I didn't have much fat around my stomach, so my surgeon said I won't have much restriction until my first fill. Although, I'm still eating far less than I used to, so I'm still happy! Someone posted about the little steri-strip things that the surgeons put over the wounds. The edges of mine are curling, but I've only lost two of them in two weeks. I do have some pretty spectacular bruising, though, especially around my port incision.

I almost forgot! Here's this week's updated spreadsheet!

Yeah, I just didn't have time to get online for the last few days. I've been helping at my parents' veterinary clinic (desk work) for the last few days, and by the time I got home, I was too tired to get online. About me: I'm 23 years old (24 on August 2). I am currently trying to finish up my Master's degree in biology, if I can ever get myself to work on my thesis. I spend most of my time at school in Kentucky, but I'm originally from Tennessee. I am definitely an animal lover, which is one reason that I got my Bachelor's degree in Wildife and Fisheries Science and is also why I am researching bird behavior for my Master's thesis.

On July 4th, I had been banded for only one day, so all I was in the mood to do was sleep, wake up, drink something, and go back to sleep.

My nutritionist actually told me that, also. I think it is geared more towards RNY folks, though, since their stomach and intestines are actually cut. I don't think it really matters for lap-band folks.

My problem is that I never stopped at "feeling full." I always had to have those last several bites of dessert or had to clean my plate because it was SO full. I actually associate feeling "full" with discomfort, since I always over-ate. I'll settle for feeling "satisfied" or feeling like "I'll be in trouble if I eat any more."

I've got you added and will post the new spreadsheet sometime today or tomorrow.

You'll do fine, believe me. I wasn't exactly 100% compliant with my pre-op diet, either (not that it was as strict as your's is, anyway), and I'm doing fine. Your whole outlook will change once you've had surgery. You probably won't even feel like eating a lot of your favorite foods. Or, if you do want them, you'll be satisfied with a whole lot less. Don't stress out over it. I think you will do great with the band. After all, none of us were ever known for our self control, otherwise we wouldn't be getting the band. After banding, though, you'll have the extra support and reinforcement that you need to be successful.