Band_Groupie

That's totally gorgeous! Have a fun weekend! (DH is from the 'Gordon' clan.)

*NOTE: Well, now it’s 58 days actually. I've tried posting this the last two nights and gave up trying to get access to this site after hours of trying (apparently the site capacity is maxed out), but that’s another post entirely. If you don’t know yet, I’m turning 49 7/8 this year. I’ve promised to work my way up to calling it, what it is, by my birthday. See? There in the title? That’s a huge step in the right direction, right? Well, if I say it’s a huge step, it is! I’m not sure why 40 didn’t bother me, I thought it would, but it didn’t. I’m not one to hide my age either (I’m stating the obvious here again, aren’t I?). But this one is FREAKING ME OUT!!! What’s so scary about 5-0?…it’s a milestone, a landmark, the BIG 5-0, half a CENTURY for crying out loud, you’re definitely on the downward spiral of life even if you do make it to that Willard Scott Smuckers birthday, it’s midlife (you hope), and don’t you remember when your parents turned 50, and how OLD you thought they were? Let’s face it, when AARP sends you more mail then Victoria’s Secret you’re on your way out. Can I just say here, STOP SENDING ME MAIL AARP!!! I’LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I’M READY TO JOIN!!!! I had pretty much decided that I was NOT going to turn ‘that age’ this year. I’m not 5-0 in my head, so what’s the point. I certainly don’t act like I’m 5-0. But lately, my body is starting to act like it is. The past few years I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said that I felt like I was circling the drain. I was feeling, well, OLD! I’d been puzzling over this attitude for awhile now, because it’s not like me. What’s up with me? I’m definitely a ‘cup half full’ person. DH calls me the eternal optimist. After pondering some more, I think I’m figuring this out. You know why? Because things ARE changing. I see that I was feeling bad about my age, because I was FEELING it. After my ‘Moment’ (don’t think I’ve shared that one here yet, but I’ll save that for another blog)…you know that moment when you decided that you were actually going to at least ‘look’ at that ‘extreme thing’ called WLS?...Then I decided on the LB, and that was a HUGE change in the right direction. I decided that this year was going to be about ME for a change. I’ve never put myself at the top of the list, let’s face it, I’ve never even put myself ON the list. I decided to make this my year for getting healthy. I made a pack with myself to do this to my best ability and see what happens. My year of taking care of me…so it’s a birthday present for myself, of the best kind. It hasn’t been easy to do actually, and that part surprised me. I’ve always been know as a person who embraces change…in business, I was know as a ‘change agent’ and it was something I was very good at. It’s easy to feel optimistic about everything else in life, but yourself?...when you’re feeling sick, tired, and old?...but I kept to my promise to myself…it certainly hasn’t been without major moments of guilt for putting myself first…and I’m sure there’s much more of that to come. I’ve made myself re-look at my surgeries that failed that I’d given up on (shhh…stress incontinence…bladder sling and hysterectomy) and even knowing I’m the only one my doc has ‘ever had the surgery fail for’; now I’ve gone through re-testing and am scheduled to see another specialist in March. I’ve made myself ask for help about my osteoarthritis that has given me constant pain for the past 10 years, and doctors have told me “it’s age”; so I thought there was nothing that could help; and now Physical Therapy is actually helping me. I’ve chosen to get the LB, and now, by many unforeseen circumstances, it’s looking like it’s going to happen within a week of my birthday. Coincidence? I’m seeing changes that I thought would never happen. So now I have new hope. I’m already not feeling as old anymore. If I can make changes I thought would never happen, then maybe the LB will work for me and make more changes I thought could never happen. So maybe turning the BIG ONE this year won’t be so bad after all. It might be a year to celebrate! …baby steps…I’m getting there.

Amen. I tried for over two hours last night and gave up...I was beginning to think I'd been banned for complaining.

Oh yea...by 'write' I mean 'copy and paste' (my middle name)...thanks! And gotta have the pics!

Ooooo! Yummy!

WELCOME TO LBT Carly!! I'll be getting banded late April or early May also. I have lower back and neck osteoarthritis, slight scoliosis, and Lordosis (sway back probably from compensating for my huge bum) so I know a little bit about what you mean by chronic pain. Physical Therapy is actually helping me some and has helped me learn what to do ongoing. Your 'downward spiral' made me think of what I kept saying before starting this journey...I felt like I was 'circling the drain'. It's a vicous cycle. My doc and PT have told me that getting the weight off should help a lot with the pain...so don't give up hope! I'd suggest that you do a thread on the Forum/General and put the words 'congenital hip disorder' in your title. You may find someone who has the same thing that way (the Forum gets way more visibility/readers than the Blogs). Good luck and keep posting! -BG

I had another hour of checking back to get on here yesterday afternoon, and I finally gave up. Glad to know it's not just me! Texasweb...LOL! (I'll delete my list if it will help with site access!)

(That's the Echo coming back...after it bounced off me!) As I've said before, I continue to write most of them down, and I appreciate knowing that someone else has tried them (the cookbooks I love are usually the kind that have a conglomeration of people's favorites...one's I know someone else liked enough to chose and put their name with...you know, like a women's club cookbook vs. Joy of Cooking...and that' what you're doing). If you're taking requests, I'd love to see more "mushy" recipes, as a pre-bander. I'm such a bad cook, all I can picture is grinding up all my meals in that magic bullet I bought...doesn't sound too appetizing to do that for 4 weeks! I'm a little different then most in that I don't ever HAVE to drink a protein shake, unless I want to (and actually they DON'T want me to once I get to solids), so I'm looking for ways to get in my "few Tbsp- 1/4 C protein" (I don't have a gram goal) in at each meal during this Phase 2 diet without having to drink protein. Long term, I'm also compiling high-protein, low carb recipes (which you've already given several of) as that's my goal long-term (I've done really well on Atkins in the past, but a modified Atkins with more fruits/veggies and some complex carbs is my goal). Thanks for the recipes!! -BG

I know the one thing that always grabs my attention here is when someone says "I hardly even think about food anymore"..."it's just fuel and I have a normal relationship with it now". Those kinds of comments always give me hope, as I know head hunger is going to be my hardest challenge. Re-directing (like we do with our kids) and finding something else to replace the food, seems to be a common suggestion here..."Feel like binging...knit a scarf"...LOL..."it keeps your mind and hands busy". I'll have to take on a LOT of new hobbies! Let me know when you find the answer, and you're doing the right thing (self-talk). Good luck. -BG

Thanks! I hadn't seen those.

What she said...it all depends on the insurance co., and apparently the area you live in. I went to 3 hospital seminars here and one sent me home with a document saying the expectation was that you should not lose weight...they even suggested '5 pounds or so'. The hospital I chose had me meet with their insurance expert at the surgeons office. I asked her point blank if I could go below the 35 minimum during my 6 mo. She said "Then you wouldn't need the surgery, would you?" They aren't legally allowed to tell you not to lose weight, but you need to listen to what they DO say.

I’m always amazed by what I start off thinking I’m going to write and then what I end up writing about here. It’s the thing I like best about blogging…not only do you get your feelings/questions out, but it’s often a total surprise. Today was no exception. I started off wanting to explore something that came up in my last blog…the fact that at the same time I hate to look at my current self in the mirror, I don’t feel fat…in my head…and how could I still be constantly surprised by photos of me? ‘Nuff said about that!!! As I went looking for a photo of a fun house mirror (to illustrate my body dysmorphic disorder...or maybe it’s just my split personalities) I found this out: DRESSING ROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE ‘SKINNY’ MIRRORS!!! Oh yes!! They’re scamming us!!! I finally am having a good day clothes shopping! I look like a size 16 in my size 22 jeans at the store, so as I’m skipping happily around the dressing room I decide to buy 3 pair, and come home to find my size 22 butt looks like an elephant wearing dolls clothes. Here’s how they do it…tip a mirror forward and you look short and fat, tip it backward (even slightly) and you look taller and thinner. And to make it worse, some stores even use slightly curved mirrors…oh yea, just like the FUN HOUSE ones! It’s all an illusion…it’s a house of mirrors!! Is it illegal…no…they make no promises that you’ll look the same at home as you do in their dressing room. I’m sure I’m the last one on Earth to find this out. As I found article upon article upon this I was finding an increased hatred of dressing rooms. Remember my ‘love’ of dressing rooms anyway (one word…sportsbra…or maybe that’s two words); then I also found the results of a study on women and dressing rooms: 64 percent said trying on clothes in public lowers their self confidence 10 percent have cried in dressing rooms about the way they look 40 percent of the women have bought something that was too small, hoping it would look good once they lost weight 14 percent of the women have refused sales help so they wouldn't have to reveal their size 41 percent have started working out after a shopping trip and the best one of all… 15 percent have accidentally ripped or gotten stuck in a garment that was too small I’m just glad I’m not alone…and I’m staying OUT of dressing rooms for awhile…at least until I KNOW I’m skinnier…I have enough body distortion issues.

Hi! Just a little north of Pgh here in the burbs. I selected AGH-Banding April or May.

I'm not trying to scare you, but I saw this post today and couldn't in good conscience not pass this on. I've been thinking of you, please let us know how you're doing. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/emergency-surgery-remove-band-five-months-88671/

Ben, You had me crying and laughing at the same time (someday I'm going to be the small woman someone else has to wear around LOL). Thanks. Good luck this weekend, and I'm sure you'll have a lot of great stories to tell us 'pre-banders' on the other side. Remember, the best defense is always humor! Best Wishes! -BG

Thanks for that...I've seen a TON of people discussing being tighter in the morning, but I hadn't even thought about/seen timing a fill so it's not in the morning...VERY GOOD POINT. Glad you're 'getting there'. -BG

Seek medical help now! If you have significant abdominal swelling, nausea, diarrhea & port pain 6 years post-band, this is not normal. You may have an infection, errosion, or something unrelated going on. Get to your doc or ER today and let someone know what's going on please. If you no longer have a band doc, the ER should be equipped to view the band and your abdomen to see what's happening. If it's an errosion, the longer you let this go on the more dangerous it will be for you. If it's been 2 weeks of this you're probably getting dehydrated as well. Let me know how you're doing later (and welcome to LBT). -BG

The Gas X is to help with the gas pains you'll get from them pumping your abdomen full of CO2 during the operation. It bothers most people in their shoulder. My doc says the Gas X will do nothing, but some swear by it (I don't know if they'll let me take it in the hospital). Sippy cups are used by many initially until you get used to taking tiny sips of fluids (it hurts to gulp like we do now). And some take shot glasses or medicine measuring cups as their docs want them to track their fluid intake (and they help you to take small sips). Wendy- They told us to plan for a one night stay, but I'll see if that changes when I get my date/time.

Yea, it was just...sad. He talked to Nadya at several points about stopping having kids as she couldn't handle any more and neither could the grandparents. He talked to her many times about the costs of a child. He even talked to the IVF doc after the 6th one and told him all the issues and that it needed to stop. As the preview showed, he thinks she has mental issues. He's going back to work to help her out. He hopes she'll get help. I felt sorry for him. Dr. Oz was on also and laid into the doc, but he also commented on whether people should help Nadya or not. He said he's been getting lots of comments from people around America that want to help the children, but they don't trust the mom not to spend the money on pedicures. Nadyas dad said "send it to me". Like I said, it was just...sad.

Is it a holiday for fat people like me? Well, kinda...coming from my Catholic upbringing, I can tell you it's all about the last indulgence before abstinence and fasting...Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. All of you Lap Banders who have participated in a "Last Supper" or better yet a whole "Bucket List" of special meals before banding should be able to relate. "Fat Tuesday" translates to "Mardi Gras" in French and is the last day of Carnival (it's also called Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day). So party it up...just don't indulge too much...or there'll have to be more abstinence and penance! Now where's that King Cake? King Cake: As part of the celebration of Mardi Gras, it is traditional to bake an oval cake in honor of the three kings - the King Cake. The shape of a King Cake symbolizes the unity of faiths. Each cake is made from twisted strands of cinnamon dough, topped with icing decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is baked into each cake and whoever finds the baby (like the Kings) is rewarded with good luck. Val Kilmer partied it up in New Orleans this weekend as King Bacchus XLI on the Krewe of Bacchus' legendary Mardi Gras float. (Go Batman!)

What T said above. I started at 37.7 (with much ado) and am now 4 pounds above my minimum (2 weigh ins left). My PCP actually scolded me for losing 4 pounds last month...she said I lost too much! If your PCP has been through this with any other patients they'll get it...if not, educate them. I certainly feel this is frustrating, especially the one time I'd like to be dieting and getting into good habits, but I'd go through this again in a heartbeat. So many people go through way more than 'not losing weight' to get their bands, so it sounds laughable to complain, but I have too.

Congratulations...you fought the good fight, and WON! I think the whole insurance maze is set up so we can appreciate our bands more when we FINALLY get them! Good job! -BG

I was going to nominate YOU at the first meeting! Sorry about the scale...LOL...just don't make me weigh before bedtime tonight!!! Haven't you heard? It's FAT Tuesday! Thanks :-) -BG

Is it a holiday for fat people like me? Well, kinda...coming from my Catholic upbringing, I can tell you it's all about the last indulgence before abstinence and fasting...Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. All of you Lap Banders who have participated in a "Last Supper" or better yet a whole "Bucket List" of special meals before banding should be able to relate. "Fat Tuesday" translates to "Mardi Gras" in French and is the last day of Carnival (it's also called Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day). So party it up...just don't indulge too much...or there'll have to be more abstinence and penance! Now where's that King Cake? King Cake: As part of the celebration of Mardi Gras, it is traditional to bake an oval cake in honor of the three kings - the King Cake. The shape of a King Cake symbolizes the unity of faiths. Each cake is made from twisted strands of cinnamon dough, topped with icing decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. A small baby, symbolizing the baby Jesus, is baked into each cake and whoever finds the baby (like the Kings) is rewarded with good luck. Val Kilmer partied it up in New Orleans this weekend as King Bacchus XLI on the Krewe of Bacchus' legendary Mardi Gras float. (Go Batman!)

Wendy, you always crack me up! (I could use a shark bite here and there, but only if I could take it off my hips and thighs!) That's so cool...we just watched 'The Rock' again the other day- Sean Connery (my first love)/Nicholas Cage film. That must be a pretty long swim! -BG