imaluckydog

Congratulations and great work you are an inspiration to me. Best wishes. imaluckydog

Yes I needed two weeks and by the end of second week I was up and running around. Follow rules and all will go well. I find it hard to believe some people are back to work in three days. I need time to heal myself and my mind. Life is good. Best wishes imaluckydog

I remember that itching. Yikes!! Oh it will not last very long. I have sensitive skin and the Dr. told me it is my skins way of letting me know it is on the mend. I did use creams and mild body wash with oatmeal for itchy skin. It helped a little. I think mine lasted about a week and then I forgot about it. Best wishes imaluckydog

You can do this we are all here for you. Best wishes and you know we are all struggling and you are NOT alone on this one. A death is a tremendous loss. You need to grieve. This is one that you will need to deal with along with dealing with the LB. Now 99 pounds is amazing focus on your great HEALTH and follow the rules. Staying positive will help. I believe in you, you can do it. imaluckydog

Best wishes all will go well. I was banded on a Monday. It was a great way to start the week. Plan time to heal and to take care of yourself. imaluckydog Kathy

Hi BG, Great blog as usual!!!! I had fun and by the way stuffing is my most favorite part of the dinner by far. I had to pass my plate off to my husband to finish so no one would ask any questions. I could just not eat that much. It was a great family day and it was all about family and NOT the food this year. I made plenty of food. The leftovers are almost gone for the most part. Turkey soup is for dinner and then we plan for the next holiday. Thanks so much and Best wishes imaluckydog Kathy

Has anyone ever heard of going early for Lap Band? I was content with my July 20 band date which is about 21 days away. OMG on this pasted Friday I got a call and the Nurse she wanted to know if I would be ready to have my Lap Band done on MONDAY yesterday? OMG again I said ???? I was not sure I was mentally ready. She said could I come down to the hospital and sign a few papers. She also wanted to go over the teaching classes with me. I had had all my blood work and Pre Op work just done on Wednesday. When I got to the hospital late Friday it was about 4:30 p.m. she said we have a glitch she just found out about. Yup you guessed it! INSURANCE Papers not complete yet. Well the insurance approved me back in the beginning of May and my hospital sent in the paper work to then as well. She just needed a signature. She said I could self pay to the turn of Fifteen Grand plus put it on my credit card or I could wait. I had been advised by many NOT to put it on my credit card because that could open all kinds of problems. I had a chance that the company would pay. I just tried not to spend my entire week end worrying about it, with the help of more friends on this site. I kept extremely busy. Thanks to them and their kind hearted souls and advice. On Monday I got up early and finished a few odds and ends that needed to be done so I could take a few days off. I also called the insurance co and called the hospital and at one point I had two phones on my head and talking to someone on the computer. I had all the bases covered. I was pretty sure I would have the surgery that day. My husband took the day off and drove me to the hospital and he was the one saying I would only have a 50 / 50 chance. I had to shut him out. We had to drive about an hour and the traffic was light, many must be on vacation this week. Just as I am walking into the hospital me cell phone rings. It was Elana from the hospital she said everything is all in order and to come on down. I told her we are here and I plan to go meet her at the check in. She must have worked a miracle today. But I also help to create my own destiny at the same time. I had surgery at 4 p.m. it was a long day. I am home now a resting quite comfortably in bed. I have been up walking and have not had much gas. I just spent one night in the hospital. Today I was released at about 2 p.m. So far water, sf Jello and broth is all I can have. I am NOT a JULY BAND BUDDY I need one from JUNE if anyone reads this and were banded in June would you please let me know? Thanks imaluckydog playing with the BAND early!!!

Yes it may take a good month to feel normal. It did for me. I also still feel I am on an experiment with my body. Only this one really works. Slowly, but it works. I also must chew, chew, chew to beat the band. I have followed the rules to the letter and have had wonderful success. I feel great everyday, and go to bed with a smile on my face every night. This is my way of life today. I also take time to blog and read what others have to say. It is like taking a class in life with the band. I have had my third fill and refused my fourth as I am tight enough for now. I also can only eat about a 1/2 cup of food so that food has the be protein packed for sure. One of the hardest things for me was to learn NOT to drink during a meal. That was hardest for me. I want my food to stay with me longer so I do not get hungrier too soon. It works for me. Best wishes and if you ever need any questions answered I could try to help. Banded since June imaluckydog

Best wishes I just love your positive attitude. It also works for me, I also feel a lot calmer these days and I am not sure why. It may be that I am taking much better care of myself and not worrying about everyone else. Happy Holidays to you as well. Thanks imaluckydog

I am sure you will be fine. Best wishes to you follow the rules after your surgery to the letter. You sound as excited as I was about this. Your family will be supportive. I know what you are saying about the pancakes. It is so hard to retrain my thoughts, I also have problems sometimes. I had an very nice non food Thanksgiving. My mind was on everything else but the food this year. Best wishes. imaluckydog

Stay focused and follow the band rules. It took me two weeks to feel better. Bloating does go down but not for a while. I suggest different flavors of drinks and I made beef, veg, and poultry stocks to eat. All were yummy. You will be looking forward to food but do not push it you do need to heal. Best wishes. I am sure you will do well stay positive. imaluckydog

Yes blogging is the best. This is where you read what you have written and hear what other have to say. It is my BEST therapy to say the least. I was banded on June 29 and as of my last Dr visit I have lost 68 pounds I am so happy with myself about being able to work with this tool I choose for many of the same reasons. I had a tight food day yesterday, sad but true. I was not able to eat very much at all. I worked out in the morning and that helped my head a lot. I miss eating a lot of food. The food I tasted was wonderfully delicious. Even though I only ate a little of it. I love my band and I would do it again and again if I had the chance. imaluckydog Best wishes to you on your journey.

Hi I am not that computer savvy. But I just figured out if you click on my name imaluckydog ( in light blue) it will bring you to my Blog area. You can read all of them. I had fun writing many and I have re-read a few of them. Click on blog on a top tab. I was banded June 29 2009. I have been at this a total of 22 weeks. I have lost 68 pounds and I am still losing. I turned down my last fill as I am tight enough. I have had three fills. Getting started makes you want this all the faster. As it turned out for me I ended up getting surgery almost a month early. I have been a luckydog ever since. Best wishes on your journey and we can be friends if you wish. imaluckydog Kathy

THIS IS THE BEST TOOL I have ever used for losing weight. I have had three fills and I am at a point That I am losing and HAPPY. Best wishes I would have it done again I recommended it without any reservations. Everyone needs to make their own choices. If you have anymore questions I'd be glad to help. imaluckydog Kathy

Oh Happy Days Ahead..... I just love the Smells of Thanksgiving..... Really I do! I am not that into food anymore these days. Has that happened to anyone else? I have not been interested in a lot lately. I have been very busy at work. Almost overwhelmed. I hope I am not getting depressed. I guess it happens to everyone once in a while. I am never unHappy when I read your Blog BG. You are the greatest. Thank you I get cheered up the minute I read it. I am looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving and the food will not be an issue this year. I am going to the in-laws for dinner after the football game. I am also doing a small turkey for our home because get this, I love the smell of a turkey roasting. I do not even like to eat turkey. The family does and they want sandwiches and all the left overs. That I can not take from my in-laws dinner so I will make our own. I am acting if I am HAPPY does it sound that way? I am glad for a short week of work but it is sometimes harder having to get everything done in three days that use to take five. I know I will enjoy my days off. Thanks for the beautiful picture of your gingerbread house those are so special and always a great childhood memory. I am Going to have a great evening so let the FUN begin... imaluckydog Kathy

I have people that I work with everyday who have not said a single word to me. Now I have lost 68 pounds about (a small child) worth of wt. I look so different and wear new and smaller clothes and still they say nothing. I did stop looking for those complements from them. Because I know will it never happen from them. I have to Watch Out for those (expectations) that will never be there. I always get hurt.... So I do not allow myself to be hurt by such insensitive people. Who by the way are extremely JEALOUS of you. By the way Jealousy is worse than hate. So that says a lot about those kind of people!!! LOL. Do not go looking for something that may not be there. Enjoy their company and be your Beautiful, Skinnier, Compassionate self. They may find it in their heart someday to say something nice but it will happen when you least expect it. I think YOU LOOK MARVELOUS my dear. I am HAPPY for you and you by all means have the right to feel good about yourself. Do not let the others take any more space in your head. They are so not worth it. Best wishes to you and sending you all the GOOD feelings I can. imaluckydog Kathy

Happy Thanksgiving to you too. I had that same feeling and was told I needed to stop eating earlier before I go to bed, I was only having the feeling when I went to lay down and sleep. Like hard to swallow the lump was there for sure. I am better now but it was shortly after my first fill as well. Interesting. I am not eating a lot these days as I have had a third fill and the pouch is so small it does not hold that much food. I miss eating and when I eat yogurt in the morning with my fruit I find myself chewing yogurt just for the chewing action. Go figure. I love the SMELLS of Thanksgiving but I know I will not be able to eat more than 5 bites. Ok so be it.... Best wishes to you. I must say imaluckydog and I am still Smiling

Hi there, I did not feel any restriction until I got my third fill. I remember someone saying to me on this site, that if I eat more than the rules say I can stretch my pouch. OK, I was cool with that. I remember being able to eat more than I was supposed too. I do remember those days and they are LONG GONE. Now after the third fill I can take about four or five bites and I am done. Yes finished. Miss food oh yes I do. I need to eat maybe 6 small meals a day now to be sure I can get all the protein in and keep my energy level up for all the dancing around the house I do. When people say why are you not eating very much, I tell them I shrunk my stomach. Well it is true!! I just do not tell them I have two stomachs now. LOL imaluckydog smiling

WoW you did great!! My first PB was on a meat ball. I have not had them since. I love to watch people eat now it is my favorite pass time. I used to love meatballs any kind. NOW I just watch. Best wishes to you. imaluckydog

I hear you and I have felt the same way about foods I miss the most. Yes, I guess I could call it depression and all. But who needs that when I am starting to look so GOOD and feel even Better about myself. Do not let those little urges slow you down. ENJOY it and Let it GO. We are living the new life we do not have time to stay depressed RIGHT..... Blog More. I do. I do not eat when I am blogging. It helps to keep my paws out of the cookie jar. If depression is getting to you act as if you are NOT depressed and things may start to feel better for you. That is what I have done. I have not told anyone about this so I never have anyone to talk to about the LB. I only blog on this site and it has been my only support system. I have met so many wonderfully supportive people who offer support and understanding and suggestions. I was banded in June on the 29th almost a month before my real band date that was set for July 20. So I am about 4 months in to my newly banded life and I just love being told I can not get my size on this side of the store where I always used to shop (large size section) I am now a 14-16 and LOVE how I feel in smaller normal sizes. Yippeee I love to smile and SMILING in my favorite now. Be well and Best Wishes. imaluckydog

I eat seafood every day and NO you will NOT get poisoned! I have lost so much and I think it is my food choices. I am almost sure it has been a help and I feel so much better for it. Keep doin' what you are doin' if it works for you. Best wishes imaluckydog

You have all my LUCK! You can do this. I have and If I can you can. Best wishes. imaluckydog Kathy

Best wishes and way to go LB friend I do not feel skinny yet, Healthier yes, people say I look skinny and that blows me away. I know how fat I was!!! but skinny no not yet. Down 68 at the moment and liking the restriction. I never like eating a lot at Thanksgiving so I will feel good about it this year. I will have a taste of everything and that my be too much. I just love the smells the most. Congratulations and Best wishes to you. imaluckydog

Hang in there I had feelings like that at my port for two months you are healing. It does feel wired but it will go away and clam down inside. You may be swollen and the healing in side takes way longer than the outside scares. At least it did for me I was a basket case. Try NOT to worry, it does not make you feel well. Take more time to heal yourself. Best wishes. imaluckydog

You inspire me Thank you. Best wishes to you. Thanks for sharing and you will lose it in no time. imaluckydog Kathy