ThePoolGirl

Glouc, sorry you're having work problems. If you don't like being touched, maybe you could wrap yourself in invisible dog fencing and then when someone invades your space...ZAPPO. But you will have to get this gal to wear the dog collar...could be tricky. I hope things work out for you. I'm so happy that I work for myself...no co-workers stealing my lunch, borrowing my pencil. It's just so darned hard to surprise myself on Boss's Day. Beth, Happy Birthday!! TPG

Brandy, there's no sugar-free version. Just be sure to find really skinny men.

Given that I'm a crappy housekeeper, I'm NOT roflmao, I'm still in my chair. I guess it's riclmcao...rolling in chair laughing my considerable ass off... Beth and Donna in VA....you're killing me TPG

Oh, I was hoping we'd make it to 6 pages before I had to go to bed. Darn. Well, tune in tomorrow.... same Band time, same Band channel

Hello Irish! Sounds like you're having a bad time. I'm wondering what facility in St. Louis you've been looking into. From what I've read on this board, there are many places in the area and I've not really seen many complaints. You can PM me if you'd like. I'd be glad to tell you places I've checked out. I'm really picky since I'm self-pay. Sure hope things get better for you! TPG

Good luck! Try not to be too scared. I hope all turns out fine and that you have little or no pain. Take care, TPG

OMG! I can't believe we've gone 5 pages on this! However: I'm still looking for my chicken and weedeater. My word of the day is snarky and I'm sticking to it. May tomorrow bring us a new page from the Tales of the Kama Sutra :thumbup:. TPG

I'm not post-op so I don't know when you can have Protein powder. I just tried unjury Vanilla today in a cup of coffee that had a touch of Splenda and a splash of fat-free half 'n half. I'm kinda picky but I didn't notice any "proteiny" smell or taste. I did whip it a bit with hand blender and added a few ice cubes. So, don't know when you could try full liquid but here's my opinion :thumbup: for what it's worth. I did notice that it kept me pretty satisfied hunger-wise. Good luck, TPG

Donna, I think all the names fit certain people at certain times :thumbup:. I've had a bad day and it isn't getting better. The word for me today would be Ultimate Bitch Supreme with Fangs. Tomorrow, that might be Version 2 depending on whether or not some idiot wakes me at 8 am about a cell phone bill I know nothing about!! Argh. But, gotta say, I LOVE snarky. :thumbup:

Donna, this is not for you :thumbup:! But don't y'all just love the word SNARKY ?? It just fits so many people (at times that is).... It's certainly nicer than plain old bitchy. jmo, TPG

Dear Restless Monkey, If you do not indeed own LBT, why have I made all those checks payable to you???? Now, I can't afford soda in a bottle or a chicken and my weedeater is on the fritz. This started as a bad hair day and just kept sliding down hill from there. TPG:wink:

Echo, Thanks for the website with the recipes! Good luck to you! :bored: TPG

Great. I chopped up the chicken last week with weedeater. Only have soda in cans....I just can't win this week. :bored:

Sorry, I don't have any suggestions as I'm still pre-op. But...I'm sending some well wishes your way. Hope you're feeling better soon. Also hope the fiber thing helps. Good luck!! TPG

I really like this forum. I've found some great info and learned some new stuff - about LapBands. However, I don't think I would leave a "LIFE" (as in new, baby life) and death question to people I've never met. Why pay insurance premiums if you can't ask your healthcare provider questions such as these? And I agree with the poster who mentioned that she questioned why you would even take a chance on getting pregnant so soon after being banded. The people on here are great, but to rely on them for this kind of advice....hmm...don't think I'd stake my future on it. (Though I do appreciate when the RNs on the thread make their suggestions. They have good medical knowledge but still advise us to ask our own doctors :bored:) Happy Banding, TPG

I haven't had this issue as I haven't yet been banded. But my pudgy little fingers are crossed for you. Good luck and I hope all turns out okay. TPG

Regarding my previous post - I really don't mean to sound nasty. I'm just concerned that there are many people having life-changing surgeries and maybe their doctors/nutritionists, etc. did not leave them fully prepared. We all know that our health care system can be a bit lacking at times. I do wish you all much success and happiness. You wouldn't have ended up on this forum if you weren't wanting to make positive changes. Good luck! ThePoolGirl

The posts from those of you who have "cheated" make me sad. First, there's only cheating when you're dieting. The band isn't a diet. It's a way of life. I'm curious why people come to this forum. For me, it's a great source of information and inspiration. I daily read through several different posts, not just those for pre-op, which I am. I am not finding posts suggesting eating real food, including beef, nine days after surgery. Instead, I find posters who give mushies suggestions, suggest Protein drinks, and offer support. I'm curious about those who don't plan to follow the doctor's instructions. Do you think those are mere suggestions? It seems that maybe you weren't well prepared for having surgery, following the healing process and then the things you must do for the rest of your life. I wish you well, truly. I hope you don't have band slippage or erosion or other problems from your choices. Possibly, you're one of the lucky ones with insurance that will pay for correction surgery if, heaven forbid, it becomes necessary. Some of us don't have that luxury. I worry that I will suffer some problem down the road and because I will be self-pay, I will have to pay for those additional things. But my concern isn't that I will cause band slippage, etc. I have tried to learn all the ins and outs of life with the band and other gastric procedures. But, should something happen that is not my fault (slippage, erosion, rejection, tube leakage) I'll still have to find a way to pay for that after care. Someone suggested an "Oh Crap Fund" and I think I'll start saving my pennies just in case. I wouldn't have even thought about this being a problem had I not read threads on this site. I have no problem paying for my LapBand surgery - that's not my issue. I just can't imagine reaching the point in life where you decide to have this surgery and change your life and you're willing to toss it away for some fries and flounder. That makes me sad. Good luck to you all. I hope to read your later posts that you are doing well and are successful in all your endeavors. Please stay healthy! Respectfully, The Pool Girl

Don't know you either, Mim :crying: but WAHOOOOOOOOOOO What a great day for you and your son. Hope the sunburn goes away quickly. ThePoolGirl <<< always wears sunscreen, except when she forgets

Gotta say that barium has me worried. I became very, very, very sick years ago after an Upper GI. I said I would never do barium again, I'd die first. The real problem is that it caused me to vomit non-stop from the first sip all thru. They had me sit in a little room, cup and straw in one hand and wad of tissue in the other. Sip/puke, sip/puke. Sorry to be graphic. I did have a CT scan last year and had to drink Fluid for contrast. I survived that, but barely. Any suggestions on the barium thing??? I'll be talking to the surgeon about it but it's sure been on my mind since I started researching the LapBand. Barium = Satan's Punch:thumbdown: ThePoolGirl

AMEN! I agree with all of you!

Thank you all for your thoughts. I am really comfortable with the idea of the band. I've looked into all the bariatric surgeries and feel the band is the best for me. I'm one of those people who does the research, reads everything, finds forums like these and that's what I've done this time. I also have a sister going thru the same thing with me. We support each other which is great. I won't get to see the surgeon until the end of July. I think I'm just getting too eager to get moving and am halted by an out-of-town-surgeon :cursing:. So, I get bored and nervous and start to question things. I've settled down again...honest! I know that I can do this and will do this because I deserve to. I'm worth it and no Cookies or candies will make me feel as good as leading a healthy, thin life!! Again, thanks for the input. This is a great forum.

:biggrin:I'm still pleased with what I learned at a recent seminar and with what I'm reading on this forum...but... I'd love to hear from any of you post-op banders. Are you really satisfied with the smaller amount of food? I get the difference between "head hunger" and "real hunger". I'm sure I have problems actually following that or I wouldn't be planning on banding :scared2:. I crave sweet foods much of the time and usually end up eating way more of them than I should. Are you really satisfied and too full after the Protein, veggies, etc.? I have read many posts from post-ops and it sounds like you are...but I need some assurance please. While life after banding sounds so great, I know it's a lot of work and there are ups and downs. I am not giving up on the band at all!! I already have an appt. with the surgeon. I'm just really curious to hear what some of you have to say. All the brochures and literature give you are facts and figures. I wanna hear the "real" stories of being hungry enough to share you dog's dinner :wink2:. Thank you so much. ThePoolGirl

I've been wondering about attending support groups myself. I'm not totally comfortable in those situations. Partly, because there's always one person in the group who needs attention badly, hogs the conversation, and goes on and on about other stuff. That happened at my first seminar. I have really enjoyed all that I have learned from this forum. In fact, when I went to my first seminar, the only things I didn't already know where things particular to my surgeon and his practice. All of the other stuff I learned here or thru my own research. I so appreciate that people here are willing to share their stories and thoughts. You know these people are doing and feeling stuff just like you are. But you don't have to be dressed and looking your best to be here...I think you gotta wear clothes to support groups...at least band support groups! :cursing: I guess I like the 24 hour access and no dress code here. Could I host a support group from my pool?? Nah, can't afford more deck chairs since I'm a band self-pay girl. Just my thoughts, ThePoolGirl