BJean

cindyn: You and I share the same surgery day - 9/11. I've been doing a 2 protein shake and 1 lite meal for 2 weeks now. I've been pretty out of sorts. Between no sugar, caffeine or carbs, I haven't been feeling too great. Guess I was hooked on all that partially for the energy. My doc stressed that you must shrink your liver by losing 7 to 14 lbs. prior to surgery. I believe he will reschedule the surgery if you haven't met that goal by your original date. I believe they put you on a pre-surgery liquid diet at the time of your pre-op checkup. Do you have the jitters like I do?

Tootarts: Sounds like you have a really good attitude. This forum is sure a whole lot of help, isn't it! I'm doing my best to learn all I can so that I don't get shocked afterwards. You sound like a really neat person. Best of luck to you on your diet. Whatever it takes!

Hey ya'll, I'm not sure that the second Terms.. was named Terms of Endearment II.

Mini Me: Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me a bit about your experience with the LB. No, I don't have the band yet. I due for surgery on 9/11. I'm about this close (indicating 1 inch) to backing out of the whole deal. I just can't seem to stay convinced that the band is actually going to give me the help I need. Then I start thinking about all the diet failures I've had, and thinking about my family history of early disease and death, and I wonder if this really is my last chance to save myself from all that. I don't know how to make the final decision. I've been torturing myself for 4 weeks, reading everything I can at LBT, hoping something will set off the trigger in my brain that will allow me to know the surgery is the right thing for me. I too have thought about it for the past couple of years and thought that it sounded just like what I needed. But frankly, the LB forum has made me come to grips with the reality of all of the potential problems I'll be facing afterwards. I have to have a hiatal hernia repair at the same time as the LB and that worries me. I haven't heard from anyone online who has had to do that. My doc says it's no biggie and that he's done them successfully. I have another appoinment with him to discuss it in more depth. But my surgery is looming in just over a week, and I'm so conflicted, I'm miserable. I don't mind the protein shakes, but I am experiencing a gnawing sensation almost constantly. His requirement is liquid protein + l small meal for 3 weeks prior to LB. I've been put on Prilosec in an effort to settle things down so I can tolerate the drinks better. I know that no one here can make the decision for me. I keep reading stories, like yours, that are encouraging to some degree, but that are discouraging too in some ways. The interesting part of what you've said is that you are glad you did it. It sounds like you're pretty convinced that you will continue to make progress and will reach your goal. My BMI is over 40 and I do have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Almost everyone in my family has stage II diabetes. And I am much older than you. So I've undoubtedly had more dieting defeats and bad rebounds. It is a vanity issue for me to some extent, but a health issue even more. Now after writing the above paragraph, I'm swinging back to wondering why I'm not jumping into LBS with determination. Were you anywhere near this confused prior to surgery? Did you read all these stories at LBT before your surgery?

Mini Me: You're basically a small person too. What made you decide to have the LB? Are you happy with it? Did you have many problems post-surgery? Are you feeling good about your progress? I watched a couple of programs today about MO people. One was about a couple of women who'd had Gastric Bypass. The other was about people who had used unconventional methods and lost the weight on their own. The second group did things like, a cross country bike trip, a cross country road trip to every state, one learned belly dancing, and one gal reversed her eating patterns. All of them were trying to take charge of their lives without surgery or diets. The gal who reversed her eating has dinner in the morning, lunch is an extension of her morning intake and dinner is cereal. They all did something drastic in their lives to break the routine of overeating that they were in. I found it very interesting. The GP women had some real heavy duty complications and the stories were touching and more than a little scary.

We just watched Robin Williams in "RV". We had recently sold our behemoth RV because we only used it twice on trips to CA. My husband almost busted a gut laughing. You're right about not having to be crazy to be here, but it does help!!

Beware: Behavior to avoid~! It isn't easy raising kids. There isn't a manuel. We usually learn after the fact. If only our kids new that we were really growing up WITH them. We just have to admit sometimes that we don't have all the answers. And we have to learn that they are individuals, not just extensions of ourselves, individuals who deserve to lead their own lives. Frankly, I liked Terms of Endearment II with Jack Nicholson better than the first one.

Yeah. I'm still depressed by Terms of Endearment! Shirley McClain works for me but not that stupid movie. Who needs depression beyond our everyday lives? Like Humpty Dumpty sez, they say I'm ugly, but it don't faze me. In fact, my Milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. Uh huh.

P.S. We aren't talking about real people here, we're talking about characters in a movie. Or am I lost again??

Diva, dude... we're way past all that. We gave it up for Lent. We're all here just havin' fun now. Anything wrong with that?

I'm gonna have to find a copy of Steel Magnolias to watch post surgery. I don't remember half the lines youse guys are quoting. I only remember hating that gal for sayin' "Looks like two pigs fighting under a blanket." I figured that's what she'd say if she saw me walkin' away. Bee-otch!

Jack's the man.

It's the first movie that made me sob uncontrollably and then burst into laughter in the very next scene. In fact, it may the the ONLY movie that has been able to do that.

Ya know what I can't figure out is why people have to be glad anyone is banned. If you don't enjoy reading what someone else writes, why respond? Unless of course, you're looking for a fight. I mean if someone writes something I consider to be an insult I just ignore them and move on. There's gotta be fun to had elsewhere. :biggrin1: Newbies have to take plenty of hits. Afterall, I can't tell you how many times I've seen people ask what a PB is or what a TOM means, and I'm a newbie! For veterans, it's got to get old. But why not ignore it if you don't want to hear it? What's the big deal? Saying something snide back is silly. But as a newbie, I figure that a person who tries to insult me, instead of making a joke out of it or helping me:help: has issues way beyond mine. And I feel sorry for them and ignore them. C'est la vie! :straight

Tootarts: My GP doesn't want me to get banded either. Says I can defeat it. I didn't understand that until I came here. When you think of complications, you think of the surgical complications, not the one that allows you to eat all the wrong stuff and not much of the good stuff. Now I understand about that. :paranoid Plus, there's always the chance that the band just never gets to the place where you can use it instead of it abusing you. Which is what it sounds like has happened to you. :phanvan What can you do at this point? Do you have to have it removed? Did you have your surgery stateside? Is the doctor you can consult nearby? Does he have a support staff that you can talk to? What are your options? This is important information. Knowledge makes you strong, they say. Anything you can share is appreciated.

Telly: Thanks for the connection. I will definitely want to participate when I can. Both my knees are gone and I'm nearly cripple. I have to lose weight before I can have replacement. But I can still read it and be inspired! We're putting in a pool so that even before the replacements I can start getting exercise. I can't join a spa and swim there - just too embarrassed to go out in public in a suit. Actually it's the cellulite that's so disgusting. Even more incentive to exercise! I do arm exercises while I'm seated and a few side leg lifts, but that's about all I can manage right now. Or maybe I should think about a full body tattoo and who would know?!:heh:

Kathy- Yep. Steel Magnolias - great flick. I identify with Dolly. And only wish I could come up with some of her come-backs!

Thellie and Tally both answer to anything. It's amazing how people butcher their names. Guess they're used to it. And the tats on your torso are the first you've had? Wow. You must have looked at the books and fallen in love with the dragon, etc. That's going to be a big commitment. One day you'll be getting them head to toe and won't mind who sees them. Or maybe not. I'm so computer illiterate I forget to go lookin' for info. This is a totally new experience for me. Like you couldn't tell. Right. Oh well, I feel like I've jumped in full force b/c I really needed the feedback about LB. Now I know how people get hooked. On the upside, I think this is probably a healthier place to wile away the hours than the TV. The food ads are a killer! Anyway, great to hear from someone so commited to exercise. And good luck with your healing!

Telly - Not to get too personal, but is Telly really your name? I know an OB/GYN in L.A. whose name is Telly. She pronounces it tally. And I have a close friend in Orlando whose name is Thellie. She pronounces it Thally. And now if you say it's not your name I'm going to feel silly. I cannot imagine the pain of a torso tat - especially all around the world, or the circumfrence thereof. I have chickened out every time I've considered just getting a little symbol of some sort on my skin, somewhere, where it wouldn't hurt too much. My boy got one all the way around his upper arm and said it hurt so much he had to feign needing to take a whiz several times during the process.:cry Wuss. I also fear infection, which reminds me, don't you have to be especially careful with the Band? I was told I'd even have to take antibiotics when I have my teeth cleaned. Am I making this up? I'm pretty sure that's what they said.:straight

Yea me. I have the "smart ass" moniker now. :speechles

Jack, no wonder on one of these threads I read tonight, someone was saying, "Where's Jack?" You're definitely the voice of reason around here. I can't believe you mentioned DeBussey's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. It was the first classical music piece I ever fell in love with - at the age of 12. You reminded me that I need to revisit the feeling of beauty and tranquility that classical music can bring. It seems like I'm forever thanking you. I've taken notes on some of the things you've said. I'm sure I'll forget those pearls in the heat of battle in 2 weeks, if I don't. But one comforting thought is that perhaps you'll still be here when I need a voice of reason when I'm trying to adjust to life after the band. Maybe even if I panic between now and then. I sure hope so. Thanks again!:nervous

Yea Telly!!!!! I finally made someone laugh! I'm pretty proud. Ok, ok, I know... don't get all silly over it.:rolleyes But since we're talkin' Telly, you're about my height and Lord girl, you have a fine torso!! You're definitely an inspiration. Don't know if I'd have the nerve to get a tat there, but it dang sure works for you! Congrats!

I can't imagine what it is that you "take" in the place of a meal. You all probably don't remember the bran diet that made the rounds. You put unprocessed Miller's Bran in your food as an additive. We used to laugh about the subsequent "blow outs" we had. It gave new meaning to "is 6 enough, is 12 too many." Ok. Now I'm showing my age, aren't I? Rats. And I thought I was being so cool.

I'm pretty sure when you're banned you stop being able to eat as much.

I'm a newbie. I don't know all these people. I recognize some of the names and styles of writing. So it's interesting to go back, catch up and try to figure out what the heck is going on. Of course I haven't been able to. But that doesn't stop me from being entertained!:heh: I think this thread is useful. I've been spending a lot of time trying to read everything I can find that will help me in my Quest for sanity regarding LB surgery. I've been tugged every which way. I'm up, then down, then up, then down... then sideways! But coming here has put the humor back in the entire proposition of LBT. It was a welcomed relief for me. I can't imagine why anyone would get so serious about exchanging ideas, experiences - both good and bad, or just relating to each other in general. Everyone knows you can type anything. Doesn't have to be real, can be a joke, can be put here to irritate, whatever. Why take it all this seriously anyway? Why not just have fun - RANTING and RAVING about anything and everything? :nervous Does this have anything to do with hormones???? :phanvan Crap. That dumb comment sounds like something my DH would have said. Right before I smacked him.:faint: