Betsyjane

I'm having trouble taking a decent breath. My surgery was Monday. The nurses day it is due to trapped gas, and that walking and gas-x are the answer...mostly walking. I've been doing both, but it's still difficult. Any ideas! (I'm also trying to figure out how air pushe dinot you around your stomach so they can see during surgery, would end up INSIDE your stomach in order to be burped out....) Otherwise, I'm doing OK.

Come join us. We are bandsters without a local support group, and we're going to meet, say hi, and chat about possibly starting our own group. We are meeting this Wednesday December 13 at 6:30 PM at Humble City Cafe near the SE corner of the intersection of 1960 and 59, on Main Street. Let me know if you're coming and I'll make a reservation in the name of Bandsters.

Looks like we are disbanded. Well, my friends, it was fun and great support while it lasted. Guess we all start to fade when the band no longer holds any surprises for us. My best to all of you. If anyone wants to reach me, go to www.GoldenRetrieverCamp.com Have a good life!

Hey Barbara, my old Tai Chi buddy! You'll get a kick out of this. I just started Tai Chi and ChiGong at MD Anderson, and the guy who teaches it is everything I wanted in an instructor! First of all, there's no dress code!!!!!!! People come in whatever attire they want, and he does the full deal, with everyone just following along as best they can. Then after, he answers questions about theory, how to do things, philosophy behind it, or whatever, so you can leave after an hour, or stay for up to another 2 hours (!) to chat. And his explanations are super clear! And it's all free for whoever shows up, Tues and Thurs afternoons. I started it because I'm in a bit of a pain struggle at the moment. In addition to my patches, I usually take pills every 3-4 hours, but after the last class, I went 12 hours without the need to pop a pill. Works for me. Hope you guys are all doing well. Would love to see you if your next meeting is at a time when I can do it. It's sure hard to hold a group together! With all the lap bands being done, would seem like we'd be able to fill a room! Guess support groups just don't often work that way....

Did anybody go to dinner???? I just found out I'm no longer getting automatic emails when someone writes on this thread, so I missed knowing about the dinner. Anybody up for another meeting time soon?

It is confusing. Everyone is different and you go through different phases so it's hard to predict. I could probably eat absolutely anything, but some things take sooo much chewing and so tiny a bite that it's just not worth it. I usually avoid flour based breads-corn tortillas are fine. I avoid canned spinach because the stringyness is hard for me. Sometimes shrimp is a problem and sometimes not. Most everything else works. What's harder for me than what I CAN'T eat is what I CAN eat. I have to be so careful with anything ice cream. It goes down so easily and tastes so good. I'm at about goal weight now, but I have to say that practically every plateau I had was due to eating too much ice cream. The thing about foods you can't eat is that it's all a learning process and you won't really know until you experience eating something that doesn't work for you. It's uncomfortable enough that it doesn't take long to learn from it!

Just saw this interesting site. It's expensive, so it would probably only be for a very special event, but what a great idea. You pick your dress...you can mix and match bust, waist, and hip sizes, and they create the dress to your measurements rather than a standard size. dressbydesign.com I understand there's a similar one at studio28couture.com and one at styleshake.com

There's a show on TV called Sit and BE Fit. Exercise without standing.... There are also exercise routines for upper body for those with knee and other leg problems. Might be worth adding that to your routine until your weight drops enough to stress your knees less.....

I tried to attach a photo from Calif, but I think I've forgotten how. Anybody up for dinner? I'd like to go to Cedar Landing......

I've so enjoyed this journey. I have been on the verge of taking vacations, changing my wardrobe and strutting my stuff. But Lupus reared it's head, my kidneys are shutting down, and I have various infections in my body and maybe a dead bone, and maybe uterine cancer. Seems so unfair so be saddled with all of this now. So I've been thinking how greateful I am for having the band, even if I don't live long. Oh, bah humbug....I'm not able to say it genuinely. The operation was a success but the patient died...old joke. I just wish I had it longer. Never put things off that are core to you....nomatter what you weight at the time. My new, albeit late motto. Actually, I don't particularly need sympathy so much as irony and jokes, I think. I read an article recently that showed that lap band patients drop dramatically in their comorbid illnesses, but they they die faster because with their new bodies, they try higher risk sports and wipe out. I envision formerly morbidly obese bungee jumpers. Sad, but sort of funny, and definitely ironic. Sort of how I feel.

Hi Cyndie. I went through a period of time where I just had no appetite. Just no interest in food of any kind. I enjoyed it, truth be told. But I'm back to eating fairly regularly so I could meet at our next dinner and not be a party pooper. No feeling too badly. Had a great time in California wine country. Have fun on your vacation.

Anybody want to meet to walk the mall this weekend?

That was wonderful. See you guys next time with pics from California Wine Country!

I'll be there!

I'll be there, pending whatever.....

Have to go downtown for treatment. Will have to see you next time....

What time Monday?

I'm not going to crowd this board with non lap band stuff...I promise. Just one more quick note, though. I spent over a week in the hospital having had a raunchy response to chemo/radiation. Since there is no cure, they were just offering those things as a way to reduce the biggest tumor that was hurting so much. So we did this marathon, but only one time, 12 hour chemo. They anticipated only nausea as a possible reaction, and had me on lots of nausea meds. Well, the nausea meds didn't hold me and I felt nausea in every ounce of my body. It was a nightmare, and even in sleep, I could still feel it. What made if worse was that I couldn't keep my pain medicine down so the pain was unbelievable. All in all, getting to the hospital to try to get things under control by IV was a blessing, and took awhile. I got home last night and went to see Mom this morning. She has moved from the hospital to rehab, but chances are, she won't be coming home, and will instead move to a nursing home. Near the last of her stay at home, she was unable to feed herself, and was incontinent and struggling with dementia. She had a bladder infection, it turns out, on top of just a general decline. It was good to see her. Dave has been handling everything....my illness and trips to MD Anderson, feeding Mom by spoon and getting her into the hospital...plus the dogs, plus his job. He looks so tired, and he's done it all without missing a beat. Good grief...he even did my laundry! I need to spend some time adjusting to taking this mound of pills correctly and getting my strength. I didn't have a meal for over a week, and actually still haven't, although I can take bites of carbs occasionally. On the way to the hospital this last time, Dave was driving and I was thinking that staying alive any longer feeling like this was truly not worth it at all. I wanted to die...quickly! And then the pain stopped for just a minute and I felt that I was held cradled in two big hands. I snuggled in as closely as I could and rode the rest of the way to the hospital that way. He told me to remember to only ask of the doctors what is theirs to give, and to only ask of Dave what is his as a mortal husband....and to ask for God's help when it is God's to give....that He was always there, but that I kept forgetting. I've been chastised by my Father! The rest of the ride was more than bearable. It was wonderful. He comforted me during the last week.....I hope I don't need that big a lesson often in order to remember who has me in the palms of his hands! Mom's best friend, age 91, in coming to see Mom Monday, so I'm resting up for that. I also have to get my gallows humor in check. It seems to be uncomfortable for folks at times. But I made a bunch of good friends in the hospital...3 of my doctors are coming up tomorrow to tour the camp. We'll be watching their dogs from now on. And the Chaplain, who is a woman my age, is coming up on her motorcycle. ALL OF WHICH IS TO SAY....whenever you guys get together next, I'd like to come, whether I can eat or not, at least to say hi! Betsy www.GoldenRetrieverCamp.com

Yeah, given what's on the other side, I certainly don't fear death! Thanks, dear friends, for your kind words. I think in some ways this is easier for me than for people who are given a chance at living. I don't have hopes and uncertainties, long shot treatments, etc. It's clear. So rather than focusing on all those things, I can focus on the rest of my life. Odd, huh? I'm also trying to make sure those around me know that there are no taboo topics and no having to be polite with words. Gallow humor is OK too. Imminent death is now part of my life. It's odd. Many of my relative rushed down here over the weekend, from all over the country, wanting to see me before I die. We have had the best time! So much better than getting together for a funeral when I can't enjoy it! Everyone came wearing buttons that say "cancer sucks". I'm doing my two weeks of radiation now, and assuming no horrible fatigue, I could probably meet you guys for dinner whenever.....and you're all certainly welcome over here to play with the animals. At this point, I'm actually in pretty good shape since I have my diagnosis and hence, much much better pain control!

Thanks, friends. This isn't a beatable situation...."incurable, untreatable, less than a year". We're going to do a little radiation to reduce a tumor that's been expecially painful, but other than that...no treatment offered except pain killers. I just found out yesterday for sure, although we've been testeing to make sure for the last 3 weeks. All things considered, I'm doing pretty well with it. I've started my Bucket List, and I've started summarizing and handing things over the Dave. We're all going to die sometime. Knowing that it's sooner rather than later is an interesting opportunity to cram in some things and to get the chance to live in the moment with no worries of the future. Makes things in the present quite a bit more technicolor.

Hi everyone. I'm afraid I'm not going to be coming to any more meetings. I've just been diagnosed with incurable cancer, and I'm just not focused on my lap band anymore. Take care. Keep up the good fight and enjoy the journey. Betsy

In those situations, I try to think WWTPS. What Would a Thin PErson Say? I've been pushing away from the table and saying "Wow! I'm so full I couldn't eat another bite!" And after a bite of something, saysing "Ohhhh, it's so rich! There's no way I could eat a whole one." My husband thinks it's funny. I also play with my food like an anorexic so I don't eat as much, moving things around on the plate. Ultimately, I find that most people really don't care what I eat. When I think I'm being rude by not eating, most people really aren't interested. Those who are (mother), are worthy of a private talk later, the "Would you serve liquor to a drunk?" talk. After a year and a half, I'm pretty well set in social situations. My downfall is ice cream, eaten alone.

I like EAS Carb Control, I't around 100 calories for around 20 grams of protein. Sometimes I drink it straight and sometimes I blend a little fruit in, ice, Benefiber.....They have 2 kinds of chocolate, and I like them both.

A long time ago, I was in a discussion with an overweight nurse and a physician who smoked. The nurse was really pushing hard trying to get the doctor to stop smoking. In response, he started to light up in the hospital, where no smoking was allowed. She went nuts. He said "Next they'll come for the fat people."

Hi Bonnie You'll find once you get used to eyeballing portions, you can do it with no problem. If you aren't detail oriented, you might want to put your meals in a cup and in a half cup and begin to see what those izes look like. Your meals will range between those two sizes usually. For me, it depends on the day and the time and my emotions, how restricted I am.