Betsyjane

When I got my first fill, they told me that the shot hurts worse than the fill, so I didn't have the pain shot, and it really didn't hurt!

My favorite is Thailand. I love the p[eople, and love and am tickled by the culture. Ya gotta love a placve where the traditional phone book is alphabetical by first name.

I agree. Any publicity is good publicity. It's another Paris and Nicole thing. It's not real life. They'll probably make up on David Letterman during Sweeps week.

What am I doing for Christmas? Well, it's just me, my husband and my 90 year old Mom. No one else is showing up. So we are watching FOURTEEN dogs for people while they are away...IN OUR HOUSE! All large breeds. It's hilarious. No kennels for these guys!

I go through the same thing about being scared to have restriction... couldn't succeed before, can't succeed now. But I gotta believe most of the people who post here were food failures too, and are now succeeding. So far, I only have restriction in the morning for awhile, and I'm amazed how well I do with that. Baby steps....

Welcome Loriha! How are you doing with your first fill? I've just had one too.

I quit my diet cokes when I got banded and have not regretted it...but I never found out why coke is band for you when you're banded. Why is that?

I post here instead of eating. I watched BBC when i was in Asia in March, and it is amazingly informative as is CNN overseas. I still like BBC here, but it's pretty watered down for us. I also like Amy Goodman. I bought eBay. Booooo. Should have bought Halliburton, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

Mine was done with flouroscope too, but not continuously. she would fiddle, then ask for the flouroscope, then fiddle. I didn't get it, but I'll ask for the fluoroscope next time..... It was kind of fun to see the barium go through.....

to find the Woodys article, go to Search and type in exactly these words: How to tell when you are perfectly adjusted My Dr. said do soft foods x1 day after a fill. I just didn't ever get off the soft foods! The article helped alot!

I won't be here on the 8th. How about Monday the 15th of January at 5 at HCC?

My parents ran out of money 9 years ago, in their 80s and came to live with us. We supported them financially and in every other way. Dad has dies, but mom is still with us and turns 90 this month. I'm so glad I've had so much time with them. but I'm tired! I'm in my 50s, have Lupus, and have grossly revised retirement plans. Sometimes I just want to run away from home! I have a firend whose parents were in the same situation, and she told them she wouldn't be able to care for them and helped them find an assisted living home, against their wishes. I couldn't do that, but I've sometimes thought she was wise.

BBC doesn't report that there are good things going on. Thai news doesn't report that there are any good things going on. New Delhi doesn't report any. France doesn't. Brazil doesn't. Must be a conspiracy.

I'm afraid I would think that anything good on TV about Iraq is governemnt propoganda. So I have a blind spot there....

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The religious factions in Iraq have been at odds since 636 AD. The country was held together temporarily by Saddam, through terror and fear. We removed that glue, so now they are back to the familiar again...the status quo of fighting each other. That much was predictable by anyone in Bush's confidence who read any history. It was a bonehead move.

BJean: I agree with your assessment. It was interesting for me...Early on in his presidency, I disagreed with just about everything that came out of his mouth. I tried hard to say that I admired a man who was decisive and stuck to his plan. But I couldn't convince myself. I believe history will show that he has weakened the country for years to come, and in some cases, permanently.

Interesting. I just met a bandster who found out that she had to eat LESS healthy to be healthy. It's a pretty fascinating tale. She always tried to be super healthy in her eating,a nd after the band, so was able to accomplish it. But with the limited intake, she actually ended up with huge cravings for more calorie dense and more variety in foods. So she's eat healthy (also a tofu-ite) and then go nuts with foods. She had to go back toward the norm of meats, a few processed foods, sugar free but artifically sweetened foods...and then she stabilized and lost weight steadily. Now she's trying to re-introduce healthier things, but if she binges, she knows it was too much health too soon!

I think George Bush has devastated this counbtry in ways we will discover over many years. I also know I'd never want to be President....especially during and after 911! So I have some empathy for his position.

PRBrooksie-If I'm reading it right, you're averaging losing over 2 pounds a week. Maybe that's a bit too fast? Not sure. Did you stop caffieiene before the surgery? Are you eating a vitamin each morning now? Are you getting enough protein? Are you depressed and missing food and trying to figure out what to fill the time with? Are you exercising? If you're doing what you can and are still low on energy, I think it would be worth calling the doctor. Maybe they have some good tips.

Dear Green I don't believe any nation acts in isolation anymore. We are all interdependent. The bulk of our debt is currently held by China. How bizarre is that? Criticize all you want. We should all be listening to as many thoughtful points of view as we can. Open discussions like this one best stay open when there is no name calling and opinions are voiced respectfully, just as you have done.

SO FAR>>> Barbara465-after 5 weekdays, or Saturday BetsyJane-anytime LanaJane-anytime Mommy2Brandon-Monday, Tuesday Wednesday Mommy2Brandon hubby-Monday (so far, we're a Monday after 5 crowd....Let's see who else emails us....)

Woo hoo! I must be a slow learner. I read that fantastic article Woodys had posted about how to know if you need a fill. I realized I never got off soft food after my fill. After reading about how I should be going after difficult foods now, I overcooked a chicken breast for breakfast yeaterday, and planned to have it and raw veges. chew chew chew Well, I only got through half of the chicken breast and I was actually full. Could feel the restriction. So...I'm going to put off getting that next fill and see how it goes.

Hey, just a quick note on the lidocaine during a fill. When I went in for my first fill, they told me I could have a numbing shot or not, but that the shot was more painful than not having it. I didn't get the numbing shot, and really had no pain. Just a simple needle stick. And she fumbled around to find the port, but there was no pain involved...... But I made a big mistake. I stayed on mushy foods after I got my fill, and didn't think I had much restriction. Then I read that awesome article Woodys posted about how to know if you have enough fill...and realized I hadn't switched off of soft foods! Difficult foods are best. So yesterday, I tried to have a slightly overcooked (tough) chicken breast and raw veges for breakfast.....chew chew chew.....and could only get through half a breast and actually felt full!!!!!!!! I must be a slow learner....

Missy, have you had blood testing? I was like you, and I found out I had Lupus. I'm much better with it controlled...... Lots of autoimmune diseases cause the same symptoms....and so do hormone imbalances.

I don't want America to be a Third World Country. I believe that the demise of the middle class will get us there. I don't want to just dialog with terrorists. I'm a liberal, and I don't remember that as a party platform. I do believe that being seen as an ineffectual bully probably doesn't help us reach our goals.... I don't fit your statistics. Count me as one who doesn't make broad based sound bites in order to discount large groups of people. I believe it stops one from critical thinking, and leads to hate, bigotry, and to wars.