StephC

Hi girls! I went to work today - saw my buddy Charlie, he's the only one I've told at work or plan to tell. I told him I just didn't want the rumor mill to be grinding on me. Seriously - most of the members are over 70 with no lives so they enjoy talking about everyone elses and I just don't want to be the one they are talking about. I had 27 messages on my answering machine and they all want to know when I will be in - see the good thing is that I broke my knee last month so they all think its all about that.. hehe... let 'em wonder. So all that was just to let you, beversman and Nat, know I know where you're coming from. I'm smalltown too and I know its going to come out eventually but I'm not going to help them along by sharing just yet. But my church now knows - at least one of the ones I didn't want to know - oh well - I wasn't being completly secret about it anyway - I had shared with about 4 -5 people and figured it wouldn't be long until the rest of them know. I am ready for food - dang I hate liquids and I keep thinking of ways to cheat! So listen to this - I made mac & cheese for supper for dh and dd, so I threw a little in the processor and blendered it up - added some milk and called it Soup. :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: How stupid is that! Then I start sweating about whether I'll get stuck and I'm thinking how the heck will I even know I'm stuck? I mean I understand being stuck means food can't make it down through the banded passage - right? But the question is what does that feel like? or how do you know? So I got online to see if I could find a post on it - but instead came to my girls instead. So after eating about 3 bites of my mac/cheese soup I threw it away out of fear. Jillrn - I am one week out - I had a yogurt smoothie for Breakfast, and 1/2 a boost for lunch, about a half cup of broccoli soup around 3 and then nothing looked or tasted good for supper - so I had a bite of potato soup and 3 bites of m/ch soup - how can a person live like this!!!!???? I almost wish I felt crappy so I wouldn't be thinking about food. b-man - I had the later surgery, I enjoyed my time in the hospital, let them take care of you. I'm assuming since its a later surgery he'll just keep you over night. But hey - you're almost there!!! Nat - good luck with your journal - it sounds like a great idea! Patty - I can't believe you aren't wanting to eat. Are you still on liquids? I feel pretty normal now too - my stomach isn't sore or anything, once in a while my left shoulder aches - I think from the gas, thats what I understand. Time to spend some quality time with my man - ... so anyone know how long till we can spend some real quality time together? Yeah I'm talking sex - do ya think as long as the belly isn't hurt? LOL I don't want to bust a scar open.

Hello Ladies! Geesh I love ya! I love reading all the posts, comments, encouragment - all of it! Anyhoo - so I could eat - yeah just about anything would be good. But I'm on this dang liquid diet for EVER!!! (till the 28th) I ate sour patch kids today and I don't even like them! Whats up with that? You'd think if I was going to cheat I'd eat something I really like. I made some really good Soup yesterday - I sauteed some onion in a little butter, chopped up a couple potatoes real small added Water and cooked until they were mush - I used some ham boullion for flavor, took the potatoes out and blended them so they were like mashed taters, then threw it in with some left over cream I had from the Cookies, and some skim milk - yeah trying to even it out! But dang it was good soup! The cookie baking got me yesterday and I ate ONE! Took a bite of another but spit it out cuz dd was watching. I've decided to eat on Christmas eve. Not like EVERYTHING but something besides soup. I will be 2 weeks out at that point and I don't think a little bit of something will hurt - do you? I really should be on mushies at that point but doc is out of town until the 28th. I havent been crying but I got my period 3 days out - it was a week early - which at my age is not usually a big deal but it was irksome since I wasn't feeling the greatest anyway. I was pretty grouchy that day. I think I'm down about 15 lbs from my highest. I was 5 down at the doc's the other day but he said that wasn't really a true read because I had shoes and clothes on and he usually deducts them. I have the church Christmas play tonight followed by cookies - I think I'll take a yogurt smoothie to get me through it. I'm actually going to work tomorrow - I'll probably leave by noon or 1 but I'll be back to talk to you all later. Good luck to all you Monday bandsters! You'll do great!

Mystique - good to have you back - sounds like you are doing good! Nat - hang in there girl - it WILL get better and fast - you'll be amazed at how fast you're feeling better. I just told dh last night that I can't beleive that as horrible as I felt on Monday evening that I would feel this good already. He thinks its the anthesia - maybe. Dawn - I can't wait to get to mushies - but I'm not allowed until the 26th. I heard too that you just need to take baby bites, I think its the air going in too. I know I can only eat about a 1/4 cup of cream of wheat (thinned) and I get that feeling and then the other thing is eating slow - which might be about the air going in and then it passes. It was good to hear from you. Kay - thinking of you and I can not believe that its already been a week since I was were you are. I was so excited I was bouncing off the walls! Laphappy - your experience sounded pretty much like mine. I think I bounce back alittle faster - I went to work thurs for a bit and did some errands then yesterday I went christmas shopping for most of the day. I felt good exept for my knee (broken knee is almost healed). I know I read alot of the posts in the thread about when did you go back to work and everyone is different. Bevers - hey girl are you feeling better yet? If you can rest do it. Ok so hears a loud shout out to Kari who started this thread (I went to the first page and noticed her first post) Kari where are you? You were to be banded the day after me and I'm wondering how you're doing? Let us know. I'm off to bake more Christmas Cookies - pure torture. So hard not to taste! Last night my sister in law brought down some homemade haluski (cabbage and noodles) and I took a bite, chewed it up and spit it out! TWICE!!! I want the taste but scared to chance it.

I just got banded on Monday and of course I'm in the liquid stage but I was amazed to hear that Gabi didn't need a fill for so long! I guess I understand alittle more now. Yesterday I was busy and didn't get much to eat (drink) until about 3 and then I was so hungry I made myself some soup - pureed and thinned - I ate a half cup and it didn't seem to satisfy me, so then I ate a sf fudge cicle, then when I was making supper for the family I ate another half cup of soup - and then a sf jello cup, along with water, all of this was between 3 & 6 - I was miserable!!! I thought it was gas, I took gasx, laid down, used a heating pad, took a hot shower, walked - after about 1-2 hours I finally felt ok. Now after reading these posts I'm thinking I must have over ate. What do you think? I didn't think I could over eat when I was on liquids. I usually feel a kind of hunger all the time. I know its still early and I'm just beginning to "feel" my banding. Then to top it all off I woke up this morning with TOM! A week early! And I'm catching a cold, sneezing constantly and have a sore belly!

wow I can't believe I've never seen this thread before. Thank you Lord for all the believers who are here to encourage and love us. Terrilyn your post really touched me and I'm sorry to hear you struggling. My advice to you would be to find a nice church to go to. I know its hard to make ourselves get up and go every week but it is so encouraging and then if they have a bible study or prayer meeting I would suggest you go to one of them. You won't believe the friendships that you will make. My brother goes to a church in Minn that has 1700 on a Sunday morning but he goes to bible study and there are only about 6 that attend. He is a recovering drug user and has been in prison so he needs the support he gets from midweek service. The other thing is to read your bible if you don't already. It is our sword and we need it for everyday battle. I know some people don't agree with it but I really like the Message - its written in contempory language and so easy to read. I will continue to pray for all of you.

I may have read between the lines but I took it that she wanted to eat the foods she loved without having the band hold her back. Thanks for posting that - I had it on this morning and my mom called and I missed most of it.

hello again! I love coming on here to all my friends - I feel so connected to all of you, like I've known you forever. I was feeling really good today, I went in to work for about an hour. Just incase you have forgotten I work at a golf club which is closed for the season but I'm the office manager so I still go in and collect the mail, pay bills, etc. - so I'm on unemployment for the winter. Yeah I love my job. So then I ran to the bank and store - I think I over did it and was tired. I was so hungry when I got home that I ate 2 half cups of Soup, BUT I think I screwed up cause it wasn't broth, what I did was threw the soup in the blender and made it like a shake, yeah it looked gross. I thought I thinned it enough, it was like the thinner baby foods. But then I ate a sf fudgecicle (its on my list from the dr) and that was like a real treat! Then I ate sf Jello - I was MISERABLE all evening! I layed in bed with the heating pad, I walked, I took gasx, I took a hot shower and drank hot tea - I must have really over ate - but I feel fine now. (now that I'm back in my jammies) I'm going in to the dr tomorrow, I just have surgical tape on my incisions and the 2 small ones have come off - and the 2nd largest is almost off. I'm not sure if I'm healed enough not to be taped so dr said come on in he would prefer to check it himself. I hope they weigh me. I think I've lost. Sweethot - hey girl! I haven't heard from you in a while! How ya doing? I guess you are pretty excited hu? Nikki - good luck girl! I know you are excited! What time to you go in? Annie - thinking of you .. come back and check in with us asap! Kay - you are doing awesome - you and sweethot have the same day? Monday? Hey.... would that be FOUR days till you're banded? 4? Four? 4? I bet you only have 4 days left!!! woohoo!!!!:clap2: BK - how long do you have? Mary, Carol, Thininde, Hermosa - all of you I'm so excited for us! WE will do this and we have each other to help us along the way. Nat - can't wait to hear from you! Love ya girls - talk to ya tomorrow!

Dawne - just wondering how you are feeling? You are a few days ahead of me. I'm feeling alittle achy around the cuts but other then that I feel pretty good. Are you still sore? Do you have your energy back? I'm still tired. Although I woke up this morning thinking I would go in to work for a few minutes today - and then I think... what? get out of my jammies? nah... LOL Hey its not often I get to lay around in my jammies and do nothing all day!

Welcome MC - its good to have you with us! I saw you are 226 and goal of 155 - how tall are you? I started at 226, I'm almost 5'3" got in at the 40 BMI and I'm thinking I'd like to be around 150 but really will see what happens when I get there. Don't feel guilty about the 401K because if you aren't around to use it what good will it do saving it? This surgery may be prolonging your life. Also sorry to hear you've been sick. Bummer. Scorpio (aka Charlotte) had her surgery the same day as me and isn't feeling well :grouphug: hugs from all of us Char. Nat I know you won't read this for a while but :gluck: Love ya girl! And that goes for all of you being banded today. Sonoslim - I'll be on liquids until after Christmas - the 28th I go to mushies. I'm ok with it, now anyway. I've been eating cream of wheat and oatmeal - cereals seem to satisfy me more then just a Protein shake. I Water them down so they are liquids - its on my list. I am a little concerned with getting enough protein. Beversman - hey girl - you keep up the good fight! I'm sooooooo proud of you! You are doing so good! I can't believe you have such will power. You will lose so much and look so wonderful when you get banded. Hey did ya all watch the biggest loser finale last night? :faint: How about Erik over 200 lbs lost! They all looked so good! Its so encouraging - we are all going to look that good too! I had the kids over last night for cake - DQ ice cream cake - I was good, it was d-in-laws b-day. I was showing my scars and hubby said I think she's already lost weight - she looks sexy doesn't she - shes gonna be one sexy mama - he had me giggling so bad and it hurt to laugh. He's going to enjoy me losing weight as much as I am.

Kay - hope you're feeling ok after the root canal!

hi girls - just put my scar pic up - I had to work on it awhile to get it to a normal size. Nat - don't worry about the overnight bag, I didn't even open mine. They gave me toothbrush and paste and that was all I cared about. I have to tell you about the stinky breath - I KNOW mine had to be rank and wouldn't you know my CUTE doctor (the one I've a crush on) comes in that next morning while I was sleeping and leaned over and said wake up sleepy head - LOL - I was like OMGoodness!!! My breath is going to knock him over!!! He just laughed. My girls don't think he's cute, my youngest said he looks like an old man - I said well yeah I am 44 - he would look old to a 16 y/o. LOL I just blew up at my 20 y/o - about her student loans... sometimes she's just such a ... scatterbrain - maybe its just me over reacting but she just doesn't seem to have a care in the world until it gets down to the wire and then she'll be crying the blues. I still haven't taken a nap. I looked out and the dog had a phone book tearing it to shreds - so I had to go pick that up, I still see pieces blowing around here and there. I better go rest - I feel real irritable right now and I'd like to be my old sweet self again.

this is my scars 2 days out - I was suprised to see the one was as large as it is, about 2 inches.

Hi ladies - just checking in, sounds like everyone is doing ok. Brandy you are doing so well with your pre-op, I know its hard hon, look how many times I cheated! I was doing the same thing, like instead of liquids that are 200 cal. why can't I have this instead... I guess it worked because he said my liver was fine, small and easy to get around. The doc said I could take the bandages off when I showered today so I did - I have some pretty big cuts. 3 are just little 1/4 inch and then one is at least an inch long and the other is 2 inches. I was expecting the 2 to be alot smaller. I'll take a pic and put it on the scar stages when I'm not so tired. I feel pretty good, I took one of the gasx strips yesterday, and I really haven't felt achy or gasy, but I feel tired. I slept when I got home and then went to bed by 10, slept til 9:30 this morning and its only noon and I'm ready for a nap. I supose it was the shower and I threw a load of clothes in the washer may have worn me out. So I'm gonna go lay down and baby myself. So let me tell you the hold food has on me - last night my dd was eating doritos and I wanted some! I knew I couldn't tolerate even one and I didn't eat one but I actually thought about licking the flavor off - UGH!!! It wasn't about hunger at all! So now I need to get over the head games. I drank about a 1/4 cup of protein shake when I got up, I felt hunger, tried some coffee and it was gross, then drank some boullion at lunch. Thinking of you all!

Hello Ladies! I'M BACK!!!! I feel good - I spent the night in the hospital, which I really needed. I was scheduled for 12:30 and they didnt' take me until after 2!! My DH stuck around until 8 and I sent him home, I was so doped up. I slept good and probably could have gone home around 4 by the way I felt then. But doc didn't come in until 8ish and did the xray thingy, they make you drink something like sandpaper and watch it go down. Kinda cool. Then I was able to drink Water and hot tea, ate some broth for lunch and they sent me home. I'm not in any pain, just the little cuts are sore but not unbearable. I read someone has nausa, doc said wait 15 minutes before taking another drink, let it settle. I don't feel nausa at all. And someone else wrote about the catheter - don't worry about it, everyone gets one AFTER you are asleep and its out before you wake up. The only thing that pissed me off was the tube in my throat, they woke me up with it still in, just for a few seconds but I was mad. The first thing I said was why did you wake me up when that was still in my throat? They kinda laughed but it wasn't funny to me. Don't get me wrong and get scared, it wasn't the worst thing in the world but it was a little freaky, anyway I got over it. I don't even have a sore throat like some get. I thought because I was so thirsty and dry I would but I don't. I miss you all and Nat - I am so sorry to read about the daycare - that really sucks. I'll be praying for you. And my liver was shrunk! LOL So even me with the cheating stomach still did ok. My doc said it only takes about 10 lbs to see a difference in the liver so you'll do it. I'll talk to you all later - thanks for thinking of me.

Sweetie I know exactly how you are feeling! Thats how I've been waking up in the night. And then as I'm laying there I feel as if I've drank a pot of coffee - all jumpy and weird. I am taking a half of a sleeping pill tonight or I'll never sleep. Beversman - its crazy having the 2 different posts - lets just use this one from now on because I miss you when you're gone. Donna - tomorrow woohoo! can you believe it!? Kay sounds like you had a nice evening with family. If I don't get on before the surgery I'll talk to you all on Tuesday and let you know whats up. Love ya all!

Nathalie - don't beat yourself up about a couple nuggets, you've done GREAT so far - I'm very proud of you and thats coming from a stress eater too. Carol and Patty - just a couple days and I'll be talking post-op with you. I'm suprised you are on solids already Carol, my dr says liquids 2-3 weeks and then mushies. But if your body is tolerating it must be ok. I can't imagine having to think to eat. Donna - its exciting isn't it! I had another sleepless night - I finally got up and took 1/2 a sleeping pill and turned on the tv, I slept until 8:30! It felt good! But until then I was so restless I felt like I had drank a pot of coffee. I'm going to church this morning. Talk to you all later!

btw - I got some gummy flintstones today - WAY better then the centrum!

Hi all! Well I did my last bit of shopping for my band - gasx, liquid tylenol, that kind of stuff, extra Soups - and as an added SPLURGE just for me I bought a new pair of jammies - the soft cuddy kind - it was a hard decision with Christmas just around the corner but then I thought heck most likely no one will even get me a pair I may as well buy my own and I need them now. I don't know if I'll be able to wear them for my overnight stay but I'll take them just in case - if nothing else they'll be great to re-coup in. I had good news today - my other dd is in college out near Philly and she wasn't coming home until the 21st because after break she was headed to NYC to spend a few days with a group of friends - well she said she is coming home tuesday - which is cool since I'll be just getting home from surgery - and staying til Sunday when she'll meet up with her friends. If she doesn't leave when classes are over they charge her $15/day! So that will be nice having her home to do everything for me. She said at least the house will already be clean! LOL Between the 16 y/o and 20 y/o I'll be well taken care of - I just may milk it for all its worth! Nat - I'm glad you have someone coming to help you - its good to have good friends. And I'm so proud of you for not eating the whopper!!! You go girl! You are doing great! Ok so my BIG idea about having just liquids today went out the window. While shopping we got starved - and went for chinese - yes I was feeling like the last supper - but then I cracked open the fortune cookie and its said you will soon achieve perfection - how funny is that?! Of course we always add "in bed" after the last word so it was even funnier. The good news is I did not over eat - I had a regular plateful without heaping it and alot of that was broccoli, but it wasn't on the pre-op and I hate that I have NO will power! Well I have a little because that was all I ate or drank all day - no shakes or anything - just Water and clear broth, water and clear broth, water and clear broth until midnight tomorrow and then no water or clear broth. I hope all of you do better then I have. My doctor never gave me an ultimatium that I HAD to lose weight, or lose this much or else so I guess I felt like I had some leeway there. Kay - Happy Birthday!!

Nathalie - you can do it! You've done so good so far! Beversman - hang in there baby - don't I know it - its the chewing thats playing games with your head but you can do it! Does doc have you on liquids only? Ugh! DonS - I've heard that you can stick anything in the blender add some liquid to get it to a liquid and go for it. LOL sounds gross but I suppose if your desperate. I made soup yesterday and froze it in 1/2 cup baggies. I did some with just the broth, some with just the veggies and then the rest as soup - I figured I can puree that at the different stages. I heard any of the soups through the blender are good. Let us know if you find anything interesting.

Hi Carol! So good to hear from you again!!! I'm so excited I couldn't sleep - I was up at 4:30 this morning making lists. LOL I did my nesting thing yesterday and actually the past week or two I've been doing things so it wouldn't drive me crazy when I got home. Like clean the mudroom, and the junk closet - for some reason these things didn't bother me for the past 6 months and now I just felt I had to get to them. I have cleaned my whole house like it hasn't been done in ages! I'm a terd! So today I got all the bills paid - and I'm going shopping, all the stuff I need post op and also try to finish up Christmas. My baby - got her drivers license the other day - talk about timing! She can now be my gofer. Tonight is her Christmas dance, so while I'm shopping she is getting her hair done. Should be a busy day. I had a friend invite me to lunch today but I cancelled. I thought I could order a salad but decided I'm going to try to do Clear Liquids today and tomorrow since I haven't been the best pre-opter so far. I know I wasn't horrible but I still felt I cheated and I'm amazed I lost anything. So this morning laying in bed wide awake at 4:00 I was thinking about my fatty liver! LOL I'm going to give it one last shot to shrink in these two days! I also felt a little sniffle coming on so I took some airborne - can you imagine catching a cold at this point! Would they even do the surgery? Have a good day!

Dee - I think men have a lower pain tolerance then women - but it is too cool that you are both doing it at the same time. Nathalie - LMAO - I was my own chocolate fantasy this morning - too funny! Beversman - I'm checking out that site - thanks hon!

Hello and welcome Adamsdee - how exciting to hear you had your surgery. Are you back to work, up and around, laying around, getting ready for Christmas? Any of the above? Where did you have your surgery with a BMI of less then 40 or other health issues? I hope you don't just lurk but join in with us. Did you take anything for the headache? Beversman - I'm going to check out that site - I got a $10 off coupon for barisaver.com from the support group. And I know what you mean about being fixated on food! Thats all I think about! PeaCeJ - I know just how you are feeling - I went through this whole crazy period where I just felt like "what if I fail again!" But I've been coming on LBT and really feel encouraged and I do realize it doesn't work for everyone but I'm going to make it work for me. I made Soup today - I had frozen some left over turkey, so I used that with some chicken stock, and I had 1 sweet potato left from Thanksgiving and 1 acorn squash - I chopped it all up and a couple carrots, and a can of beets - yeah I know BEETS?? but I was thinking they are full of Iron and I like 'em. OMGoodness! It was so good - almost sweet. I made a big pot so I could measure out 1/2 cup sizes to freeze for post op. I think its a pretty low cal soup - I don't know what those vegies have but I would think it wouldn't be much for the whole pot. I got as creative as I could with the Protein shakes and was ready to move on! Bandiva - I agree with you - as tempting as it sounds I think you are making the right choice. Keep strong! And btw - WTG - 9 pounds! Good job!:clap2:

I'm on day 11 of my pre-op diet - I'm allowed to protein shakes and 1 - 300 cal frozen dinner. Its been HARD - I will admit I have cheated more then once but I've always tried to keep my calorie intake below 900. My dr assistant called it a crash diet and its to have the same outcome as a totally liquid diet - shrink the liver. My doctor explained that the liver is a very delicate organ and can be damaged easily, they have to lift it and hold it up so they can get the band around the stomach - so by doing the diet we are shrinking it to make it easier to handle.

I thought it was funny as I read the post how each of us react differently to things. I wondered how long did it take for you to look up her score? A couple minutes? And I wondered what kind of pressure she must be under to have that kind of concern over her grade. I have a daughter in her 2nd year of college - she is SO stressed out over her grades and I'm sure I don't make it any better when I start questioning her. She knows what she has to carry to get the job she wants and she gets stressed. And all the other posts - I do agree with all of you because I get calls at home from members where I work too - try being a bookeeper for a PRIVATE (rich, snotty, world revolves around me) club - after I was in the car accident and wasn't in for a week I had a lady call me at home and say why aren't you at work, we wanted to pay our bill! LOL yes I did laugh out loud - and I told her I broke my knee - she felt like a heel! But then this past week I've had 2 members call me and invite me to lunch.

wow - now I know why I've been avoiding this thread! Deep stuff! My first thought when I read about the quiverfull thing was - apparently none of them are bowhunters! LOL I know the scripture but a good hunter only carries a few arrows with him. I asked my deer hunters - no one ever carries more then 5 arrows - my DH carries 3 - imagine that! I just happen to have 3 children -coinikydink? Maybe. I haven't researched it but I doubt that even in biblical days did they carry 18-20! One thing that Suntra said that I've heard before and it really irks me is the "Based on what I've seen, I just don't think that most fundamentalist Christians are very nice people, whatsoever." Why? Because they are out spoken on issues they feel strongly about? So because we don't agree with them on their issues they aren't nice people? Thats like me saying "Based on what I've seen, I just don't think that most gay people, or people who are for abortions are very nice people, whatsoever." Its ridiculous because I know better - I respect their rights to believe what they choose to believe and know it has nothing to do with them being "nice" people - I may not agree with them but that doesn't mean they aren't nice. Fundamental Christians do at times get very vocal in their beliefs and sometimes it comes off as self-righteousness but that doesn't mean they aren't nice people. As for the picketting gay funerals and the such - those people aren't just fundamental christians - they are radicals. How about that group that goes to the soldiers funerals - how infuriating is that? Picketting abortion clinics is one thing but blowing them up is another - do you get where I'm going? I consider myself to be a fundamental christian - a right winger - but I know Jesus well enough to know he doesn't support these things. And I think I'm pretty darn nice and I would say MOST of the christians I know are nice.