missjoany

My bill from the hospital was approx $27,000. There are some other bills trickling in, the most was around $250.00 so far. Yes you need to find out what those additional charges are for. Let us know what happens, so we can all be aware of something like this might happen to the rest of us.

I have exactly that as well. My doctor told me I have an infection and gave me heavy duty antibiotics for 10 days. He said if it doesn't get better they will have to remove it. I am hoping all is well. I think you should see your doctor right away in case you have an infection as well. Also I was sent to have a CT Scan to ensure the port did not move. That test was painless. Let me know how it goes, I don't want to have the port removed, I am losing weight and really want to keep it up. Removing it will cause my appetite to come back and all the weight as well. GRRRRR!!!

I'm not going to give in, because of the pain. I have adjusted my goal down 5 pounds because I have reached my initial goal. I wanted to blow off the healthy eating, but am trying to stick to my guns, because in the long run I am only hurting myself.

Hi All!! I am losing weight too and might have to adjust my goal down a few pounds too Yippee!! But I am bummed because I am still in alot of pain and can't bend over. Doc thinks its an infection and I am on heavy duty antibiotics. If it does not clear up, he said he might have to remove the port. I am down 32 pounds and certainly don't want to gain it all back. I decided not to go home for Thanksgiving because of the pain, so we had a potluck at work. I had some turkey, and spoonful of mac and cheese, and sweet potato casserole. I did not have anything else. Later when I felt hungry again, I had my eggs and soy patty. Then I was mad cause I had the mac and cheese in the first place. I did not really enjoy myself anyway. I was thinking about my pain and someone brought their kids in, and they were yelling and screaming and kept bumping into my chair and I was miserable. After 4 hours of this, I asked if I could take off 4 hours early. So I went home and went to bed. But in reflection, I should be grateful for this journey and all the fortitude it took to get me here, I was eating healthy for at least two months, and exercising more than I have in a year.

WOW my doctor thinks I have an infection too. I can't bend over without pain, like getting in and out of the car. OUCH! I hope your's clears up soon too. I have some heavy duty meds too for 10 days, then they might consider taking my port out. I really don't want to gain all the weight back, but we did prove we can ear healthy didn't we?? I wish I could go to a support meeting, but I work evenings, and have used all my vacation up for the year. Yes, trying to remain positive, as well. Have a good one.

Glad I can finally get back into the web site. Doc thinks I have an infection so I am on some heavy duty antibiotics. They cost $10.00 a pill. If the pain does not go away, I might have to have to port removed. I m hoping for the best. Don't want to gain back the 30 pounds I have lost. I could have been eating all the wrong stuff, anyway, right, and negate the band. But I proved to myself that I could eat right! And of course, I could not have done it without all of you. So I am not going home for Thanksgiving, as I hurt too much. Other than the potluck at work, I will be off Sat, Sun, Mon and Tues, will take it easy, no cleaning the floor. I even fed the kitties on top of the table so I would not have to lean over. I ordered some sneakers with velcro so I could still keep walking. What a bummer, but things could be worse. Everyone have a good one, you all are in my thoughts and am thankful to have you to share with@!

You are in our thoughts and prayers. We will be here for you. And it might also help with your weight loss journey.

You are in our thoughts! Can't wait to hear from you. I was diagnosed with thyroid disease back in June, tyring to find the right dosage of Synthroid. Hopefully it's not an overnight procedure and you will be home the same day. Sounds as though the LP is working for you though!

Hi! I haven't had any calls since my cat scan. Maybe they are waiting till the f/u on 11/30. Yea, the recliner was my friend too! I noticed last night I had trouble laying flat. WOW your weight loss is life changing. I just passed 13.6 kg and I finally am noticing it. I had my sweat pants on last night and they almost fell off, and I had to adjust the string to keep them on!! Maybe I am just taking a long time to recover, I am kinda old! You are such an inspiration, thank you.

I don't know the answer to your question, but so sorry you have been so unlucky. I am 8 weeks post op, and still cannot bend over with out pain, I think I might need to go back in for more surgery as well. But you seem so upbeat and it must be working for you. I was made to wait until my swelling went down before they checked my port for slippage. I was told it did not flip, but was sent for a CAT scan anyway. F/U on 11/30. My port sticks out, like a big square in the middle of my belly.

Hi, I also have hypo, I had to crush the meds for the first couple of weeks, and wasn't really sure they were totally effective being crushed. But I did not see or feel any major differences losing weight. I am losing 1-2 pounds a week which for me is fantastic. I'm still very exhausted though, but I guess that will take time. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Hi everyone!! Ya'll are so upbeat, it keeps me smiling. I see we are all doing great. I can't wait till my appt on 11/30 to see if I am gonna need surgery. Hope not. I coudnt' wait, and cleaned one of the bathrooms. But I will take it easy, that was my problem, tried to clean the entire house in one day, then couldn't bend over for several days! Next week I will clean the other bathroom!! haha. I need to start back exercising though, but have been soooo tired the past week. Thanksgiving is next week! YIKES!!. Well I know I am working on Thanksgiving, so maybe I will just take a turkey TV dinner with me, and not have to worry about any extras. I gave in, though, and tried the Silk Egg Nog, put it in my coffee, it was good, but not so many calories that I blew it. I have not had a fill yet, but I do think I am ready for one. I can eat more than I think I should.

You guys are great!! Keeping me in stiches ( no pun intended)! I can walk ok, and sit and get up and down, but still have alot of pain when bending over. It's really hard to get my sneakers on and tied. But at least I can walk on the treadmill. For some reason I really want to clean the bathroom, but can't get down to clean behind the commode. Guess that will have to wait awhile. I am still losing at least 1 pound a week!! yooo hooo! I hope they don't tell me my band is too tight and need to get in there to fix it. But that is one way to keep on track (not really wanting additional surgey). I can't believe Christmas is only a few weeks away, and we all will have on new clothes, and brilliant smiles!!! Keep up the good work. Teeny tiny steps is all it takes, right??

I googled what to make with pureed pumpkin pie. This one sounds good! BAKED ZITI WITH PUMPKIN AND SAUSAGE Makes 12 servings 4 cups (12 ounces) dry regular or whole-wheat ziti 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Pinch cayenne pepper 1 (12-ounce) can fat-free evaporated milk 4 links (12 ounces) fully cooked Italian-seasoned chicken sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices 1 (6-ounce) package or about 4 cups pre-washed baby spinach 1 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 4-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, and set aside for later use. Drain pasta; return to cooking pot. 2. Meanwhile, combine pumpkin, flour, garlic powder, salt, nutmeg and cayenne pepper in medium skillet over medium heat. Slowly add evaporated milk, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken slightly. Pour over pasta in pot. Add sausage and reserved pasta cooking water; stir well. 3. Spread half of the pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with spinach. Cover with remaining pasta mixture. Lightly spray piece of foil with nonstick cooking spray. Cover ziti with foil, greased-side-down. 4. Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Combine mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses in small bowl. Remove foil; sprinkle with cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. It has just 200 calories per serving.

WOW I have lots of your postings to go through, and web sites to checkout for recipes. Yippee!!! Can't wait to try some. No I am still unable to bend over without pain. I wonder if the band is too tight. My f/u appt is Nov 30. No one called me with the results, I will try and wait until then. I can walk fine, and sit down and get up, but can't bend over to put my shoes on, or get something that falls on the floor without putting my left foot behind me. I really wanna clean the bathroom floor too, but can't get down to clean behind the commode. But I don't see any of the dirt moving, so I guess it can wait. If I have to go in for surgery to loosen the band, I will know what to expect, all the pain from the gas, and know I have to walk to get better. But that would be such a set back. I have lost 27 pounds so far, so hoping they do not need to take the band out. I have not had a fill yet, either. I found some small cans of pumpkin, looking for something I can make with it- so at least I can feel like it's a holiday. I put some Silk Egg Nog in my coffee, wasn't bad, but not like the real stuff!!!

Thank you so much! I am printing it now.

The only thing sweet I have had is my calcium chews and I am treating them as my sweet for the day. I cannot believe how awesome two chicken strips, salad greens and fat free dressing tasted the other day. WOW- it was so great. Other than that, I don't feel any different. We had a fantastic Veterans' Day potluck yesterday. I had two pieces of chicken, but no cake, pies, biscuits. The chicken was from Bojangles, and I did not have any problems eating it, but so glad I had nothing else. I think I might be ready for a fill (have not had one yet) with some more restriction. I am afraid if I had some cake, I would wake up my taste buds and then I would be gone......Can't wait to lose my taste for such stuff.

You guys sound as though you are enjoying the exercise. I still don't like it, but maybe a walk through the mountains would be better than on the treadmill. BANDEDTHERESA An hour to start, might be too much, and you might not feel it till the next day. But if you feel good, then go for it. I agree, I think we lose body fat some weeks and not weight, and muscle does weigh more than fat.. I didn't work out either of my days off this week, I got up at 0630 as I had those appt's at the hospital, and took kitty for yearly checkup. I don't usually get up till 1000 since I work nights. But I didn't feel all that bad, I was surprised. Maybe the exercising and eating right helped me handle it. But around 3:30 pm, I fell asleep on the recliner. Back to the treadmill tomorrow, and will try and do it five times this week. I will mix it up, as suggested, by raising the incline once in awhile. If I don't you guys can speak loudly to me!!!

Hi everyone!! Glad everyone is so upbeat, I enjoy reading all of your adventures. PURPLEVIC I don't have a support person that lives with me. My best friend is always asking me how i'm doing though. Sometimes spouses are good support, but sometimes unintentionally sabotage you. I can't have tomatoes either because of the skin, but I am allowed no sugar spaghetti sauce. I just starting making spaghetti squash, then put the sauce and some turkey meatballs over it. And I had chicken for the first time the other day, over salad greens and fat free salad dressing. I was in heaven!! MONICALEON18 Thanks for the birthday wishes!! That is a great idea to have some different clothes and to see each week the progress of getting into them. I bought some shirts from QVC, and they only had 1X, so I bought them, and now working my way down to fitting in them. I agree journalling does help, but I am having difficulty hitting 70 Grams of protein and staying within 1200 calories. I am writing my feelings on this journal as well, and it's fun to go back and read my thoughts from Sept, such as the pain I was in, how I cried cause I couldn't pick up the kitties, and the weeks of broth and pureed foods!! I watched this show yesterday of a woman who had LAP-BAND® surgery, but now she eats past the full point, until it comes up to her esophagus then throws up every day. I think she needs counselling. But that is why I am afraid to try different foods, I don't want to all of a sudden go crazy. Yesterday at the grocery store, I was eyeballing all the holiday creamers for coffee, and I almost bought one- but at 35-50 calories a tablespoon I finally said no!! I guess the closer to the holidays, it will be more of a challenge, but I will be proud of myself if I don't deviate and still lose weight. How are all of you going to cope with holiday food?

You are doing great, and staying positive. I had not thought of tracking fiber, and vitamins. Having a hard enough time tracking the protein. How is your hunger level??

You go girl!

:tongue:Hi everyone! The cat scan was over in five minutes. The prep work, drinking 46 ounces of iodine and getting the IV positioned properly took the longest. Doc did not ask for a stat read, so I will have to wait to see what is going on, if anything under the port. But to be honest, I have been very careful of what I have been doing, and not bending over too much, and the pain has decreased dramatically. YEAH!! But when you start tracking it, you have to bend over for just about everything. I managed to get one cat to the vet without too much trouble and let the vet assistants take Cotton out of the car. Once home, I just opened the cage and he ran from the garage into the house. He only weighs 17.5 pounds. I thought he weighed much more. Today it's 55 days since surgey and I have lost 26 pounds. If I could jump up and click my heels together I would. I also agree the food journal has kept my calories in check, and also tracking the protein. I needed to add more veggies. Well, folks, off to work I go, hope everyone has a great weekend, and don't forget that extra hour of sleep, I can't wait.. I'm getting a pedicure tomorrow for my birthday as my toes are too far away for me to get to!!!

Thanks so much for the suggestions!! I will start them tomorrow. I do have a heart monitor, I found it this morning, I have had it for 3 years, and never used it. Will see if I can get it around me. I can empathsize with the tummy getting in the way. I have that problem as well. :eek: Also I think my breasts are getting longer. I hope I don't have to throw them over my shoulder to work out!!

I didn't see the Halloween challenge but signed up for the Christmas challenge. Your link worked just fine.