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Morning gals I feel soooooooooooooooo much better today. PMS aparently didn't help my already explosive situation. And on top of that I don't have grocery money until tuesday so I have not had any fiber... so you know it has been 5 days and no potty. I'm dying. i know... tmi Tracy - my aunt is amazingly better. they think she might have had a mini stroke because she cant talk right, but she is sitting up and alert. I am going to see her tomorrow. 197... you are well into onderland.... you go girl. when I get my fill next week I'm catching up quickly.

Good Morning! Ricks heart rate dropped into the 110 range this morning....I am feeling hopeful, that the meds are doing the work they are supposed to! We see the Dr. tomorrow. Christy--have you sat down and had a talk with your Dr. to see what options you have? I had several D&C's prior to my hysterectomy. It would eliminate some of the uterine lining, and maybe slow your bleeding. There are several intermediate measures that could be taken if you do not want the hysterectomy. Heck if it is just an ovarian cyst, you can have the entire ovary removed and still maintain fertility! I have also heard of them draining cysts. The hysterectomy will likely be the final step in the future to keep this from recurring. The cysts, even when removed, often return. But if you want more children, sit down across the desk from your Dr. and find a way. If they don't want to give you more options, or talk to you person to person, as opposed to looking at you through your knees as you are in the stirrups---it is time to find a new Dr!!! I know they don't recommend pregnancy in the first year of the band, but it has happened many a time! It would slow the ability for weight loss, but the band would still be there---waiting for you to be able to put it to work! I did several intermediate steps to my hysterectomy---not so much by choice, but for insurance reasons Dr.'s went through a stage where they avoided them at all costs (kind of like kids and tonsils). In my case a cancer diagnosis, ended the discussion. I think our family is being difficult now, you should have seen them then!!! I had a positive cancer diagnosis, and my GYN and my oncologist took a route, of putting me through 6 months of oral chemo PRIOR to surgery! Everyone wigged out! Then I had surgery, and did 6 sessions of infused therapy---and have not had any recurrance. This was done almost 5 years ago! I will say when you are ready---and comfortable with not wanting more children---it is a huge relief to finally have the surgery done! I really do love having the freedom from the problems I had been plagued with for years! I had endometriosis, and my periods, while extremely irregular, were horribly painful! At one point I was hospitalized with the pain from them, they used an internal probe --like they do to watch childbirth contractions, and the spasms I would have from cramps registered on it! I was glad to see it all GO AWAY!!! I have never had the issue of those organs making me the woman I am. I am no less of a woman now! It didn't affect my libido----I am still sexually active (ssshhhhh don't tell!). The only drawback to the surgery has been a ( I apologize in advance if this is TMI---but Christy needs info!) lack of natural lubrication. The feeling is there, the bodies natural response isn't always....but there are tons of options available, and it hasn't made a difference! I will be glad to PM you my # (any of you, for any reason!) if you want to talk about it. (((hugs))) While I know we can't dine on 900 calorie salads every day and lose weight, it is not going to hurt you on occasion. In fact as you reach a tight restriction, if you are one of the ones with a touchy band, and have trouble getting in adequate calories, it is good to know that you can bump them up every now and then, with something that works with your band. It is said to "shock" the metabolism, by pushing the calories on occasion. I do know there were days I expected to gain, after eating cake and ice cream at a party or something, and I would get on a losing streak....I have yet to figure this body out!!! Thanks so much for all the adivce on my in law fun. I know they love him, I know they are scared too. His sister that has been riding me so hard, is acting in fear, I have no doubt, she lost her husband to a brain tumor. I wish I had it in me right now to be their support too---I try. But my concern at that point was in projecting support for the decision my husband made concerning his own health! I called them all and updated them in the numbers dropping some. I got a chilly response, but am hoping as time goes on, and I keep them informed, as will he, that it thaws out again around here!!! Well off to see what we can do to entertain DH----he is not a happy housebound patient!!! Kat

27 degrees here right now and it stormed like the dickens here last night. We're surrounded by snow on the mountains but just rain here in the valley. It's beautiful. Yesterday I ate off of the vegetable tray for dinner. I must have had about a good cup size of carrots and dip. Got back to the motel and was regretting my decision, so I ate 2 small cups of WW lemon yogurt and went to bed. TMI, cleared my system out this morning and am feeling better. Not so bloated. Thanks for the reminder about "Cut the Crap Day". I need to do exactly that. SIL is fixing vegetable Soup today so we are going over there and visiting. Everyone have a great day. :clap2:

Hey! That just might work! I am already having trouble with the french cut undies! (is that TMI?) I can't imagine wearing that outfit -- and not getting some results! They might pay for our plastics, just so that we never visit their office dressed that way again!

I sure hope it goes down for you...this is flippin absurd. I had a fat stomach anyway, but it's grown by about 3 inches and is HARD...way prego. My 19 yr. old daughter said"um, mom, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you look pregnant"...she cracked me up. The other WIERD thing for me, I find myself rubbing it like I did years ago when I WAS pregnant. I can't wait to give birth to this baby! I am only 2 days out, it feels like weeks...so, I am trying to walk here and there, am taking percocet and kids advil....Hey, I did pass gas today..woo hoo!! TMI !! I am excited about what the band will do, but would prefer to go to sleep for a week and wake up feeling better!

Good Morning Gang... :tt2: Steph - The whole testing system is a bunch of crap imho - what you go thru is what happens here in Cali - I think - I applaud all you teachers - I couldn't do it.. I almost bought that cooker - but I have an old fashion one and don't use it that often - so I thought I would save that $$$ for more clothes - Try tiny bites - I mean tiny bites - the size of an pencil earser - I find this helps me . On the exercise - there are arguments for each - I do a mix - high intenstiy burn faster in a shorter peroid of time - length burns just as much but takes longer - again any exercise is better than none - you gotta do what works for you and you enjoy. Raisin Bran is great for the tmi subject - Nothing wrong with a good Fiber ceral... Karri - LOL:lol::smile: Dont tell my body - you are too funny girl.. Yep our faces change we get necks - It's all good... When is spring break for you guys - I think its the last week in March. Can't wait to see the new do.... Phyl - Gotta agree Jesse & I could be twins - I just might have to read this book I can relate to everything you wrote so much that they were are my exact thoughts - Waking up and wondering what the hell you did to yourself - Buying new clothes . Oops, I bought too much too soon...now these are too big . Buying more clothes Wanting to tell every fat person you meet about the band Ok gotta get my butt in gear - will ck back later - xoxox

Mine fell out a light blonde, and straight, and come back in darker blonde/ light brown, and parts are kinky curly, others not so much. ***Warning!!!! TMI ZONE Warning!!!!!*** But that was the only thing that really grew back in. I no longer have to shave my legs or under my arms but maybe once a season, and that is only just incase there is a straggler. And as for the "rug", alas she is gone too. Thankfully, DH is not one that finds that a bad thing--it is not a personal choice, it simply is how it is now. I did regrow eye brows and lashes again. However, my ENT said there is not normal hair growth in my nose anymore. And the hair on my arms is almost non existant.... Wierd, makes me wonder what other parts of my body this all messed up!!!! Sorry.....but greens comment hit home!!! Kat

Salsa - I understand doing a program - then stopping and can get back into the groove - WW was that way with me - we did it at work did great the 1st time then we all lost interest slowly - same thing with Jenny Craig... I know you will win this battle - Us Sisters in Blue (brother in blue like the cops) gotta be a good examples- helps to keep us honesty too,, And I am really glad to know that this is just to jump start your system - imho i think we will suceed in our battle of the buldge if we just learn to eat a well balanced food plan... 2Bskinny - Welcome - this is a great site for info and Lucky #7's is the GREATEST... 62 lbs iin 5 months is GREAT that's 12.4 each month:clap2: ( Had my colonoscopy on the 13th :biggrin1: of July. I know TMI ) I have been lucky so far as i have continuely lost each week - some weeks only 1/2 lb some 1 or 2 - Your body may be adjusting it's self - My doc did say that we will hit platuea (sp). I am afarid that my will be here soon. What are you eating - are you logging your food anywhere (fitday - sparks) or keeping a food diary and counting calories? Are you exercising? How is your restriction?? Are you getting enough protein and drinking your water. #1 reason to drink water is this is one of the ways that we flush the fat we have burn out of our system ( bet ya'll will start drinking your water now:p) This is hard, as, we have lost our best freind "food"- it is our drug of choice and it is very hard giving it up. We have to eat to live - I think it's harder for us than an alcholic - just think about an alcholic does limit their booze they quit all together - - but we have to have food to live - we can't just quit eating all together... We are all are having to deal with emotions that we use to cover up with our food - that emotion could be something as simple as boredom - or as tragic as losing a loved one or being abused. We now have to deal with those feelings and have to find ways to sooth ourselves with out food. We have to add exercise in to our daily lives which is hard since there aren't always enought hours in the days. We have to put ourselves first - which for some is very hard cuz they have always put others needs before theirs... But with the help of the band and the support from our friends (these ladies here are your friend - we all have been fat - we all know the feeling that you have we understand - go back to say page 400 and read forward what we talk about and you will understand what i am saying ) Tell us more about you and what you are doing and what you are struggling with and we will help you... Janet . Phyl - I see the numbers have moved some more :clap2::clap2: It's the water arobic (sp)

OMGGGGGGG!!!! I FINALLY got back into the thread. I have been lost trying for 2 days to get in. I missed you all and felt like I was going through withdrawl. I don't post everyday but I do read posts everyday and 2 days with nothing about killed me. LOL AAAAHHHH now I can relax and reply. Lindaa- that is reflux. I have had that every since I was 16-17 years old. When I got my second fill it tightened up the 2nd day and then when I would bend over if I had drank anything within the hour or hour and a half before it would come pouring out of my mouth like pouring tea from a tea pot. LOL Be careful with the reflux though because if it persists you may need some of the fill removed. My doc told me reflux can cause esophagus (sp?) dilation or scar tissue in the esophagus and we could lose our bands because of that. I am sooooo close to onederland!!! 200.4 but I started an flow today (sorry for TMI) I am thinking that I will drop now that the time of month has arrived and will be moving along in a few days. Belive me you will all hear it once I hit onederland!!! This will be the first (and honestly only) place that will know!!! I don't talk about my weight much with anyone else. Many people ask how much I have lost and I just tell them not enough. I have this thing that if I tell them how much I have really lost they will look at me and think "OMG she was huge!!! She still has to lose even after losing that amount!" I know that sounds nuts. I know that I was fat (fatter than now) but I just don't want others to know just how fat I was. Sound crazy?

Janet- we start school the last week in August. Yeah I am only 34. Tonight I can say 'only' LOL Most days I say OMG I am 34 years old. I feel so old. LOL I had my babies with the love of my life and believe that GOD intended for me to have them so young (18 for my first and 20 for the second. I got married when I was 18) because my kids dad was not going to be with us a long time. He passed when he was 35 from complications from diabetis. OK off that subject now... I will be 37 years old and my children will be old enough to be on their own. I think about that and just can't believe it!! My sister is 2 years younger than me and has 3 little girls. She will be 50 when her youngest leaves. My best friend just had another baby a year ago and her oldest daughter is the 16 just like my daughter. She did not intend to have another but....things happen. LOL Linda- I am so sorry to hear of your slip. I was told like Kari that if I had a slip that they would remove the fluid from my band and hope that it would 'settle back down where it is supposed to be' and if it didn't then they would take me to surgery and put it back where it belongs. Like Kari said. Try to stick to the bandster rules. I feel terrible saying that because I know I would really struggle with that if I lost the fluid in my band or my band. Remember we are here for you. Ok so I had a moment tonight. :cursing: I ate 4 small bites of a grilled salmon patty tonight and I was full. Then when I got home from my meeting my son had had chinese and he said mom there is just a little rice left do you want it. I wasn't really hungry but the old Jackie thought 'it is only about 1/2 cup and it smells good.' It had been a couple of hours since I ate and I didn't eat much of anything today so I took the rice. I got 2 bites down and OMG!! :tongue: TMI coming up. I started sliming and knew it was not going to stay down so I went to the bathroom. My own fault. Scared me a bit. I have slimed a few times but never pb'ed like this. My band said no and made sure I knew that it was there.

Janet - I go to the gym 4-5 days a week. I am really sick of people telling me that I am eating wrong (Not you guys, cause you all understand). First it was I was eating too much and all unhealthy foods. Okay I agree. Now I am not eating enough and TOO healthy. So I don't want to add back the fat and frankly I don't feel great when I eat a lot of carbs. I know that they are supposed to be great for energy, but when I eat a lot of them I feel sluggish and get really gassy. I know TMI. I FEEL BETTER when I eat my proteins. If you have ever looked at the blood type diet, I am supposed to eat high protein and low carb for my blood type. I don't know if that diet is hooey or not, BUT I can tell you this: I know my body better than any 95$ per hour nutritionist and I feel ucky when I eat a lot of carbs. I just got another email from her that suggested I go to 4 days a week for exercise. That is an option that I am not totally opposed to. I mean then I still maintain the habit and I think that it would be easier to add back another day at the gym then cut portion sizes and food types if I start gaining. MAINTENANCE SUCKS! Anyone want to trade me places. ADVERTISEMENT: At weight MARRIED female seeks still losing female to switch bodies for short term. Successful at losing weight, but suck at maintaining. Think anyone will take me up on it. Though I am telling you if you trade me bodies you get this belly to go with it. That would probably be a deal breaker for everyone. Sorry I am in such a sour mood. Just sick of this nutritionist. I don't think I am going to email her any more since she can't give me the advice I need. I promise I will come back tonight in a better mood. I just need to go do some HEALTHY, adequate carb cooking therapy!

Karri - Ya broc coming back up - was awful - I must be a little swollen cuz for lunch all I could eat was my fish today - yesteday at fish & veggies (spinach - which is a slider food - Learned that termonigly at that meeting - foods that slide right through the band) - I don't think a day or 2 of not enough protein is going to make you lose your hair - alot of people say its the meds that they use to put us to sleep and the trama of surgery that causes it - but my gf went on medifast and lost tons of hair. I agree with you about being too tight - even now I think I should have passed on a fill period - cuz I really don't think I am getting all my calories in - i think yesterday it was about 760 - but cuz of my fish for lunch & dinner I did get 70 grms of protein and 3 bottles of water plus my coffee about 60 oz of water.. Jackie - OMG $147 on candles - I have done it too - we had a wife of one of our agents selling candles - they can get expensive - but they weren't suppose to burn black smoke and they do - so I quit buying them - I like Village candles - blackberry pie or something like that - I like STRONG smells I hate it when I buy a candle and you can't even smell it burning.. On the TMI subject - I don't get cramps or anything - I eat veggies 99.9% of the time for lunch and dinner - fish & veggies - they are the staple of my diet really wanted to go out for lunch today and splurge - but didn't so tommorrow when I go to Montclair shopping I will have a treat - I better eat those ice chips so the swelling goes down so I can eat... Until you feel better I would rest - rest & chicken soup and you will feel good by Monday... Well, back to work - talk to you all later xoxox J

Jackie CONGRATULATION on looking Hot & Confident Peaches - It's been 5 yrs what's nudge nudge wink wink oh ya i think i remember:tongue: - Yes counts as exercise. Karri - How was the Opera! I was lucky my Stepmom was ok we got along well - she made my Dad happy and ended up with all us kids (3) plus her 1 after my mom died.. She really wasn't super motherly but she was good to us - truly she was my mother longer than my mom was my mom - my mom 15 yr - stepmom was my mom for 26 yrs. I have very fond memories of her.. I am sorry that your stepmom is a little "B" I don't understand it - you are his kid - what's there to be jealous of.. Phyl - Im here - the rain was about to flood my house if it kept up - Had to call my Son this morning cuz the side of the house was a lake and water coming up on patio - if it keeps raining - it was going to get close to commin in my back slide - so my son & gd's came over and he got most of the water to drain. So I made them all breakfast and they just left. Your sis is the same age as my sis - she will be 60 in November.. I am glad you had a good time - and you said the food was good - I think they changed cuz it use to be the food was $$$ and not very good - haven't been up there for a while To bad her dh is an ah - its good that she got to spend the day with you... Becca Isn't it great to get rid of those clothes - I have 5 sacks myself and most likely need to clean what's in my closet even more - My 14's from the avenue - are very baggy - and I know I have a few 16's - so they need to go in the bag Steph - I am happy you are doing good - I still nap every now and then still - we need to make up for what we don't get during the week. Katrina - I have given my big girl clothes to a freind and the rest will go to the Martha's Village - a local homeless shelter. Shout out to Linda, Ruby, Riberty The sun was trying to pop out for about a second - need to go to the store - but don't feel like putting my face on :tongue: - at least if it starts raining again my house won't flood. My Son can be a real butthead at times - but he is there when I really need him - and that's what counts... Still very tight - had 1/2 sauage link and a couple bites of toast - but heck you can't live this tight - not phyically hungry right now - but mentally I am - Mad Money is a cute & entertaining show - no violence - cussing - sex etc - Just plain old entertainment.. Enjoyed it - had a few piece of popcorn and got about 1/2 pt drink down - dinner tried an omelet - had about 3 bites - had to get up and walk - felt the slime coming on - then had 1/2 mocca light frappicino - thought I needed help in the bm dept as I hadn't gone in a few days 4 or 5 - i know tmi - but finnaly this morning did..:wink2: Well that's about it - want to cook a pot of something cuz it's so rainy - but don't know what - sick of soup - I mean sick of it - maybe I will go to the food channel and look for something soft & creamy without too may calories - but heck I can't eat enough for something fatting to go to the hips...

OK, CeCe, being a nurse I have to put a disclaimer on this and say that this is what we give patients in the hospital with that problem, and this is what I gave my BFF when she had her GBP and got impacted, and IT WORKS WELL!! Since I am not a doctor I can not prescribe. That being said, you have to make your own decision on what to take. So... this is a very easy mixture that is not bad tasting and usually works well. We mix about 4oz of very WARM prune juice and 8oz of MOM liquid. Something about this mixture really works. Please note that the prune juice has to be very warm (don't burn your tongue, not hot) And, I would never give this to anyone unless they are VERY constipated.... Sorry guys...just the nurse in me....and I don't even see that as TMI. Us nurses are so jaded to these type conversations. LOL, we really do sit and and talk about BM's and Blood while we eat. I am a program director for a huge Nursing Convention we put on every year here and all the directors meet at different restraunts around the area every month to plan out what we are going to do. I don't remember the exact gist of the conversation but it had to do with blood gushing. I just happened to look up at the table next to us and the ppl there were staring at us with gaping mouths and turning green. OMG, we didn't even think anything about it. :wink2::eek:

Hi all, glad to hear that everyone is doing well for the most part! I have to say, I'm feeling a bit sad. I went for my first fill on Tuesday, with an appointment at 2 p.m. Walked into Dr. K's office, signed in and waited. Mary gave me some paperwork to fill out. About halfway through it I realized, wait, why would they need this particular packet of paperwork for a fill? So I went up to the window. Mary then said that my appointment was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. I said no, my card said 2 p.m. Of course I'd left it on my fridge at home (I checked it when I got home and I was right). She said I was there for a consultation. I said no, I'm here for a fill. Then she asked about my surgery date. Eventually, she realized that they had a consult scheduled for 3:30 p.m. for someone with a name very similar to mine. But I was not on the books anywhere for my fill appointment. I had a pretty bad headache and I'd been up since 4:30 a.m. I was already nervous about my first fill. So as you can imagine I started feeling upset and panicking...what if I couldn't get a fill today? I came all that way. I could not take off more days. I texted my husband, all freaked out. After talking with Marilyn, Mary said they'd get me in, and I didn't have to wait too long. She stopped by Robin's office to ask if she needed to see me. I have no idea why she would -- I didn't owe anything -- and she didn't. Then Mary took me into the room to weigh me (wish they could weigh me nude & first thing in the morning as I do -- is that TMI? :wink2:). She asked if I had my card and I said no, you told me you'd mail it to me, but I never got it. So she made me one. I figured I had the standard AP band, but of course I needed a card that said so. Then she took me into the fill room. Dr. K came in shortly and he thanked me for the birthday card I sent. He had two students with him. The needle barely hurt at all, although sitting up with a syringe sticking out of you is an odd thing (and so is the feeling when it's pulled out!). I ended up with 1.6 cc, and I definitely feel some restriction. I was worried about getting too tight, so we erred on the side of caution. Dr. K was kind and genial as he had been in my past experiences, chatted with me and made sure I was doing OK. But I was disappointed with how I was treated by the office staff. Yes, they got me in and I got my fill, that was the most important thing. Everyone makes mistakes and I get that. But it wasn't very friendly at all and I didn't really get an apology for the scheduling mix-up. I don't plan to go back -- not because of this -- as I'd already intended to do the rest of my fills locally. On the plus side, the weather was gorgeous and I did a little sightseeing. The Museum of Nature & Science is fantastic -- much bigger and nicer than a similar one that we have here, and cheaper. I was in and out so quickly (left early yesterday afternoon -- I could only take two days off work). I knew you guys had just had the RR meetup recently, so I'm sorry I didn't get to see any of you locals. But I'm also painfully, seriously shy. :wink2:

Marcy - Hi! I have an apron too. I was hoping that slow, and I mean slow, weight loss would have the benefit of tightening things up. Well, it has worked everywhere, except there. The other thing is that you might try elastic waistbands that will conform more to your new svelt legs and butt, yet give a little in the waistline. Where the IRS is concerned it is great to have the letter, but I am so frustrated with them. The auditor disallowed my doctors prescription letter that I formally diet and get on a regular exercise program at a gym. I am taking it to appeals, what good is evidence if they don't allow it in an audit? My stomach is my biggest part and has always been, I look much smaller from behind. LOL. So I imagine that the stretching and shrinking that has gone on for years makes the skin less resiliant. However, it is kind of shrinking, just not smoothly. TMI??? Well, who is joining us at Red Robin on the 13th??? Hugs, Michelle Mal - where are you???

I am so happy to be here! The nausea has finally gone away. Yay! I do have another question for you. This might me TMI so let me know. My surgery was the 24th and I haven't had a poop. Nothing. I don't even feel like I need to but I kind of have a dull pain on my lower left side. Have any of you felt this before? Is it constipation? Sorry for such a gross question!!

No, I won't come to MI to clean your pantry!! :cheers2: I am a pool gal, too, and don't like to swim in the ocean at all! Too big and scarey and I don't like the waves. Wonder of wonders... my computer logged on to the other neighbor's network now that our satellite neighbors are gone for a while. It won't last long.. bandwith gets too crowded and it's impossible in the mornings and evenings. But right now it's nice and warm and sunny outside and everyone is out and about.. probably at the pool!! Ate the other chicken thigh for lunch and did it again even though I chewed long and ate slow this time! This time it almost came up and (TMI ALERT)... some slime came up. First time ever for that to happen to me and I thought DH was going to croak. He totally freaked out. We were sitting out on the patio. Fortunately I had some paper towels in my hand. But I quickly needed more and he was too busy going on about how disgusting that was and cleaning up some "drool" that was on the patio mat!! Then he wanted me to go inside!! I guess he didn't want me to freak out the neighbors! It was kind of funny, actually, and I felt a whole lot better after that! Well, better do my Scrabble turns before i lose the connection again!

Linda - this isn't tmi - it's a fact of the band :thumbup: It's mucous and not slime - do you have a cold/sinus - I know this sounds dumb asking a nurse - but you say mucous aand not slime.... I assume you are taking some kind of anacid before you go to bed. Are you that tight?? Right now I have a little heartburn - but will be leaving for the gym in a bit and I always stick a piece of gum in my mouth and do you know that takes away the heartburn (omw I sallowed a piece last week - but didn't have a problem) - I get it (hb) from just drinking water sometimes - But I have only pb'd at night from eating too much (midnite raids - that one more bite of pudding) Eat some ice chips - that one support group meeting I did go to said to do that after pbing and I would stick to slider foods (soups and bland stuff just like you would treat an ulcer) and no wine or mixed drinks (sorry :eek:) maybe you are just very irritated. Not much help - but am trying (Hugs) to help a little You were self pay??? Your insurance doesn't cover fills?? Ya I could see why you wouldn't want to spend $600 - but if it last over the weekend I would - cuz they say being too tight can cause problems.. Hugs - I am sorry that you are having problems

I am getting anxious to get back to doing some sort of physical activity too (not walking, I am not fond of it and it is to cold out), but I am just one week post op. I am going to my post op check Wednesday and I will ask. One bad thing I did do is I went back to work today and we had a lot of snow and I shoveled myself out. Not sure if I should tell my doctor I did that, I may get in trouble. A quick question, maybe TMI, I have had diarrhea since I started the liquid diet and I am usually constipated and take miralax regularly ( not since the diet though( so I am kind of don't want to take immodium, should I just wait it out and figure once I start eating stuff it should clear up?

@@tiger1961 , when are you doing your bowel prep (taking the laxative)? You are scheduled for Monday, right? Just wondering. I have to fly to Mexico on the 3rd for my surgery on the 4th and do not want to be having diarrhea on the plane. Sorry about the TMI, but just getting a bit anxious about that part.

Im glad you are doing well. The poop thing is not tmi bc for us its very important. I write my BMs on a calender so I don't get constipated as I sm still taking some pain meds (surg. 9/16). I have lost 30 lbs and only 12 was before my surgery. I am happy for those that are doing well. I feel almost 100% normal.

* TMI ALERT: look away if you have a tendency to get barfy or cringe * I'm scared that all these measures I am taking are basically just making the "ready-to-come-out stuff" grow bigger and bigger but ultimately blocked by some immovable bit of plug out in front. Like what's gonna happen if there is a bunch of watery stuff in my intestines/bowels that insist on coming out but is physcally blocked by other matter?!?!? I visit the toilet often with hope in my heart, LOL. Though I am very windy*, (Ha, @Arabesque! I got to use the term!!) that's all that's coming out down there. I am not in pain nor am I so very uncomfortable, but I can feel my stomach bloating bigger and bigger with each passing day (though how much if this bloat is attributed to PS swelling, I don't know). Mr. is out getting some prunes and prune juice for me. He has also agreed to help me with a suppository tomorrow morning if I continue to shoot blanks in the washroom till then (he must really love me, LOL).

I had to take Milk of Magnesium and (TMI) it was miserable. I lived in the bathroom the day before surgery. I also suffered from dairrhea after the surgery. My mom said it was probably a lasting effect from the Milk of Magnesium. It was a wretched feeling that lasted about a week. Sleep before surgery was elusive for me. I was just so excited!!! Best wishes for the tail end of our May Bandsters! I am sure that you will do great with the surgery.

Kinda a weird question here, hope it's not TMI for anyone, My apologies if it is. Here goes...I have a good amount of loose skin in my stomach area and noticed a new "roll" that is right over my belly button area. Needless to say, there isn't a lot of air circulation and I've had some issues with a very sore, and inflamed belly button. I went to the doctor who gave me some prescription strength hydrocortisone cream which cleared it up after a few days, but I'm sure it's going to return. I'm wondering about skin removal surgery. Has anyone checked into that yet? And, if so, what are your insurance requirements. My one year bandiversary is on 12/30 and I cannot believe it's been a year and how much easier it is to get around! I don't hardly grunt and groan at all anymore. :-)